What's gone down in the last month? Well. Tons, natch. We went to Wisconsin to visit Dude's family at their cottage way up nort der hey. The girls got their fill of cousins and grandparents and aunts and uncles. Dude was, as always, the returning hero. I smiled a lot. I also took a little mini Rachael vacay of my own in the middle of that trip and trucked down to Milwaukee to visit some friends. Woot! I loved every second of it, although I admit to feeling slightly past-my-prime as I walked around the old college neighborhood and realized that it's still filled with college-age babies. There was even a raging party in my former apartment (the building remains so inappropriately named The Chateau) that I considered crashing. Oh, but then I remembered that everyone would think I was someone's mom and nixed that idea pretty quickly.

Belly and Buggy have aged about five years in the last month. Belly literally informs me daily that she's going to be seven on her next birthday. Their linguistic skills have gone crazy bananas. They form complex sentences that incorporate deep thoughts and spot-on slang. They're funny people! They're also punks. Both girls are extremely polite as they say "no thank you" when I tell them to "pick up your mess/eat your lunch/leave your sister alone/come wash your hands/etc." Good times.

Not so good times: Sissy joined up with the AmeriCorps VISTA program and moved to Bozeman, MT. Um, can I tell you how much this sucks? Thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis much. Truly! I have no sisters left in Portland now. It's weird. I don't like it.

Good times light at the end of the tunnel: We've had two naked afternoons wherein the girls informed me each and every time they needed to go to the bathroom and they used that potty like the throne it is. I found it incredibly nerve wracking when they sat on the couch, but they showed excellent understanding of that "I gotta go" feeling and no accidents occurred. Of course, they both pooped as soon as I put diapers back on them. But I'm happy with some baby steps on the potty training front 'cause it was looking grim for awhile.

I know I'm missing a zillion and three other highlights of the past month, but in an effort to hit "publish post," I'm ending this now. Before I go, though, I'd like to say that I so appreciate your continued interest in my lately-non-existent little blog here. My site meter numbers remain consistent, even though I'm the slackiest slacker this side of the Mississippi (maybe even both sides). That means that you peeps keep checking to see if I've posted. Awwww. Thanks. It warms the heart. I'll try to keep my Delorean in the garage for awhile so that I can write.

xoxo, R.