recent scintillating events

1. potholder craziness: i got the idea here from my sister-in-law's sister-in-law (does that make sense?). i was so smitten i went out and bought fabric right away. they were pretty fun to make, like miniature quilts. my favorites are the one edged in white and the one with circles.



2. i was kinda feeling blue a few days ago and paul surprised me with flowers! i just love how bright they are and they make me smile when i look at them. love you paul!


3. we visited paul's parents this weekend and debbie made the CUTEST little bracelets for penny. thanks debbie!


4. penny's become obsessed with her left foot...


...particularly her big toe.


we videotaped it, too and it was right before bed and i was tired so it was even more funny and the camera was shaking because i was giggling so hard. things like this make it totally worth it when penny chooses to have a poop explosion at chic-fil-a.

dinorama

last weekend we also went to the ancient life museum at thanksgiving point near lana and kris' place. everything's fake but still pretty fun to walk around and look at.

nice face, brian.

as you can see, derek had loads of fun...

yikes!
i think penny had a pretty good time at her first museum. she showed her appreciation by sleeping the entire time.

katelyn's blessing

my brother jordan blessed his little girl, katelyn, today and he did such a good job!

the whole balmforth clan.

katelyn is so much bigger now! i love those lips.

with kjersti's parents, lavell and lisa.

i just thought this picture of my little brother derek and the grandkids was so cute. penny looks so funny, like a stiff little doll.

penny helping my dad play the piano.

6 months!

i can't believe half a year has gone by! nothing has really changed since last month. but hopefully by month 7 i'll be able to take some pictures of her outside! for reals, i'm sick of all this dang snow. and maybe by that time i won't have to use the bumbo to take pictures of her sitting up...but since she hasn't even rolled over yet, i'm guessing it'll be a little while longer before she can sit up on her own. she's been lazy during tummy time lately since she figured out that she can just lay her head to the side when she's on her stomach rather than pushing herself up. actually i don't care if it takes her forever to crawl, cuz once she does i have to chase after her and watch her like a hawk. wow, i'm lazy. maybe that's where penny gets it from...

love...sick.

blech. i hate being sick. yesterday all 3 of us were feeling not so good. we all had a stomach bug among other things. paul was a hero/prince/champ and took care of penny ALL DAY. even though he had stayed home because he was still feeling bad, he saw that I was feeling REALLY bad and held penny, played with her, put her down for naps, and changed 90% of her diapers (which were pretty bad because she was sicky too) – basically all I had to do was nurse her. i was so incredibly grateful to rely on his help while I was a bit out of commission. i don't know how i could've done it otherwise. i love you paul!

here’s a stud picture to make up for his pink hat picture below.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LANA!

today lana turns 27!!! she is one of my best friends and i love her so much. i can tell her anything and she always takes me seriously. we can always make each other laugh and i feel sad if i haven't called to talk to her at least twice a week. she has the most adorable little boy, max, and she is such a good mom. i don't know how she does it but she is a therapist at a girl's youth correction facility. she's very professional about it and won't even tell me the name of some celebrity's kid who's been there. :) these girls don't want to be there and they can be so mean to lana and she just takes it and tries to think of ways to help them. she was way popular in high school and was voted "best smile" and homecoming princess by her peers. she was beatrice in "much ado about nothing" in high school and she was FANTASTIC. i remember watching her in that play and just being so proud that she was my sister. lana is super talented when it comes to drawing and does these amazing charcoal sketches. my favorite thing about lana is that i know i can 100% be myself around her and we always have a good time. happy birthday lana! i love you!

a poopy poem

hi my name is penny
and i like to poop my pants.
i like to save it up all day
then i do the poopy dance.
i only poop in public
that's the only way to go
i poo my little heart out
until i poo no mo'.
then once we all get home
the discovery is made
that i made a stinky present
of a lovely greenish shade.
my mom strips me naked
my dad gets out the shout
he scrubs with grim ferocity
while my mom sulks and pouts.
then my dad gets out the camera
cuz i'm so happy without clothes
and takes a picture for the blog
hope you liked my poopy prose.