Sara's drop side was stuck in the UP position, so we never used it anyway.

Same story with Ryan's crib. We can drop it with a lot of faffing around, but it's just not worth it.

Whenever I've babysat a little baby, I can never get them into the crib -- I reach over the side of the crib, lower my arms as far as I can, and the baby is still at least a good six inches above the bottom of the crib. With bigger kids who can go into the crib while they're still awake, I can hold onto them under the arms and get them in far enough that their feet are on the mattress, and kind of ease them into a sitting position and let them lie down by themselves. There is no way I could get an already-sleeping toddler into a crib.

Thanks for the link to the other shoe dropping, megan. After a number of clicks before, I had wondered how long it took Pix to post back/accept.

Congratultions, Aimee!

There are times when I ponder what it would have been like to have a "real" proposal. But I like how the marriage turned out, so not having one is okay.

(We were flying home from the UK, my first-trip outside of the US. Thanks to a mix-up, we weren't seated next to each other. Me, already tired and stressed, started crying. Big-haired goth girl in all black, holding a fanged bunny on her lap and crying. After much negotiating with people in the seats around us, Pete got them to trade, and sat down next to me.

"It's okay," he told me, patting my hands and wiggling Clovis' ears at me. "When we're married, I'll be able to take care of this stuff easier."

::sniffle sniffle:: "Yeah, I know." ::pause:: "Wait, what?" )

jilli, that Pete is so adorable. You guys are one of my favorite couples.

Knowing how important the actual proposal was to my husband, I've come to see the "telling me he wanted to get married" and the proposal as two separate events. As to the first, I was helping a friend look for wedding dresses and DH asked me if I tried on any myself.

"No. Doesn't dress shopping come after the engagement?"

"No no no! It can take months to find the right dress! You have to start shopping now, so you're ready!"

"But you haven't proposed."

"Formalities! Do you have any idea how hard it is to pick out a ring?"

ok, shelves cleared and most Christmas stuff out. The boys wanted food, so while I got them something I also emptied the dishwasher and got some dishes done (but not all, damn you dishes!). I've also moved the printer to the back room, but have to clean things up a bit before I can hook it up, so I guess that is next.

Mr. Burrell could not be more adorable if he tried.

Well, maybe if he grew his sideburns out again, but that's it. Once that happens, MAXIMUM ADORABLE.

Awww. Y'all and your proposing are so cute.

I just got all my hair cut off! Ok, not alllll. But Hec will like it.

Well, maybe if he grew his sideburns out again, but that's it. Once that happens, MAXIMUM ADORABLE.

Oooo, I do like the sideburns.

ION, the broken pipes are mostly fixed and the plumbers gone for the day. I am verra happy with the new plumbers. Now we are taking some samples in to get them tested for asbestos. I'm crossing my fingers that there aren't any highly toxic minerals in my house. So far, the one expert who looked at them said we were safe, but we are testing to make sure.