Crawling Into Trouble

I don't think she wanted me to grab the camera before untangling her from this mess.

16 Months in the Making

About two weeks after I found out I was finally pregnant I went to Utah for a visit and bought these shirts.

I think she looks good in blue, don't you?

Way to Wake Up

Last night I slept on the couch (by choice). Then this morning my sweet husband came in and did the sweetest thing ever. He gingerly tucked the blanket around me.

While he was tucking me in he took the remote from me... and turned on College Game Day!!!

Go BYU!!!

Twilight, Thus Far

Today I read a review by What About Mom, about the Twilight series.

I am in the midst of reading the series (nearly at the point of no stopping in book 2). And because I hate surprises I had to read her review.

My take thus far, fun books, but not really written to a high level.

What do I mean by that?

Honestly, I don't really know because I wasn't an English major and I don't know too much about reviewing literature in the true sense. I just know Bella seems a little too odd... like she didn't feel like a real person to me... more like a created being whose chacteristics fit all to conveniently into the story line.

That being said, will I read the rest of the series? You bet. Will I read other books she writes? Probably, if they are available at the library.

Now my final thoughts about these books and their rampant popularity. It seems their has been a resurgence of reading lately. I know Meyer's books in no way approach the success of the famed Rowling, but it is interesting the number of people who seem to be reading, often for the first time in a long while.

I wonder if it is because these are written at a younger reading level? Are readers most comfortable reading books that are written at a 6th or 7th grade level? As those are the books I most often read, I hang my head only slightly as I ask that question. I love childrens and young adult books, and while they aren't stretching my mind to new heights the stories are quite imaginative.

Climbing, Crawling and Carseats

Callie can crawl. She can also climb as evidenced by her love of climbing into Alyson's carseat.

Speaking of carseats...

What kind of convertible car seats do ya'all use? What do you think of them? Any recommendations?

Right now we use a Chicco Key Fit car seat and I love it. Installation is super easy and I liked the stroller and the easy fold/unfold and that it can stand up when folded. Now we are looking at convertible seats and I have read Consumer Reports and lots of user reviews, but I was curious if my friends, family or blog followers might be able to shed some light on the topic.

Gotta Love Grandma!

Grandma discovered the joys of Gymboree via Ebay this week and Callie is the proud recipient! Here Grandma just delivered her first gift (notice the clothes piled behind her match the beret). Grandma also has the coolest stuff to play with. Callie just loves her badge

Look Ma, No Hands!

Alyson (my niece) learned how to sit up all by herself this week. Right now she can do it for about 30 second increments. We will work on the endurance next week.

Clogged Drains

So when you haven't had a garbage disposal in nearly 5 years and your husband tells you its okay to put potato peels down it, don't believe him.

Yesterday I "tried" to make some sweet potato oven fries (does anyone know how to make them crispy without burning 'em?) and then I tried the garbage disposal. Of course, this clogged the sink.

So I pulled out the trusty plunger and plunged away to no avail. (Which it turns out there are two different kinds of plungers--this is a sink plunger, real toilet plungers are more heavy duty, Thanks Home Depot Home Improvement Book!)

I decided I would just take the pipes apart. The disposal was still able to run smoothly, the water just wouldn't go down, so I knew the debris was stuck in the line somewhere. I managed to clear the pipes and then when I went to put it back together I realized I was missing one of these round screwy thingies...

see how there's nothing threaded to those thready things?

Turns out after Jeff went to the hardware store today nothing is supposed to be threaded onto those thready things... Just a rubber washer that was on there to begin with.

So we didn't have to buy anything to fix it. And that's why Life Doesn't Suck As Much As I Thought this Thursday.

Bottoms Up!

Both Smiling

I'm sure ya'all know how hard it is to get a picture with two babies smiling at the same time, so I think you appreciate this one, even if Alyson isn't looking at the camera. It is hard to tell with just a still pic, but what I was trying to capture was the toy that Callie will seriously work to get to. It's her cousin. She scooted about three feet while remaining sitting up to get to Alyson, to poke, prod or otherwise torture her. I am pretty sure Callie is getting her licks in now, because while Callie currently outweighs Alyson, I am fairly certain Alyson will be the larger of the two.