Around Town

Just a few pictures of around town and home...The kids met me at Chick-Fil-A one day, and they really LOVE the cows...pretty much anybody in a furry custome, they need a hug.  And mom bought us some halloween costumes to try on.  Sam has been wanting a more scary costume, and Magan found the wolfman outfit.  He loves it, and wore it outside that day...I was doing some hedge work, and when I saw him I just starting running.  He ran after me, and after catching me hiding behind a small tree, continued to chase me.  I kept stumbling like in an 80s horror flick till finally he attacked and got me...I still can't figure out why wolverine didn't help out any.  Sam asked me later with his little grin "Dad, did you really think I was the wolf?"  I love that boy.  

And some strange phenomena has occurred lately where Davis has really latched onto that little sis.  They have been having a great time playing together.  Belle went out with me the other day as the boys were getting off of the bus.  She was hollaring "Sam...Davis" as they walked up the hill to the door.  Sam gave her a hug, then Davis looked at her with a little annoyance...Belle then held up her arms to Dave and gave him a big smile...He couldn't help it, he just started smiling and shaking his head, giving his sister a big hug.  He knew that she was just too cute to not hug.

Date Night

Magan and I are BIG fans of Mike Birbiglia (www.birbigs.com) and we were super excited to actually get a date night while his movie was still playing.  Luckily we found the one theater in Birmingham that was playing "Sleepwalk with Me" (www.sleepwalkmovie.com) in Crestwood.   We got to the theater late, so we knew that we could not go to any of the "sit-down" restuarants, so when we saw a "Wings and Waffles", I had to try it.  

I've got a friend at work that told me about Gladys Knights Chicken and Waffles restaurant in Atlanta, and said it was awesome.  I told him that I had never heard of that combination, and he informed me that it was a "black thing".  Well, now that I've had Wings and Waffles, I will tell you it is a "white thing" too.  The wings were sooo good.  Spices were awesome.  And the waffle, hot and brushed with melted butter, wasn't too shabby either.  Now Magan on the other hand, who was probably thinking more along the lines of a salad and breadsticks from Olive Garden, was not as excited about her chicken fingers and fries.

But we did both enjoy the movie, even though the theater was a little outdated and had a terrible sound system.  The movie was funny, and because it was based on some true life events...even funnier.  Back at home after our date, Magan even made me some Apple Julep (part apple juice, part orange juice, part pineapple juice, whole sorts of goodness) which I am drinking right now.  OK, mini-sessions are over...mouse story may or may not come later...another date night tonight at one of our favorites Stones Throw Restaurant in Mt. Laurel.  

Supper Club (Goodbye Cudes)

Our Engineering Supper Club that once met weekly, now meets about twice a year, and from the number of kids, you see why.  It is your typical story...boy meets other engineering boys in Dothan, one moves away, then all others move to that same location, then boys get busy with life, then one really big bald Asian boy decides to move back to Dothan to be a supervisor.  

Anyway, we got back together to wish farewell to Rod and Leslie Cude.  They live like 7 miles from me know, and he works a floor below me but...life happens, so this was one rare occurrence for us all to get together.  We had a great time, and are still eating Magan's left over baked beans from this meal.  

Labor day @ Aunt Carol's

I think this is becoming a tradition to get together at Carol's for Labor Day Lunch, and judging from the enormous amounts of Delicious food that was available, I hope it continues for a long long time.  This was a good chance to visit with family, and rest outside for awhile.  Carol and Troy have really fixed up their back yard, and it is like walking through one of the design show backyards...the ones AFTER they fix it up.  

And nothing says Labor Day like shooting off a rocket.  We have not shot any rockets off since last year, and I had recently purchased some new engines, so I brought it along for all the cousins to watch.  Now rocket launches are fun to watch, and even more fun to try and catch the rocket as it falls back to Earth with its parachute.  BUT, when a rocket is traveling about 800 feet in the air, and the wind is blowing, the rocket catching sometimes does not go as planned.  We shot the rocket, then ran to catch the rocket, then saw it drift over the neighbors yard, over the neighbors house, into the large soybean field, then really far into the large soybean field....Well, the pictures show that I got it, but I can't say I felt real good jumping through that many beans to find the rocket.  Luckily the parachute is black and white and easy to see when in the midst of  green.