GROOOOSSSS!

Our weather this past month has certainly had it's up and downs... One of the downs includes a good bit of rain. And I'm not so much opposed to rain (it makes some great napping background music), but I am opposed to what it leaves on our sidewalk. You might think I mean worms, which, yes indeed, are rather gross. But no, not worms. Snails. Lots and lots of snails. And I don't mean like 1 or 2 cute little snails, I mean like thousands!!! Okay, well maybe not thousands, but about 20. And if you've seen how relatively small our sidewalk is, you will know the percentage of surface area that was a sea of snails. 


So, that is gross enough to be the end of this post, but that is not the end of my rant. If you have ever heard me talk about the cicadas that attacked last year, then you will know my frustration with the snails. Well, no, snails don't actually attack like cicadas that land on your nose and then stick with their little sticky legs, but they do leave a little slime in their path. 


Also, possibly, when I come in at night and forget to turn the light on, and forget about the snail epidemic, I might *CRUNCH* through the snail shells as I walk down the sidewalk. It's just too hard to avoid. They are EVERYWHERE, as were the cicadas. Here is a a close-up of the before of what the snail on the bottom of my shoe would have looked like. 

Lucky for you, I don't have a picture of the after snail. But believe me when I say it was GROOOSSSS!

Bring back the worms... at least they don't make a CRUNCH...

It's a BOY!!!

I told myself that I would have a blogging goal. One post a month. Totally doable. But let's be honest, sometimes life isn't THAT interesting every month. However, I will still hold onto my goal (however unattainable). 


Let's start with the basics. In November, we had an addition to our family. My first and only little nephew decided to wait no longer. He came a few weeks earlier than expected, but then maybe that's a sign of his future personality: impatient? eager? likes to be early? Either way, we were STOKED to have another baby, and a boy to boot!

The picture on the top was a newborn picture and the second one was just sent recently... He is growing fast. And in my humble aunt opinion, he is adorable. Precious baby boy. 

Fall Party

It is the beginning of this wonderful season of leaves, colors, and holidays. So, to celebrate we had a fall party at school. 

I won't pretend like it wasn't complete chaos, because it was. And I won't pretend that I was sad to have it over with, because I SO wasn't. And I won't pretend that I made the cutest little snacks (see below), because I didn't.

But I will tell you that the kids had a blast!

Since not all families do the whole Halloween thing, we just made scarecrows instead. They were kind of a lot of prep work, but I had a sweet parent whole helped me prepare. They turned out pretty cute.

And then the best part of the whole party was this adorable treat made by a very talented parent. They made oranges into jack-o-lanterns and filled them with fruit. The kids and the parents alike thought they were awesome! Wish I really could have taken credit for these.

What to do on a cold Thursday night...

All of the sudden it is cold. And dark. And only 4:30.

I needed some comfort. And I was hungry. And I had chicken in the fridge.

Solution: FRIED CHICKEN.
(Which is actually the solution to many problems, in my opinion.)

Now, I can't take credit for creating the chicken or the recipe, but I will take credit for the following pictures.

And I take credit for the good feeling in my belly as well. YUMMMMM!

Papaw

Son, 
        brother, 
                  husband, 
                                 uncle, 
                                          dad, 
                                                grandfather, 
                                                               great-grandfather. 
                                              

My Papaw.

I'm pretty sure this was taken right after she kissed him on the cheek. And he was embarrassed. And she was apologizing, while secretly laughing at her own private joke.

Such a sweet picture. Thankfully, memories live on.

Beachy

It is fall break. I know you can't read the emotion in this statement, but trust me, it's there. 


I wait in anticipation for fall break from about September 1st till October 14th. I was blessed enough to visit the beach this fall break. If you have never been to the gulf area in October, you need to GO. I mean it, now. Get in your car and DRIVE! 


Here are the reasons:


1. It is the beach, duh.
2. It is the perfect temperature for beach dwelling.
3. It is cheap to rent a condo during the fall.
4. It is an easy drive or flight. 
5. It is the BEACH!


Convinced? Here is a picture from our balcony on the 15th floor.

That is all I will say. Just linger on that view for a moment. Ahhh...

Lesson on Toilets (and don't worry, I don't literally mean while sitting ON the toilet)

Unfortunately, I have become very closely acquainted with how a toilet works. Thanks to owning my own place, I have frequented Lowe's and Home Depot to buy parts that I don't actually know the name for. Here is how these conversations usually go:

Man in the colored vest: "Hello, may I help you find something?" (because we both know I look slightly out of place here.)
Me: "No, but thank you." This might seem silly to some, but I have an aversion to being helped in most stores. I am working through the problem, kind of.
Five minutes later, Me: Why is there no one around here to help me?!? But I do actually know this is a ridiculous thought.
Another five minutes later, Me: "Um, excuse me, do you know where I can find a piece to fix a toilet? I think it is called a washer, it's rubber and it's small and it's black?" And my dad told me this much, but I don't admit to this yet.
Man in the colored vest: "Sure, it's right here." (Pointing to something approximately 10 inches from my face.)
Me: "Of course, musta looked right over it." Cue the turn and high-tail it out move.

So, here is the sought after piece. Looks pretty small huh? But my dad assures me it will cause the toilet to flush again. And I trust him with toilet issues. He has fished out many a lego from a toilet in his day.
           
So, he walks me through how to take apart the piece and insert the new replacement seal (because that is it's real name, I learned). I do it fairly quickly and feel pretty self-sufficient. Until the toilet refuses to fill more than once. 


Blast. So, I go to another store and get another brand that is sure to work better and fit my toilet. Same steps, same results.


Must need another piece. 

So I visit the home improvement store for the third time in 1 week. And I get this piece right here. Makes me look like I REALLY know what I'm doing, huh?  


Take three: I open up the tank and go to work. (With my dad on speaker phone, of course. You know when your dad starts answering the phone with, "Hello, this is your local plumber, what's your question?" that you've been spending too much time with your toilet.)


I digress.

I took it apart and put the new part in. Check out this piece. I never knew a toilet had so many intricate parts. 
Not that I have ANY idea HOW it works, but I do know it WORKS!


I never thought I would say it, but the sounds of a toilet flushing may be the best sound I've heard all day.


Success. Sweet success.