Across the Bay

Sometimes pictures make a setting seem contrived, like a summer meal in Sunset Magazine.  The clever marketing in a Land's End catalog tends to make one think, "A new swimsuit will make me slender and playful when we spend the weekend on the shore!" or like how those half naked jean models in a Calvin Klein ad make 17 year olds think.  "If we wear those pants all us friends will start laying around on top of each other half naked!"

In this case it's, Greear Family Blog; "If we move to Alaska with our family everything will be joyful and we will never fight with our spouses and our children will never fight with each other!"

What today's blog does not tell from the pictorial is that I had to yell, while talking on the phone with my dear Craig in California, "Look at me.  Look at me!  Go Upstairs now and get your clothes on we ARE going across the bay!" evoking hearty laughter from Craig.  It does not mention how Piper had an absolute meltdown when she thought her virtual pet would disappear if she did not brush it and it cost 'money' to brush it.  Or that Iris was being Iris. 

One can not tell from the look in Marina's or Piper's eyes as they show off the toys they made for Iris that they were completely freaking out that they would not have any TV or Computer for the whole day!

Sadly, these technological additions to our natural life do become very infecting to young people.  I have often referred to these games as heroin for the ADD brain because they stimulate a part of the ADDer's brain that has a difficult time finding naturally occurring objects to satisfy it. I have more than once accepted my role of 'Meanie' by turning it off!

But look what happened...as the boat pulled out of the harbor and the picnic began the people began having fun;  honest legitimate nature inspired fun!  Suddenly, we as picturesque as a magazine spread.  I have not felt so relaxed in a long time!

They went canoeing.  All of them fit nicely into Beezers canoe.  Beezer cooked delicious chicken!

Chester got to do a lot of fetching and swimming.  And the girls made this fabulous piece of environmental art for their fort and then they threw a dance party with Falcom singing while each of them had a dance competition. 

I know.  I'm a mean mother to make them walk away from their technology.  Oh well.  hehehehe 

Don't worry.   Those of you out of state won't have to move up here just yet.  My kids were back to arguing before we got out of the harbor parking lot.