George's Island

This past weekend I got to go to George's Island and Spectacle Island in the Boston Harbor Islands State Park. We took the subway and then a few ferrys.

kettle corn

Ever get kettle corn at a fair? This recipe is reminiscent of that great taste:
Mom asked me to share this fun home recipe with the group. It's fun for a family treat (although kids probably shouldn't do it themselves as there is hot oil involved).

1. get out your large soup pot (the size you use for mashed potatoes or meatballs. . .)
2. put 1/4 of a cup of vegetable or canola oil in the pot
3. turn the stove top on medium and then add 1/4 cup of sugar and mix it together as it heats up
4. put 1/2 cup of corn kernels in the pot and mix it as they heat up.
5. cover the pot and keep the kernels moving around so they don't burn .
6. listen to them pop like crazy, then let them cool and enjoy!

Win A Pah Sock EEE

We're heading up to Lake Winnipesaukee this weekend to enjoy the weather with Nick and Aimee.

Behind on bloggin'

Sorry 'bout the week delay in ole' post-tee-toes.
We've been busy watching water boil and rocks sit.

In family news:
Clay is now 6 months old.
Dad is at church tonight for the last Friday night at Glendale. (!) He has a bible study and gym night there every week for the teens.
Tomorrow is a picnic to celebrate Dad's graduating.
I wear Thomas underwear now and Mom says that no reverting is allowed.
(She's tough at times.)
Clay can't sit up yet but Mom and Dad still can.
Nick and Aimee are in Mighigan so I have TP'd their side of the apartment.
I now follow in the footsteps of my great grandmother and I am a bird watcher (Lynn mostly just gets Robins).
Tomorrow I get to play at the beach.
My favorite word is "Cake."
My favorite food is cake.
My favorite past time is eating cake.
My favorite play is one where they eat cake.
My favorite ice cream flavor is cake batter.
My favorite thing to talk about is cake.
My favorite thing to think about is cake.
My favorite line in Mighty Ducks is "cake eater."


If you were to say around me "Sim, hold on a minute, I just need to get. . ." I will likely insert the word "cake" into the sentence. Mom thinks this is hilarious. I like to make her laugh.

family.

This one is taken from Ryan's Blog and I think it's up there with one of my favorites of Ryan's photographs.

All Checked-Out

We just got back from Clay's follow-up appointment and we just wanted to pass along the news that all his throat innards look great. We are very grateful to God that all looks well. We'll set up another follow-up appointment in 3-6 months in Pennsylvania but the surgeon said today that he feels very hopeful that it will not grow back.

top of the morning

Mom has been hanging out with me this week as dad is taking his very final class in seminary.

She says we must say goodbye to certain things in life, when we are (or are not) ready to say goodbye.

I said goodbye to the beach yesterday after our apple and muffin snack on the east coast sand.
That is small potatoes.

This morning I said goodbye to my box-made kitchen set as mom took a knife to it. She told me it's okay and that we could always make more box-constructed appliances and cabinets. I have stowed away the stove for later use.

But what about the greater things? Those items in your life that rip big heart tears when you try to leave them? Mom says that as her and dad became such good friends, she could literally feel a binding around her deep heart to dad's. (She doesn't even suffer from heartburn so it's slightly believable.)

Mom told me this morning that my heart will tear a bit one month from today when we climb in the car and I have to say goodbye to Nick and Aimee.

Last night they ran around the house with me for oh-such-a-long time while I , half-naked, flailed and giggled. We even played hide and seek.

Mom says that it's okay for a heart to tear a bit. God is a comforter. That sunk feeling and the quiet reflection afterward is a reminder of the depth friendship and companionship can bring and stir in a human being. Surely this is a example of the complexity of our beings. What a mind-boggling concept that God has chosen to love us even when we chose to "leave him" continually.

Soon I will get heart-bound to my extended family. I am looking forward to that.
And Mom will let me know as I grow how much I enjoyed my time with Nick and Aimee (in case I forget) and, as Christopher Robin says "Old friends always keep their places in the heart."

May you enjoy your heart-bound friends. May you bask in the scandalous grace of God that has chosen to love us even knowing that He is committing to a life-long heart tear as we do not love him like we should.

Top of the morning to you,
Simeon

fine skills

brotherhood

I had a blast playing in the dirt (as you can see from above).

in honor of my parents

I went streaking at the campsite to celebrate mom and dad's five-year anniversary.

the gator plunge

Setting Up Camp

Dad and I set up my tent:

It's the one on the far left.


Clay was kind of lazy.

We're off

We're off tomorrow for my first camping trip ever. I've got my axe to cut wood and my lighter fluid in my knapsack. We'll take lots of pics to share.
Happy Memorial Day!
-Sim

Diaper Rash Cream in My Coffee... okay, just everywhere else

Mom made the most of the evening, but tension was still high. I got to have a lollipop tonight after dinner and that was the beginning of the end. I peed in the toilet once, but I graced the kitchen twice and my bedroom once. My Thomas underwear are not as absorbent as I may like them to be.

The nighttime bed routine was clearly re-defined when mom was feeding Clay in the kitchen while I was applying diaper rash cream to myself in the living room. Thankfully, I was naked, so I was able to get good coverage. Mum was upset overall, but did laugh out loud after she cleaned off the couch, sent me to the bathroom to start cleaning my hands off, returned to me in the bathroom, wiped off my belly and then discovered that my backside was also covered with pasty white cream. Who knew I could be more white? Moments later, when I had my entire body wedged between the wall and my bed and I yelped for help as only my head was visible, mom was simply at a loss for words. Clay and I survived the night. (barely).

My new favorite words are "Cake" and "Crash" and "Poops." Dad taught me the last one.
Oh hey, and I discovered Clay this past week and decided to start talking to him.

Happy warm summer night,
Simeon Bowne

Memorial Day Adirondacks

Any advice on tent camping with an infant and a toddler?