Two Priorities

Yesterday had 2 major elements:

1. Mom's birthday!
2. Eric's artist's lecture at the college!

We started off the morning by meeting up for a family birthday breakfast with my mother. Cordelia was so excited for my mother's birthday. I was afraid that she might be confused and think she would receive gifts, but she was just so happy to snuggle and hug her grandma. When we arrived at breakfast we couldn't help but notice that my mother had her celebration color on. She wears orange when she's happy. We ate our breakfast and read some of mom's birthday cards, it was nice and laid back.

After breakfast I dropped Eric off at the college to set up for his lecture. I took Cordelia to the dollar store to find some junky toys to entertain her through the duration of the lecture. I had intended to pop in and out of the store in 5 minutes or less, but one thing led to the next and finally we found ourselves in line behind a woman who had an entire shopping cart filled with shampoo---there was only one person manning the checkout line so we waited. We made our break 45 minutes later than expected and it was time to head up to the college.

Cordelia, all set up with snacks and junky toys to entertain her through the lecture.

Opening Slide for the lecture, also the name of his exhibit

We met my family there and settled in to watch the lecture. The crowd was so much bigger than anticipated, it was awesome! Eric did a great job and the whole thing went down without a hitch. Cordelia was perfectly well-behaved; she is almost always well-behaved, but sometimes she gets chatty and she was silent and sweet through the hour long lecture.

Eric is looking over his notes as people begin to file in.

After the lecture Eric stayed behind to chat with the folks who remained while Cordelia went home for a nap. I prepped for my class that night and set up for mom's birthday as Cordelia rested. I hung the bunting and other birthday decorations, frosted the cupcakes and set everything up.

Later in the afternoon my parents came over for cupcakes and present opening. Lovely time all around.

The birthday girl

Cordelia and my father

Later I went back to the college to teach my class while Eric and Cordelia enjoyed some father/daughter time. When class was done the snow had begun to fall. I stood in the parking lot for a moment and just watched, taking it all in, letting the snow fall on my cheeks and tongue for a minute. Then I was afraid my students may see me so I quickly hurried to the car, trying to look professional.

I drove home slowly, watching the snow fall in a glittering rain, it was beautiful. Finally I was home. I was greeted by my husband, sweet girl and the squeaky whines of my basset houndfriend. It was just one of those really full and fulfilling days.

Festive 4th: A Formal Review

Recently I discussed the fact that Eric and I are aiming to start some new traditions and last week I mentioned that we are also ready to get back to theme nights. Yesterday we decided to combine the two and go all out for the 4th of July.

Now we are not especially patriotic in normal life, but we decided to give it a go yesterday. We also wanted to do it without spending a ton of money. So, we stopped by the local party store and spent less than $5 on a few American flags, some multi-colored crepe paper, and a special hat. We ran by the grocery store so I could get some ingredients for an all-American dinner and so I could make some vegan cupcakes for an ice cream social we planned to attend later in the evening.

Some festive decorations

We came home and I made some cupcakes. We took photos with the special hat, decorated the house, and Eric tried out a "themed costume". He wouldn't let me photograph the costume but I am welcome to describe it ---blue and white addidas pants tucked into knee high white socks, a red button-up long sleeve dress shirt with a white v-neck t-shirt over the top. We finally settled on some more traditional outfits.

Team Fun

We had a delicious dinner of grilled vegan hot dogs, beans, fourth of July fruit salad, and chips.

Fourth of July Fruit Salad


Vegan Hot Dogs

Somewhere along the way we listened to our version of patriotic music which included a couple of Johnny Cash songs and then Matmos' album Civil War. Cordelia was really into the beat heavy Matmos and decided that yesterday was the day to start dancing, so cute. She is also up to three steps in a row.

Filled to the brim with 4th Fever we decided that the tiny festive hat must be put to good use. See the photos below. Best 99 cents we ever spent, maybe.

Ophelia in the hat


Bumblebee in the hat, with flag


Cordelia in the hat, with flag

We changed clothes, once again. I think I changed clothes at least 4 times yesterday, maybe 4 outfits because it's the 4th? One clothing change may or may not have been inspired by a leaky diaper...as in diaper leaked onto me while we were in the store.

Anyway, we took a nice evening stroll through the park with Bumblebee before we headed out to an ice cream social where I dropped off my vegan cupcakes.

Theme colored vegan cupcakes

Then we took a few minutes to walk around and enjoy the beautiful Wyoming sunset.

Outside at sunset


Cordelia and Eric outside at sunset

We didn't actually watch the fireworks, Cordelia was fast asleep and we were watching the Will Smith movie Independence Day. In case you were wondering, yes we're that cool.

How did you celebrate?

Sweet Teeth

Yesterday was very productive. I spent my morning in a cleaning frenzy. When I say cleaning frenzy I think you might be aided in the mental image of me mopping the ceiling. Yes, I did it, I mopped the ceiling. I only stopped in my frenzy to take a call from my Mom. A friend of hers had seen a stray basset and was afraid we'd lost track of Bumblebee. My Mom called, just to be sure, but mentioned that when she'd told my father about the stray he said something along the lines of, "That would be impossible." It would take something extraordinary for us to lose track of Bumblebee, we're diligent dog parents. I think it stems back from a childhood spent chasing my beagle who had a penchant for running away. Thankfully Bumblebee was lounging lazily on the floor when the call came in, only lifting her head as if to ask,"You gonna get that?"

After the completion of my cleaning frenzy, a lunch break, a walk with Eric and Bumblebee I decided it was definitely time to make vegan peanut butter cookies from this book. You know, just 6 months ago I was a girl who ate very few sweets. I would say I had less than 4 cookies in all of 2008 and even that might be an over-estimation. Now, this pregnancy has me craving sweets all of the time. I have the sense to share the sweets, rather than consume them myself. The weather was cool enough that I wasn't troubled by the heat of the oven.


When the cookie making was complete and sampled we decided to head out and get busy on a baby registry. There is something so gratifying about walking through a store with a scanner gun. I was armed with a list and Eric and I carefully went over the necessities, weighing heavy decisions like rectal or temporal thermometer. Later, we were at the grocery store and I couldn't help but feel a little sense of loss when I realized that I no longer had a scanner.


After the completion of our outing we came home and had some dinner. We had planned to go to the baseball game with the hopes of a local newscaster sighting, but we were suddenly hit with a major storm. I called my Mom and mentioned that it was like a typhoon. She agreed, but said that it must be the mythical Canadian typhoon because it was coming from the north. Anyway, the storm only lasted long enough to end our plans to see the game.


So, I set to work on making more sweets. No, I hadn't eaten all of the peanut butter cookies. I was just eager to try out a cupcake recipe from this book. The cupcakes are for the 4th of July barbecue we are having at my parent's house. I am bringing dessert (cookies and cupcakes). Anyway, I think this may actually be the first time I have made vegan cupcakes and they turned out wonderfully.