Brian ended up resuming his Texas Death March after class Monday evening.  He made it back in the wee hours of Thursday morning.  Now it is Friday and he is leaving again and not scheduled back until Sunday afternoon.  I am a little bitter right now. 

The coach Brian was taking to Texas broke down half way between San Bernadino and Palm Springs around 10:30 last night.  So he is sitting in it this morning waiting for a tow company to pick him up.  Every couple of hours they tell him it will be another couple of hours.  He has his school books and the B of M and will have no excuse for not getting caught up on all his reading,  He says he is bored.  I can’t say I feel bad he will be home tonight. 

Absence makes the heart grow fonder…That’s what I keep telling myself everyday I don’t update. 

Thursday last week we loaded up and after scouring Ventura for out of season BBQ’ s for some Motor Home renters we were finally on our way to Vegas.  We made relatively good time stopping once for food and potty break. 

As usual we spent the weekend visiting and doing a few favorite things.  Brian was able to spend time with his Dad in some business related activities that will hopefully help get some things going before we move back that way.  Serra convinced her Aunt Adriane and Grandma to take her places, or “shopping” as she likes to call it.  We went out to dinner at our favorite Chinese joint on Friday evening. 

Adriane’s boyfriend is back from Iraq and she better look out.  We caught Serra~V~ flirting mercilessly with him.  She was showing him her newest purse with the new pens and paper and then drew picture after picture for him.  She chattered to him non stop.  When we asked her why she likes Vito so much she giggles and says, “cause Auntie loves him.”  I asked her how she knows that and she told me she saw a picture in Aunties room with them kissing.  I don’t know if it actually exists but kissing is her gauge on whether or not people love each other.

Saturday evening we joined up with all of Brian’s high school buddies and their families.  Mike and Korby  Carrison and their 18month old Max; Greg Lenox and his girlfriend Crystal, and his son Dylan; Spencer and Megan Beals;  and  us.  It has been years since we have all been together like that.  We see one or two of them individually when we visit usually, but to get everyone all at once has been a challenge.  We had a great time eating burgers, watching the kids play, and playing Trivial Pursuit. 

We attended church on Sunday and one of my teachers from Utah State is in their ward.  Serra cried during the Sharing time lesson that  Mom taught because she didn’t get a turn, so Mom brought the game home and they played it for a while cheering SV immensely. 

Brian spent the afternoon with his dad eating treats and watching football, and then we had to head back to CA as Martin needed Brian back earlier than we planned on initially.  It is always a mistake to drive to LA from Vegas on a Sunday night and this was no exception.  It took us almost 3 extra hours.  Serra and I were able to sleep in the next morning (or afternoon for Serra).  She didn’t wake up until 12 pm and then fell asleep at 4pm for a nap.  It took me a few days to recoup.  I was really tired for several days. 

We trimmed Serra’s hair for the first time since she was 1 Monday afternoon.  It was only 2 inches but she cried because I cut off her curls.  I did indeed cut off most of them off.  The ends still go under a little but her hair is pretty straight now.  It looks much healthier though and is easier to brush out.  I am hoping that she doesn’t get any bright ideas like her Idaho cousins about taking scissors to her own hair.  I don’t think she would look real great with a mullet.

We thought Brian would be headed out last Tuesday to the heart of New Orleans with a fleet of coaches but that was cancelled with impending Rita.  He is instead leaving this afternoon for San Antonio and should not see any of the weather pounding the eastern part of that state.  I am not enamored with the short notice of these events as we have been unable to plan anything.  They better get all the coaches out in the next few weeks because I will then proclaim him unavailable for such trips as he needs to be available to ME.

Serra had a little cold last week and one evening she was playing with the medicine measuring cup and thought it was fun to suck her lips into it.  She got quite a little mustache.  It lasted for about four days. 

Here is the boogus floating around by herself.  It’s her big accomplishment this summer.

Vegas is off for the time being and Katrina is to blame.  Not cousin but Hurricane.  We were all set to take off this evening but a deal for Expedition Motor Homes came up which requires 22 coaches to be driven to Houston Texas over the next week.  Brian is the only one in the office that could cancel something so he is off this afternoon, leading the first caravan.  (or cara-coach) Anyway rather than spend another weekend as a family, Serra and I are alone until Saturday late or possibly even Sunday.  Bummer.  Serra is taking the no-Vegas-this-weekend rather well although she insists that we still are going.  I guess it’s a good thing she doesn’t have a great concept of time.  Maybe Serra and I will treat ourselves to a movie later this afternoon.  I hear March of the Penguins is good and it’s the only G-rating out right now. 

Big and loving it.  That is what it says in one of my pregnancy books.  Yes, it is nice to be nearing the end.  I don’t mind being big because I realize I’m only 10 or less weeks away and then I get the big reward.  It is trying at times though.  Shopping for even groceries is becoming difficult.  With gas at $3.30 Brian takes my car most days and I try to get all the errands done in one day.  I am usually unable to walk by the end of the day.  (I won’t take the truck.  It is too hard to get in and out of.) Yesterday, Labor Day,  I took Brian with me to the store so he could do the lifting of  the  heavier things and pack it all upstairs.  That was really nice. 

The baby is really getting crowded  and is demonstrating her frustration with her surroundings constantly by trying to stretch me out.  She stretches out to her full capacity sometimes and nearly brings tears to my eyes.  Not a gentle reminder that there is a critter in there.  Serra~V~ was much calmer with active moments only a few times a day.  This not so little girl does aerobics nearly all day and night.    I wonder if this activity is demonstrative of how she will be as a baby.  I am not yet to the point where I would do anything to get the baby out.  I think that is what the last month is for.  You have to be willing to go through labor.  Mom asked me on Saturday how I was going to make it through the next two months.  I was waddling quite a bit, I’ll admit, but that was due to being on my feet canning all day.  I am usually not that duck like.  Mostly I am not too uncomfortable and am able to take it easy if I need to. 

