How Time Flies...

...when your little one is on the run! Of course we're all running - today we're running a bunch of errands, and tomorrow we're running to the airport to fly off to Orlando. We are going to visit Mickey and Minnie and all their friends for eight days and just can't wait!

Since we last updated (I know - I missed the ENTIRE Easter Season - SORRY!), Judith has been growing and growing. She's starting to talk more as well. We went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner last night. We walked in and sat down and she started chanting "cha-ta, cha-ta." This made no sense to us until beverages arrived. Judith pointed excitedly at her cup as she bounced up and down saying, "cha-ta, cha-ta." To which we had to reply, no, honey, it's not horchata, it's apple juice. Well, this was unacceptable and so we had to order the horchata.

It's been a while since we've been there. We know Judith has enjoyed horchata a few times, but we didn't know she had a word for it, and would associate the restaurant with it immediately!

She's had great visits with Aunt Karen and Uncle John and with Grandma and Grandpa. We were also surprised the other week with Aunt Kelly and Uncle Ray (one of Robert's aunts and uncles from Michigan), who were in the state for a family wedding and traveling around. So they called on Friday night that they were in the neighborhood, and were able to stop by for a bit on Saturday morning. It was great fun! I promise to get more pictures up after Disney.

And I hope that we can really be more diligent on our updates. It's just been a busy few months. The last three weeks in particular were very, very busy at work. Our retired bishop, Bishop Montrose, passed away on the 59th anniversary of his ordination, which led to a flurry of activity. We had reception of the body, visitation and vigil on Mother's Day, and then buried him on Monday (5 separate liturgies - http://stocktondiocese.org/english/news/release/bishopMontrose/index.html). I then had to go straight from that to the annual priest convocation which was starting that evening - 12 liturgies from Monday night - Friday afternoon. Judith spent three days in day care, two with Daddy, and four more straight in day care. She was a bit clingy when it was all over, but she survived the experience. Actually, the people at day care were very sad when she went back to her once a week schedule - they miss seeing her every day! I do have to say it's adorable when she's dropped off and the other children come running up to her to give her a kiss saying, "Judith's here!"

Later this summer she may be at day care more regularly two to three days a week. As we've been going through the budgeting process at work we've been looking at time spent. The reality is that I average 22 hours a week of work - only about 8 of it in the office. That means the rest of that time needs to get done during Judith's naps, after 8 or 9 at night when she's in bed and we've finished dinner, and on weekends. And Bishop has asked me to add several large projects to my plate for the coming year (a Diocesan wide training/information sharing with parishioners - and funeral homes - on the Catholic funeral rites, a Diocesan wide initiative to improve the quality of music in the parishes, and next winter's 11 event celebration of Bishop's 10th anniversary as our Bishop here). I would be more effective at that work focusing on it for a few days a week, and would then have more energy for my family when I am home. But we'll have to see. They are talking about increasing the salary to cover 24 hours a week, versus the current 14. I won't know until the budget process is finished, and that could take a while.

Robert is continuing to get some decent results at work. He actually had one of his published papers a few months ago make the cover of the journal it was published in! Of course, at the current moment, I cannot remember what that is - but I'll get that information again! It was very cool though - a new achievement making the cover of the journal.

We cannot believe how time flies and that we are into our fourth Farmer's Market season here. The Farmer's market has been open for seven weeks now, and we've been enjoying the early harvests of asparagus, cherries, strawberries, oro blancos, Chinese broccoli, etc. And in our own yard, we already have tomatoes growing on the vines. We also have lettuce (that we are picking and eating tonight because it will probably bolt while we are gone), butternut squash, pumpkin, yellow straight neck squash, yellow crook neck squash, zucchini, standard and cherry tomatoes, eggplant, cucumber and cantaloupe. This year we skipped the strawberries (we have too many snails - they eat them all!) and the beans. We also have a few new lemons and limes growing. Our orange tree isn't doing as well, but we've taken some drastic steps and we're hoping it rebounds!

Aside from that, we are pretty much unchanged here. Judith keeps growing and being fabulous! She has taken to saying "I do" during the renewal of baptismal promises with all the baptisms we've had during Mass lately. She's also good at "Amen" and at folding her hands while we say grace. "Hi Sunshine!" is a phrase she picked up from Grandma. And every day we are surprised by the nouns she uses to describe things. Yesterday "wipe" for her diaper wipes and "purse" both made their first appearance. So did "Barbara" for Sr. Barbara at the office (our Chancellor - it was adorable!). She's also now good at using the cell phone. While she was at work with me yesterday, I went to change her diaper and she threw down several things in her hands. We sat down on the floor, and I hear a voice that sounds remarkably like my brother! I momentarily thought I was losing my mind, that Bill's voice was loud and clear, and then suddenly realized he was on the phone! Judith had taken my cell phone and called him, and they were having a conversation! I could not believe it. He told me she's called him several times. He thinks it's very cute that his niece calls Uncle Bill. We're going to have to start watching the phone charges!

Judith has also decided she likes showers more than baths, which is problematic when I am home and taking a shower and she strips and opens the door and gets in! My last bastion of personal space, gone! Oh well. It is cute. And she's very good at taking her clothes off - she much prefers to be naked baby than dressed baby these days. It could be because we've already had multiple days above 100 degrees, and it's just more comfortable without clothes. But I think she shocked a few of our priests at the office yesterday when she took off her pants and took off! The Filipino priests thought it was great though - they said it reminded them of all their little nieces and nephews at home.

Well, we're getting back to packing now. Lots, lots to do today! And then tomorrow, we're off! We're excited to see Aunt Katie and cousin Alex, and we'll be sure to take lots of adorable pictures! In the meantime, we wish you all a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend. Remember all who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and all who continue to put themselves in harms way for the good of the rest of us. God Bless them all! A special graduation congratulations to DOCTOR Katie Fee! I can't believe it! Fabulous! Everyone else take care and we'll be sure to be in touch soon! Because as soon as we get back, it will be time to get ready for the second birthday party! Oh my!!!! Time FLIES!!!!!!!!