Smore Small Group

Our small group is starting to come together. I look forward to it every week - I hope everyone else feels that way too. We capped off last night, which was a perfect night outside, with roasting marshmallows on the back porch and making smores and watching the kids hunt for each other with flashlights. The evening went so smoothly and it couldn't get any better than that.

When will we get to the point when we feel settled and connected? Not sure yet. We are heading into month 5 and feel good about how we have come along. There is still a way to go, but things are going well.

I Bleed a Different Shade of Red

Being a Sooner fan in Georgia is a little bit sad and lonely. You can never see a game, except for maybe one per season. You are completely surrounded by rabid Georgia Bulldog fans. And when they lose, like they did last night, you can only enjoy the OU victory in private watching online highlights. I need a satellite Sooner nation out here...

It's the End of the Wallpaper As We Know It

Today I began my campaign to remove all tacky wallpaper in my bathroom. The only good report so far is that the walls appear to have been painted before the wallpaper was applied. This is a good sign. Unfortunately for me, having been a glasses girl for about six weeks now, the steamer is preventing me from accomplishing anything. So I broke down and inserted my personal pain instruments, aka contacts. I am crossing my fingers that my eyes can sustain them again. We'll see. As a side note, I asked the optometrist about Sarah Palin's glasses. There has been such a huge response to them that ordering her exact pair would put you on a three year waiting list. Interesting...

When Aliens Attack: An Art Piece

Roxy's imagination is a boundless, nebulous thing. Where it goes and why is a mystery, as seen in her latest art piece. Just watch out for when aliens attack with lasers and hammers...

One Down - How Many More to Go?

I hosted my ladies' book club group last night at my house. On the good side, my soups turned out great, everyone had a place to sit, and my girls stayed upstairs while I led the group. I think the discussion was good, too. I know how challenging it is to get a group to connect, to encourage them to talk, to create an open, accepting environment. I hope I am up to this task. I am a stranger to all these people, so acceptance has to go both ways.

I don't have to lead again until next month, so I hope until then that more people will read the chapters and fill in the prayer and study guide. And I get to reheat my Tomato Basil soup for dinner tonight - that was the favorite of the evening. Thank you La Madeline for a great recipe.

The Poser

Roxy is perfecting the art of the silly face. She is also thinking of new ways to pose for pictures, which sometimes is disturbing. I have taught my daughter that if you see a statue or lawn ornament or anything somewhat lifesize, you should immediately go stand by it and pose for a pic. I learned this from some of my clever Davis cousins, and now Roxy is running with it. At the zoo, she became a naked mole rat, much to my delight. And if there is no statue to pose with, she makes up her own. See photo...

Nothing is Cuter

I love pandas. Who doesn't? These pandas are so adorable. The dad, shown in the hammock, is a performer who likes attention. He would scratch his rear in public all day long. The mom, Lun Lun, had a baby three weeks ago and was shown via PandaCam nestling the one-pound infant. I want to go back and see them again. Love, love, love the zoo - perfect day with the fam.