Empting Nest

Did we tell you Rachel is moving out? A week from tomorrow, to a one-bedroom apartment 2.5 miles from here. She can hardly afford it, but we all feel like it will be a good thing for her. She still does not have a "real" job or health insurance, but she did sign up to do subbing in an additional school district so we are hoping that her 4 part time jobs will pay the bills.

This morning we went to a Wycliffe garage sale and she bought a large TV, a wooden bookcase (not particle board), a floor lamp, 16 drinking glasses, a teapot, an ice chest, a love seat cover, a clock, a multi-drawer storage bin, an almost new laundry basket, and a bunch of other stuff for $100. Plus they gave her a bunch of stuff for free. What we didn't buy but was a cool thing was an antique armoire that had been retro fitted (the guy is a woodworker) into a computer station with fold down table, sliding file cabinet, sliding printer shelf, sliding keyboard drawer--for $80! The only problem with it would have been moving it!

She bought a bunch of "soft furnishings" a couple years ago, and will gather those together this week (which may put Andrew and Laura at a bit of a loss, but they will manage). We will donate some furniture we don't want anymore, and we'll go to the free furniture boutique to see what can be scrounged. She plans to turn the futon into a more comfortable bed by getting a mattress back from a friend she lent it to a year ago.

She is getting excited about starting a new phase of life.

Newsletter Time

I'm about to put all these paper newsletters in the mail box. I already sent out many by email a couple days ago. If you happen to be reading this blog and didn't get one, and would like one, send me an email or make a comment with your email address, and I'll send you one. We had so many happy things to tell about in this latest newsletter.

Look at That Face!

Look At That Face!

Daddy Andrew is always going around saying, "Look at that face!" when he is showing off baby Isabella. So, I thought it was time for some more photos of that face. She's almost a month old!

Hackberry Season

It is that time of year when the miserable little hackberries fall off the tree and onto the deck, making it necessary either to sweep the deck every day or wear shoes. Of course, it is too hot to use the deck anyway, so it really doesn't matter.

It will be a while before we can use Gary's newest toy--a firepit. We saw one at Maureen's house and Gary decided we needed one. Turns out I got this on for 75% off at Target, because, you guess it--it is way too hot to have a fire.

Pijin Bible

If your computer and internet are up to it, please click on this link to go see the dedication of the entire Pijin Bible in the Solomon Islands which took place on the country's 30th independence day. Photo #9 is the translator we worked closely with and trained back in the early 80's.

Not much else for news at the moment. Haven't heard from the newlyweds, but tomorrow will be their one month-aversary already!

Baby Isabella is just as cute as ever. No word on a job yet for Andrew, but he's working on it. No word on a job for Rachel yet either, but she's working on it too. Rachel will move back in with us on Tuesday as the people she has been housesitting for are returning. She is looking for other accommodations, but she really needs a full-time job first. Sigh.

Cutest Thing Ever

Baby Isabella, part 2

Baby Isabella is three weeks old today, so it is time for some more photos. Click on the photo above to go to the full web album.

All-Star Game, 2008

We organized a junk-food potluck,


invited some friends from work,


and I even let Gary throw the peanut shells on the floor (but first he had to cover the carpet with a tarp!).


The aunties helped take care of the baby,

Baby Isabella's 1st Movie

Another Party!

We have just had yet another big party. This time it was an open house wedding reception for David and Sarah who have now been married two weeks. They actually came and spent the long July 4th weekend with us. We didn't do a bunch of activities on the 4th, but we did make a grill some burgers, brats, tuna, and salmon. Saturday was spent getting ready for the reception on Sunday. It was good to see friends and it was fun to show off both of the new girls in the family--Mrs. Sarah Simons and Miss Isabella Simons.

Click the photos below to go to online albums of photos from the weekend and the reception.

July holiday weekend 2008

2008-07-06 Dallas reception David Sarah

More Photos

But this time, more wedding photos.

I've just gotten this URL from Sarah's mom, letting us know there are many beautiful professional photos of David and Sarah's wedding posted in an online slideshow. There are three sets; click on them one at a time from the main page to see the full set.

Today was also my birthday, but who has time for a birthday with all the other things going on at our place?? We did go out to Los Lupes for dinner, taking 6-day old Isabella with us, and she slept through all that noise.

In other news, I hate all our cars. Or more to the point, they all hate me. The check engine light has come on for a THIRD time in David's car, we had to go jump start Rachel's car when it was dead after work and before she had to be at the dentist, and now I see a brake light is out on the van. :-(

First Day Home

Baby's first day at home

I have been told in no uncertain terms that I have not been posting enough photos of the new baby!! So here are a few more.

She's been home for more than 24 hours now. I think the parents aren't sleeping all that much, but baby seems to be catching on to the nursing, so that is good. We got out our own kids' baby books and it was easy to see a distinct resemblance between Andrew's face as a newborn and Isabella's.

Also, I've just learned that I've been spelling her middle name wrong. It isn't Sophia, it is Sofia. My bad.

Does anyone still say, "My bad"?