Box!

One of Etta's favorite toys at Grandma Cafy's house. The box. Even daddy can fit in the box!

Poser

And she does it so well.

Just a few days ago. Climbed up on the chair while Bob was vacuuming.



June 1st. Enjoying the nice weather and having fun in the backyard.

Eek-Eek 'Tana

Or: Eek-Eek, doof.

Both quotes that I heard while Etta was sitting on the potty. After the first one I said, "Is Uncle Eek-Eek in Montana?" "Yes!"

Then this morning I overhead the other from the other room, "Eek-Eek doof. Eek-Eek doof." Oops, maybe we shouldn't have asked her, "Is Uncle Erik a big doof?"

She is really copying a LOT of what we are saying. Thankfully, most of it can only be understood by us.

But in tribute to Uncle Eek-Eek...

Zoom in - he was 14 at the time.



Dugga, dugga, da,
Dugga, dugga, da



Go Cats Go!!



After which Bob usually promptly goes in to: I D A H O! Idaho, Idaho, Go, Go, Go! We are going to have one confused little person.

Fast Food Friday

Today's Fast Food Friday had a twist. Instead of having a fast food dinner in we went down to the Salvation Army so that Bob could volunteer in the soup kitchen with the staff from one of his elementary schools.

I was going to take pictures because we all (even Etta) took our aprons and were ready to help.

But once we got there I realized that it was not a "game" or "photo op" for some crazy mom and her camera.

There were people there that have to be there. And not that it wasn't tasty, but I don't think that you would be there unless you had to be.

And there were kids there. Kids that I don't think had lunch today - because there was not school. One boy was very polite. Etta and I didn't get into line to eat until about 5:30. 5:30 is the time that you can go back for seconds. Anyway, the boy said, "Oh, here, you can go in front of me because you haven't eaten yet."

Incredible. I could tell that he was still hungry. I declined his offer and got in line behind him.

The people were very friendly, respectful and seemed to get along with everyone. I guess that if you go to the soup kitchen regularly you would probably get to know the other people who go regularly. Right now I just can't imagine that.

It really made me think. We are, of course, on a budget since I am staying home. Some days it seems like we won't be able to make it. Or that it's "not fair" that we can't go out to eat because if we do we won't have enough money to buy food for regular meals before the next pay day.

But then something happens that makes me realize how incredibly BLESSED we actually are.

We are usually just picky.

Which brings me to the next part of the story. Etta refused to eat dinner. Refused. Wouldn't eat the biscuit (which was plain), wouldn't eat the corn, wouldn't eat the fruit cocktail with whipped cream and little marshmallows, wouldn't even eat the cookie. Guess who is going to be hungry in the morning?

But things happen. I have been reading about the situation in Haiti. We probably WASTE more water in one day than some of those people would come close to killing for. We probably throw away more food "waste" daily than those people would eat in a week.

Sometimes I just need to sit down and re-prioritize "wants" and "needs". A lot of what I think I "need" I just really want. Becoming too comfortable with ones current situation can be a bad thing.

[On a side note: In this month's Reader's Digest there is an article about how for the first time in history more people are dying of problems related to OBESITY than to hunger. And you can't spare a pocketfull of change to send to your kids school to go to Haiti...?]

One difference that I am going to have in my life this next year (and I'm not trying to brag or seem holier than thou) is that I am going to volunteer at the Salvation Army for their Thanksgiving Day dinner. I can make a smaller, special dinner for Bob and I on Friday. No need to gorge myself full while there are so many who wouldn't get ANYTHING if it weren't for organizations like the SA.

This was a rambling post, but I never said I was an English major.

More chair fun

Here is that little green chair again. She just loves to use it for just about any kind of play. I helped her set up the music station and thought it was pretty darn funny that she had to have the chair on the keyboard side. (With all four keys.)

Ready, mommy!



It's concert time.

E is for Exercise

When I was in kindergarten we had to dress up as letters of the alphabet.

I was Miss E. And dressed in a leotard with tights and had two braids. (Wish that I had that pic to share, I really do.)

For this Christmas my mom got me a yoga outfit. A sock monkey yoga outfit. No kidding. Anyway, it came with a totally sweet head band. At least Etta thinks that it is totally sweet.

I think that only SHE can get away with it!

Baba Eddy has a farm...

E I E I O

Great Grandma Barb gave Etta the Fischer Price Little People Barn for Christmas because, "Her grandpa has a farm so she needs to have one to play with!"

Thank you Grandma Barb!

Etta loves the farm and plays with it pretty much everyday. Her favorite thing to do is put it on your lap while you are sitting on the couch and then pull up her green Baba Steve chair and start to pretend. We have been eating dinner a bit earlier so that we can have more post-dinner play time.

And Etta loves to sing, "Baba Aaee...EIEI...EIEI...EIEI...(on cue from mommy) OOOOOO"!

Time to play barn!



The animals can go in here.



Hey! Where did everybody go?