Pics From Paradise

We didn't get a lot of good pictures at the beach this year. I suppose that part of the reason was that we were constantly either chasing or lugging children around, but that's a bit of a copout. I fear the novelty of the blog is wearing off - not that I'm losing interest in posting, but the inspiration it gave me to do a better job with pictures is fading.

I did want to document that Sophie has one of the cutest little bathing suits in the history of mankind, and also that she didn't like the sand. Thank goodness for the beach blanket and that she was somewhat entertained by banging around an empty or near-empty bucket and sand shovel. Once that activity got old, she was either crying or looking miserable and drifting off to sleep in my lap.



Will, on the other hand, was pretty enthusiastic about the sand and the beach in general, which was nice to see!

Now that Sophie's turned one, we've decided to let her start wearing makeup. Next year maybe we'll get her a perm and teach her to shave her legs.
I had to post this picture just to show I don't always look as weird as in the one above.

-Kathy

The Scarecrow and The Mouse

We're getting a lot of mileage out of the Halloween costumes this year. Friday night we went to the Holman's annual Halloween bash. Our kids were the only people dressed up this year, but that's OK. They didn't really notice and they're much too young to be embarrassed anyway.

Saturday night was our church's Trunk or Treat. Will cleaned up BIG TIME (when the candy bucket is too heavy for you to carry, it may mean it's time to stop!) while Sophie helped Daddy distribute candy to others. A great time was had by all. And we still have "actual" Halloween to look forward to!

Thanks to Grandmom for the mouse suit and to Weston Sharpe for the scarecrow!

P.S. Sophie took 14 Sequential Staggering Steps at Trunk or Treat, obliterating her old record of 4 SSS's.

P.P.S. I can't sign off on this post without sharing my thankfulness that this year's Halloween experience is shaping up differently from last year's. Last year Andy and Will went to Trunk or Treat alone while I spent Day 3 with 6-week-old Sophie at Vanderbilt during her RSV scare. Here are a couple of photos from last year's Trunk or Treat day:


God is so good and what a difference a year makes!

One (or two) small steps for Rof-kind

So Soph-a-Rof is finally figuring out that she too is meant to travel vertically on only two legs. We've thought she was on the verge of walking for a couple of months, but I guess it took her a while to realize that this accomplishment was within her grasp. A few nights ago, Andy and I started standing her up in between us and watching her Step-Step-Fall into the other parent's arms. Now comes the really fun part where we "catch" her taking off on her own. Her little grin of excitement and delight when she takes a few steps is incomparably more rewarding than the attainment of the milestone. She gets it.

Sometimes I think she understands way too much. Today we were at the mall, kids in their side-by-side double stroller while I trolled the sale racks. Will was asleep (hallelujah!) and reclined, while Sophie happily pulled at whatever merchandise was within her reach. She soon tired of that and I saw a mischievious look in her eye. Without warning, she lunged for The Sleeping Giant's hands. "No Soph!" I exclaimed. She looked at me and grinned and scrunched her little nose in classic Sophie fashion. Then a moment later, POW! Another grab at Will's hands! "No ma'am!" Then... "Unh! Unh!" accompanied by outstretched arms and writhing.

Translation: "OK, Mom... I'm bored. I can either wake up Brother and watch the havoc this will create for you, which is sure to entertain, or you can pick me up and hold me while you shop. It's your choice."

Of course, I chose the latter.

Score one more for the Soph-a-Rof.

The Real Deal (Warning: Preachy real estate post to follow)

(This post is from back in June, but since I haven't had a chance to compose anything in a few days, I thought I might as well publish it now...)

Does anyone else watch all those real estate rehab shows on TLC, HGTV, etc.? We can't resist watching them. We applaud those shows, few and far between, that show realistic profits and follow stories to the end. A deal isn't a deal until you've both left the closing table, and the TV shows often show gross profits before holding costs, closing costs and real estate commissions, which makes the business look like much easier money than it is!

