Day 254

Christmas 2001, Dean was just over 6 months old...and when we showed this photo to our family and friends...everyone accused me of photoshopping a photo of my child onto a photo of Santa...

the nerve...

No...it was indeed a legitimate Santa photo...and I don't think we ever really got another good one...for either boy....

Days 177-181

Lots to say...but not much going on....

We celebrated Daniel's 5th birthday with my family and Janet's family....only 23 days after his actual birthday....stupid hurricane(s)...

This is Dean...crashed out Saturday night...I scored 4 tickets to the LSU / Miss. St. game....not a barn burner by any stretch of the imagination...but the weather was awesome...and the boys got to experience the electricity of Tiger Stadium...at night...for an SEC contest....

on a weekend that saw the # 1, #3 & #4 teams lose....it was nice to escape with a win...

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 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...

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....

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 91

Today...we had our first real 'house-hunting' day...We went in about 7 houses in 4 different neighborhoods...you know...

They all start to run together after awhile...

New Construction...Old Construction...

Big Yard...Small Yard...

The funny thing was...I think Janet and I both liked the last house we went into...But...there's plenty more to see...

The boys hung out with Grammy and PawPaw...and even the lure of a bag full of jellybeans couldn't keep Dean awake...