Dottie's photography . . . now taking reservations for your wedding

We've hit an all new low of desperation for when we're in the car as a family. The traffic here in San Antonio is amazing. By amazing I mean it makes me nervous, it makes Joe less than his usual calm self, and my kids pick up on this anxious energy and decide to scream.

Toys don't work. Food doesn't work. Cell phones don't work. So what do I do? I hand over my digital camera to Dottie. The results:

That red thing is a Chuck E. Cheese balloon that my kids were fighting over.

The next day, we were at a Taquiera (I don't know how to spell it. But a Mexican taco shop.), my kids were getting bratty again, so in desperation, once again, I pull out my camera for Dottie's use. I gave her a few pointers this time, and I think the results were much better:

Elliot thinks he's taking a picture of Dottie while she's taking a picture.

I like this one because Joe looks kind of ticked off. Probably because he was. Our children can try one's patience.

Elliot took this one.

This is what happens when you take a sick kid out to eat.

Potty Boy

This is where my kid spends most of his time, by choice. If I mention that I need to go "potty," it's a race to see who gets there first. I usually end up using the other toilet, and he sits at this one for a half hour longer.

MEAT

I'm getting an education here in Texas. I thought I knew what Bar-be-que was, but boy, was I wrong.

Our friends, the Garners, are Bar-be-que connoisseurs. Their hobby in the summertime is to hunt out the small towns in Texas with barbecue joints, eat there, and then take their kids to the local swimming hole.

This past weekend, they exposed us to one of these small-town barbecue havens. It's called Kreuz's. I was astonished that it was a giant barn that smelled like a campfire. They actually smoke the meat in the barn.

The meat was wonderful. So delectable. Mouthwatering. Sumptuous.

I also enjoyed that they kept the cost really low at this place. You get your meat on butcher paper, served with crackers or white bread. No utensils. So you just sit down and chaw on your meat.

This is Joe's kind of a place. Note the rib. Mmm.

And I think Elliot only ate crackers? When there was all of that meat?

The family of connoisseurs.

I exercised.

Do you see this woman? She has not exercised since before she was pregnant with Elliot. Thus, she has not exercised in 3 years.

Okay, enough 3rd person. By "exercised" I mean gone to a gym. I've done the occasional DVD and Netflix workouts with Carolyn, my slave driver in the summertime. I've gone on walks with my mom when we lived together forever. I've even done the occasional weight lifting with our weight set at home.

But true exercising commitment to me is either a) going to the gym or b) jogging. Jogging . . . is my nemesis. I used to make myself do it when I was OCD about my body. But I don't really enjoy it, and I don't think it makes my body much better.

I've also come to a point where I don't much care about being a stick anymore. I'm not necessarily "letting myself go," but I have come to grips with my body. I think I look fine. I could of course be skinnier (you can always be skinnier), but it's not so much of a desire.

So I went to the gym. I can go for free, it's a two minute drive from my house, and the thing that really sold me on going was when my husband informed me there are TVs with cable channels on all of the elliptical machines. Distraction is needed or I die.

I wanted to get a picture of myself for proof that I did actually sweat when I got home, but there was a crisis with dinner (I went right before dinner), and I got mad, and I forgot. So you'll just have to believe me. Maybe I'll even do it again . . . tomorrow.

MLK, all the way

I am about a week behind in my blog posts. I can't seem to get with the program again after Christmas!

These pictures took place the weekend of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. I haven't found a good, meaningful way to celebrate this holiday with toddlers. I mean, we could read "I Have a Dream" to them, but would they get it? No. So, instead, we explored an area of San Antonio known as "The Grey Forest." Both of our children walked as we wandered through this lovely park on a nice January day that was in the 60s. I'm still not really used to warm temperatures in the winter.

Dottie is very independent, as you can see.

Okay, this has nothing to do with our little trip through the Grey Forest, but Elliot is saying very funny, very cute things lately. Here are a few of my favorites:

"I want it."

"I don't want it."

"Open it."

"I can do it."

I'm just impressed that he's moving past the one and two-word phrases and expressing his will more clearly. He has such a cute little voice, it's amusing to hear these words come out of his mouth.

"Baby" turns two

For those of you who don't know Elliot so well, know this: he is still very much a baby even though he turned two on Wednesday. If you ask him what his name is, he usually says "Baby." Sometimes, if he's in the mood, he'll say "Eeeiot." But usually just "Baby."

