Penelope's First Steps

Just last Saturday, Chris was watching Penelope and thought it might be cool to see if she'd walk to him. Over the last week she had become far more confident in standing. So she did it! She walked. She's not off and running yet, but she stands a lot longer and may take a few steps.





It's really cute to see her walk. She just started grabbing at her chest to balance herself. It's really, really cute.

More Nelly Photos

Last Sunday the lighting was just so even and beautiful I had to take that opportunity to get some more recent photos of our little girl. Penelope is becoming more and more like a toddler. It's just crazy to see her grow up.




Thanks Brooke for helping out with getting Penelope's attention!

Sunny, 107º with ZERO Chance of Snow

Sometimes I really hate blogger and how I can't adjust the image size without making it blurry. Oh well, you get the idea. Penelope left these puppies on for about five minutes without touching them! She's got a thing for glasses.

I still love my bike, but. . .

This bike is freaking awesome:

Maybe I can win one. With my luck, it's possible!!

The Malshitz is at it again.

Last night Shelley's tennis team had a party and Molly the Malshitz ate some people food. A lot of people food. I had a terrible feeling that we would see a repeat of the last time she ate people food (she pooped on the rug underneath our computer and I stepped in it with bare feet--GROSS). I was right. I'm always right.

This morning Linda asked Chris and I who had tramped poop up the stairs. I had no idea, I'd been taking care of the Nels downstairs the whole time. Chris said he hadn't. THEN, as linda walked up the stairs, she rephrased her question, "Who tramped poop DOWN the stairs?!?"



Chris started claiming innocence until he checked his slippers to prove it. The evidence was clear, it was Chris. We gingerly went up the stairs and investigated. Molly pooped right by our computer like last time, but this time NOT on the rug. HOWEVER. . . Chris unknowingly stepped in the poop and sat at the computer resting his sewage-smelling feet on the carpet in addition to spreading poop throughout the house.

Squeaky Clean

Thanks to Chris for bringing me my camera during Pen's bath. Penelope was really cute today in the tub. It sure is a great remedy for a sour mood.

The Awful, Rotten, No Good, Stinking Rat

A few days ago the Esplin laundry room started smelling a little foul. It started out smelling like moldy towels or dirty socks. Nothing new. Then a day or two passed and the smell went from bad to much, much worse. Molly Poop? Possible. Vomit? Likely. So Sunday afternoon, when the smell was starting to spread past the laundry room, brave, stomach-of-steel Linda decided to smell it out. She needed to find out what had gone terribly wrong.

She quickly diagnosed the problem was with the dryer, but couldn't quite find the source. She set Cordell and Chris to work. Cordell plummed the innards and Chris inspected the behind to find a dead rat.

Exhibit A:

The rat somehow found his way to the dryer vent and died, but not before losing control of his bodily fluids. By the time Chris and Cordell found him, he had started to bloat and his insides liquify. Looking at these images really brings back the smell.

Exhibit B:

Farewell dear rat. You will NOT be missed.