to the shore

Let me start by saying that I already wrote this post once today while OBaby was sleeping peacefully and all was right in the world. Then I hit “publish” and O MY WORD my log in had expired and I LOST EVERYTHING. Don’t worry, OBaby’s door was closed and he did not hear the string of words which came forth from these lips.

Words like “Bummer!” and “Oopsies!” of course.

Ahem.

So to console myself I played dress-up when OBaby awoke.

There. I feel much better. Don’t you?

Here is the post, re-written. I think it was better the first time, personally, but you’ll never know.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The greatest Great Lake. I love the peaceful sound of the waves crashing on its rocky shore, all 3,000,000,000,000,000 (that’s 3 quadrillion) gallons of it.

Then there’s our brood, gathering on the rocks for a picnic lunch. It doesn’t seem peaceful, but I promise that it looks more chaotic than it is. If you know the Os, it doesn’t take to long to see what’s really going on here, you know, beyond the eating.

Below, Cousin J is deciding whether or not to lick the cheesy residue off of his fingers, while Cousins J and A (in the background) are eating another yummy handful of Doritos, which I’m sure they missed when they were serving as missionaries in South Africa for the last year.

Meanwhile, O My Immediate Family is sitting on a ridge of rocks eating their off brand chips. No Nacho Cheese Doritos here.

I’m sure DanO and his dad are discussing their favorite episode of Stargate SG1, or the value of recessed lighting, or maybe how the water replacement time of Lake Superior is 191 years.

Then there’s me, you know, making this post possible.

You’re welcome.

My dad picked up on the fact that Grandpa P is an endless source of knowledge right away, and here he is surely learning something about the beautiful North Shore. P is likely extrapolating about the 78 species of fish that live in Lake Superior, or perhaps he’s describing just how cold the 40¬∞ water actually feels.

Ah yes, the about-to-be-weds. OBrother and his OBride, sneaking a moment to discuss cake flavors or china patterns or flower colors. You know, all the really important stuff.

Until I made them pose. Sorry to interrupt. Carry on.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Official OBaby Break:

Check the cheeks. Edible.

This concludes the OBaby break.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After filling their stomachs with brand name and off label chips etc., the boys men hunted and gathered smooth stones for rock skipping. The ladies looked on in admiration.

And what would this post be if it didn’t contain a picture of S, the oldest great grandbaby?

A lot less cute, that’s what.¬† He’s Dub-ya’s older brother if you were keeping track. If you look closely, you can see the toddler version of the O so edible cheeks.

Cousins T and C and their new little one M, the first great grandbaby born this summer. M has 6 some weeks of life outside the womb on OBaby and equally edible cheeks.

They’re a good group, the Os, and not just because of the adorable baby cheeks they make. It’s because they are all such genuine people who genuinely want to share your life with you. I realize that this is why there’s always talking going¬† on when we’re together. Seriously, constant talking.

How was South Africa? Describe your bridesmaid dresses! How is OBaby doing? Are your house projects coming along?

And then they listen to the answer. Genuinely listen, because they genuinely care for you.

I love you, O My Family.