25 June

Today I was the lazy slug in the house. Sara was up at 5:30, Liv at 6:00, Ruby at 6:15 and they all ganged up on me at 6:20. At least the coffee was made when I came downstairs. After reading the paper I made French toast in response to overwhelming demand. The girls ate enough for a small army even though they had to make time for talking to their Dad between bites. We packed ourselves into the car and headed to Hopewell to see my stepmother, Jean.

Sara insisted on a last minute combing of the hair.

I knew that Jean would appreciate how much these ladies have grown and that was certainly the case.


After completely wearing Jean out with all this excess energy from breakfast we went to see my sister, Ann, for lunch.

Jan (Ann's daughter) stopped by to say hello and we all commented on how much she and Ann look alike.


Since gardening has become a Youngblood event we helped Ann harvest from hers. That's Justin in the photo, Jan's son. He loves to read, a man after my own heart.

By that time we had hit the witching hour when a nap is the only solution so we got in the car and headed home. It sure is quiet in the car when both Liv and Ruby are asleep. It's a 90 minute drive home so by the time we got back to Portsmouth it was about time to wake the sleeping beauties. We did so as we pulled into the parking lot for the YMCA where we signed Liv up for four weeks of swimming lessons. The lessons start on July 6 and will be with the same instructor she had last year. Then it was back home, more sidewalk chalk, dinner, bath, and bedtime. Everyone is tired but happy. Tomorrow we plan to go fishing right after breakfast.