Month Long Hiatus

So, here's what we've been doing in the last month since I posted. Sarah and Katy won their class speech competitions, faced off in an elementary school duel, Sarah won 1st, Katy 2nd, Sarah's friend Savannah third. Sarah went to districts and placed second. She had a great speech. I'm still working on getting the video up and working, so I'll let you know.

We have been busy with the clam shop, surprisingly so for this time of year. Sarah has been working the retail, for the princely sum of five dollars a day, plus tips. Five isn't enough you say? Well, she gets tips like you wouldn't believe. Shawn is like, "Hey, we're trying to teach her the value of a buck and if you give her ten dollars tip, she doesn't get it!" She is having lots of fun doing it though. She definitely prefers the busier times, she hates just hanging around.

We missed the Christmas program this year, as it was the same night as the speech competition. Luckily, Aunt Laura was around to take Isabelle for her performance in Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer. Antlers and glowing nose and all. I was told by several people that she looked so beautiful up there in her hot pink Mrs Claus dress. Gotta love Izzy and her hot pink!

We have also been attending Gator Softball Hitting Camp for six weeks. Twice a week to Gville (75 minutes each way to the stadium). It has been well worth it, as the girls have improved their hitting so much. They both feel so much more confident about getting up to bat. They are looking forward to softball season in a couple months. One of the great parts has been that they practice right after the Lady Gator team, and so the team walks out of the batting cages and the girls walk in! Very cool for them! They both adore the coach, Coy Adkins, who has been wonderful and very patient. I love the fact that they get real one-on-one coaching from someone who knows how to coach it! Only six girls max at each session, so you really get good time in hitting. Lots of fun...

I have been shopping for Christmas, like everyone else. I managed to almost all of mine online, which I love. It's hard to shop with an almost 3-year-old in the cart!

Speaking of Willie, he's a bit under the weather the last couple days, but he has been so great. We never get enough of his talking, he's a real chatterbox these days. He says "hotaponus" for hippopotamus, we all crack up every time. Unfortunately, he has picked up a naughty one, "I'll smack you!" Which, wouldn't be funny, except that he doesn't say s on the front of words so he subs in 'h' so it sounds more like "I'll Hmack you!" It's hard not to laugh. He even says it to daddy. Better watch out, you'll get your mouth washed out with Hoap! :) Despite his naughtiness, he is such a joy to everyone. Just an all around good little guy. He's very interested in everything around him. What's that, what're they doing momma? What happened? Especially in movies or TV. We say, oh he got a booboo (the guy died), oh she's sad (in UP, the lady is all excited about a baby and then loses it), very generic terms. No matter what we say, he either says, "Oh." or repeats what we said in a question, and then wait for us to say yes. He's definitely pretty predictable. He loves all things dinosaur, especially T Rex and Triceratops. Every night Momma asks Willie where T Rex is today, he tells me (the park, the beach, in the backyard, in an airplane, even one time he said T Rex and the dirty diaper--yup, potty training story came out of that one) and I make up a story where "Once upon a time, there lived a boy named..." and he says Willie (Widdie). "Willie was a good little boy, and he had a very good friend named..." and he says T Rex. "Willie and T Rex were the best of friends, and they did everything together." And then we weave a most incredible story where Willie and T Rex have some kind of adventure, always ended by T Rex having a sleepover, where Willie and T Rex go up the stairs (chchchchch) around the bed (chchchchch)into Willie's room (creeeeak) and jump in the bed (bang!). Usually Momma has to scold T Rex for taking all the covers. At the end, Momma gives T Rex and Willie their goodnight blessing, and then I say, "And T Rex says good night Willie. And Willie says..." and he says goodnight T Rex "And Momma says good night Willie." I close the door and he is asleep in under ten minutes. It works like a charm! Whatever works, right? One of his presents for Christmas is a "Moon in My Room", which is very cool. I'm sure we will be incorporating that in to the story really soon. Like, tonight.

Izzy and Katy have been rollerskating on the sidewalk almost every day. They play with their friends across the street and have such a good time. Katy asked if I could buy her the house two doors down for a clubhouse. Gee, dear, that would only be a $300,000 clubhouse! She explained that both she and Izzy, and probably Sarah :) would give me their money toward it. I said, that's about $200 dollars and that would only pay the electric for one month! Doesn't deter her from dreaming about it. Speaking of dreaming, Katy also wants a horse for Christmas. Hope Santa uses good judgement on that one! Please don't bring her a horse! She doesn't even like to walk the dog anymore! :)

Well, time to get ready to go to Gville. Gill Family is having a big Christmas Eve shindig at Mildred's. With 25 people, none of us felt up to hosting this time around. We're looking forward to seeing everyone, eating out, and then NOT DOING ANY DISHES! Woohoo for restaurants! Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a joyous New Year. We'll be on vacation in St Augustine for the 26th-Jan 2nd, nice big fancy house on the beach So I know we'll be having fun! Christmas cards have been done for a while, just waiting till everyone's face is well for pictures. Willie ran into a nail and gouged his cheek pretty good (lucky it didn't get his eye) and then as he is healing, Sarah got hit while swinging by a flying hard bouncy ball (bloody nose and nice yellow-green bruising on both sides, last day of school! Argh) so expect your card in January. It'll just stand out from that crowd that much more, right? Enjoy everyone! See you in 2010!

