Unpictured Arizona

As we were leaving the airport parking lot upon arrival in Phoenix last week, my brother in law Albie opened and closed the auto mini-van doors and my purse fell out and then he unknowingly ran over it and my camera and my cell phone and my sunglasses and my everything else was squished. However, nothing to the point of no return except my camera. The button popped off and we couldn't take any pictures of the lovely cousins playing together in the pool or Leo on the train ride of his life, or Sylvie in the pool, or Albies totally surprised mug when we showed up at the airport (actually I could have caught that since it was pre-running over but I was loaded down with gear) or Melissa's drunk dancing at the 40th birthday party. "sad for us" as Syvlie would say.

We lay in the sun and enjoyed the HUGE and WONDERFULLY EQUIPPED home of our Sister and Brother in law. Sylvie loved playing with the cousins who taught her a bad habit or two and Leo discovered trucks and looked at me like "why don't we have these at our house instead of dollies and flowery things"

Leo has started talking up a storm. I never noticed how much I say "thank you" everyday but now I have my own little parrot who repeats it everytime I say it much to the enjoyment of every cashier and barista we encounter. He follows it up with "gracias" and "bye". In the morning when we head downstairs to wake up his sleepy head sister he says "Sisssstyyyy" on our way down. His other tricks include some new signs like putting his fingers to his lips like an Italian Chef giving a "Magnifico!" which means "eat" to leo. He also just started patting both hands on his chest which means "please help". This is better than his previous reliance on "more" which we took to mean more food please. So, his language is improving in many ways and he LOVES the reactions he is getting.

Sylvie is enjoying a string of good behavior where where she has honed her ability to share and be generous. She is also being extra loving toward Leo to the point where she wants to give him "huggies" first thing in the morning and whenever he is upset she comes over to comfort him with pats on his back and little "it's ok Leo" One of her latest talents is creating winning outfits which I can't photograph (see above!)

Joey has made a difficult transition to doing all commercial appraisals but he is still considered a trainee until July when he takes a big test so he isn't getting his normal % of income. I have been cut off from Whole Foods until an undisclosed maybe never date. "sad for me"

I love my knitting group because we eat well, play getting to know you games, talk about music and shows and make each other more talented and confident knitters.

Here is a link to the Raising Arizona Screenplay for some zingers: http://www.godamongdirectors.com/scripts/raising.shtml
like this one:

FBI 1: So you think it might have been an employee?

NATHAN: Don't make me laugh. Without my say-so they don't piss with their pants on fire.

and this one:

He's an angel!

he hides her face in her hands and looks away as if blinded, then sneaks a look around her hands....

He's an angel straight from heaven!

Now honey I had all my kids the hard way so you gotta tell me where you got this angel. Did he fly straight down from heaven?