Claire's first dance recital

Unfortunately Charlie and Daddy couldn't make it to Claire's dance recital, but Mommy did such a great job of taping it, it's just like we were in the front row.

Frog and Toad and "I don't know"

Gretchen taped Claire reading to herself tonight. Claire is definitely feisty when it comes to reading, but she's really coming along with the self-directed reading. Note that she skips stuff she doesn't know by saying "I don't know". I'm sure she's going to be filling in those blanks pretty soon.

Close Up

 

Gahhhhh

 

You thought I forgot about you!

I've been so bad at blogging lately. We've sold our house, made an offer on a new house as well as we've gone through just about everybody being sick lately. I've been trying to train for Cycle Oregon - in September - and pack up the house so we can move back in with Mom and Dad for the summer (thanks Greg & Betsy!). The kids are huge and Gretchen's got a new job. How's that for a quick update?

Now here's a link to a discussion about "Miracle Fruit", which Mark was so kind as to give me for my birthday last year. I thought it was amazing that it could make a lemon taste like lemon drops! Magic Fruit Turns Sour to Sweet

Cookie Monster Searches Deep

Me know. Me have problem.

Me love cookies. Me tend to get out of control when me see cookies. Me know it not natural to react so strongly to cookies, but me have weakness. Me know me do wrong. Me know it isn't normal. Me see disapproving looks. Me see stares. Me hurt inside.

At McSweeney's, Cookie monster has an existential dilemma.

Only in Seattle

 

Commence potty training!

 

Major nostalgia moment

Found this old ABC movie bumper on YouTube. I can remember watching James Bond movies on the old Trinitron (at least I think is was a trinitron, could have been a Zenith). Mom would whip up a batch of "snake meat", or possibly we would have popped popcorn in a metal shaker over the fire. We would beg to stay up longer to catch the end of whatever shenanigans 007 had got himself into this time. To think that "From Russia with Love" was only 20 years old when I first watched it...... Now "Die Hard" is 20 years old. Wow.

It's just like Metallica...except on the cello!!!

Would it be too much information if I told you this is how I envisioned myself every time I picked up the cello?

I'm telling you. When the kids go to college and I have time to practice...I'm going on tour and getting SO much tail!