Massive Mobile

Matt was on the road this week installing mobile in the Women and Children's Hospital of Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria, Louisiana. The mobile is massive–30 feet tall–which is Matt's largest to date.

When the install was complete, Matt and Ben, his right-hand man, celebrated with copious amounts of boiled crawfish. Which probably made Matt even happier than finishing the project itself.

The original concept

Ben in the shop next to the in-progress piece

Matt, 35 feet in the air

Matt with the final piece

I Heart Multitasking

Riley has been dying to celebrate Pink Toy's (aka Love-a-Lot Bear) birthday. We decided Valentine's Day would be the perfect day. Mostly 'cause I was planning to bake anyhow.

We had my family (including 6 adults and 4 kids) over to celebrate (under the guise of Valentine's Day) with chocolate custard cake. It was the most hoppin' party I've ever thrown for a stuffed animal.

Ambivalence

Riley: Daddy, I want to get a girl kitty.
Matt: We can't Riley. Cats make me sneeze too much.
Riley: We could get a boy kitty.
Matt: Boy cats make me sneeze, too.
Riley: Then you could live at work.

The next day, Riley said when she grows up, she wants to marry daddy. She's so hot and cold.

Hide & Seek

The Berenstain Bears and Too Much YouTube

Riley recently discovered the Berenstain Bear clips on YouTube. I'm embarrassed to admit this, but she's obsessed. If we didn't strictly limit her computer time, I'm pretty sure she would watch them for hours on end. Some days, it's all she talks about.

So here's a conversation she and I had the other morning, shortly after she woke up:

R: Mommy, can I watch the Bears?
M: You can later, right before naptime.
R: Oh. [long pause.] Mommy, I'm ready for my nap now.

The master negotiator strikes again. And I'm about to pull a Mama Bear.