My Daddy Always Said...

Thomas has always said that I'm the luckiest little girl he knows. At 33, some could debate my "little girl" status, but after yesterday, it's clear that I'm still rock solid with the lucky part!

Thomas, Luis, Ashley and I are driving from Atlanta to Dallas. Yesterday, we drove the first 400 miles to Jackson, MS. We stopped in Fairfield, Alabama for lunch and ate at the Fairfield City Magic Grill II (not sure where the first one is). It was a very southern buffet restaurant in the middle of a very southern small town downtown. Southern style food isn't at the top of my list, but the experience of lunch was fun. Also, they had mac-n-cheese, so Luis was very happy!

Our next stop was at the Welcome Rest Stop just inside the Mississippi border. I was impressed that these two very nice ladies were offering travel info, hotel assistance, and free sodas to travelers. Luis and Ashley both had a good run in the (very muddy) dog area. Thomas and I each enjoyed a free soda. After about 10 minutes, we got back on the road with about 110 miles to Jackson.

We pulled into Jackson about 4:20. Thomas and I had contemplated driving all the way to Dallas. Having another day in the car was a bit depressing, but in the end we were concerned that if we got tired and needed to stop, it could be difficult to find a hotel that would accommodate Ashely. I reached for my wallet to go check in to the hotel when I realized that the thing I'd seen fly off the hood of the car when we pulled out of the rest stop was not a branch, but was my wallet. One hundred and ten miles in the wrong direction.

I called my friend Heather who is usually at her desk AND is very Internet savvy. She got me a phone number direct to the rest area. I called and spoke to the nicest woman EVER. Sandra didn't have my wallet, but she went outside and walked around to look for it. She asked Security if they had it and convinced to widen the search. Unfortunately nothing turned up. I started to panic. How would I get a new license in Texas without my Virginia license? How would I get a new VA license while I was in Texas? Canceling credit & debit cards. No cash. No Starbucks card. Identity theft. I was getting panicky. I asked Thomas if he'd rather stay in Jackson with the baby and the dog or be the one to go back and look. He wasn't thrilled about either option. And while I wouldn't admit it, neither option sounded good to me either.

That's when Sandra called back to say that the maintenance guys had found it and turned it in. I couldn't believe my luck. I told Sandra that there was about $40 in it. If she'd mail it to me, she could keep the left over cash. She said, "Oh no, I couldn't do that. I'll mail back any left over money after I pay the postage." Then she pointed out that USPS offers a flat rate of $4.95 for their small box size. I couldn't believe it. I guess I'm still the luckiest little girl in the world!

Oil Change - Every 3,000 miles or 2 weeks!

Luis and I drove with Randolph, Lauren and Baby Eston from Marco Island, FL to Atlanta today. That's about 640 miles. Monday, we'll start the 810 mile trip from Atlanta to Dallas, arriving home (at last) on Tuesday evening. We left the DC area on Monday Dec. 15. By the time we get to Dallas on Tuesday, Dec. 30, we will have driven approximately 2,800 highway miles in 15 days. That may be a new McDow record!

We had a FANTASTIC time in Florida, spending time with family and celebrating Luis's 2nd birthday and Christmas. I have loads of pictures to download and post - but it may not happen until the new year.

Stay Tuned...

Florida!

After 27 hours on the road (over 6 days), Luis and I arrived in Florida on Saturday to spend Christmas with Mom and all of her children & grandchildren.  It was a long, long trip made longer by both Luis and me being sick (Luis was diagnosed today with an ear infection - I've got a nasty cold).  We are loving being here - with Diego, with my siblings, with Luis's cousins, surrounded by family.  In 2004, we were in Costa Rica with Maggie & Franklin.  In 2006, Solomon was with the group, but Diego, Luis (1 day old) and I stayed home.  This year, there are FIVE grandkids - Maggie (8), Franklin (5),  Solomon (3), Luis (2 - tomorrow!) and Baby Eston (1 month).  Five little kids is a very different dynamic!

