Fort Picnic

From the end of May. I tried to get the white balance right but ended up with a really blown out shot of Ryan... I kind of like it though. His eyes are really blue and well that popsicle is really orange-y.

Rats.

The preschool's hairless rat isn't doing very well. Harry has lost some weight and well just isn't up to his rat antics. We've been able to have Harry come home with us over weekends. It's been fun and entertaining. I don't touch Harry. I just clean out the cage and help feed him. Dave is in charge of bringing him out. The cats basically stayed away and the dog was the one who was most interested. Anyway, the teacher at preschool decided to give him away to an aunt of one of the children. The teacher got another rat. This time a girl and this time with hair. Dave worked in class on Friday and suggested they name the rat, Valentine. Val the rat. Nice.

Here's to Harry... good rodent times.

photo taken just about a year ago

I smell a rat.

Yup. A hairless rat to be precise... named Harry. He's from preschool and he is staying with us over the long weekend. Fantastic! The things you do for your children... "It's what they want, not what you want... blah, blah, blah." By the way, Ashleigh told us she would rather have a rat as a pet instead of another dog. sweet.

Shake baby shake...

No not shaken baby syndrome... but the earthy ones... aack! We've lived here for just over 2 months and I have felt 2 earthquakes now... Tonight was a good one. A 4.2 about 6 miles from here in Lafayette. Awesome! Ryan was sleeping and I was reading Ashleigh a book... I picked her up and we crouched under her doorway all the while I'm thinking should I go get Ryan and get outside? or should I see if it stops? Either way the adrenaline was rushing... this was the first time I was alone with the children during an earthquake. The house creaked and moaned but it wasn't the "big one" so we're okay. Just a gentle reminder of living in the Bay Area...

Now I'm not a huge believer in the whole animals can sense things but... our dog a half hour or so before the quake just kept staring at me. Twice I looked at her like, "What? Do you need to go outside or something?" So I let her outside 2 times! Nothing! She just kept staring at me... I think she knew. And you know what? She stayed with Ashleigh and I the whole time we were rockin' and rollin'... Thanks girl.

Ugh.

Our youngest cat is peeing all over the new house. Great. He's hit our closet about three times and made his way to our daughter's room today. He's also throwing up too. Double whammy! I think the trifecta would be if he rubbed his ass all over the carpet, too.