A City Life For Me

So…I lost the “bet.”  I thought for sure Ben would get the first parking ticket since he drives so much more.  When I came back from the post office yesterday I parked on our street, but on the other side of 5th Avenue.  I just assumed the alternate side parking (for street cleaning) times were the same.  They weren’t.  On our block we can’t park on our side of the street Mondays from 8:30-10 am.  Everyone just double parks on the other side. Then on Tuesdays they clean the other side of the street, so they double park on our side.  Well… I didn’t read the sign and apparently down a block they clean from 11:30-1:00.  I got a ticket.  Ben found it this morning when he left for work.  I’ve learned my lesson (hopefully)!

I was finally able to catch Elaine crawling!  I actually couldn’t decide which clip was better, so we are blessing you with both today.  At the end is a video of Elaine with her Great-Grandpa Don Paul.  I took the video in Colorado a couple weeks ago, and forgot I had it.  It was just too cute to keep to myself.  We love you Grandpa!

I shared these pictures on Facebook last week, but neglected to blog them.  Elaine has been sitting on the toilet seat while I get ready in the mornings.  She’s usually pretty good, but then last week, she discovered the toilet paper roll.  I let her have some fun, but then rescued my roll from being entirely wasted.    Having fun. Caught. So proud of herself!

Okay, so my mom is feeling guilty for winning (even though it’s fair because it is random ).  And my dad said it’s not fair.  So…I picked a second winner to get the Mary Kay Sun Care set.  Here’s the product description: Enhance your natural glow on the go with the limited-edition Travel-Sized Sun Care Set. The set includes travel-sized Mary Kay® Subtle Tanning Lotion, plus Mary Kay® SPF 30 Sunscreen and Mary Kay® After-Sun Replenishing Gel in a convenient mesh zippered pouch. The winner is… Becky!   I guess it’s just *destined* to be in the “family” today…Becky is dating one of the best guys I know (after my husband of course!) – my brother Kenny!  Congratulations to Becky!

The winner of the Mary Kay travel roll-up bag is… Sherry ! (better known to me as Mom ) To be fair I used the website random.org to draw the winner.  It is completely unbiased.  Number 4 was chosen, and Sherry had the fourth comment.  If you want to read more about Sherry, you can check out her blog, Apple Slices of Our Lives.   You didn’t know she had a blog, did you? Thanks for playing everyone!  I’ll have to do another one sometime – I had fun!

Hey…just want to send out a reminder that there are still a couple of days to enter my giveaway.  It was at the bottom of Sunday’s post, so maybe some of you missed it.  Don’t forget to leave a way for me to contact you in case you win! Click here and scroll to the bottom to enter to win a Mary Kay Travel Roll Up Bag. Giveaway ends Sunday, June 27th at midnight.

Some “faces” of my not-quite-so-little Elaine on our last trip: “Get me out of this carseat!”   “What happened?  I can’t believe it!”   “Ha-ha-ha.  I get to take a bath in Grandma’s new bathtub and Mommy has to use the old one!”     “Uggg.  When is that waitress going to bring our food?” “I don’t know what these are, so I’m just going to throw them on the floor!” “Look Mommy!  Grandma has this cool stool that is just my size!” I’m cute and I know it. Last morning with Grandpa.   “No!  Don’t leave!  I’ll untie your shoes…” Moral of the story: I’ve got to take less pictures of this kid, or I’m going to crash my computer storing them!

Elaine, Grandma & Grandpa Paul, & Me I am making many happy memories with Elaine.  She is so cute and a bundle of joy…even when she is crabby (don’t quote me on that, please!).  When I was in Denver last week I made some happy memories with my own grandparents, Elaine’s great-grandparents.  She is great-grandbaby number nine for them! We spent a relaxing afternoon with my grandparents, Don & MaryLou Paul.  I was especially glad to be able to see them on this trip for this reason… My grandma has had five different cornea transplants in the same eye, and they have all gotten infected and perforated.  While she was on a road trip to Iowa a couple of weeks ago, the newest cornea did the same thing.  My grandpa drove straight through to get her home to her doctor.  After weighing the options, they decided that it was best to just remove the eye.  She had a rough time with the anesthesia, and still wasn’t doing great when we arrived back ...

While in Colorado with my parents last week we took Elaine to the petting farm.  We met my mom’s friend Alethea and her little girl Talia (who is almost two) at Belleview park.  It is very near my grandparent’s house, so my grandpa came along too (he used to be a farmer). I know Elaine is a little young to know about all of these animals, but she has been very aware of dogs and cats, and we thought it would be fun!   “A pig?  What is that?” Notice the fist full of lamb’s wool?  That’s the reason the cat downstairs knows to stay away from Elaine! “This straw is interesting.” Grandma Godby (my mom), Elaine, and Great-Grandpa Paul (my grandpa), and of course the cow!  Alethea and Talia are with the goats in the background See?  Here they are.  Alethea and Talia! We met the goat… …and we watched the ducks (they’re not in the picture *wink*) Then we finished with a ride on the train… …here’s the train!

Today Elaine & I strapped on our walking shoes and hit the streets of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.  Well…I strapped on shoes.  Elaine decided to ride in style.  Elaine donned a layer of sunscreen, I grabbed a water bottle and we headed down the front steps, glad that the car  (& stroller in the trunk) was  parked just across the street.  We were headed for an adventure.  There were a few notes jotted on my list, but we were out for nothing in particular.  We crossed the street and had a bagel at Bagel Villa on 5th Ave.  Pumpernickel with butter.  Mmmmm.  One for today, and two for tomorrow.  Back on the street, we greeted our neighbor just coming for coffee.  First lesson of the city streets: they didn’t design these narrow doors & shops for baby strollers!  And definitely not for a pram!  Hair salon.   I decided to pop in for a trim.  I chickened out on going short, and opted to keep my long lay...

God has been very good to us in the short time we have lived in Brooklyn.  Ben was hired by a furniture refinishing company and is in his second week of work.  Our June prayer letter is now completed, and you can read it by clicking here. As a reminder, you can still sign up to receive these updates via email by filling out this form.   The prayer letters will be emailed unless you do not have an email address.

So yesterday was Father’s Day!  I didn’t post anything because I was busy celebrating with my husband on his first Father’s Day!  But that doesn’t mean I have forgotten! I feel very blessed by my own Dad, and my Father-in-law.  They are good men, and they have had a positive influence in my life because they “commanded their children and household” in the ways of the Lord.  I feel especially blessed by these men presently because both have sacrificed so much to help Ben & I as we transition to minister in New York City.  I’m so very glad that I have a good relationship with both of my dads!  I’m also so pleased and proud to be married to the best Daddy any little Elaine could wish for!  Ben is great with Elaine and very involved in her life…even if it means changing a diaper!  He is dedicated to raising her to be a godly, responsible young lady. After church on Sunday we headed to the park.  Ben had taken Elaine to swing there on S...