Here's Ella helping mommy plant some pots this past weekend. She loves to get dirty. She also loves to be mommy's little helper. (I'm loving this stage, but I know it won't last forever.) She so enjoyed helping me clean out the weeds from the flower beds that she now considers every blade of grass to be a weed. It's too cute to watch her sit down on the lawn and so deliberately weed the grass.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Another Poop Adventure and Memorial Day Recap
Ella has been battling a bad case of diaper rash. Our trusty Airbonne product is working well, but the rash keeps coming back. After bath time, we let Ella run around naked. While this does carry some inherit risks, we've been fortunate enough to avoid any disasters. That was until last night. Ella and I were playing peekaboo complete with high energy and lots of laughs while Mike picked up her room a bit. Ella positioned herself in her closet door frame. After a few peekaboo repetitions, she stopped and stayed a few seconds longer behind the frame. She then came darting out of the closet. In all her trailblazing, she lovingly dropped a healthy turd on her bedroom floor before she ran away with such enthusiasm. Mike and I burst out laughing. Ella's left a lot in her wake before, but never such a gift like this. We were fortunate enough it was solid which made for very easy clean up. It was nothing like the great poop escape of the early months, but still worthy of a post.
Memorial Day weekend has ended and it's back to work. I think all weekends should be three day ones. It actually felt like a nice break from work. Mike and I kicked off the weekend with a wedding. Mike's former co-worker Lauren was married on Saturday. It was a very beautiful wedding and mighty tasty! Some of the best crab cakes I've had in the landlocked Midwest. She's a former co-worker because they are moving to Oregon very soon, so her new husband can begin his dental practice. Mike was so very disappointed to see Lauren leave t2 (very happy for her of course, Lauren was a real asset to Mike in the tech room), but he was just sad as we were leaving her reception. Tears welled in his eyes as we walked down the stairs. He commented that this might be the last time he sees her. My heart just ached for him. If I could get him to do a post, I'm sure he would write about how much he truly enjoyed working with Lauren. He might also comment on how she managed to tolerate Mike's non-stop Jack Johnson stage. As for me, I certainly hope it wasn't the last time we see Lauren and Brandon. They truly are a great couple and they were one of the few fortunate ones who've had the pleasure of babysitting Ella. We wish them the best in Oregon.
As for us, the rest of the weekend was spent focused on house projects, which included painting the beam in our kitchen, cleaning flower beds and planting some pots. I have some great pictures of Ella helping mommy which I'll try to post. We managed to squeeze some fun in there as well. Before I forget, we also have our Vue back. Yeah!! It's shaping up to be a busy week and being that it's almost 3 am. I better try and get some sleep. It appears my good friend Mr. Insomnia is back. The last two nights haven't been sleepy happy.
Memorial Day weekend has ended and it's back to work. I think all weekends should be three day ones. It actually felt like a nice break from work. Mike and I kicked off the weekend with a wedding. Mike's former co-worker Lauren was married on Saturday. It was a very beautiful wedding and mighty tasty! Some of the best crab cakes I've had in the landlocked Midwest. She's a former co-worker because they are moving to Oregon very soon, so her new husband can begin his dental practice. Mike was so very disappointed to see Lauren leave t2 (very happy for her of course, Lauren was a real asset to Mike in the tech room), but he was just sad as we were leaving her reception. Tears welled in his eyes as we walked down the stairs. He commented that this might be the last time he sees her. My heart just ached for him. If I could get him to do a post, I'm sure he would write about how much he truly enjoyed working with Lauren. He might also comment on how she managed to tolerate Mike's non-stop Jack Johnson stage. As for me, I certainly hope it wasn't the last time we see Lauren and Brandon. They truly are a great couple and they were one of the few fortunate ones who've had the pleasure of babysitting Ella. We wish them the best in Oregon.
As for us, the rest of the weekend was spent focused on house projects, which included painting the beam in our kitchen, cleaning flower beds and planting some pots. I have some great pictures of Ella helping mommy which I'll try to post. We managed to squeeze some fun in there as well. Before I forget, we also have our Vue back. Yeah!! It's shaping up to be a busy week and being that it's almost 3 am. I better try and get some sleep. It appears my good friend Mr. Insomnia is back. The last two nights haven't been sleepy happy.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Convictions, Grisham and Flooding
I had counted on this week being crazy, exhausting and a little fun, but I didn't count on a sick kid or water in our basement. It was quite the week. The definite high was participating in an event that was an overwhelming success and then knowing it was over. The low was waking up Monday morning, finding ourselves ready at 6:45 am for our Parents as Teacher meeting at 7 am, only to walk downstairs and find water in our basement. The surprises continued when Ella woke up with a 100 degree temp. She had been running a temp on Sunday and was quite clingy to mom. I could have taken her to daycare, but I felt she deserved a little extra TLC, which she got from dad and grandma.
I finally headed into work around 11:30. This wasn't a week that I could miss any work. Best-selling author John Grisham came to town for a benefit for the Midwestern Innocence Project. I helped with the PR for the event and the press avail that happened before the big dinner that featured Grisham as the speaker. It was quite the experience. From a PR perspective, we had a decent amount of press -- KMBZ, Fox 4, KMBC and the Star featured the event either before and/or after. The day after the event, the Star ran a picture of Grisham above the fold and then did a larger article on B2. That was a big win.
