The Good and the Bad

The GOOD:
Xander had an awesome birthday. He loved every minute of it except being sung to. We had a little family party at home. He had a train cake and got mostly transportation themed gifts. After the party, we took the Amtrak to McComb. Aunt Mad and Uncle Da came with us, so it made it extra special. Xander wanted the train to slow down a bit though. He still loved it. The McComb train station has a huge antique train, so Than and the boys climbed all over it. The rest of the day was filled with other fun. He likes telling everyone about how he got to ride the big train.

Hylan has been saying more words like dog and keys and Sally and making the tongue clicking noise to call her. His sleeping habits have somewhat improved, so he's happier, and we're happier. He loves playing outside, and throws a fit every time someone walks out the door, and he can't go. He has the most infectious smile, and everyone who meets him instantly falls in love.

Today we got to pick blackberries. Xander actually picks one or two every day that are ripe, but today there were lots of ripe ones. It was pretty exciting.


The BAD:

My mom found out that she has thyroid cancer and will have to have her thyroid removed. Luckily though, they don't do chemo with thyroid cancer, so she may not have to have any further treatment after the surgery. The worst case scenario is that she'll have to take some radioactive pill and stay away from everyone for a week.

Than has to work Saturday. He had to work Memorial Day too. I'm just upset.

About two hours ago I kept hearing a car horn. It sounded kind of distant, so I didn't really worry about it....then our dog started barking which is kind of weird. She's really not much of a barker (anymore). I thought another dog was just in the yard or something.....then Than walked into the kitchen and there was a car pulled right up to the house in between two of our cars(okay, our driveway is pretty long, so it's not like they had just pulled over or something).......then Than saw a woman run across our front yard and jump onto the hood then a man got out. They were like arguing or something and yelling up at us through the window. We were just so confused. We have no idea who they were. We called the police, but they left before the police had a chance to send anyone. We figured they were out there for at least ten minutes, walking around our yard and hanging out in our driveway. They didn't look drunk or like they needed help. It was bizarre and scary. I can't go to sleep. Maybe they were the ones who have been stealing from us and were mad that we had added some locks. This was a good neighborhood until the government stepped in and forced the apartment complex down the road to lower their prices because there weren't enough minorities living there. Ugh, I'm just so angry. What if these people come back and break in? What reason could they have for being in our yard, outside of their car? None.

Funny Names

I went to high school with some crazy-named folks. Okay, I hope this doesn't sound racist, but some black people like to make up insane names for their children. Often they are pronounced totally different from what you'd think. I like to find these names in birth announcements, my dad's class roll every year, and the arrest reports. Here is just a small sample of my recent findings.

Orlandas
Undray
Latrez
Demon (I'd bet this one is pronounced Duh-mon)
Casnacita
Panaquad (puh-no-quah...middle syllable short o sound) I went to high school with her. Her siblings and cousins have much funnier names, but I just can't remember them right now.
Charlickia
Chavaqua
Tequilla

AAHHH

Xander: (licked me) "I yicked you, Mama!"

Me: "Why did you lick me?"

Xander: "You dood."

yicked=licked
dood=good

That was Xander.

This is Hylan.

...screaming his lungs out because the only thing that will make him happy right now is turning the lights on and off. He even turned down a powdered donut and my phone. My Smylin' Hylan is now Hylan the Handful.