One regret though:  I would have loved to have taken Serra to Disneyland with her cousins and grandparents.  She has asked many times  when we get to do that.  I could have sent her with out me but I am selfish and want to be there the first time she goes.  I wasn’t into paying $60 to be on my feet all day and not be able to do anything but watch.

I met all my August goals.  Our photo albums are all caught up through 2004.  I am not sure when I will tackle 2005 but they will be primarily on the computer.  We will need to get a new printer though before I print so I have been putting it off a bit.  Serra’s halloween costume is complete.  She will be a fancy butterfly this year.  The baby has two new outfits and the first of the matching girl outfits is on deck. 

Labor Day Weekend:  Brian has been sick for well over a week and was really looking  forward to having a few days off to recuperate.  Saturday I made breakfast (haven’t done that in a long time) and after enjoying a nice sit down meal together we attacked our upstairs closet.  With a baby in the wings we realized we needed a little more bedside room next to our bed.  Serra occupies it right now and the rest of the space was taken up by the dresser.  With a little remodeling and closet clearing we were (Brian mostly) able to fit the dresser in the closet making a large space next to our bed that will fit a baby bed and a Serra bed.  Why does Serra not sleep in her bed downstairs, you ask?  She gets “scare-ed”.  There are “mossters”.  It is a very noisy room as it faces the street with all the garage doors.  You can hear everything that goes on outside including loud gatherings our young neighbors frequently have.  So she sleeps on the floor in our room.  While I made and canned sweet and sour sauce the rest of the day Brian and Serra played together.  They went for a walk to the park and watched a movie together.  We then cleaned up and headed to Camarillo for Katrina’s baptism and combined birthday celebrations.  Katrina was a happy kid to be taking this step.  I really like the way their Stake does the baptisms too.  They all meet together for the first part and then do the baptisms and confirmations separately as wards or families.  It was very organized and efficient. 

I tried earlier in the week to explain baptism a little to Serra.  When I explained the Holy Ghost, she exclaimed, “What Ghost?”  It was fun to see all the little kids lined up at the font.  Goergianna was squeaking the whole time and had to be removed by Grandma so the ordinance could take place in a more quiet setting. She was quite amazed  and excited that Katrina was in the water and then went under the water.  As the men gathered in a circle for the confirmation, Serra tried to stand in it too.  After it was over, Goergianna went up and tried to get some handshakes too.  She is so tiny though that she got left hanging by most who didn’t see her. 

The party after was fun for most.  Serra had been looking forward to the gathering with the cousins for quite some time.  After eating the kids were running around in the backyard.  First Serra bloodied up her toe when she stubbed it but as usual refused to take a bandaid as she deems them evil and horrible.  Then, full speed ahead ran into the patio post (because as usual she was not looking where she was going but off the the side somewhere)  The house shook with the impact and her cheek swelled up immediately.  We were fortunate that she hit the flat part of the post instead of a corner.  She has only a faint bruise to show for it now.  Then came present opening time.  How unfair it was that everyone was getting presents but her, or so it seemed.  She cried a bit over the unfairness of it all.  She has had a hard time with the concept of a birthday only once a year.  In the end all were appeased with Oreo pie. 

Sunday was very relaxing with our regular meetings, a long nap, dinner, and family time in the evening.  Recently, the Prophet challenged the church to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year and we are taking it on.  We spend a little time each evening reading.  We are including Serra in this as well with the illustrated version.  She loves it and while we read from the real thing she looks at her pictures and retells the stories she has heard.  I have really enjoyed this and am glad that we were issued this challenge.

Monday I talked Brian into going over to a furniture store going out of business to see if there were any dressers at a good deal.  We didn’t find anything but as mentioned earlier the help with the groceries was much appreciated.  Serra was promised a cone from “Donalds” that day and she was ready for it at 10 am.  We talked her into waiting for a little while.  Back at home I warded off a headache with a short nap and Brian did the same while Serra enjoyed a movie.  We spent the rest of the afternoon at the pool.  Much to my surprise, as we got into the pool, Serra took off on her own and swam (aided by her water wings, or ducks in this case)  She has been afraid and clingy this whole summer and although I have worked with her I didn’t think she would be this brave until next year.  I was amazed and we had lots of fun chasing each other around in the water.  Daddy even threw her a few times and she went under.  She didn’t get upset.  Very surprising.  We may have a swimmer next year if we have pool access somewhere.  We went to a local Mexican place for dinner and then Serra got her promised cone.  She was more interested in playland than her cone when all was said and done.  We spent a relaxing evening at home.

Brian thinks he feels much better today.  I think the weekend was just what he needed.  Serra sure enjoyed having him around and so did I. 

Brian has completed all but the final exam for his Brokers licence.  We are awaiting notification of the date he will test.  We think in October sometime.  School has started back up again and it will be a busy semester he thinks.

We have one last hurrah in Vegas before the baby comes planned for next weekend and we are hoping to take a family weekend in Yosemite at the end of the month.  We’ll see how things pan out. 

We have had so many tomatoes this year that the sauce I made on Saturday had the first batch of  them.  Salsa is in the works today with over 30 beauties that need to be used.  This is quite miraculous if you have seen the size of our planting area. We also have 15 jumbo habeneros.  Any takers?  Even Brian is afraid of these now since I included one in his last batch of pico de gallo.