Heather's wrist

The bar which is screwed into her bones is NOT a handle... the nurse who was taking out her stitches soon learned this when he grabbed it to rotate her arm.
I was holding Liam with one hand, taking pictures with the other and as the flash continued to go off around the nurse's head I appologized and said, "I have to take pictures. We're bloggers."

My sister broke, no shattered, her wrist rollerblading. As if the injury were not painful enough, it is further complicated by the fact that she has a newborn. My step-mom came the first week, my mom came the second and my shift is now, the 3rd week after the incident. She is determined to heal as quickly as possible so her mommy routines can be reinstated.

Elway & Chester's playdate

Chester loves Elway. Chester adores Elway.
Chester wants Elway.
Elway spent most of their playdate telling Chester, "I'm not that kind of girl." However, there was an "incident" which included, Elway on her back, (yes, on her back - not what you'd think, I know) Chester getting into position, Tom freaking out yelling, "What the hell? NO! Absolutely not!" and me, of course, laughing. You probably would've had to be there.

Liam & Ripley's photoshoot

Seriously, does it get any cuter?
Sorry, Heather-- boob shot... oops.
What you can't see here is Liam's hand holding himself in place by pulling on Ripley's hair.

We went to breakfast at Genie's, where as Tom likes to say, "That's where the theatre people are." Tired baby riding in the car.
Ripley and Elway playing.
Nick & Liam.

We are fam-i-ly!

Since Tom's brother lives in Vancouver, WA and my sister lives in Portland, OR, it is easy to get everyone together.

Jessie holding Liam. Jonah holding Liam.
I believe Tom and his brother, Chris are watching "The Best Guitarists on Earth" video, to which at some point I'm sure that Tom got teary eyed. (You should have seen him at the Rush Concerts!)
Tom & Nick annoyed at me for taking yet another picture.My sister-in-law, Jill invited my sister and her family over for dinner and taught me how to make Manicotti-- round noodles stuffed with cottage cheese, spinach and spices baked in marinara sauce... really good.

The Wii

Heather & Nick playing Tennis. Tom boxing Nick.
Nick boxing Tom.Tom feeling the pangs of defeat and Heather empathising.

Heather and I played several games on the Wii while Liam slept and Nick and Tom rode bikes around Portland. I don't have any photos of beating Heather at boxing, but, it's true-- I did. This is a great way to pass the time and get a workout. We were both sweaty when our match was over and decided to watch "Knocked Up" for the rest of the afternoon.

Portland/Vancouver Trip

I've had this weekend reserved as "My Wubby Weekend" pretty much since Liam came home from the hospital and everyone frenzied to put dibs on their weekend. I, of course, have been frothing at the mouth for the chance to hold, feed, kiss, snuggle, change, rock, bathe, dress, sing to and photograph Liam, without having to share him with anyone else. Heather promised me full participation in his daily activities, aside from breast feeding, however I did get to give him a bottle of pumped milk. Anyway, the craving has been temporarily satisfied.

Tom's Birthday Party

Tom's new guitar. Neighbor-- Ron helped deliver the gift. Instead of using a bunch of wrapping paper, I decided to have Ron hold the guitar at his house until we could get Tom over there to get it. If I kept it at our house, he'd be able to smell the thing and the surprise would be ruined. So, I tried to lie, which went badly...

Happy Birthday baby!!!

"Tom, Ron needs us to go to his house right now because he needs to show us where, I mean how to get the chairs out, so we can borrow them for the party tonight.

Okay, so we have to go right now. Okay?"

Ron, Tom, Sean, Jeff & Jason
He immediately looked at me and said, "You're up to something."

"Oh, just cooperate and come to Ron's." Anyway, the gift, the party, the food, and the guests... it all went very well and we had a great time.

Jamie and I were always asked in high school if we were twins.

Mike & Michelle-- who finished the Iron Man Triatholon in June... Michelle, that is, not Mike.

Yenny, Yamie, me and Michelle

Camping at Skull Creek

Ah... serenity...



















Uncle Tom made Ashlyn into a mermaid.

















Elway going to help Jeff catch a fish.

















Ashlyn reading "the news."

















Jayton, Elway and a bag of chips.

A moose? Yes, a moose!

Tom and I were still sleeping and Elway started barking out in the living room, like she often does if she sees a dog walking down the road. I got up to look and this is what I saw.

WUBBY!!!

For all you mothers out there that have long and horrific labor stories, this will simply piss you off.

Heather was induced around 8:30am on Wednesday and I arrived to her hospital room around 12:30. When I got there Nick had been supporting Heather through some intense contractions and was ready to eat some lunch. Heather was feeling much better by that point because of the genius blessings of the epidural. She was dialated to a 6 and was ready to take a little nap. Nick and I thought it would be a good time to go down to the in house cafe for some lunch. We were gone for 40-45 minutes. As we stood waiting at the elevator chatting, Nick stopped and said, "Was that my name? Did you hear that? I think they just paged me."

"No. It couldn't have been."

At that moment, his cell phone rang and he answered it. The next words were, "It's time to push?" So, we took the stairs.

When we got to the room, Heather was still very relaxed and the nurses and the doctor buzzing around preparing the room. When the doctor got into her position and Heather and Nick were in their's, I was still standing off to the side and was told I could stay. And here comes the part that just didn't seem real. The doctor watched the monitors and had Heather wait to push until she knew she was having a contraction. First a practice push to see what it felt like, then the real thing. She pushed 3 times, over 8 minutes and the baby was out! I stood as quietly as possible, which included grunt faces and silent cheering.

The baby who will always be referred to as "Wubby" by me, his "Crazy Auntie Oogie," came into the world weighing 7lbs, 14oz and stretching to 21+ inches. He is absolutely perfect!

"Elway and Chester sittin' in a tree..."

My boss's daughter has a Yorkie she calls Chester. So, when Chester came to town for a short visit, we knew we had to get them together for a play date. As soon as we arrived the two dogs started running around the yard. Elway in the lead as Chester chased her, desperate for a proper "doggie style" introduction. (As Elway was fixed when she was 6 months old, Chester still has all his parts.) Elway, who caught on to Chester's ideas, decided to play hard to get.

Like most men, the less attention Elway paid to Chester, the more he longed for her.

Walk for Life - Cancer Fundraiser

My Aunt Edie has been a cancer survivor for 2 years.

First being diagnosed with a tumor on her lung, which she has fought with aggressive forms of radiation and chemo, and now she has been told she has a tumor on her brain to which she has begun a new round of radiation. Her attitude has remained positive and hopeful. When I went to visit her at the hospital, she told me she was hoping to be well enough to walk in the Walk for Life - Cancer Fundraiser, in the survivors' lap.

It was probably 90 degrees that day, but she braved the heat to show her support and appreciation for the cause and kicked that survivor lap's ass!

I cannot know how she feels through this struggle, but I know she is an inspiration to everyone in our family.

Sue's Birthday Party

Sue is 50!

She admitted to deserving every cruel card that she got, having been the culprit of sending many "Over the Hill" cards to most of her family & friends in the past.

(Those incredible looking cakes were made by my cousin Jamie's wife, Jenny.)

The Puringtons sing "Happy Birthday" in a way that makes visitors wonder if we might be the "special" family. It started when we all tried to sing "Happy Birthday" and started at different times. The song transitioned from it's traditional, and might I say; very boring, way of being sung, to a mixture of tones, pitches, words and noise, which has become the standard style for this "special" family.