Gymnastics, Azaleas and Sprouts..........Sprouts?

The weather was very pleasant yesterday and when we arrived at Steph's the kids were playing on the front newly re-sodded yard. We had missed the antics in the hot tub but I did get Evie being dried off.










Moving to the front of the house
I got a few nice shots of Paige







and her friend Katharin

And another of Evie







Here are a few videos of the gymnastics.
MacKenzie is the talented little twirler.






And then while the adults have adult beverages-wine, Paige serves the kids water.


And Steph shows us how to do a headstand and Paige makes sure Grandad's cup is full.

Life in the City, or Where do you park your car?

When I went to my first Homeowner's meeting a year or more ago someone was complaining about parking in the alleyways leading to our garages. Because there is a large school just a block away the street parking is very restricted to keep High Schoolers from making the residential block a parking lot. This also means however that homeowners have no place on the street to park during the week. Nor do maids and other service people. And at times when college is on break- Christmas and Spring and all summer- grown kids who come home for weeks at a time have no place to park. Except in the driveway.

The lady across the alley from me has an enormous bus size vehicle that she parks outside when her daughter visits.............here's why




That's the daughter's car in the garage and her monster boat outside. The garage is so full of sh-t that only one car can squeeze in there. Another homeowner complained about the eyesore saying that the garage is meant for cars not to be used as a store room.
Personally I'm hoping Pres Obama fixes this problem as well while he's fixing the economy.

Playing at Nana's

Evelyn's vocabulary is so advanced for her age. Here is a little video from a couple of weeks ago.



Watch her learning to count and recognize Presidents


After that we went for a walk so Nana could carry on some work on a conference call.

Tea Party

Every time Nana gets a chance- like three or four times a week lately- she has afternoon tea and snacks with Graham and Paige. They use lovely demi-tasse cups of fine bone china, most of which belonged to Great Aunt Sudie.
The kids love the attention and we captured it today.

If you want more, here's a vid......

Such a Deal......

Almost two years ago when we moved to Houston I joined 24 Hour Fitness to try to maintain my youthful figure. Hah!

I got a pretty good deal where I had to pay the first and last month up front, and a $75 initiation fee. It cost $29 each month after that and I could visit Monday Wednesday Friday and Sunday.

It suited me well until I heard that the new Costco, which is only a mile from our townhouse, would have an LA Fitness gym on the roof. Costco opened in October and I gave notice at 24 Hour in September. I expected the LA Fitness would be open soon after Costco opened but it wasn't.
Well, December came and still no LA Fitness. While I was on a cruise for 15 days I used the gym onboard but Costco's roof gym still wasn't ready in January. Seems they are having trouble with the pool and spa area on the roof.
In January, getting flabbier by the week, I was interested in an offer I saw at Costco. $299 for 2 years at my old 24 Hour gym with zero other fees AND I can visit seven days a week if I want to. Not only that, but the guy told me they are moving in October to a new Premium Sports Spa gym and I will be Grandfathered (love that term ) in because I already belong to the old gym.

Can't whack it can you?

A Delight

After work today we visited the Walkers. It was a beautiful evening, chilly but spring like. We were only there for 1/2 an hour and we were leaving to go home for dinner. As we got in the car and kissed G'Bye Evie wanted to go with Nana. Steph agreed and so we had her for an hour while we cooked our dinner. Chicken and rice for Ev who was a big girl and sat on a regular chair while she ate, and curried chicken and rice for Nana and G'Dad.

Here she is.

Conversation over a snack

Graham looking at a quarter: I think that's George Washington. Is it Grandad?
G'Dad: Well, it's a likeness of GW but it's not really him is it?
GMan: No it's a likeness.
GDad: He died a long time ago.
GMan: When Mommy was a baby?
GD: No, way before that.
He was buried around 1800 and it's now 2009
so it was more than 200 years ago
Grah: Were you alive?
GD: NO, I wasn't alive.
GMan: You're really old Grandad.

Thanks Graham

Graham: Grandad, did you have braces?
No Gray I never had braces. Your Mommy did, and Auntie Emily did as did Auntie Jennifer. Nana had braces too.

Well, what is all that silver stuff on your teeth?

GDad: Fillings Graham.
GMan: What is fillings?

GDad: When you have too much sugar or stuff your teeth get decay and they get cavities. Holes. And they drill out the holes and fill them with amalgamate. It's silver.

GMan: Well can you brush your teeth when you have braces.
GDad: Oh yes, yes you can.

GMan: Well how about fillings can you do it then?
GDad: Yes Graham, I brush every day morning and night. Sometimes in between too.
Thanks Graham.