Growing like a weed!

Mama and I grow many things in our garden: lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries, green onions, tiny deformed carrots, lots of flowers -- you name it.

But the plants neither demand as much care nor give as much delight as I do.

--Maddie

Wet wiped

We spent the afternoon today in Ladera Ranch, in Orange County, with Ellen, Jeff, and my new cousin, Jasmine. She's so cute! I can't wait until we can play together. Today I settled for rocking her vigorously in her car carrier.

Let me tell you something about the OC -- it may be sort of a weird subculture, and it may feel a little like Dallas, but they've got themselves a killer water park:





I include this video of the superbucket in action because you could hardly envision the violence, carnage, and joy if I did not:



So I was pretty much wasted on the way home, melted down in the bathtub, etc. All in all, another average day in the life of the Madster.

--Maddie

Rachel Alexandra -- You go, girl

This is just a quick shout out to my fellow fast and overachieving 3-year-old, Rachel Alexandra. Way to take it to the boys.

You go, girl!

--Maddie

The Hays Pool is Officially Open

I love to swim more than just about anything. It's the first thing I want to do in the morning. I will swim for hours if you will, and when you finally drag yourself out, I will beg you to stay in.

On the West Coast, we don't wait for Memorial Day. A week of temps pushing the 90s, and the pool is already at swim temperature... well, uh, competitive swimming temperature. You won't break a sweat in there.

Nonetheless, the water is just as refreshing as I remembered it - maybe even more so. Dad finally had the pool cleaned but he forgot to switch out the pool lightbulb when the water was drained. So, I guess no night swimming this year.


Here's me practicing my jumps: