the pop-up toadsters

i got yer pop-up toadsters for ya heh heh heh

i so wish i came up with that title on my own--it comes from a wonderful, inventive, intelligent children's book (that is currently gus' most requested) called "behold the bold umbrellaphant." the pop-up toadsters are gus' favorite. i found that book as i was leaving the library and checked it out for him without even looking through it because i loved the cover so much. you really can judge a book by its cover!!! god i am embarassed for myself for saying that. here is the amazon link if anyone is interested:

amazon site

gus also asked, politely, that i remind everyone that his birthday is coming up in a mere 7 weeks...

here are random pictures from last summer in iowa--gus has been talking about iowa a lot recently, and with all the snow and cold weather it kinda seems like we're still there. that and he and sophie never seem to want to wear a coat outside (iowa blood). enjoy!

this is possibly my favorite picture ever from a digital camera


does anyone know what this is? it used to live in our backyard. is it a groundhog? by the way, you can click on any of the pictures to blow them up...so click away!


gus changing lizzie's diaper (note sophie's box in background)


the gusman


rich and gus after a bike ride/run to coldstone ice cream. they used to ride/run this fairly often, which is impressive considering it was about five miles away and gus was doing it on a two-wheeler at 5...brag brag brag (note the little kid looking enviously at gus' camelbak AND how close sophie's car seat is to the edge of the table--bad rich)


gus and a very tired and somewhat defeated-looking rich exhausted by a hard day of wearing sophie (good rich) in gus' old room