Yesterday would have been Mary's 61st birthday. The hardest part of these past (nearly) three years has been knowing how little - if any - the kids remember of her and how much Mary has missed seeing. Accalia wasn't even 5 1/2 yet and Cole had recently turned two when Mary died. So many changes since then...

Myron seems to be moving right ahead with life, and if he's happy then I'm happy for him. I just wish this new life didn't seem to be at the exclusion of the rest of us. Sure, Cory will still get his Sunday call from Myron, but he rarely sends emails or replies to the emails Cory sends. Myron hasn't stayed with us since Ella was a baby, and it feels like pulling teeth to get him to even come and visit. We think he's going to come in October to watch Accalia play succer and Mariah play at a nearby volleyball tournament. Honestly, it seems as if his life revolves around Bev and her kids now. We're adults, of course, and don't need the involvement of a parent as we did when we were younger, but it really hurts to see Cory feel as if he doesn't always have a father.

Speaking of soccer (to help change the subject), I'm not sure if Accalia will have her first practice in just under an hour. It's been raining all afternoon, but it seems to be letting up now. I have no idea what sort of weather cancels practices or games, so I guess if we don't hear from a coach we'll drive to the practice field just to see if anything's going on.

The four-year-old girl from next door was over for much of this afternoon to play. Cole was so happy, and it was really cute to watch those two running around. Accalia played with them for a while, too, but I know she would have loved to have someone her age there.

Ella fell asleep around 4 p.m. since there was so much activity earlier today. Ella is my first child to have this interest in putting things up her nose. During lunch she shoved a noodle up one nostril - way up there. She was very uncomfortable, and I started to try to get it out with a tweezers since Ella would hand me the tweezers and hold still for me - for about two seconds. So then I just held her other nostril shut, and she snorted the noodle right out.

I'm really, really hoping we can get some extra money and fix the dryer. It apparently wasn't the starter switch since that attempted repair did nothing. I hung out clothes this morning but had to run out and grab everything off the line when it started raining. Then my drying rack broke, so I lost my main means of drying clothes and diapers inside. Sigh. Right now there are clothes and diapers drying everywhere.

I guess I'd better go and get Accalia's soccer things together. Ella won't be happy about getting up from her nap early, but Cory won't be around until after practice ends.