Mr. Handsome -- Again.

Lord, how did I get so lucky?!

Out And About...

Here are the M&M's!

Savannah Howard, Emily Smith, Sarah Stephenson, Katy Stephenson, Ariel Alexander

Notice the four fingered gloves, that really threw them for a loop! :)

Just starting out, and already being held!

Gators, A Princess, and Candy, Oh My!

Last night we trick-or-treated downtown, riding around in the back of Daddy's truck. After a few of our yearly stops, we walked downtown with our friends, the Smiths, and the Howards. It was way too hot for Halloween. We were sweaty and William was fussy, requiring Shawn and I to carry him the entire time. The kids, despite the heat, had a grand time, and loved the attention they all got in their costumes.

Willie was an alligator, GO GATORS! (Nice win over the Dogs, yo! Too bad SOMEONE had to schedule it on Halloween, right when we absolutely could not watch it! Oh well, I'm just happy they won--and won big! :) )

Isabelle was Ariel, the Little Mermaid. She's got the hands on hip thing going FO SHO!

Sarah was a blue M&M, idea courtesy of Momma.

Katy was a yellow M&M. We met the OTHER M&M's downtown.

Pumpkin Carving

We bought two big pumpkins from the local church pumpkin patch. Katy and Sarah helped poke the holes for the patterns, Momma did most of the carving with a worn out pumpkin carving saw. Next year I'm getting the Dremel pumpkin carver. My hand still wants to cramp up!

Sarah's pattern was a witch conjuring up a ghost out of her cauldron, Katy's was a haunted house with tree and two bats.

Having fun...

Poking away...

Concentration...

Finished product to be shown later. We only lit them for about five minutes after we got back from trick or treating. I went to bed, POOPED!

Yes, I'm In Contempt, Big Time!

Ok, I've finally seen the light. I've always wondered how people can get themselves cited for contempt of court. Just "cliente la boca"--that is, SHUT YOUR MOUTH!

Ha.

I found that I could not shut my mouth.

You see, I am managing the rental houses that we sold in December for the new owners, as they are dealing with some serious health issues. They also live on the East Coast of Florida, travel frequently, and she is an airline stewardess. Needless to say, some doofy house in Yankeetown is not going to be high on the "I want to show up there" list. A current tenant, who shall for our purposes be named Joe, had not paid rent for May and June, and currently has October due as well. He made a partial payment when I threatened eviction, but still owes $1400. I filed the papers for eviction, giving evidence of my lease with him, his formal notice of nonpayment, and my notarized statement of my position as landlord's agent for the property. All were accepted, along with a $195 check for "filing fee". The court date was set, and two weeks later, we arrive at today.

I arrive at quarter to one, with a court time of 1 pm. We are informed at 1:15 there will be a delay. Indefinite delay. An hour goes by, an hour and half, Sarah (who was with me) and I were making games out of counting the tiles on the floor. Finally, at 2:49 pm, we go into the courtroom. He was a stone-faced geezer (I can say that now) who was in a "no crap here" kind of mode. I explain why I'm there, wait for him to speak. He takes my paperwork, says there will be a short recess. I'm thinking, well, maybe he has diarrhea?! I could certainly understand getting up and leaving abruptly. So Sarah and I joke with the bailiff a bit, he asks her questions about school, Nintendo DS, etc. Finally, about ten minutes later, the stone-faced judge returns. Without looking at me or anyone else in the room, he says, in a pretty quiet voice, case dismissed. I was like, WHAT?! But instead, I said, I beg your pardon? He says, you have no real interest in the property and cannot file this claim. I say, well, I did bring the notarized statement allowing for me to represent the owner and I am also the landlord on the lease. He says, case dismissed, we are adjourned. I say, I am simply managing the property for the owner who is having a bone marrow transplant and won't be able to appear in court for at least two months. He says sternly, We are adjourned, you don't have real interest in the property and this is the wrong venue for the claim. I say, and yes, I did actually say, That's ridiculous! I am the landlord's agent and the tenant needs to be removed for nonpayment to the owner. (Joe did not show up, of course.) He says, WHAT did you say to me? DID you SAY something to me? (breaking his stone-face for the first time). I said, I am simply asking a question, since you say it is the wrong venue, where should it be filed and by whom? If it's been wrongly filed, I'd like to know where to file it and who should do the filing?! He says, I don't have time to be your legal advice. WE ARE ADJOURNED. I say, You are a sorry old bastard who should have retired years ago to do who knows what since I guarantee no family is around your sorry A** because you are a nasty, no good, bastard of a judge! Ok, I didn't say that part, but I was thinking it for sure, and if I had, no doubt contempt would've been on it's way and I'da been sittin' my sorry butt in jail for the night. Contempt of Court? YOU BET I HAVE IT!

