Butterflies

The other day, Alice suddenly decides the hallway is too scary to walk down. I ask her why and she says there's a butterfly...a scary butterfly. I ask her to point to it, which she does, and I see nothing. Alice has had a few nightmares recently. Scary dreams about friends, as far as I can tell, but maybe there was a killer butterfly in one? Either way, I figure her imagination is getting away with her and give up on trying to resolve the kid's fear.

Then I tell Bobby that Alice sees a scary butterfly in the hallway. He looks with fresh eyes and notices a ribbon that I had tied to a door handle (to remind me to put the ribbon away there :) ). Admittedly, my sloppy bows can resemble very sickly and dangerous butterflies. Bobby tells Alice he will scare the scary butterfly away, then whips off the bow and shows her the limp little ribbon. She examines it with caution, re-examines the door handle from afar, and seems convinced that the threat has passed.

Later that day, a fly came in our open back door and the terror began again. Every insect that crawls is a "bug" and every insect that flies is a "butterfly." She is equally scared of both.

Bobby's Sunday Summary

This week has been a bit of a roller coaster at work. There have been rumors that more layoffs were coming. Just after they were officially announced, not who is getting laid-off just that they will happen, my manager tells us that he is not going to be our manager any more and he doesn't really know who is. The two things put together seemed rather ominous, however about an hour and a half later our new manager is announced and she turns out to be someone I had already worked with. It was just a slightly nervous moment there for a little while. The layoffs are supposed to not impact engineering that much, but we will see. They are supposed to be over in two weeks. That has been the majority of what happened this week.

Waiting for Something

Feeling pensive tonight: quiet thoughts with a subtle undercurrent of pleasant expectation. Like something good is going to happen, but I don't know exactly what or when. My mom called me today, perhaps that is it. We talked about my parents coming out to see us this fall. I also had a long chat with an old friend, and pondered the possibility of seeing her sometime soon as well. I have also ordered several items online recently that should arrive over the next few weeks...imminent mail is certainly a game of pleasant expectation :)

And on top of all this, it was a very good day with Alice. I wanted to play with her just as much as she wanted to play with me. She is sooooooo fun to pester with kisses and tickles and chases around the house. Here's one of my new favorite games: I say in my best Count Dracula voice, "Come closer, I vant to keece you." and I grab her while she squeals and tries to run away. Then I put goofy kisses all over her face and neck while she laughs and laughs. I let her go and we do it again. If I'm too slow to catch her the first time, she turns around and comes back so I can get it right :) She has a funny little run I'd like to catch on video someday. It's bouncy and makes her hair flip up and down.

Alice tried on my graduation cap and gown today while I was clearing out a closet. Made me laugh and wonder a bit about how much has changed since I wore it myself...8 years this May.

It has been a very productive couple of weeks for me. I have checked off things from every list I've ever composed for myself. I am active and working towards goals and feeling like I have made a little progress everywhere. My mind is engaged and planning. I am working on a couple "artistic" projects as well as "logistical" ones and eagerly collecting ideas for a whole host of projects to come. I am also struggling with a few things, but hopeful towards resolution.

When I am feeling less pensive and more descriptive, I will record my most recent series of projects :)

Bobby's Sunday Summary

This week has been fairly typical for the most part.  Not too much to report on the work front, just more of the same.  Alice has been having a lot more success with potty training.  We have let her hang out in her underwear a bit more lately because it is simpler with the potty training and all.  The following are a few videos of her Dancing

[flv]http://evansfamily.powweb.com/movies/2009/AliceDancing.flv[/flv]

Jumping

[flv]http://evansfamily.powweb.com/movies/2009/Jumping.flv[/flv]

And Hiding

[flv]http://evansfamily.powweb.com/movies/2009/AndHiding.flv[/flv]

Not too much else happened this week except that I got a new calling at church.  I am now the ward mission leader.   I am not too sure yet how much time it will actually take.  I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.

7 Days

She did it! I wasn't sure if she understood the challenge or even had that much control of her body, but she did it! She kept her underwear (plus diaper) dry seven nights in a row.

When Alice started this whole potty training adventure, she didn't want to wear a diaper to bed. We told her she wouldn't have to once she could stay dry seven nights in a row. It took her a week to stay dry the first night...motivated girl. Nothing like a pile of cloth between your legs to motivate a little change, eh? And now she's done. A whole week. Daytime potty adventures continue (accidents every other day or so, usually regarding #2), but she's doing it all herself and resentful of much help. I just can't believe this girl.