A MEAL OF LEFTOVERS

I've a few photos in my camera that I took with the idea of perhaps using them in a post.  I figure I'll throw them in here and catch up a bit.

We went to Cedar Point on the last possible day before school started.  Nothing like cutting it close, but I like to use it as something to hang over their heads a motivator during the summer.  This was not the best trip.  I had told  myself previously that I wouldn't go again without a young child to go on rides with.  I wish I'd listened to myself!....or at least made Craig come.  I really do not like roller coasters.  They do nothing for me - but that is THE reason the boys go and Nastia is fine with it. 

Last year Lydia was with us, and we all went around together, and while I was mainly the pack animal, I did enjoy watching the kids go on rides and I went on two or three myself. This photo is of Zhenya and Anastasia trying to convince me that they should be allowed to go off on their own, as the big boys had already
done. I let them. But then I felt very sorry for myself. I noticed other likewise, child-less parents but they had been smart enough to come along with their spouse for the most part, or a friend. Only one or two other pathetic and lonely-looking souls were to be seen. (You can tell I spent the day people-watching.) I felt silly going on any rides alone.  I did meet up withe these two at a couple of points - first, to share an elephant ear, and second to ride the ferris wheel. 

Another year, I think I'll wander the city, or spend the day somewhere with a book.  That was one heck of a lot of money to pay for a day of people-watching and one ferris wheel ride.

I snapped this photo of Ilya sitting on the back porch (OK - back stoop) just to prove he is still alive, I guess.  He has not gotten past his hatred of having his photo taken.  I don't get that.

I see Rosie's tail.  He was probably hoping to catch Posey using the back yard for the right purposes. 

This silly photo is just to remind me of this little "thing" Craig and I do.  Rather than spend money on a movie, or go out to eat for a "date night" we go up and sit on the bed and watch a 48 Hours Mystery on my laptop.


The comforter, by the way, is not really my taste....but I brought it back from Ivanovo, and anything from Ivanovo is beautiful to me.




Lydia's godmother's daughter got married last weekend, and Lydia came on a flying visit to attend the wedding with me.  She brought her wonderful gentleman friend, Vance, as well.  Vance is a darling.  He is so nice, so good to Lydia and to all of us.   While Lydia and I were at the wedding he led the boys in a "landscaping" and "home-improvement" session - trimming hedges, and fixing the knob on the side door.  What a dear.  Then he bought the boys a new x-box game and played with them.   The night before Lydia treated all of us to dinner at Bravo. 

The wedding was in St. Joseph, MI.  We had a couple of hours between the wedding and the reception and among other things we rode this really cool carousel which was down by the beach in the same building as the reception hall. 

The timing of the wedding was not so good for me, because it was the night before the big opening of Religious Education classes.  I had to spend the entire day from 5 a.m. on at church.  Lydia took the kids to Uncle Johns, our local cider mill.  The weather was perfect for it.

Anastasia did have some struggles with this visit.  New people, emotions about family; Lydia having to leave....thus causing abandonment feelings to come to the surface...yes; it was a challenge, but Anastasia worked hard to control herself, and it wasn't the catastrophe it might have been.  It was touch and go there for a moment, though.  Lydia was really a good sister through it all.