Square Dancing

Circle Family, Forward and Back, Dosado, Swing Your Partner and Promenade....

That's what we are doing over here. Circling, Forward and Back. This past Wednesday, Holly went to sleep with a CUP and slept through the night. She was down to ONE bottle of toddler soy formula, at bed time, and one bottle of water in the middle of the night.

Making the leap to a cup of water was finally at hand. Goodbye Haberman.

But now, 3 days and a flu virus later, she is firmly back on the bottle formula all day and night, refusing food in any shape.

Circle Family, Forward and Back. I have got to break this cycle. Somehow. I can not wait to be rid of this Haberman for ever. Here's hoping by Monday we will be on a better track.

One Moment

Not long after we moved into this house, I remember calling a sister and saying "the children have been playing downstairs, by themselves for 10 minutes." It was a milestone for me. 10 minutes of peace and a little quiet (but not too quiet).

Today is one of those days. Anna and Lee are diligently working on their lessons. Bill and Holly are happily busy down stairs.

10 minutes. A milestone.

Just enough time for this: To all my friends, I want to share this prayer. Especially if someone you love is suffering with cancer.

Julie and Paul?

Nope. Mary and Jere.

Have you seen the movie Julie & Julia? We enjoyed the movie so much, I got the book about Julia's life in Paris. What a beautiful story, and more than Julia's love for good food and cooking, does her love for Paul shine throughout the story.

Just like my Aunt Mary and Uncle Jere. They both love to cook and share really delicious food, traveling and each other, alot! I love this scrapbook page below for many reasons. June happened to be a great month to celebrate that year, Father's Day, birthdays, anniversaries and my college graduation. And I haven't ever forgotten how special it was to have Aunt Mary and Uncle Jere host that party. What a great, great day.

Aunt Mary and Uncle Jere hosted the cookout at their home. We had such a terrific time. You can see Uncle Jere on the grill. (The picture of Lee grilling was from another June gathering). One of the few times the future in-laws would meet was at this party too.


I like to think I got my love of cookie baking from Aunt Mary and every Christmas I send a tray to her house and love to receive a tray in return. In case you are wondering, Aunt Mary's are so delicious, I am reluctant to share...but, you know, Christmas...so I do.

If you are looking for a good book to read, I recommend Julia Child's Life in Paris. And if you wonder "Is anyone really that happily married?" The answer is Yes, because I know some who are.

What's the big fuss about?

You'd have to be under a rock not to know about the uproar over President Obama addressing 4th grade students. So many drastic things have been said on either side. I, myself, first thought "What's the big fuss about?"

I suppose though, that it is not just this one action but the accumulation of a few recent headline grabbing things President Obama has initiated.

1. Government run health care already has everyone up in arms over too much government control over our lives.
2. That website to "report people who are questioning the health care initiative". I think the intention was good, to help people find out more about the plan. It just SOUNDS LIKE "report on your neighbor to the government."
3. Thrown in that public service ad that describes the President as "lonely" and ends with Ashton and Demi pledging to serve Barack Obama. If only, if only all these A-Listers had said "pledge to serve OUR COUNTRY." And if this video hadn't been in elementary school. Since it includes issues like stem cell research.

And that leads up to President Obama's address to 4th graders. His actual address will most likely be like all his other prepared speeches, charismatic and uplifting. (That's one of the reasons he got elected, he knows how to speak to his audience.) It's that darn teachers curriculum. Telling teachers how to teach kids how the should serve the President. Back to the previous point, its SERVE THE COUNTRY.

Oh, I know the curriculum has been changed now, to encourage children to set their own goals and reach them...but over 2000 internet articles too late.

I only thought McCain needed better advisers during the election. President Obama may need a few new PR people now.

A Little Bit of Sunshine

Holly enjoyed playing around and with water. Not so much in the water until just the last few days, of course, as the pool is beginning to close. Just one more weekend of pool days. At the beach Holly found this spot to spend lots of time in. I was happy she was in the shade, away from the high tide and a bench for me to relax a little too!

Can you click on these to make them larger? I hope so. I'm going to post this, then try it too. Ok, it works. You can click on the picture, then choose the View Menu > Zoom to make the picture a little smaller too.