The Zoo

I finally made it to the zoo this summer. Macy has been twice with my sister Jenn and her kids, but this time I got to go too. I really do love the zoo. Macy's favorite parts were the water puddles and the famous lion water fountain. She is really easy to please.

Here are two belated pictures from our spring trip to the zoo.

Where to Find Us

Most days we can be found in the backyard.  

Macy loves this little tub so much that I haven't felt compelled 

to upgrade to an actual pool.  

JD added the bubbles and she is in heaven.

Of all her cute dolls, the Woody doll from Toy Story is her favorite.  

It is impossible to find the same series Jessie doll.

Macy saw hopscotch on Curious George and has been obsessed ever since. 

Rosie drew one for Macy, Coleman, and herself.

Rosie hopped her course with one foot . . .

. . . so Macy did her best to go on one foot too.

Coleman, Rosie, and Macy sharing a potato bug

Pittsburgh Trip 3

Macy and I were lucky enough to tag along with my sister Sara and her two kids, Brady (3) and Abby (1) for another trip to Pittsburgh. The trip there takes about ten hours from doorstep to doorstep. The kids were pretty good on the way there and Brady traveled better than JD. On the way home I had to wake Macy up early and when she is tired she gets hyper. And this time she went totally CRAZY! It made the way home a little intense. Sara saved the day by holding Macy on her lap and she went right to sleep.

But the best part, of course, was the middle. We loved spending time with Grammy and Grandpa. We shopped, went to the zoo, took a ducky tour of beautiful downtown Pittsburgh, visited the country farm store and the park, let the kids paint with pudding, and loved spending time at the mission home.

the zoo:

the ducky tour:

Macy looks so thrilled to be driving the boat.

Other fun:

All that fun stuff and -- besides Grammy and Grampy, of course -- the things Macy still talks about are the "elegators" (elevators) and the long tunnels. Kids are so easy to please.

Thanks Mom and Dad, we had so much fun!

Harriet Houdini

Flight 1232, Now Balding

The scene:  Salt Lake International Airport, July 2007.

JD: (to himself) I wonder if the unbelievably tiny, freckle-laden woman sitting next to me is Christina Applegate.

Woman sitting next to him: (on the phone) Hi, this is Chris.  Yada, yada . . .

JD:  (to himself)  What was that movie called where she played a flight attendant?

Christina:  Hi, are you flying to Phoenix?

JD: No.

Christina:  Did you hear the announcement they just made?

JD:  Yes.  Yada, yada . . .  Are you Christina Applegate?

Christina:  Laughs.  I am.

JD:  It feels very natural to see you here since I saw the movie where you played a flight attendant.  

Christina: Laughs.  That was a fun movie to do.  Can I rub your head?

JD:  Sure.

After a good rub of the freshly-shaved head, she walked off to catch her flight.  A few months later, she has won myriad awards for her new show, she has triumphed over a battle with breast cancer, and now, a year and a half later, she is on the cover of People's "100 Most Beautiful" issue. 

So next time you see him, you may want to give JD's head a rub for luck.

Respect Your Elders

Yesterday I went with my sister Sara to get a pedicure.  I am four years and seven months older than she is.

The girl working on my feet looked at both of us and then asked if I was Sara's mother.  And I still gave her a good tip (must have been the dementia setting in).

Which reminds me:

A few months ago, JD was pushing Macy through the hospital cafeteria when a worker leaned down to the stroller and tried to engage Macy.  When Macy turned to look up at JD, the worker asked "oh, is that your grandpa?"  

I'm not sure which is worse. 

Macy's New 'Do

Every day while bathing Macy I am amazed at just how long her hair is.  Today we decided to straighten it to see how it looks. The back is a good four inches longer than the front. I think it makes her look so grown up. Crazy huh?