Baby Boy is Now Nine!

That's right. Roy, also known as Collin (mostly Collin around here), is now nine.

He had his birthday celebration a day early (what boy wouldn't want to open presents a whole 24 hours early?) with dinner and playtime with his buddies from school.

Yup, that's them trying to eat the cake. Attacking, more like. Sa-weet.

He's been spending his birthday playing on his new mini tablet (he wanted a phone, and this was the best compromise I could do, since I don't do nine-year-old's and phones) and with his new basketball. That's right - giving him something active along with the passive nonsense of technology. He also got Legos to challenge his mind, and a Lego book for reading.

Not that I thought this out ahead...it's just what he wanted and I didn't have any objections. Go, Collin, for hitting several different types of activities! He is so happy and it is so fun to watch.

Happy birthday, buddy!

MIL Sneak Attack

Let's start by saying that I really like my mother-in-law. She does, however, have a knack for stopping by when my house is a mess.

With a sprained ankle, my house isn't exactly the cleanest. So of course, now is when she pops by for a hello. This is usually a blessing, though, because she has:

• Helped paint our PA house
• Helped stage our PA house
• Watched kids while we packed up the PA house
• Helped paint our SC house (seeing a pattern?)
• Cleaned and watched kids after the birth of the last of my three kids.

What's even better: she got Doug to hang a piece of artwork for me. A few years ago, Doug bought me a laser level for hanging pictures. It could have been a subconscious bid for me to hang my own artwork, except that I asked for it and always hang my own artwork.

This particular piece wasn't going anywhere fast, though, because I can't climb a ladder and it belongs at the top of the wall. I scored it at Target - it was on clearance for $20.

Mother-in-law smiles at Doug and wheedles, "Do you have five minutes? Wanna do me a favor? It will only require a small ladder, a hammer and five minutes. Four, if you're fast."

Doug grumbles until I tell him what she's aiming at. Then he grumbles, "A small ladder? I don't think so..." But then he hangs it for me. And because he's an engineer, it is measured out (using my laser level). Go, Doug.

Then MIL cleaned my house while I sat with my ankle up. Yup, I even pulled out a magazine to read. Doug was making lunch for us at this point. Am I spoiled? Sometimes.

What's Bloomin'

How on earth would I know?

Seriously, I walked out to take pictures and almost landed on my kiester. This lovely sprained ankle of mine is keeping me from one of my favorite activities: fall gardening.

I did manage to see (and shoot) one new flower for the week...and return inside safely. This is a mum that I picked up last year, and placed next to my front door:

When the season was done, I put it in the garden, hoping it would come back. It has such an unusual color: a mixture of ivory and burnt orange that I simply adore. And hurray! - it came back. What a great surprise!

Hope your week has a surprise as pleasant (or more so)!