So yesterday, Jean brought over an old pool of Ben's that we could use this year for Ian. Well, as David was inflating it today, it turned out not to be a pool at all but a bouncy ball pit! It was hot today (up to 90) so we filled it with water anyway. Of course, it leaked and deflated all over the place, but at least we got a couple of hours of splashing around in it. I guess we'll have to break down and invest in a better pool, since Ian is such a fish.

Ian with his Nerf gun and Ben 10 "Omnitrix" watch. Love the face.

My sermon went well yesterday. I even did an impromptu children's message on the Trinity. It's a good thing Ian stayed home with David, though. Attendance was low, of course, on account of the holiday weekend, and there we no little kids there. I don't think they had nursery coverage at all.

Anyway, we had a nice picnic with Jean for dinner and then she stayed on after Ian went to bed and we went to see Prince of Persia. It was OK, not a great movie by any means, but dumb fun, in the Douglas Fairbanks or Sinbad kind of way. I guess it's been a while, because I was outraged at the price of tickets. $10.00 for an ordinary, non-IMAX movie! So $20.00 for the both of us and we didn't even get the even more ridiculously priced popcorn and drinks. Plus we were lucky that Aunt Jean babysits for free. No wonder people don't go out to see serious movies. Especially when a new movie on dvd usually doesn't cost more than $25.00. I do want to take Ian to see Toy Story 3, though - a matinee shouldn't be too bad, plus we don't have to pay for a babysitter.

We have really been having a stretch of nice weather. David kept Ian occupied a lot today, so I could work on my sermon for Sunday, which was nice. In the afternoon, we went to Home Depot and the toy store. Then home to start the grill for chicken for dinner. It turned out delicious, with just some barbecue sauce for flavoring. We ate out on the porch and it was very nice to enjoy sound of the birds and the wind in the trees (and the sounds of the neighborhood).

Today I'm grateful for quiet moments. And hugs from Ian.

We had a nice day today. David was home from work, so he occupied Ian for quite a bit of time. I got the planting done in the front of the house. I put the pink and white begonias in front by the garage and the marigolds around the light pole. Hopefully everything will grow. I love the hot weather, but the plants do need some rain. We cooked out again again tonight, this time steaks for us and hot dogs for Ian. Very yummy.

When we were getting Ian ready for bed, I noticed that one of the fish he won at the Lilac Festival this year had died. David took care of it, giving it the traditional "burial at sea." Ian doesn't seem too upset about it, although I know he feels bad.

And now I'm supposed to be working on my sermon for Sunday, which is on gratitude. One of the resources I'm using is a blog called "The Happiness Project" and the author recommends using a journal that you just write briefly in about your day and/or something that you are grateful for.

Today I'm grateful for my life with Ian and David. I've truly been blessed.

Wow, this has been horribly neglected. Ian is 4.5 already. He's still my cutie-patootie, though. Maybe I'll try to start keeping it up again. No promises, though.