Pool Party of Sorts

Henry and I went to the Tower Grove park today with the med school wives. The water fountain play area is open on Thursdays with spraying fountains (not pictured). Henry and I stayed out of the water, but still managed to have a great time.

Finally asleep, after a lot of crying.

We're in the backseat as Katie drives back to the airport. She's been
here on a three-hour layever.

Video Test

Caesar's Replacement

With Caesar on vacation in Utah for the summer, he has no idea he's been replaced. We're watching our friends' dog, Tucker, while they are in the hospital with their brand new baby (18 hours old at this point.) He's made himself right at home in Caesar's little window nest. The dog sitting in the window all day watching people has magically changed to a different breed.

Henry Squared

We went to the garden for Henry Shaw's 209th birthday. There was an actor portraying Henry Shaw, and I took his picture alongside of my Henry.

I was at the garden with some other med school wives. Along with all be very interesting people, some of them also have children.

Those children are pretty cute.

Handcart Days

My family in Bountiful is melting watching the Handcart Days parade. We just watched a thunderstorm in our unseasonably cool weather. We still wish we were at the parade though.

First rice cereal. More on face than swallowed.

Saucer is the best thing ever

Can you unlock this door without a key?

Henry's Wild Ride

We went to the garden this morning. Nick was back from rounds, the weather was unseasonably wonderful, and Janette was going, so conditions were perfect.

It was wonderful to see everything that blooms in the summer, but with spring temperatures. In the picture above, Henry is shown "riding" one of the lamb sculptures at the garden. They're designed to be touched and sat on. They all just had their ears re-enameled because every kid grabs them like handles when they sit on the sheep.

Lillies of the Garden

H and his BFF M

Nick's beautiful suturing practice. It's delicious too.

Impulse Purchase

Have you ever bought something on clearance, when all sales are final, and then almost instantly regret it?

I was on the plane to come back to St. Louis. I was sitting in my seat with the diaper bag under the seat in front of me, baby on my lap. But then the plane was oversold. They were looking for one passenger to be a voluntary bump. No one took it. Seconds passed. They offered again, detailing the sweet rewards you would get if you were willing to take a later flight. I found myself volunteering. Deep down, I had always wanted to be bumped. I've volunteered in the past, but they've never needed me.

I was INVOLUNTARILY bumped on my way to China a decade ago. That was a totally different experience than a voluntary bump. We lost of day of vacation, were almost kicked out of the country when we finally did arrive in China and it caused a lot of stress, and because we were dealing with Air China, there were no sweet rewards. Another passenger was so upset about being bumped that the LAX police became involved.

So I found myself exiting the plane, and then began wondering, "What was I thinking?" It was too late. I couldn't take it back. I slowly realized how inconvenient this was, and how much inconvenience it would cause my family. I was feeling pretty dumb for having gotten myself into this mess of taking the same flight the next morning.

My luggage was on its way to St. Louis without me. Because I had checked my car seat, Jo Ellen had to go to Shannon's house to get hers, then come and pick us up at the airport. I was in town for the evening, but not there long enough to get anything done or see anybody. Then the only thing I had time for in the morning was to go to the airport again.

The upside to this whole mess of imposing on my family is that Southwest gave me enough credit for the bump to cover Nick's round trip ticket to his away rotation in California. So, it was a day of work, but a well-paid day I guess.

Lotus Leaves 2009

Henry and I braved the heat yesterday morning to go see the lotus at the garden. We missed their peak while we were out of town, but they are still incredible. Lotus are a symbol or ressurection because they are the first thing to grow back on the edge of the Nile after flooding.

Stowaway Caesar

Quiet Little Boys

You must remember that quiet little boys like these . . .

Grow up to be wild little boys like these.

This Ad Really Isn't Working The Way They Intended

Even if I were single and 30 miles away in West Jordan, what on earth would make anyone think that these would be the men to entice me to sign up for this dating service? The man who's best picture is his slobby shirtless self? Or perhaps the narcissistic body-builder would do the trick. This is really more of a warning than an advertisement.

Partying Hard at Vinny's Baptism

Visit with Great-Grandma Preston

Henry met his Great-Grandma Preston today. He was a happy boy for the majority of the visit, but the pictures came at the end when he was ready to fall asleep. He was crying as we left, but asleep before we turned onto the main road.