June 2011. All smiles.

Mike taking two months off was the best thing we have ever done.

Me: What did you do at playschool today?

B: Not much.

Me: Who did you play with?

B: Um, mostly by myself. Some other kids were playing a spy game and I tried to join in but they told me you had to be five to play.

Me: Oh no! That doesn't really make sense. Did you tell them that you didn't think that was fair?

B: (Now looking sad) No, I guess I just believed them.

New love.

For Claire's birthday, Bridget and I planned a secret spy mission for her and Kris. Things like this definitely take at least two hours to plan: one to take all of Bridget's ideas into consideration, and another to make her ideas work in a way that doesn't cost hundreds of dollars or take years to construct. I think it turned out pretty well.

Claire and Kris in their spy disguises. Bridget's idea. I thought it was hilarious, Bridget continued to act like it was just totally necessary.

Step one: decypher the cypher. Cypher reads: USE THE BINOCULARS AND LOOK IN THE CRABAPPLE TREE.

Looking out the window at said tree.

A sign! Hanging in a tree! Sign reads: LOOK IN THE MAILBOX.

To the Mailbox!

A Kit-Kat bar! But is it? It isn't! Clue reads: LOOK IN YOUR PURSE.

In the purse there is a pen! But is it? Sort of! Except that it has a secret note hidden inside! Note reads: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!