Author: midder

Lucy is 3. We had a fun time yesterday taking the girls and Julie’s parents to Brick Oven. We had talked about going to Chuck E Cheese, but I didn’t want to get tapeworms, so we opted for Brick Oven. It never disappoints there. Lucy felt pretty big, I think, when they came out and started singing to her. Gwenyth discovered root beer and continues her feisty streak.

After Brick Oven, we went back to Grandma and Grandpa J’s house for some ice cream cake and fun. We called Dave and Marilyn and invited them last minute. They were able to come for a few minutes and join in the fun. Lucy was really excited about her balloons, presents, the attention, and all the people.

Today Julie went on a field trip with Abby’s class to BYU. They went to the Museum of Art and had some fun with one of the chemistry professors. I can pretty confidently say that she’s probably the only Elcock to have a pleasant experience in a chemistry classroom at BYU. So good for her. They saw all kinds of paintings at the museum. Abby tells me that some of them were from the 1500s. She was really excited about it. Then in the chemistry classroom, the professor did some experiments, culminating in a loud and fiery explosion. I experienced some of those, but usually while trying to make up answers for the tests.

Julie mentioned that the teachers are saints. She called me from the bus and I could barely hear myself think. And I was on the other end of the phone. Lunch was had in Kiwanis park, where Abigail acted just like one of the boys and climbed the trees in her dress. She also had lunch all over her face. We continue to have the manners talk each week, but to no avail so far. That’s OK.

Tonight was “Art Night” at the girls’ school. It was really fun. They did some finger painting, real painting, dancing, cookie decorating (and eating), kite making, and all kinds of stuff. While we were walking around, we noticed a sign that said “Second Grade Winner” on it. We were looking at the picture and noticed Abigail’s name on it. She said, “Oh yeah, I won for the second grade art.” We asked her when she was going to tell us about it. She just shrugged as if to say, “I don’t know.” Anyway, she was really happy and we were happy for her. A picture of the masterpiece is below. There are some more pictures and some video of the whole thing. Should be fun.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/midder/

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I don’t really want to think about it, to be honest. She’s a little too big for her britches as it is and is growing up before my eyes. Saturday morning, Julie took Abigail to the mall to pick up a dress and to have some time together. Somehow the topic of getting ears pierced came up. And it happened. I asked her about it. She replied, “Dad, it didn’t even hurt.” Well, excuse me. Really?

Here’s the evidence. There are a few more of Lloyd, but a little less Lloyded.: http://www.flickr.com/photos/midder/

Julie’s sister in law loaned us the first season of 24 on DVD. We’re currently zombies because we’ve watched about 10 episodes in the last few nights. There’s always just one more to watch. Eliece will pay for her insensitivity in giving that to us.

I call Gwen’s new hairdo a Lloyd Christmas impersonation. Julie calls it pixie bangs, which is a bit of a stretch if you ask me. The poor girl has been “Lloyded” for the first time, but probably not the last. Each of the girls has suffered a similar fate at one time or another. If you don’t remember Lloyd (consider yourself lucky), he’s Jim Carrey’s character from the classic Dumb and Dumber show.

Yeah. That’s Gwenyth.

The weather has been really great, but apparently that’s all about to change. It’s 60 right now, and that’s probably the highest it will get for 4 or 5 days. We’re supposed to get quite a whopper of a storm tomorrow night and Wednesday. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see more snow out of this one than we’ve seen all season. One last hurrah, I guess.

We had a very exciting FHE tonight. Grace gave us a lesson, each of the girls performed a solo, and we heard Abby and Grace express their testimonies. If was touching. Julie was nearly in tears as she beamed watching her girls. Those scriptures were the greatest gifts ever. Thanks Grandpa. Abby will not sleep until she’s read a chapter each night, and she insists on starting in Genesis, so I think it’s a little slow going. Grace is doing just as well. She has a kids version that she reads along with the real thing, but they’re both very proud as they carry their scriptures around at church.

Things are moving along. It’s ebb and flow with the house hunting. I guess I’m just too stubborn and I read too much about different markets. I see the number of homes here going pretty high and I see that Utah is still #1 in the country for mortgage fraud, despite the “hot” market (or maybe it’s because of it). Anyway, we may be getting closer to something. Maybe that something is another rental. Who knows.

Susi, you’ll be happy to see Gwenyth’s new favorite shirt. Something about Whirled Peas. That girl has had numerous lights go on since her birthday party. She’s nobody’s fool. She also continues to chunk up. Enjoy the Lloyd pictures.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/midder/

And here’s yet another video, taken in Grandpa Jenkins’ treehouse:

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Some time in the last few weeks, Grace memorized my cell phone number, and she hasn’t been shy about using it since. I think that I got 5 calls from her today. Sometimes she’ll call just to say hello, sometimes she’ll call from the next room just to do it. Once she called me at work and said, “Um, daddy? Could you please talk to Ellie?” Ellie is her friend. I told her that I needed to work and that she should go play with her friend. She called back about 30 seconds later and said, “Hello, Daddy? Ellie really wants to talk to you.” So I said OK. There was silence for about 5 seconds, then she comes back on and says, “Daddy? I guess she doesn’t want to talk to you.” Classic Grace.

Julie took Lucy and Gwenyth into the doctor today. They were both supposed to get shots, but Julie held off on Lucy because she’s had an infection for a while. The nurses were concerned about Gwenyth’s weight still, until they noticed that she had gained nearly 3 pounds since her last appointment less than a month ago. So she’s still in the 1% category for weight, but she’s starting to chunk out. A few more cheeseburgers and lots of chocolate milk and she should be “normal” soon.

We’re still trying to figure out what we want to do about where to live. I haven’t quite convinced Julie to put her tin foil hat on, pitch a tent, and wait out the next depression that is to come. I’m sure that’s the impression she has of me sometimes, especially because I find myself thinking that, seeing all the foreclosures, fraud, and general nonsense that goes on. I guess I’m just nervous about it all and don’t want to be completely strapped. My how my attitude has changed in 6 months or so.
We’ve had some great weather lately. It’s been a little cooler the past few days — it’s been really nice. It was starting to feel almost too warm there for a while. The girls are outside playing nearly every day and having a good time. Lucy and Gwenyth are starting to play well together, but Gwen is turning a little too spicy for even Lucy, so it’s interesting to watch them interact.

More later.