happy halloween

This was the first Halloween that one of my children wasn't crying. It was great! We had a fantastic evening at the Davis' with dinner club and a few other families. The kids ate kid food, danced to Halloween tunes and played in their costumes. After dancing we walked down the street to do some trick or treating. (All that wonderful candy is going to be fabulous potty treats.) Eloise was a ladybug and Lily was pink leopard. We got some great pics. The group pic is minus one, he really wanted his mom:)

First, a dancing video



Eloise & Will


The group


Eloise & Lily


mama & her girls

a reminder

I forgot about this video. Thanks to Laura and Daniel, we were "introduced" to this couple. Their story reminds me that I am fortunate to have healthy children. Lord, let me never take for granted your power and your mercy.

we have a crawler on our hands

Lily is 8 months today and crawling. It's been pretty fun to watch this little person move about the house. This is where I found her this morning.

case of the missing converse - SOLVED

I found the missing converse. In Lily's laundry basket at the bottom.

I had asked eloise the other day if she threw her shoes away. She said 'yes'. So I assumed they made it out with the trash. Then the other night it occurred to me...she meant the laundry.

So this Saturday (the day I do mine and the girls laundry) I found them. YES!!!

I can still say I have never lost any shoes.

a mixed post

tonight with eloise:
me: "Eloise, do you see the moon?"
E: "I don't see it, oh there it is"
me: "okay eloise, it's time to go to sleep, say goodnight moon"
E: "I want the moon, give me the moon"
me: "I want to give you the moon, but I can't, it's way up high in the sky"
E: gigantic meltdown and the words "I want the moon" repeated over and over


Quote on my Starbuck's coffee cup today: (tell me what you think after reading it)

"Wild animals often do a much better job of caring for their offspring than we civilized and educated humans do. If we cannot keep children safe in their own homes, how can we hope to make ourselves safe in the world?"

-Lee Grogg, Exec. Dir. of Ryther Child Center
(an agency providing safe places and opportunities for children

potty training

am I ready? I don't think so, but eloise seems to be. Last night she went on the potty and today she wanted to sit on the big potty. While sitting on the big potty, she wanted to do so w/o her little potty insert. She fell in! It was pretty funny and thankfully, did little to thwart our efforts.

We went to target to pick out big girl panties. She picked hello kitty ones. It was more exciting for her to play with the package then look at the big girl panties.

When we got home she wanted to wear them and did so for 30 minutes. The entire time I was fretting about her peeing on the floor. I must have said every 5 minutes, "remember, if you have to pee, you need to go on your potty". It was always met with, "okay mom, 5 special treats if I go on the potty".

I'm just not ready. I'm ready to give up the money we are spending on diapers every month, but I'm just not ready to add that to my day. The asking, the planning, etc. Maybe I need to adjust my attitude. Who knows. My plan is not to push this and see what happens. Maybe you moms who have gone through this can offer up some advice.

pink converse, infant size 6 - status: MIA

Eloise has a pink pair of low top converse. Converse fit her better than any shoe b/c she has narrow, thin feet. She had a pair in size 5 and obviously grew out of them. My mom bought her a 6 and found them for $10!

Well, Thursday night, they seem to have been abducted, thrown away, misplaced, or walked off on their own. I cannot find them and I have turned this house upside down.

The worst case scenario: I love to throw things away. Literally, I LOVE it. Not a hoarder at all, except maybe with clothes, but even that has gone by the wayside. All I can think of is that I got busy cleaning up the house after the girls were in bed, had them in my hand along with something I was going to throw away and they managed to take a dive with the garbage. I would feel awful if that happened. However, the trash is out and I'm not about to dig through it for $10 pair of shoes. We have backups.

Has anyone seen me?
Color: Pink w/white soles
Age: 3 months
Size: infant 6
Distinguishing marks: lots of love from playing outdoors
Last seen: on the dining room table








If you have seen or know anyone who has seen me, please contact the proper authorities, Eloise's mama.

to boise and back

Whew! I made it. I managed to get Lily and myself to Boise and back. There were a few bumps in the road, but all in all, it was a great trip.

My dear friend Kate Harding-Swartley (she hates the hyphen, but it honors her situation) was getting remarried last Saturday. Her late husband, Cory Harding, died a little over 2 years ago from a brain tumor. He was survived by Katie and their daughter Langley. She met an amazing man, Bill Swartley, and they now are husband, wife and Langley.

Katie and I met while working at the INN as interns. The women who worked together that year have been meeting yearly (or trying to). Breeze and I were the only two who could attend the wedding. She brought her youngest son, kai, 3 1/2 months, and he was a dream. So easy going and relaxed compared with my crazy, busy Lily.

I drove up to my parents last Wednesday to drop off Eloise. I was a little worried as to how she would handle mom and lily being away for 4 days, but she sailed right through. Loving every minute at Nana's.

Breeze and I flew out Thursday morning. Both babies did wonderfully on the flight. Upon arriving in Boise we were able to spend the day and evening with Katie and the family. We relaxed on the living room floor and enjoyed the company of great friends. This living room floor seems to hold many a memory for me. Praying for Katie as she walked through dealing with Cory's sickness, remembering Cory as we prepared for his memorial, and this day, a meal and stories before preparing for Katie's wedding.

Friday morning we headed to Java, this wonderful little cafe with the most fantastic oatmeal with bananas and steamed milk. Then to see Katie again before she headed off to the rehearsal. On the off time we shopped and drove around hoping for the occasional car nap to fend off meltdowns.

Saturday, wedding day. We were both surprisingly emotional. I think I had some sort of jitters the entire day. The site of Katie walking down the isle sprouted some emotions we didn't know we had. It was a bittersweet feeling. Heavy on the sweet and light on the bitter. I was so excited for Katie to have found this wonderful love and for Langley to have a father figure in her life. But at the same time, reminded of what Katie didn't have, Cory. I know for her this process has been long and I'm sure this day couldn't have come fast enough, but for those who haven't been able to walk the process, it was emotional.



After the wedding we enjoyed a fantastic reception of good food and good wine. (I think I would have enjoyed it more without lily) It was a great celebration for all.

Sunday we had a wonderful brunch all together. Then back to Katie's to wait for our flight later that night. We enjoyed another day of memories on that living room floor. Talking, laughing, eating chinese and opening wedding gifts. I even got away for a nap with lily on katie's bed.

Finally, it was time to return to home. I was certainly ready and I think lily was too. She screamed for most of the plane ride home. Thankfully, we had wonderful flight attendants and 6 or so other moms with babies lily's age. I tried as hard as I could not to burst into tears because I couldn't get her crying under control. I held it in until I climbed into my dad's truck when he picked us up from the airport. I think the emotions from the weekend and the emotional airplane ride resulted in a meltdown. I was so excited to see Eloise and then return home to see Dave. We are so happy to be home.

We wish Bill, Kate & Langley all the joy in the world. May the Lord bless you and keep you always.