First Day of School

Today was a milestone for Boomer. He started Kindergarten. He has the new backpack, shirts, shorts, socks, and of course new shoes that make him run even faster than before. He was ready to go at about 7:05, we weren't scheduled to leave the house until 7:45 but he came into our bedroom dressed and ready to go. He had his collar "popped", but decided to go ahead and put it down today so that he wouldn't make his new classmates think that he is "too cool".

Otter has been saying that he is starting school today too, but he still has a little time left before that happens. Grandpa had told him earlier about picking him up from daycare one day when Boomer was at school, so that has been all that he has talked about lately. Grandpa called this morning though and said that he would spend the whole day with Otter. Otter's reaction is below.

I was surprised that I didn't have to hold back as many tears as I did last year when dropping Boomer off. I suppose it's because he's an old pro now and knows where to go, friends to see and hang out with. I can vividly remember bringing him home from the hospital and now here he is going to school. All day, having lunch, recess, all the big kid stuff that he is ready for.

Just not me...not just yet anyway.... aww heck, here come the waterworks

Here She Is!

There she is! Miss S.C. entered the world on August 7, 2008 weighing in at 8lbs, 4 oz and a 20 1/4 inches long. At post time, both mother and baby are doing extremely well and are at home. She got to bond with her current favorite uncle (her other uncle hasn't made the trip to see her yet) for a few minutes the day after she was born. She said she was still a little tired from the move, but is excited at the idea of living with her two older brothers and getting into lots of trouble with them. The proud father taped the morning of her birth and asked everyone if they were excited about S's arrival. Her 4 yr old brother was a bit apprehensive, but once he saw her he was more than ready to bring her home. I'm sure they will be fast friends very soon.

In addition to seeing Miss S, our trip down south was also a mini-Vacation (see Otter above in full vacay mode) so we took the opportunity to visit some of Dallas' attractions. We went to the fair park's aquarium, natural history and science museum and botanical gardens. All were quite impressive and we had a fun and educational time. Ask Boomer and Otter though and all they will talk about is the pool at the hotel and how Boomer had shrimp for the first time (He deduced that it tasted a lot like chicken).

We had a great meal at Pappadeaux, picked up some cupcakes from Sprinkles and made the obligatory visit to Whole Foods. Plus, of course a little bootlegging (time to get with the times Oklahoma- 3.2 sucks!). The trips down south are never long enough, but we are already planning another to take place sometime in October to visit life size dinosaurs and to check out a travelling exhibit of some works by Van Gogh ( a favorite of L*). Plus I am sure we will get all of the boys together for some good quality time as well as sampling some fine Tex-Mex cuisine.

With that dear reader, I leave you with another picture of Otter and his new best friend, Cody.

Went to the movies! And it wasn't rated G!!

For the first time in I don't know how long, L* and I went with some friends for dinner and a real movie. A real movie I said, not Wall-E, Kung-Fu Panda or Horton Hears a Who or anything like that. This movie had real people in it! They didn't have super powers or spoke to flowers, these were real live PEOPLE!!

The dinner was great. We met at an Italian place called Carrabas. L* had a great fettucini alfredo dish, I had the seafood special. Very good stuff although I was a little disappointed by the wine. It was an Estate Clos du Bois Cabernet and I felt it was extremely lacking. It didn't pack a punch at the first sip nor did it cleanse the palate as I am accustomed stronger wines to do. It was however, very drinkable and the bottle was gone fairly quickly- can't let a bottle of wine go to waste no matter what is what I always say.

Now, the Main Event, the Big Kahuna, the MOVIE!! We went and saw.....


just wait for it.....


still waiting.....????


is this annoying yet?????


We saw.....



MAMMA MIA!!!

I first fell in love with the play when L* and I were in Las Vegas a few years ago. It was awesome, people were dancing in the aisles laughing and singing along with the cast. For those not familiar with Mamma Mia (you should be ashamed of yourself), it's a story about a girl who is getting married, doesn't know who her father is, reads her mother's diary, figures it's one of three men she knew one summer, sent invitations to them, so on and so on...blah blah blah. The star of the show is the music. The music is from the Swedish Supergroup...Abba. That's right, Dancing Queen, SOS, Waterloo, Mamma Mia (of course), Voulez-Vous, all the hits you remember. If you don't remember (shame on you), run out and grab a copy of Abba Gold.

To be honest, the acting was awful and the story is less than plausible, but you could see that the actors had as much fun filming the movie as the viewer has watching it. While in the theatre, no one was dancing, but there were plenty of folks singing along and many clapped when the movie was over. When was the last time there was actual applause at the movie theatre??

I laughed so hard I was crying and had just a great time! I can't recommend any higher for you, dear reader, to go see this film. You will walk out of the theatre with a spring in your step while humming Waterloo then Mamma Mia then Take a Chance on Me et al.

First Day on the New Job and WII!!

So today was the first day of the new gig. I was the first one there this morning, which of course I didn't have a key so I had to sit out in the lobby for a bit. Once one of my co-workers arrived, I was shown my desk, computer, cards, camera, briefcase and various other office products. For the first time in quite a while, I don't have work email address, so much for having much else available in the 21st century. Granted some information is available on a computer, most is still done the old fashioned way- pencil (not kidding) and paper.

I didn't get to go out and do any assessing today since the assessor was gone and the person whose position I am taking didn't come in today. So I busied myself looking up various properties and reading manuals. Pretty eventful first day let me tell you.

However, once I got home. L* and the boys had done some shopping. They found a Wii at the local Walmart. The boys were told that once I got home, I would be the one to hook it up so they could play. Nothing like having a 5 and 3 yr old "helping" you with electronics. Fortunately, it wasn't a difficult procedure so we had the games up and running in no time.

Now, I used to work with a person who raves about the Wii. Now I know why. That thing is a lot of fun! It was getting quite addictive. I am going to have to video L* and the boys at bowling, it's too funny. They have perfect form, complete with the full follow through and kicking the leg out to the side. Pretty funny.

No one has beaten good ole Dad though, I'm sure that will change.

Ask a 3 yr old a question? You get what you ask for!

This afternoon while home for lunch from the new job started today. L* asked Otter if *WARNING-IF YOU ARE OFFENDED, DISGUSTED, HAVE A WEAK STOMACH, OR ANYTHING SIMILAR-STOP READING NOW* he had gone to the bathroom and didn't yell for her to come "finish up". Otter paused for a second, then stuck his finger down his pants looked at it and said, "Yep".

That's my boy!