Dear Becca & Grant,
                  Thanksgiving really didn't turn out how we originally planned it. Mamaw caught the bug we have all been suffering from the past few weeks from Becca. She really didn't feel like going with us to a restaurant. Auntie Lynn and her small brood went in their direction and me and my even smaller brood went in our own direction. We planned on doing some shopping after we had eaten so we headed on out. The nicer restaurants were absolutely packed so we decided to have our Thanksgiving Meal 2007 at The Waffle House over in Hamburg. Mom had a fiesta cheesesteak omelet and coffee; I had two eggs over medium, grits, hash browns with all of the toppings, grits, toast, sausage and raspberry cola; Becca had a ham and cheese omelet and a soda and Grant had a bottle of Nestle Good Start or as Becca calls it "ewwy milk". We then went to Garden Ridge for Christmas lights and assorted decorations. We had planned on going to Wal-Mart but none of us were really up to it so we went on home.
      The next day I started putting up the outdoor decorations.I hung the icicle lights and came up one string short and laid the light nets over my bushes. One of the nets wouldn't light so I had to get so I had to make a trip to the store for more lights. We had to go to Uncle Mike's for a day after Thanksgiving meal so we made a quick trip to Wal-Mart in Lawrenceburg for lights. We stopped back at the house on our way from Lawrenceburg to Mike's to pick up a pie.
      The meal was actually quite good. It wasn't the same tradition wise because it wasn't on the day it should have been on and Granny wasn't there. I will be glad when people quit trying to hang onto dead traditions. I love tradition but when those traditions have become void of feeling I am ready to move on and make new traditions. I won't go into my views on tradition and the holidays because I've done that time and time again here in this blog so I will let it go.
      We all got home and the kids went on to bed. I stayed up and put the lights on the tree. We had two strings that wouldn't light up so I had to use two strings that I had planned on using for outside. I was cursing all Christmas lights by this point but my lighting problems weren't over yet. I got the tree put up and I think it looked rather nice. We had decided to wait on decorating the tree so Mom could be with us. Luckily Mom got to come home early Saturday and we decorated the tree Saturday night when Becca got home from going with Mamaw & Papaw to pick out their live tree. It took us forever to decorate the tree because Becca was helping us. She had lots of fun but it was still frustrating for her Mom and me. She kept losing the hooks and bunching up the ornaments in one place. Eventually we had the tree looking great and it was time for Becca to place the star on top. I plugged in the star and the cursed thing didn't work. I changed the fuses and all of the bulbs but still no lights. We have to get a new star. Once we get a new star though the tree will look magical. Later that night I looked outside and our icicle lights had quit working so now I have to figure out what the problem is there. I hate Christmas lights. The icicle lights are all new because I decided I didn't want to have to fight none working lights every year. Oh, how I hate Christmas lights.
      Sunday Auntie Lynn and Uncle Rodney went Christmas shopping so Jacob stayed with us for awhile. Becca was excited for him to be visiting. I could tell he was getting bored after awhile and Becca was crawling all over him as he was trying to surf on my laptop. I figured I would go watch a movie with Becca in her room so we went back there and poor sweet Jacob followed us back there and Becca climbed right on top of his head. I made Becca and Jacob a frozen pizza and fed the baby. Eventually Jacob started wrestling with Becca in the floor and I know Becca had an absolute ball and I think Jacob enjoyed it as well.
      Monday Becca went back to school after being out for two weeks due to sickness and Mom adjusting to her new job. After school we went to the Fayette Mall. We ate at the food court there. Mom and Becca had pizza and I had five way chili from Gold Star Chili. We then went to see Santa Claus. Becca had gotten a little nervous but she did great. The over priced picture was nice and Becca told Santa she wanted a Baby Alive. Santa told Mom that he's had an awful lot of requests for Baby Alive this year. I happen to know that Becca will be getting Baby Alive for Christmas this year but not from Santa. Mamaw & Papaw have already gotten it for her.
      This is big news. Becca has pooped in the potty for six straight days. If she can stop peeing in her pull-up she will be completely potty trained. I am so proud of her.
