Of shoes and ships and sealing wax and cabbages and kings

Yesterday Olivia was having a "phone conversation," using my hairclip as a phone--she was talking to the Little Mermaid Ariel. She said "Ariel, please be happy--you're a girl." Later on, "Ariel, please don't swim anymore--you're married. You wear a dress." I had to stifle a laugh. You've gotta love three-year-old talk.

Our graduate

Brent got his Ph.D. last Thursday and Friday (technically I don't know which day, but I don't think it matters). Mom and Dad Pickett came down to celebrate with us, and it was a lot of fun. We're all really proud of him and his accomplishment.

Livvie and Louie

Our family went to the home of Brent's advisor Dr. Fletcher last Friday night for a barbecue for fellow chemical engineers. Dr. Fletcher has a little dog named Louie that Olivia just fell in love with. She spent the vast majority of her time running him ragged. She ran everywhere with him--they became good pals. Surprisingly Matthew didn't flinch when Louie came to say hi to him. I thought he'd start crying for sure, but not so.