And you know what? I love it. I love how cuddly and loving he is. Sometimes he loves me so much, it literally hurts. He likes to eat my hair and sink his teeth into my scalp. But he also likes to stroke my hair gently and sing "Twinkle Twinkle." You never know what you're going to get: immense passion, or sweet loving.

This boy is always one extreme or the other. He is also either very happy and giggly, or a little tyrant. Most of the time he is sweet, but there are those car rides where he just won't stop screaming. He hates being confined for long periods of time. Confinement often leads to diaper digging.

This said, Elliot's favorite thing to do is play outside. He has no fear. Dottie only mastered the big, double twist slide this past year. Elliot goes down it right along with her.

I love my "baby," and I can't believe he's two. In fact, if he wants to be the baby a bit longer, I'm perfectly fine with that.

Little Einstein toy, one of his favorites . . .

You can't see this gift well, but DK makes these flashcards with texture. Elliot has the animals set. He quizzes himself on them whenever we're in the car. It's adorable to hear him say, "cat, meow." So we bought him three more sets for his birthday. They're great. He likes them way better than books.

And the cake! I'm staying with the experimental theme for Elliot's birthday. I decided to try a chocolate molten lava cake. Oh, and if you're intimidated at all by this cake, don't be. It was super easy. Email me if you want the recipe. When Elliot saw it, he started chanting "Chocok, Chocok!" while doing his dancing hands. It was a sight to behold.

Can ya tell he loved it?

Christmas Part Deux

I apologize in advance for the mother lode of pictures. I love Christmas with my family! I can't help myself. I'd like to categorize these pictures: Fun at Home, Fun in Palmyra, and Practice Engagement Pictures. I don't know if I've mentioned it, but my three younger siblings are all getting married this spring. It's amazing! I was the last to wed in the family, and that was 5 1/2 years ago. Needless to say, we are in need of a wedding. We just never imagined that there would be three practically at the same time!

So we were thrilled to have Bryan's Kelly, Jared's Tabitha, and Carolyn's Lon come for the holidays. If you can believe it, we actually did more fun things that would mean more fun pictures, but I didn't bring my camera on those outings.

We also got to spend a few days with Joe's parents! Joe's mom, Lynne, is on sabbatical from the college she teaches at, so they took a trip to Morocco with a travel abroad program in Pottsdam, NY. On their way to Pottsdam, they came and visited for a few days. We took them to Palmyra, and they got to play with the kids for a day as well. It was so fun to have them!

Fun at Home

In our family, the day after Christmas the kids can start eating the gingerbread house. Guess where my kids were for the rest of Christmas break? Gnawing on this house.

There was a White Christmas! Dottie helped the kids and their fiances make a snowman. Since we didn't bring boots for Dottie, we used plastic sacks and rubber bands to keep her shoes dry.

By the way, the picture above was in our local newspaper, second page, huge picture. And everyone in the picture was described as "locals," even though most of the people were just visiting.

Fun in Palmyra


If you remember this summer, we visited Palmyra this summer with Carrie's friend Lizzie. We went again with the fiances and Joe's parents because it is a place of historical significance for the Mormon faith. So here we are again. Although the weather was bitter cold that day, there were a few who still kept warm:

"My precious."

Carolyn and Lon doing "party time" at Subway.

At the Peter Whitmer Farm, the tour guide even let us past the rope protecting the artifacts for a family photo. We felt pretty special.

Practice Engagement Photos

Okay, not all of these pictures are practice engagement photos. There are also some family shots in there as well. There are some beautiful places in PA for pictures. We chose a few of our favorite waterfalls for a backdrop:

Now for the actual practice engagement photos. If you can believe it, there were actually more than these taken. I think we should have a vote for each couple which picture you like the best. Then they can practice the pose for the real thing.

Carrie and Lon, sitting in a tree . . .

Jared and Tabitha, k-i-s-s-i-n-g.

Waterfall, Jared and Tabitha.

Waterfall, Carrie and Lon.

Waterfall, Bryan and Kelly.

Cliff waterfall, Bryan and Kelly.

I'm awaiting your votes. Dang it! I should have taken pictures of the girls' rings. Wow, I'm kinda jealous. They're beautiful.

P.S. I went on a cruise! With some of my very special friends! It's been requested that I don't post pictures, because, hello, bathing suits. But I want those girls to know how lucky I am to have them as friends, and that I had the time of my life, and I'm looking forward to our next rendezvous. Let's not let three years pass again.

And thank you, Mom, again, for watching my kids. You saved my life.