adventures

The layout is a little bit wonky, but here is a sampling of our latest adventures. Click on the pictures for a larger view.

rah rah rah rah rah goooooo Cougars!

Yesterday, Andy and I took our girls to visit our alma mater, Brigham Young University. We met up with some dear friends in the student center for a food court lunch at the CougarEat. Ah, the memories! I had a roommate who worked at the Creamery in the CougarEat. She got to bring home the leftover bagels and brownies when she worked the Saturday evening shift. And I spent much time chatting with her at the ice cream counter while she gave me samples of ice cream. Earnestly Chocolate is fantastic, by the way.

Looking around at all the fresh, young faces, I realized that I could no longer pass for a college student. Sigh. That's okay... I am so glad to be done with finals and a heavy backpack among other things.

We took the girls to the bookstore and outfitted them in some fine Cougar apparel. Alli and Ruby were thrilled with their matching BYU shirts. Me too. They were so cute bopping around campus in their BYU gear.

We took the kids to the art building where I spent much of my time. We walked across campus to the science museum to see the extensive collection of animal specimen. We chilled at the Creamery on 9th East. We walked through the law school. We found the children's section in the library and read some books (and tried to stay quiet so all the students could study).

It was fun for Andy and I to reminisce about our newlywed years, cheap student housing, fun moments on campus, good friends... we had a great time at BYU... again.

it's all about the elegance

Tonight Andy read the girls a bedtime story.  Then Alli begged me to read another. 
"Please, please, PLEASE read the chapter about David and Golias!"  Alli pleaded.
"GoliaTH," I corrected, "It has a 'TH' at the end."
"I know.  But I think it sounds more elegant when I say it 'Golias,'" my daughter corrected me.  "Golias."
Elegant?  I don't know about that.  But this sure is...

Here is our first attempt at sponge-roller-curls.  I need more practice... or maybe try to do it when I am not nursing June.

I wonder what Alli would think of Castilian Spanish.  Elegant?

Cousin time and sister time

Last weekend, my sister Janis and her daughter Eliza came to visit us.  Eliza is two months younger than Alli.  They both love My Little Pony and princesses and unicorns and babies...  they had a great time together.  June got lots of extra love.

We took a trip to the Nature Museum.  The girls got to hold a walking stick insect.  Three girls were giggling and squealing from the tickles from the bug.

The butterfly room was a favorite!  We watched the newly-hatched butterflies as they took their first flights.  The warm, humid greenhouse garden filled with butterflies is a great mini-escape from the cold Chicago winter.  Delightful!

Janis was in town for a round table discussion about a documentary that she is in.  It was wonderful to have some sister time with Janis and Marissa... we missed you, Emily.  Sisters are great. 

Photos by Alli and other Good Stuff

We got a pocket-size camera for Christmas.  Alli seems to think it is hers because it is just her size.  I keep finding lots of great pictures on the camera that I didn't take... real gems.  June is very patient with her sister.  Hopefully no permanent damage is done from flash-in-the-face.  Ruby likes to ham it up for Alli.  I play along with Alli's request for a funny face.  Nice, huh?


June is getting lots of love.  Ruby and Alli adore her.  They shower her with kisses and hugs.  Luckily June seems to thrive on their attention.  She is quite patient with them... she puts up with a lot.  She follows their voices around with her eyes.  It is amazing to see the sisterly bonds forming already.