Monthly Archives: February 2010

Though this morning was far from warm, it was clear and beautiful and was, quite simply, another beautiful beginning to a beautiful day. The weather report says our week of sunshine is coming to an end, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying today!

As I headed down the road with Ellie Graye, Jeffrey called.

“Have you left for swimming yet?”

“Uh. Yeah.”

“Can you turn around and come pick me up so I can go with you?”

“We’ll be LATE, but ok, I’ll turn around.” I said with a little bit of an attitude (ok, maybe a LOT of an attitude).

I WAS, however, happy to have the opportunity to spend more time with him before he headed back to San Jose for work.  We whipped around, picked him up, and pissed off all the slow Oregon drivers as we sped along to the swim school.  Pushing Jeffrey to get us there on time, I was thrilled when we pulled into the parking lot and there was actually parking – LOTS of parking.  Something wasn’t right.  Then it hit me: classes were cancelled. Ellie proceeded to start crying.  She wasn’t crying her tantrum cry; no, she was crying that genuinely devastated cry.

“Pull-wee!!!” She hollered (“pull-wee” is actually “pull-three” which is part of the mantra we use for her breast stroke; but for her, it’s “swimming.”  According to Ellie Graye, even Jax has a pull-wee).

Jeffrey suddenly had a wonderful idea: the zoo.  We had visited yesterday and bought a season pass, so off we went for the second day in a row.  The zoo definitely broke Ellie out of her depression over the missed swim lesson, and we were all able to enjoy just being a family.  Jeffrey had to work throughout the hour we were there, but still it was worth it!

We’re always sad to see Daddy go, but at least we had bubbles to play with…check out Ellie in her bath this afternoon.  I couldn’t stop laughing!  THAT is how to catch a bubble, for SURE!

Yes, friends, she caught it with her forehead, and it stuck for a long time!

On another note…I don’t think that anyone is going to beat Dana’s “You know you’re a mother when…!”  Finding poop in the dryer just wiped out the competition!  Dana, contact me with your address, and I’ll send you a little something from DPF….

I know that this weather is rather unusual for February, but I ain’t complaining.  I am sure that we’ll be back to wearing jackets and scarves soon, but, lord almighty, I’m enjoying the ridiculously gorgeous weather while it lasts.  It feels like a vacation from winter, and I like it.  It’ll help me get through the grey weather that’s surely headed our way!

Friday and Saturday were both fantastic days.  I can’t tell you how nice it is to have had my husband here for the entire week.  It has been such a treat; adding that to the sunshine and emerging garden, and I’m just as giddy as giddy can be.

Our daffodils are on the verge of opening...

I so wish the water were warm...and it was warm out....and...well...ok, it looks nice, but it just isn't the right time!

The magnolias will be covered with flowers soon...the petals are peeking out!

The muscari (grape hyacinth) are still hiding in their foliage

Friday I did have to take Boots into the vet…AGAIN.  He was walking around with his head tilted to one side, and scratching at it constantly.  Turns out, he has an ear infection.  Oh, the joy.  I was shocked that in my big ol’ bag of dog/horse medicines, I didn’t have anything to treat it.  Oh well.  Now I do!

Last night my mother and Ed came over for dinner.  I love it when they come over.  I wish they would come over more often!  We all get along fantastically, and have so many shared interests.  Plus, Ellie Graye just loves Granma Lene, Bampa, and, of course, their dog Cassie!

The highlight of their visit, however, wasn’t the insanely yummy lamb chops that I made (I made 2 different kinds, both of which were delicious, one of which was AMAZING).  No. The highlight of the evening was no where NEAR anything we should be discussing in the same conversation as anything remotely related to food…

I think I should start a new paragraph just so that there’s space between the food discussion and what I’m about to say….

The highlight of the evening came when EG walked in and said, “Poo-Poo.”  Thinking that she had a dirty diaper, Granma Lene took her to change her.  About 5 minutes later, I heard Granma from Ellie’s bathroom.

“SHE WENT POO-POO ON THE POTTY!!!”

I threw back my chair and ran into where they were.  I jumped up and down, and screamed, and yelled and made the biggest deal about it.  Ellie was cracking up – as was Granma.  After my ridiculous dance was over, Ellie was glowing with pride.  Bampa Ed said we should have taken a picture to post on the blog to share with you all.  Hee hee.  I spared you the trauma.  But that, my friends, is when you know you’re a mom: when poo-poo becomes the reason you dance.

So here’s what I’m thinking…I’m SURE many of you have moments where you think, “when did this happen? I’m a total MOM!!!”  Come on – there have to be more than I can think of…I’ll get it started…

You know you’re a mom when…..

1. …you’re driving down the road, and you find your self saying, “Look! A COW! MOOOOOOOO.” When you turn around to see your child’s reaction – you remember that she’s with the babysitter.

2. …you’re out at a party, and out of your purse you pull a baby doll’s bottle instead of a flask (ok, not that I used to carry a flask or anything…)

3. …you know the location of every single park within a 100 mile radius.

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RANDOM PHOTOS OF THE DAY

Driving Daddy's car