Staring, Hair and Manners.

The TH next door to us is finally occupied. It's been vacant for more than a year (which was fine by us). Some Arab guy bought it, fixed it up a bit and is renting it out; a recurring pattern in our neighborhood for the past few years. If I had the money to buy and rent out I'd probably do it to. When the metro gets here in a couple of years these people are probably going to make bank . . . well unless the US economy totally tanks because of our katrillion dollar debt.

Anyway I'm not quite sure who lives there. A couple of middle aged ladies and some pit bulls for sure and a younger woman in her late 20's/early 30's. Of the latter Eli said, "Our new neighbor lady is really pretty. I wish she would come out every day and stand on the sidewalk for a while, so we could look at her." I thought his comment was really funny, but he probably gets that staring trait from me. I love to stare forever and unabashedly at anything I find to be attractive, be it people, the landscape or a well designed room. So if you ever find me gazing endlessly in your direction, be complimented I probably just think you're gorgeous. On the other hand it could be that you have some funky stray hair growing out of somewhere too.

Speaking of hair. Joel lifted up Kelly's shirt the other day and said, "Uh, dad I really think you need to wax." Next he patted his dad's bald head and said, "Dad, you really need to work on your growing situation here." I probably should have married a less hairy guy to water down the mongo Hurst hair gene my kids all inherited from me. No doubt poor Joel, Eli and Cara will all end up hirsute, bewhiskered little dudes -- just like their woolly parents.

Eli just said to Kelly, "Daddy thank you for making this dinner. This is the best dinner ever!" (grilled cheese sandwiches and strawberry smoothies). See, he can be nice sometimes and my kids do have manners occasionally. We complimented Eli on his nice compliment. Of course Cara then retorted in a whiny voice, "Hey I said a nice word too!"

If we give one kid something the other doesn't get (even a compliment), we never hear the end of it.