For Whom the Elevator Tolls

Last week, Melese and I took a walk over to the Provo Library. Fast-forward to me checking out- you gotta love the handy little do-it-yourself machines! Reese was at my side as I scanned and beeped my way through our stack; in the time it took to check out two movies and three childrens' books Reese had disappeared. Yes. That's right, gone without a trace! I'm not really the panicky type- more the kind that is sure my child is wreaking havoc somewhere, so I quickly gathered up and started searching the first floor while Mese took the Children's Wing. I glanced at the Librarian offices and thought to myself, "Oh crap. I bet she ran back there... they're gonna be SO mad at us!"

Let me explain. I don't know if this is something that only I experience- maybe I've just got bad karma, or unknowingly wear a sticker with the words "I HATE LIBRARIANS!" stamped on it each time I visit, but has anyone else noticed that some of the prerequisites for Public Librarian must be 'tight-lipped', 'hissing voice' and 'crabby without cause'? I have yet to meet one that isn't annoyed, severe and well. . . down-right scary! While in Montana, I could visibly see one librarian's face redden, swell, and threaten to explode each and every time Reese and I entered his section. My rambunctious two-year-old probably didn't do much to help the situation. It's nothing at all like Reading Rainbow, and my inner child feels utterly betrayed.

Anyway, I just knew we were going to be banished or at the very least have our knuckles rapped smartly with a ruler.

Just as I prepared to go in, a very jolly red-headed man in a plaid flannel shirt emerged from the elevator with a smile. "Are you looking for your daughter?" He asked me. Was it that obvious? Did I have that 'crazed parent' look in my eye? Yes. I was. "Well, she's uptairs," he said, and his eyes twinkled like he'd been laughing his whole way down.

Reese had taken the elevator without me even knowing! And to make matters worse, she - the chattiest, happiest, random-screamer-of-the-word-'Shepup!' was now loose on the Silent Floor without any supervision. Heaven help us!

I ran to the elevator, hit the button and waited what seemed like an eternity for the doors to open. When we finally reached the upstairs and the doors chimed open again, this is what I saw:

Reese, smiling and happy as can be, was standing there, her chubby little hand clutched in the larger one of an EXREMELY unhappy librarian with pursed lips and a way-too-tight bun that seemed to pull the corners of her eyes up slightly from the strain of it. The same eyes bored two smoking holes into me, the silence hung thick, and all I could manage to say was,

"Umm, she's er. . . mine."

She handed Reese over to me, saying nothing, and walked away. On the way down, we had a little chat about not leaving Mommy, and staying very close, and holding hands. Reese, unusually calm and still, replied only, "Ok, mommy. Yes." I feel pretty confident that this was not the first lecture she'd received while visiting the library that day.

Melese was waiting for us on the first floor, and we roared with laughter as I related the tale- that is until the librarian at the circulation desk looked up from royally chewing out a poor, bedraggled mother with four kids and a question about a fine to give us the evil eye.

We made a break for the exit and fresh air where we could laugh to our hearts' content without fear or threat of punishment.

In the age of the Dinosaurs. . .

As a great woman once said, 'Who doesn't love the zoo?!" I would submit with equal gusto this additional statement,

Who doesn't love the Dinosaur Museum?!

A while ago we took Reesey to the Thanksgiving Point Dino Museum for FHE. It was her first time, and I will say with confidence that we were a total hit as parents that night. We are so cool.

Here are some photos of our Prehistoric Shenanigans:


And you thought I posted all the spooky pics last night! Silly, silly. We're being scary dinosaurs, by the way. Somehow Reese didn't get the memo.


A poor little lost dino- I mean Reese, not the bone.


Playing in the Erosion. . . er, pond? Don't know what you call it, but Reese loved it. Thank heavens for hand sanitizer!


Digging for fossils with Daddy


Not sure whether Reese or Ryan had the better time here. They have pretty much the same look on their faces though. :)


My two favorite-est people in the world!


The lovely two-headed dino Reese and I made. Isn't it funny how velcro makes things magic for little kids? Reese ripped arms and legs off faster than I could put them up. Luckily I kicked it in gear and then tackled her for a picture before she could undo my work.


Buh, dum. Buh, dum. Too poor unsuspecting victims posing for the camara.
"What? There's a what behind me? No, I will NOT get off the beach! Puh-lease. The things some people resort to to get a little more leg room!"



And so we conclude again in the second part of our series, "Catching Up on Months Past".
Stay tuned-- I promise I'll get to our quiet Christmas at home, and the thousand-piece present Ryan and I put together. ;)

I'm ashamed. . . really.

Wow, as I sit down to write tonight I'm reminded of the old Garfield cartoons where he instructed his ever-eager sidekick Odie that, should he be gone longer that x-amount of minutes, he was to send a lasagne, a banana cream pie, or another equally satisfying morsel after him. Well, I haven't received a pan of something yummy in the mail, though I'm certain that a few of you ( you know who you are!) had given me up for dead. I have definitely been gone long past anything acceptable-- oh the shame of it all!

And so, my penance post. :) I warn you that like many of my fellow bloggers the holidays got away from me so there will be all sorts of pics with short captions. Peruse, ooh and ahh over the cute Reesie pictures (we all do!) and since now is the perfect time for it, I resolve to rededicate.

First of all, is it possible that I did not even cover HALLOWEEN?! Good grief. Shame spiral, here I come! Ok, I warned you before that if you weren't interested in lots of catch up to get out now while you still can. But if you're stickin' around, get ready for a little flashback.

Get ready for something. . . SPOOKY!

I apologize that these aren't really in any sort of order- I'll be better about that in the future. This was the Stake Nursery Halloween Party- Reese mostly enjoyed dipping her candy into the frosting, licking it off, and then did it all over again.


Reese and her second cousin, Ginny, her newly established best friend and fellow princess. "Gin-Gin", as she is affectionately called has shown her that a well-fluffed tutu is a thing of beauty, as well as other new skills. Wink!

Back to the Nursery party! Tootsie Pops masquerading as ghosts in bits of kleenex were stuck into the yard in front of the church. This was one of the best things to watch. Most of the kids didn't get what was going on, a few made a KILLING while the others sat stunned, and a remaining ones (Reese among them) decided that instead of working for their treats, they would just snitch a few (or ten) from unsuspecting trick-or-treat bags. So many suckers! Anyone who knows Ryan and his insane phobia of all things sticky will understand why Reese only kept one, and the rest magically landed in the dumpster outside.

Not a traditional Halloween shot here (dressed up as a blue burrito, maybe?), but isn't she SO cute? This is one of the rare moments in the last few months that she will hold still longer than two seconds, and as a bonus, give a regular smile instead of the cockeyed fake-oh grin you'll see in a minute. Don't get me wrong, we love both, but my muscles relax just a little seeing her all serene and sweet.


After the Halloween party we took a little drive over to Ryan's sister, Britney's school where Reese got to, once again, trick or treat her little heart out. She was her usual oh-so-cute self (all part of her master plan to get AS MUCH CANDY AS POSSIBLE), and loved all the oohing and ahhing from all of Britney's friends. I'm pretty sure she loved all the suckers she pulled out of their baskets too.
Side note here-- ever since that magical day Reese as still been asking every stranger she can get to pay attention to her (grocery clerks, people at the post office, etc.) for candy by telling them "Trick of Treat!". Alas, we can't get through to her that the magic only works one day a year.


Reese and Daddy heading into Britney's school, equipped with an EXTRA-large bag.


Our cute little ballerina . Actually, she was supposed to be a witch, but at the last minute had a melt-down when we tried to put the hat on. Thank you tulle and stretch, handed-down leotard. (Thank you Katie!) Isn't she cute? I am SO going to be one of those moms that lives vicariously through their children by putting them in dance classes. :)

Some of our Halloween Cookies- Reese and I got creative this year. Reese especially liked her 'boy' that we made into a mummy.


All smiles after rolling, decorating, and all sorts of sampling.

And well Friends, that's all for now. It's sleepy-time, but. . . 'I'll be back, when the day is new. . .' Anyone else a Mr. Rogers fan as a child?

Catch y'all later!
(And that's a promise!)