Our New Best Friend

"BEFORE"

"DURING" Note helpful plumbing partner armed with screwdriver.

"AFTER"


After months of helpful suggestions I finally acquiesced and delivered a brand new Whirlpool Quiet Partner III home. The old dishwasher still worked, but was 20+ years old and just not getting the job done like it used to. A wash cycle took nearly four hours, and a conversation or watching TV while she was running, forget it. And we can also say she wasn't adding much charm to the kitchen with her good looks. I spent a rainy afternoon yesterday teaching myself how to install a dishwasher, and after a couple minor oops and a couple more trips to the hardware store the QPIII is running like a champ.

For Sale: One gently used Whirlpool dishwasher. Runs great. Black. Has all plumbing, ready to install. Free, you haul.

Flickr Update Autumn and Cedar

I've updated the flickr site with more pics of the girls. Recent trips to the beach and a hot tub party are some of the highlights. Cedar is really starting to get more active. She's reaching for us and holding on to her dolls. Autumn is getting to be more and more a big girl every day. Potty training is the current big event for her. She gets more gummy bears and M&M's every day.

Conversations With Autumn

Me: Autumn, are you ever going to date boys that drive vans?
Autumn: NO!!!
Me: What if a boy wants to kiss you?
Autumn: NO WAY!!! Yucky.

"Damma an Dampa"

Grandma and Grandpa came to visit last week. They lavished as much love on the girls as they could muster in such a short visit. I'm sure they enjoyed seeing me and Amy, but I think we were in their peripheral vision compared with Autumn and Cedar. Check out many more photos from their trip on flickr.

Dear Cedar...

I was appalled when mom showed me this bunny suit she purchased just for you. I told your mom I thought it was hideous. Paws, floppy ears, even a tail. Kid torture. I told her, maybe, big maybe, just for Halloween. But she forgot and just had to show Grandma. It was as much of a monstrosity as I imagined it would be. You hated it too. So I was just writing to apologize. I tried to save you, but couldn't this time.

Love, Dad.

Nice Buck!

Recently I was watching a hunting show on the Outdoors Channel. A big white-tailed deer flashed across the screen. Autumn ran into the room pointing and yelling, "Nice buck! nice buck!" A while later the show was showing a dall sheep hunt. There was a group of 7-8 rams on the screen. Autumn walked in, looked them over, specifically pointed to the biggest mature ram in the group and declared, "Nice buck!" I had to put a ratchet strap around my chest to keep it from swelling too much with pride.

Where is she learning this stuff?

At The Airport With Tom

My dad is the first to admit, if you sit down next to him, you're fair game. So recently at the airport he and mom had a long layover and were siting in the food court killing time. A gentleman sits down next to dad. He's attired in full western wear: hat, boots, big belt buckle. Dad looks him up and down and says "I see you've got the hat and boots. Ever been on a horse?

Turns out the man was from Arizona, grew up on a ranch and was very familiar with horses. He and dad engaged in a long discussion of many horse related topics. If it had been me at the airport, most likely all I would have learned about him was that he liked to wear western clothes.