Quick Successions: New Mexico Edition

Twelve years ago today Brian and I were married in Oakland, California.  We don't usually make too big of a deal about it. Instead, we sit around and talk about the stuff we wish would do. It is so much less expensive. Honestly, Brian and I have been able to things and go places beyond my wildest dreams so I always feel good about having a modest dinner and calling it good.  This year Hannah got invited to a birthday party where they had swimming and cake and pizza, so it seemed like an extravaganza to us. She had been asking if it was time to go the party for the last two weeks.   We played on the toys.  Then we had some cake.  Then we played in the pool.   This was her first time in a public pool. She has been in a wading pool and a shallow creek previously.  One of the other moms lent Hannah these goggles. She really enjoyed them.  I went out and watched Hannah and played with her in the pool and Brian ...

We returned from Utah on Father's Day early in the morning. It was about 2 a.m. but I cannot recall exactly. I did not plan any kind of celebration owing to the fact that we were newly returned. Instead, I planned dinner and the presentation of several modest gifts for Monday instead. On Sunday morning, Hannah woke up with puke all over her and she was confused and upset by it. She stayed home with me and Brian went to church and taught my Sunday school class. She puked three more times that day. We got her some saltines and sprite. We thought maybe the milk we gave her went bad while we were gone. Even though it had not expired, milk is better preserved when it is periodically agitated.  Monday, Hannah was still sick. She wasn't puking anymore, but instead making frequent trips to the bathroom and filling her diaper. We continued to give her saltines and sprite. She consumed the crackers and drank the sprite, but she mostly slept. We decided she had the flu instead. Bri...

This week we went to Utah. I have been involved with the TELL (Teaching English Language Learners) program at BYU since 2004. I started out working with pre-service teachers doing practicum experiences in schools. Then, I started teaching the TELL endorsement classes. Now I train the teachers who teach the classes. So, I went from mentor teacher, to teacher educator, to educator of teacher educators. Brian started working in the TELL program in 2010. This year, I conducted the training with a new partner every two days. The final two days, Brian was my partner. During the rest of the week, Brian and Hannah visit family and friends. They also went to the Lego movie.  Getting here was not so fun. We missed the plane and  had to wait another three hours to get another one. Hannah was good in the airport and the Delta people were really nice about getting us rescheduled, but it was still quite stressful. It was also not fun that our new flight had to take a longer route to avoid...

I planted some tomatoes this year like I usually do, but I also planted basil, parsley, cilantro, mint, and some peppers. I put them in pots to keep the rabbits from eating them, but I also bring them in the house whenever we have a frost warning (yes, we are still getting those) and the pots greatly facilitate that.  I was able to start harvesting some of the herbs this week. Hannah helped by holding the tray while I cut. I used them to make a homemade pesto sauce at the suggestion of my friend Kate. I left the sauce a little thicker and we used it to make these yummy chicken sandwiches with some homemade wheat rolls I made earlier in the week. We really enjoyed these. It was nice to have some time to make something. Monday we went to Target. Brian pushed her over to the bakery section and she sat in the cart singing Do You Know the Muffin Man? The baker came out smiling and gave her a chocolate chip cookie. She savored it all through the store. If you look carefully at...

 We bought Hannah a little inflatable pool. She calls it her "puddle." She keeps asking us if she can go play in her puddle. She sits in her puddle with her arms out and we throw a little Nerf ball to her. She doesn't really catch yet, but she is starting to watch the ball more closely.  The people at a local restaurant really like Hannah. When she came in the other day they gave her these cat ears. She calls them her "cheese ears." I finished my finals last week for the past semester. During the summer I am taking one class and working. Brian is taking the summer off. I have many projects for him to do. We also have some fun places to go, so stay tuned...

We made a weekend trip to Lafayette/Indianapolis, Indiana this past weekend. We left about 11 a.m. on Friday morning with our Pringles chips, grapes, and 7-grain Kashi crackers for snacking. Hannah rode very patiently playing with her dog and drinking her milk for about the first hour and half and then she wanted to know if we were in Indianapolis yet. I had been telling her that we were going there and she was very excited, responding "Oh yes, I love apples." Get it. IndianAPPLEis?  Anyway, it was about time for lunch so we stopped somewhere in Missouri and ate. Then we continued on to Hannibal, Missouri for our gas stop. Hannah played with my iPad during this phase of the trip. She likes listening to music and playing a drawing game. She also likes reading books from my Kindle app.  After the fuel stop, we drove into Illinois. Hannah napped during this leg. We stopped for dinner close to Decatur. While there, we discovered that I hadn't packed any pants for Hannah. ...

I think I have posted before about Hannah's attachment to my childhood doll Zachary. This past week, she has started to put him down for a nap on the stairs with a little doggy and his bottle.    I saw her doing this and I told her that the best thing to do when the baby goes to sleep is for the mama to take a nap too so she is ready to play with the baby when it wakes up. So she took a pillow and blanket and laid above him on the stairs. Then, like a true mother, she got up after a few minutes and started doing other things.  On Friday we took the children of my visiting teachee for a picnic and then went to our house to watch a movie because the husband was sick and they live in a 400 square foot apartment and so the guy needed some peace. I didn't get permission to show the kids (an 8 year old girl and a 10 month old boy) but here is one of Hannah enjoying the evening. The next day we went to a picnic with the other docto...