I feel like we’ve returned to our “normal” lives finally.

• Eric took the Jeep to work today, so I have a car again.
• I made and finished my to-do list yesterday!
• I was in bed (reading) at 9:30 last night, and we were both ready for bed about 10.  Today I actually feel rested!
• I actually got my dinner dishes cleaned up after dinner, so my kitchen was clean this morning.  Lovely!

Yep…normal is a good thing. 

Of course, today is pretty open right now.  I guess that means I have the opportunity to get into all sorts of trouble today!  We shall see what I find for myself.

Other random updates:

• My sister let me come with her on Monday to J’s 6-month checkup (or “well visit” or whatever they call them now).  He had to get shots.  He gets very mad about that. It’s kind of funny, really.  But I liked her pediatrician and it was nice to see how things go (before I have to manage 2 children through that process!).
• On Monday night, I ran to the grocery store so that Eric could have my car on Tuesday (and I could have stuff to eat!).  I accidentally left my coupons in the cart at the store.  I didn’t realize it until I got home.  Now I have to start collecting them all over again (and get a new container for them).  Grrrr!!
• Our new neighbors are putting up a fence this week.  No…it’s not because of us!  They have two dogs and don’t wish to use a leash to let them out for the rest of their lives.  But I think it’s going to make our yard look A LOT smaller than it does right now!  Oh well.  “Good fences make good neighbors” – right?

Happy Thursday!

The Jeep is still not fixed.  The garage is still a mess.  Eric has my car again today.  The radiator seemed like such a simple fix…but apparently not!

Last night after work, Eric took the hose/connection he needed to match to a Napa Auto Parts store (recommended by another Napa from Monday).  He got back about 5:00 pm…no luck.  They took one look at it and said they couldn’t help.

So about 5:30, we drove down to Jeg’s Performance on Broad Street…he sympathized, even brainstormed possible places we could go (up on Sawmill or Home Depot), but no luck.  The connection was non-standard, and therefore, hard to match.

Next, we tried Home Depot (it was right down the road). We looked in their fittings section.  A sales guy tried very graciously to help.  No luck.  Turns out the Chinese-made radiator came with metric fittings.  No one carries those.  His suggestion: go to a plumbing supply place out by the airport.  His question: What kind of car is this?!?  (um…a Jeep).  He was expecting some old foreign thing, I guess.

Before we left last night, Eric had boxed up the radiator and brought it along.  We stopped at Advance Auto Parts.  Eric explained what he needed.  They had one radiator in stock.  They guy let him look at it before purchase.  It had lots of fittings for a variety of needs.  Perfect.  We bought it. 

Then we drove across the street to AutoZone and returned the other one.  The guy seemed confused that it wouldn’t work (so were we!), but he did take it back.  We drove home. 

Where we stand now:  The new radiator will work.  The new fittings will work.  But Eric needs more hose before he can finish the project.  He will be stopping on his way home today to pick some up.  The Jeep should be fixed by tomorrow.

Sheesh!

    We got our first baby gifts this weekend while we were out visiting the family farm. 

From a family friend:

From my husband’s grandma:

And from my MIL (I think she actually bought terry cloth to make these):

Of course, I do hope that we don’t get EVERYTHING in pink and blue for the next three months (I won’t hold my breath).  I’m a firm believer in putting children in a variety of colors, regardless of gender.  Actually, I told my MIL that what I need next is 2 pairs of green booties so that no matter which one I grab, I can be sure it’ll work!  But that being said…they are all pretty darn cute (and the givers more than generous!), so I need to watch my attitude and not complain!

As for the weekend itself…here’s the recap.

Friday: We made homemade pizza for dinner.  And I think we just vegged out some, too.  I don’t remember…

Saturday:  As my in-laws had a lunch engagement, we didn’t hurry out to the farm.  I did get to watch some of the OSU game, so that was fun.  Then we threw our stuff in the car and headed out.  There was a birthday party for Eric’s grandpa that night, so we actually got to see a lot of the family and a couple of younger cousins we rarely connect with.  The one sad part was that they made homemade ice cream, and I couldn’t have any (uncooked custard made with raw eggs and unpasteurized whole milk almost straight from the cow).  It would’ve been fantastic…I think I’ll need them to make some in January when I can have it again…

Then (at 9:30), the guys started to watch a movie projected on the barn.  It was fun to sit outside and watch Spiderman 2 on the “big screen” with huge numbers of stars overhead, but it was almost midnight before we got to bed.  Yikes!  I can’t stay up that late anymore!!  Oh…and we discovered that our girl is a night owl.  Either that, or she really likes Tobey Maguire as Spiderman.  She moved more than ever before while we were sitting out there! 

Sunday:  Church in the morning at my in-laws’ little country church.  It was good to see everyone out there, of course, but I had trouble focusing (the message was admittedly “borrowed” from another pastor – good thoughts, but hard to follow)…oh well.  Then my FIL wanted to take us “to the airport” after church.  We had no idea what that meant, but we went along.  It turns out that some very extended family (Grandma Hogue’s sister’s daughter and family, I think) runs a grill at a little area airport where small planes can refuel or stop for a bite.  So we got dinner (very yummy burgers and chicken with Velvet ice cream for dessert) and watched planes take off and land.  Actually very fun!

After a quiet afternoon, then the Hogue side joined us for a supper meal.  We had a lot of fun, Grandpa Hogue told very bad jokes (very badly!), and the last group left around 9:30 or later.  So it was after that when we could finally gather our things and head home.  We got back around midnight.  

Monday:  I did not do much all day.  I made a menu/grocery list for September, but it took a long time because I couldn’t focus on it.  I did finally finish it though.  I also did run the dishwasher and read a bit and put some of the travel things away.  But other than that…nothing. 

Eric, however, was very productive.  The radiator in his Jeep has been leaking, so he went and bought one in the morning and spent the day fixing things.  First he fixed our garage door (which breaks periodically) and then he worked on replacing his radiator.  He got it drained, removed and the new one partially installed when he discovered that one last connection wouldn’t work.  The hose from the old radiator that runs away from the radiator (to who knows where…) can’t be connected to the new radiator.  And no one sells the hose.  So one step from being completely finished…and he was stuck.  Grrr!

So hopefully, the Napa Auto Parts we heard about will be able to help by creating a new hose for him (soon).  But until then, he’s driving my car to work.  Which means that I’m stuck at home again.  Not really thrilled about this fact, since I have errands I could run.  But c’est la vie, I guess.  Hmmm…I wonder how the babies and I will amuse ourselves today…I guess we shall see!

Happy Tuesday!