Today is the first time in my entire life that I am decidedly NOT excited about my birthday.

And we wonder why she has nightmares

Last night, just as she was going to sleep, Kaitlyn says to Frank "I wonder what's at the end of the Universe. Like, what was there before and where does it end and what came first". To which Frank replied 'Peanut Butter, because it's the best stuff on earth'. Way to punt Dad!

It confuses me

when the cashier at Sheetz, who is a good twenty years younger than me, calls me 'baby'...twice

All good things

Things I like about North Carolina:

We have great thunderstorms

The people really are very nice

Bad traffic here is a good day on the LIE

My property taxes are a third of what they were in LI

79 cent fountain soda

I can use that little wedge to keep the handle on the gas pump down while filling up

Things I don't like about North Carolina:

The people I love aren't here...yet :)

File under 'I cant make this shit up'

We brought the cars in to a local auto place that was having a special on oil changes $9.95 for the first car, $19.95 for the second. 

Frank: Besides the oil change what else do you do? Do you check the lights and the fluids.

Auto guy: Yes, we check those things.

Frank: (after picking up car#1)
I notice the car still shows 'washer fluid low' on the dashboard display. Did you check the fluids?

Auto guy: Yes, we checked them.

Frank: Well, did you top them off?

Auto guy: No, I said we would check them. We don't actually top them off. On our premium service we top them off.

Oh. 

Her nickname isn't 'Monkey' for nothing...

Since she was able to walk she has been climbing on things. The girl can't walk past anything more than 4 inches off the ground without climbing on it. As a baby it was tables, chairs, beds, people. Today it is fences, benches, parking medians, retaining walls-its' all fair game. (Remarkably, the broken wrist was NOT a result of this activity).

I long ago gave up on trying to reign in this particular behavior. Now I just patiently wait while she scrambles up on the obstacle of choice. And snap a photo.