Deep in the Heart of Texas

You know how they say that when your husband is gone, that’s when everything breaks?  It is so true!!  When Dave was in Houston a couple months ago, that’s when I broke the water pipe in the back yard.  What I didn’t mention is that the phone and computer were going out at the same time so I could barely make the phone call to the water company because of all the static on the line.  It eventually died and the phone company “fixed” it.

 

Well, this month Dave has been in Corpus Christi.  Last Thursday we were on our way to Nora’s dance class when the van died.  My wonderful, reliable, not very old van died.  We were on the highway and there was a pop.  I heard it and felt the give in the gas pedal at the same time.  The power was gone, the engine light came on and then all the lights came on.  I changed lanes as soon as the pop happened and then put my hazards on when I realized I had no power.  No power steering or brakes.   For those familiar with the area,  I was on the 151 just past the last exit before you hit the 1604.  We coasted around the corner onto the 1604 access road and barely made it into the Home Depot parking lot.  There was one point turning into the parking lot that I thought I’d have to jump out and push but we made it.  I cannot tell you the relief I had when I realized I wouldn’t have to get my kids out of the van and walk along the side of the highway to a phone.  That would have been awful. 

 

So the people at Home Depot were wonderful.  They let me use the phone, helped me find the nearest repair shop, and gave the girls a healthy supply of paper to color on while I made a ton of phone calls.  Colin fell asleep in the stroller which was a blessing too. 

 

We got it towed to a Firestone just across the way so we could walk to it.  The Firestone people gave us a ride home and Friday morning decided they couldn’t fix it so it was towed to the nearest Toyota dealer but they wouldn’t be able to look at it until late Friday. 

 

We were supposed to go to Corpus this weekend - our last weekend to go while Dave was out there.  That plan was shot and we were homebound until 6pm Monday when they got it fixed. 

 

This last couple weeks I guess the house has settled or something because the doors upstairs aren’t able to close anymore.  Doors that I need to have closed.  Specifically the bathroom and office doors to keep Colin out of those rooms.  As it was, he pulled something out of the back of the CPU box and I didn’t have sound on the computer speakers for a few days until I mentioned in to my brother on the phone and he figured out the problem.  Then this morning (Monday morning) the power was out for maybe an hour and when it came back on, the phone is starting to go out again.  It’s a reoccurring problem so I recognize the signs but really, did it have to start today?!!!

 

 I just want Dave to come home so everything will work again. 

Nora has been taking dance this last year.  It’s her first time and she’s enjoyed it for the most part.  Lately she’s been coming out of class for no apparent reason so I think she’s nearing the end of her attention span.  The recital is this month so it’s good timing.  I have taken pictures a few times during the year so I’ll just post them in one posting.  Some are blurry but hey, it’s dance, they are supposed to be in motion. 

We took the girls to the dentist the other day.  I’m kind of ashamed to admit that it was the first time for either of them.  They were so excited to go and Dave happened to be able to go so it was a family affair.  They both did very well and weren’t afraid of anything.  They weren’t sure if they’d be able to get X-rays of Nora since she’s 3 but she was perfect.  Nora didn’t have any cavities but Carol has to go back and have one filled.  Since she’s young the dentist wants to give her an anesthetic to calm her but not have her completely out.  Like conscious sedation.  That makes it a little more costly but hopefully it will keep her calm enough to get it done.  She goes from being fine with the idea to scared because Dave has told her the dentist will use a drill like Daddy’s and she’s not sure how much it will hurt.  We’ll have to see how it goes. 

Man!  I am behind.  So yes, we did celebrate Mothers' day and Easter this year.  I will post pictures of both or at least of Easter.  I don't know if there are any of mother's day.  If you'd like to read about my mom, check out last year's Mothers' Day entry.  It all still applies. 

 

For Mother's day we moved some plants from the front yard to the back yard.  I dug the first and larger hole myself.  Dave finally wandered out and dug the second hole for me.  They are still in shock but alive for the time being.  We'll see how they do.  I have plans to move some other bushes out of the front flower bed to make room for the vegetable garden that has taken over. 

 

Last September or so, I bought 4 tomato plants on clearance and stuck them in the front yard.  I might have spent 80 cents total on the 4 of them.  I expected them all to die with the winter but 3 lived and we have tomatoes every day from them now.  After removing the two bushes, we went to get something else to put in there.  Dave picked two jalapeno plants and a decorative pepper plant.  Our neighbor gave us a cucumber plant from his yard.  Then Dave let the girls pick out one of whatever they wanted so we have a watermelon plant in there too.  I hope it grows a big melon but I don't know if we really have enough room for it.  We'll see.  My parents grew a few watermelons in Utah over the years so surely I can grow one here, right? 

 

Easter was fun.  We had tons of candy from all the egg hunts before easter actually arrived so that's mostly what the easter bunny brought with the crayons, coloring books and sidewalk chalk.  Colin loved the easter eggs once he realized what was inside.  He didn't love the pictures so much so he's only in one in church clothes. 

 

Carol dressed Colin up in a Cinderella dress a while back.  He actually was happy until he tripped over the skirt part walking toward the camera so he's not happy in the pictures but he really didn't mind it at all. 

 

I stripped, sanded, and stained the side table we have.  It's originally from Dave's dad's house.  I'm not sure how we "aquired" it - probably on the sly but now it matches the entertainment center I did last year.  My next project needs to be the coffee talbe but it seems sensible to wait until the kids are all old enough to not bang and scratch it up any more.