      Well, It's crazy late and I should go to sleep so I will close out this post. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
                  Happy Thanksgiving! This Thanksgiving is gonna be a little different than any I have known we have ever known before. For one thing the beloved matriarch, Granny is no longer with us. As a result people are playing a little fast and loose with my beloved Thanksgiving traditions. We still plan on having a big dinner but instead of doing it on Thanksgiving as it should be done we are going to be having it on Friday. We are going to be going out with Mamaw, Papaw, Auntie Lynn, Uncle Rodney and their brood Thursday to Golden Corral. I was ready to let the big Thanksgiving go and have it replaced with a smaller gathering of Mamaw, Papaw and their progeny. I suppose this is a transition year. I've never known a transition year and I don't like it. New Traditions will replace the old ones and for Becca and Grant the new traditions will be the way things were always done. I'm just sad to see the Thanksgiving gatherings I have known since childhood fade away into the past. I'm a very sentimental guy in that regard. After Thanksgiving at Golden Corral our immediate family will be doing a little bit of shopping.
      I think Becca and Grant are finally getting over the bug they've both had for the past week. Things got real bad this past weekend. Mom had to work all weekend and I had come down with the bug as well so none of us felt very good. I was grumpy and tired and the kids just had to suffer through my foul mood. Mom was working second and third shifts this weekend so Becca slept with me Saturday night because I didn't feel like fighting the bedtime battle with her. Becca woke up and told me that she had pooped. She had a bad case of the diarrhea. I cleaned her up and sat her on her potty and I sat down on my potty because I was having the same problem. Becca thought it was funny that we both were having "poo-poo water" as she called it. I really didn't find it all that amusing. The next morning Becca and I both woke up before we were ready to. Mom arrived home about that time and went to bed. I asked Becca if she was hungry and she said she was. She wanted waffles or as she calls them, awfuls with Sausage links and chocolate milk. I fixed her her breakfast as she sprawls out on the kitchen floor. I ask her if she wants to go back to bed after breakfast and she says that she does. Now when Becca tells you she wants to go to bed she has to be feeling terrible. She eats about half of an awful, half of a sausage links and big cup of chocolate milk. I take her to her room and get her snuggled into her bed and as I was giving her a kiss she proceeded to vomit on my face. I have never been able to handle the sight, sound or smell of vomit before but I have realized that when it's your own child in distress I don't give it a second thought. I just held her as she had two more big upchucks and I cleaned her up the best I could with what I had at hand, primarily the parts of her bed sheets that she didn't vomit on. Sheets that have now been trashed. I took her into the bathroom and washed the vomit from her hair and her body, dried her off, put her in a comfy gown and put her in bed with her Mommy with a trash can by her side.
      I felt a little better Sunday but Becca still felt puny. We made it through the day though. Mom got home at around midnight and she and I went to bed. In the night Becca who never leaves her bed once we put her in it stirred us from our sleep by trying to climb in bed with us. She was covered in vomit once again. I took her and washed her off. She was much too jovial to have just vomited all over herself. She gets like that when she gets nervous and scared. The three of us tried to sleep together but Mom couldn't sleep with Becca tossing and turning and chatting us up so she went and slept on the couch while Becca and I slept in the bed. We very seldom allow Becca to sleep in our bed because we both feel that that is a terrible habit to get started but in the case of illness we do make exceptions.
      I felt like crap the next morning so I called in from work. We still all felt terrible but we still had a pretty nice day. Mom had to go to work for some classes for a few hours so it was just the three of us, Becca,Grant and me. Becca's had a few more bouts of diarrhea and so has poor Grant. I on the other hand am still battling the "poo-poo water" bug. But all in all we seem to be on the road to recovery.
      Well, I had better close out this post because we have our Thanksgiving dinner at Golden Corral at 12:30 tomorrow afternoon and then we'll probably be out shopping the rest of the day. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Rebecca and Grant,
                           Today Auntie Mary and Papaw Lawrence came up to see the two of you. Auntie Mary and Papaw Lawrence have never seen Grant in person. They really thought you were the cat's meow, little boy. Becca, they have always thought you were one of the most beautiful kids on earth. Of course, they have always been right.
   We all went to the Flea Mall and walked around a while, after we had hung out here for a bit. We went to KFC and had the buffet for a late lunch/early supper and Becca, you didn't eat half as much as Desaray did. I guess that's why she weighs 30 pounds.
   Daddy told you tonight that he heard Desaray ate more than you did. You informed him that was why Desaray was big. Daddy about laughed his head off, Becca. You really are a funny girl sometimes.
   It had been a long time since we saw Papaw Lawrence. He was doing much better than when we last heard from him. I bought their lunch because I wasn't gonna take Papaw Lawrence's money away from him, he only gets so much a month. He's going to be 54 in four days so I guess we can count that as his Thanksgiving/Birthday present.
