About 10 days ago, we got invited to Easter lunch at a friends’ house.  Since nothing was going on with the family, we decided that we would venture out of the house — BIG MISTAKE!

The next day, we all started sniffling and coughing.  Of course, my colds always go straight to pneumonia and I’ve been on antibiotics.  Elizabeth had the sniffles, which have gone, but she then had a bad fever Wednesday night.  We took her to the doctor on Thursday, but they couldn’t find anything.  Paul has been suffering with sniffles & cough but now his is in his chest and he’s really in poor shape.

We’ve learned our lesson.  Never go out of the house!   Oh, I forgot to mention that Cameron didn’t go with us, so he’s feeling fine & dandy.

All the crankiness has paid off with another new tooth. We didn’t notice this tooth until it was nearly full in, though. Elizabeth is still teething and is a “miserable git” during the process. I’m not sure which tooth is next as when I put my finger in to check, she bites me REALLY hard.

Elizabeth’s new word is “gogo”. This girl loves to ride in the car and go shopping and just ‘go’ anywhere. Sometimes she gets into the stroller by herself and waits.

I almost forgot to mention what happened during my latest trip to Target.   The manager thought Cameron was my younger brother!!!  YES!!  Paul thinks they shouldn’t employ people are nearsighted.

I’m getting old, but at least I can still say that I’m still “in my 30’s” and also that I’m married to an old man. 

As I worked extra on Friday, I was able to stay home for an extra hour this morning, which gave me enough time to make pancakes for everyone.  I went to work as usual and we had chinese for dinner.  I didn’t expect Paul to make a cake, but I did get store-bought cake, which was nummy.

Presents?  yes!  Mum got some lovely garden supplies, which have come in handy.  Cameron got me an ice cream gift card (he knows me so well).  and of course, birthday cards from the UK.  Thank you everyone!  Most of my side of the family remembered to call me and wish me a happy day.

I forget I am getting old and bald but a few hours out in the sun have reminded me of the bald bit for sure and the fact that I still ache remind me that I am getting old.

I know I haven’t posted in ages so here’s a quick run down

-I got bitten by a dog, in fact the same dog that nipped my mum, he must like the taste of English flesh as he gave me a real good bite.

-Elizabeth is a real outdoor child, no idea where she gets it from but she loves to be outside.

-Kathy and I are exhausted, wiped out, pooped

Cameron has been off school the last week and is broke so he spent a day helping me put together a shed I bought, I say help but the truth is he did most of it and I held stuff up so he could do the drilling. At one stage he was lucky enough to have Elizabeth and Buster trying to get onto his lap to help him.

The shed is going to be a godsend as Elizabeth is starting to want to play with things like drills, jigsaws and my chainsaw on a pole. Apparently these aren’t suitable toys for me never mind about Elizabeth, Someone did suggest that she may be able to cut straighter lines than I can!

Since Cameron had to work on Saturday Kathy and I finished the shed we also dug up two huge lots of Ivy that we have gradually been hacking at since we moved in here. They filled up a big wheelie bin and to be honest I am absolutely thrilled to be rid of them.

The only problem is that the posts that they were growing around now look very very wobbly, we are expecting big wind tonight (outside not from me before anyone comments) and I am hoping the posts won’t decide that they no longer want to live now the Ivy has gone.

We are busily trying to get the back lawn area cleaned up so we can let Elizabeth loose out there a bit more without worrying so much. Tonight we bought a water slidy thing which I think she will like.

The next job is to finish the block wall for the dogs new area, he won’t like it but I am tired of dodging poop every time we go out on the lawn so he will have to learn to live with it.

Here are a couple of pics of Elizabeth, Kathy and I don’t bother pretending anyone wants pics of us anymore..

This is why Kathy doesn't send me shopping

Elizabeth trying to get one of Pauls sweatshirts on

Three excuses for my lack of posting:
1.  I’m too busy at work to blog.
2.  My computer at home bit the dust.
3.  It’s been way too nice & sunny to spend time indoors. 

The daytime temperature is in the 70’s and we’ve been spending more & more time outside and doing yard work… pulling weeds, planting, raking, mowing, digging, and trying to keep the birds fed, too.    The blossoms are out on the fruit trees and leaves are growing.  All the daffodiles are in full bloom and it looks lovely everywhere you go.

But — Elizabeth will have a complete meltdown if we don’t let her go outside every day.  As you can see from her “garden” shoes, she is outside a lot.  

Yesterday, as I’m bringing Elizabeth in the house, Buster is going nuts.  I tell him to “sit” and suddenly, that’s all I hear.  Elizabeth gives me a great big smile and says “sit”.  then I say it.  then she says it.  Yes, it sounds cute, but after about 10 minutes of saying “sit”, it gets kind of old.

Today, Elizabeth crawls up the stairs and gets to the top and wants me to pick her up, which I do.  she points to the door and whines. 
Me:  “What do you want, Elizabeth?” 
Elizabeth:  [does the sign language for "go"]
Me:  “Where do you want to go?”
E:  [does the sign for "car"]
Me:  “You want to go in the car?  Where should we go?”
E:  [does the sign for "shopping"]

Tomorrow is Elizabeth’s 18 month doctors visit.  She just developed a runny nose, so we may not have the shots done until she’s better.  I’ll let you know of her ‘official’ weight & length & overall health.

Also today was Elizabeth’s first time on the swings &  slide at the park.   We LOVED the slide.

Elizabeth’s last bottom tooth still hasn’t come through yet. She’s being very miserable and whiney and keeps rubbing the right side of her head. Pain medication doesn’t seem to be helping either.

I’m miserable, too. I hate the first day back to work after a holiday. The phone seems to ring non-stop!! Every client has to see the attorney immediately — it’s urgent — matter of life & death, and “he hasn’t called me back since my message at 4pm on Friday!!” I’m still having a hard time keeping track of both attorney’s paperwork. It’s starting to really get complicated as the days go on.

Paul turned 43 today. I can’t believe I married such an old man! Fortunately, today is also President’s Day, which means I get a day off work. Again did a bit of yard work and made birthday brownies for the evening. Elizabeth loves to help me cook….. well, she likes to lick the batter.

Elizabeth learned a new trick. She has a bunch of “debit cards” in with her toys. They’re rebate cards, or offers sent in the mail, but they look real enough that she likes to play with them. Anyway, so we’re all sitting on the couch. Paul, then Elizabeth, then me. She has the cards in her hand and reaches out to give them to dada. Paul reaches out to take them, then Elizabeth pulls them away. She and Paul played ‘keep-away’ for ages that evening.

As usual, no matter what time of year it is, the time that anyone from England spends with us is spent in the rain & cold. Doreen took Elizabeth for walks (which Elizabeth LOVES!) every time the rain stopped for a few minutes. We did a teensy bit of yard work, but it was too muddy to do much.

My plants are doing well. Most of the indoor plants have sprouted and are getting trained for their replanting outside in a couple of weeks.

Work is hectic. It’s horribly busy. On Friday, I worked through lunch and then worked after closing in the evening, just trying to catch up a little. I don’t think I’m getting ahead, though.

It’s been a long time coming, but a bottom tooth has finally joined the two lonely teeth at the bottom. This makes 11 teeth for Elizabeth now.

I took today off work to stay home and do some gardening/yard work, as the weekend forecast was rain.