Break me off a piece of that

The long awaited September break has finally arrived! Yesterday David finished his last final, and now once and for all he can take a break and relax. Much needed and well deserved...

We have vowed to neither talk about nor think about anything remotely related to school or teeth for the next 3 weeks! Our plans include trips to both Utah and Washington, as well as a few day trips here at home to continue our exploration of all Cali has to offer. For these reasons, there may be little to read on the blog for a while... I'd promise to try, but deep deep down we all know that is one of those promises I don't intend to keep.

Curly Sue

Every night after Lex's bath her hair curls, and yesterday the temptation was more than I could bear... so, once again we pulled out the karo syrup!
Just kidding, this time I actually used gel. But, I didn't have near as much fun...
If you look really closely, you'll see that these pictures could be described as 'before' and 'after'... and, I don't mean the hair.

Let's take a break

When I grow up

I couldn't help but be inspired as I watched the Olympics. I was amazed at the talents, hard work, and dedication that the athletes demonstrated. As I sat on the couch eating my chocolate, in what ever form I could find it, I pondered on what Alexis may one day accomplish and I realized that the sky is the limit.

Here we have beauty queen on her way to her parade
Or maybe, a cooperate analyst who oversees the on sight inspections
David's favorite, an entrepreneur
Food critic: course this one runs in the family I'm thinking either a commercial actress or a marketing rep.

An activist; we're only bailing you out once kid...
With her dad's brains, I think she'll make an excellent computer geek

I know you are, but what am I?

You know you are a student when:

You shop at Ross because you can’t justify the expensive stores like target and walmart.

You try to make one piece of chicken stretch for atleast 2 meals – 3 if you are really lucky.

Your child’s favorite toy is your kitchen spatula, and if they are extra good, maybe a mixing bowl.

You keep all the lights off, and doors and windows open, because cold air costs money.

You hang half of the wet laundry all over the house, so you don’t have to pay an extra .75 for a drying cycle.

You only change diapers when they are REALLY full so the box lasts longer.

When you go out to eat, your first impulse is to ask if they accept foodstamps.

Date night has to be on Monday or Wednesday when Redbox is free.

The number behind the minus (-) sign on the bank statement has more zeros than any math class taught you was possible.

Happy and you know it

In an attempt to help Alexis feel as though she is contributing to the family, we've decided it's only fair she be allowed to participate a Wii bit. Thus, she provides the ever essential round of applause after we rock on guitar hero (or after I beat David at the sporting events - not that she knows to pick a side, but she's a quick learner).

In her busy schedule of tearing the house apart - one drawer at a time - Lexi has started to wave and clap. Her most favorite trick is clapping during meal time, right as I get the spoon to her lips. She gets quite a kick out of watching her food fly.

They found me

Late Sunday evening, after a family walk around the neighborhood, we decided to check the mail since we hadn't for a couple days. As I turned the key and opened the mail box - the sky suddenly darken and the air was filled with a harsh clap of thunder - there in the box was a single envelope staring back at me. I attempted to muffle my screams as I read the glaring red letters on the front of the envelope... Notice of Jury Duty. With a shaky hand and sinking heart, I reached in...

Not only am I a lucky winner of the jury lottery, but my call to duty happens to fall exactly in the middle of our September trip to Utah and Washington. Hope you and Lex have a good trip David... wish I could come too, but I've been called to the front lines...

In all honesty, I really would not mind serving on a jury. But, I am not sure how the court would react to Lex and I sharing a seat. I can see it now: "I'm sorry, would you mind moving over one seat? She tends to kick while she's nursing." Or, "Don't mind her as she crawls... hey, in or out buddy, we need to keep the door closed!" My personal favorite, "Don't stop, keep going. I'm just going to change her here. Does anyone have a plastic bag?"

On the notice, one of the valid reasons for being excused is having a dependent whom you care for from 9AM to 5PM (Sheesh, a day I only had to care for her from 9 to 5 would be a holiday!). When I called in to register I explained my situation, and was instructed to put everything in writing and send the notice back, so it could be evaluated. I asked the person on the phone if it would be a problem being excused, and all she could tell me was that it would be reviewed and and I would be notified. So, I next inquired whether the state would pick up the tab for Lexi's future therapy sessions to deal with her abandonment issues because I had to leave her? The only response I got was, "I'm sorry, that is not something we cover." And... apparently we check our personality at the door...