So gee, I wonder how people who live in Canada and rent their house in Florida evict someone? Or people who are 90 and can't move? Or people who, I don't know, WORK and have rentals as a SIDE BUSINESS!? Oh, the things I would like to have said to him. Sarah's comment as we walked out? "Gee, Momma, I don't think he liked you too much!" I said, "You're definitely right about that, but the feeling was mutual." "What's mutual?" she said. I said, "I thought he was a big jerk-wadder, too." (Thanks Jonny, I love that jerk-wadder word.)

Anyhow, for all you non-court people like I used to be:

THAT, MY FRIENDS, IS HOW YOU END UP IN CONTEMPT!

I really ought to just "cliente la boca."

Mmm, Red Velvet Cake

Since my kids always have chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, I decided for my 36th birthday, it was time to try something new. So I turned to Cook's Illustrated (again) and pulled out this pretty little number. Red Velvet Cake. A true classic, even for us Northern transplants. It could win over any sane person, no matter how thick your blood might be.

Look! It's not a lopsided wonder! My first truly straight and even with no cutting cake. Phew.

Lot of thick cream cheese frosting held up by two very even layers! It can be done!

And two bottles of red food coloring later, VOILA! Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. Drool, or forever hold your peace.


Truly, it was moist and delicious. Sorry to make everyone so jealous. Ok, I'm not.

I got a grill for my birthday! Woohoooo! My current one flares up like a self-contained volcano. No kidding. The carcinogens in our systems are adding up exponentially with each meal. And since I do all the grilling (Shawn can't be trusted to arrive home ON TIME on any given day), it was a perfect present. Plus, Sarah wrote me a song about turning 36 (ouch) to the tune of "Don't You Want Me". Most amusing. All right, off to bed, I'm pooped and Izzy's whining like a banshee and frankly, I have no idea what she is saying, but it MUST be asking to go to bed, right?!

Goofy

The best thing about the Japanese garden was this supersteep bridge, it makes a perfect circle in the water's reflection.

After the Academy area, we headed to Chinatown for our last evening. We ate a fabulous dinner (and cheap, too!) till we were stuffed. Shawn mentioned how much he liked the "kung poo" dinner as we were walking up a steep hill and I laughed for three blocks or more. I could hardly walk, being so full and laughing so hard all at the same time! We bought some souvenirs for the kids, and went to drop off the rental car. We got back to the hotel and hardly slept at all (thanks to Shawn's tossing and turning). After getting up at 4:30 am, we headed for the airport. We arrived back in Cedar Key at 8:15 that night! A long day, but a most enjoyable trip. We were so happy to see our little ones again! Nanny and Laura went home, both thanking their lucky stars that they didn't have to care for four kids anymore! And so, all is back to normal. Work, sleep, play, kids. Someday we'll take the kids and show them where we went in person!

Cal Academy of Science

We visited the newly redone Academy of Science, one in a whole block and then some of art museums, japanese tea gardens, aquarium, planetarium, etc.

This little guy kept posing for me.

And it was there, in the bathroom stall of that wonderful place, that I found my new favorite saying--and my new favorite hand dryer--they were turbo dryer, dip your hands inbetween two plastic pieces, pull out slowly and VOILA, they're dry. Wow, can I get one for my kitchen, Shawn?

The Japanese tea garden was pretty, but frankly, Shawn and I both were bored. I guess we're not too cultural these days. We were happy to move on to the next thing...

Muir Woods

Happy to be out of the car, I guess? I swear he had not been drinking.

You can't imagine how impressive these trees are -- you have to see them to know!

Blurry but cute

Shawn and I both loved Muir Woods, it's one of our favorite places ever.

And Back...

The Lone Cypress

Dashboard view of Golden Gate Bridge

View right after GGBridge

Shawn's position for a good portion of the trip. He would NOT relinquish that steering wheel. As usual.

Pebble Beach

Shawn in the kelp

It ain't called Pebble Beach for nuthin'

We liked this crazy place for tee practice, see the patch of grass on the outcropping of rock?!

Welcome to Monterey!

After a long drive down the coast, we arrived at Monterey just in time for dinner at the Fisherman's Wharf.

I liked this fella

Our appetizer left us too full, Calamari! But huge pieces unlike you get here..our kids would have been in heaven!
We ate at Sand Spit Bar and Grill on the pier, as recommended by one of our San Fran contacts. I had cioppino, Shawn had sand dabs.

The bay with sailboats that go out every Wednesday evening from the Yacht Club.

All the boats moored for the evening

Down US 1

After San Fran, we headed south down U.S. Highway 1, a scenic drive directly on the coast. I had been there before with Grandma Gill back in college when she and I went to Yosemite and other California sites together. Unfortunately for Shawn, it was terribly foggy and he couldn't see squat. :) He kept saying, Wow, this IS fabulous dear, I can see why you loved it! By midday though, it had cleared up beautifully and the coastline was as pretty as I remembered! Shawn thought it was incredible, too.

Here we are at Pelican Point Lighthouse? I think I've forgotten the name already. Geez I'm old.

The kiteboarders were awesome to watch, we loved it.

What an adorable

We weren't the only one taking in the view that day