This just in...

...I figured I would take this opportunity to get one final post in for the month of August. I regret not posting more, but it has been an utter whirlwind of activity around here. The storm seems to be subsiding a bit, so I wanted to drop a line and let everyone know we are all doing well here in the Tennessee Valley. Annabelle is doing well and continuing to soak up knowledge like a sponge. She isn't walking yet, but she has become a championship couch surfer. Her newest thing is waving hello, which she does to anyone and everyone in the vicinity. Wifey was under the weather for a bit, but she shows signs of improved health daily. Business has settled down from the frenetic pace it was at for the past four months or so and I am finally getting some much needed downtime. This weekend is Labor Day, the first UT Vols home football game, and the annual "Boomsday" celebration. I will be working during the game at our sister store near campus, so I will get to experience the madness firsthand. Luckily, Wifey and I will get to attend the next home game against Air Force. That will be the second Tennessee Volunteers football game we attended together, and Wifey's second college football game ever! Go Vols! I hope you are all doing well as we approach this fall together. Enjoy these last few weeks of summer and have a great night. Thanks for keeping the faith, I'm back!

Flexing mussels

Since it has been a while since I have stretched my kitchen legs, I decided to do a little cooking for my lady today. Thanks to a fantastic recipe for mussels courtesy of Mantia's website we enjoyed a delicious dinner of Italian-style moules. For dessert, I whipped out some creme brulee courtesy of Alton Brown. We are both enjoying our shiny happy tummies and watching a great movie called Murderball. I highly recommend you give all of these things a try the next time the feeling moves you. Until then, enjoy and have fun!

Lovely ladies 

Living it up at her first bday party 

 

Mmmmm, balloon! 

 

 

Opening her first birthday present 

The tomato plant thrives! 

The conquered challenge 

This year 

Last year 

This year 

Last year 

This year 

Last year 

Home again!

So I am back home safely after a fabulous vacation. Annabelle had a great time at the beach, as did her parents. Aside from my painful sunburn, we are none the worse for wear. It was fantastic to come home to a furnished house and our garden is still doing well thanks to Tommy! The tomato plant has nearly doubled in size since we left on vacation. I will try to get a pic up ASAP. Today at work I was astonished to see several mothers encouraging their children to steal gumballs from our machine when it malfunctioned, giving out free gumballs. I reminded them that taking things without paying for them is called stealing, but they were loath to admit their indiscretion and pay for the gumballs their children had stuffed into their cheeks. One mother sent her child back in with a quarter, a gesture which would have been admirable, if the kid's cheeks weren't so stretched out that I could count all 4 gumballs on each side. He nearly ejected a few during his apology, which was insincere at best. Ugh. What is wrong with some of these parents? Truly incredible. Nanna(a.k.a. MIL) is in town for a few days and we are enjoying her immensely. Granddad arrives for Annabelle's birthday on Thursday and we are getting pumped for her party on Friday. Hope things are well in your vida, and don't steal any gumballs!