On our way down, we spent Monday night with Aunt Midge in Fairfax.  Tuesday, we had lunch with Richmond Heather and drove on to South Carolina where we spent two nights with Thomas & Lucy.  We also had nice visits with Mary Kathryn & Bo, Mary Ann and Clarkson.  Thursday, we drove to Peachtree City and spent a night with Jason, Cara, Evan (2.5) and Grant (8 mo).  (They have graciously and generously agreed to keep Ashley while we are in Florida!)  Friday was on to Randolph, Lauren & Eston's place in Atlanta for 1/2 nights sleep before getting on the road at 3a on Saturday.  That last leg (12 hours!), it was Randolph, Lauren, Eston, Luis & me in my Camry.  We fit, but barely.

I'll try to post again from here.  I don't have my own computer, so I'm not sure how many pictures I'll get up.  From here, we drive back to Atlanta on Saturday.  Sunday, we'll pick up Ashley in the afternoon and then Thomas - who is flying in to finish the last driving leg with us.  Monday morning, we'll start out on the drive back to Dallas, with the plan to spend the night and arrive on Tuesday afternoon.  Thomas will then fly back to SC on Wednesday.  Luis, Diego, Ashley and I will start the new year, together, in our new house in Dallas. 

Playing Outside

Playing Frisbee with Ashley

Hanging with his Grandparents

Luis, Ashley and I are officially out of our house in Falls Church, but not quite on our way to TX. We spent Thursday-Saturday in No Va visiting the Rimicci's, seeing our doctors and wrapping up some business. Now, we are in MD, staying with Mom and Sandy. Luis is having a great time with them!

Doing knee exercises with Bibi

Cheering on the Redskins with Grandpa Sandy

Bath Time

Moving In

Luis and I arrived in Dallas on Sunday afternoon and our moving truck arrived on Monday morning. Since then, we've been unpacking and doing our best to settle in before our early morning flight back to DC tomorrow morning. The good news is that I've unpacked every box in the house (except 7). But to be completely honest, I haven't found a permanent home for everything yet. (The small print would note that their are boxes in the studio AND in the garage that are not unpacked.) And the other good news is that through Craig's List, I've also given away all of our boxes, paper, and packing peanuts (free to good home).

Luis's Bed (When we come back after Christmas, we are not setting up the crib)

Luis's Toys

More Luis's Toys
Luis's Tent

The Dining Room - With the new paint color

Library - Think we need more books

Library - With the rocking chair that used to belong to my grandmother (Whitfield)

The Kitchen - Unpacked but not put away

The Kitchen - Where I'm sitting writing this post

The Kitchen - Our plates & bowls are in a drawer - will take some getting used to...

Goodbye?

With Luis's agility at getting out of the crib, and the built in beds that await us in Dallas, Diego and I think that we will not be setting up the crib. Just before we dismantled it on Sunday, I took a few pictures of Luis.

And in case any of you are interested in how Luis gets out, here are a few shots of that as well...

As a side note, I was pleased at the idea that just as we disassembled Luis's crib for the last time, my brother Randolph fully assembled his son Eston's crib for the first time.

Going, going.... Almost Gone

A Familiar Place, Unfortunately

I'm sitting at the kitchen table, surrounded by boxes - not even a spoon to eat ice cream with.

The packers came today (1/2 of them at least) and got about 95% of our stuff into boxes. Tomorrow they will load the truck up. They'll be unloading it early next week in Dallas. I have a great picture of the biggest moving truck I've ever seen that is parked in front of my house. But I can't find the cable to download it. Sigh. Moving is tough. [found camera cable and added picture - 12/2/08]

The good news is that our house in Dallas is beautiful, and technically, is ours: Diego picked up the keys tonight and did a walk through. Luis and I fly down over the weekend to visit with Diego and be there to supervise the move in (and do lots and lots and lots of unpacking).

November was a busy month with two trips to Dallas and one to Atlanta. Then, it was a busy weekend with Diego in town for Thanksgiving, as well as ~ 75% of the McDow family. There was lasagna dinner here on Wednesday, turkey dinner at Maggie's on Thursday, waffle brunch (and leftover turkey lunch) at Dodie's on Friday, as well as a reception for my cousin and his new wife at Dodie's on Saturday. Unfortunately, I didn't take a single picture. Soon, soon, I'll try to get some updates on us, life and all the goings on.