Penelope: 2, Melissa: 1

Penelope: Ha. I'm going to rip off my diaper
Mom: Ha, Ha! I'm going to take a photo and embarrass you later with it!
Penelope: HA, HA, HA!! I'm going to pee on the carpet right after you take the photo!

Triple Digits

Green Problems, Green Solutions

Winter rains bring

winter green to the

Valley of the Sun.

Our lawn looks great,

especially after Brooke

mows it. She pulls out

the old/new reel push

mower on Saturdays

and silently criss crosses

the two patches of grass

in the back yard. Then she asks for her $10 which is gladly given.

However, rain falls on the just and unjust alike, which means the grass

and the weeds both get watered. This particularly healthy weed is one

of dozens and dozens that has sprung up all over the yard. So we are

in the weed killing mode. Cordell and I have different methods of

solving problems, and that includes weed killing. I suggested a more

environmentally friendly attack for round one and he agreed.

My solution: BOILING WATER

As you can see, it is immediate and effective. However,

it takes time and can only cover small areas. For the

small beds by the back door, it works well.

Cordell has gone to work in the front yard with a

sprayer full of VINEGAR, with a bit of soap added.

It takes a few days and requires some sunshine,

but can certainly cover larger areas. His weeds

are looking a bit droopy today.

We really should work together, because the

wilted spinach aroma is drifting from the backyard

and mixing with the redolence of the vinegar in the

front yard. We could

add a little oil and have salad on

the Esplinade.

Rooted!

I've been exercising a bit of artistic discretion this weekend. And this is my favorite piece so far.

More Fishnet Pics

I couldn't help but make another post about Penelope's fishnet outfit.

So, I have some fishnet socks (not stockings, they go just above my ankles), and I thought it'd be funny to see if they fit Penelope. Too perfect.

She looks so sweet and grown up in this picture!

I love my little wild child. She's just too cute.

Either Brooke is trying to make a quick exit through

the doggie door, or Molly just couldn't quite manage

to get Brooke's shoe through the door.  Molly does

have a habit of taking her favorite shoes and socks

outside, but it's kind of hard to tell from this angle.

Hmmm.....

Pubescent Tooth Fairy Expectations

Note found pegged to the bedroom door.  Ransom paid.

(note says: I hereby demand a fee for lost or damaged property.  In this case, both.  The item in question is a tooth, and the fee in question is $5 paid in full by the year of 2009, January 1.  We appreciate your compliance.

Below is sed tooth.)

Linda's in Big T

I ate a brownie without permission.  Actually, I ate a brownie when I had been told

not to eat a brownie.  I can tell Brooke, however, that it was one of the most exquisite brownies I have ever eaten, and not because it was taken on the sly.  She's a great brownie baker.

Give Me Attention!!

Bed hair: Cute
Pinky finger: So Proper
Chewing my old phone: Funny
Giggly grin: Sweeter Than Sweet
Waking up at 1am and 4:30am: SO RUDE.

This Little Piggy Survived

Penelope's toys are being massacred!!! NO, not really, but I thought it was so funny to find this little piggy hanging by a velcro. Too cute.

demolition derby

A few crumbs, a few smears of chocolate.  These are the sweet remains of a demolished

yule log.  We all loved it.  Thank you, Melissa, for taking the time to make it, and for

leaving it at our house for us to eat.  

Penelope Tells the Scariest Stories

Airport Death

Ok, someone other than Melissa needs to post on this thing. So, I will tell you all my story about flying home yesterday.

So, my flight was coming into SLC at 7:30 and my roommates were getting in at 8:00, so I figured I'd get a ride home with them. Anyway, I get to SLC at about 7:45 and go get my bags and wait around for them. I get a call at 8:15 and my roomate tells me they're still on the ground so I'll have to wait. I think "Oh darn, they have to taxi and get off the plane, walk down here and wait for their bags still....DARN." Well, it was about two seconds until the alarm bells went off and I asked "Still on the ground in Salt Lake...?" Nope, Washington. Needless to say, the flight was now scheduled to get in at 10:27, so I had a wait ahead of me. I finally found a place to get a sandwich at the other terminal so I got that, a bag of twizzlers and a cup of water and went to find a seat. The place was packed and I spilled water all over myself and the floor as I walked around with two backpacks, a 50 pound bag and a set of skis while balancing the food on top of my bag. I finally sat down in a corner but after I got everything off loaded a whole family stood up so I get a chair and some room to chill out.

I was getting comfortable when this girl who was also waiting for someone on that flight came and sat next to me so we talked for a while until her friend showed up in the car and they went to go pass the time somewhere else. So, it's now about 9:30 so I headed over to the other terminal since I'd eaten all my food (including all of the twizzlers) to wait out the home stretch. So, there aren't any chairs open in Terminal 2 so camp out on the ground and play sudoku for an hour. 10:30 finally rolls around so I go look at the arrivals screen and when I find their flight again it says 11:12 for arrival, so I go back to my nest and fight through the last 45 minutes. I finally got a call at exactly 11:12. They had landed and were on their way.

So, his brother picks us up and takes us back to his apartment where we switch cars and head down to provo. We got in at 1 and I got to bed around 2. My alarm went off at 7:45 this morning, I got through two classes and two visits with teachers, I'm about to eat before my next class followed by four hours of work. Come 8 tonight I'll hopefully be able to head home and relax a little bit. It's been a crazy day but I'm excited about this semester and my CE classes.

Skydiving

Just in case you missed it earlier . . . here's the edited version of Melissa's skydiving video with an upgraded soundtrack. Sorry Ratatat if you view this as copyright infringement. It's just a great song.


Melissa's Christmas Skydive from Christopher Esplin on Vimeo.

Butt Cheekies

I love Penelope's crack, love handles and over-sized belly. I just want to squeeze and pinch all day.

Tent Parties

Where did the room go?

Penelope had this shocked look the entire time we had the blanket over ourselves. As soon as Chris and I pulled the blanket off, she had this look like, PHEW! I'm back.

Seriously, this was a hard shot to get.

Sundays

We had six Esplins to transport one mile to church this morning, and it took four cars. However, Cordell got released from the bishopric today. So next Sunday we might be able to consolidate a bit. I always have to go early to fire up the organ. But next Sunday, maybe, just maybe, Cordell can bring the girls to church. How nice.