Rubber Duckies

Results of Portrait Class

I think this is my most technically correct picture from the class last night, but it's also a boring one. Maybe next week will be more exciting.

Laughing Baby

Baby's feet are being tickled while he is held captive in the highchair.

Photography and tickling by Nick.

Portrait Class

The lights are making it really hot in here. I'm melting, melting.
What a world.

Me and My Boy

The dog is at the groomers, so H and I are just hanging out. Our house still smells a tiny bit like smoke. I'll tell you more about that later.

Drum Solo

Head Mischief Maker

Although Henry is the Head of Mischief-making, the dog is a great assistant. Earlier today I found them playing tug-of-war with a plastic baby spoon.

Science Center: Scructure Exhibit

He's not making very much progress on building this tower. He did enjoy licking the pieces.

How He Dances

Tower Grove Fountain

Waking Up is Hard to Do

All Tuckered Out

We're on our way home.

They Know How to Party

Catching a brief nap during the parade.

Sulley: Lead Scarer

Disney Has Classier Pidgeons

First Gluttony, Then a Nap

Wishes Fireworks

Surprise!

To: Jo Ellen

Hi Wendy!

I just wanted to say hello.

Food Poisoning

You will be relieved to know this post will contain no pictures.

I was sick Saturday and Sunday, with the most likely culprit being food-borne illness.  The almost-medical professional I consulted (Nicholas), agreed that all my symptoms were consistent with a common type of food poisoning. 

I was sick on the couch all day Saturday, trying to take good enough care of Henry and the dog that they would both be alive and well when Nick got home Saturday night.  Thank goodness that Henry has learned to play with toys!  I mostly watched him play with his drum, little house, and ball-spinning toy for most the day.  When I had to change a messy diaper, I thought it almost killed me.  The good news is twenty-four hours after the onset of illness, I was feeling pretty good.  So me, the baby, and the dog all survived the incident and are back to normal.

My mom doesn't really believe in food poisoning.  Most people will experience food bourne illness many times in their lives.  Much of it will not be diagnosed as such.  Hepatitis A is going to be pretty obvious though.  I recommend the vaccination for that one. 

My mom thinks that unless you are as sick as she was in Gallup, New Mexico in the late seventies, throwing up in a crappy motel wishing you were dead, you can't possibly have food poisoning.  I think she still hates New Mexico a little over the incident.  She blames the gravy.

Happy Birthday, Mom

Sweet and Asleep

My Father's Daughter

I'm at Nick's cousin's wedding dinner. I've chosen Vasque Boots as my
formal footwear. It's too cold and icy for cuter shoes. I am wearing
black pearls though, which I feel mitigate the "Best of Cabela's" look.

So I guess this means I have to take back some of the fun I made when
my dad wore these boots to the beach. They're very versatile.

And Congratulations to Britney and Ben! It was a beautiful evening.

Because She Knows

Miss A looked completely sweet, until I pointed my camera at her. Then she does a dinosaur impersonation. It will make me very sad when Henry realizes what the camera is for.

Best Puppet Ever

This may be the greatest hand puppet of all time. A minute after this
performance, Brigham made Miss A cry when his tarantuala puppet
pounced on her little caterpillar puppet.

It's available at the Butterfly House gift shop for $37. I didn't buy
it, but I wanted to.

It Could Be Much Worse

Last night it snowed four or five inches.  Then in got even colder.  The high was seventeen and it was windy.  Nick was scheduled to be in Virginia by this afternoon for the interview dinner tonight, and the actual interviews tomorrow.  Yesterday morning Southwest called to notify us they had cancelled his flight.  So, we booked a ticket on another flight.  A few hours later, they called and canceled that one too.  So, we booked again, with Nick headed to Florida in order to get to Virginia.  About 4:00 AM today,  Southwest called and canceled that one too.

Nick's last alternative was to book another flight that got him there at 9:00 tonight.  He'd be too late for the dinner, but make the actual interview tomorrow.  The good news is that's what has happened.  After a full day of worrying it would get canceled too, he boarded the plane.  He is now in Virginia.

When I pulled into the drop-off lane at the airport, and employee knocked on my window to tell me my tire was flat.  Nick had to get going, so after a quick inspection it was decided I would limp to the nearest gas station, and then to a tire shop.  I went slowly, but everyone was driving slowly because of the snow and ice so that worked nicely.

After getting the tire back up to pressure, I drove to the tire shop about 100 yards from Janette's house.  Firestone fixed the flat and changed my oil while I spent some quality time with friends.  In this barely double-digit weather, it could have been so much worse.

And does anyone know where the spell check icon is on the new blogger screen????

He Knows How to Relax

Six Years Ago

January 3, 2004, we were married in the Salt Lake Temple.

Happy Anniversary, Nick!

We Have Returned

In the last several months, we've been away from home more often than not. Fortunately our travels are slowing down and things will settle back to normal.

There is always a sense of disappointment at the end of the holidays. I never do as much as I meant to or gave as much as I should or visited everyone I intended, but it was a great holiday season.

I hope everyone's new year is off to a good start.