Pictures from this past week

 Above - Watering the flowers. Below - Check out the porosity of those eggs!! (be sure to read Survival Guide to Living with an Engineer)

 P loves Cori ALMOST as much as she loves Leah. (That's Leah's head in the foreground. I think she wanted in the picture.) P snuggles with Cori any chance she gets.

 Saturday we participated in the community clean up. P and dad had to take a break to check out a fence and some cows.

Survival Guide for Living with an Engineer

In actuality, this is less than a survival guide and more of  collections of stories about my dear engineer husband Wayne. If anyone ever sees a the real survival, buy me a copy.

This winter we got quite a bit of snow, and after one large snowstorm, Wayne was out shoveling snow. We noticed that our neighbor was trying to get out; making a few attempts in the car, then shoveling and repeating. After a bit I looked out the window to see Wayne had gone over to help her! I was so impressed with him. So kind and heroic. Later I told him how impressed I was. He sighed, and told me the sequence of events.

Wayne: "Need some help?"

Neighbor: "Well, I know I can get out. My dad was a tow-truck driver so I know how to do this."

Neighbor revs engine and the wheels start spinning on ice. She pushes even harder on the gas, but, alas, it still spins!

Wayne: "I think you need to just slowly get started and keep your momentum going."

Neighbor: "Yeah, I just don't know why I can't get this car out!"

Wayne shakes his head and neighbor tries again. Finally, Wayne hints that he could get the car out if she would let him behind the wheel. Wayne slowly eased up the hill, keeping his 'momentum' going and got the car onto the street.

Neighbor: "Ohhh....So that's what you meant by going slow and keeping your momentum going."

Wayne: "Yeah, it's all about maintaining momentum and static friction. Spinning is dynamic friction, as well as creates ice under the tires."

----

Another conversation I had with my engineer husband:

Me: "Ahhh, I have nothing to wear. What should I wear?"

Wayne: "Well you never make an effort to shop for classy outfits."

Me "Huh?" -eye roll- "You think I don't ever look 'classy?'"

Wayne: "Not really. I mean, do you ever do any fashion research? Do you see what styles look good on your body and put together coordinating fabrics and accessorize to complete your outfit?"

Me:  Blank, blank stare. Is this the person I married?

----

When I am stupid enough to bring up cooking, Wayne and I generally get into a heated conversation that involves science, measurements, and the rolling pin.

First off, Wayne has a problem with measurements. A fluid ounce is SO much different than a solid ounce. He and many other engineers will tell you that a cup of flour is not a cup of flour. If you want the correct measurements, you must weigh the flour. As in, having a nerdy scale on your counter to weigh everything. This is of course after converting every recipe from cups and teaspoons to grams and milligrams.

If I cook something that doesn't 'turn out,' I brace myself for the cross examination.

Wayne: "Did you follow the recipe?"

Me: "Yes."

Wayne: "Did you have all of the ingredients?"

Me: "YES!"

Wayne: "Did it 'turn out' last time you made it?"

Me: "Yes..."

Wayne: "That's impossible. It was a completely different texture last time. That's impossible. It's basic chemistry, if you had followed the recipe it would have 'turned out.'

Recently Wayne has been cooking more, mostly perfecting the art of cooking eggs. A few weeks ago Wayne was very impressed with his skills.

Wayne: "Check this out! Look at the porosity in these eggs!"

Me: "Nice."

Wayne: "Just look at that! Perfectly uniform! My technique is excellent."

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When I was about 8 months pregnant, Wayne and I went to visit the Family Resource Center, to get a 'carseat safety installation check.' The woman who helped us came out to the car, and explained what angle the carseat should sit at, how tight it should be fastened and other important and apparently complex issues.

First off, she asked if we had the carseat on the side of the car that we wanted it to be on, which was behind the driver's seat. We said yes, and she said she just wanted to make sure, because it is easier to reach back and give the baby a bottle or toy if the carseat is behind the passenger seat.

Wayne: "It would be impossible to reach back and give the baby something. Look at the size of the car. If you were sitting here driving you couldn't reach."

Lady: "Ok, well I just want to make sure, because it's an issue for a lot of people."

Wayne and I glance at each other, wondering about the 'safety' issues of reaching into the back seat in search of baby paraphernalia.

(Despite what they say, 'installing' a carseat does NOT take a rocket scientist. Or an engineer, for that matter.)

The woman jumped on top of the carseat and pushed, pulled, snapped and unsnapped things until she was satisfied with it's installation.

Lady: "See, now it's at the correct angle."

Wayne: "No, it's exactly how it was before"

Lady: "No, see the angle of the carseat in relation to the ground? You need to have it at that angle."

Wayne: "But we're parked on a hill-"

Me: "AHEMM!!" -stomp on Wayne's to with my 30 extra pounds of weight - "Well thanks! Have a good day!"

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Often when Wayne comes home from work, he has what I call his 'work voice.' Last week he says to me, "Would you please purchase Penelope some basic infant picture books. She needs to be educated in the simple words of a toddler. Animals, colors, and shapes. I really think we're doing her a disservice by not providing her with that type of book." Yes, dear....

