Seize the day

We all know what it's like to throw on a clashing outfit without caring because we're "just running out to grab the mail."

Friday night we had some new friends over for dinner, Ryan and Christa Joyner. Ryan works for Shmidt Shneck doing computer stuff. They came over to borrow one of our bicycles so that Ryan can start biking to work. His commute will be a few more miles than Casson's, and it's starting to be COOOOLD in the mornings. Christa graduated from GCU last year and is a teacher in Madison SD. We had a great time hanging out with them...I forgot to get a picture of Christa with Selah. Some people just look like natural parents, and she is one of those.

The next morning we grabbed a snack at Lola's and then took a long bike ride over to Dreamy Draw Park.

We watched "Remains of the Day" on Saturday evening... long, but a really interesting movie about what happens when you don't carpe the diem. I liked it about three times more than Casson did based on the number of times I said I liked it, but he liked it too.

Newest skill: roll around

That baby kept trying to roll all day. Then when Casson got home, he was playing with her and suddenly exclaimed that she'd rolled over onto her tummy. I didn't believe it, so I flipped her over onto her back and pulled out the camera to see what she would do...

Well Well

Congratulations to the new President. At least a year ago our friend predicted that Obama would win. I wasn't so sure at the time. His acceptance speech: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22887506#27546437 Obama will be to Selah, what Regan was to me, Eisenhower was to my parents, and FDR was to my grandparents. What do those previous Presidents all have in common? I'll take your answers in the form of "comments" - I'm desperate for a comment. The point is that she'll learn more about this new President and his policies when she grows up a bit, most likely after he's no longer President. I just have to say that McCain is such a generous speaker. Anyone else think so? He gave the greatest concession speech - in case you didn't stay up to watch it: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22887506#27545964. There were several very unpatriotic audience members (though they were often chanting "USA") who were not such gracious losers.

Late Voting

The Lola's Saturday morning crowd is increasing. Newest editions, Granny and Shannon McBride and daughter.

Dave with the bowed-baby.

Fall Festival on Halloween.

Saturday was a training session for the 3-day. So we took a few turns around old-town Scottsdale. Robin was our trainer. I'm going to be working the final Pit-Stop, Casson'll have to watch Selah the WHOLE DAY.

Sunday we had brunch at Lolo's Chicken and Waffles...and I was in a near coma the rest of the day. We explored th Pueblo Grande Ruins down along the canal by the airport. Another Hohokam hold-out.

This little piggy went to market...the sock market.

Newest skill: chewing on toes.

This pajama outfit says "Pepper Toes" which is perfect for some reason. No? Well then, there's also a wagon on it.

This is what Selah did when Casson told her about how the current financial crisis is similar to the crash of '29.

Hallowe'en blog to follow.

Granny comes to town - and Texas follows with her

Granny arrived on Friday afternoon, loaded down with new baby outfits, shoes, socks, and bows. We were asked to turn our heads while she gave Selah a "little" present. Little did we know she was crowning Selah "Miss Texas-in-Arizona." The crown: a giant pink bow. The irony: in Texas, this bow is a standard fashion for bald babies. In Arizona, it is a passerby head-turner. Except for Selah, who was unable to turn her head at all. Selah talked to the bow in the rearview baby mirror the whole way home. People went CRAZY about that baby. We all had a great weekend. Friday night we went to Piccola Cucina, where Andy sang us pop songs but with an opera touch. We also met a 14-month-old girl named Ayla, interestingly named after the main character from Clan of the Cave Bear. Saturday morning we all met up with the Lola's crowd for coffee, and took a pleasant bicycle ride. Saturday evening we went to Cibo, where people crowded around the baby, calling their friends to come see the baby-with-a-big-bow. Sunday morning we all biked to church through the quiet neighborhoods, enjoying the cool morning. Sunday afternoon was reserved for napping and cooking a Greek vegetarian dinner to bring to Doris's. We got to the Wescott's around 6:30, and had a great evening talking, reading, and celebrating Casson's 30th birthday (which occured the following day). Monday morning, Granny babysat while Casson and I went for a long mountain bike ride in Dreamy Draw Park. It had been quite a while for me, but I made it and loved it. Then on Monday night Granny babysat again so that Casson and I could go out to dinner to celebrate his birthday (or is that the other way around?). We went to the Coronado Cafe, which had a great atmosphere, and nobody around on a Monday night. In our excitement, we ended up drinking a whole bottle of wine, but thankfully we were both designated bikers that evening. Finally, on Tuesday morning, Selah and Granny got some last minute time to hang out, while I attended the Women's Bible study brunch. Sad day when we dropped Avara off at the airport this afternoon. We watched Granny until her red sweater disappeared down the terminal. We'll see you at Christmas Granny and Grandpa! Ready for this? No, didn't think so! Selah is going to be Pegasus for Halloween. We'll be at the Fall Festival at Open Door on Friday night.

New skill this week: Holding both feet.

Four Month Celebration - Long Blog Update

One last picture of Selah's old cradle. She's just too big for it now that she's four months old. I won't part with it on Craigslist for anything less than a small fortune. It's the best crib. I got her to laugh a little bit on camera. She's been improving her sense of humor lately. She finds "boo" hilarious, as well as "woof" and "gobble gobble gobble." Baby spots man on new bike. Man believed to be Daddy. Rachel comments on Selah's first sweater. Sweater-weather arrived recently. Hanging out with my old roommate Mandy and her son Ethan. We met in the children's section at Border's of all places. Selah tries on her first vintage baby dress, from Aunt Miss Nadine. It fits. She likes it. Heidi came to hang out on Thursday after work and hair appointment... thought I'd point that out 'cause just look at that great cut. Selah has really gotten adept at grabbing things, holding them for a long time, and chewing on them. I leave things on her chest for her to discover, as in this video.

