This is Bradie's very first ice cream cone.  Otherwise, we have never abused our child! What can you do when your kid breaks out in hives when dairy touches her face?  She was awarded above cone after doing the #2 in the potty... hooray, right?  Well not the day after or today :( WTH??? Oh well, she's got her Barbie and a conditional pass to the world of ice cream now.

This sweet love muffin can now "razz" with his tongue and his lips.  He thinks Bradie is like the funniest thing since Mel Brooks.  Also Beau won't grow up to be "soft", as Bradie is plenty big brother enough for him  with her "gentle" tickles and "pats" on the tummy that sound like she's working out a bongo. No clue what the blue line is for, either.

I woke up the other night to find Bradie watching the Breakfast Club on CBC.  Here's her Ally Sheedy look.  One must be prepared for anything during snack time.  Seriously she is wearing AT LEAST three shirts in this photo.

What else? Oh, yes.  Marcus has decided to reread the Harry Potter series so I haven't talked to him in days.  If you see him, let him know I said hey.  

doodoodoodoodoodoo *twilight zone theme*

Marcus just baked peanut butter cookies.  Seriously.  He even used parchment paper and a potato masher to indent the tops.  They are now resting on a cooling rack and are calling my name.  Rightfully so, Marcus is now resting on the couch and I hear Mike Rowe and intermittent beeps which means Deadliest Catch or Dirty Jobs is on the TV. The music sounds more dramatic and not plucky, so I believe we're talking the Bering Sea.  That show is sick and wrong and fascinating.  But I am SO appreciative because I just had bites of something called a crab ring the other day made by Auntie Michelle that was MONEY!  So thanks, crab dudes.  And now that Jeremy has acquainted a captain, I am way closer than six degrees away, so I better mind my manners.

A total payout for deck hands flashed on the screen earlier today (no, discovery channel has NOT been on all day!).  It was $46,000! I told Marcus he could totally do that.  Sure he might die but that is some serious coin!  I told him he could pay off his school loans with one fell swoop, but he informed me those would just go away anyway if he died.  He then pointed out that me loaning my body as a surrogate (read: baby momma) is much more lucrative when you balance risk to reward.  Maybe I'll start with plasma donation and get a new pair of Chacos. 

Yes, I realize this may be my most pointless post ever but that is okay.  I've been thinking many deep thoughts lately and it is nice to just let my fingers do some jabbering.  So thank you if you've read.  Shame on you if you've scanned for cute baby pictures and ignored my rantings! :)

Topic switch: I went to the Farmer's Market in Everett and scored some beautiful lettuce, some fatty sugar snaps and an onion.  Just one because I have some already and thought I'd do some comparison cooking with mass onion vs. hometown onion and see if there's any difference. 

I'll end with an appropriate quote from Marcus:

"{12 Dancing Princesses} It's not that bad of a movie."

i hear sugar helps the medicine go down

On June 30th my grandpa passed away.  He had been battling the affects of congestive heart failure for almost two years and the grown up parts of me have joy knowing he is set free. Another part of me is still trying to own the fact that none of my biological grandparents remain and that an era tying me to my youth has passed.

My grandpa to me is synonymous with endless summer days, the smell of salt water, rope swings, row boats, green trucks, outdoor showers, glass floats, white undershirts, corn stalks, winding roads and savings bonds.  I didn't know him well in my adulthood.  But it's youthful unawareness that creates those perfect vignettes.  I do know that he loved me and my sisters and my cousins very much.  

Thank you Grandpa for all that you gave to your family.

the a to z of being me!

from Bridgets blog:

A- attached or single: year number six to the Marcus

B- best friend: margaret

C- cake or pie: chocolate cake

D-Day of the Week: Friday

E- Essential Item: coffee

F- Favorite color: various blues

G-Gummi bears or worms: worms!

H- Hometown: Gig Harbor, nay, Purdy

I-Indulgences: wine

J- January or July:  July most certainly

K- Kids: Bradie-girl, three in October; Beauboy, four months tomorrow!

L- Life is incomplete without- supportive bras and supportive friends

M- Marriage date: August 3

N- number of siblings: 1 sister

O-oranges or apples: apples, where are all the honeycrisps?

P- Phobia or fears: Walking close to really tall objects like light or power poles, logs underwater, being too hot

Q- "When  you are arguing against Him, you are arguing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all"- CS Lewis

R- Reason to smile: JESUS!

S- Season: cardamom :)

T- Tag three:  hmmm Erin, Christy S, Ellen

U- Unknown fact about me:  I have an aversion to cilantro.  It tastes HORRIBLE to me!  HATE IT!  It tastes like cleaner, like soap.  My mom does as well.  Apparently there is a genetic predisposition to loathe the stuff.  

V- Vegetarian or Oppressor to Animals:  Vegetarian.  Unless...wait....cows and chickens are STILL animals.  Nevermind.

W- Worst Habit: Forgetfulness of things like cell phone and keys.

X- Xray or Ultrasound:  I think this is an absurd one...ultrasound I suppose. Although x-rays tend to make me look thinner

Y- your favorite food:  I love brinner

Z- Zodiac sign: Aries