A Weekend Visit

This past weekend we were all treated to a visit from Spencer's dad, and brother Hugo. We were sad that Diane couldn't join them but work wouldn't let her get away (I can certainly sympathize). It was a whirlwind visit that included a Brewers game, a trip to Madison and the purchase of a car. Though Eliot didn't make it to the baseball game, or to Madison, he did help pick out our new vehicle and revelled in all the attention from Grandpa and Uncle Hugo.

Eliot got in some wrestling with Uncle Hugo but he still has a lot to learn (i.e. it's unsportsmanlike to take hold of your opponent's face).

Grandpa and Uncle Hugo also helped out with the bedtime routine, which included a healthy helping of green bean puree and rice cereal followed by a reading of 'Goodnight Moon'.

Like any visit with family, it was over too soon and left us looking forward to December.

The wonderful thing about tiggers...

...is tiggers are wonderful things. Their tops are made out of rubber, their bottoms are made out of springs. They're bouncy, bouncy, bouncy, bouncy, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun! The most wonderful thing about tiggers is that I'm the only one. Iiiiii'm the only one!

I can't help but think of this song from Winnie the Poo whenever I see Eliot in his Jolly Jumper. He just loves to jump, no matter where, no matter when.

Jiminy Cricket!

Now that the semester has started Spencer spends Monday night at a friend's place in Madison so that we can save a bus ticket on Tuesday. Last Monday I drifted off to sleep listening to the sound of the crickets chirping outside. One little guy was particularly loud. The next day I got home from work and upon walking in the door was greeted with an enthusiastic CHIRP! It was then that I realized that the sound I'd heard last night had been coming from someplace inside the apartment. Feeling somewhat creeped out, I finally narrowed his location down to the bathroom, but search as I might I couldn't find the little guy. When Spencer came home he joined in the hunt, and discovered the intruder crouched behind the toilet. He snatched a piece of toilet paper and was poised to take action when I stopped him. I don't know what it was. Perhaps it was all those years listening to the "goodnight noises" when visiting my grandmother in rural Kansas, maybe it was that song about wishing on a star, or maybe the fact that the chirp had started to sound so plaintive and the little cricket looked so small, and helpless. But strangely (and I say 'strangely' because I detest any and all spiders 'Charlotte's Web' notwithstanding) I'd come to feel a sort of camaradarie with the little bug. So, I grabbed the strainer and a piece of card stock (I didn't feel enough camaraderie to actually touch him, mind you) and escorted our guest back out into his little world. Perhaps he promptly got gobbled up by someone a link or two up on the food chain. I'd like to think he made it safely home to Mrs. Cricket and all their little crickets, or at the very least rejoined his buddies in the football field behind our home and is singing blithely with them each evening.

Defended

This past Friday Spencer defended his doctoral dissertation. It was a brilliant triumph! I drove over to Madison after work to meet up with Spencer and he seemed blown away with the gushing response he had received from the defense committee. I was very pleased, but not surprised. I've come to expect great things from Spencer. I'm so proud of him! We celebrated that evening at a French restaurant in Madison which we thought was a good fit considering the topic of Spencer's studies. Jed (he of "Rough Stone Rolling" fame) and Shawna Woodworth joined us and we had a nice evening with great food and conversation.

We had an early morning the next day because we were volunteering at a diabetes conference here in Milwaukee where we worked the registration table. We have been looking for ways to serve in the community and this opportunity presented itself through my work at the hospital. It was great to get out and lend a hand. Plus, they had bagels.

Eliot had a busy weekend as well. On Friday he went to the zoo with Noni and Grandpa where he looked at all kinds of animals (he especially loved the fish) and got to ride on the train. He has also started to sit on his own. He has been practicing for the past few weeks and the other day was able to keep his balance without over-correcting. It eventually ended with a face plant into a blanket, but he's moving in the right direction. Sure do love that boy!

What a happy boy!