You know, there is the slightest bit of irony in the fact that the government can't find me to deliver the stimulus check which we have been waiting months for; but a notice for jury duty, no problem.

Say what?

There are a few moments everyday when I stop and listen to what I am saying, and just shake my head in disbelief. It's probably a good thing I am the only one listening...

"If you bite me - I'm going to pick your nose."

"Hey! Don't lick the cupboard... dishwasher... floor... door... tv!"

"Out of the garbage. Garbage is not our friend."

"You know, you have ten of your own if you want to suck on toes!"

"Seriously?!?! You couldn't have held it 2 more minutes till we were out of the bath? All I am asking for is a little self control."

"Stop being such a baby - just tell me what's the matter."

"ahhhh dahhh da da la laaaaaaaaaaa"

"Lexi? Marco..."

"We have to share... Don't touch mom's phone."

Feel the burn

After dinner yesterday, Lex decided that she wanted to try and burn a few calories. She's been getting a little soft around... well, pretty much all around.

Okay, so she is a little cute...

It's time to celebrate!

David Daniel Feller you just finished you dental boards, what are you going to do next?

"I'm going to Wii... I NEED to Wii!!!"

After coming home utterly exhausted and intellectually demolished, David's only hope for survival was to Wii. So, we caved and officially became part of the gaming population. It's true what they say; once you Wii, you're never the same!

I thought it would be easier than it ended up being to procure Wii. We went to numerous stores who were completely sold out, as they thinly veiled their laughs at us even thinking we could just walk in and buy one. However, in a final attempted at BestBuy we were told someone had returned their Wii earlier that day... as we made eye contact with the abandoned Wii, it was as though the heavens parted. Obviously, we couldn't pass it up! (so, all of you out there praying for David's boards... looks like a miracle DID happen)

So, we rushed home with Lex in the back of the car going, "Wii Wii Wii" all the way home. I killed him in bowling; he schooled me in tennis; and I think I pulled a muscle in boxing - not before I knocked him out though. Editor's note: Wii at your own risk. It is safest to master this in the privacy of your own home before attempting to Wii in public.

Alexis has started begging us to teach her to Wii, but I think she's still a bit young... consequently, I hear that girls do master it earlier than boys...

The day of reckoning

Well friends, the day we never thought would come is here. I never thought I would see the day when the countdown would no longer be counting... David left early this morning with a promise to keep in touch and a smile on his face.
After some studying yesterday he finally reached the point of knowing that he had done all he could do. And, the only things standing in his way of no longer bearing the boards burden, is 400 questions and 8 hours. The test is completely computerized, but he will not receive his scores for about 3 weeks. Personally, I think that the wait would drive me absolutely crazy. But he insists that he is excited to have some time to just let things go.

Thanks for all the support and constant encouragement. We'll let you know how things went, after we visit the doctor for the ulcer and the optometrist for eye strain....

Maybe just one bite

Yesterday as David was crawling around on the floor with Alexis, he suddenly stopped playing and in a moment of paternal pride exclaimed, "I love this girl!" Stop with me, if you will, for a moment and have a collective: Ahhhh.
He followed up his declaration of love with, "You know what I think of every time I see her smile? I think of her enormous gummy arches and how I could make her a proper pair of dentures. Why be edentulous if you don't have to be?" Now let's have a moment for a collective: Huhhhhh?

Sadly, Lex's arches are no longer completely "gummy". Today while trying to persuade her to take a nap, I spotted what I dare say will soon be my two greatest enemies... two bottom teeth. They have just started to break through the gums, and I am trying to think of everything imaginable to make them go back into hiding for 3 more months... Oddly, David is more than willing to fit her with dentures, but gets all panicked at even the mention of extractions. I'll let you use your imagination on all the various and sundry ways that her having teeth could be problematic for me...

Hopefully these little invaders are the culprits for her incredible moodiness as of late. I am dying to know what happened to my adorable low maintenance child.

Can't even pretend

If a picture is worth a thousand words, than Lexi's expression is speaking volumes about how she feels about a kodak moment with mom. What are some of the thousand words she is trying to convey? I'm picking up: bored, apathetic, could care less, can we make this quick, dull, annoy, etc, etc...
Looking at this picture makes all the mundane aspects of being a mom somehow worth it.