just because i happen to produce seriously adorable offspring:

illiteracy

I put Penelope in a parent & tot swim class recently. She loves it; so do I. It sort of makes me feel like an illiterate parent giving my daughter a book--I know it's quite possible and even commonplace to read the words in it, but I can't help feeling a sense of wonderment when she actually does.

Yeah, so, I can't swim. I get apprehensive when the teacher asks the parents to demonstrate blowing bubbles in the water. But Penelope can go underwater and glide to the side of the pool. She can climb out and jump in. She can do a back float. It's all quite impressive to me.

Last weekend we followed Dave up to Phoenix for his drill training so we could take advantage of the hotel pool. It was delightful. Especially because while there, I got to see my old boss (I love calling her that, because it makes her seem so authoritative), Diana, from my Wildcat copy editor days.

She's full of good conversation and a fantastic friend besides. As evidenced by the picture below. She made Lucy this quilt:

And titled it: "An Explosion of Pink."

Appropriately, I think. I love it. Especially because quilting is yet another of my areas of illiteracy.

something's happening here

Only lately have I started to feel normal again--like I could nix my obsessive longing for naptime and begin to think once more about working. So, I've begun to wake up before the girls each morning and have also resurrected my office hours, in an attempt to stir up my inner life. So far, it's working wonderfully. Of course, I've been at it less than a week.

Anyway, for the sake of good karma, I wanted to share two things:

1. A site my friend turned me onto: Duotrope. It's like a literary magazine search engine, for those trying to find their perfect publishing niche.

2. A talk on creativity by Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love, which I haven't actually read yet. Although years ago, I read her short story collection "Pilgrims" and was compelled to write her a fan letter. It was that good). Anyway, for the even remotely creatively inclined, very worth watching.

boom

This weekend we threw a party for Dave to mark his 30th birthday and graduation.
We invested in a Wii to ensure party fun...

Sam, Brent, and Dave rock out with Rock Band.

We went to the city ball field to watch the fireworks

Peeps kept saying "Boom!" as the fireworks went off.
At some point in the evening, she reached over to pat me on the shoulder tell me not to worry. Thanks bug!

Kristen and Owen. Thanks for all your party-help Kristen!
We can't wait to be neighbors!

Ralph & Marti

Dave's cousin Elise & her fiance, Jeff

Grandpa & Grandma Elrey

Brent & Autumn

The fam (while Lucy was sleeping)

Thanks for coming, everyone!