joshandamy.org

Saffie took her first steps a few weeks ago. She enjoys walking between people and loves it when people hold her hand while strolling.

This time we got super-crafty and went super-geeky. Josh put the Magic Squares game online which allowed people to buy squares several days in advance and put up a monitor in the bar area to replace our poster that always was on the verge of falling down. (sorry no photos you’ll just have to believe me).

Mandy and Mark sewed a felt field to go over our buffet table (AKA our covered up shuffleboard).

I made the Cardinal and Steelers logos out of felt for the end zones.

I was actually so impressed with myself I started to brainstorm ways to make money off my felt crafting skill I had no idea I possessed. Unfortunately I think it falls in the same skill category as repairing nitrate film and giving cats pills – very handy skill when you need it, but not really a big money maker.

I also made a football cake which collapsed in the center while it was baking and stuck to the pan so much the top layer ripped off. Gotta love frosting!!

Elsie’s nanny and our neighbor Mindy brought over dozens of 3-D glasses so everyone could enjoy the 3-D commercials during halftime.

Overall, a good time had by all!

After many hours spent organizing photos and home videos from the birth of Saffie to the end of 2008 I am finally ready to get going on 2009. I’m not going to go back to cover all of our wonderful holiday events but will instead start off with a semi-recent trip to the aquarium with the Sladdens and the Johnstons.

Saffie says hello to some fish.

Whatever everyone was looking at must have been fascinating!

I hope the flash didn’t upset the eyes of these guys too much

and yes, there are a few tigers at the Denver Aquarium as well!

Josh and Mandy pose for a photo while Elsie checks out a fish tank and Saffie inquires about lunch.

Amy and I are headed to Florida tomorrow to finish our dive certification. Our scuba instructor suggested we do it in Florida because of the warm water and visibility. Of course, we booked our trip without even thinking that it would be hurricane season. Clearly neither of us have ever lived in a place where you need to pay attention to that. So as the time for the trip has been getting closer, we have been watching the weather in what is known as a “record hurricane year.” We have been mostly checking on Tropical Storm Irene.

This got me to thinking that they were going to have a male name that starts with J for the next storm and I thought if I hurricane was going to ruin our trip, I wanted it to be Hurricane Josh. Well, no such luck. The next male name will be Jose. You can find the whole list here.

What I was pleased to find is that while Josh won’t be used any time soon, during this record breaking hurricane season we may see a Hurricane Nate. Given that this page of retired hurricane names contains Andrew (1992) and Michelle (2001), the Etters may want to check it out for some name ideas so they can keep with the family theme. I say you name the next one Beulah (1967). When they become a traveling family singing group a la the Partridge family, they can be the Hurricanes! I crack myself up.

This has to be one of the coolest toys I have seen in a long time. Makes me wonder if we will ever have personal vehicles that are able to do this.
AllDumb: Videos – One Crazy RC Toy