Owner of the Monkies' Hearts!

My first note is one of congratulations! Jess got her first really really really REALLY big cover. You can see her all over newsstands now!

Second bit is for Jay. We miss you Daddy! He is on his third gig as a guest spot tattooer and international man of mystery in beautiful Athens, Ga! Third piece for Chelsea, Happy Birthday!!!

You know, this is less smoke and mirrors than it was before, Mini sitting up, that is. She is really getting those abs and obliques going! I think she may be the next little Hercules.

Of course this picture is a testament to my profound intelligence. Give a toddler watercolor pencils and don't keep track of all of them. You know what is worse than crayon on your walls? Watercolor pencils. They are made to not wash off. My fridge is pink too!

And of course we have to angelically vamp to establish innocence.

I feel this shot more accurately depicts Monk's dark side. Wouldn't want to meet her in a dim alley. No sir. She'll shake you down for milk money, she don't care.

And then there is Cherub-Baby Mini. A real bottle-holdin', almost sittin' up, entirely cutie piece of work!

Back to the dark side! (....) with Sausage Face! We kinda just had breakfast sausage for breakfast this morning. I figure it is okay to take the name literally. I mean, it's just like breakfast cereal, right? Maybe a little tastier...

We all (courtesy of, and including our friend Courtney) had a photoshoot today. Mini and she were practicing their 'surprised but elated' faces. The opposite of blue steel, maybe red copper?

And... back to Monk Life. Crib siiiiide!

But seriously folks, we were celebrating Chelsea's 29th at a Vietnamese restaurant, and Monk was so over it she put on her big girl glasses and dozed off. At least until the Pho and Lemonade came.

Lastly, a little treat-y nugget since we are spending all our time missing our Daddy. I like to call this "Pack Monk". or perhaps, "Monk-mule"

Fin.

Bridge to Monkabithia

I chose the name for this entry very deliberately, so ya'll know. We have spent the better part of the past two weeks on the road fetching and returning Miss Emma. Thank Heaves Monk has finally gotten over her car-hating phase. We decided it is because she has finally adjusted to being mobile. The theory is that when walking was new, anything that held her back was the enemy. Since she is old hat at bi-ped status now, she doesn't mind being pinned down. I am sure it is infintely more fun with Mini and Emma in the back seat with her too!

So.. Back to this week! By no small favor, Jay's mom has helped with the Georgia side of the trip both weeks! So thanks! I would also request that ya'll have her in your thoughts today, as she is having Gallbladder surgery as we speak. It isn't near as urgent as Jessica's was, but very important to get done none the less.

(And yes, Mini is eating steak in this photo. We went to Olive Garden and I had gotten Balsamic Glazed Steak Tips with Gnocchi in a Gorgonzola and Spinach Cream Sauce. I wasn't the only one that thought it was out of this world!)

This Monday, as we were en route to Chattaboogie to return Big Monk, we stopped at Nickajack and had a wonderful picnic. I flagged down a family to take a picture of us all together, because it is so rare that we have such an opportunity. Not only was the weather perfect, but the food was really tasty too. We had left over ribs made into pulled pork sammiches, potato salad, and collards. I am pretty sure we will remember that day forever. What you can't see in the picture is the BBQ residue smeared over all parties!

The above picture is simply to document the cutie development of Mini. We are in tripod stage with learning to sit, and are completely fascinated with solid food. I am not talking apple sauce, people! This morning she annihilated half a piece of toast by her self! Obviously she is as resourceful as Monk was when she hadn't any teeth. What a fiend.

Another leg to our travelling is driving to Franklin to see M & D. This is the highlight of our week mostly all the time. A symbiotic relationship to be sure, I cook and clean while the grandparents bask in Monka-rie. Good stuff..... even if Dad sometimes has to share his Cheez-Its.

It does get a bit messy being Monk you know. Here it seemed like a good idea to strip her down and hose her off after a particularly good session with some ravioli. However, we ended up making a bigger mess with the water!

And.. I'm spent! It has been a really long week!