Monthly Archives: August 2010

Dear, and sweet Everett,

You are so close to walking. So close! You stand in the middle of the room, no crutch of support near you. You don’t even notice. When something is out of reach, you lean – closer, closer, closer . . . and then plop – onto your (usually) wet bum and off you crawl to the object of your desire.

You are so bald. Like a baby bird. Your big eyes, dark like Christmas chocolates, on your small, impish face. You smile, and those eyes wrinkle up and disappear into the folds of your so soft baby skin. And you laugh – the laugh of sucking in air, squealing in delight of some trick of your siblings.

You are growing and smiling and being everything that you should. I just want you to know how much fun you are, and that we are so excited to watch you reach for the things just beyond. This is a life of constant growth, just remember: baby steps.

So . . . take a picture every day, for thirty days! Ha! What was I thinking. I mean, really, do I need more to do in my day? The first day I missed I thought: Uh oh! I better not miss anymore. The second day I missed I felt guilty. The third day I missed I felt annoyed. And by the fourth day, I realized it was silly to even worry about such a thing. And I haven’t thought about it much since.

Not that I’ve stopped taking pictures . . .

I mean, c’mon. A day at the Garden’s with Anna and Emily?

Or a visit from Wyatt’s infamous friend Micah?

Or afternoon bike rides?

Or a day at the farm with Grandma C?

How ’bout some kite flying?

Or the last of the summer shaw shacks?

And in other blogging news . . .

This month we have graduated from a purely PBSKids television diet, and have expanded our programming repertoire to include The Disney Channel, where Calvin is particularly fond of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Olivia enjoys Imagination Movers.

With the addition to the new channel comes some new marketing campaigns. Oliva said to me the other day, and I kid you not:

“Mommy, you should buy me some Sketchers – they will help me run faster.”

This was followed by a discussion about how televisions are CONSTANTLY lying to us.

And as we opened up family home evening the other night, Olivia announced:

“This lesson is sponsored in part by . . . Olivia.”

Chuckle. Chortle. Snort. Snort. Wide eyes of embarassement.

Greek Salad

3 T EVOO
1 1/2 T Lemon Juice
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 t  dried oregano
1/4 t salt
1/4 t pepper
3 tomatoes, cut into wedges
1/2 red onion – sliced into thin rings
1/2 cucumber – sliced into thick half moons
1/2 green pepper – julienned
4 oz. feta cheese – cubed or crumbled
16 calamata olives

PLACE the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper and oregano in a small jar with a screw-top lid and shake to combine. PLACE the salad ingredients in a large bowl. POUR the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine just before serving. GARNISH the Greek salad with a little freshly ground black pepper.