My son found some of the stuff that my brother, whom my father used to call "Stash," had collected and left it my parents' attic. So now we have an egg timer from the 1960's, a 45 RPM of the "Empire Strikes Back" theme, a signed program from a pro-amateur golf tournament from 1978, a stamp collection from 1981 and a signed photo of Tony Randall. At most, I could get $29 on eBay, but my son is happy.


We had nosebleed seats at the American Idol concert and yet, the tween screams were right in my ear.


I never got to go to the Statue of Liberty because my brother's third grade class was so rotten on their trip there, the rest of us never got to go. I'm still bitter. But at least I got close to this one while minigolfing.


Good thing he's a good fisherman or I'd never see my ball again.


We had the picnic anyway...once we found an overhang.


The kids wanted to find the pot of gold at the end.


My husband created this cheese plate for a picnic with his cousins, the Hacks. There are ten of them and all of their kids. It's a big picnic.
He wanted to write "Hackapalooza," but he didn't have enough cheese. Or patience.


I was supposed to take pictures as the cheese disappeared, but they ate it so fast, this was all I got.


And yet, I can't get them to take a shower without much cajoling.


At least it'll keep his hands out of the chips for a little while.


Perhaps they're talking about the meaning of life.
More likely, they're deciding, "Lobster or crab cakes, tonight?"


"Definitely lobster."


Um. Yes there are.


Captain Fred's parking spot. Cute at the shore. In your neighborhood, though,
a little bit creepy-crazy. Right?


I am so done with that stage. Hey, you dropped a sippy cup back there.


Hey, buddy. Down in front! Speedos and baby oil went out with big shoulder
pads and Loverboy. Also, the Berlin Wall.


I had to erase that last horrifying image from my corneas with this shot.


And now, you, too, can have "Let's Go Fly a Kite" from Mary Poppins stuck in your head.


Because Mom is usually behind the camera. Proof I was there, too.


The zoo has the right idea in the gopher pen. I'd like to install these in my house.
It's much quieter.


The ball comes back!


Abe was deep in thought.


Um. Do they have that in a small?


Oh yeah. We bought them.


See?


Which one's Eat No Evil?


You missed one.


It's like Mad Max for tweens.


Please don't land in the ER...Please don't land in the ER...Please don't...


It's all fun and games until she starts trash talking the Wii.


What, no plate to balance on my head?


I got to my car just in time. Good thing, too, because I was sitting in the open on the ferry.


With the help of a book and some shoes, it found its way out the door.


I have no idea how it got into the house in the first place. Hmmmm.


But now, I keep a bat removal system on my desk, just in case.


The official kick-off of the Summer of 2008. Who's got a towel?


Welcome, baseball season. Come on in.


I wonder who taught my kids how to spit?


"Mom! Aaron's bike broke down the street!"


Today, frogging. Twenty years from now, a place to keep the beer cold.


Apparently, this is the result of the Cub Scouts' project: Architectural Disasters.


I saw this in a Hallmark store on Mother's Day weekend.
When you care enough to send the very best...


Spotted on the West Side Highway in Manhattan. Don't worry. I did.


150 kids. 150 instruments. 150 milligrams of Tylenol.


The day I couldn't get my car out of the garage. Going my way?


Notice that my garage is the one on the left, while the door that opens belongs to my husband.