Cicadas

It's an intense cicada year. Not only are they enthusiastically loud in the evening, but their shed exoskeletons are everywhere.

Helper

Evelyn is now at the age where she's much happier if she can help out while I'm working in the kitchen. Sponging off the counter is worth whole minutes of entertainment.

Perch

 My daughter, the girl who sits in things.

Appliances

One of these appliances is not like the other.

Procrastination

My newest art installation, entitled The Perks of Not Mowing the Backyard for a Month.

Rain

Evelyn enjoyed the thundery rainstorms we had a few days ago.

Picnic

Evelyn and I had an impromptu lunch picnic in a plaza in Southlake while running errands. She was remarkably coordinated with her blue shirt, skirt, and blueberries.

Loving potato

I love both how happy Evelyn is looking at Ben in this picture and also how much at one month old she resembled an adorably lumpy potato.

Surreal

It doesn't feel like it's been a whole year since Evelyn and I were just hanging out in bed together taking lots of naps all day.

Celebration

Just a birthday girl and her dog.

Dignified

Habibti really appreciated how dignified Evelyn's birthday party was.

Advanced

Evelyn thinks that swim class is pretty awesome.

Evelyn moved up to the level two swim class today. Apparently, that entails a certificate, even at the tender age of one. What a gifted child. =D

Dated

Ben was looking for a family photo to put on his teacher website yesterday. This is the most recent picture of the three of us that I could find. Evelyn is three months old here. Perhaps it's time to take a new picture of us!

Elusive

For some reason, this lizard at Walnut Canyon was unimpressed by my invitations to come out and pose for better pictures.

Past

In addition to gorgeous nature, Walnut Canyon also had a number of Anasazi ruins built into the cliffs.

Sunset Crater

On our last day in Flagstaff, we went for a hike at Sunset Crater. I was not expecting a post-volcanic wasteland to be so beautiful.

Clouds

The clouds at Walnut Canyon were unusually stupendous.

Detail

Grand

As advertised, the Grand Canyon is, in fact, pretty grand.

Priorities

Evelyn thinks that natural splendor is all very well, but a puddle to splash in is where the real entertainment is at.

Walnut Canyon

On Thursday, we went for a hike at Walnut Canyon. It was beautiful, but on the way back up, Rebecca and I had to stop for a lot of "picture breaks" that of course had nothing to do with the fact that we desperately needed to stop and breathe for a bit.

Workable

As this picture by Rebecca that I found on my camera illustrates, travelling has taught me that you can get a cup of whole milk almost anywhere, including, fortunately, coffee shops.

Patient

We have an unbelievably patient, forbearing hound.

There is no way to crop this picture to conceal the chaos that one of the two
beings in this picture consistently leaves in her wake.

One

One year ago today our lives suddenly got a lot more complicated, sleep-deprived, and absolutely delightful.

Love

Baby cousin love is... more hands-on. 

Sunflower

Summer

Queen Anne's lace may not be the absolute epitome of summer, but it's awfully close.

Balloons

Evelyn had a great time with the balloons from the joint birthday party a couple weeks ago!