Garbage Disposal Lives!

First of all, thanks to everyone for the messages of support and condolence regarding the death of our beloved Garbage Disposal. It has helped us all through a difficult time.

The good news is that while performing a routine autopsy on G.D., Craig found that Garbage Disposal was not in fact deceased, but in a state of limbo. Apparently an errant dime found its way down the drain and stopped all of G.D.'s vital functions, leading us to believe that he had, in fact, expired, when truly he was just in a serious coma. Once the rusty, crusty dime was removed, G.D. sputtered back to life and resumed all former functions and duties. It was a miracle to witness, not unlike an episode of "House."

Welcome back, Garbage Disposal, we look forward to filling you with stinky food once again.

This is What Camping is All About

Here are finally some pictures from our wonderful August camping trip to Leo Carillo. We have been coming to this campground for family vacations since we were little, and it's been great to be able to bring our kids now, so we can implant some of those same fond memories into their young impressionable minds. (I will admit, though, that camping as kids was always much less stressful than camping with kids.) Our girls love it here, and this year, Julia started asking about our upcoming trip as early as January, thanks to "Dora, Summer Explorer." The campground is right across the PCH from the beach, and it's shady and woodsy and wonderful. Here's a little photo journal of the good times.

Craig took the girls to the beach for some daddy time one morning

so that I could stay and sleep in our hot tent.

This is about what my parents and Michael did while we were on the beach.

From left to right: napping, Sudoku, and reading.

Craig's sand creature with Cyndie and me in the background.

An actual crab that we found in a tiny cave.

Grandpa Dennis and Grandma Linda with Z and J.

Grandma Linda with Julia

Crazy cousins: Savanna, Zariah, Audrina and Julia

Here's my cute Cyndie with her cute Audrina.

Sweet Fan with her friend Courtney and bundled Savanna.

The best pic of the whole trip.

Little goosey heads.

In the shower stall after a minimally traumatic family shower.

This is what Vanna did the whole time at the beach.

No Sudoku for her.

Sleeping, at last.

These guys were exhausted every night.

Me and mom.

Okay, nevermind, this is the best pic of the whole trip.

Dirty and Lovely at the same time.

My sweet Laura playing in the freezing water with Savanna.

In Memorium

This is to announce the passing of our young, once vibrant, Garbage Disposal. Garbage Disposal has been an important member of our family since late 2006, and we regret to inform the public that he is no longer with us.

After a brief encounter involving chicken parts, Garbage Disposal quickly succumbed to a short illness in which the vital grinding mechanisms were compromised. Valiant until the last, Garbage Disposal continued to work for us for some time despite horrifyingly guttural noises coming from the innermost depths of the sink. Early Wednesday evening, however, Garbage Disposal was unable to continue functioning. The guttural noises were replaced by a quiet hum, indicating that Garbage Disposal will grind no more.

Services for Garbage Disposal will be held this weekend, but due to space constraints, they will be limited to close family and friends.

Thank you, Garbage Disposal, for giving us a reason to keep food out of our trash and for helping to make our kitchen just a little bit less stinky. We'll miss you.

Stinker Dinker

This is what I get for leaving Savanna unattended on the kitchen counter. One bottle of Oregano, gone. One bottle of Lawry's Season Salt, gone. One bottle of dried chives, gone. The explanation?

"I'm making dinner!"

Philosophizing with a four-year-old

A couple weeks ago, Julia and I were in the car together on the way home from a Primary activity. At a stoplight, I looked over next to us and saw a heavy-set, long-haired man on a motorcycle, with a youngish girl on the back. I thought I'd pick her brain a little, so I said, "Julia, do you think Daddy should get a motorcycle like that?" She thought for a minute, then said, "No, 'cause then Daddy would have to change. He'd have to look like that guy." I asked her, "and would Mommy have to look like that girl?"

Pause. More thinking...

"Yeah. And you'd have to not have any kids."

I love four-year-old logic.