Critters

Since we moved to Texas we have had many critters in our house. I honestly can't remember a single critter in Maryland other than the occasional dead bird or mole Peeky (our family cat) would drag to the front porch. Either my parents did a good job of hiding it from me or Texas is just ridiculously overloaded with bugs.
So our battle with the critters started off pretty normal...a few "worms"(millipede-looking insects) near the doors after we first moved into our new house--no big deal. It was kind of funny--one day Colin came up to me and said, "Mommy, mommy, I found another freaking worm!!" Oops.
Occasionally we'd find an ant here and there, maybe a cricket or two, and I can handle all that. Yes, Ross Pest Control was on speed dial, but I can handle those types of insects. This is reasonable, after all, we do live in the "country" now.
Then one day Colin was supposed to be taking a nap and after his fifth or sixth trip to "tell me something" he said a "scorpion needle" poked him. Sure, get back in bed, Colin. I mean, my brother Joey had a scorpion for a pet once, but it was in a cage and certainly those things do not run loose. Hmmm...nope, that is definitely a scorpion. "Ross Pest Control...my son received a scorpion sting...brown...not too poisonous?...ice...ok, great...see you tomorrow...thank you."
And so it began...
After Christmas I was putting our decorations in boxes and I set a box in the garage. I saw a rear end sprinting away from me along the floor of the garage. Take a deep breath. That must have been a...a squirrel or...or a raccoon! Yes, raccoons love Christmas decorations! Yes. That's it. That explains everything. Call Andy. "Andy (remember to breathe) I think I saw a--" "Let me call you back real quick, I'm on another call." "But--" CLICK. Ok, you can handle this. You are an adult, and it's just a little m--Dad! Call Dad, he can help you. Ok. (Dialing) "I think there's a mouse in my garage!!!" "Umm...ok, kill it." WHAT?! "WHAT?!" "Um, kill it. Look, this is Mike, I don't know who this is but maybe you could just kill the mouse." DON'T KNOW WHO THIS IS??? "THIS IS YOUR DAUGHTER!!" Apparently my voice was so high pitched he didn't recognize me. And he lives in Maryland, so that call was not so much help to me. Call Ross Pest Control. Bait stations? Fantastic.
Ok, so at the beginning of summer things are looking better, and instead of "several families of mice" we have "low traffic"!! Fabulous!! There is now an enormous toad that lives on our front porch, but whatever, there is only one of him, and sure he craps all over the place, but he's not a mouse, so he can stay. But what's that I hear in the attic? Scratching? No. Ross Pest Control said we have low traffic. I heard it myself. And this sound is too loud to be mice. No, this is the air conditioning. Yes. Hmm...this air conditioning sure does sound like rat toenails. Just breathe. Don't stay up all night tracking their routes. Just go to sleep. Ross can come out on Saturday! Great.
Their advice? Get a cat. "What?" Take a deep breath. "Well, ma'am, you live next to a field. Just get a cat." WHAT? Are you kidding me? WE JUST GOT A DOG! I DON'T WANT A CAT! I WANT NO MICE OR RATS. I WANT FEWER CRITTERS! NOT MORE CRITTERS! Ross is fired and now we're going with another company.
So this is not the end. Colin, Carter, Clayton, Cooper and I went for a walk through our neighborhood the other day, and as we're walking, Carter says, "Aww, look at the baby deer!" Wow, cool! Maybe living out in the country isn't so bad after all! Sure enough, I see a baby deer with those sweet pointy ears and long...tail...do baby deer have long..."That's not a baby deer that's a coyote," says Colin. Nice.

Colin Turns FIVE!!

