To Have and To Hold

Congratulations Rudy and Jen!

A Toast to My Brother

I remember when I was eight and my parents took us out on a canoe ride to tell us that they were expecting Rudy.  My only thought was, "you took us out on a canoe to tell us this?"

When Rudy was a baby, Ryan and I wished he would start talking; only to wish he would quit once he started.

I have a lifetime of memories of tormenting Rudy; repeatedly tying his arms up in his sweatshirt, getting him to tell on himself and helping Ryan to persuade him that the Lion King video would self-destruct after the 25th viewing.  Ir's a good thing Rudy forgives and forgets easily.

But in all seriousness it has been a joy watching Rudy come over to the dark side during the last few years, especially since he was so adamant he would never become a boring adult like the rest of us.

Rudy, you couldn't have picked a better person to share your life with.  I wish you both a lifetime of happiness.  And, Rudy, you were worth the canoe ride.

Only Time Will Tell

More and more I've caught this one using her left hand to eat and draw.

Only time will tell if she decides that's the hand for her.

Things Heard Around Here

Mommy: Kellyn, what does a kitty say?

Kellyn: Meeeoowww

Mommy: What does a puppy say?

Kellyn: Ruff, ruff

Mommy: What does a cow say?

Kellyn: Moooooooooo

Mommy: What does a frog say?

Kellyn: Bibbitt, bibbitt

Mommy: What does a duck say?

Kellyn: Quack-a-wak

Mommy: What does a monkey say?

Kellyn: No more monkeys jumping on the couch.

Aric: That's a lot of animals!

Stuck Inside

Sometimes it seems the days of summer have all run into one big long never ending day.  With scorching temperatures and a Mommy who is nursing a bad knee (more on that later), the kids have been inside quite a bit.

If we're not careful it can be quite boring:

But we tend to be pretty good at entertaining ourselves.

So, don't you worry about us.

Dress Up

Years ago when I lived in Seoul, Korea I had a kimono custom made.  I remember being so excited when I was headed to the shop to pick it up.  I was so excited until I saw what they had done.  Instead of being the vibrant blue kimono with black trim that I had envisioned it was vibrant blue with red trim.  The only thing I needed to complete my outfit was a cape and a big S on my chest.  I never wore it and have never known what to do with it.  I never did get rid of it, though, because it was a reminder of my time in Korea.

I finally figured out what to do with it:

She didn't seem to mine that the colors weren't what I had envisioned.  I also figured out what to do with some old hats, purses and Ryan's high school graduation gown.

I guess it was a good purchase after all.

Things Heard Around Here

But Mommy, we have to pay for that!

Yelled repeatedly as we're leaving Best Buy with my newly repaired camera that I have already paid a lot of money for and have no intention of paying for a second time.  Furthermore, I am not paying another dime because upon arriving home I realized that my neck strap and lens cap are now missing with most likely no hope of ever having them returned.