   Auntie Mary was glad to see you Becca, and as always you were glad to see her. Auntie Mary sure loves you a whole lot. When she left you threw a fit wanting to go with her, and when I said we couldn't go with her you said we should go sometime soon. I think we are going next Tuesday. You saw that Desaray had left her blanket and it upset you greatly. You informed me that she would be cold without it. We're going to take it to her Tuesday when we go. I'm even going to let you carry it down there.
      Grant you were your usual happy jovial self. Papaw Lawrence got to hold you. He sure thought a lot of you. So did Auntie Mary. Whenever she held you, you could really see just how much you looked like her. You are a dead ringer for Auntie Mary. That's not necessarily a bad thing. She's a pretty girl. Well, she can be when she cleans up. I don't know if you know this, but Daddy and I are very proud of the two of you. You are really beautiful children. Of course we would think so, but we hear that from complete strangers all the time. You kids are really something to behold.
   Everyone is still a little sick, but getting better. Now it's the diarrhea end of the illness. I hate that stuff, because it makes your all's little butts burn like fire because of all the stomach acid in it. Poor Daddy has had it for days. He has issues with it anyway and this has made it no better.
  Daddy is going to be off work for a while and I am really looking forward to spending some time with him and our little family. It's going to be great to have him home with us. I am so excited about the upcoming holiday season, which is unusual for me. I usually contain my excitement quite well but as we speak my left knee is jumping up and down with anticipation. We are so blessed to have each other and I know we'll have a wonderful First Christmas together as a whole family. Mommy loves Rebecca and Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
                  The kids got sicker as the day went on. Mom woke me up and told me that I was going to call in to work so I could help her with our two vomit machines. We took the both of them to the pediatrician. We stopped at Dairy Queen on the way and got Becca a blue raspberry Mr. Misty which she proceeded to throw up in the truck. Poor Grant vomited right in the examination room in front of the doctor. The doctor told us that they were both mildly dehydrated but to limit their intake of fluids. We were to only give them spoons of pedialyte and gradually increase the amount. Mom also said that she thinks she is coming down with the bug. Mom went into Kroger to get medicine and stuff while the kids and I waited in the Explorer. Becca kept telling me she was thirsty and I have a hard time telling her no. I gave her a tiny sip of soda and made her promise not to tell Mom. She assured me that the soda would be our little secret. When Mom got back out to the truck Becca asked her Mom for a drink. Mom told her she couldn't drink anything just yet and Becca, the little rat, said that I had given her a drink.
      I went on in to work when I got my little family back to the house. I got in a half a day's work. I called the house later that night and Mom informed me that everyone was doing much better. When I got home at one in the morning Becca was up and camped out on the floor of her bedroom because she had vomited all over her bed again. She eventually went to sleep in her room with the big light on. Grant woke up and was able to take five ounces at around 3:30 and it's now 5:30 and he has managed to keep it down so far. He's asleep in his bouncer here in the living room. He's kind of restless but he's not waking up.
      I hope they feel better in the morning. If they don't we are to take them back in to the pediatrician. I do think Grant is doing better. It's kind of hard to tell because neither child has really acted as if they are sick. Becca has been her normal energetic self and Grant has been grinning and hollering up a storm. They both act as if they felt fine except both of them have been puking their heads off.
      Well, that's it for the Lanham health update. Everybody in the house is sick except for me and it may be a matter of hours before I start puking my ample guts out. I don't wanna get sick. I'm gonna close this out and carry Grant into our room so we can keep an eye on him as we all snooze. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
                  Both Grant and Becca are sick this morning. Becca has vomited twice already tonight and Grant has as well. Mom called the pediatrician and they told her there was a stomach virus going around. They told her the kids should shake this in 12 to 24 hours. I hate it when the kids are sick. Neither one of them act as if they were sick but when you are vomiting you are sick. Becca was running all about the house talking a mile a minute about her big girl spit-up and about Grant's boy spit-up. Grant has been his grinning smiley self.
      Becca has been giving us fits ever since the time change. I know I mentioned this last week but it hasn't even gotten a bit better. Every night has become a battle. I don't know if she's really afraid of the dark or if she has just decided to be obstinate. This morning she told me her tummy was hurting but I chalked that up to another excuse not to sleep. I felt like quite the sheep when she came out of her room covered in vomit. Becca will not go to sleep easily at all anymore. She's said she is afraid. We've given her a flashlight, a fiber optic angel that she has named Cheerio Granny because Granny is now an angel and her angel has a halo that looks like a big cheerio, left her door open, and even given her a pacifier. Nothing seems to work. See what fun it is to have a head strong toddler.
