Update by Brad

Here are some photos and movies from the last few weeks since we blogged.

First off, we have Jillian learning her alphabet. She is getting really good, and can point to J, M, D, C, B, A, K and W. She likes to sing the alphabet, but likes to call it the "F,G song". I think this is a very early sign of genius and non-conformity. Why do we have to call the alphabet by the first two letters? If the first shall be last, I think it is time for some "middle" letters to step forward, and hold the mantle of greatness. F-G ... this is your time!!



(By the way, the high "with" heard in "Next time won't you sing with me" is not the orthodox tune, but it is the tune adopted by the leap frog folks, and thus many, many children have now learned this alternative ending. We hemmed and hawed about this heretical alternative, but decided to give in ... call us liberal)


Jillian is also learning to count, and with a little help can go from 1 to 10. At one point or another, she has said every "n+1" number, given n (I'm a scientist with a love for math). So, if we say 4, she says 5. If we get to 5, she sometimes says 6, but never all 10 in a row.

She is also a good counter, but with her own system. She always uses "1, 8, 5, 1, 8 ,5 ...". So, were walking down the stairs and she counted them like that, saying each number very slowly and deliberately, like silly adults do when counting almost anything from chips on a plate to slices of bread for sandwiches.

A funny story about Jillian. Thursday night, we couldn't find one of her two lambs she always sleeps with, even though she hadn't been outside with him (you would think with a tiny apartment like this it would be no problem ...) Anyway, I told her he was on vacation tonight, and would return tomorrow.

The next day I came home, and Kristin Irvine had been by to visit with Eli & Soraya. I asked Jillian about her day, and suddenly she remembered the case of the vacationing Lambie. I said, "Did you find Lambie?" She got very excited. I said, where was he?

She said, and I quote, "YES! In the Kitchen! Come on! I show you!" and pulled me to the kitchen.

We got to the kitchen, and she opened one of the lower cupboards, and said "There! Lambie hiding. Shhh!!!!" (We try to be quiet when we hide).

I said, "Did you find him or did Mommy".

She said "Jillian. Mommy on the computer, talking to Josh [Irvine]".

(I latter asked Lauren, and she this part was slightly fabricated ... she didn't talk to Josh). I said "What did Mommy say?"

"Hi Josh"

"What did Josh say?"

"Hi Mommy" ... interesting.

Then she told me that Eli and Soraya had come over to play with her, but she has such a serious ways of telling it. She looks very serious and nods her head slowly and carefully.


And then there is Faith. She has grown up so much. Just yesterday I was really stumped at work, and she talked me through once again the complicated process of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondrial inner membranes and the role mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) plays in this critical process, supplying 13 polypeptide chains of the OXPHOS system.

But really. She rolled over from front to back on Tuesday, all by herself. On Friday, she got her MMR shot. Last night she was a bit feverish, so we laid her down at 5pm. She slept from 5pm to 10pm, then on to 5am last night!! That was the first time Lauren has gotten to sleep more than 4 hours in a row!!!! WOW!!!!!!!! She is so pretty too. Here is a picture:

Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday) in the UK

Our Girl's Bible Study meets on Tuesday evening, and because it was Shrove Tuesday we celebrated with pancakes.



--British Embassy, Washington D.C., 2/27/2006
"For many Christians Lent is traditionally a period of fasting before Easter. Shrove Tuesday is the last day before Ash Wednesday, the day Lent begins. This day is traditionally marked as the day to clean out the cabinets of all eggs, milk and fats before the fast. Most households in the UK use these ingredients to make pancakes, giving Shrove Tuesday the nickname of Pancake Day. Though fewer people in Britain strictly observe Lent today, everyone enjoys eating pancakes.

Where does the word Shrove come from?
During the Middle Ages, on Shrove Tuesday it was customary to make a confession and be absolved by the priest - “to shrive” means absolve in Old English. A bell would be rung to call people to confession. This came to be called the “Pancake Bell” and was the signal for housewives to prepare their pancake batter for lunch. The bell also released children from school and adults from work so that everyone could join in the festivities. The bell is still rung today in villages across England, although Shrove Tuesday is now not considered a half-holiday.

What happens on Pancake Day in England?
On Pancake Day, pancakes are eaten and pancake races are held in villages and towns. The most famous race is at Olney in Buckinghamshire, southern England. According to tradition, in 1445, a woman of Olney heard the shriving bell while she was making pancakes and ran to the church in her apron, still clutching her frying pan. The race is open to all women over 18 who have lived in Olney for at least three months. All competitors must wear an apron and a hat or scarf. To win, each competitor must toss her pancake (flip it over in the frying pan) three times during the race, which is run over the 415 yards from the market square to the church, serve her pancake to the bellringer and be kissed by him.

What is a pancake?
A pancake is a thin, flat cake, made of batter and baked on a griddle or fried in a pan. A traditional pancake is very thin and is served immediately. Caster sugar (superfine sugar) is sprinkled over the top and a dash of fresh lemon juice added. The pancake is then rolled. Some people add golden syrup or jam."