Triumph!

Nate got the memo. At the end of last week, Mr. StubbornNateTeenyPants decided to start saying "Mama." Thank goodness, for I was under the impression that I had offended him or something. As if it were his way of getting back at me for all the ridiculous nicknames. But, even though I had to wait 18 months for this moment, I must say, it's totally worth it.

Mema & Grandpa's House

The Mamarazzi stalks Mr. Pretty: so gorgeous, yet so ticked off! "Can't I even take a stroll through my grandparents' yard without you people bothering me?"

Mr. Biggersons waters the garden with gusto.

Forget this. Let's cool off in the sprinkler and pretend this ice bucket is a pool!

Reenactor in the making: a witness on the grassy knoll in Dallas.

Don't just stand there, bust a move!

First Day of School

Here's our big handsome man, off to his first day of school. Notice how he conquers riding the bus as if he's been doing it his whole life. I was more freaked out than he was! But he's so big and we are so proud.

Kurt: Man of Many Talents

Forgot to tell you guys that on Monday, Kurt replaced a belt on our old car that shredded and fell apart, taking the power steering with it. All by himself. With his socket set. It was very cute and quite impressive, since he knows how to check and fill fluids and that's about it. Told you guys he was good at flippin' everything. I'll claim some of the credit: I told him to at least try it, because I've known some really stupid mechanics in my life and if they can figure out how to fix a car, my geekazoid, computer genius husband certainly can. I was right! Plus, again, he's just good at everything.

For the love of PETE, just SAY it!!!!

Nate is a stubborn little bugger. He says quite a few words, including things like combine and helicopter. He knows the names of his friends and babysitters. He identifies various animals and tells me what noises they make. He calls Aron both "Arn" and "Bruddah." When Kurt gets home he RUNS to the door, points at him and screams "DA-DA! DA-DAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

But he will NOT say "Mama." No amount of begging, pleading, repeating or bribing aids me in this endeavor. He simply will not say it.

This is a bit unnerving, since "Mama" was Aron's first and favorite word. Nate's first word? It's in the baby book downstairs, and I don't recall offhand. But it wasn't Mama. Harrumph.

Still here

I am not sure about the possible success, or not, of moving this entire blog to a different URL. I don't want to lose what has been my diary for this last year. I'm going to do some research and find out if it is safe. Until then, I'll still be here.

Mountain Mama

Yeah, I changed my posting name. I told you I was trying to go incognito! And it's a tip of the hat to John Denver and his song "Country Roads." Because it's one of the best songs ever. And that's a picture of the Blue Ridge Mountains, beneath which I was raised, thank you very much.

By the way, are you listening to enough music these days? Think about it.

Incognito

Hey, everyone. I am going to be changing my URL to something new, and I think that www.happyfam.blogger.com is what I'll be going with. It's not taken as of today, so on or about Wednesday, I'm going to switch over. Now that my name is "out there," I need to make sure that this blog is read only by those who are invited to read it. So please make a note of that new URL, and see you at the new addy in a few days.

Ugh, gross.

Are they not the most vile couple ever conceived? I don't think I've ever seen her smile. And, I don't wish divorce on anyone, but for these two, please. The writing was on the wall from the get-go. They say you only get one true counterpart/match/love in your life. You may not find him/her until your fifth marriage, but, she/he is out there. For Sir Paul, it was Lady Linda. Not this uber-thin eurotrash, what with her one-legged dancing and all, right, Summer?

We win

Well, the guy pled to both charges this morning; not lesser charges, but the original charges of domestic violence and obstruction of official business. This was after some tense moments when the judge basically was not going to allow the guy to plead because the jury was there and everyone was ready to go.

In chambers the defense attorney and I met with the judge, because we had evidentiary issues to discuss; we were primarily the 911 call. Long story short, the courtroom has no way to play digital computer files. I had to bring my own laptop in to play the .wav file. My laptop cord promptly exploded when I plugged it in. I could play the 911 tape for the judge, but there was no way that my battery life would last for the remainder of the trial. Partially as a result of that, the judge allowed the plea and released the jury.

I'm relieved we got a conviction, because it was vital in getting these people the help they needed. I'm tapped out on adrenaline, though.

Kurt took yesterday afternoon off to watch the kids so I could prepare. And Jim took more time and gave me more specific advice than anyone else to help me get ready. You guys rock.

