I think we just might be crazy

It's 6:15 in the evening and we (and by we I mean Fred, because let's be honest here... my part in this whole endeavour is blogging about it) have just started the putting together of Elise's first "big-girl bed".

This whole project actually started about a month ago when we found the perfect bed at The Dump (don't ever shop there - but that's a whole 'nutha story). Elise was so excited at first. But it soon turned to disappointment when we got home and she realized her bed had not magically appeared, all assembled and with mattress and sheets in her room.

Wouldn't it be grand if we lived in such a time where things like that actually happened? I told her that I was still waiting for my flying car, so she would need to have some patience on the bed thing.

Buying a first bed is no easy task. You first need to find a bed you like, and at the right price. Then you need to find a sucker, er friend who has a pick-up to help you get the bed from the store to your house. If you buy it at The Dump, you need about 6 hours of your life that are in dire need of wasting when it comes time to actually pick up the bed.

Besides the bed, you also need a mattress, sheets and comforter; the latter two items also need to fit your decorative tastes. I finally tracked down a quilt set I liked on Target's website (still awaiting delivery), but passed on the matching sheets as most reviewers described them as too scratchy. I swoon at the knowledge of the world-wide-information-super-highway.

I did find some plain white sheets (at 50% off) that should do until I can determine the true colours of the quilt set. But we were having mattress issues. We went to all the Mattress-Sleep-Firm-Giant-Expert stores, and we would leave feeling a wee bit dirty. The closest thing I can compare it to is shopping for a used car.

Then lo and behold, at Costco we found our mattress. For a better price and we didn't have to talk to anyone and left the store smelling as fresh as a daisy.

So with all the elements in place, why not start putting it together only two hours before Elise's bedtime? Because waiting would make all-together too much sense, and we don't got a lot of that around here.

We'll let you know how everything turns out... below is the picture of the pre-bed carnage. Did you know that it's hard to figure out where in a 9x9 room to put a twin-sized bed? Our options are pretty much limited.

Twas the night before Christmas...

Merry Christmas Eve, from Joanne, Fred, Elise and Seven. How did we spend December 24th? Funny you should ask; let's see some pictures:

Decorated some homemade gingerbread cookies with Elise. If you're wondering why so small and just round, it was so Elise could have a cookie or two and we didn't have to be too worried about the carb count (I didn't have any small cookie cutters). In case you're interested, they're 4g of carbs each. I know this because I am insane. Let's just leave it at that.

Posed for our annual Christmas card photo. This one was a fail (Seven was sticking out her tongue in protest of having to endure such humiliation).

Went to Christmas Eve service at our church. Sorry random guy who somewhat looks like the owner of the Cowboys, I am too tired to photoshop you out.

Went to our annual after-Christmas-Eve-service dinner at a steakhouse... YUM!

There are no pictures of this, but on our way home we got into a very sticky situation trying to drive over a frozen over-pass. Thank you God that my husband is such a competent driver and was able to get us out of something could have ended very badly.

Took some pictures of the snow in our backyard. Why, it's ever so pretty!

Unwrapped our traditional Christmas Eve ornament. Every year since Fred and I have been married, we've given each other an ornament that we open on Christmas Eve. After Elise was born, she got to join in the fun. The only downfall is she then opened Fred's ornament, my ornament, and tried to open every other present under the tree.

She likes hers!

Elise's carousel (she LOVES a good carousel ride... heck, she even loves a bad one).


My snowman... how apropos!

Fred's ornament... he is!

Fred took Seven for a walk in the snow. A little insanity on her part ensued. Snow is like crack to this dog.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

I'm dreaming...

2:30 pm on Christmas eve... Texas, you continue to confound me.

(It was 70 degrees F, or 20 degrees C, yesterday)

Saying goodbye

December has always been a hard month for our family. My Grandfather (my Dad's Dad) had a heart attack on Dec. 21 and died a few days after Christmas. My Grandma (my Dad's Mom) died in early December. My other Grandpa (my Mom's Dad) had a heart attack Dec. 21 and died a few days later.

And today (Dec. 21), my Grammy Ann (my Dad's step-mom) passed away after her courageous battle with breast cancer.

It's also my older brother's birthday. I'm not sure where that comes into play.

When I learned my Grandma had cancer earlier this year, I just always figured she'd beat it. Grammy Ann was a feisty lady, full of good humour and life. I can remember as a small child, how much she loved to laugh. I just learned from my uncle that up until a few months ago, she was still doing Tai Chi.

More than anything, she loved the Lord. During one of our last conversations she lamented about how young people are falling away from their faith. At an age when most people are stuck in their ways, my Grandma was all about trying to find ways to make church appeal to younger generations.

