Day 163

So....The story so far...

We were told on Monday...that the bank's 'bottom line' is more or less $3,500 more than our offer...

We got BACK with my bank fellow...who is operating with a generator and a cell phone...and tried to send him the rest of our paperwork today...

We also found out there could be tax 'issues' with the house...and, hopefully, my agent and the listing agent are working on those details...

Basically, from what we understand, either the seller paid the taxes through a title company so he could sell the house, or a title company paid the taxes and put a lien on the property...who knows...hopefully we can find out tomorrow...

In a perfect world...which, almost 10 weeks later (that's how long ago we put our offer in on this house), we know this isn't...we could be closing on the property in 2 - 3 weeks...

It's pretty crazy...after looking at many, many houses since I moved here in April... To actually be this close to buying the nicest house (in our price range) for significantly less than we originally thought possible is just nuts....We are in the neighborhood of $120,000 less than their asking price...so...we are getting pretty excited....

I'll keep you informed if anything changes...and I'm sure 'OPERATION POOL CLEAN-UP' will lead to several adventurous posts...

oh...

and this is funny.

Day 161

Daniel celebrated his second hurricane birthday in his first 5 years...

Hurricane Frances in 2004 and Gustav in 2008...

As you can see...he's no worse for the wear...and we got to stay at a friend's house with electricity...so he had a little private party on his birthday...

Day 155

We lost power at about 9:45...
We are in the heat...and dark...
I went into work today to start damage assessment...and it it a pretty broad brush of damage across the whole area...
The current speculation is it could be 2 to 4 weeks before power is completely restored...100% of the area is without power...
We are going to try to relocate to a friends house who has a natural gas generator...so...we'll see...
Overall, we fared well...Remind me to tell you the mirror story...

Day 150

Funny story...
Tonight, we were talking about taking a group camping trip...and I said that we would need 2 tents...
and Janet asked how we would keep the boys in their tent...
i said...we won't have to worry about it...the Bears will make sure the boys stay in their tent...and the conversation pretty much faded out...
Well...about 5 minutes later we realized Dean was crying on the couch...because we were going to let the Bears keep the boys in their tent...
So...I had to console him...and insure to him that we wouldn't ever go camping where there are bears....Mountain Lions...but definitely no bears...

Janet didn't think i was helping the situation...
but Daniel went with it...and started naming other animals that would be there...like Kangaroos...

Day 146

We went to Mississippi today to celebrate a good friend's first child's baptism...

I thought the addition of the stars and bars flag inside the Catholic Church was an odd place to encounter racism...

uh...I mean....heritage...

Days 133 & 134

Daniel had his first day of Kindergarten on Monday...and he got off the bus smiling...only 13 more years of that...

and today I got a call questioning if the Parish has any ordinance in place to keep someone from keeping a horse in a subdivision....the answer is no...

Day 132

Today was Fan Appreciation Day for the LSU Football Team...

The online site said that the doors open at 1:30 and the football team arrives at 2:30 to sign autographs...

We got there 'early' at 1:40...We got in line behind the 5,000 or so other people who got there earlier than us...

When we got in the building at 2:10....we immediately got in the line to get a photo with Trindon Holliday the little speedster for the Tigers...

After waiting in that line for another 30 minutes or so...we just decided to walk around and take pictures...and head out...The boys were upset we didn't get any autographs or pictures with the players...but...overall...it was a fun afternoon....

Day 131

Janet went to Orlando today for a Baby shower...and to see some friends...

so...it's a boy's night in...

We played video games and watched the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics...

Day 130

So we went to see the new Batman on Saturday...

I'm thinking Daniel would make a good Joker for Halloween...

What a great movie...The sound in the theater wasn't all that great...but maybe it was because I didn't take my Batman mask off....

Days 126 and 127

Thanks to James....the words of the day are....
Augmented Reality Technology...
Check this out...
and speaking of the 2 young FL natives....that are about to start school...yeah...I'm not sure who's more excited...Janet or the boys...I'm not 100% sure she's going to be able to work in complete silence...
We visited the school on Friday..it's a combo Elem / Middle school...and the football stadium for the highschool is there too...
We went through this long cue thing...registering, paying for zipper bags, bus info, buying sweatshirts...etc.
Realizing that all of their clothes are pointless now...because all public schools wear uniforms....you know...that kind of stuff...
I read through the code and conduct policy book...highlighting the good points to the boys...and I realized when I was done...that it was a pointless exercise...Describing how if you get an A-Everday in conduct...you will be rewarded...
As if....
We're shooting for B-everyday...

Day 109

This is a photo for scale....

This was the first day we had Nala...

not sure of her weight in this picture....but...it was probably in the 20-30 pound range....

she's bigger now....

Day 103

Tonight...we watched ET....

Day 98

Recovery Day...

I might as well be wearing an aluminum foil suit today...I'm baked like a freakin' potato...

I haven't been this sun burnt since that summer trip to Houston Astroworld...What a miserable car ride home...

This was me...trying to teach Daniel how to use the river as a potty...

He didn't get it...

Day 97

Another exciting day out with the Hestons....This time we went Tubing down the Amite River...

The adults basically took this opportunity to burn like tall pieces of toast...while...the kids generally preferred swimming/walking to floating in the tubes...

Overall it was a fun day on the water...

Then for dinner we ordered pizza for the kids...and the 4 of us all over-ate at this nice seafood restaurant nearby...

Then we introduced our guests to the marvel that is the drive-thru daiquiri shop....See day 16...

Day 96

We had a GREAT July 4th with some of our extended Orlando Family...The Hestons came up to visit us for the weekend...

We showed them the house we really like in the morning...Had some AWESOME boiled Shrimp for lunch....brought the kids to a splash park while the girls went to the outlet mall...

and Headed to downtown Baton Rouge for the 4th of July Celebration....got to see the Chris LeBlanc band featuring an old friend from highschool on guitar...

Not sure if you can feel the excitement...but Daniel has never ridden a horse...let alone been this close to one...

When he gave Daniel a big sniff....it was quite a surprise....