Looks like we're home for a while...

We probably wouldn't have gone Friday if we'd have known about the escalation of the gas shortage, but Madeline and I went to the zoo with several moms and kids from church. I think we're going to try to stay home for the next few days to make our tank go as far as it can.

(To see about the crazy gas shortage in Nashville-it said that 85% of gas stations were OUT OF GAS in the Nashville area-people have been lining up and waiting forever at the few stations that still have fuel-click on the tennessean link below)

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008809200383

We had fun with all of the other moms and kids. I think that there were about 10 women from church-it was so fun to have such a big group together! We love the people at church, it is so nice to have a good network here. Madeline enjoyed being out and about but I don't think she really realized what the zoo is about. She did call a couple of animals "puppy". The best part was the indoor lorikeet cage where the birds fly around you. They had the same birds at the aquarium this summer, so I think Madeline remembered them. I can't wait until she gets a little more into the zoo.

Madeline with the lorikeets (it is a little hard to get a face shot when she's so interested!)

Madeline with Eli-a cute little boy the same age. Their family goes to church with us and they live right down the street. Madeline was looking a little haggard from face planting onto cement steps at the park the day before.

By request I took a picture for my sister to show her Madeline's belly on Friday night-the skin was so stretched! This girl eats and eats and drinks and drinks until her tummy circumference is 3x the circumference of her hips. Usually she goes to bed with a giant tummy and wakes up with a huge diaper and tiny tummy. It is so funny! I'm very glad that she's getting enough to eat and consumes a decent variety for a baby. We love this kiddo! (Also, please notice the painted toenails)

New spy technology

I love my new spy technology. Raymey's cousin Marel (and so my cousin:) ) had a cool FEEDJIT counter on her blog, so I FINALLY copied her and got one too. Then it had a map one that you could add, so I have way too many counters, but it makes checking my own blog a lot more fun! So, Every breath you take, every move you make, I'll be watching you!
I hope we figure out this refinery crisis soon, or else that Raymey and I buy a hybrid:). I heard on the news this morning that gas stations are running out of gas in some places but somehow I was still surprised to drive by a station this morning with blanks where the prices should have been. I don't think I've seen that before at a place that hasn't gone out of business. Last week on Wednesday I gassed up at $3.51 at Costco in Nashville and when Raymey went back on Saturday it was $3.91. I drove to the church for volleyball this morning and The lowest I saw was $3.95 (that one has to go up, because all the others around it are $4.09) and the highest was $4.20. In Cincinnati we paid $4.00-$4.25 most the summer, but I'd really hoped prices were going down! It is just a crazy jump from last week. Doggoned hurricane. What are prices like where you are?
In other news, Madeline has started doing something funny. She likes to say "funny!!!" and then chuckles like Thurston and Lovey Howell. I don't know where she picked it up. I need to try to catch it on video. Do Raymey and I laugh like that?

5$ please...

OK, I looked on Youtube to see if I could find the clip I'm thinking of-I couldn't. In one of the old Pink Panther movies Clouseau walks into his hotel and is approached by a man. I did my best to remember how it goes.

Man:May I take your bag?
Clouseau: Yes (gives man suitcase)
Man:May I take your coat?
Clouseau: Of course (takes off coat and gives to man)
Man: May I take your hat?
Clouseau: Yes, thank you (hands man hat)
Man: Good Day (bows slightly)
(Man takes suitcase, coat, and hat and walks out the door, hops in a taxi and drives off. Clouseau stands watching, dumbfounded)

I was reminded of this movie in Atlanta. We pulled into an all-day-parking lot and the man came up dressed in slacks and a dress shirt and he was talking on his headset. He charged us the 5 dollars and gave us our parking pass. We went across the street to the olympic park and Raymey had to run back to the car for sunglasses. When he got there the true parking attendant let him know that we hadn't actually met a parking attendant but a thief. So, this guy goes around taking people's money and giving them a bogus parking pass. It really was a sneaky little trick, but we're thinking, Come on, is it really worth $5 or $10 with all the risks?-go get a job at Subway. The real parking guy gave us a break so we didn't have to pay $5 twice-what a nice guy. Weird story huh?

Add Georgia to the list

So, now we've been to Alabama, Alaska (R), Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, GEORGIA, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana (K), Maryland (R), Massachusetts (R), Mississippi (K), Missouri, Montana, Nebraska (K), Nevada, New Mexico (K), New Jersey (R), New York (R),North Carolina, (R), Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennesse, Texas (R), Utah, Virginia (R), Washington, Wyoming.







Raymey's thing is to go to all of the Major League baseball stadiums that he can. So last night we went to Atlanta and saw the Braves play the Rockies (unfortunately the Rockies lost-I'm from CO so I was secretly rooting for them!). The tickets were $1 for each of us, and nothing for Madeline-how crazy is that? Also last night was $1 hotdog night. We each had hotdogs with cheese and onions on them and Madeline had hers plain. I was sick late last night and all day, so although the ballpark food was fun at the time, I've decided to swear off hotdogs for life. I don't really like them anyways, and I have too many bad associations with them. Anyways... this morning we slept in in our neat 2-room hotel room. Raymey found this cool room for $40 instead of $160)-I'm guessing it is because Thursday nights aren't really competitive. It was great to get all of the much needed rest. We then went to the Centennial Olympic Park downtown and watched the the little fountain show. On our way home we drove past the Atlanta temple. We'd have loved to spend more time in Atlanta but we had to get back for a Relief Society activity tonight. It was definitely a fun mini-vacation.

From Colorado to Utah to Tennessee!

And now a summary of our summer vacation. At my parents' house My sister and I make (and are yet to finish covering) a pinata. We find some decorations that look great as a grass skirt for Madeline. We complete the look with some leis.


Madeline goes to her first parade in Duchesne UT where we visit my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Fun!!! Madeline in her first dress-ups (well, I dressed her up and she was less than impressed!)

Madeline enjoys Granny's (Raymey's mom's) house which has a rocking chair that is just right and an amazing postcard rack which Madeline is allowed to play with!

Mamie (Madeline's special doll) takes her first bath after all our travels. Madeline is caught off guard by the paparazzi, then embraces the attention.

Daddy, Mommy, and Madeline go swimming together back home in Nashville. We had a great summer, but it is good to be back. In other news, Raymey has his job offer! It is official, we'll be returning to Cincinnati next summer where Raymey will take the Ohio bar exam and start work in September. We're feeling really good about it because we like the area and Raymey likes the firm. Yea!!!

Summer Pics

I need to figure out how to add a slideshow. I don't know how. Right now we have a good internet signal, so I've got to add as many pics as I can. I'll write more at some point, but here is a summary of July in Kentucky and Ohio.

Us at a Reds game. Madeline discovers sunglasses!

Madeline plays at a park close to our place in Kentucky next to the Ohio River. Raymey gets a really cool looking bruise from a softball at one of his games.

Madeline plays with frog noises, looks at herself in the mirror, and "measures up" at the aquarium down the street from where we lived. She loved all the fish, and we enjoyed going there so many times this summer.

Madeline's first pigtails, Madeline falls asleep while eating a cracker (how is that possible?), and sleepy Madeline jealously guarding "Madeline" (has anyone read the books-yeah, it is the Madeline from the stories) because she thinks I'll steal her.

Madeline's first Swimming Lesson