Grammy Ann and I would talk on the phone every few months or so. For 20 minutes. Almost exactly 20 minutes every time. Her choice, not mine. I could hear her start to wind the conversation down at about the 15 minute mark, and the cheeky side of my personality always wanted to see how much longer past the 20 minute mark I could keep her on the phone. The dutiful Granddaughter in me would never do such a thing.

I still cannot believe she's gone. Even after I heard the cancer had spread to her liver and that she was in the hospital with pneumonia, I thought she'd be okay. Grammy Ann was just like that; spirited and larger than life. I thought she'd be around forever.

It had been on my mind to call her. Every time I thought about it, it was too late at night and I didn't want to risk waking her up. I didn't know she was in the hospital until a few weeks ago, and never had the chance to talk to her one last time. When I talked to my uncle a few days ago, she was too weak to talk, so I sent her an email for him to read to her with a bunch of pictures of Elise.

It makes me sad that Elise never got to meet this impressive woman. I am sad that she's gone, that there will be no more 20 minute phone conversations which I try to extend with a mischievous grin on my face. Sad by the reminder that this is what happens as the years slip by; as your family tree is expanding beneath you, the upper branches are wilting away.

But it gives my heart good cheer to know she is now cancer-free and doing a little Tai Chi with Jesus in heaven.

Because you know Jesus loves Him some Tai Chi.

Good bye, Grammy Ann... you are already very missed.

Christmas dinner 10 years ago. Grammy Ann is the lovely lady in red.

The Seven 2002 Operating Manual

When we went to San Francisco a few weeks ago, we entrusted the care of our dog Seven to our wonderful friends, Nate and Leanna (and their horse-of-a-dog, Nellie). They asked us if we had any instructions for Seven's care, and I remembered that I had written out something years ago as a joke. It made me laugh, so I decided to post it here. Enjoy!

Congratulations on your temporary ownership of the Seven 2002 model. We hope you will be pleased with her many features as a pet. We have included some basic instructions on the operation of this model so you can maximize your temporary ownership experience!

The Seven 2002 model operates best if given the food that is designed for her make and model. Feeding food that is not normally in her diet may lead to the expulsion of noxious materials from either end. Normal intake of food for this model is approximately 2 cups per day, 2/3 in the morning, 2/3 around 3:00 pm, and the last 2/3 before bedtime. This model must maintain food in her stomach due to a system bug that causes purging from the front end when the stomach is empty.

Please make sure the Seven 2002 model is separated from other makes and models at feeding time. Failure to do this may cause, but is not limited to; snarling, gnashing of teeth, biting, flying fur, bleeding, serious injury and even death.

The Seven 2002 model is equipped for swimming, and enjoys it, but we ask at this time for you to deny her this privilege. Please make sure she is not left unattended for long periods of time near swimming areas.

Please do not allow the Seven 2002 model up on beds. Though you may do this with your current make and model, the Seven 2002 model is prohibited from lounging in beds as it could lead to rebellious behavior. You may, however give her permission to sleep under the bed.

Normal bowel movements for this model is approximately twice daily.

Just as funny was the email we received several days into our trip:

2002 model works well despite propensity to molt into many new and smaller models. This model may not wish to be returned. :-)

Thanks Nate, Leanna and Nellie for taking such good care of our girl!

Sadness/Happiness

Sadness is finding the mini kit kat (the yummy kind from Canada that your wonderful in-laws smuggled... er, brought to you) completely melted in your pocket because you forgot that you had put it in there to enjoy later while your daughter was napping.

Happiness is eating it anyway, and licking every last bit of the chocolate off of the wrapper.

It's the small things, people. The small things.

Awesomeness at its finest

Garfunkel and Oates on Leno last night. Too funny.

Best version of "O Holy Night" - EVER!

I guarantee it will bring tears to your eyes. See if I'm lying.



Make sure you listen all the way to the end... it just keeps getting better, if that's at all possible.

SF: Stuff we did

I'm not going to lie to myself and think that this post will have any interest to those of you not directly related to Fred, Elise or I, so don't feel badly for skipping over it. Be warned though, you will miss some great pictures of the world's most adorable child in one of the most beautiful cities. Wow, that's a lot of hyperbole... except the world's most adorable child part, of course.

Anyway, you won't be seeing pictures of the amazing scenery that SF has to offer. I guess because we used to live there, we don't feel compelled to take pictures of that stuff.

Our first attempt at an outing went horribly wrong; due to scheduling problems, time zone issues and a general lack of communication. Try #2 went much better, as Elise go to experience her first boat ride via a ferry trip from Sausalito to SF. She loved it and kept yelling, "I'm on a boat!" (Thank you Andy Samberg for ruining what should have have been a rather cute comment by my daughter. If you don't have any idea what I'm talking about, don't worry... you're not missing anything).

