11/04 - Tinkertoy Birds, rain, and Scrabble

Lil' Gal wanted to make a bird out of Tinkertoys (right), and then Lil' Guy had to have one as well (left).

We got them home from school without being rained upon.

Once the twins were in bed, Grandmother and I started up our Scrabble obsession.  (I won: 356 - 205!)

11/03 - Pine cones that look like roses

We found these cool pine cones on the way to school, and picked up a bunch on the way home.  Now what do we do with them?

Here  here are some nifty art projects -- Lil' Gal with her stick mummy and the spiders she and Lil' guy made at school (his is the cyclops).

Scrabble update: Grandmother and I finished our game from last night.  I won -- 356 to 205.  Can I get a "booya" up in here?

11/02 - Pluto works like a dog

Today, Pluto and I worked hard to get the house ready for our special guest.  First, we cleaned up all the fallen leaves and branches from last night's wind storm.

Then, we waited for the cleaning ladies to come.  After some time went by, we realized -- like the Whos in Whooville -- that no Christmas was coming.  We were a week off in our heads.  So we busted a move and got the house shipshape.

Then, we got a big pile of groceries to feed us and our impending guest.  (Who is it??!)

I got the kids from school in the nick of time, and off we went to the airport to pick up....  Grandmother!  Tada!

I'd like the record to show that I was beating her like crazy in Scrabble until we started falling over from sleepy.    And yes, "felting" is a word.  Thank you.

2/25 - Reader, we ran for the hills

The last time we got away for a weekend together without kids, it was early 2008.  Thanks to our friends, we were able to enjoy a getaway this weekend.

It was much more about the "what" than the "where."  While the rest of the Bay Area was a-flutter about snow flurries, we shuffled off to a cottage in the hills, where we hid out and ate cheese, lolled in the hot tub, and fell into 3-hour naps every time we sat down.  I will credit Mama with the Scrabble win and an impressive bingo on her first turn -- right after I'd triumphantly plunked down "JOCKS" for 52 points and thought I was going to win.  (Her word was TWEEZERS, if you must know. Bingo plus triple word.)

Anyway, here's a picture of cheese.  I cannot recommend the sage derby highly enough.  Or the naps.

2/06 - Francine and HEB the Greater

Grandmother took us to her favorite neighborhood Mexican restaurant.  Uncle Tod got the Super Pechuga and a Mexican Martini that was pretty impressive.

After that, we passed by the lesser H.E.B. in favor of H.E.B. the Greater, which has the power to bend even the time-light continuum.

Then, we had the traditional family Scrabble Smackdown. 

'

Note:
Francine is NOT mealy.  But she may have been lured by a pie.

Ooof.