"Up on the Mountain--Colorado"* by Rory Armstrong

[This is a little story that was just related to me a few moments ago. *The title was selected upon prompting at the end.]

Once upon a time there was a bad hyena, but all the sudden he stolen the knife and then he went home and cut a carrot for his mom and dad. [Bet you were worried there for a minute, I know I was.] His mom said "Thank you" and then he was trying to be his politeness but he could pale. But then he said "Oh, I have a good idea for you, I will give you dessert, what kind do you want?" Some yummy grass. If you probably get to bed you would get a mean pet next morning. You're pet's gonna be a mean fox hunting through the woods trying to get a warm place with its baby son and its baby son's dad. But then they found a big walk they couldn't go through and they found the way out. There was a door. But there was a walland they found a door to get out and they knocked on the door and the hyena opened the door and he said "Here is your pet." And they said "What on earth did you get for a pet?"

I have got a surprise from my tummy. Next morning they went to the doctor. And their mommy laid down on the dr's check-up and then their mommy pushed on her tummy and pushed one more time and here popped the baby--it was a baby hyena. And then it started to snow and they hurried home before they got too snowy. Her mom said "Goodness, I am feeling good, let's feed our baby a bottle." Then the baby drinked too much water until she had got sick. then they're baby was fast asleep. Next morning they needed a towl. Then after they needed a good hug. But when they were very igzatdid* they said I can get there to the north pole and have a playdate with Santa.

The End.

*Rory insisted on this word, which I am entirely unfamiliar with. Sounded out ig-zat-did. Excited?? No, mom, ig-zat-did. There you have it.

Some of Rory's more...modern moves

We just took this last night....so funny. I have no idea where she got those moves!

Little Ballerina

I took this video a few weeks back at Rory's final Ballet class. So cute. Watch for the full armlick on the way back across the floor.

Other Armstrong news

So, let's see. Chuck and I joined the YMCA and have been working out for the last 3 months!!!!! I've been walking and running, following a Couch to 5K plan ;) My goal is to continue with this Sprint Triathalon Plan and do the Devil's Challenge in Sept. Chuck has been swimming at least 3 mornings a week, really working on his stroke and breathing. He also is doing tons of pushups at home, sometimes with Rory riding on his back...pic to come.

Rory has been taking Pre-Ballet, and really enjoying it. She is going to go to a little camp program at the Y this summer. Rory has also been taking a swimming class all on her own. She is doing a great job, listening, putting her face in the water, and sometimes even doing a perfect backfloat. Rory is psyched for the summer, probably because of the sweet swingset and sandbox that Chuck got set up last week....the yard is fenced and she is ready to play!

Skylar got tubes put in her ears on April 17th, we are hoping this will help with her low weight gain. The hope is that we can take ear pain, recurrent infections, and long weeks on antibotics out of the eating/weight gain dilemma. We go in for a weight check on May 8th--cross your fingers Little Miss Peanut will have gained weight! Otherwise, she is changing so much everyday. On top of eating tons of food (yeah, I know, that's the thing), she is crawling all over, standing up and cruising around the furniture, saying "Mama, Dada, Bye-Bye, Baby (baba), and I think I heard a Ra-Ra for Rory". I can't leave out the adorable pointing with both fingers, turning pages of her board books, clapping, waving, and the 2 bottom teeth that turned up at the end of March.

Chuck and I have also had a chance to get back into seeing live music. We had a great time at G Love and Special Sauce, and Chuck really enjoyed JJ Grey and MoFro last week. We are really excited to go see Antibalas tonight at High Noon Saloon. We first saw this band in Cleveland a few years ago and had a blast.

Finally...saw The Namesake and loved it. And have recently read The Eyre Affair (really enjoyed it, I just started the 2nd book in the series), Nerve Damage (fast, fun read), The Whole World Over (Julia Glass, you rock, I will read anything you write), and Lost City Radio (very haunting, interesting premise).

As for my knitting, I have about 5 projects in limbo. I am hoping that I can muster the motivation to finish something! Most likely to progress is the Roundabout Leaf Tank from Knitting Nature. Will post some knitting pics soon.

Feburary chills

As the negative degree weather has started warming up the last few days, I have to wonder what we've been doing the last few weeks. Basically just trying to stay warm. We have made a lot of changes around the house with help from Mom while she was visiting. When all the work is done we will post pictures.

Grandma lit a fire under our butts to get stuff done, but she also had a great time hanging out with the ladies.

From Feburary 2007

Skylar has started eating more solid food as we try to bulk up her little 14 lb body. Rory is enjoying school, music class, and her new swimming class with the big kids! Chuck and I have joined the Y, and have been working out regularly.

Otherwise, time passes quickly as our beauties keep getting bigger and bigger.

From Feburary 2007

From Feburary 2007

Happy 3rd Birthday Rory!

I can't believe our little girl is 3 years old. She has grown into such a beautiful, smart, funny, sassy, talented, and loving little person. The time has just flown by. We love you Rory!

Look how she's grown!

And 2nd place goes to the Thumbsucking Gretel

That's little Rory over on the right....dressed up in an adorable outfit grandma brought back from Germany. I thought it would sit in the closet and never get wore...until I heard about the Sound of Music Sing-a-long taking place this past weekend. Well, it was all worth it, when Rory won 2nd prize in the costume contest. Joined by Polly, Jenny, Jackie and Stacy, Rory and I enjoyed singing, hissing, and booing to our hearts content.

X-Mas card outtakes

These are some of the runners-up for the Holiday card. We were able to wrangle #1 for a family pick, so I thought I would just post of these other cuties that were for consideration.