Lesson from the Great American Jackalope

Because Claire and I surf youtube shorts when it is 118 degrees outside and because this is what we sometimes find.

which somehow, just for a minute, makes being inside all day bearable.

Wanted: Excorcist (specializing in unruly 18 month olds)

So how is it that my little wee looks like this on the way to church

and like this on the way home


but during the actual meeting she looks and acts like this?


Any advice?

Claire has an announcement to make...

She's expecting! A new baby brother or sister on December 22, 2008. We can't wait and are excited to have our wee ones just two years and one month apart. I am feeling pretty good, despite being really tired, over emotional and nauseous most the time and am just looking plain old plump. I'll be happy when my stomach starts looking more baby, then its current pudge look that I have only obtained through a diligent commitment to my "keep-it-down diet" of pasta and ice cream.

My first trimester just ended though and if this little squirt is anything like Claire was, it will be smooth sailing from here. Oh yeah, except for the night-time wake-you-up-screaming leg cramps and heart burn (from apples, watermelon, bread and other noxious foods). Overall, Dave and I both feel really blessed we get to have another little one around again and we can't wait to meet him or her.

Turkey and Greece 2008

I just returned from nine days of sailing and touring Turkey and Greece. My brother Ian organized the group (me, Laurel, Ethan, Melissa, Kyle, Nicole and Kevin). Note: no Dave and Claire, much to my chagrin. Dave didn't have vacation stored up at his new job and Claire, well, let's say I wouldn't trust her on a boat for a week. Claire stayed with my wonderful mom who even endured three hours of church with Claire, twice! We spent two days in Istanbul and then picked up our catamaran (which Ian competently captained and we less competently crewed) in Gocek, Turkey. The first few days were spent viewing the coast of Turkey and tons of cool Lycian and Roman ruins and then we were off to the islands of Greece (Rhodes and Symi).

Every bit of the trip was amazing (except the missing Dave and Claire part). We ate incredible food every night in the various ports (Including one port that was just a restaurant the only family in the town owns. They raise the lamb and chicken and spear the fish for your meal). We saw amazing architecture (my favorite was Greek Neo-Classical on Symi) and incredible remnants of previous civilizations (the Basilica Cistern built in 532 AD by Justinian was unbelievable and very difficult to photograph—just imagine, people). We lounged on the boat and swan in the warm waters of the Mediterranean and just enjoyed good company. Incredibly, I read three books while there. Which really makes a trip.

Here are some favorite pics from the trip (Unfortunately, no bathing beauty shots because of the "keep-it-down diet", see above post).