Our First Out-of-Town Visitors

Grandma Diana and her friend came to town to celebrate her 60th birthday with us. It was yesterday, so unfortunately, the Mountaineers failed to give her the birthday present she wanted, but that's beside the point, I suppose.

Andrew enjoyed exploring the yard with her.

They brought us home-grown WV tomatoes - YUM!

He scored a couple of pumpkins from the garden, as well.

Where did this boy get his housekeeping gene?!?

The kid "cleans" all the time. Brooms in our house, brooms in public, brooms in books... always a scream of joy. A career in the custodial arts, perhaps?

WAX ON

WAX OFF

WAX ON, WAX OFF

BIG BROOM

SMALL BROOM

TANDEM BROOMS

Hallelujah!

We have just returned from the nicest Cola attorney's office where, after nine agonizing months on the market, eight insane months of cleaning/staging/showing, and two frustrating months since receiving an offer,

WE CLOSED ON THE TEXAS HOUSE!!!!!

Never thought I'd be so happy to report that I am no longer a home-owner. Papers are signed, we're not in the poorhouse (just in its front yard), and things are being overnighted to McAllen, which means, Ike-permitting, the title company will have them first thing Monday morning. WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO! This has been such a stressful experience for so many months and an enormous weight has just been lifted off our shoulders. Now we finally feel as if we can start our new lives here in SC. In the illustrious words of the great George Frideric Handel, HALLELUJAH!

Gymbo Rides Again

Andrew has recently taken to putting things on his Caterpillar truck for rides around the house. The latest has been Gymbo the Clown. God bless Gymbo, that's all I can say. He kept falling off the truck, which REALLY ticked Andrew off, so we finally attached him to it with a belt around his waist and a scarf around his neck (Gymbo's neck, not Andrew's, and clearly, I have no future as a Six Flags roller-coaster safety-harness specialist).

Andrew is 15 Months Old Today

Our new 15-month-old is continuing to have utensil-use issues, loving fruit and yogurt (and eating fewer veggies than we'd like), and taking to the lake like a fish. Here are some pics from this week. I've also finally updated the Shutterfly site with the last few months' photos.

Isn't this the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man?!?

Random Musings

Black Widow:
Still thriving and probably reproducing (no, there is no evidence of baby black widows, but I'm just going with Murphy's Law here). Maybe we got too busy, took a holier-than-thou naturalist stance, or just didn't want to deal with it, but she still lurks in the corner of our detached garage. The eerie and obnoxious detail about her is that when you first go near the corner, you don't really see much at all. Then, she wobbles her pinky-nail-sized self out there and stops as if to say, "Yeah, I'm here. Come near me if you're feelin' lucky." Anyway, execution date is now set for tomorrow am.


Social Life:
Had folks over tonight - band and orchestra people and their kiddos. It was total Romper Room and fun for all - even the adults. This is a first for Jon, Andrew and me because we really didn't hang out with families in TX - mostly single folks. Who knew a a 5-year, 2-year, 17-month, and 15-month-old could all peacefully hang out together? News to me, that's for sure. It is such a refreshing change to be involved with a music program whose employees are selflessly all about kids and family life.


Grocery bags:
Andrew and I found ourselves at Kroger today for the first time since Sierra Mist. I am happy to report that no disguises were necessary... thankfully, no one seemed to remember us. Phew. Anyway, we did the reusable grocery-bag thing. I love this for two reasons: (1) it's good for the environment, (2) the bags have handles and hold more than you would initially believe and are therefore easier to lug into the house after shopping is over. I hate it, also for two reasons, because (1) to use them, you have to remember to get them back into your grocery-getter car, as well as get them into the store after you've loaded up your coupons, purse, and toddler, (2) once you have forgotten them at home (again) you just buy more at the store that day and have now invested about $20 in reusable grocery bags, not counting the ones that are lost in box #162. Ah - a subject in this republican's future post about the challenges of being "green." I've got a lot to say later about recycling, too. I know, I know... you're hanging on the edge of your seat.


Perhaps the real point here is, vote in my poll (top right). It's anonymous, so even if you're one of those delurkers that get my goat, you can vote in the poll and no one will know it was you. Promise.

How about THIS with your morning coffee?

Stumbled upon this girl in the garage this morning as I was searching for box number 152. I'm certainly no entomologist, but am sure it's a black widow. First one I've ever seen "in person." Could've gone a while longer without meeting one. She's still living there as I type, because I was afraid to kill her this morning. That would have involved me getting much closer to her than I really wanted to. Just walked out, got the camera (thank God for zoom) and then left her alone. Needless to say, box number 152 is still lost and today was the last time I will ever venture barefoot into the garage. Do you suddenly feel the sensation of something crawling up your leg? :OP