Moderately bummed that I didn't get a chance to try the case, though. I had almost 10 witnesses. I was ready to party, so to speak. Ah well, it's going to happen at some point in the future.

Let justice be served

Hey, friends. Tomorrow I have my first jury trial. I'll hit the highlights for you tomorrow afternoon. From this vantage point, I'd say we can win it. But it's out of my hands once it goes to the jury.

Bronze Mini-God

"My cocoa pretty brings the girls to the yard, and they're like, he's better than yours, damn right, he's better than yours, he could teach you, but he'd have to charge."

Why this moronic song by Kelis has been forever changed and is part of Nate's original 2006 summer soundtrack, I cannot say. Well I could: I watched a SNL rerun and saw Kelis singing it and well, what happened next is the result of my inability to make more headway on my hobbies.

But Nate's all tan, like a little bronze god (you know, a cast idol), and with that crown of sun-bleached hair, he's answering to yet another nickname: Mr. Cocoa Pretty. And the girls do come running; plus he charms the mommies at the mall play area. Flippin' great.

Four hours? That's plenty of sleep

Note the time of this post. I am up, because I can't sleep. I have my first jury trial next Friday and I just woke up thinking about the Rules of Evidence.

It's a domestic violence charge and the victim does not want to go forward, so I have to figure out how to prosecute her boyfriend (and the father of her kids) without her testimony. Tonight I'll be familiarizing myself with the exicted utterances exception and the statements made for the purposes of medical treatment exception to the rules of evidence. Basically, hearsay is admissible if the victim made her statements for those two above reasons. Plus I've got to voir dire the jury, and hell if I know what to do.

I'm freaking out a bit. I'm not nervous, I just want to make sure all the stuff I learned in school is actually what we have to do in real life. I need to know specifically what to do.

Now watch me do all this preparation and the the guy pleads. He'd better, because I will recommend the max jail sentence and fines if he does not. I'm not tripping on power, really. I'm a prosecutor. I'm here to do justice, just like Daredevil, the superhero who in real life is a blind lawyer. That's him pictured here.

I'm just glad I don't have to wear a superhero suit. I'm pretty sure I'd lose some credibility with the jury and the mommy body would look pretty sad encased in tight, red leather.

Birthday Boy

Sometimes I never want my soft, sweet little babies to grow up. I find that the joy of knowing and loving them consumes me, and I wonder what I will do with my days when they are grown and gone.

I'm sure I'll manage.

We had fun at A's party, and A got lots of cool stuff. He really liked his Harry Potter cake and informs me he'll be Harry Potter for Halloween. Sorry there aren't more photos, but Kurt took mostly video. I guess I'll be taking over the designated photographer duties in the future and letting Kurt open presents. Seems only fair.

Ted for Guv'nuh

OK, all you Ohioans, "guv'nuh" is what we call the chief executive officer of a state in the South. Up here, I hope we'll be calling him Governor Strickland in January.

I expect everyone to be registered to vote and to motor on out to the polls this fall. May I humbly suggest that you seriously consider voting for Ted Strickland, who is in my opinion, the only worthy candidate for governor this year. Learn more about him at his website. He's a minister, a psychologist and a professor. He's smart, sensitive and very motivated. He's steadily moved through Ohio politics for some years and has demonstrated his commitment to justice and to the people (ALL the people) of Ohio.

A few weeks ago his wife, Frances, was here in Bittytown and I'm here to tell you, she was SO nice. Yes, I did take this picture of her. I wanted to get a pic with her, but I chickened out. I know, you're thinking, "Tori, chicken out?" Yeah, I just didn't want to look like a groupie.

There were maybe 20 of us who got to sit with her and speak one on one. She was very sweet, a great guitar player and had written some hilarious songs about her husband. It was great to see a potential first lady a pickin' and a grinnin', since typically all they do is the grinnin'. Like her husband, she is also Dr. Strickland, and her degree is also in psychology.

I feel that Ted has the strength of character, the experience and the demeanor of a governor. He has wonderful ideas about where our state needs to go forward and what has to be done to make that happen. I urge you to vote for him in November.

Hair you go

As promised, Schweetie McSchweetersons and Mr. McBiggie.

Yeah, I'm here

Blogger is not letting me upload images tonight. Sorry, since I was planning on updating.