As for the actual event, it was a powerful evening. Prior to Grisham speaking about his experience writing the book, The Innocent Man, Dennis Fritz, one of the men featured in the book and a KC native, told his story -- as an individual serving a life sentence for a crime he didn't commit. He was behind bars for 12 years before he was finally freed. It was so quiet in the hall when Grisham and Fritz were on the stage. All normal background noises were completely absent, no side conversations, no coughing, no one left their chair to use the restroom. Their stories consumed me.
As for my evening, I was fortunate enough to get Grisham to autograph my book as well as a photo from the press avail. I also got a a picture with him. I'll post that once I have it. As my co-worker said, I look like I have a coat hanger jammed in my mouth. I found Grisham to be so down to earth and such a southern gentleman. After the press avail, Grisham and a small handful of MIP board members had a few drinks at the bar while the VIP room was being set up. I stopped by the bar a few times to check in with others in the bar. I never approached Grisham's table. Only later did I learn, the Stinson attorney I worked with on this event attempted to motion me to join them multiple times. I would have thoroughly enjoyed that conversation, but I actually was quite busy with last minute details. As much as I appreciated the experience, I was euphoric on Friday knowing the event was over and how successful it had been. As one social lady said on her way out the door, "I attend so many of these things that I hardly make it to the end of any event, but I was riveted."
I hope to resume my normal schedule now that the event is history. Work will continue to be busy until I catch up on all the work I pushed aside for this event. I am looking forward to celebrating Mother's Day and Mike's birthday tomorrow. Outside of witnessing Luke getting baptized, we don't have too many concrete plans.
I finally headed into work around 11:30. This wasn't a week that I could miss any work. Best-selling author John Grisham came to town for a benefit for the Midwestern Innocence Project. I helped with the PR for the event and the press avail that happened before the big dinner that featured Grisham as the speaker. It was quite the experience. From a PR perspective, we had a decent amount of press -- KMBZ, Fox 4, KMBC and the Star featured the event either before and/or after. The day after the event, the Star ran a picture of Grisham above the fold and then did a larger article on B2. That was a big win.
As for the actual event, it was a powerful evening. Prior to Grisham speaking about his experience writing the book, The Innocent Man, Dennis Fritz, one of the men featured in the book and a KC native, told his story -- as an individual serving a life sentence for a crime he didn't commit. He was behind bars for 12 years before he was finally freed. It was so quiet in the hall when Grisham and Fritz were on the stage. All normal background noises were completely absent, no side conversations, no coughing, no one left their chair to use the restroom. Their stories consumed me.
As for my evening, I was fortunate enough to get Grisham to autograph my book as well as a photo from the press avail. I also got a a picture with him. I'll post that once I have it. As my co-worker said, I look like I have a coat hanger jammed in my mouth. I found Grisham to be so down to earth and such a southern gentleman. After the press avail, Grisham and a small handful of MIP board members had a few drinks at the bar while the VIP room was being set up. I stopped by the bar a few times to check in with others in the bar. I never approached Grisham's table. Only later did I learn, the Stinson attorney I worked with on this event attempted to motion me to join them multiple times. I would have thoroughly enjoyed that conversation, but I actually was quite busy with last minute details. As much as I appreciated the experience, I was euphoric on Friday knowing the event was over and how successful it had been. As one social lady said on her way out the door, "I attend so many of these things that I hardly make it to the end of any event, but I was riveted."
I hope to resume my normal schedule now that the event is history. Work will continue to be busy until I catch up on all the work I pushed aside for this event. I am looking forward to celebrating Mother's Day and Mike's birthday tomorrow. Outside of witnessing Luke getting baptized, we don't have too many concrete plans.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Accepting Liability
Thank goodness. Yesterday, we finally heard from the adjustor and the insurance company for the trucking company is accepting that the accident was their fault. I thought getting the ticket the night of the accident determined that, but a "thorough" investigation by an "independent" adjustor needed to take place first. After four VERY long weeks and several favors later, we once again will be a two-vehicle household. With the current gas prices, there have been some benefits to having only one car.
After an exhausting work week, our weekend is shaping up to be low key. We decided against going to a college reunion and plan to just enjoy being at home. It's our neighborhood garage sale, so we're planning to hit that. Maybe run a few errands and just play with our beautiful daughter. Tomorrow is "G'Day at the K" and the Royals are giving away koala bears. With Ella a Koala at daycare, it seems fitting that we hit that game. It will be her first for this season, but her third overall. She wasn't mobile at her other games, so this one will be a new experience. I'll have to post pictures after the adventure.
After an exhausting work week, our weekend is shaping up to be low key. We decided against going to a college reunion and plan to just enjoy being at home. It's our neighborhood garage sale, so we're planning to hit that. Maybe run a few errands and just play with our beautiful daughter. Tomorrow is "G'Day at the K" and the Royals are giving away koala bears. With Ella a Koala at daycare, it seems fitting that we hit that game. It will be her first for this season, but her third overall. She wasn't mobile at her other games, so this one will be a new experience. I'll have to post pictures after the adventure.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
