kids galore

My legs look like someone has taken a baseball bat to them and malled whatever life was once in them, leaving behind a trail of grayish-blue, reddish-pink, bruises surrounded by a field of scratches thanks to the thorn bushes through which I trapsed this afternoon in search of the lost kids. How in the world am I ever going to get married with legs like this? (Wait, I know. I should probably find someone to marry first?)

Really, they look terrible. This ridiculous ailment that continuously erupts on my poor little legs has got to stop. If you find any remedies for ugly legs, please let me know ASAP. I am in desperate need of a leg-lift. I used to do Yoga when I lived in VA, and I must admit that I had some pretty good-looking legs then. Maybe I'll take classes in California.

And, I hope you didn't miss the fact that I was searching for lost kids. Yes, the boys had a few friends over this afternoon for one last rendez vous before heading to America, and they decided that moseying on down to the lake without supervision was a brilliant idea. Imagine; I have thorns stuck all in my hair, little bundles of bushes left on my brand new bermuda shorts, and my poor, already terribly angry legs smothered in dust one-inch thick. Not happy. Not in the least.

However, I did decide to avoid exploding in anger (are you proud? I'm learning!), but instead made cookies, old-fashioned American Chocolate Chip Cookies, for the kids. [Can I just interrupt my story and tell you that these were seriously THE BEST chocolate chip cookies I have EVER made. Think of the most tantalizing photo you have ever seen of chocolate chip cookies, the really thick and moist ones jam-packed with chocolate and still warm from the oven. My cookies today were better than that. I tweaked a recipe and, to my surprise and my advantage, it turned out perfectly. ] So, the cookies eased the annoyance of adventurous kids, and I thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon with all of them, poolside.

Another great day with the kids. Tomorrow marks one week, and counting, until we depart for America. Strange, but exciting.

PS. We played tennis tonight again, and I have to admit that I've got some skills! Melvil and I were again the champions, this time winning 6-1. Then, as if that was not slaughter enough, I smoked Stéphane in two back-to-back matches. He swears he will win tomorrow. Not on my watch.