what is the deal with those people and their cameras in the rain?

Simon: I hope tonight's not going to be like the last night the new babysitter came - with all the flashes and people taking pictures and thunder and rain.

How wet can you get?

Simon (coming in from the rain): We got in right in time, huh?

me: Right in time for what?

Everett: So we're not super soaking wet.

Simon: Yeah, 'cause now we're just soaking wet.

fun stuff

Geckos are all kinds of fun, especially once you learn how to catch them. Everett and Simon have been working on it. And they're getting pretty good at it.

It's a good thing they've found a way to occupy themselves inside since Rainmaker Mountain keeps on making rain. We got rained out on Saturday. Turns out, swimming in the rain isn't that much fun. Well, the swimming's fine, but when you get out and it's cold (ok, we're wimps already) and your towel is wet and you never dry off so the sand never falls off and you end up wet and covered in sand and you try to drive home, it's not so fun. I guess we just need to plan to go to rocky beaches on rainy days.

We were lucky to be invited to a couple parties last weekend which were really fun. And our backyard is pretty fun too. There are loads of these cool, exotic toys sticks lying around for ... uh, swinging around and hitting stuff.

And plenty of lizards and toads to try to spot.

This one, a small marine toad, blended in so well the boys nearly stepped on it.

Of course, I have to mention that there was another event too: this crazy kid turned 8 on Monday. We had a small party with the family.

We'll have even more fun next Saturday when friends come over so we can do it again!