      We had our Christmas pictures done last Friday. They turned out very nice. Becca had the most adorable Christmas dress on and Grant had on a snow flake sweater. Before we got our pictures taken Becca had her nails painted at the nail salon next to Portrait Innovations. After pictures we went and had Chinese food. Mom & I wanted Cracker Barrel but Becca absolutely insisted that we have Chinese and since she has become the boss we had Chinese. She just likes eating Chinese dumplings with chop sticks.
      I'm working second shift this week. That's why I am up so early on a Thursday morning. I suppose I would be up anyway what with the kids being sick and all. Something funny has struck me about dear old Mom. When she was younger she lived alone in some of the roughest parts of Lexington and never thought twice about it and now when I'm not at home late at night she becomes frightened here in our little suburban house in our quiet little neighborhood. She had a bad dream the other night and waited up until I got home to go to bed. I fell in love with Mom when she was a head strong teenager with an attitude and now that she has become an over protective mother who gets easily offended by the least little off color remark I love her even more.
      Mom started her new job this past weekend. It was hard on all of us. She left out of here Saturday morning early and didn't get back until almost midnight and she had to be back in again Sunday morning. She didn't see Becca or Grant at all during the weekend and she hated that. She seems to enjoy what she is doing though. We have heard that Cardinal Hill is a difficult place to get hired on at. They seem to be a really great employer. I hope this works out for her. I has Becca and Grant all weekend and they survived. I forgot to give Grant a bath Saturday night and Becca managed to nearly destroy the house but all in all we had a pretty good weekend. I'll get better at managing my two rug rats without their dear old Mother around. Mom has always had a big job staying home and managing the house. I have always respected what she does for our family. I wish it was summer so I could take them down to Mamaw & Papaw's and toss them both in the pool. Grant will be old enough to go in the water when it gets warm again.
      Mom started on her career in medicine for real this past week and it looks like Papaw is calling his career to and end. He signed his retirement papers yesterday. His last day will be in late February. I know I will miss him being out there. I don't think it will be the same at General Electric without my Dad. He's worked hard all of his life though and he deserves to do his own thing now. I am so happy for both Papaw and for Mamaw. I better think about getting a more fuel efficient car though. I'm gonna lose my ride.
      Monday was my fortieth birthday. I'm the big Four-O. I may be getting older but my wife is still ten years younger than I am and that will always be coll. I have to admit it was much cooler when I was 29 and she was still a teenager but still I have myself a young cute woman. She just turned 30 this past July. She's hardly out of her twenties and I am heading into the outskirts of middle age. I may be forty but I don't feel a day over fortyseven. Only nineteen or twenty more years until I can retire myself.
      I'm gonna be off the week after Thanksgiving. Your Mom seemed really pleased when she heard that. She said I could take Becca to preschool and go get her and she could sleep in that week. Mom works hard and I have no trouble doing that. I suppose we will go down to Hazard while I am off as well. Auntie Mary hasn't seen Grant yet.
      I reckon that's all for this morning. I need to go to bed. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
                  A post in the middle of the week; what do y'all think about that? I'm off for Veteran's Day Monday and we have a one day layoff Friday so I have a long weekend coming up. Next week I have to work second shift for the remaining four days of that week. I get 10% on the hour for working second shift. I guess that's pretty good but I am going to have to drive myself instead of riding with Dad so that just might eat up the extra money. I hope it doesn't. I volunteered for four hours overtime tomorrow night to make up for the Friday I'm getting off without pay. Overtime pays time and a half so that will be a rather nice chunk of change. I don't look forward to twelve hours inside of General Electric but I will appreciate it when pay day rolls around.
      Big news on the Momma job hunt front. Mom got a job working for the Cardinal Hill Unit at Samaritan Hospital as a CNA. She had another job offered to her last week but it was only going to be eight dollars an hour so she decided not to take it. Good for her. Your Mom interviewed at maybe half a dozen places and put in applications at another dozen places and she ended up getting the very first job she interviewed for. I think that this is the one she really wanted. The hours are going to be rough on all of us and especially on dear ole' Mom. She works 16 hours on Saturday and 16 hours on Sunday. The first month she is going to have to do a bunch of extra training sessions during the week but after the first month she will only have to go in to train one day a month. She's going to be making nearly $13 an hour so that's really going to help us out a lot. My new responsibility is laundry. I am to wash, dry, fold and put it away. Of course I am also supposed to step up in helping to keep the house nice and tidy. I am more than willing to do my share. I am so proud of Mom and I think she's proud of herself.
