For some reason, whenever there’s a hurricane in the gulf, Charlotte always runs out of gas.  Note that supplies were NOT interrupted, everyone just went insane and ran out and bought up all the gas.  I was lucky in that I had enough gas to last through the weekend, but unfortunately, Jenny went out of town before the shortage happened, so I got to drive around for a while yesterday to fill her up.  It was tons of fun. 

The FUNNEST thing was that when I finally found gas, I filled up and had Jake with me to “help”.  He ran around the car and generally had a good time while I was filling up.   While he was having fun, he sat in the driver seat of the car and engaged the wheel lock somehow.  Since I don’t drive Jenny’s car all that often, I had a heck of a time figuring out how to get it to work again.  The people behind me in line for gas were happy that I took an extra five minutes, and let me know.  It wasn't a big deal, I just gave them the universal hand an arm signal for “you’re number one” (hidden so Jake couldn't see) and drove on.

All in all, it was a pretty good weekend.  Since Jennifer hadn’t been home in a week and a half, she cleaned all weekend.  She said that I really did a good job keeping the house clean when she’s gone, but we have different standards for clean.  I figure as long as mold isn’t growing on anything, we’re good.  All I can say in my defense is that I’m a lot better than I used to be.  I always have the dishes and laundry done when she gets home.  We had to clean up extra well today, because we’re having a cleaning lady come tomorrow. (I never understand why you have to clean up before the cleaning lady comes, but I’ve accepted that I’ll never know, because my mother is the same way (i.e. it’s not just that Jennifer is weird)).

Jennifer has been gone for EVER.  She went on a short trip to Remond last Tuesday, but then her sister’s baby came early, so she flew directly from Seattle to Florida, where the baby was born.  Yesterday, she flew to DC where she has meetings, and then she’ll come home tomorrow morning.  When she’s gone this long, I kind of get squirrely.  I’m usually the laid back parent, but I’ve been cranky for the past couple of days.  I feel kind of bad for the kids, but then I remember that if they would just act civilized, I wouldn't have to tell them to cut it out.

Anyway, Jenny is coming home tomorrow, and she’s going to deal with the kids for a while.  Saturday morning, I’m going to take some pictures of the train coming through town, then Jenny and I are going on a “date” with NO KIDS (just dinner and a movie, but its been so long since we’ve been out as ‘grownups’ that I’m scared I wont know how to act).  Sunday we’re trying out a new church, so hopefully I’ll be nice and calm in time for that.  I’d hate for the new preacher to think I was a nut.

I haven’t put up a picture of Al lately.  It’s obvious that he needs a bath.

For Christmas this year, Jenny and I decided that the kids have enough crap stuff, and don’t need any more.  So instead of buying a bunch of junk, we’re going to go to the “happiest place in the world”.  I don’t know if I’m going to be able to keep it a secret.  It’s a good thing I have iron self-control.

The last time we went was 2006, and I fully expected to hate it, but it was great (once I got over the outrageous cost that is).  We’re going from 11/29 to 12/5, and I cant wait!

Jenny’s still in Florida helping her sister with the baby.  I was semi-hoping that seeing a new baby would get her in the mood to have another one ourselves, but she said NO.  She always loves it when I say “My next wife will want to have more babies”.

It’s been gorgeous here for the past few days:  highs in the 70s and lots of sunshine.  I took the kids downtown to the park, and then we ate at Burger King.  While we were there, a train came by, and you would think that Santa Claus had come to town they were so excited.

Izzy has appropriated Binky, the stuffed animal that Alex used to play with when he was little.  She hardly put it down at all this morning…Alex wasnt sure what to think.

Since the pool is closing, I’ve had to start giving the kids baths again when Jenny is out of town.  Believe me, it’s an experience.  Luckily, it’s just Jake and Izzy, but even though I only have to supervise two baths, I still end up just about as wet as them.

I heard from Jenny today, and she said everyone was having a good time with the baby.  They’re going home tomorrow, so hopefully she’ll come home soon after that. 

I got to take a few pictures today, I’m still trying to figure out how the camera works.  It’s a good thing it doesn’t cost anything to take them.

Jenny’s sister had her baby this morning.  The baby is 5 pounds, 6 ounces and is 18 inches long.  Everyone’s fine, the baby and the mom are doing great.  Jennifer left here to go to Seattle Monday night, and then she found out that the baby was coming yesterday, so she hopped a plane and got there just in time this morning.  The baby is going to be named “Sophie”, but Izzy has already renamed it to “Soapy”

I love babies.

One of the great things about parenting while Jenny is out of town is the “after school” arrangements for childcare.  I work from home Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, so it’s easy to be able to meet the bus, but Monday and Tuesday we have to cobble something together.  Today, I got home literally 2 minutes after the bus got here…the kids did the right thing, and when they saw I wasn’t here, they started walking to the next door neighbors, and I was here before they got to the door.