When Richard and the Trademark Properties gang were on Flip This House, we thought they were pretty good. However, the show became increasingly annoying as it began to seem that silly incidents were engineered for the show, and there was a dramatic decrease in actual educational content. (Oh, and don't even get me started about the next company they profiled, the Ultra-Shady Montelongos. That's a whole separate post.)

Now, Trademark Properties has its very own show called "The Real Deal". Richard's current M.O. seems to consist of 1) talking in circles with the intonation of a cheesy motivational speaker, 2) distracting his employees from getting actual work done and 3) busting things up just for fun.

On Sunday Andy and I were working at Durrett. We were talking about how we needed to resell the vanity, sink and mirror we took out of the bathroom. I was pulling up scalloped landscaping bricks and we were trying to figure a productive use for them, especially since they are heavy and kind of a pain to get rid of. Might we be able to powerwash them and sell them on Craigslist? Might we be able to give them away in their current state? When I accidentally broke one, I was a little sad to see something of value destroyed (well, actually I was more upset to see more trash created that would have to be disposed of!).

We're far from experts and I'm not suggesting that focusing on minutiae is wise. But I submit to you that in contrast to Richard, we (along with thousands of other investors) are the real deal. Real investors don't tear things up for fun. They don't spend their time making meaningless speeches. They work hard and make hard decisions about what to utilize, what could be utilized by others, and what needs to be disposed of, and especially what to do, what to hire out, and what not to do.

Oh, and we've yet to throw each other in a pool even ONCE while on the job!

Caucasian Shashlik

http://www.candyboots.com/wwcards.html

You guys should really check out the site above featuring Weight Watchers recipe cards from the 1970s. My brother Vic forwarded it to me and I found it to be quite hilarious. Of course, it WAS the last week before my royalties were due out so I may have been a bit hysterical. But my favorite recipe has to be the Caucasian Shashlik. I can't wait to try that one out!

(You have to notice the titles on the blue header bar at the top of each window... some of the funniest comments are there.)

Playin' It Safe

I don't know if you guys remember, or if you even saw the commercial, but I grew up under the instruction of Larry the Lightning Bug (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtoQbXzNqkg), who explained that "You Gotta Play It Safe Around Electricity!" I'm not sure Larry would approve of our breakfast area.



Apparently we have a budding electrician in our family. Will spends hours with unused construction outlets, plugging in any appliance he can find and pretending to use it. His collection includes a small crock-pot, a can opener, a battery charger, a pre-lit jack-o-lantern, several fans and vacuum cleaners and three curling irons.

While this looks pretty dangerous, he has been extremely trustworthy and completely understands that he cannot plug anything into the wall. He begs us interminably to plug things in for him, but he will not violate this important rule. However, although the risk of electric shock is low, the risk of tripping and falling is great!

Southlake, Day... um... 53?

By the time I post pictures of the Southlake house, they are out of date, but this is a good thing!

You may notice a subtle difference in the house's exterior...

Ta-Da! Awesome new cabinets. (I have to add that they have crown molding on them now, not yet pictured. I am a firm believer in crown molding above cabinets!)
Just because we think they're pretty, the countertops are shown below. They were not yet installed and just sitting up against the wall when the picture was taken. We use so many of the same tried-and-true products and colors in our remodels, it was exciting to try a new countertop pattern!
Bathroom vanity. Woo-hoo! (But next time, please wipe your hands.)
Living room...
Since the pictures were taken, besides the cabinet crown molding, much of the other trim has been installed. The shutters are up. Most of the light fixtures are in, minus a couple we haven't purchased yet. (There's a long and sordid tale about a missed opportunity on a demo ceiling fan from Lowe's that was supposed to go in the dining room, but I won't get into that now. The wound's still fresh.)

Still to do: Finish electrical and trim. Paint trim. Refinish hardwoods. Tile bathroom and grout both bathrooms and kitchen. Plumbing trim-out. Andy's not here right now or I'm sure the list could continue.