Back at home.........

and finally getting to my blog. Hope I remember everything that has happened.

The ride to Columbia and back home was uneventful but I listen to books so it goes pretty fast. I left at 9:00 AM Friday and, after numerous gas and pee stops, I pulled in front of Gwen's house at 6:30 PM.

Clare is even more lovable than I anticipated. Such a busy, happy little girl. She's not walking yet but that doesn't hold her back from crawling and exploring and emptying everything in site. Lots of fun.


Saturday, Michael and Mikie arrived about 5:30 and we were off to Chucky Cheese's to celebrate Clare's 1st B-day. It was like a wonderland to her and she took everything in with those big, beautiful eyes. Mikie had the most fun playing Skeeball-winning gobs and gobs of tickets. (640 I think)

Sunday, Stacey, a friend of Gwen's, came over with her 2 boys to enjoy cake with Clare. This was her 1st ever cupcake and she was not happy having her hands covered in icing and didn't seem to like the taste so she threw it on the floor twice. Eventually Bailey scored at least 1 cupcake and maybe 2. Definitely his lucky day.

Michael put up Clare's swing on the front porch for us and she is totally content swinging for long periods.

Monday was a day of making "cloth diapers". Can't remember what they are called but this is to save money on disposables and save the environment from plastic. But she says if they get to be too much of a pain to use, she'll switch after a trial period of 2 months.

Also on Sunday evening I installed a new ceiling light in the hall bath and a new privacy blind on the end of the front porch.

All in all, this was not like our usual visits that are at such a frantic pace getting lots of projects done that we never relax. Maybe it's my age and maybe it's because of the baby but it was less tiring this time.

Tuesday morning I got back on the road at 10:30 AM and after my many stops again (including a side trip to tour "South of the Border") I made it home at 7:30 PM.

Filled my gas tank in Gainsville and couldn't believe prices had dropped since I left to $2.15. Total gas costs for the whole trip were $119.22 and I still have a full tank. Guess I got really good gas mileage because I anticipated a total of $200. Will have to figure it out.

Waiting for me at home were 3 pairs of my super cheap bargain shoes from e-bay that I had won before I left and hallelujah I love them all. Today another pair arrived and they don't fit quite as well but I still like them. Now I only have bids on 1 more pair. Have to stop this lunacy. I'll never wear them all. I have to count but I bet I have 80 pairs of shoes. Is this an addiction???????? I can't resist but hope I can move on to another obsession soon.

I promised myself that I would try listing some things to SELL on e-bay today so maybe this can take the place of bidding and buying. Keeping my fingers crossed.