Rock That Horse, Girl!

All she needs now are plastic cowgirl boots and a plastic 10-gallon hat!

What's that? Plastic chaps?

Now, let's not get carried away...

Thai Meet Ellena, Ellena Meet Thai

So it's true, all those stories you may have heard about engineers and their love of Thai food. Wherever I have worked at, this has been the case. In some places there were certain days of the workweek devoted to Thai, as in "Oh, it's Thai-Thursday again Jim and I didn't even notice. Your turn to drive this week!"

I am also a culprit. Love it. The hotter, the better. One of the things I sacrificed when I boarded the ship to the land of unemployment was sweet, deliciously-wonderful Thai goodness.

This all changed recently. The family packed up last weekend for an "outing" to a local restaurant we had never been to. When we got there, we naturally asked if there were any child boosters on hand. Alas, there were not! But I am proud to say that our little Rocketship stood on her chair for the entire meal! She loved the appetizers, the soup and especially her noodles! Man, does she love noodles! She will definitely want to be coming back and we will be happy to take her!

Yep, 'nother one hooked Thailand. Happy?

Hope For Today, And Always

Today's hope is for our great country and anyone affected, directly or indirectly, by the attacks that occurred eight years ago today. Naturally, everyone remembers where they were "when", but how many of us also remember that many lives are still disrupted to this day? Please take a moment and lift these people up in prayer today.

We will never forget you...ever.

Explained: Cat Probability

This is, of course, according to Cheeseburger, one of our favorite internet hot spots. We (read: I) can't get enough actually now that I think about it!

Dog lovers: revert to Hot Dog for all your canine wittiness needs.

You Are A Fruitcake...Welcome To The Family!

Dear Ellena,

Today I think you should know that your mother and I have always had a pact together - yes, even before you were born - to embrace our child/children for who they really are and also for who they become. We intend to continue doing so. Always. And in these current days it seems even so much more important for us to remember this agreement. This is because as you grow and develop, we can really start to see the inner you breaking out from within.

You see, on some days you are a complete goof (most of the time actually - friends will blame one of your parents for carrying the elusive dominant goof gene!). On others, you are so into dressing up. Sometimes you are a bit needy (acceptable - and expected actually). Some days you are content to play by yourself for hours (this really helps me on my job search, btw) and others you desire to have us by your side all day. We love this about you. You are a different little person every day.

For whatever reason (not questioned), you really like to wear pajamas, a ballet princess skirt, moo shoes (a size too big still!), an outside long-sleeved hoodie (even though it is 80 degrees out) and the brown hat that was accidentally shrunk in the laundry...for hours! And then dance around and make silly faces. No problems here. We embrace your quirkiness.

Here you are on a shy day (yes, actually caught on camera! This is so very rare actually. You just backed up and leaned against the wall. Cute skirt!

And Yes, I guess in hindsight it was a mistake to let you feed yourself the spaghettio's. Oh well...no regrets here, it was still fun! And you were having fun too, just check out that smile!

We love you. And yes, you fit right in.