Dress Myself

Believe it or not, but this is the outfit Emily changed into FROM her pajamas this morning as we needed to make a quick run to the store. What you can't see are the shoes she put on over these footed pajamas. Lovely brown "preppy" type shoes. Quite the fashion statement, let Emily tell you! Eric tried to deter her from these choices, but she only wanted to wear them, so we looked like silly parents in the store anyway.

Ode to the Washing Machine

The weeks following our wedding were filled with newlywed bliss and a bunch of disasters. Although we were blessed to be in Grandaddy Bare's home and use his things, they had all been well loved before we got there. So, in those first few weeks, we had a water heater that went out followed by the washing machine. Ironically, the washer started flooding the room while it had the load of towels in it. Every last towel was sitting in water, so we had to get creative with mopping up all that water before it ruined the hardwood floor it was seeping into.
Graciously, Eric's older brother Brad worked at a Rent-To-Own store and found us a used washer for $75. Although $75 was a lot of money then (I still think it's a good chunk, but chimp change to what a new one costs), we were grateful, as many of you probably recall being practically destitute as newlyweds. This washer did a great job until we moved into our new house. Something shifted during transport and it just dumped water everywhere. So, after nearly 2 years of use, we thought we'd have to buy a new one.
Not so! Eric was able to find a part for it and fixed it for $15. It's done fairly well, except over the past few months it has started to throw water under the machine (meaning, I can't really get to it to clean it up, either). Well, Monday it did it again, but this time when I stopped it, it wouldn't restart. We decided it was probably time to replace it.
We found an incredible deal from HHGregg and they delivered the new machine yesterday. We now have the energy saver front-loading washer with a 4.5 sq ft loading capacity. It's pretty, to boot. We got this store to drop the price by $400 due to them not carrying the 4.0 model and another company offering that at the lower price. So, we got the 4.0 model price on our 4.5 model!! Shouldn't have any problems washing bedding and other fun stuff, now!!

Goodbye, first washing machine purchased in our marriage! You did a great job, but now we will celebrate our new one...no offense. =)

Sidewalk Art

Emily is quite the artist, as most of you already know. She's gotten into quite a bit of trouble lately with coloring things she isn't supposed to color (like my hardwood floors in a four foot area that changed to blue while I napped one day). We bought her some sidewalk chalk and I actually remembered it yesterday. She was out there coloring for at least an hour yesterday. Of course, it was nothing like the sidewalk art Elder Smith drew in a park during Wilford Woodruff Week during our mission, but in it's own way, it was very beautiful. (And pay no attention to the date stamped on the mission pic...it was actually March 27, 2004, but I always forgot to reset the date on it, so all my pictures from the mish lie.)

What IS That?

Can anyone guess? No, it isn't something Hannah killed. It's actually Hannah...or at least her excess fur, that is. It's definitely summer time which means an enormous amount of shedding from our wonderful dog. It's a good thing she's a small GSD, because adding more inches to her would probably double the amount of fur she is shedding.
We got up this morning and Em and I went out and combed Hannah with her de-shedding comb(you can't get this stuff off with a regular dog brush/comb). Let me just tell you that I love this little tool. It's been so worth it. Hannah has a lot more fur to come off, but after awhile we both get tired of it. I put the frisbee next to it so you could appreciate the size of this hairball.

Grown Up

Emily is such a big girl now. When we visit Eric's work, his co-workers always fawn over Emily and comment on how big she is now. We have to remember, she really is still only a year old (granted, her birthday is in less than 2 months now). She's such a cutie, even if she gets up at 1am to wander around the house. In fact, I've decided that perhaps I should stop asking to sleep well because every night we do that, someone else wakes me up. Emily with her midnight wanderings, Hannah with her crazy clock that's gotten messed up somehow, or Eric trying to steamroll me in his sleep (the last one is quite funny when you realize we have a king size bed), or the lovely potty breaks this little one has me frequenting. No rest for the weary? That's definitely true. But, it's a good and happy life. I love my little family and wouldn't trade it for another!

Scared

Emily and I were invited to the Bennion's for a pool party yesterday. It was a great turnout with tons of small children around. Emily loves water, so she was in heaven.
After her toes were completely shriveled, we got out for a little to eat lunch. As she crammed another bite of her PB sandwich into her already stuffed mouth, she compacted it onto the roof of her mouth. Of course, this started her choking and trying to spit it out. I tried to help her pry it out, but every time I tried to put my finger in her mouth, she'd bite down as hard as possible. We finally got it out and she could breathe again.
Don't worry, that wasn't nearly as scary as what happened next. We were finishing up lunch when Emily snuck back to the pool without her floaties on. She walked down the steps into the pool and then kind of pushed off into the water where she couldn't touch (yes, it was only 3 1/2 feet deep, but much deeper than Emily is tall). Stef starts shouting to get the ladies' attention who are right there in the pool as I bound over and into the pool. All I know is that I couldn't make a sound and was making a beeline for my child. As her head went under water a second time, I reached her and pulled her out. I was so scared! Somehow, she didn't swallow any water (which is amazing because she drinks it while she swims...guess panic makes you hold your breath, eh?). I carried her out and we just hugged each other. She let me hold her for a little while as I tried to calm down and NOT cry. I was definitely more shaken up than she was as she promptly wanted back in the water (with floaties). I stayed two steps away from her the remainder of the event (which is a big duty when you have no energy).

Buddles, I Luh Loo!

I've found a new "routine" that may help me get the rest I need. I wait until after lunch and a few more wiggles to go get a shower. Emily is loving baths right now and plays with the "buddles" while I take care of me. When she's finished, she hurdles the side of the tub and then proclaims as the water drains, "Buddles, I luh loo!" It makes me laugh every time. However, this afternoon bath is also a way to get her calmed down and ready to take a nap (something that has become a conflict between us). So, she's down right now...I think. At least, I put her down in her bed and don't hear any noise. Of course, she could be reading books, but at least she is quiet and letting me have some down time and, if I'm lucky, I can get in a nap, too!