We found it.

We finally found it.

We’d gone looking for it the Sunday before, to no avail.

This Sunday, though, Michael figured out which direction we could go, and lo and behold we found it.

And, what fun was had.

The kids got wet, and dirty, and tired.

Davey and I had an intense game of splish-splash.

Michael rolled his jeans up and got his feet wet, too.

* * * * *

In the last two weeks, we’ve been here eleven times.

Pack the bags, grab the snacks, fill the water bottles with ice.

It’s loud there and I often go into sensory overload.

Until I glide into the water with Davey.

The kids do their thing.

They find their friends.

They jump into ten feet deep.

It’s our summer time hang-out.

* * * * *

Late in the afternoon, yesterday, I missed a call while I was bathing the chlorine off David.

It was Michael, and his truck wouldn’t start.

He said he wanted to let it sit for an hour or two; then he’d try to start it again.

I began cooking dinner.

Of course that’s when he called to tell us to come and get him.

We drove out to the forest, and there he was all sweaty and tired.

Today we returned so he could tinker with tools, to see if it would start.

Apparently, the old Ford likes it in the woods.

My cousin sister Pauline is here, from NY, for the weekend.  She is accompanied by her boyfriend, John.  They came in on Friday and they’re leaving tomorrow.

The weekend has flown by.   Why can’t anyone invent a machine that stretches time.  That would be really RAD!

On January 20th the New Orleans Saints beat the Minnesota Vikings.   That night Michael and Mikey went to our neighborhood sports bar to watch the game.  I “watched” the game on Twitter (which was actually very entertaining, what with all the Who Dat! and Geaux Saints!)  When the boys got home we rejoiced that our favorite team was finally going to the Superbowl.   Mikey was convinced they won because he was wearing his lucky Saints jersey that he got as a present from us in the Christmas of 2006.

Later that night, while we lay in bed, Michael expressed how he wanted to buy a big, humongous, plasma television.  To. watch. the. Superbowl.

I thought, sure, why not?

And we did.

However, so as not to compromise our ideals we decided not to get satellite or cable.  We went the old fashioned route and Michael put up an antenna.   We knew we’d be able to, at least, watch the Superbowl.   And, actually, we get great reception, except for ABC (which I affectionately call Channel 7, as it is in Buffalo.)   That means I still have to watch Grey’s and Lost, online, but now I get to watch stuff like the news (which is really depressing, ya know?), Ghost Whisperer, She’s So Crafty, and my new favorite—Parenthood.  Oh, and Kitchen Nightmares!  Gordon Ramsey’s my hero.   But, I digress…

Our TV isn’t on all the time, except for when Blue’s Clues is playing, back-to-back, for David.   The kids still prefer to play outside instead of vegging in front of the “tube”.    But, we have re-assimilated nightly TV time back into our lives.   We watch Ghost Whisperer (we even have our own jingle made up — that’s another post), Survivor, Minute to Win It, American Idol, and Undercover Boss.   After dinner and bath- and shower-time, we hang out together watching some kind of show before bed.

That’s why I was so thrilled when I was invited to New York City, by Walmart  and Proctor and Gamble, to catch a sneak-peak of the new family-friendly TV programming that they are bringing back to television.   The movie “Secrets of the Mountain” is the first of hopefully many that Walmart and P&G want to bring to our family.  They know that families just like ours are seeking quality, family-oriented entertainment.  This film was produced in response to research that told that we are seeking something more than reality shows and crime dramas, and there are more family films in various stages of production.

I’m excited that there will be something for us to watch together on Friday night.  Friday night when we buy two pizzas from Walmart and chillax together.

I’m excited that there’s a movie that I know my kids will really, really love!   They love adventure movies, and this one definitely qualifies.

I’m excited that it will come on NBC!   You know, because it’s not “Channel 7″ and comes in crystal clear.

And, I’m excited to give away a DVD of the movie with clips from behind the scenes!   All you have to do is comment below to be entered.

**CHERYL was picked from names in a hat!**

[My day-trip to NYC was provided by Walmart and P&G, however I was not asked to post about the movie.  I'm doing so as a mom, and because I totally liked the movie and feel that this is something we need more of on TV.  I know what we'll be doing this Friday.  I hope you tune in with your crew, too!]

{Go see Lotus at iamlot.us for more Winners!}