Eleanor's First Tea Party... and other adventures

 

It was Mike's idea actually (although my execution..who knew you could learn to make a tricorn hat off of youtube? see...I knew that black foam I got on sale at Michael's would come in handy someday). While it was a personal struggle to bypass an opportunity to dress Ellie up in pink decadence...this did have a larger comic effect.

some photos with our fabulous photographer friend Mel

And....the promised nursery pics (I had to wait for a day when it was clean...let it be known in full disclosure...it will never look like this again...)

Ellie with probably her favorite toy, an ostrich beanie baby given by Grandma Suzie. I think the draw comes from the pointed beak -- which looks suspiciously like a nipple.

Dad babysitting. Apparently, our definition of "quality time" is different.

Yeah. She's totally out.

Daddy-daughter nap. I love these shots because my own Dad is such a devoted evangelist for naps -- in all shapes and sizes.

Sunday pic. Mom decided it was time for spring. Fake it till you make it, I say.

Lest you think my daughter is giggles and sunshine all the time. Uhm, no. She has what parents like to affectionately call "personality". She can cry... and scream with the best of them.

Not happy!

This is the closest I've come to capturing her perfect "frown" she does with her downturned lip...its pretty much the cutest sad face you'll ever see.

Walkabout the neighborhood.

Cheeks.

Some naked time on the bed.

Rolls. Love it!!

 Another sunday pic.

Dad put her in the bin. I've never put my child in a bin. She is trying to eat her way out.

Our 5-month picture. 

Is just starting to sit up...she can hold this for a few minutes now (meaning she is putting yoga gurus to shame the world over with her far over she is leaning)

My Birthday...surely the event you were celebrating on Sunday, right?

So my birthday post is a little delayed. Mostly I would like to lay blame on the fact that it fell on Mother Day's this year, so May 11th was a little uncoventional in its singularly honoring of me for existing. However, this is no way disparages the wonderful care and treatment I received from my spouse and the lovely phone calls and birthday musical tributes from friends and family members.

Big thank-you to all--it was a big deal to even remember.

I started the day like any other leisurely (restful...a day of rest, right?) Sunday, by sleeping in and waking up to find my husband doing something because of his unfortunately inability to sleep past nine like his wife. I hope this can be overcome by breeding, because I am not sure how psyched I am for children who for some reason *can't* sleep in.

Michael then made me homemade--meaning no Bisquick-- waffles. With homemade whipping cream and lots of delicious strawberries (thank you Costco). I ate them on my "special day" red plate, it is a tradition in our family and was a wedding present from my Nonna.

We then waffled around, I did some sewing, I received some people by phone (kind of like Edwardian vistors with cards, but in my pajamas instead.)Then we went to church, and I looked cute in new clothes, thanks to Mom-and-Dad B-day/going home/shopping bananza present. The shoes weren't new, but were fantastic nonetheless. I bought them as retail therapy instruments when Mike went back to Coeur d'Alene last spring to work and I was stuck at school in P-town. Don't judge me--they are amazing shoes.

Dinner was fresh shiskabobs. Dessert was homemade Creme Brulee (too lazy to put the accent mark, but I know its there). All made by husband. All delicous. Ate an astonishing amoung, considering the low expenditure of caloric energy on Sunday. Fabulous.

Read outside on the grass in the park. Ate some Ben and Jerry's chocolate PB ice cream, because I decided I hadn't had enough sugar. Smelled my beautiful flowers from my man (see, if you bug them enough about it, they will bring them to you...oh...what a surprise...thank you!). Opened up my present from hubbie, new hot pink running shoes (crap...now I have to keep on running... :-))....

Wonderful day. 23 is looking good so far.

Good Sabbath

My college roommates and I tried to stage a come-back of this Jewish phrase used frequently in Fiddler on the Roof. I don't think it made it, but I still like the connotation of the greeting, like hey, it's Sunday, hope you have a nice relaxing one.

It is pretty easy to do that when your church is at one and your biggest decision in what carbohydrate-comfort-food you will choose for your over-sized Sunday meal. I chose some nice Costco tortellini, little bruschetta/bagel slices and green beans, yum.

So, the "boy" is my husband, Mike, the lumbering six and half foot man of my life. I started referring to him as the boy when we were first dating at BYU, many years after I had first met him, and the nickname stuck. While he is much more a man, probably the best man that I know, I still think it is cute. We are living in P-town, Provo for those of you not as familiar with the eclectic bubble of Mormon Americana nestled along the Wasatch Front. Mike is going to school at the Y, and I, with my bachelor's already done, am working in Salt Lake and preparing for grad school. This picture shows our area at its best, the Alpine Loop during the Fall.

Our life is busy but really fun. We are pretending to be real people with an apartment and a penchant for youTube videos, Arrested Development, going to the gym, and being home in the most glorious place on earth -- Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Welcome.