Frugality vs. Stupidity...

We are getting a new fence along the side of our house where rickety evergreens used to patrol. We hired a company to install said fence, assuming that it was a touch over our heads. When the sales-dude came to have us sign papers and nail down details we told him that we could demo the old fence ourselves... save some dough. "Great! No problem. Just make sure you remove the posts, and remove the cement base of at least the first post. If our guys have to take it out they will have to charge you by the hour for that work."* They will be here on Tuesday.

Thursday Bob and Michael were kind enough to take down the old fence while I made dinner. Easy peasy. When they got to the posts they looked a bit worried and started asking me for tools that I do not have.** "I'll dig them out this weekend," someone who sounded remarkably like me said, "let's eat."

Yesterday, suffering slightly from an overwrought Tequila Friday, I pushed off the task to today. This morning, after running six miles***, I got to work. I dug. And dug. And scraped, and pulled, and swore. I think I lost three pounds from the sweating, on top of the four I lost running. At one point I was sitting on the ground, in a pile of wet clay, digging with the back of a claw hammer. Two hours later Michele and I finally pulled a clump of cement the size of our daughter out of the ground... literally...I need to find better places to save money in the future.

* This should have been my first clue, but it turns out I'm an idiot.
** Second clue because these guys are both much more capable and patient than I.
*** Brilliant!!!

Those people...

Have you ever driven by a hotel/motel and seen those people sitting outside their room, in the parking lot for all intents and purposes, drinking beer? Well, it turns out, we're those people.

We packed up and left Leland Sunday afternoon to head down the coast to Grand Haven to hang out with some friends up from Texas. The drive was pleasant. As soon as we checked in to our hotel the heavens opened up. It was like a really big budget version of a terrible Kirk Cameron, straight to DVD, over the top movie... and we were left behind. The rain pelted the door, and the wind was strong enough to not only topple a tree within our view but also knock out the power.

So we hung out. And hung out. The kids played. The kids went to bed (no small feat by candle light). And the adults were left to sit in the parking lot, swilling beers and being taunted by the lights twinkling across the street at another hotel. But, damned if it wasn't fun. The power came on eventually and we went sleepy-time.

Next morning we were up and out the door, headed for the beach. I think we were the first ones there and so had the pick of spots. Alex immediately started following Hudson and Zoe around like a homesick puppy. She had a blast staring at baby Levi,

playing with the kids, and being buried alive by her uncle Michael (who just happened to be in town with Max and Cheri so they could meet up with the rest of the rabble).

Max, of course, chose a more solitary endeavor... contemplating life's little foibles and solving all the world's problems... his health care reform bill will be ready for review later this week.

Life... as it should be...

We took a long weekend this week and visited a couple groups of friends... first stop, Leland. After much promising, we visited our friends Tom & Phyllis at their beautiful home up north. We had a blast and started the process of relaxing. We arrived Friday evening and just hung out and puttered around Leland checking out the sites. It was Art Walk and so the town was buzzing and the stores/galleries were pouring free wine... yum...
We got up Saturday morning and, after an amazing home cooked breakfeat, settled in for more down time. We chilled, read, napped, shopped, went to a couple vineyards and ended the day with another fantastic meal thanks to Tom...
Sunday... another great breakfast, and then it was out on the lake. Alex loved it. She was excited about seeing so much aqua, ecstatic over every boat, loved the speed and even got a chance to drive!


Then it was off to Grand Haven for more adventure (details pending). Thanks Mendenhalls!!!

I can assure you...

... there were no better looking toddlers at the farmer's market this morning.

Papa...

I think that my parenting style probably comes across as nonchalance. A curious indifference delivered with a watchful eye. I try to let her feel out the world for herself. To learn the lessons that life has to teach. To let her bump her head, when a bump is the best tool to teach. I feel compelled to compel her to independence. I think about how my actions today will bear fruit when she is 5, or 14, or 30... when she is a teenager, a student, a mother.

Then there are times like just now... nap time. She knows it's nap time, and had no problem with the story, the song, the crib until I left. Then she stood in her bed sobbing, "Papa, papa, papa." She knew she had to sleep, wanted to sleep, but just needed this one time to fall asleep in my arms. My instinct is to leave her. To let her figure it out. And I did... for a while. And then that voice creeped in the back of my head saying, "how much longer will she want to sleep in your arms?"

So I picked her up, and she drifted off, and I may have ruined her... but that's okay, because she ruined me a long time ago and I will always have those five minutes with her in my arms.

Naked baby...

Every night when Alex finishes her bath (and Max too when he bathes with his cousin) there is a very distinct calendar of events. There is the undressing and taking the clothes to the hamper. Getting out the bubbles. Yadda, yadda, yadda. But one of the last steps, the one between drying off and getting on PJs, is easily the favorite... naked baby time.

Following the toweling off there is a knowing smirk... a twinkle in the little eyes. She looks sideways at her bath technician and, cheeks pulled to their limits by a smile, says "naked baby?". Then the race is on. Running, sans clothes, out of the bathroom and toward the living room screaming, looking for an adult. Our part (that is whoever happens to be at the house) is to yell, "Oh no, it's a naked baby! How did you get so naked?!?". Laughter, the likes of which you have never seen. Running, laughing, climbing on people. Naked baby time, while odd, is the most joyous of the day.

While I will spare the future angst-ridden teenage Alex by not posting a full video of naked baby time (you'll have to be at our house around 7pm for the show), I submit for your perusal this half naked, post potty escape as a prelude to the Full Monty...

All good...

Michele, her boobies and I went to see the oncologist on Tuesday to review the results of her recent mammogram. Everything is clear!! Yay!

Zero concerns. Deep breath. Happy, happy, happy.

Additionally, since our dag nabbed insurance is no longer accepted by any of Michele's doctors, the oncologist saw us for free... how cool is that? Who says we need health care reform?