Brain Dump

1. Sophie has settled back to her usual reclusive, boring, fat cat status, leaving us a little less motivated to send her straight to the electric chair. But we still don't really like her. And surprisingly, no one was jumping out of their skin to make her their own. If anyone reading this reconsiders, you know how to find me.

2. We got hit by the stomach bug this weekend. After watching it spread all over town for the past few weeks, Ava bore the brunt of it at our house. She seems to be recovering nicely, though she does make one very pathetic patient.

3. Ava's keen sympathies for all who suffer means that I never, ever have any dish towels. Even after I've done the laundry. Maybe especially after I've just done the laundry. After washing hands, and turning around to not find the towels draped over the oven as hoped, I have to do a little searching. See Exhibit A & B.

Exhibit A

She has a few of these set-ups strewn through the house at all times. Somebody always seems to "have the chills and a bad feeber" or "got bit by ants" or "had to have pokeys (shots)".

Exhibit B

Poor George here seems to have one of the most elaborate nursing stations we've seen for a while, including some fake food, real marshmallows, and a drawing to cheer him up.

4. Failing to properly mention Luke's Hippo and Blankey on this blog would be a big mistake. They are practically members of the family and we could not get along without them.



Ba-po, as he is lovingly referred to by Luke has turned out to be "the lovey" . And now I am wishing that I had bought two. Too bad when I bought him for Christmas 2 years ago, I could not predict his future status.

5. I'm going to LA in 3 days. Not Los Angeles, the much more exciting destination of Louisiana! I can't wait to see my long lost friend Val! But is it completely selfish of me to not be 100% satisfied because I know the trip will be over in a few days and I'll come home and she'll stay there and we'll be right back where we started? I really, really miss my friend. Her being gone has made even more of an impact on me than I had anticipated. But that is a sad, self-dissecting post for another day.

6. As I asked Ava in the tub this morning if she wanted some shampoo, she held out her hand and said, "Yes. Is it poison?"

7. We are all eagerly anticipating our whirlwind trip to Utah in a couple of weeks for Dan's sister's wedding. Ava gets to wear what she calls a "wedding dress" and she is over the moon about it. I will be 36 weeks then, and we are saying lots of prayers that no baby business comes up (or out) until we are back on Texas soil. And my momma, the industrial woman she is, is coming with us to take care of our kids while we're at the wedding functions. Thank you , Momma!

8. BYU's loss Saturday, has driven Dan to do something totally out of character. He came in to announce the loss ( I had already given up and was watching something else) and also announced that he was buying a book. The two thoughts seemed so totally unrelated, but apparently he had the idea that a good book would take his mind off of things. So he went to Walmart and bought a book. He is not much of a reader, but has been duly distracted by his new find. I hope he keeps it up. Speaking of which it's probably about time I started a new book. It's been a while.

9. I made Ava another dress, this one from a woman's dress shirt. She liked it for a few days. And while she doesn't jump at the chance to pose for pictures, she apparently doesn't like to share the spotlight with her little brother either.