Snowflakes in Summer

“We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand and melting like a snowflake...”

― Sir Francis Bacon

The Rat

 

Oreos.

We don't buy them unless we have a fancy cheesecake to make- and then, only the generic kind.

But Grandma and Grandpa brought some over on Glupper night for a treat and I put the leftovers in the cookie tin.

Two days later, it's snack time. I say to Moses, who is making snack for all, "You may each have one of those Oreo cookies Grandma and Grandpa brought over."

A few minutes later...

"Uuuummmmmmm......  Mama.....  I think a RAT has been in our cookie tin because there are no more cookies LEFT!"  He brings the tin, wide open and cavernous, to prove his point.

A rat, indeed.  

(I suspect our rat may even have a name.)

Adele's birthday presents

Adele' turned sweet 16 this year.  

And 16 is a very weird age.  It turns a girls' brain.

Case in point:

Present #1:

Present #2:

She can barely contain herself with the butternut squash and weeps over the amazing, autographed BOOK.

What a weirdo.

(Just kidding, of course.  She is lovely.  Too lovely for words.)

PS.  If you think that this is Matt trying to light a napkin on fire, you'd be correct.

The little pyro.

The Newunion

Once upon a time there was a hot sun and volleyball and corn on the cob in the kiddy pool.  

Those were the days...

Andrew Graduates

And I took graduation pictures to commemorate. 

Pictures for guys are no fun at all.  They want to be cool.  And handsome.  And DONE after one picture. 

And apparently, guys think smiling is neither cool nor handsome.

(How little they know.)

Don't worry.  I didn't stop until I got some smiles.

Be still my heart!  For a moment I got a glimpse of the little boy at the end of this post.

Uh oh... something is happening...  

he is telling me something with his eyes...

Something like... "I can't believe you made me take pictures right by the road."  

or "This is awkward."

What do you mean, Andrew?!  What's up?!

And then I see the car, slow crawling along to pass us.

Welp.  Nothing to do but embrace it.

And then that moment of 

"I wonder how dorky I looked..."

And then, he shook it off and got his game face back on.

Has anyone noticed the Granary Grin Face photobombing all these photos?

Once you see it, you can't unsee it.

(Told you.)

And then Corynn and Kemuel show up and he gets embarrassed AGAIN!

But Corynn makes it better with a hug.

And I stop taking pictures.  FINALLY.

(I told him I wanted to take ONE photo, so he was very generous with me to give me a full 10 minutes.)

I had a fabulous graduation party planned.  With people spilling into the yard and on the porch.  Surrounded by vibrant autumn leaves at their peak.   With buntings and lights strung across the garden.  Nighttime volleyball.  Bonfire.  Marigold bouquets for the tables.  A hay and flannel blanket photobooth on the back of Andrew's truck.  A Chili bar (two roaster ovens full!) to top fries, nachos, hot dogs or eat by the bowlful.  Hot cider, freshly pressed.  (9 gallons worth!)

And then the DAY BEFORE, the weather shifted and turned our party day into a freezing cold and downpouring sort of day.

We nearly called the whole thing off- but the cider would ferment and the chili was already made.

So I quickly called our local community building to rent it instead.  The food moved indoors and we all  lamented the lost bonfire, volleyball and photobooth.

Here are the measly four photos from that party:

Not a SINGLE picture of Andrew or the 60 some guests who showed up to love him.

(the dessert table, which eventually filled to the brim.)

In lieu of missing graduation party photos, I will share some of the adorably cute and wonderfully embarrassing photos on that "PEANUT GALLERY" display.  (You're welcome.)

Here is my Peanut, in all his supreme cuteness through the years:

What an honor and a privilege and a GIFT it has been to see this little grinning guy turn into the fine fellow he is today.