So....I got a new chicken recipe and decided to make it last night. I chopped fresh parsley, marinated the chicken in garlic cloves and other seasonings, browned in olive oil, then baked in the oven. It wasn't very good. It looked pretty and smelled delicious, but tasted like plain old chicken breast to us. I was okay with that. It wasn't me that made the food bad, we just didn't care for the recipe and that was refreshing to realize. It didn't cause me to doubt the limited ability I have or discourage me from trying something else, and I'm glad for that.

Today Elyse and I went for a jog to Publix which is 4 miles round trip and the weather was divine. She enjoyed the stroll and the best part was a sale price combined with coupon on some new mascara made it only $1.....we were both grinning, me over the bargain and her, well, I suppose it was probably gas. After we got home the weather was so nice I decided to wash the car. I hadn't done that in a very long time and although my car is 10 years old, it was nice to see the paint that hadn't chipped shining. I like my car, I like it a lot. It serves us well, seldom causes any trouble, and it's been paid off for years. It's reliable, roomy, comfortable, and ours which are all very good reasons to keep it around for as long as it allows.

Elyse has recently found some new toys.....her ten little toes and it's adorable.

I call the next picture "spiritual"....she has her little hands clasped like she's praying and has this look on her face like "excuse me, you interrupted my prayer". These next pictures are just plain cute. Parenting is hard, exhausting, and trying. Sleep training is tedious, nights still get interrupted and naps go by all too quickly, but one little glimpse of this precious face and all is forgotten. You wouldn't believe the screams that sweet little face is capable of.