As promised...

Here's the video Andrew (and his team) made for a class project. I filmed the outdoor scenes. Try not to marvel too much at my amazing cinematography skills. I can't decide whether my favourite part is when Andrew, blinking, steps into the sun or when he appears with his "beard."


The Career Development Cycle from Andrew Heiss on Vimeo.

Hobo Baby

Contrary to how dreary the sky looks it's actually quite warm out. It snowed quite a bit on Monday evening and was a little chilly yesterday. Today, however, we were back up to the fifties and tomorrow we're creeping into the sixties. I couldn't be happier. Surviving the winter and making it to spring—while retaining my sanity—is a real feat for me. I was made for sunshine and sunshine was made for me. Being cooped up all winter long really cramps my style.

We went to the park this afternoon and played for a long time. For a while we were the only ones there but then kids from around the neighbourhood started joining us. At one point we had five girls (and one boy) taking up all the swings and there were other children sliding, digging, and climbing. I haven't seen a park so well-utilized in a long time.

After a winter-long hiatus, Miriam rediscovered sand. Apparently she hasn't lost her taste for it because one of the first things she did was shove a handful into her eager little mouth. I chastised her and emphasized how terribly yucky sand is and she seemed to get my message.

A BYU day

Yesterday Andrew and I gave the Brown Paper Bag Presentation at the HBLL—it's just an informal lunch gathering where someone (hopefully someone interesting) comes to talk to any employee who wants to share their lunch hour. We had a decent turnout but only because so many people in the library love us; it's like our second home (and I'm not even kidding).

We talked about Egypt, which was naturally fun for us. I hope it was as fun for everyone else.

When we were finished I took the girls to the Bean Museum to waste away the afternoon while Andrew attended his afternoon classes. The museum was crawling with young mothers and little children doing exactly the same thing. It was fun!

Double, Bubble, Toil and Trouble

Grandpa picked up some bubble bath at the store the other day (at least, he's the one taking credit for it) and today the girls got to try it out after dinner. I can't remember the last time they've had a proper bubble bath (ie. one using actual bubble bath solution instead of having Daddy pour half a bottle of shampoo in the water). It's been a while for Rachel and I really don't think Miriam has actually ever had one.

Dinner with the Greats

We went to dinner at Grandpa Frank and Grandma Sharon's house today. Grandma Sharon has been working on cross-stich baby announcements for the girls; it's something she did for each of her grandchildren (Brock, Grant, Lindsey, and Dana) before she married Grandpa Frank and inherited a whole gaggle of grandchildren (well, nine more, anyway). She decided when Rachel was born that she would continue the tradition with her great-grandchildren and began working on Rachel's birth cross-stich right away. And then Kayl was born. And then Miriam. And then Talmage. And Grandma Sharon began to realize she may have gotten herself into more than she bargained for.

Running and stuff

This morning I got up to go running before anyone else was up. I was sitting on the floor, tying up my running shoes, when Rachel stumbled out of her bedroom and asked me to hold her. She climbed onto my lap and I held her close.

Something smelled fishy. Or, to be more precise, like vomit.

I gave her head a good sniff.

"Rachel! You smell like throw up!" I exclaimed.

"That's funny," she said, "Because I didn't throw up."

"That's funny because you have chunks of throw up in your hair!"

"I do?"

"You do! Did you throw up last night?"

"No!"

2th

We were driving in the car today and came to a four-way stop. Even though we were the only car at the intersection, Andrew dutifully came to a complete stop.

"I was first!" he announced.

"And last," I pointed out, "So who knows if you can really go or not?"

"I was also third," he said, "So I can go now."

"But you were also forth."

"And seventh."

"And sixteenth."

Sensing a pattern, Rachel joined in.

"You were also twoth, Daddy!" she said gleefully.

Andrew and I started laughing and instead of getting offended Rachel started giggling, as well.

"What did I say that was funny?" she asked.

"Well, it isn't twoth," I told her. "It's second."

Circles!

This morning the girls were colouring together and Miriam inadvertently drew a complete circle. Rachel immediately flew into a tizzy.

"Mom! Mom! Mom! Miriam drew a circle! She didn't just scribble, Mom! She drew a circle! Look! Here's her circle! Look at it, Mom, look! It's a circle! Look at Miriam's circle! See? A circle! She drew a circle! A circle, a circle, a circle! Look!"

"Wow, that's so nice," I said.

"Circle!" said Miriam importantly.

Because of this little incident I've been looking at circles all day long. Miriam has been scribbling on every piece of scrap paper in the house and then thrusting the paper in my face so I can adore her circles, which most of the time aren't even circles.



Since she can say circle we're now trying to teach her what it actually means. It's a little over her head but eventually she'll get it.

On a side note, if they ever have auditions for Dora: The Musical, I think I'll have Rachel try-out. She'd be perfect because she can't say anything—it must be yelled.

Life is good when you're growing up

When I was growing up we had the Care Bears Movie II at our house so whenever I think of Care Bears I think of that movie. There's a song in that movie—besides the Care Bear Cheer—that comes to mind a lot. It's about growing up. I really can't believe that I can still sing it after all these years; after all, the movie came out when I was Miriam's age. Perhaps that's testimony of how many times I watched it when I was a child.

Growing up, it's something you can measure

Growing up, it happens every day

Being young is something you can treasure
But life is good when you're growing up!

"It is only the gay and innocent and heartless who can fly."

This evening before bedtime we read a few books about birds—we'll be learning about birds in a couple of weeks for cub scouts so this week we checked out some books from the library to study. Rachel asked if she could get a pet bird and, being the mean parent that I am, I said no. Instead she morphed into a bird and showed me how she could fly.

Bravo, Rachel, bravo!

She flew into the bathroom to retrieve the dirty feathers she took off before she got in the birdbath and instead of tucking her into bed I opened the door to her cage and put her in. She tweeted goodnight and I've hardly heard a peep from her since, though Miriam is still chirping away in her crib.