7/30 - Say cheese, Z!

Grandmother and Aunt Patty hanker for a hunka cheese.  Everything's bigger in Texas, right?

Z tried to chat up an old bird, but Rooster was not impressed with the antics of today's youth.

He took an armadillo ride while I packed for the airport. Giddy up!  We are on our way home.

Z wonders if we'll go by steampunk spaceship.  We saw this contraption at the Austin airport. Cool, right?  I'll call from my layover in PHX. Love you!

We liked the airplane carpet at PHX.  Snazzy!

There was a "meltdown on the luggage carousel" at OAK, but we eventually got my suitcase back and are now home again, home again, jiggity jog.

7/29 - Z and I say Zzzzzzzzzzzz

We had lunch with Toody (aka Mildred) today.  She says, "Hola!"

Later, we got a few sundries at Big Lots.  Beware the tiki!  (Don't worry -- Z was OK. It was a supervised mauling.)

Martha stopped by to check out Grandmother's new digs and really liked the new place.  She helped us find the guest towels and made a big dent in the living room boxes.  AND she has the same name as our favorite talking dog.

Here's Z hanging out in the Lamp Ghetto.

Ironically, Grandmother hates this little DIY bar, but I tricked it out with her knick-knacks anyway.

I'm declaring victory on the living room.

Dining room is soooo close.  All that's left are the hall closet and Grandmother's room.  (I consider the garage out of scope.)  I will also take full credit for making her computer almost fast enough to be considered contemporary.  And now, at 2am Austin time, I'm going to keel over.  Goodnight, moon.

7/28 - Z gets domestic goddess lessons

Aunt Patty stopped by with ridiculous amounts of food (thank you!) and some presents for the twins. 

Z got some housekeeping lessons from Grandmother's resident Domestic Goddess while we continued unpacking.  My goal was to get the kitchen done today, Texas heat be gol-darned.  (Tip: Avoid crawling into kitchen cabinets to clean and line them, if at all possible.)

Here is a shot of some of our unpacked boxes.  Normally, I would have tallied the sheets of paper we unwrapped from Grandmother's treasures and smoothed and refolded for giveaway, but let's just agree to call it "a lot."  OK?

I am calling victory on the kitchen.  We have 90% of it put away and have multiple clear surface areas.  This is better than my house any day...

7/27 - Z says "Move 'em up! Head 'em out!"

Z(ebra) and I are off to Austin, to help my mother unpack her new house.  Funny how this sounds like a vacation to me...  Here we are at the airport, missing the kids already.

Here is one of our pilots.  Sorry the picture is blurry, but we didn't want to hold up the boarding queue.

Time to buckle in!

Grandmother and Jason were happy to see me at box central.

All the frilly curtains must come down.  Here is Z with what I call the "wings of Zeus" curtain tie-backs.  Yeesh.

7/26 - Periwinkle is almost camouflaged

Today, I went to a "kindergarten readiness meeting for parents" at the twins' school.  Ready?  We are more than ready...

I've enjoyed my little vacation, spending time with the family, puttering around the house.  Why yes, I *am* organizing my sock drawer.  Gotta find a spot for my stripey sock collection!

Tomorrow, my toy helper du jour and I will head off to Austin to help Grandmother unpack her new house.  Wish us air conditioning!

7/25 - Cap'n Hook turns fashion police

Cap'n Hook was in charge of today's shopping expedition.  Avast!  Gather up ye keys, gums, and lists!

We were in search of shorts and warm-weather tops for my impending trip to Austin to help Grandmother unpack her new house.  Looks like the Cap'n approves of my selections.

David sent us this picture of his race car running a wee bit off course.

The twins enjoyed yesterday's family bike ride so much that they asked for another ride non-stop today.  Mama and I had to get ourselves geared up (heh) for it, but it was well worth the effort.

7/22 - Glow-in-the-Dark Penguin finds love

Glow-in-the-Dark Penguin (today named "Pengui") and I went to get our hair did during the day.  Because we are footloose and fancy free for a whole week!  Woot!  Pengui found a friendly snowperson.

Then Ally gave him a smooch and me a cute short haircut.  Awwww.

7/21 - Princess P. and a pile of pirates

We packed a pack of pirates, and I'll bring them home tonight.  (Yes, you can play with Pirate Island.  That was a present from Wanda.  Say "Thank you, Wanda!")

We went to lunch with Shawn (not pictured) and had a bunch of delicious Mexican food.  Princess P. says, "Holy Guacamole!"  El NOM!

In other news, today was my last day of employment at the company where I worked for the past 13 years.  That's a baker's dozen of meetings, folks.  I have next week off, and will spend part of it helping Grandmother unpack at her new house.  And then, my minions will see all kinds of new stuff at my new job.  El wow.

7/20 - Blue makes Charlotte dance

When Charlotte heard Blue's song, she did a little dance in her seat.  :)

Blue is tickling Pirate Snoopy.  He giggles and says "Stop!"

How long have I been at my job that THESE are lurking in a drawer?  Wow.

Goodbyes are hard, but we still had fun.

7/19 - Froggy's flock of friends

Sorry the picture turned out blurry.  :(  The penguins were friendly, though!

Froggy also made friends with a one-eyed pirate.  Yarrrribbit!

7/18 - Lizzie finds fascinating flora and fauna

Lovely little Lizzie loves flowers.

Look at the giant cherry we found!!  NOM!

Here we are at the doctor's office, hoping for antibiotics.  (We got a consolation prize of 2 inhalers instead.  Feh.)

On the way back to the car, we saw a momma turkey and her baby.  The silly turkeys hopped onto the bench at the bus stop.  Do you think the bus driver will let them on?  (Insert joke about all the turkeys on public transit here.)

7/15 - Eddie and Freddie meet the new guy

This is Mike, the new guy on Mommy's (soon to be former) team.

Here's Eddie skiiing down Notebook Hill...

I started this position in October 2008.  From then until now, I've used 34 notebooks.  33 of them are in this recycling bin.  I think that works out to about 1 notebook/month.  Aren't I a prolific note-taker?

7/14 - Scottie likes a drink now and then

We are all about keeping hydrated here at work.

Apparently, we are also all about keeping Mommy busy in her last 2 weeks at this job!  Between market conditions generating a lot of work for me, and answering all the emails responding to my announcement that I'm leaving, there was no time for toys!  :(

When I told the twins I had a new job, their faces fell.  "You mean you won't live with us anymore?"  Poor babies.  I told them it just meant I would go off to work like I always do, but I'll go to a new building and work with new people.  And the toys will get to see all kinds of new things!  That perked them up.  (Phew!)

7/13 - Lizzie finds a good camouflage spot

Nobody will find her on this parking meter!

Lizzie found the emergency numbers.  Do you guys remember what they are?  (Don't dial them!)

Check it out! Twins Week on Rookie Moms!

7/12 - Snickle Fritz haz a snuggie

He thought Linda's knitting made a nice little nest!

Our favorite Greek Goddess Salad is back!  We forgot to say "no onions."  Still: Yum!!