Happy Halloween!

We decorated the office and coordinated our costumes for the theme "Monstrous Mardi Gras" this year. I was the Devil King and here is my favorite decoration - the giant spider!


Here I am with the Ghost of Mardi Gras Past and the Witch Doctor Scream!



And here with Elvira Devil and Hannibal Lecter Jester.



We all had a great time and Dr. Scream won best costume in the whole Department!



Of course, I probably could have won if I'd just had the mask off when the judges came by :--)

Walk for Autism Speaks

Gina and I got to Reliant at 9AM and found the tent where we were to sign in.


Gina turned in the last of her off-line donations.

And because of the generosity of all our friends and family that donated to the cause, we both got t-shirts! I raised $175 and Gina got $174 (YEA! I beat her!)

Next we walked around to the vendor booths - I had no idea that there were so many agencies and others serving the needs of people with autism here in Houston! Here's Gina in front of the Avondale House booth.

It was an interesting looking crowd, but I couldn't believe my eyes. Was that who I thought it was????

OMG! It was! Obi Wan Kenobi!

Then I saw he was with some Stormtroopers who were more than willing to have their image captured on our primitive recording devices :-)

When I approached them for a photo shoot, they decided to arrest me!

Gina, Laura, and her sister Courtney were apparently unfazed by the rough treatment I was enduring from the Empire. (The balloons were the brainstorm of the Avondale House principal, Becky Ingalls - a good way to advertise their facility.)

Finally the walk was underway.


There were many groups walking to support a certain person with autism. Like this group who were all walking for Luis.

But others, like us, who were walking for all. Here's Becky, Lara, and Gina explaining.


THANKS AGAIN TO ALL WHO WALKED, VOLUNTEERED, AND DONATED $$ TO THIS EVENT!!!

Toy Story Bathroom - The Sequel

Gina really didn't like her Georgia O'Keefe print hanging in my bathroom with all those Pixar characters, so I finally found something on eBay more appropriate for the space over the toilet.

Now Ms. O'Keefe resides in the dining room.

I was lucky enough to find this cool Kleenex box at Kroger too!


Makes for a cute final addition to my bathroom decor, don't you think?

Generations of Roots

From the youngest generation...



to the oldest...



and finally one of the adopted generation.

4th of July 2010 Pool Videos

It took some time to get the kids interested in getting in the pool, so I found other things to record...

Soon the kids were both enjoying the water, and yes, I do feel responsible for what happened next...

the fight over the water source!


I was just enticing the kids to fight, so...


I tried to refocus on adult matters.

Toy Story Bathroom

Target had a sale on shower curtains. I needed a new one, so off Gina & I went with our friend Annie to spruce up my tub. But alas...couldn't find one that appealed at all. Until Annie pointed out the 'kids bath' aisle. Voila! Toy Story to the rescue!



And as you can see, I not only got the shower curtain with Woody and Buzz. I also got the Pizza Planet alien bath rug and the matching trash can.



Then it was a no-brainer to also get the Buzz and Woody towel set...



And finally the finishing touches of the alien soap dispenser and Woody toothbrush holder.



Every morning I get up feeling like I can go TO INFINITY AND BEYOND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Back Yard Project

Before I got sicker than a dog last week, I got my yard guy to move the water fountain that used to be on my back porch...



to my back yard where it can be seen from both the kitchen, dining room, and master bath.



The snow storm this past winter killed all my flowers so I had a coupon at Houston Garden Centers and got all these replacements, including the hybiscus, to plant in front of it for just $29 - not bad, huh? Here's a close up of so you can see the pretty colors...



and a long shot so you can see how it flows with the rest of the landscaping.



Here's how the back patio looks now.



Quite a difference from what Lennar built as a back patio, huh?