Home Again (week 396)

After all the weekends at baseball tournaments, camping trips, and family reunions it was nice to finally stay home. We spent the days mowing the grass, trimming the hedges, and removing the big Australian Flax plants just off the front porch.  I was particularly excited about the number of spiders that came out of the plant roots when we dug them up.  

This past week was full of Parks, Recreation & Marine camps for both Christopher and I. Christopher had Nature Center Camp over at El Dorado Park while I was at the Historic Rancho Los Cerritos for Old Timers Camp.  Chris spent his mornings hiking, exploring, and doing projects.  He likes the Nature Center but said that his legs hurt from all the hiking. Mady said that the Nature Center smelled like Yosemite (it has been hot in Long Beach). Meantime across town, I was working on my marble maze (pounding 64 nails into a wooden board, and stringing rubber bands between them to create the maze), making candles, and washing clothes by hand.  We both had an awesome time and look forward to maybe Vaquero Camp next year.

We also got to go to an Angels game for the first time in a LONG time!  The Armstrongs met us at the Big A to have a tailgate with fried chicken, biscuits, and macaroni and cheese.  After, we went to the stadium as saw the Angels play against the Detroit Tigers. Max Sherzer was pitching against Garret Richards, and even though the Angels lost, we got to have ice cream sundaes in tiny Angels helmets.  I couldn't believe how fast the pitchers were throwing.

This weekend was also one of our most favorite parties--the Celebrating Dave Wodynski Party--in Redondo Beach.  Michelle and Sophia always get a giant bounce house and King Cone, the ice cream truck in their driveway!  This year, the bounce house was even bigger than ever with an obstacle course like Wipeout inside.  Chris and I bounced like crazy, drank Shirley Temples, and got Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches rolled in rainbow sprinkles. Our feet were so dirty by the time we went home that the shower tiles turned brown.

On Sunday morning, Dad made us all go to church and Mom made us all go to the Farmers Market afterward.  It was torturous and terrible.  I have a very hard time doing things that I don't want to do for other people.  Not to say that anyone likes to do things they don't want to do...particularly at 7 years old...but while Christopher sat pretty quietly and worked on his bulletin, I was writing all over the pew, complaining, moaning, and groaning throughout church.  Dad said that we will do more of it because it is important to spend some time each week saying thank you for the things we have, and to do things for other people.  I don't know why anyone would want to sit through a church service, but I also don't understand why my dad eats asparagus.