I Love This

jane. BE PURE MINERAL, OIL FREE BRONZER (30 GOLDEN DUST)

Thanks for the sample Jerry - I hope you bought this for Hi-School Pharmacy.

Dry Sheets

Without a pullup in the house lastnight, this was my solution. (as if it would help)

But he made it through the night! Probably in part because I hung his limp and sleeping body over the toilet and told him "just go a little bit" at 11:00 after I finished watching Housewives of Atlanta. (I know, I know, but seriously everyone has their guilty pleasures)

And this morning I totally did the step and slide and fall on the skateboard left in the middle of the hall routine. (pardon my use of the word, "totally" but it felt appropriate considering the subject)

My point is, Henry is a big kid now. How did that happen?

"Some Kid's Daddies Go to the Park Sometimes"

This is what Henry told John this morning before he left for work. Henry's no dummy. John came home early and took Henry to his first movie at the Blue Mouse, "Up".

When asked if he wanted to go with Mommy or Daddy, you can all guess his answer. Moms are so boring. Apparently there were other bigger kids there picking their noses and squirming in their seats. Although sitting still, Henry couldn't help but ask, "what does it mean when he says that?" or "what will happen to that person now that he has done that?" or "do you think anyone will truly understand why pi = 3.14159265?" Ok, so the last one was made up to prove my point - Henry is just his own little man. So, John patiently doled out Mike & Ikes (1 per 2 minutes from what I hear) to keep Henry from talking in the movie.

Good job Daddy.

Oh My Ohanapecosh

This past weekend John and I braved 3 days and 2 nights of camping on the Ohanapecosh River with the kids and our friends Danielle and James (well, they are the brave ones for agreeing to come with us). We packed enough to move to tent city and live comfortably for several months, so I guess it was a good experiment during a bad economy. But forgiving the very full truck, two-room tent and all, we did have a really good time.

If anyone is looking for a needed time warp on their next camping trip, come to Ohanapecosh. This is the Ohanapecosh camp song, sung by Ranger Smith who has been at this National Park for 34 years. Every night at 8:30 there is a park-wide camp fire with slides of years past and camp songs. Makes you want to stand up and say, "no one puts baby in a corner".

Heroic Henry

Today, Henry is my hero. He had his first ever dentist appointment and survived the following with a smile:

Secret to our success: Lots of pre-game talk about the vibrating toothbrush (like 10 reminders per day for the last week and half lots), Hygenist Gina at Dr. Megan Miller's office and Brit to watch Ms. Lulu who would have undoubtedly been in the way.

This One's For You Tookie

Just after getting off the phone with Tookie today, Lucy tried to blow her a kiss through the phone. This is a replay.

"We love you Took Took" - Henry

Bad Mudder

And I mean "bad" like "good" of course. These 4 are my charge today. Holy cow. Just barely made it through our pancake breakfast, but now the littlest two just went down for a nap and both are actually asleep! What? So the big kids are helping me post this. Anyway, Karsten and Julie: you've got two pretty sweet kids. They are welcome back anytime!

3rd Place Ain't Bad

This beautiful Penzey's Baker's Spice Box is the prize I won for my 3rd Place "fruit dessert' entry at John's Co. picnic. For those of you who know me well, you know I struggle in the baking department, so this is a proud moment for me. I entered the lemon bars I posted about a few months ago and I guess a few people liked them - wohoo for me!

She's a Reader

Just today, Lucy discovered books and it looks as if she'll never put them down. Good girl.

Henry's Nightime Prayer

Henry's nightime prayer consists of the following:

Thank you God for a good day.

Bless "your name here" (seriously, if we have even heard of you, Henry has prayed for you)

Pray for another fun day tomorrow.

Special prayer for "totally up to Henry" (the most wild, caring, funny things come out here)

Tonight Henry's special prayer was for, "Aunt Meg, becuase she has broken arms." This happened a while ago, but I'm sure she is still feeling the wrath of these breaks and I thought it was so cool that even when I might have forgotton about her plight (sorry Meg) Henry is still thinking about her. Love that and you Aunt Meg.

For me?

One of my tasks this week is to go through many months of pictures and have some printed and framed and stored and start a baby book for Luce etc. In the process I will probably post some oldies that I forgot I took. This series is so Henry (dinner at a golf course in Maui - March):

"Tots by the Sea" Sweaters

Happy Sunday!

The sweater Lucy is wearing is from a vendor at the Astoria Sunday Market. These are the most beautiful, softest, most unique sweaters I have seen. I've gone to her booth every time I am there and because I can't chose one, I never leave with one. Tookie bought this one for Lucy as she felt the same way about this cool shop. Thanks Mom!

Carrie Hansen, "Tots by the Sea" felts these kids sweaters from 'recycled' adult sweaters and the result is "a good thing". totsbythesea@hotmail.com

Henry's coolness today is due to no one else but Henry. Rock on Hank.

Holy Rice Cooker...

...the Torrones' witnessed me spitting out terrible half cooked rice I made the other night. That rice and it's 3 Cup cooker were thrown out the same night. 2 days later, we went to Paldo World (love this place) and this is what we came home with. I knew I wanted this brand as some of John's Japanese friends recommended it and we were lucky enough to talk to the owner of Paldo World while there and he sold us on this particle 10 Cup Model and threw in some training chopsticks for the kids. While unpacking the cooker we saw the same model being used by Iron Chef Morimoto on the Food Network. I've yet to use it, but am already pretty sure I currently own the best fruitin rice cooker on this planet. Let's eat!

Short Week - Long Drive

We had so much fun at the beach with our McDougall/Edwards/Gitomer family the week flew by! The drive home, seemed a little longer. Below is a few photos taken about 15 minutes from home - a range of emotions. And yes, Henry had just woken up to "an accident" and Lucy has a sucker pasted to her dress.