I meant for Colin's birthday pictures to be at the top...oops! Today we celebrated Colin's FIFTH birthday! He was born at 8:11 p.m. five years ago in Tampa, FL. We had the best day today. I woke up at 6:30 and he was right behind me. We opened a few presents, then the rest of the crew woke up and we had breakfast, then opened a few more presents. The party started at 10 at Jumping Party and we jumped until 1. Then on to the pool for phase two where Andy, YaYa, the boys and I swam until 4:30. We originally planned to go to Chuck E. Cheese for dinner, but we all decided it would be better to stay at home and play with our new toys. (Whew!) Thanks so much to everyone who called, partied with us today, sent cards, gave gifts and showed Colin love!
P.S. Carter has a new passenger, I have a new haircut. =)

Clayton Takes Steps/ Andy and Colin to NM

Last weekend Andy went to Riudoso, NM with his parents and Colin for a wedding. (The little ones and I opted out for this eight hour trek, although everyone who went had a great time!) Thanks, Nana and Papa, for a great visit!
I have to tell a quick funny story. Carter and I were playing football, then Carter went potty. After he finished the task he was walking around with his pants around his ankles. I saw him walk past a time or two, then I said, "Carter, why don't you pull your pants up?" And he said, completely seriously, "Because I can't because I'm too holding my football." The important things in life...
Clayton has started to take steps! And, of course, Carter has taken advantage of this because he is using Clayton to push him around on Clayton's corn-popper push toy! So funny!

Clayton Turns ONE!

Pray for Aunt Nina

Last weekend Andy and I went to Houston and had a GREAT time seeing college friends Elizabeth, Lisa, Ashlei, Dori, and Andy's cousin Greg and his wife Jamie and their daughter Campbell. But...I lost my camera, so I have nothing to show you.... Andy's sister Alicen stayed with the boys (thank you, Aunt Bertie)!

This week has been one hilarious escapade after another...from the boys playing in mud, to sneaking chocolate chip cookies late at night, to Carter instructing Colin on how to wear a bra, pointing and saying, "it needs to go on your lippers," to the tuna story (which I'm about to tell).... Of course, I have no camera, but I've tried to take pictures on Andy's iPhone when possible, but you know how that is; if you don't have the camera at the right time you just miss the great shot.

So the other day I am interrupted from folding laundry by the overwhelming smell of tuna fish. (Never a good sign.) I start sniffing around to track the scent and I see Cooper and Clayton huddled together near the trash can. (Never a good sign.) Both of their faces and hands/paws are covered in tuna fish and they are hungrily fighting over the empty can! Do I not feed both of them high quality food all day long?? Why are they digging in the trash for old tuna fish?? Unfortunately, I have no picture to show you, but let me tell you, after the initial shock and disgust, it was funny!

Here is a picture of me and Kristina (Aunt Nina, Andy's sister-in-law) who has been in the hospital since Saturday. She is diabetic and her kidneys are not functioning well. Kristina is a fighter and has been in and out of the hospital for years. She has a good attitude, but I would appreciate your prayers for her. Please pray for Kristina and for her sweet husband Matt today.

Happy Father's Day!

This post is dedicated to Mike Houck, my dad and the boys' Granddaddy. He noticed he doesn't get a lot of ink on my blog, and my dad is not shy about letting me know what's up, so...here you go, Dad!! Happy Father's Day! (P.S.--If you came to visit more often you would get more press.)

Interesting Facts About My Dad:

He can touch his tongue to the tip of his nose.

He can juggle really well.

He is 6 feet 6 inches tall.

He loves Led Zeppelin and has taken me to a bunch of Plant/Page concerts. "Fool in the Rain" is a personal favorite of both of us.

He has seven brothers and sisters.

He is from Bowie, Maryland, the same town that Kathie Lee Gifford is from.

He can whistle really loudly.

He is very funny and loves funny stories about the boys.

He is an excellent golfer and generally shoots around 70-75.*

He is an amazing storyteller and always begins a story with, "There I was...."

His favorite color is blue and he has blue eyes (like Clayton's!).

He got married in Las Vegas and his anniversary was the other day (June 14).

He is a handy man.

He is very good at pool.

He went to the Masters this year (as a spectator).

He thinks Texas is "bizarro world" because every time he comes something weird happens...like that ice storm in 2007.

He gives good advice and is very fair.

He's a great dancer...ha ha, no he's not (that's where I get my two left feet!)

He's a great dad and an even better granddaddy!

Swimming

We had a great couple of days swimming with Cousin Madi from Hawaii!! She is so sweet and we had fun with her!

Carter is hilarious--he calls Cooper "Coofer"!