Excuses, Excuses

It's been more than a week since I last blogged. I have an excuse, and it's a good one.

I'm a picture person. I don't read blog entries unaccompanied by pictures, and I wouldn't expect you to either. I'm smart enough to know that most of you only check the blog because you want to see pictures of Talmage. I don't blame you, he's cute.

But I couldn't deliver this week (see below for reasons). So, it's all your fault. How's that for an excuse. :)

I mentioned that our trusty camera broke hours before our trip to Paris. Well, it is currently on its way to some repair centre in Texas (pray that the good people of Panasonic will honor the warranty and we will have a fixed camera in no time...for free!)

Anyway, in the mean time we are using a friend's old camera...and until yesterday I didn't have the cord to upload the photos.

But now I have it.

So I'm back to blogging, welcome back to me.

Happy 800th birthday Cambridge University!

We went to the coolest light show in the city centre for FHE. They projected awesome images onto the colleges and we really enjoyed it.

Does that look like a baby who just had a shot?

Talmage was so brave when he had his swine flu shot. The nurse said he was one of two children she had all day who didn't cry...he mostly just stared at her in disgust! It was hilarious.

Sticker for the big boy.

Crawling and Laughing

T woke up this morning with ants in his pants.

With little warning (or none), he decided that TODAY was the day he would start crawling.

As you will see, he moves forward (and sideways) to reach his goal, AKA the computer cord that Mom is usually pulling away from him.

I immediately pulled out the camera to document the occasion (with you in mind, of course).

Glad to share this "first" with ya'll.

Oh yeah, and here's another fun video of T laughing hysterically.

I love his giggle...it makes my day!

Bandits and Birthdays

BANDIT

Talmage stood up all by himself and I wanted to get a picture.

He drew his guns.

This has now topped the list of my all time favorite baby pictures.

I couldn't have staged it better myself.

(10 months old today. 25 pounds. 32 1/2 inches tall.)

BIRTHDAY BOY

Meet Elder Stewart.

We had planned to have the sisters for dinner last night.

Then, Elder Stewart announced in his newbie testimony that it was his birthday.

I thought of his mom (in California) and knew that she would not be OK with her son having no dinner appointment on his 20th birthday. So I invited the elders over too.

Luckily I had planned a BIG dinner, so that was no problem.

But, I knew Elder Stewart needed a cake...but we had NO cake mix.

SO, I whipped these up:

Please meet the first homemade cupcakes I've ever made.

Boy, did they turn out delicious.

I made four different kinds (banana, banana pecan, strawberry and chocolate).

And they were with self-raising flour, which I didn't even know existed four months ago.

Go on, call me Martha, just do it!

Baby It's COLD Outside

We went on a walk yesterday.

It was cold.

Living in Ukraine for 2 years has turned Jim into a regular Russki.

He doesn't think it's that bad outside.

Talmage and I, we think it's freezing.

But we love Daddy, so we took him on a walk.

Daddy pushed Talmage on the swing.

He REALLY liked it.

Mom and T spun on the spinner-thingy.

Daddy wore his brand new shoes.

I had a really cold index finger.

This little angel made snow angels.

And Mommy dressed T up as Ralphie from "A Christmas Story."

LOVE it.

A Miss America Moment

Today I attempted to make my favorite Taco Soup. It is cold, snowy and wet outside and I thought our sick family needed a little taste of home. So, I attempted to make Taco Soup, attempted. They don't have the beans I needed, the taco seasoning tasted weird, there are no green chilis, the canned corn was crunchy and the tortillas had little seeds in them. It was not my best work and I was not impressed.

As we sat at the dinner table, I told Jim everything under the sun I missed about the good ole US of A. I don't complain often, and I really do love Cambridge, but I made a list a mile long.

"In short," I told my husband. "I'm really just having a miss America moment."

Without missing a beat, that incredibly awesome husband of mine says, "I agree, you're beautiful. You are looking like Miss America today."

Have I mentioned lately that I LOVE that man!

Below is a video of him trying to teach T to crawl. The video was taken a few days ago. Right now Jim is in quarantine (swine flu!) and can't be anywhere near T. It's driving them both crazy. Everytime Talmage sees his dad he starts bouncing up and down and smiling. He loves him too!

Transfers

This week was movecall.

I remember the days so clearly.

The excitement. The nervousness. And mostly, the predictions!

I always guessed where I'd go and who I'd serve with on my mission--I was without fail, wrong.

And yet, next movecall came and there I was taking polls again.

Missions are awesome.

Anyway,

this week was movecall

and like any missionary-minded family...

we made predictions!

Jim, whom might I add has been suffering from the flu (oink, oink if you know what I mean), guessed that

Elder Fultz would go to London as a Zone Leader.

He said everyone else would stay.

I then told him my guesses, with incredible reasoning as to why each missionary I mentioned would definitely leave or had to stay, might I add.

Call it the pain meds or call it inspiration...Jim was spot on in every aspect.

I was wrong, but not shocked.

And in 6 weeks time I'll probably be guessing again...it was fun.

We'll really miss Elder Fultz.

He is a SUPER hard-working missionary and gets things done.

Since being in this area, he has baptized some AWESOME people, including my friend Freydis.

He always eats my food, never complains, and even eats seconds.

One time, he called and asked if he could have a morning lesson in our home. Next thing we know, he's in our kitchen making a full breakfast for our family and the investigator.

How cool is that?

He's leaving this area just like he should...on a high. There are four people set to be baptized in the next month. His replacement is going to love him!

Anyway, he's great and we wish him nothing but the best in London.

01-02-2010

Today is a palindrome.

It's amused me all day and I just had to share.

Hope your Saturdrome has been as good as the Wiggy's.

And oh yeah, who's excited about the New Year?

Happy 2010 everyone!