Lake Las Vegas

Last weekend we went to Wayne's triathlon. It was at Lake Meade, so we stayed at a condo at Lake Las Vegas with Todd & Dini. Todd and Wayne work together and have been training together some for this triathlon.

The resort was very Italian themed - cobblestoned vias, gondolas, Cypress trees, etc. It was very relaxing and we enjoyed it.

Penelope wanted to walk everywhere, especially stairs and ramps.

The balcony

The view

The pool

Breakfast at the coffee shop - Right before Todd accidentally spilled a large coffee on the table, floor and me. The lady in the background (who told us she had just had 4 shots of espresso - and needed about 2 more --) came and helped clean up. She looked at me, shook her head, and said "You can dress him up, comb his hair, but you can't take him out to dinner." 

Chilling at Lake Meade

On the drive - This area is called White River Narrows. Cliffs on both sides of the road, but no river within 50 miles.

Wayne tried to put P in the car and experienced her I-don't-want-to-get-back-in-that-car-seat death grip.

At the Pony Express rest stop.

Triathlon at Lake Meade

We went south this past weekend for Wayne's triathlon at Lake Meade. We got up early and drove to the race. 

First, you put your dashing triathlon suit and trendy swim cap.

Then into the lake. You can see Wayne about 1/3 from the left.

 Starting to swim 1/2 mile.

 When they finish the swim, they run up the lane to the bikes. Most people are pulling shoes on and wetsuits off while running. I didn't get any pictures of Wayne until the finish, because every time I would see him I would get excited and cheer and tell Penelope where daddy was, forgetting about the camera.

Luckily Dini our friend (and real life photographer) got one:

 The bikes were lined up here and people got all of their biking stuff on for the bike part. This man we will call Ripped Rocket Guy. Wayne wants a helmet like Ripped Rocket Guy. Please, please tell him he can get ripped but he does not need the rocket helmet to be a better triathlete. I think it is horrid looking.

Wayne biking:

 After 12 or so miles of biking, they return to the same place, jump off, take off helmets, etc, and start running. Penelope waits for daddy:

 Here he comes! Finishing the 5K running part:

 Wayne and Todd (They have been training together)

Donkey Gacky

Grandma's other grandchildren call her Donkey Gacky - because she has donkeys at her house and because 'Gacky' means Grandma. I think? I guess if you were three it would make sense. Anyway, Grandma came to visit. 

Penelope cooking

 Helping Grandma feed the new baby.

 Having a conversation with grandma, with Duke looking in.

 Ready to go home with Grandma!

 Penelope spent most of the time trying to scare Grandma by standing up on her bouncy horse (sometimes no-hands), climbing on the couch, or spinning in circles.

 Feeding Duke.

 Helping make bean bags.

 Wearing Grandma's ear muffs. Grandma thinks these things are the greatest invention ever. Something about them not messing up her bun.

 Lots of kisses for Duke.

 Learning to text and play scrabble simultaneously.

 Almost ready for bed - cats watching.

 Daddy got P a bike! Now she can work on her own bike when daddy is working on his.

Vegetarians

Since returning from out vacation, Wayne and I decided that in an attempt to eat more on the lighter side, We would become Vegetarians.

When I say vegetarian, I am using the word very loosely. To West Coast Yuppies, we wouldn't even come close to being vegetarians, but to the midwest communities that we grew up in, we are now super crunchy granola. (Actually people where we grew up may not even know what crunchy granola people  are. It means people who are 'out there' 'health nuts' 'hippies' etc.)

When i first suggested it to Wayne, he was enthusiastic and wanted to try it to. About five minutes later, I said, "Waaaaait a second, there is no way we are going to be able to do this." How about vegetarian, with seafood and fish twice a week. Then I thought about it again, and how we were raised with the mindset that food wasn't a meal unless there was meat in it. Three times a day. So we decided to be vegetarians, plus seafood and fish, and red meat once a week.

It has been about three weeks, and unfortunately, I have no funny or embarrassing stories about becoming vegetarians who eat seafood, fish and once-a-week-meat. The good news is that we have been eating a healthier, leaner diet, and Wayne has been loosing weight. The only bad news is that I start feeling shaky once in a while, but that is usually fixed by eating some protein. I don't want a repeat of passing out in a Verizon store. We have been trying out new foods and recipes, and discovering that you can eat a whole lot a veggies and beans for one meal.

Working on the bike

Yesterday Penelope helped dad work on his bike. She just sat really serious and didn't mess with things, but handed dad tools and watched. In the evening, dad couldn't find his tools, so he asked me. (because I always steal his tools and hide them, yeah?) I told him I saw Penelope carrying them. We asked Penelope if she could show us where daddy's tools were, and her eyes lit up and she ran to a cupboard, opened the door, and there they all were!

Handing dad a tool:

Springtime

Spring is her and Penelope LOVES being outside. 

 Sunshine and grilling.