Marina's new tricks

Marina does tricks now! She waves (unfortunately, it looks a little more like a Nazi salute than a wave, but we are ignoring this), she says, "Dada!" and she is the proud owner of two lower front teeth. She can also pull herself up to standing (and fall quite frequently), and she crawls to beat the band. It's so much fun watching her develop. She just started saying "Dada" today, and her Daddy is quite proud of her.

Megan has reached the age where she is no longer fun to take anywhere where I want to stroll and browse. Hannah Ray and I took the girls to the Saturday Market, and then to Title Wave, our local super-cool bookstore. It was insanity. You know the prayer that says God is "everywhere present and in all things"? Well, that was Megan today, only not in the good way. She was the proverbial whirling dervish, Tazmanian Devil, etc. Basically, she was two. It was madness. Every time I put Marina down at the bookstore to deal with Megan, Marina would then crawl over to the shelves and promptly empty every book off the bottom. I noticed a couple Title Wave employees developing nervous twitches by the time we left. I suppose it's better than the time I took Megan there as a baby and she hurled all over the (carpeted) floor. At some point in time, they are going to post a sign with my picture that says : DO NOT LET THIS WOMAN ENTER.

I did restock my spice cabinet today at the Market. There is a spice wholesaler who is there every year, and sells super cheap and very high quality spices. I love it. I got a bunch of vanilla beans to make rhubarb-vanilla jam, as well as all kinds of other fun things. It's probably my favorite part of going to the Saturday Market. Oh, that and the FOOD. Oh man. It is so good, and so hideously expensive all at the same time. Every year, there is something new. Today, I had a Russion piroshky, along with a Belgian waffle with strawberries (what a combo, I know). I loved them both. So did the girls! Hannah got some Thai noodles and chicken, and Megan wolfed down what she didn't eat. Apparently, Megan likes Thai food. Who knew? As a major lover of peanut butter, it doesn't surprise me (they were peanut noodles).

Upcoming Events: A baby shower for Claire Coleman tomorrow, the Howell's return to Alaska on Monday (HOORAY!), and our seventh anniversary on Tuesday! A jam packed week.

Happy Pentecost!