february to saturday

I am on FIRE! Some of these photos are old. Months old. But some were taken as recently as this weekend, so I win all the things. All of them. Go ahead and deliver them to me.

Vesper, meeting one of Grammie's chickens. She's not quite sure at this point.

Birthday dinner for Blake, Rob, and me, plus a prezzie for Blake. My hope was that Magformers would be hard to lose in the car, since we were driving up to Calgary later this same week. His hope was that he could exchange Magformers for the LEGOs he actually wanted. We feasted on sushi from Safeway, of all places, and it was delicious, and Vesper loves it, and our sushi-loving family might have to stick with the goods from Safeway from now on, because that stuff gets pricey fast! My children and their champagne tastes...

My one photo from our time in Calgary. One. I am lame. But we had a wonderful time with Grammie G, aunt Ernie, and uncle Dan. We got to see the LEGO Movie in 3D, visited Ernie and Dan's new-to-them cabin, lost Rob's wallet, ate a variety of authentic ethnic food that's not available in Bozo, played lots and lots of cards and mah jongg, and sampled lots and lots of the wine and craft beer we were given for our birthdays. It was pretty much amazing.

My birthday card from my mother. The one who likes to pretend to be regularly scandalized by me, when she knows FULL WELL that she is where I get it.

Coloring and math homework.

On our more recent trips to Billings, it's been warm and melty, and Grammie pulled out these too-big boots so that V could stomp in the puddles. And stomp she did. All she wants to do at Grammie's house is go walk. As in, "Here, we go walk," as she grabs your finger and tries to lead you outside. And she's perfectly content to circle the house over and over (so far), but we don't trust her alone, because in Bozeman, she also likes to cross the street swiftly and unaccompanied, or poke around in the dog poop-ridden, rodent infested back lot.

Despite my efforts at keeping her from sitting down in a puddle, Grammie had no such compunctions.

She's pretty much the kind of Grammie I want to be when I grow up. Universally adored, tons of fun, totally engaged with her grandies.

Squishy smile. I'm chopped liver when we're at my folks. V knows she's got Grammie wrapped round her finger.

Sesame Street is on! Blake and the twins came over and briefly (meanly) teased Sawyer for watching the "baby show," then sat down and were enthralled themselves. I teased them back, the jerks.

Disgusted by my lack of play clothes in V's bag, Grammie snagged her some overalls and beat up tennies at Goodwill, so that she could play outside without fear of ruining ruffles and pretties. Vesper LOVES THESE THINGS, because she knows she can get dirty in them. Also, I think she likes faking the pockets.

One of my first attempts at a ponytail/piggy/top knot/fountain. I also somehow manage to capture only squishy smiles, but she has other ones. I promise.

Jammies and cousins in the early morning hours.

Audrey is Vesper's new favorite person. She calls her "Aubie," and if she sees ANYTHING online that resembles that sweet girl, V goes nuts. She looks at her pretty painted toenails (done together with Audrey) and repeats "Aubie" over and over again.

Seriously? These faces?

That is more like it.

Me and Lane. We MIGHT be related...

Selfies with the handsome Jetty Lion.

And mad Maddox wanted in on the action, so we set the timer.

Blake and Maddox were BORED, so Grammie pulled out a box of games that we girls had played with when we were their age. It was fantastic. Also, my mother may be a hoarder.

Five years, five years! For our anniversary, dear friends watched our children so we could go on a date. We drove over to Livingston for Rob's first time at the Rib & Chop House, and the main point that we enjoyed about that meal (other than its fine flavor) was the fact that it was HOT. Small fry and dishing up multiple people means that our dinners are usually lukewarm by the time we get to them.

The Saturday gang. This fearsome foursome played a little Xbox, helped me start a fire in the pit, cheerfully burned many of the stray sunflower stalks that had dried to a crisp over the winter (they make excellent torches), jumped on a trampoline, roasted marshmallows, and warmed up with hot cocoa. I think we need to build Blake a fort out of old pallets and blankets, since there's an appalling lack of trees in the hood for anything fort- or tentlike, and we don't have room for a sterile, ugly jungle gym. We'll gradually take that empty lot over so much that it might never sell, simply out of pity. That's how it works, right?

There! I did it! You can deliver all the things to me now, especially if they are accompanied by wine or a back rub or time to myself. Maybe I can hide in the pile of things?