Mama on vacation

Kim's son, Andrew, age 5, took this picture of us all at "the cut" at the end of the island.

The beach and ocean have been beautiful. Typical "Chamber of Commerce" days as dad would say. Today we came across some areas of what looked like seaweed but turned out to be HUGE schools of teeny-tiny fish. If you threw a shell into the school they'd part in a circle - cool, eh?

The shelling has been pretty good. We've found lots of Florida Fighting Conchs and partial olives, plenty of scallops also.

The girl at the blue store said "Hey, hot mama!" as I approached to pay for milk, Tylenol, and brownie mix yesterday. She also said that I look like I'm having a boy. The girl behind the service counter at the Piggly Wiggly yelled across two checklanes that I looked like I'm about to bust. An older lady in the produce section told me it was a hot time of year to be pregnant and wished me luck. Seems like everyone has an opinion...it's like having a dog or a small child, pregnancy is a conversation starter.

Hutch's First Pet

We all thought that the Junebug was a goner. But those who have no faith in the healing powers of Fruit Loops, see the result here before you!!!! Kneel before Toucan Sam, and he shall heal you as he has healed our bug Earl!!! 

Hello Rupret!

Isn't this just about how you expect a dinner to appear when Mommy is gone? 

Bonus Chicago picture

I'm surprised this turned out, I was still laughing really hard when I took it. This is Joel (and Clare) moments after the bird attack. Notice the Jurassic Park containment fence in the background...how'd that finch break through?? 

Big Bean in the Windy City

I just returned from my weekend in Chicago. Joel took this picture of us in front of the "bean" in Millenium Park. Notice the jackets...it was only in the lower 60s all weekend!! Just after we took this picture we went for a stroll to the nearby garden where Joel was sort of attacked by a small bird. I saw a black blur out of the corner of my eye and there was a little bird flapping around at the back of Joel's head!! We later found out he had a back pack full of pinecones covered in peanut butter and sunflower seeds. While there were no physical effects from the attack I'm sure the mental remnants of such an offense will linger. (A scene in The DaVinci Code had Clare and I laughing out loud shortly after this whole event...a man in the movie gets dive-bombed.) Prior to our stroll in the park we ate at Grand Lux, a sister to the Cheesecake Factory. The food was delicious but the beignets we had for dessert were amazing.

Top 12 Chicago Moments:

10. Changing of the guard at O'Hare to the tune of Mission Impossible
9. Clare's drunken neighbor returning at 3:00am
8. Profound lack of understanding of the Chicago bus system, thank goodness the transportation elf was with me!
7. According to a guard at the Art Institute of Chicago I'm having a boy
6. According to a table cleaner at Cosi's restaurant I'm having a girl
5a. Maternity pants were not made for walking, unless you mean walking off your butt every time you sit, stand, move, breathe. Perhaps they should come with suspenders??
5. Where's American Gothic when you want to see it?
4. According to a large, older man with a European accent at a bus stop, by the time this baby is old enough to go to college it will cost a "billion" dollars.
3. Atlanta Hartsfield airport security can filter 1,000 people through the line in the time it takes O'Hare to do 50.
2. Sometimes your suitcase just wants to go to Nebraska, but not really.
2a. Even the Jurassic Park containment wire fences cannot stop attack finches in Millenium Park.
1. It's fun hanging out with your hip, little sister! 

You mean toddlers don't have gills?

If you look REALLY close, you can see the water just starting to seep into his nostrils. Thankfully, 5 minutes of hacking cleared everything up.....