Monday, Selah and I began our jogging training with Rachel and her dogs--the bike trailer also converts to a jogger. Our goal is to run the half marathon in January. I've never been a big runner (except on campus and in parking lots), but my brother and sister have inspired me to give it a shot. Plus it is a very no-hassles form of exercise with baby. After jogging, we went for fresh-squeezed lemonade with the sugar on the rim at the Lux. The teenagers were just getting out of school down the road. Each student looked so unique, and yet I think about 85% of them were wearing mostly black. They all just looked depressed and bored, despite their flippant laughter. Have skinny jeans taken over the mid-west too? Tuesday morning was women's Bible study at Open Door. Did I already mention it's a study by Beth Moore? Thought I was going to have to gag my way through it, but finding that I really like it... even laugh at her jokes. Favorite way-off-topic quote from her video yesterday - "Tanned fat looks better than white fat." She was referring to the time she got a spray-on tan and then went swimming too soon afterwards. It had something to do with being washed "whiter than snow."

Time to wear wool

Sunday morning was chilly, even at 9:00 when we were leaving for church. Robin was volunteering at Race for the Cure, and was up at 3:00 am. She didn't take her beanie off until 10:00, that's how cold it was. As we were biking home from our attempt to get to church (Casson got a flat tire at Glendale), we found ourselves pedalling next to a goofy old gentleman who talked a little like Eeyore and little like a drunken Bugs Bunny. He was sort of muttering to himself about the design of our bike trailer. I believe he mentioned that he was some kind of engineer. It was hard to hear him, as he had his coat collar up to protect his neck and face from the wind. He was riding a nine year-old Schwinn cruiser modelled after the 1955 Phantom. His eyes were shaded with bifocal sunglasses, and gripping the handlebars were two large hands sheathed with workman's gloves.

"Well, come Monday I'll have to put away the bike, and start driving," he mumbled, sounding disappointed. "Been biking since March, but it's getting too cold. I'm a desert rat. I prefer 112 to the 50's anyday."

Nadine had Tuesday off, so we went over for an afternoon of Japanese cherry blossom tea, and some Indian desserts that look like baklava but melt like cotton candy. Uncle Mister

Josh got home from work and made some traditional monkey faces for Selah, and Aunt Miss Nadine avoided eye contact with the camera again. David and Doris Wescott with Selah at Lola's. Selah is an expert contortionist.

Pretending to be a year old.

Selah must have jump-flipped in the night. I got up to feed her around 4 o'clock, and she was on her back giggling. But she was perfectly centered in her little crib. And I put her on her tummy again to sleep. This morning when I heard her talking herself awake, I went in and she was perfectly centered again on her back. Anyways, I might have to change the crib situation pretty soon so she'll have more room.

I Got The Wandering Blues

Check out the awesome trailer I found on Craigslist. Selah sits in her carseat, which is fastened into the trailer. She rode happily to church, and fell asleep on the way home. The high's were in the low 80s today, perfect timing to begin bike rides again. After five months of not riding, I got pretty worn out, especially hauling this cargo. Selah being held by Aunt Miss Nadine, and talking to Darice and Sara. The happy baby being kidnapped from the nursery by Stacey.

La Piccola Bambina or Good Eatin'

Did anyone watch the VP debates last night? I wish I were educated enough to talk about my opinions. But, I've only got gut feeling. Selah began her formal education recently. She literally devours every book I put in front of her. Crazy that Casson's been at his job almost a year already. Each day, when he gets home, he sings songs to the baby, AKA Selah "Mobile" Mathis. Classics like "You're a Little Baby," "I've Got De Baby, Ha Ha Ha," and "Why You Cryin'?" The lyrics just come to him naturally. And finally being outside at night isn't so bad. We haven't been to La Piccola Cucina in a few weeks. Glad to see that the place was packed. It had been very slow through the summer.

Ruining the Countryside

Here we are bundled up for the 50 degree rainy weather in NE Arizona. Selah and Casson in the Navajo Hogan. Tsegi Canyon, the view from Navajo National Monument. It was so rainy and windy that we decided not to hazard the hike down to the ruins. Walnut Canyon cliff dwellings, SE of Flagstaff. They just reopened this weekend. They've been closed since a huge rockslide took out the trails back in December. They say about 200 people at a time lived in these extensive dwellings.

The Grand Canyon International Hostel in Flagstaff. A great place to meet people from all over the world. This weekend we met Mary Jane from France, Lucy and Rose from Korea, Reid from Virginia, and a bunch of other people. Mary Jane's father was a prisoner of war for almost five years during WWI, and was freed in Austria by the Americans, so she just loves America.

Dave and Doris Wescott, on Thursday, "The Office night." Selah calling her old insurance company to see what's up with that 200$ claim, dawg? Selah's new skill - bringing hands together at midline, and then eating them, while desperately trying not to.

The mercury in the thermometer on our porch boiled over last week. It just couldn't take any more. Half of the supposedly drought resistant plants that I planted two weeks ago are straw already. Our whole family is a bit desiccated.