A Backyard Picnic

With a clean house fit for moving and showing to potential renters, the kitchen has been added to the list of rooms that are "off limits" for messes. Thus, this mama is getting a break from cooking dinner! Mr. Wonderful had stumbled upon a 2003 bottle of Merlot at our local grocery store, so we decided it would be a wonderful time to order Chinese food and have a backyard picnic.
I'm really going to miss this view of the trees from out my back door...
I think this was an artistic shot attempt that came after drinking the fabulous bottle of wine.
Mr. Wonderful and Bug... exploring our yard. (If you didn't know any better, you could almost guess this photo was taken in the 70s!)

Little Pup... Being cute in his Bumbo...
The ever so handsome (even if he has given up on shaving) Mr. Wonderful!
Bug. Exploring.
The best Chinese food ever! If you are ever in the lowcountry, look up Dragon Express in Summerville, SC. Mr. Wonderful and I swear it is the best we've ever had... and he's spent time in Hong Kong!
Bug loves those trees!
"Have a drink!"
Such a busy boy...
"Why do you keep taking pictures of me?!?" (Mr. Wonderful is shy... can you tell?)
My favorite photo of them all.

Tales from McDonalds

Most of the day around the Wonderful Household was spent packing. You know... with visions of this...
And this...

And since we were foolish enough to get the living room carpet of our rental house cleaned a full week ahead of our move, the space is off limits to muddy boots and toddlers. (Hey, I've got to keep that awesome stripy pattern in the carpet for final inspection!)

The kiddopotamus' were getting a bit antsy by lunchtime. Since it was a gazillion degrees with a gazillion percent humidity, the park was way out of the question. (How DO you Southerners' do it? I mean, it explains why Scarlet O'Hara's kin in their massive dresses were always fainting... But, damn!)

Being the doll that he is, Mr. Wonderful decided to scoop us all up and head over to the air-conditioned McDonald's playground for lunch.


Pup looking cute in his high chair.

Bug happily munching on his Happy Meal.

"Whaaaattttt?! We're out of fries???!? Say it ain't so!!!"


"Hand over the fries, and nobody gets hurt."

Oh... and to the lady in the purple top... wherever you are...

Yes, I know Mr. Wonderful is de-lish. Yes, I know that it is totally hot and sexy that he can play with a toddler at the top of the playground equipment looking handsome (even though I rushed him out of the house today before he had a chance to shave). Yes, I know that he's got such a sweet Oklahoma drawl and a smile that makes women go weak in the knees.

No, sticking out your chest while you try to engage in conversation is NOT okay. Especially when you can blatantly see his WIFE sitting six feet away with their other child.

Seriously mamas... hitting on men at McDonald's? NOT COOL!!

Channeling My Inner Tulsa

Another day of packing. However, this time was a bit different. It was the first real day since Mr. Wonderful had been back from his house hunting trip to Oklahoma. While he was gone, I had the luxury of being able to pack in my own haphazard way, picking and choosing items to carefully be placed in boxes as I pleased. With him home, however, our styles of organization are clashing. His is more Marine Corps Boot Camp. And mine? Dory from Finding Nemo.

Nonetheless, he eventually turned his attention to matters regarding yard work. Our property management company had requested that we trim the lawn and edge the concrete patio before we leave next week. Thank goodness, as it gave me a break from his ever booming interference in my careful observation of items I hadn't seen in six months. (Or, longer.... Have I mentioned how incredibly unorganized my office space is?)

I flipped on a Tulsa country radio station via my iPhone. I figured while I was at it, I would throw on a faded Oklahoma state tee shirt and belt out Reba, Trisha, and Carrie with as much gusto as I could muster. Three songs in, Garth Brooks' Rodeo began to play. Memories of college karoke nights filled with Jack Daniels and handsome cowboys who'd never even ridden a horse flooded my mind. Back then, all I wanted to do was move to Oklahoma, go to college, and live out my party days. I never did either... life interfered, marriage happened, and so did two incredibly adorable babies.

From the window, I saw Mr. Wonderful in the yard, breaking a sweat as he raked pine needles from our lawn. Yep, life is funny sometimes in how it comes full circle. But, I'm so glad it did.