Jessika!

When you don't get out much, you've gotta love it when people come to you!

Last week one of my college roommies, Jessika, came to Seattle and we met up a Pike Place Market (it's where they throw the fish in all the sitcoms about Seattle).  Juggling and feeding two kids, I didn't have enough arms for a camera, but here's one I stole from her blog.

I loved college so much and my roommates were the highlight of the whole experience for me.

Thanks for coming, Jess!  So good to see you.

Bethelle's Wishes

A couple weeks ago, Bethelle informed me that she wished she could "have wings and fly with Jesus!"  She has repeated this wish to me several times.  While I hope her wish doesn't come true for a long, long time, I do think it's adorable.

Last week she saw a picture of a fair with one of those big slides that you sit on a potato sack to ride down.  She went on one of these last fall with her daddy.  She let me know that now she has two wishes: to fly with Jesus and to go on a big slide.

A couple days ago, I was sitting with my parents and my own family in a park.  My dad asked if we were all going to the fair this year.  In response, I asked Bethelle to tell Grandpa what her two wishes are.  She said, "I want to go on a big slide with Jesus!"

Class of '98

Well, that was me 10 years ago.  What a change... in everything... since then.

My reunion was a couple weeks ago.  I had fun preparing.  I went shopping for what felt like the first time in my adult life.  I have decided that I really like Ann Taylor and Anne Taylor Loft.  Their clothes are simple but stylish and fit me well.  I digress.

The reunion was fun.  Somehow it was more like high school than I even expected.  But with beer.  And this leads me to my biggest complaint about the night: the ticket price assumed you would be getting a little tipsy.  That aside, the meal was great and I enjoyed reconnecting with friends.  I am very impressed with and inspired by many of their lives.  One of my best HS friends is a pediatric dentist with some strong conservative ideas.  Another just had her first baby.  Her enthusiasm over this blessing has been enough to convince another good friend that it's time for her to take the placenta plunge.  Everyone seems to have goals and motivations and exciting places that they are purposefully going with their lives.

See y'all in ten.  Hopefully sooner.

Change of Address

No, we're not moving.  This blog is.  As of about September 14th, I will move this blog to elkesgarden.blogspot.com.  As a reminder, I've made a note in the column to the right.  Take a minute to jot this down or bookmark it.  I don't want any of you to lose me, so act!

She's a Good Girl

Bethelle has been working on two major goals all on her own.

The first is saying her "th" sound.  This is critical, as she calls herself "Beffelle".  She is generally well spoken and precocious for her age, but she does say "heen" for "thing".  Lately, when she finds herself saying "thing" she says "h-ththththth-heen".  I couldn't be prouder.  Daddy had pointed this out to her, but she is working on it all on her own.

The next goal is that most mornings she will say to me, "I'm going to obey today!"  I get so excited to hear that and I tell her she can do it.  Recently, I got a little upset with her for not doing something as she should have.  She turned to me and said, "I'm obeying today!  I don't want to have to tell you that again!"  It was like listening to a tape recorder of myself.

Protein in a Pancake

A friend gave me this simple recipe and I tried it this morning.  It's a winner!

4 eggs

1 1/2 c oatmeal

1 banana

That's it!  Dump it all in a blender and whirl it around until the oatmeal is pretty broken up.  Cook them as you would any pancake.  The edges don't bubble (that's what I look for to turn them over), so don't wait for that.  I used rolled oats, but my friend says you can use any kind, even flavored.

Carseats are not baby-proof

... at least when they are taken apart for cleaning.  I was washing the liners when Nick came home and found this:

"Elke, did you know he's eating his carseat?"  Yeah.  I did.  I figure it's good for him.

Here's the damage:

It still works, I guess.

Rigby is too clever for his tiny frame.  He recently discovered that he can push a toy or box up to the coffee table and then climb up on it using his spidy fingers and wiggling his hips.  He can also scale some of the ramps on big toys.  Since these discoveries, he is on the look-out for new trouble.  As he doesn't care how he gets down (head first is generally preferred), this opens a new level of baby-proofing to be done.  But how?

I have made several posts today, so be sure to keep reading!

I spoke too soon

I've been postponing this post because I haven't wanted to accept it, but it's official.  Rigby's eyes are still crossed.  Before his surgery, he was a "55" (whatever that means).  He has improved quite a bit to a "30", but more surgery is required.  Our doctor seemed disappointed and a little surprised.  He had weakened his inner eye muscles as much as possible.  He now has to strengthen the outer muscles to pull the eyes straight.  I will report more as it occurs.

We are sad to go through this again.

A Nap, the Zoo, and the Beach

Just a quick post of some family activities and cute pics:

Bethelle asleep.  Isn't she a beauty?  I love sleeping children.

Feeding the goats at the zoo.
Look at the face!  This guy belongs here.
This is where we go when we're tempted to turn on the AC.  
I saw this guy in the water and felt bad that he had such a little shell for his massive body.  {Body?  Is that what you call this?}
We touched him and the guy actually shrunk right up into it.  I felt like I witnessed a miracle.  Now if I could only perform the same trick into a seemingly-too-small dress...

Hawaii

I just bought a plane ticket to Hawaii.  I am soooo excited.  It's been a really long time.  I will be visiting my college roommie, Sara, so it just could not be better.

And yes, I am going with the man in my life.  Well, one of my men.  Rigby will soon taste his first Dole Whip and be kissed by a hula dancer.

So excited.

Calling on Girl Power

I really like girl power songs.  I think they're healthy.  The funny thing is that Nick really likes them too.  Don't tell him I told you that.

Add a comment to this post and tell me your favorite girl power song(s).  I want to collect more of them in my iPod.  If I like yours the best, I'll send you a favorite song of mine via iTunes!