HOWEVER, Jake the madman went in the house and set the alarm off (I couldn't find my house key this morning, because I lose stuff a lot, so I just turned the alarm on and left).  The alarm company did the right thing and called the police, who got here about 2 minutes later.  Its good to know that the police can be here 5 minutes after my alarm goes off, but I felt like the winner of the “Crappy Parent” award trying to explain to the police what happened.  Luckily, they didn’t cuff me or beat me up or anything like that.

Here, Izzy makes a funny face to show what she thinks of my parenting ability.

The little gas light came on this morning while I was taking everyone on their appointed rounds, so I stopped to get gas.  The first place I stopped was out of gas, and so was the second.   The third place was about full of cars, and the gas magically jumped .20/gallon overnight, but I filled up anyway.  When I got home, I looked it up on the internet and it turns out that hurricane Ike might possibly hit an oil refinery, so everyone in the southeast has flipped out and run out to buy gas.

Further, since my dad retired, he started volunteering with the Red Cross, and they like him so much they sent him to Texas to help out with the hurricane.  Most people go AWAY from hurricanes, but my dad has always been difficult about stuff. 

So this hurricane has already cost me extra for gas and taken away one of my main IM partners. Stupid hurricane.

My new camera (the payment for babysitting while Jennifer went to Aruba) got here today.  Woohoo!   Here’s the first pic of a person I took with it.  I didn’t do anything except set the white balance and crop it.

(and I know that you’ll say “it’s not babysitting, it’s PARENTING.”  Whatever)

I think it’s funny that there is an ACTUAL “Hanoi Hilton”.  You would think that they would have named it something else.

Jenny’s in Aruba, and I’m dealing with the kids.  Unfortunately, one of my germ-infested children has given me a disease, and I feel awful.  It’s a beautiful day too, so I feel bad that I’m not taking them outside.  I’m going to put up a couple pictures whenever I get the energy, but now I have to figure out what to give them for lunch and then put Izzy down for her nap.  I think I’ll take one with her.

One of the big mysteries I have with the boys going to school is where all of their lunch money goes.  Last year, sometimes Alex would tell me that his lunch account was –15.00 or some weird amount, when Eric had 10.00 left.  I always sent them the SAME amount of money and they SWORE they never bought candy or snacks or anything like that (why in the world they sell candy and snacks at an elementary school is beyond me, but that’s a whole different story).

Anyway Union County rushed headlong into the nineties this year, and now they let us send the kids lunch money over the internet.  I get an email when they’re running out of money, and I can pull up their purchase history.  As you can see, Alex buys SNACKS when he shouldn't.  I took the .60 out of his allowance.  I think I could fix the system so that he isn't ALLOWED to buy snacks, but I like giving him an opportunity to learn self-control.

I looked at the hurricane map today, and it looks as if Hannah is going to miss us (or just give us some rain, which will be better).  The only bad thing about it is that now it looks as if Hannah is going to hit my internet friend Joelle.  Well, that’s bad for JOELLE, not for me!  Joelle, if you get hit, pack hubby and the kids up in the party van and head up here to Waxhaw.  We have a spare bedroom and some extra spots for the kids to sleep. 

Jenny is getting ready to go on her annual girl’s trip to a beach.  I would be upset, but I worked a deal:  she gets to go to Aruba (paid for with mostly airline and hotel frequent flyer points) and I get a new camera.  Furthermore, since the Loytty clan originated in Finland, my skin burns to a crisp when I even THINK about going to a beach.  So now we’re both happy, except I’ll be left here with the 4 monsters all week.  Ugh.

Tonight I was a bad daddy.  Jenny is driving home from a customer, so I took the kids to 5 Guys for dinner.  If you’ve never had 5 Guys before, you need to find one and go…they have the best hamburgers in the world.  The kids didn’t get any vegetables though, so I made them eat grapes when we got home.  Because I rule with an IRON HAND!!!!!

Today’s picture is unusual in that it’s not a kid, it’s my dad.  I get my sunny disposition and ability to get along with anyone from him.  He’s not as good looking as the kids.

I see that hurricane Hannah, as far as I can tell, is going to go right over my house at about 2:00 AM next Saturday.  I guess I’ll get a couple of hundred bucks in cash, a full tank of gas, and a cooler full of ice.  About 9 or 10 years ago, in my last house, we had a hurricane come toward us, but I didn’t join the rush to the store.  My neighbors asked me why, and I told them that I had a gun, so if the hurricane hit, I was just going to come and take all of their stuff.  I have a way of making friends.