lunchbox love

I slept until 8 and then watched All Dogs Go To Heaven with Lyra until Caleb and Jessi got back from dropping Sammi off at school. I took a shower, then ate toast and some of Jessi’s smoothie for breakfast. Jake got home, and Caleb and I went to pick up Robert who would give us directions to the DMV where Caleb was able to get his driver’s license renewed in 30 minutes, after 13 years. The lady gave him crap about not knowing where he lives when he put county 41 on the paperwork instead of county 4.

Lyra enjoying a moment

We went back to Robert’s so that Caleb could fix his dad’s computer and then use it to submit his chief’s package while I sat outside (for better internet) and paid bills. At 1:30 it was lunch time and we went to The Staggering Ox – one of our top 5 sandwich places. We sat outside, but I moved us in away from the wind. After bread guts were on their way to our intestinal tracts we went back to Jessi’s to hang out with Jake and Lyra until it was time to pick up Sammi from school at 3. We took the dogs and met her teacher who knew all about the furry guests – Sparky and Piggy, of course.

art in the shop

Sammi had a substitute music teacher and got to sing about monkeys jumping on the bed. She had a good day at school and at home I found a note from Jake in her lunch box – something cute I’d only seen online before. At home the girls had fun asking the dogs to do tricks and then giving them dog biscuits and cheese pizza. We all went to the backyard so Caleb and Jake could dig holes to plant some trees – sugar maple, apricot, and plum.

Lyra watering the garden

Inside Jake’s shop I let my eyes slowly wander over his many collections – bottle caps, tools, trinkets, magnets, art by daughters, and over 100 PEZ dispensers ranging from TMNT to Star Wars to Simpsons to Disney. There’s a story that goes with them too – Jake had five, someone didn’t want theirs anymore and gave them all to Jake. I learned my lesson. When someone adds to your stash – downsize.

Lyra playing tree with Jake

Sammi played in her room until it was time to hose down the new hole while Lyra pretended to be a tree – playing with dirt and water. Then Sammi built Lyra into a fort that she didn’t want to let her out of. It reminds me of great childhood memories when I left my sister in a large rabbit cage behind the barn while I went inside to eat lunch. Lyra took turns watering the newly planted tree and herself while Sammi went back inside.

Boompa and Lyra

The guys put up a protective fence (got to keep your tree safe from unicorns) because I doubt that little cage of wire will do any good against the two youngins if left unsupervised (it is shiny). Lyra takes off her clothes and waters them too. Glad to see she is in the growing spirit. She finds a stroller in the yard and gets too close to Grandpa, but laughs as he tosses her about in it before Caleb races around the yard with her.

Caleb and Lyra

Then Boompa (Grandpa Robert) gets ahold of the water hose and sprays it like an innocent child’s water fountain until Lyra runs into their playhouse. He tells me to take the hose over to the window and spray her, but the window is closed so I open the door as she turns around. I grab the handle and the water hits her in the face. I thought it might be upsetting but the look on her face was hilarious.

Lyra after getting sprayed in the face

I went inside and Sammi read me her story that she had written based on a book about rabbits that want to watch the sunset before bed that she had read. It’s much more funny to listen to Boompa read it exactly as written and have Sammi correct him – it’s all a learning experience. Sparky gets loaded up on cheese pizza from the girls and the guys come in after planting one tree – and digging the holes for the rest.

Jessi and Lyra – and Sammi playing with trains

Uncle Ed texted me that the car title is being overnighted for $55 – who did they ship through? He wanted to Skype and say hi to everyone but I couldn’t get an internet connection so we just talked for a bit on the phone. He received our deposit check and we should see that in the bank later so we can pay on our credit card.

Sammi playing with trains

Jessi got home after 6:30. Jake started dinner of pesto avocado noodles with tomato slices on the side and then went with Caleb to buy three bags of mulch so that Caleb and Jessi could finish planting the trees. We had a picnic outside with raspberries, whipped cream, and cinnamon chips for dessert. Robert had brought some meat from his house and the dogs enjoyed sharing the bone while Caleb played with the boneless one. The girls played with trains and Jake cleaned up after a day of gardening while the rest of us talked. We went in when it started to sprinkle a little more than it had all day.

Lyra eating dessert

Lyra played with trains on the back porch while Sammi played in their room. Lyra had an orange while Jake packed part of Sammi’s lunch since she got invited to have pizza with the principal and then it was bedtime for the girls. Lyra was quick to get into pajamas and pass out. Sammi sat in bed watching her lighted turtle illuminate the ceiling before finally going to sleep.

Sammi eating raspberries

I offer to take Robert home as he starts to nod off in a chair. Caleb comes with and when we get back, the adults will sit up for another hour talking about childhood, parents, and other funny stories. I remembered it was Tiffany’s birthday, so I texted her, then went into the room to get into jammies and grab my toothbrush. Sparky had already gone to bed and was resting under the covers with his head between the pillows.

Caleb and Piggy