Chili and Bounce Houses

It was a pretty uneventful week, for the Niemans at least. Seth won the work chili cookoff as per usual (after Jayne's win last year, this is starting to look suspicious...)

although, with highs over 100 it seemed a little ridiculous to be celebrating fall. 

Not that anyone is complaining about a longer pool season. 

Which, on Wednesday night, unexpectedly ended with a jubilant but completely unclothed front porch dance-off.

The 600 lb. bounce house was procured and eventually unloaded and set up just in time for it to rain the night before T3's wild Nerf gun birthday party,

which survived the weather and was a total blast for all involved. 

Pay no attention to Ford's weird blue head scarf, which he was certain made him look like a bad guy and which actually made him look like little blue riding hood.

Naturally, the party devolved

and eventually resulted in injury

which also led to Ford's having discovered that blood gets you lots of attention.

Also naturally, Finley and Mikayla jumped in the pool with their clothes on.

It was a Saturday for the record books, which ended as such Saturdays do,

and gave way to a much-needed PJ-clad "life admin" Sunday.
Not that these "helpers" were conducive to much actual cleaning.

We wrapped up our weekend with a trip to Southern Pines to see friends and hang out with miniature horses

and swing by a decent grocery store. (Pictured is Ford and the only vegetable we can get him to eat, at least pretending to be excited about them.)

Oh, and we verified that Finley and her Mom feel the same way about birds.

Update: the temperature fell below 80 and I capitulated. Bring it on, fall.