Thanks for Giving! Super long video update...

We had a great time this past week. Got to see a little of all our Minnesota/Kansas family members. The Thanksgiving meal was delish! And though Uncle Jay was without his fun-loving cohort, Aunt Teri, he still managed to set the bar high for a good time. He took all the willing Browns family members to a matinee on Thursday afternoon...a Thanksgiving tradition that goes back many years. Friday day was spent Christmas shopping (I'd never been out on Black Friday before), which wasn't the absolute worst way to spend a Friday (remember: work, illness, cleaning a toilet). Dinner that night at the Blonigan's, with conversations revolving around the Corn Huskers, timeshare, babies, jello shots, adoption, dog races, and many other things that my ears didn't pick up.

Saturday Selah and I spent the day with two of my oldest and best friends, Monica and Laura. By the end of the day I was all but signed up for Philosophy Camp thanks to Laura, and had learned how to put a baby to sleep within 5 seconds thanks to Monka. Casson and I met up with them and their husbands for a 10:00 showing of AUSTRALIA at the Heights Theater (movie not recommended; theater, yes). Pamela, Jody, and Jeremy hosted dinner that night. I ate more than two Thanksgiving dinners combined.

Sunday morning the immediate family had a Christmas celebration (limited to the present-opening part), in anticipation of not being together this year. We the Mathi will be in Texas, and Vanessa will be in Scotland. Basically the present-giving was heavily weighted towards Selah, and then too much to me and Casson. More thoughtful gifts couldn't be thought of. Then we all had a gourmet lunch at Hoolihan's before leaving for the airport. Papa and Grandma came inside to see Selah off. Can't wait for February?!?! Selah relished the plane ride, even though a scary flight attendant lady held her for part of the flight.

This is Maria and Miguel's wittoist beebee, Cristian Miguel Cisneros, being held by his daddy. He was born September 9th.

Cristian being held by my cousin Maria, and featured with Grandma Jody and Grandpa Jerry.

Plane ride went well. We got picked up at the airport and headed directly up to the cabin with Grandma and Papa. We met Mike, Kate, and Vanessa up there. It was cold and a bit snowy through the weekend. We came home on Monday and celebrated Papa's 55th birthday over at Michael's uptown apartment. On Tuesday afternoon Grandma watched Selah, and Casson and I went to walk around Minneapolis for a while. Tuesday night my mom hosted dessert at their house for the Peterzen side. Selah met her great-grandparents Lois and DeWayne and all her great aunts and uncles and first cousins-once-removed. I'll add more pictures of that later on.

5 Months Old

Casson is pretty sick this week. So far the baby hasn't been sick at all, but we'll probably soon find out what it's all about. I just hope she's not sick during her first week in Minnesota. Anyways, as you see, Selah started the first stage of crawling... tucking her knee. Granny (Avara) leaves for Indonesia on Saturday, so we'll be praying for her. It's a two-week trip, and Grandpa (Mike) will be alone (even Matt and Andrea will be in Phoenix), so we'll be praying for him, too. We're leaving tomorrow for Minnesota. It's going to be cold and fun. At the moment, Selah is busy freaking herself out by repeatedly pulling the blanket over her face. That is how she puts herself to sleep lately. I have to barricade her onto her back, or she'll roll onto her tummy and keep playing.

Weekend Update

Casson surprised me Friday morning. I really had no idea about any of it. I thought he was up and getting ready to leave for work, but he was really setting up a brand new bike for me in the living room. The best surprise was that he'd taken the day off work so we could go on a long bike ride and have a picnic and all that. We rode the Green Belt in Scottsdale and some of the newly paved paths along the Cross-cut Canal.

We ended up at the AZ Historical Society Museum in Tempe. Saturday we hung out at home all day, and then headed over to the Kuyper's for dessert with a few other sort of newly-married couples from Open Door. Sunday was Daughter and Daddy Day all day. I was volunteering at the 3-Day. They went to Scottsdale History Museum and then on a bike ride with Mike S. We ate a rushed and nasty dinner at Honey Bear BBQ.

Jackson, Doris and Selah on Monday afternoon at the Wescott's.

Kinvara, Selah, and Chloe on Wednesday morning at the Quinn's.

Pasley and Selah... only 18 days apart in age.

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.