Phoebe-kins

Yesterday Blake came over and we were sitting on the back porch. Well, I was sitting and he was hanging upside down on dad's back-stretching apparatus. And he said, very seriously, "Hey, where that other cat of yours? Patches, or...teaspoon or whatever her name was?" I about died. Teaspoon? Yeah, his excuse was "I knew it was something weird."

I have been taking pictures of her enjoying her new home for Holly to see and I finally got the one I had been trying to get so now I can share!
The places she likes to sleep...



Wanting to come in from lounging on the porch with Emmitt.
This was so funny. Making Brinkley wait her turn for water.
Taking her time...
They get along so well these days!

Thursday in Spanish~Jueves en Espanol

I googled Thursday and one of the suggestions was "Thursday in Spanish" so I will tell you about my day in Spanish.

Hoy, Yo voy a la Dunkin Donuts con mi amiga, Heather Jackson. Ella es aqui de la Universidad para una vacaciones de trabajo y trabajar de escuela. Nosotros hablamos en los amigos de anos detras y yo como un donut y latte. Bastante para hoy. Yo soy muy cansada.

There. I doubt the verb conjugations are right but you get the hint. That's 4 years of Spanish for ya! Anyone get what I did today?

Top Ten Tuesday

It's technically Wednesday now, but I work late. Sue me. (I've never written "sue me" before and it looks weird...mom)

Top Ten Tuesday

I am reading a Jodi Picoult book called "Plain Truth" about an Amish girl accused of murder. (thanks diane for the suggestion) So I decided to do top ten things that would be hardest to get used to if I were to convert to Amish...ism.

10. Music, or lack thereof. No iPod, no music channel during Sunday lazy days. No background noise while cleaning.

9. Clothes/ Modesty. Not being able to get tan arms and legs and constantly wearing an apron and a bonnet. This includes make-up and hair that I would never be able to spice-up. The men wear suspenders all the time, though, which is cute.


8. Speaking German half the time. Duh.

7. The food. Constantly having to cook everything from scratch, never being able to dine out or just eat cookies for dinner with a side of delicious carbonated drinks.

6. Facial hair. Not my own, of course. But the Men. I don't like beards.

5. Buggies. No cars to speed away in, with air conditioning and stereo (see #10). No way of getting to town at faster than 12 mph.

4. Shunning/The Bann. If a family member decides to stray from the Amish faith, he is not aloud to ride in a car/buggy with his family members, eat at the same table with, or enter the family's house again.

3. Education. Boys usually go to school until 8th grade and I don't even know if the girls can go for that long.

2. Silence. No electricity in the house would make for the quietest nights. I think of the nights when we would be snowed-in during Nebraska winters with no electricity. The nights were so silent it felt like the silence was this thick cloud seeping into your and clogging your brain. (maybe that's just me). No air conditioning, fans...eh.

1. Social Life and attention from outsiders. Being treated as a spectical while trying to be detached from the world. It must be a challenge.

I think Amish culture is super interesting and one of the most interesting things about American culture! I know Holly shares this interest...and the need for a fan to sleep at night!

One More Down

Just finished my second book of the summer. It is called Good in bed and I can tell you the only reason it is called that is that Cannie breaks up with her boyfriend who goes on to write monthly columns in a women's magazine entitled "Good in Bed" all about her and their relationship. Starting with, "Loving a larger Woman". It is humiliating and shocking for her and is the start for a whirlwind crazy turn of events for her and I loved this book. A definate light-hearted beach read. By Jennifer Weiner.

There was one part near the end where she talks about why she loves the name Leah that I liked and reminded me of Leah, for obvious reasons and I wanted to quote it in hopes that it makes you want to read this book.

"Leah, the second sister, the one Jacob didn't want to marry. Leah, the trick bride, the one her father sent down the aisle in disguise. I bet Leah had a more interesting life anyhow, I wispered. I bet Leah went on hiking trips with her girlfriends and had popcorn and Margaritas for dinner, if that's what she wanted. I'll bet she went swimming naked and slept under the stars. Rachel probably bought Celine Deon CDs and those Franklin Mint Collectable plates. Rachel was probably boring, even to herself."

I wish tomorrow was Monday so that I could go rent another book from the library. However, that would also mean work. So, I'll wait.

Just edited this pic of me and my little buddy. Can't wait to see Steven, Gabby and #3 in August! I love being an aunt to such perfect little people!

A photograph is a most important document, and there is nothing more damning to go down to posterity than a silly, foolish smile caught and fixed forever.
~Mark Twain

MMM, Bed Bath & Beyoooooond<3

Yesterday I went shopping. I had 4 hours before I actually had somewhere to be so I set out to the Avenues for a little monetary pick-me-up. I bought a few tops, a dress and other things here and there. But the real prize was the last place I went. Burnt-out on shopping with a few more moments to spare, I stepped from the pavement, out of the beating sun and into the misty waterfall of the freshest air money can buy (Even their AC seems colder and...fresher) into Bed Bath & Beyond. Of course to the immediate right is all of the "could that really work?" television gadgets like ped-eggs (yes, folks. It works!) and hair removal pads (I wonder...) Then there are the kitchen nooks. I decided to break B, B & B down into nooks. Each nook has a theme and when you leave one, the next is totally different and new but keeps with the theme of that particular area of the store. First is the kitchen stuff. I entered my first nook with a heightened awareness of my hands and their capabilities. Clasped at my heart, they sat ready to baste, fry, bake and boil with anything set before them. They remained at my heart as I made my way around the entire store, looked diligently for one of those "bumpy hair thingys" that Holly said she had wanted (Sorry, Holl I woulda bet money they'd have one!)and left the store, not before being greeted by a man who looked uncannily akin to Jim Halpert aka John Krasinski. I can't wait to be married and shop there for a pink Iron and a little tomato-holder that looks like a tomato. ahhh, I love that store.

Goodbye Bonfire

I just said goodnight to Holly. They are leaving early and I won't wake up to see them off because I know it will be more emotional for Holly. I know she'll be sad at the airport and cry saying bye to mom and dad. Jr is still up doing the last-minute laundry that Holly decided needed to be done because of the bonfire we just had. We had a stump of an old palm tree that was half hollowed-out. We set it on fire and roasted marshmallows for smores over it. What great fun for the last night. We all smell and have burning eyes. Nolan dozed off around 9 and we got the fire burning.

He's such a good baby and is losing the fussiness that he had when I saw him 6 weeks ago. He only fusses when something is wrong and other than that he is all smiles and cooing. He is a great addition to the family and I've never seen Holly or Jr so happy and proud. Parenthood suits them so well and I can't wait to meet my next nephew, not too far off!

There will be plenty of pics to post of the trip and video as well! Jr has been diligently filming every aspect of their trip! I miss them already!

First Day

Today was very nice. Company came in waves with spared silence in between the over-stimulation. Phoebe got aquainted to her new home while avoiding Emmitt's playful bats and sniffs as well as Brinkley's chasing and growling. Yikes! Nolan was very sleepy like his daddy and they both took naps while Holly and I ventured out to buy diapers. Grandparents came for lunch and cards and Nolan, Holly and I took cat naps before Seth and his parents came over. We managed to watch a movie and catch up on old friends on facebook and take plenty of pictures.

Here's me and Nolan sneaking away from the crowds to bond. I sang to him and he took a nap with me in Daddy's chair. It was a great afternoon. So happy to have Holly and Jr here.

He's so very upright and alert. So different from the little man a met 6 weeks ago!

And yes, Leah. That is my "Fa-Fa" that Nolan is wrapped in. Throwback!

Definition for confused viewers: Fa-Fa was my blanket throughout childhood, he went on bike rides, grocery trips and nap times aplenty with me through the years.

The name is thought to have been derived from the Latin, Fah-Zuh, meaning-to console or pacify; and furthermore---...just kidding.