      Becca has been acting afraid of the dark the past few nights. It probably has something to do with the time change we had recently. Becca isn't used to going to bed when it is so dark outside. I'm sure she will get over it in no time.
      This morning around six as I was putting on my jacket to go to work I heard Becca calling out. I went into her room and her blankets were in the floor. I covered her back up and she asked why I had my jacket on and I told her I was going to work and she looked at me with a puzzled look on her face and she asked me why I was going to work when it was still dark. I thought it was kind of cute.
      Well, I'm gonna look at the boob tube for a bit before I lay down. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!

Dear Becca & Grant,
                  Greetings children o'mine and other interested parties. It's a little after midnight on Sunday morning. We set the clocks back this morning so everyone gets an extra hour of weekend. I have my wireless television headphones on right now as I have Total Nonstop Action Wrestling playing on the accurately named boob tube.
      This past week was Halloween. Becca went as a pretty purple and pink fairy and little Grant was a tiny giraffe. We got Becca's costume at Cracker Barrel a month or so ago. We paid more for it than we really wanted to but it was such a pretty costume and you did say you wanted to be either a fairy or a butterfly. After we got Becca's we went to Baby's "R" Us and bought a pumpkin suit for Grant. He ended up getting too big for the pumpkin suit. Someone gave a a second hand pea pod suit but that suit was just a little too big so we ended up getting him a giraffe costume. Becca's been very insistent that Grant get a giraffe for Christmas from either Mom & Dad or Santa Claus.
      Becca was awful excited about Halloween. She remembered how much fun she had last year trick or treating. She had a Halloween party at preschool; they actually called it a Fall party because of the controversial nature of the day. Well, at least I assume that is the reason it was a Fall Party and not a Halloween party. Mom loves Halloween but it's never been a big deal for me until I had kids old enough to appreciate the concept of begging for candy from our neighbors. Mom & I got a Halloween outfit for her party at Wal-Mart. It was an orange t-shirt with a black cat and the words purrfectly pretty. Purrfectly; get it? Like a cat. We also got her a pair of black and orange pants with cats on them. It was a really cute outfit. Mom said that it was a good thing we did get you that outfit because all of her other little classmates had Halloween themed outfits on as well. Becca told us she had fun at the party.
      Later that night it was time to go begging for candy. Becca and Grant got all dressed up in their costumes. Mamaw & Papaw came over with Chili and blackberry pie. Mom, Becca and I headed out on our trick or treating adventure. Grant stayed at the house to hand out candy with Mamaw & Papaw. Aunt Louise and Uncle Tommy joined them so they could see all of the kids and their Halloween costumes. Becca got off to a great start. We made our way down South Hill toward Falling Spring Drive. We eventually made it to a house that has a haunted house set up in their garage every year. Becca didn't even make it up the driveway last year. This year she actually made it inside. She was only in their for a split second until she decided she really didn't want to do the haunted house. Becca said that she would go through the haunted house when she gets bigger.
      We made our way back down South Hill going the opposite way. We headed up a side street and then got back on Colony Drive and worked our way all the way back home. We saw Auntie Lynn and the boys twice on our adventure. They were trick or treating with Cathy or Kathy Sanders, Auntie Lynn's friend and her kids. We also saw a classmate of Becca's, Bowen and his Mom & Dad. Becca told us at first that Bowen was mean to her and that's why she didn't wave at him from across the street but later when we ran into them again she informed us that Bowen was her best friend.
      Last year we only made it up and down South Hill but this year we made it up and down South Hill and an equal distance on Colony Drive. Even though we doubled our coverage it seems that she got less candy. Maybe I'm wrong but it just seems that way. She may have gotten less candy but she certainly didn't get any fewer compliments. Every house we stopped at told her that she was the cutest kid they'd seen all night. I assumed that they said that to all the kids but Mom who accompanied Becca to each house said that the various kids in front of them didn't get the same kind of compliments. She was awfully pretty in her fairy costume.
      Becca had a problem with her costume itching her back so we had to make frequent back scratching breaks and the occasional candy break as we progressed through our adventure. The last hundred yards or so Becca got tired and I had to carry her the rest of the way. She had a big day and we all had a whole lot of fun.