Walking the plank to the boat... yar!

Elise was sooooo excited. Fred too.

Momma and the beans.


She loved looking at the water


Jumping and dancing on the boat

Checking her BG during the ride. Stupid diabetes.

I love everything in this picture, even the view in the background

Totally rockin' the string cheese

Once we got to the city, we took MUNI down to Pier 39/Fisherman's Wharf. Unfortunately, it was too dark to take any decent pictures by the time we got there.

Riding MUNI

Elise loved riding in these old cars... every time the driver made a stop she would say, "more please!"


On Saturday morning we took a trip to the Kid's Discovery Museum in Sausalito. This was the best place ever! Elise was so sad when we had to leave.

Don't worry, not a real fish!

Not a real crow carcass either... just a puppet

Making music!

Elise LOVED the train room. I sorta wanted to play too.

Learning about currents. Fun and educational at the same time!

Elise taking off for the play area

Aye aye captain!

Trying on her hat... note the Golden Gate Bridge in the background, what a beautiful location!

We drove to Golden Gate Park on Saturday afternoon, but didn't make it in time to do any of the fun stuff. So we drove around and looked at some of the amazing architecture. Sorry, no pictures of that stuff, but I did take one at the top of Twin Peaks.

Poppa and the beans

We set out for Golden Gate Park early the next day. First stop, a boat ride on Stow Lake!

Row, row, row your boat

Then we rented a Surrey bike. Talk about hard work!

Elise loved the ride

Our wheels

Our final destination in the park was the carousel... it was beautiful!

Elise on her Zwebra

The girl loves her some carousel

And that brings me to the end of my pictures. I have to say that this was a rather tough experience compared to our trip to Kansas City. I'm glad we did it, but I came back from our vacation, needing a vacation.

That's just wrong.

Old Friends, New friends

If there was a theme for our recent trip to SF, it would be about friends, both old and new. Although we had planned this little mini-vacation as a time for Fred, Elise and I to get away from the stresses of day-to-day life and have fun as a family, I'm glad we were also able to see some friends as well!

Since we took so many pictures, I've decided to split my SF post in two; the friends we saw, and the stuff we did. This will be the friend edition!

It all started off at the airport when we ran into our friend Christi from SF! She was headed home from Thanksgiving in Florida and just happened to be connecting through DFW, and was sitting only 5 rows in front of us! What a fun surprise. She also was able to help me get Elise and all our carry-on bags onto the plane when Fred had to go back out through security to pick up Elise's "beek" (blanket) that we had forgotten at home. Thanks to our amazing friend and neighbour Brek for the ride to the airport and bringing "beek"!

On Friday, we went to Brice and Susan's house for Raclette... mmmmmm! Brice and Susie are some of our oldest and most dear friends. I don't think there are enough words to describe what these two mean to us. They have held down the fort in SF while everyone around them have moved away. It was so much fun for Elise to meet their boys (of course there are no pictures of the adults!)

Jake and Elise

Jake, Elise and Owen

On Sunday night, we were lucky enough to be invited to dinner by Meri's in-laws. Wow! I haven't eaten that well in a long time (well, probably since the Raclette on Friday!). And the dessert! Pears! Pastry! Need I say more? It was great meeting everybody, and Elise had so much fun playing lego with all the boys.

Me and Meri

Elise and all of Meri's kiddos, including Lawton! Such a sweet puppy!

Continuing the theme of old friends, on Monday I got to hang out with someone I hadn't seen in 10 years. My older brother's ex-girlfriend, Rekha. This amazing chica was like an older sister to me when they were dating. I was in high school, and they were together about 8 years. She was so much fun to be around, and I LOVED it when she would go shopping with me. She has the coolest fashion sense. She just so happened to be in SF the same time we were, and it took some planning, but we managed to hang out for a little bit. Unfortunately, no shopping.

Rekha, Elise and I

How pale do I look standing next to her?

Thanks to our very generous friends, Amy and Philip, we had a lovely house to stay in during our trip. Their oldest daughter, now 9, is who our Elise is named after. It was so much fun for little Elise to meet big Elise; and of course Elise's sister Zoe! These kiddos are so adorable and so much fun! Little Elise absolutely LOVED being around them and told me several times, "no go back to Dallas." She was very sad to leave her new friends.

Elise and Zoe... awwww!

Elise and Zoe goofing around

Big E, Little E, and Z-O-E! Best buds

Once again, no pictures of the adults... oh well. That's it for my friends post. Stay tuned for a tonne of pictures and the "stuff we did" post!