Friday, August 31, 2012

A funny story...

...to take my mind off the $288 bill for this.

My friends Doug and Lisa both turned 30 this summer and for a gift I told them I would watch their kids one night so they could go out.  So a few Tuesday nights ago I watched their two little boys Joel and Jared.  Jared is about 20 months old and is not crazy about strangers.  Lisa had prepared the boys that Mom and Dad were going to the Temple and Sister Patton was going to watch them.  So Jared had been saying, "Mom.  Dad.  Patton.  Mom.  Dad.  Patton."  When I got there Jared was still awake but Lisa put him in bed before they left.  He was a little bit fussy which was fine but after about 10 minutes he was crying louder and I decided I better go into his room to comfort him though I was worried that he might freak out that I was there and not his mom.  I opened the room and immediately got a whiff of poop.  When I turned on the light Jared was waving his arms and crying and his hands were covered in poop.  I looked around and saw a few balls of poop that he had been molding and he had even pulled down the pants on a stuffed bear and put a ball of poop right where it belonged!  Clever kid.  I quickly turned Jared around and picked him up -- holding him at arms length from me and went right to the bathtub.  He screamed until I got the bubbles.  Then he calmed down and I cleaned him up (it was even in his finger nails).  When Jared was re-diapered and re-pajamed, we went on a little walk and then both boys went to bed.  Before Doug and Lisa left I had told them a funny babysitting story so when they got home I said, "Have I got a story for you!" and recounted the evening's events.  Lisa asked why I didn't call them.  I assured her that I was fine taking care of things.  [I babysat my next door neighbor when I was 12 and he barfed and I frantically called my mom who came right over and cleaned things up for me.  No Nan to the rescue this time.]  I saw Lisa a few days later and she said when Jared woke up the next morning he told them what had happened:  "Poop.  Bubbles.  Walk.  Patton.  Poop.  Bubbles.  Walk.  Patton."

Little Stinker

Thursday, August 30, 2012

My friends the Oparowskis

Click here to watch their speech at the RNC tonight.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

I thought I was having a good day...

...until I walked up to my car and noticed my rearview mirror had been knocked off and someone had put it on the hood of my car.

Nice.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Commuting

A few days a week I take the subway to work.  Occasionally I see someone I know.  Today was one of those days.  It was nice to see a friendly face (Emily) and chat on the way into work.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Elizabeth: one week old

I might have to visit her every Monday.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Friday, August 24, 2012

Thursday, August 23, 2012

The cousins

My cousin Jim asked the other morning how we all lined up in age (how could he forget?!?).  So this post is for you Jim.  There are four of them and four of us.  A Pitchforth then a Patton (repeat, repeat, repeat).

Anita
Robert
Jim
Ellen
Darlene
John
Julie
Charles sliding over in his baby carrier

This photo was taken during a summer vacation visiting "the cousins" when they lived in Washington state.  That's the back of our Baracuda in the top of the photo.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

My Aunt Shirley

This is Aunt Shirley in the subway station last night after her Angels beat my Red Sox.  It was fun to see her for the second time this year!  She's very spry at 81 and plays a mean game of Phase Ten Masters Edition (but I won).

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Monday, August 20, 2012

Kimballs with family

Aunt Shirley and Cousin Jim are in town (from the wild, wild west) and we had FHE at Kimballs.  Of course it was worth the drive.

I'm The Godmother

I can't wait to take Elizabeth to the mall.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Testimony meeting

We had a testimony meeting this morning in the amphitheater at Camp Joe.  As usual, it was really nice.  The bishop suggested that after you share your testimony you put a piece of wood on the fire.  I think we have a new Arlington Ward tradition.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

The Boss

Tonight I was on the field at Fenway Park for the Bruce Springsteen concert.  Bruce is still The Boss.  He's an amazing performer.  I think this was my 8th Springsteen concert.  It rained the last hour and no one cared.  I've been to two Sprinsteen concerts since Robes' death and my tradition is I buy a keychain and bury it near Robes' grave.  I bought another one last night.  We love Bruce because Robes first loved Bruce.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Monday, August 13, 2012

Sunday, August 12, 2012

On her way (with a 50 pound suitcase)























I was sad to see her go but smiled when I read a card she tucked in my purse.  We made some fun memories and a skirt, watched Jaws, Rocky, Hitch, and the Bourne Legacy, and ate some of our favorite foods (chocolate croissants, McDonald's southwest chicken salads, and cream cheese brownies).  I love that she loves my condo and Boston so much, that she enjoys doing my laundry, and I love being her aunt.

No comparison