You Want to Go Kaijacking?

Can someone please tell me, what kind of a world we live in, when a man dressed up as a BAT!, steals all my press?
I was paddling along this morning, and shared some moments with a grebe having its breakfast. And the first thoughts I get when I see grebe are of loons. Why? not sure. Maybe loons are more popular to me. Kinda like when I think of ducks, I see mallards, and not wood ducks. So, I'm thinking about loons in front of this grebe (kinda rude of me I know), and it brings to mind a story I heard recently. I don't know how much of the story is true, but it was relayed as if it were fact. -I'm not too concerned about the facts in this instance, rather the concept- (You can't enjoy Star Wars always refuting what you see) The story goes that a family of loons took up residence in a lake near by. I think it was Hauser, or one of those on the way to Spokane. Because the loons were there, the lake was closed to motor boat traffic -by the almighty powers that be. Fish and game maybe. Recently the loons were reported MIA. The story goes that they were shot. Shot "because someone wanted to drive their boat on Hauser". Lets just assume most of this is true. I don't think we are shocked if it is true, but I think most hope that it is not. The issue is: is this the type world we live in?
Which raises a bunch of questions in my mind. 1.Is this the mentality in N. Idaho? (what is "this" mentality that I mention?) 2. Does one nuclear family of loons have the right to dictate how others are to live? 3. Can we regulate people -how far do "we" take it? 4. Should we be able to use motorboats ("WE" the general public. on any lake we can get the boat on)? 5. Can/should we stop people from using lakes/land by laws? Or could we find some other means to make it more difficult like fees for use, making recreational vehicles more expensive etc?
I think many of these thoughts,that were pouring thorough my head,were tainted by my environment. The shore line was less than pristine; there was much flotsam. Lots of broken dock debris which included, but was not limited to: Styrofoam, plastic, and wood. I retrieved a "chuck-it" ball from the lake. And I saw a pop bottle or beer can here and there. Now this was the shore which is not populated (it is still owned by the paper company, with no water, no roads, electricity or sewer access. -not suitable for development in short). It should be pristine, right? To be more clear, it is not the Cuyahoga, and I think most would think Twin Lake is very beautiful and "unspoiled". But for my eyes, the trash stood out, and therefore bended my thinking in a certain direction.

Rileigh: "Why do Chinese people can't say sorry?" (Po's dad says "Sorry doesn't make the noodles" and she concocted the rest)

Rileigh: "Itch bug, they are small, and you need a kaleidoscope to see them."

Ethan,helping me with the pancakes: "I'm cooked"

Ethan,pointing to my chin: "You have a mustache coming out."

Rileigh: "I have some screen, and sun glasses to keep my eyes not to burn from the sun."
Do you know what she's talking about?
Well I don't know anyone named Obi-wan.

sumah sumah time

He gets his sense of style from his father. Ethan felt that this was a great outfit. It all centers around going for a ride on his bike. When the sun comes out, the kids really demand that we go for a ride -not a bad thing

Follow the Leader

No school for the kids until next fall. So far summer has lived up to its billing, and the kids are getting quite comfortable in the club pool.
Today, we spent some time on the "golf course" beach, and then we swam at the pool from 1030 ish til 1, and then headed to the west side.
No cool things to cite. And the drive is weird - less than normal now. It used to be so common to pass through Tokio, and experience the vast horizon.

Moving Like Pond Water

Two scenarios that will get parents (namely Sarah and myself) out of bed:
1. (Knock knock at the front door)
Ethan says in a sing song voice: "Hello, Who is it? Come in!"
door opens
Man at the door: "Hi, is your father home?"
BOING out of bed
2. Riles in a meek voice: " Mommy I need help"
Riles then makes a gurgle sound.
BOING out of bed
In both cases, Much like we were discussing before about being showered before the kids; one who is not prone to action first thing in the morning moved quite well. I never saw Cecil Turtle move so fast. What d'ya say Cec?
Scenario 1, was the USADA drug testing guy, come to verify that I am not on "the juice". He showed up to test if I have been taking illegal performance enhancing drugs -to the layman. Ethan opened the door for him, but then retreated to our bed, not saying a word. We were in the process of bumping into each other on our way to the door, but it still would have been nice to have a little heads up from Ethan.
Scenario 2, was Rileigh not doing well with something in her stomach. She was on her bunk bed, and I think had "painted herself into a corner" -as it were. Blocked her path down the ladder.
One of the better alarm clocks I have experienced since an OL-H instructor with a garbage can lid and a bull horn

Tiger Run Around the Tree

Well, the kids won't be going to Preschool after Thursday. They are promoted to Kindergarten. So, they get the summer off. Which means we have to find something for them to do. We have them enrolled in gymnastics, which starts in July.
So, we have been going to the pool regularly. And we are getting better on "walks". As yet we have not gone to Silverwood, even though the kids have mentioned it, I think, every day.
I recently skimed over an article about families who are too busy. Enrolling kids in too many things. But I must say, that I like dropping the kids off with someone else once in a while. They did more things in preschool than I could ever expose them to. And they interacted with more people than I do. I suppose there is a limit to what we sign our kids up for, but I think the focus is on exposing them to as much stuff as possible. And me being lazy and small minded, I only limit them. "these kids don't stand a chance with you (me) in their future" I digress. We do appreciate the help from "out of the house" programs. And I think we are far from enrolling them in too much (tempting as that is). Having said all that, it is fun to hang with these guys -they get me out of the house once in a while. I would like to take them on the Hiawatha (with abundant flashlights) and on the lakes in the kayaks. It is so easy to think of these things with clear skies, and daylight going from like 0400 till 2000hrs.
....now to do.