Several of you have kindly asked about the boy and how his trip to Australia went. I am so sorry to have kept you hanging after my lump-throated post about his departure! There is no way to explain the kind of busy we have been so I'll just jump in and give you some tidbits....

His trip was MOST excellent. He came home with some sweet photos of his journey, kangaroo and koala-themed no less...

(PB self portrait feeding litle beasty)

(perhaps not the most common of signs anywhere except in AUS?)

But let's back up a bit. I was kind of holding my breath a little while away in Portland thinking about him, missing him, hoping all was well. I woke too early one morning, flipped open the laptop and there was the best and most important email I have received in my entire life. It was very long so I have opted here to include just the last part of it with you...

".....awwwwwww SNAP! miss you crazy. crazy good food... LEBANESE PIZZA YEEDER. i want to live here. forever. after school. please. dindin! gotta go.
LOTSA luv
From your happiest son,
Riley
PS finished book!
PSS two cute waitresses thought I was 18+!
PSSS I think I am thinking with an australian accent now!
PSSSS more pics up on facebook soon!
PSSSSS LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE"

Um, so, yeah. Need I say more other than absolute deluge of tears of joy ensued? :)


And then there is this...he returned to school, quickly made up for missing the first three days and got into the thick of his sophomore year. He has already produced this self portrait...

which he free handed on the lovely graphic tablet they have in his art class. He went on to create this finished piece using the image...

using recycled canvas, multiple layers of acrylic, fabric and my favorite face in the world :) I know I'm a biased Mama but his teacher was impressed enough to feature it on her website, submit it to his school paper and display it at the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival this past weekend!


And let us not forget his other love...the water...



oh my, this water polo season has been one for the books so far and Mama is the silly, can't sit still, tries really hard not to yell too much spectator you might expect.

There is so much more but I will refrain. I have attempted to hit the balance between just-an-update and outright-gushing in this post. But then again if I perhaps lean too hard towards the gush, you might all forgive me?

Yeah, that's what I thought :)