A Quick Fix

Okay, so I'm behind. Things just keep happening (Justin starts school on Wednesday, and yes, we are officially unemployed now) and I keep thinking.... oh, another thing... I really can't handle commenting on another thing. So, rather than do the zillion posts I've thought of doing lately, I'm just going to put it all in one and get it done (or get 'er done... as some would say). Beware Jody, many pictures and videos ahead! That is, if you're still reading my blog, since that's what I normally do anyway.

Anyway, due to some family stuff with Justin's side of the gang, we did not get to quite finish our vacation the week Justin had off work. We ended up scheduling one exciting event for the next Friday: the Heber Valley Railroad.

May I just say I would recommend the experience to anyone! (We have some bounce-back tickets that are good for maybe another two weeks, $10 off, if anyone wants to claim them.) All of us had a great time. Really, it was so relaxing. Like being rocked to sleep with a fresh wind in your face and beautiful scenery all around. I thought Ellie would get bored eventually (I even brought books), but boy was I wrong. She still talks about it now. We rode the train a little ways, had a chance to learn some square-dancing (my favorite part), and rode the train back to the station. Even Meg stopped screaming once the engine began pulling us down the track. I can't even describe how much our family enjoyed this activity.

I got online afterward to see if Justin and I could go on a date some time and learn square dancing (sans the baby on my hip and the toddler in his arms), but I think it's mostly old people hanging out together at square dancing conferences. And as much as I wouldn't mind hanging out with a bunch of old people (my grandparents loved to square dance) I don't really plan on entering some square dancing contest anytime soon.

Okay, next on the list: We're all moved into our new house, and I actually decided to decorate this time. I suffer from "Aren't we going to move soon anyway" disorder. Previous to this house I mostly hung a few things on the wall, and pretended it didn't look like I'm still living in a dorm. My mother mocks me endlessly concerning this problem. Well, our new place has beige walls and green carpet (as Jimmy Zangwow would say: "Holy Macaroni") so I decided I would actually try. Deep breaths everyone. Below is one of my projects that turned out well enough that I took pictures of them before something (or someone) destroyed them.

AnneMarie and Ellie also wanted to join in the fun. They were pretty good painters, even if the concept of one paint brush per color didn't quite sink it. They especially enjoyed adding sparkles to their creations.

Okay, so now on to the short and sweet entries that have amused me over the past few weeks. Below is a picture of Ellie after church today. Depending on when you ask her she: A)tripped and ran into a table, B)tripped and ran into a wall, C)was pushed over by another nursery attendee. I really haven't a clue... although circumstantial evidence does lead me to believe there is a somewhat violent child in our new nursery class. Ellie has never complained about bullying before (Is this because she was the bully?), but she's now told me she's been pushed and bitten. Hmmmm. Anyway, she sure has the goose egg to prove that something happened today. Pictures truly don't do it justice. It's so large it even makes her eyebrow go all swervy. Ironically, her goose egg is in the same place as Meg's bump... so we told Ellie it was cool because now she was like her sister. I'm not quite sure she believed us.

This is a picture of Meg looking like she belongs on Ellis Island. If only I had one of those white hats those children all wore. We tried to get her to smile, but in the end it was only fitting that she look so serious. I should have uploaded it in black and white. Speaking of which, we watched a really good movie about Ellis Island the other day called "The Golden Door." It was subtitled and we had to hold up pillows to our heads during the whole admittance to America thing (apparently baths were not a common thing on the boats), but it certainly helped me understand the whole Ellis Island experience a lot more clearly.

Meg is now eating at the table with all of us. She makes us laugh. Elise and she are sooooooo different. Elise loved food. Just ask the Bomans. They didn't believe us when we brought four Gerber baby food cartons for an evening out, but she surprised them and downed them all. Meg on the other hand has a mouth like a vice of steel. She will open it for pears and bananas. Peas and Squash? Dream on!!! Her favorite part of dinner is what we call dessert. We wipe her up and let her suck on the washcloth. (Come on, tell me you didn't do it when you were a kid). She gets a kick out of it every time.

Speaking of Meg being different than Ellie: we have discovered that Meg is much more interested by texture and sound than Ellie ever was. She loves rattles. Ellie never shook a toy to see if it made noise in her life. Meg, on the other hand, shakes the toys I bring to church (all quiet ones) any direction possible, hoping, just hoping that it will somehow make noise. Texture is her reason for not liking all foods. Rice cereal and oatmeal are big no-nos. I only get a taste in if I hide it with pears. The other difference is that Meg is very spatial. She understands how things move. Justin and I would try and try to teach Ellie how to put her binky in her mouth. She never got it. (Or she just knew how to make us peform her every whim and fancy). Meg has been doing it for centuries. So, the other day I filmed it. Simply because I am amazed by it. Geeky, I know. And you will now be forced to watch it. Or at least scroll past it. Too bad for you.

Okay, okay... enough is enough. So, we'll let you all be. Have a great end of the summer. We'll see you on the other side of school starting!

And okay, I know I forgot to do the whole Agent 007 thing. I am obviously too tired. Which is also why you should forgive any typing errors!!! See you all later.

Hey, whatcha looking at!!!