This is the envelope the IRS was kind enough to include in our inquisition packet. Standard letter size.

This is the information they requested. Maybe if I shove real hard...

I think we have an athlete in the making. Julianna new favorite shoes are her tennis shoes. Furthermore, we went to watch my cousin play Volleyball at a tournament and Julianna was very upset that she could not join in. My final proof to my hypothesis is, we are not big TV watchers around our house. We mostly watch sporting events. Julianna plopped herself down in front of the TV last week, pointed at the screen (which was off) and asked for 'ball'.

I don't have any new photographs, but I thought I would give everyone an update on our week. Yesterday, Julianna went to Mom's Day Out wearing her pearls and her truck watch. She insisted on both of them herself. Today we went to the fire station and she got to touch the trucks and sit on them. We will go again and I will get pictures. Right now she is keeping herself awake. She has decided that she does not want to be rocked to sleep and we have gone to rocking her for a while, then into the crib she goes. It can be anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour before she is out. I dread her moving into a big bed, one she can get out of to keep herself awake.

I think this photo pretty much says it all.

This is going to be three posts all rolled into one.

The pictures are our new tennis outfit. Thanks, Aunt Penny and our two-bottle a day habit.


1. It is all in vain

This morning, Julianna insisted on reading a book after breakfast. But not any book would do. It had to be "I Love Trucks". Afterwards, we went for a walk in her pink stroller, wearing her pink shorts and pink floral top, with a baby doll. Our first stop? The road construction about two blocks from here so she could watch the big trucks move dirt. At least she doesn't object to wearing a dress...

2. When did that happen?

The kids at Mom's Day Out eat lunch there and the parents are suppose to make them a sack lunch. As I was getting her ready on Tuesday, I realized that she never eats a cold meal around here. Every time she sits down, at least a portion is hot off the stove. Even her sandwiches are grilled cheese. When did I become that mommy?



3. Sometimes, all you can do is shake your head.

Julianna is becoming quite the little helper. She will pick up plates in the morning and help unload the dishwasher. She is not so fond of loading, and will sometimes be busily taking dirty dishes out while we are loading others in. She has also learned to toss clothes into the washing machine. She thinks it is a great game because she gets to throw stuff. This week, I took a load of clean ones out of the dryer and put them in a basket on the floor, put wet ones in the dryer and then began putting another load in the washer. I was busy loading, when suddenly clean clothes from the basket come flying into the washer. She's a good shot and all but one sock went in.

Today is September 11. Like everyone else, I remember where I was six years ago today, what I was doing, what I felt, but I honestly did not remember that today was a day of significance until I was on my way to lunch and saw a sign on a business about remembering. Six years and the day I thought I would never forget has been forgotten. It is a sad commentary.

Today was an exciting day in our life. Today Julianna started Mom's Day Out. I spent the time sewing. Above is my machines and a pile of fabric. I finished two dresses, although one was just doing the seams of a bishop, so it did not take long. I started on a third. I managed to wait all the way to 12:08 before I could not stand it any more and had to go pick her up. I was ready to pick her up before I left the parking lot, but I persevered. We will both adjust.