A Midsummer's Update

Hello All, I know we are way overdue for an update. Summer has been going well. Mom, Dad and Brendan are going to another Braves game tonight which I'm sure will contribute to a shortage of cotton candy at the ballpark. We expect an extreme sugar high tonight.

So far Mommy has survived the summer, although two weeks of vacation Bible school has helped and a week of tennis lessons on the horizon will help her get through July. As we keep reminding Brendan, only one more month until big boy school. He starts extremely early, August 4, and we aren't sure he is totally prepared. As an offspring of his father, Brendan does not like to go to bed early and does not like to get up early. Not good things with school on the horizon, we expect one crabby child come the first week of August.

Shireen's Mom, Linda, just got done visiting with her step grandaughter, Hannah. As usual Mom was overworked by her daughter with a backyard project this time. At some point Shireen will realize that chopping through Georgia clay is no fun, but the lesson hasn't gotten through to this point. Hannah, being a couple of years older than Brendan, does a great imitation of a bossy big sister, which Brendan doesn't quite know how to handle. He likes the company, but somebody sharing his TV time and telling him it's time for bed doesn't go over so well. When inquired if he would ever like a baby brother or baby sister, his answer is "None" and when asked about having a big sister like Hannah, his reply is "No, they are silly".

So we are enjoying our last month of summer by going to the pool quite often. After the disastorous swimming lessons when Brendan decided he was going to freak out and not go near a pool again for a month, we have overcome where we are back to swimming with a noodle at least. Brent's golf game has taken a hit. After the last outing, I was unable to walk well with severe knee pain that has lasted about 6 weeks. After a visit to the orthopedic doctor, looks like at this point a torn meniscus with a probable surgery sometime in August. Shouldn't be major recovery time it looks like, but does seem to be the precursor for knee replacement down the road. Pity on Shireen when I have to go through that.

We have included pictures of Hannah's visit, with a trip to the fountains in downtown Atlanta, a trip to the mall where the have a bungy cord jumping device and a new picture of our not to puppy looking Jamie, who is now somewhere in the vicinity of 58 lbs. or so. She continues to chew on and torture poor Gordie, who just keeps trying to hide from her. Hope you all have a great 4th, we will post some pictures from the game and other pics soon.