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.

You Give Kids Toys...

... and all they want is a diaper box. Go figure.

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!!

Back to Blogging & Leaving Charleston

It has been a long time.

As a writer, the last thing I generally want to do at the end of the day is scrawl out a blog post. Frankly, even looking at words on a screen is enough to make me crave a glass of wine.

But, the blogging and Twitter arenas did introduce me to a world of loving friends, whom I miss dearly.

So... Here I am.

Last I left off, we were relocating to Charleston, South Carolina. Thanks to the wonderful economy and Mr. Wonderful's job ending, we are now packing to move... Again. This time, we are headed to Tulsa, Oklahoma. (The in-law family and several old friends are there.)

Charleston has not been without it's charms, however.

These photos are from Magnolia Gardens, a nearby plantation from the early 1700s. I could wander the grounds for hours, gazing at the gorgeous statues and lush landscapes. (Of course, I edited them with various iPhone apps to make them look vintage. Love!)

We also visited the Angel Oak, recently. That is Mr. Wonderful and Bug standing under one huge tree! Every branch you see is from the same trunk, not multiple trees. Isn't that amazing?

So, as we leave this charming Southern town, I know that it will forever leave it's mark on my soul.