      Trick or Treating was great and all but it wasn't a perfect day. Last Sunday it got a little cold outside so we decided to turn on our furnace. When we went to switch it on it wouldn't work. We thought about calling Fayette Heating and Air again but since they charged us $700 to fix our central air this past summer we were afraid they'd try to rip us off again. Papaw said that he could probably fix it himself but he isn't an expert with furnaces so he also could probably blow up our house. Your Mom called an outfit called Budget Heating and Air and they quickly sent out a lady who crawled under the house with Papaw and myself. She tried one thing after the other but eventually said that she didn't have any idea what the problem was, charged us $50 and left. Mom called out Climate Control the next day which was Wednesday. They came right out and told us that Fayette Heating and Air had wired our system wrong. They rewired the heat and it was fixed or so we thought. I was so pleased to have the furnace fixed. Not having heat was really bothering me. It was warm on Halloween so we decided to turn on the air conditioning. We switched on the air but nothing happened. The fan wouldn't even come on. I was incredibly bummed out by that little twist. Mom called out Climate Control again and said that Fayette Heating and Air had so thoroughly screwed up our system that when we went to go from heat to air the transformer blew and wiped out our whole system. It was fixed once again and they told us they would send us a bill. I have no idea what we will have to pay and I am not looking forward to finding out but at least we have both heat and air.
      The other night as Mom and I were putting Becca to bed I tooted while I read a book to her. Becca crinkled up her nose and put her little hand on my arm and asked me if I had to go potty. Mom just about busted a gut laughing. She'd heard her Mom ask her that so many times that the question was just the natural thing to ask. After the story had been read it was time for her lullaby. She's taken a liking to the song You are my Sunshine because Mom will rub her back as she sings it. Well, I decided that I would sing along on this particular night but as soon as I began Becca told me that she only wanted Momma to sing it because I wasn't very good. That time both Mom and I cracked up laughing.
      Thursday night Becca went home with Papaw to spend the night down there. Mom went to bed as soon as I got home. Grant slept awhile and then he woke up so it was just me and him. I was feeding him and when I went to burp him he just turned his little head towards me and grinned from ear to ear. He has grinned at me before but that was always when I was acting a fool for his benefit. This time he turned to me on his own and gave me a big smile. My love for that little boy tripled in that moment. He is such a good baby as well even if he is flat out spoiled for his Mommy. We thought that we would get us a fussy baby because our first child, Becca was such a good baby but Grant is just as good as she was. He eats a whole lot more than she ever did but Mom and the pediatricians say that is perfectly normal.
      Yesterday Becca went to the 5th birthday party for a classmate of hers from preschool, Joshua. The party was at Kid's Zone in the Lexington Athletic Club building. We'd been there once before and Becca really enjoyed it. Becca brought aquadots as a birthday present. We had to buy her a tiny set of aquadots as well. I think she had a nice time at the party. She was following Joshua around for the first part of the party and I didn't care much for that. He just wasn't paying Becca the attention that she deserves. Then I thought that as she gets older I will still be upset when boys don't pay her the attention she deserves but I will be even more upset when they do pay her attention. I have a feeling I am going to be a rather stressed out Dad. Becca was the very last person to leave the party. She stayed at Kid's Zone even after the birthday boy left.
      After the party we went to Rally's for supper from the drive-thru. We then headed home. Mom went straight to bed and slept forever. I put both Becca and Grant to be by myself. No one got baths last night because Grant was demanding so much of my attention and Becca wanted a snack or a drink every time she turned around. It was a pretty good week all in all with the huge exception of the furnace going out and us having such a hard time getting it repaired.
      Well, Halloween is over. My 40th birthday is right around the corner and I consider that the official start of the Danny Lanham Christmas season. Then we have Thanksgiving. Without Granny Thanksgiving is going to be really weird. I think Mamaw, Papaw, Auntie Lynn and her brood and our little family are going to go out to a restaurant Thanksgiving day. Uncle Mike is going to host a larger family Thanksgiving feast the day after Thanksgiving. This is a transition year. Old traditions will finally be laid to rest this year and I'm sure new ones will develop in years to come. It's funny because whatever we decide to do for Thanksgiving will be the way that Becca and Grant will always remember Thanksgiving and I'm sure they will feel the same way about that tradition as I have about the traditions of the first half of my life. That is only if they are as sentimental about the Holidays as I am. Poor Mom doesn't have the deep seeded love for the Holidays as I do because while I always had a warm loving family and joyous consistent traditions she was shuttled in and out of foster homes since she was just a little girl. I think only now that since she has children of her very own does she see that their truly is magic and wonder in the air during the Holidays.
      Time to close out this particular blog post. Daddy loves Rebecca & Grant!