is the number of bug bites on my right foot.

I’ve always found the odour of my feet distinctly unappetizing, but apparently mosquitoes have a different sensibility than I do. Go figure.

The bites were acquired on a fantastic weekend. We went camping. All six of us. I have been trying to get Michael to go camping with me for ten years. I finally succeeded. Or rather, our children succeeded. Painfully cute little girls bursting with excitement may have tipped the balance. Or it might have been the early anniversary present of the biggest most beautifullest tent ever. Or maybe it was the promise of plumbing and cell phone service. Whatever. We went, and it was wonderful. We all had a really great time, especially the girls.

We went to Prince Albert National Park and had a blast. It’s so beautiful, and full of gorgeous wildlife. We saw deer and squirrels and loons and a pileated woodpecker and we did NOT see the bear that the people in the campsite next to us saw.

We’re hoping we can go back for another weekend later in the summer, and we’ll try and get a campsite on slightly less swampy, higher ground.

Hello there. I know, it’s been approximately a hundred years since I last posted.

But I’ve got good stuff for you. Totally worth the wait.

No. I’m not pregnant. But I may be, someday. The fancy doctor could find absolutely nothing wrong with me, and he really really tried. It would seem that last year was just truly unlucky for us, gestation-wise. We’re thinking that we may, at some as-yet-to-be-determined date, try for a tie-breaker. We’re at two wins, two losses in the pregnancy department, and one more, either way will be enough for us.

But not right this minute, because right this minute I am in the middle of taking six credits of Biblical Greek in six weeks. I am loving it (and also acing it) and also finding my days rather fullish. My mum kicked much ass in Greek when she took it a while ago, and I am trying to uphold her honour. I haven’t let her down yet. I got something like 97% in the first half of the course, and I’m doing at least as well so far in the second half. But trying to live up to my mother is a full-time job, so it’s good she’s taking care of the kids.

Speaking of whom, here comes that good stuff I promised. This morning, Mum and the girls went out and prepared for the summer class they will be taking next month. They picked up these:

Yes, those are real violins.

1/8

and 1/16 size.

I told you it was worth waiting for.

Wisdom of age almost three-and-a-half:

Lilah, yesterday, said to the dog, “I don’t want to smell you right now, Nozy. Cover your nose.”