Recent Happenings

I've been absent from blogging. I just got tired of trying to think of things that would be interesting to other people. But people keep bugging me about blogging, so here I am. I'm not going to attempt to sum up everything we've been up to lately, but I'll hit a few highlights and include numerous pictures. Around Thanksgiving we took a trip to Utah/Idaho. Good times. It's always good to see family. I was reminded that things are so much more holiday feeling when there is a chill in the air and snow on the ground. Mitchell was able to realize a lifelong goal and go bowling. Two times, as he is quick to tell anyone who mentions bowling in his presence. He also played in the snow and went tailgating at the BSU game with Grandpa. When we got back to Arizona he was able to go bowling yet another time. We do a lot of bowling around here. Any inanimate object can and probably will become a pin. He was a little put out with me the other day. He wanted me to use his play doh to make the 'consheen' (machine) that resets the pins at the bowling alley. He had made a little set of play doh pins and was insistent that I had to make a 'consheen' for him. I submit that not even my engineer brother could have figured that one out. If we're not bowling then we're playing pool. He's obsessed with it. He's getting pretty entertaining these days, and has recently begun rolling his eyes as though we are just too irritating to bother with. Can't imagine where he gets that.
Sam is getting big. He has more hair than Mitchell did, which isn't much, but still something. It has formed itself into a mohawk. I like it. I'll be sad when it gets too long to stick straight up. He continues to be a pretty terrible sleeper. I never thought anyone could make Mitchell look like a good sleeper. It's always nice to be proven wrong. We started him on solids, sort of. By sort of I mean, it's not much, and it's not very regular. Mostly we just like the look on his face when he tries something new. He doesn't get overly excited about baby food. However, he's very interested in big people food. He's had little bits here and there and now gets pretty darn mad if we're eating something in front of him. He's trying very hard to crawl. He's doing lots of getting up on all fours, rocking a bit, and then falling on his face. I think he'll have it pretty soon. He's also got a little tooth starting to peek through his bottom gum.
And finally, recently I spent four hours in a small trailer with a strange man who had no compunction about swearing in front of a lady. I am now authorized to carry a gun in 34 states. So, you know, I got your back. Okay, mostly I got this permit because Lee wanted me to, not because I intend to regularly, if ever, pack heat. Although, I do have my eye on a cute purple revolver. (Jayna, I hear your horrified gasp from here).
On to the pictures: