In other news, Ben just got home from New Zealand today, and per usual he brought {cheap} gifts for the kids. Laine's gift was a pair of pants, that, as described by Ben, the woman Shopkeeper of the store {hard-up for a sale} talked him in to buying. Of course selling him heavily on how much she would like them. At the start of their conversation about buying a gift for his kids, he related that his daughter was 5, but somehow he has arrived home with pants are size THIRTEEN, and he didn't notice that might be weird at any point...

Further, they're not pants, to put this nicely, I think they are Bermuda shorts or capris for a horizontally challenged {read: obese} child. They seem like the right length for a 5 year old, yet her waist could fit into the thighs portion of the pants. And I guess he didn't notice the low crotch or elastic waistband. They made for a good laugh, and I still pull them out when in need of a good laugh, -oh, and they're good for a laugh. I smell this year's White Elephant gift! I've said too much...

Ok, that was all old news, in more recent things seen and heard:

Yesterday our neighbor Josh came over and told us how much he loves Laine and basically that he is going to put her in his pocket and take her home to America when he moves home next month. He said he was outside and heard a sweet little voice coming from no where, only to realize it was Laine who was sitting on our mailbox {it is made from stones, this would make more sense if you could see it}. He asked what she was doing and she said, non-chalantly,

"Oh, I'm just talking to the moon."

Josh said, "Is it talking back?"

Laine, "No, I'm trying to get it to, I'm trying to talk to it, but it's hiding behind that cloud"

-She's also been talking to the road. I'll hear her in the car saying, "Road, Oh Ro-oad! I'm trying to talk to you"

I guess she's been pretty hard up for friends these days, such a pity. The poor wretch!

Also, today when we were driving into the city, she got a little confused as to where we live I think. She shouted,

"There it is, the Eiffel Bridge!"

And I started laughing and she realized her mistake, or so I thought, and said,

"Oh, nevermind, the Eiffel Bridge is in French"

And I laughed again and she said,

"Oh, I mean, it's in China"

Hmmm... gotta work on that geography as well as local and International landmarks.

Gabey is a real talking boy these days. If you haven't seen him in recent months he is a whole new guy, complete with new sexy summer buzzcut, pictures to come.

In Gabey news, I've been running into my share of unexplained, though surely Gabey related, messes in the house recently. However, I couldn't explain the empty conditioner and soap bottles, chased down with little piles of conditioner or soap around the bathroom, resembling what I lovingly call, "Cream Wrinse Terds". Usually in the tub, they remained a mystery until tonite when Gabey grabbed Laine's conditioner and said,

"Oh, great, there's the spider cream, I needed the spider cream"

And I was like, what, what the heck are you talking about? I was not very happy about the sound of this.

And he said, "But the spiders are berry hungry"

And then I realized all of those little piles were to feed the spiders and ants in the bathroom. Duh, what else would they be. He's been squeezing it out and then going back several times a day to check if there are any insects eating it. Naturally. Those little brains! I guess I can at least relish the thought that those messes I've been cleaning up had the best of intentions, right? I'm so glad he's concerned about the wellbeing of our insects. I just hope he doesn't leave anything out for cockroaches!

Hey, the move was hell. I'm not going to sugar coat anything. It was a really beyotch.

I honestly didn't think I would survive the last day. I had stayed so strong through the whole ordeal! But I really nearly crumbled in the end it was that bad. Long story, but the movers tricked me into thinking they had packed up everything up but the fridge and Laine's bed, which wouldn't fit, and we headed off to the new house. I paid them and went home to meet the cleaners only to discover most of the upstairs large furniture was still inside {long story, seriously}. They also had said they would take the piano and then when they showed up they said no, they wouldn't take it so the piano was still there too.

Did I mention I was by myself while Ben was on a business trip? So, I then hauled everything out myself and wondered what the hell was going to happen next. My stuff sat half of my house belongings on the lawn until nearly 10:30 at night when some awesome men with a van came to my rescue. We loaded up and they drove the van over and I got into my car to drive my load over and just SOBBED like a baby the whole way. I stopped to get some cash to pay the cleaners and it was really dark outside and no one was around so I continued whaling, like a child, unabashedly {I would have prefered to have done it in the fetal while sucking my thumb, but there was still work to do} and then I realized it was so dark I hadn't seen that there WERE people, people all around, taking what was supposed to be a nice evening stroll. I ran to my car, peeled out, and continued my cry, alone.

The men helped me load another load over and the house was cleaned and I was OUT! The next morning I moved in and ladies from the ward were there to help clean and men were there to help move big stuff and put stuff together and by noon the place as already livable. It was awesome. I love the new ward, new house, and new area. It has been a bit full-on and overwhelming, even in a positive way at times, but we are really happy.

I STILL don't have internet though! It is taking forever! Monday is the day I guess, so I'll be back up and running then. For now, please enjoy my current FAVORITE Australian ad campain. It's complete with billboards all over the city. I was just going to email it to my family, but thought maybe others out there might enjoy it as well. I'm not ashamed to admit I get a serious kick out of it every time it runs.