Fust Time In Looziana?

As you've probably heard, Jean got a new job within Deere. She's got a territory that includes northern Louisiana and a bit of southern Arkansas. At the end of October and early in November, we moved to West Monroe, LA, which is in Ouachita Parish. No, Ouachita is not pronounced the way you think it is. Neither is anything else down here.

If the news of our move is new to you, it's probably because we don't like you. So, you know, straighten up and fly right, and maybe we'll tell you about stuff like this next time.

Anyhoo, it's very different living in the South for the first time. We haven't had the pleasure of the hot and humid summers yet, which is going to suck big time, but the winter has been a lot warmer than either of us has experienced before. I went for a bike ride a few weeks ago. Yes. In January.

I could get used to that.

And to the Great Egrets and Blue Herons that hang out in the wetland area behind our house - big birds who mind their own business and remind us that we aren't in Kansas anymore (there, got that line out of the way).

The people have been pretty good. We've joined a biking/triathlon club, and that's allowed us to meet a few people. Though, I've got to say, I've had no less than five people (seriously, five - from the club, neighbors, random people in restaurants) who, when I told them that we had just moved from the KC area and that we were raised in Washington state, immediately raised one eyebrow, cocked their head slightly and asked, "Fust time in Looziana?"

This concerns me. What, precisely, is it that they think is in store for me/us?

So, in the last three months or so, we've moved, celebrated Thanksgiving with Seth and Deb in Little Rock, gone out to Washington for three weeks around Christmas and New Year. Adam turned two. Yes, two years old. And now Ray and Beth are visiting for a few days. Oh, and the Saints won the Super Bowl. That's why the blog has been neglected for a while... Yeah, that's it. It's not because I was lazy; it's because of all the stuff we've been doing, which would have been great material for blog updates, except we were so busy. Frankly, I'm offended you would even suggest laziness. Maybe that's why we didn't tell you about the move. Ha-rumph!

So, a couple of pictures to hold you over until I finish the posts chronicling all that stuff we did:

Is This Thing On?

Updates to come later this week. First, I must watch our new community's favorite professional sports franchise compete in some athletic contest, which I understand is a bowl of some sort. Super, even.

In the meantime, enjoy this picture of a very, very tired Adam taking in the local Mardi Gras parade last night. If he looks weighed down by beads and other booty, it's because he is, though he steadfastly refused to part with any of it.
UPDATE 5 MINUTES AFTER GAME ENDS: The town is asplodin'. Yelling, honking, fireworks, etc.

The War On Christmas Continues Apace

As Blackmail Material Goes, This Is Gold

Adam Is Coming To Town

We head northwest Wednesday, after an overnight stay at Seth and Deb's in Little Rock Tuesday night. We'll be in Washington for about 3 weeks, so there should be plenty of time for visiting. We're not looking forward to the cross-country flight with a very active toddler, but we are looking forward to getting there and seeing everyone.

I'll try to update this little ol' corner of the intertubes sometime before we leave, but I make no promises.

Where has the time gone?

by Jean

It's been a while since we posted - new job for Jean, relocation to Louisiana, house hunting trips, visits from Jean's mom and dad, wedding we attended, Halloween and Thanksgiving have all come and gone. Here are a few pics, all in the wrong order....
We crossed the Arkansas River and Adam still had get up and go. Jean did not.

Up on the "big bridge" as Adam calls it.

Adam loves "Odin Doggie" who we saw for Thanksgiving. Luckily Odin is very good with kids!

Washing hands in the "new house."

Adam helping to unpack boxes and paper!

Adam spent a lot of time staring at and talking about the "big truck" that delivered all our belongings. In fact, it has been a month, and he mentioned it again today!

What a busy bee - here we are attending a "Fall Festival" at a local church. Our next door neighbor invited us the first day we were in the house (Halloween!)!

Eating dinner on our camp table, with our camp chairs and plastic plates. No real belongings will arrive for another week, so it is packandplay, air mattress, and not much else!

Here is the new house - Adam and I stayed for the first week with only this much furniture!

Adam before the big move - pretty cool!

Raising the Boy Properly

Not sure how well the sound will come out on these, so crank it up to 11:

Because The Internet Was Running Low On Nudity

For as long as they've known each other, Big Mac (The Wee Dray) has been trying to get Adam to be her friend - or even to notice her - largely without success. Then she came over for a mini-pool date, and she had her man. For a while.

Oh well. Boys. Get used to it Kenzi...

Adam See, Adam Doo Doo

Adam hasn't shown a tremendous interest in potty-training. We've left his options open - he's got a couple of potties and we've talked to him about the whole "Wouldn't it be nice to be a Big Boy?" thing - but he's just not interested yet. You can't force these things. But we are ever vigilant that he will show any sign at all.

So far, the clearest signal we've seen is that he imitates the dog's... uh... evacuation technique. When he sees the dog doing her dirty, sinful business, he yells "Doggy!", does a half- or full-turn, then squats in the yard.
It's a start, I guess.

Stomp Flop The Yard

Gravity is a harsh mistress. - The Tick

You know, someone of Adam's size really should show gravity a little more respect: