"If I sew patches on, it won't look like a fishing shirt anymore!"

Naturally the idea of Quinn wearing a scout uniform in public peaked my interest. As Q loathes the possibility of public matching and positively shirks from any resemblance of uniform apparel, I was more than a little enthused to see him wearing his scout shirt to the Blue and Gold Cub Scout Banquet at our church. I even made a point to bring my camera. Leave it to Q to find yet another way out of official matching. He managed to wear this brown jacket over his official scout shirt the entire evening regardless of the temperature. Lame. I tried to make him feel bad for it by pointing out how the other leaders have TONS of really cool patches sewn onto their shirts and his is super plain and boring. He promptly and sufficiently silenced my guilt trip by explaining that leaders don't earn those patches, they just go to the scout store and buy whichever ones they think look cool, and besides, "If I sew patches onto my shirt, it won't look like a fishing shirt anymore."

I'll never understand men. Q refused to wear his scout shirt visibly out of embarrassment and yet he's been begging me to let him buy this $90 ghastly and hideous Nascar fishing twin for weeks?!?!?! Someone please explain this to me.

Annie is so much fun!
She has two teeth, loves to roll, and is talking up a storm.

We took her to the SGU Parade of Homes and discovered MUCH TO MY DELIGHT at the first house we visited mere SECONDS from mom's house that Irmitas had set up a booth in the garage. Needless to say, we visited that garage for 10 days straight! We thanked our lucky stars that we hit that house first because if I had discovered the Irmitas garage seconds from home on the last day, I would have cried. One day we sent Q for our Irmitas fix and the ladies asked him, "How's the baby?" and "Is your wife teaching again today?" Yep. We love Irmitas,

SGU really is a most beautiful place to live.

You May Have Heard...
We bought a house. Thrill! I have been designing the inside of this house for decades (really- I've always been obsessed with someday having and decorating my very own real live house). Knowing this then, you will be amazed to discover that I literally walked into my dream design aesthetic during the parade of homes. It was like stepping into my own mind! I took about 800 pictures. In fact, Q finally left me behind because my snapping was embarrassing him. I was surprised then, when he went back with me to hold paint and wood samples up to the wall to make sure they matched! Here it is- straight from my dreams:

We've also been celebrating some birthdays round our parts:

Nor and Quinn turned another year older. 31 was big for Quinn. Suddenly he has one child and two mortgages to pay. Yikes for next year!

I gave Q a garden hose and some socks.

I know, I know- not that great right?
We decided that we would be giving each other things for the house
for the next thousand gift-giving events.
I already know I'm getting a fridge for Christmas.
Q pretended to be excited about the hose.
At least he got a wicked-awesome BBQ from my parents!

Your advice please:

These pictures kill me and break my heart now that we have discovered
after MUCH trial and tribulation
that Annie is allergic to TOUCHING food- not eating it!
Major heart breaking puffy red rash.
Except NOW I'm almost positive she is allergic to something she's been eating too.
We have to start over.

I just have one question: Will someone please tell me
how to teach a baby to eat without touching her food?!?!?!