What's up with those Chisholms?

Wow, you know you haven't blogged in awhile when...

• You can't recall the URL to your own blog site. And typing in an abbreviated form of your "address" takes you to a cross dresser's blog... uhhh....
• Your "baby" is now a toddler, basically, with smoother knees and more wear on his shoes. Yes, shoes! I suddenly woke up to the fact my baby needed shoes! He's not 5-months-old anymore as depicted in our last blog.
• You've moved states and changed jobs since your last entry... but didn't bother to mention it to all of your blog fans. I mean, your former blog fans...
• The sunshine burns with less wrath, yellow school buses stop in front of you at railroad crossings, and your last post is a happy reflection on the winter holidays.

So, what's up with the Chisholms?

We uprooted from one American agricultural state to another this past spring so that my dear husband could learn how to make people sweat and groan. And how to yell at them. And afterwards they turn around and pay him for it. And all parties concerned are happy with this arrangement.

Translation = Dave is a personal trainer and we're still in the midwest.

We are only 20 minutes away from Thanksgiving dinner and excellent childcare, as opposed to a half-day of auto travel.

Translation = we live close to Dave's parents, about a gas-tank from our old friends.

I am now simultaneously earning honorary degrees in child psychology, waste management, economics, and conflict resolution.

Translation = I have hung up my white coat for now to train little Chisholms full-time.

Dave and I celebrated 4 years of marital bliss this past week with a cruise... through town. Destination? Dark, empty parking lot. Sometimes it's nice to be able to make out in the front seat without an audience of little Chisholms... ;)

Daniel warms my heart by singing the alphabet (ending with "Now you know MY ABC's, next time you'll sing with me) and "Hafty Birfday." He absolutely melts me with the proclamation, "Mom, you are beautiful!" when I feel the unprettiest and most unpresentable. He shows affection to Joel by sharing toy cars, big hugs, frequent shoves and occasional kicks. But he's very good at apologizing. Now if he could only go down for naps as easily as he apologizes...

Joel now has 2 rows of teeth up front which make for a beautiful smile and want of use. He is an enthusiastic member at our dinner table. I really think he eats more than Daniel most days. He is starting to use baby sign as well. His favorite past-times are begging for food, chasing Daniel, splashing in water, and watching Daniel pee in the Big Potty. If he were permitted to combine the last two past-times he would be thrilled. He is not referred to as Joelnormous as often as when among those of Smithville, but he still lives up to this term of endearment. Sometimes I have to look twice to see which one is on top of the other.

Well, hope you enjoyed the update! See you in 8 months!

(Slightly in our defense, we don't have Internet at home, so we have to beg and borrow cyberspace access. But we can't complain!)

And for those who are shocked by our move, I probably have an address change card collecting dust in my drawer that I haven't mailed out to you yet. So sorry.

Keep your eyes on the ball :)