Finally we're on city sewer

On May 12 the plumbers came and dug trenches in the front yard for the sewer line and also to replace our water line which had been leaking.  They worked about an hour and a half then quit and didn't get back again until Tuesday the 17th.  Bill wanted so bad to be able to get out and supervise them.  It really didn't take too long when they got down to it.  The city began in August 2009 to put a sewer system throughout our subdivision which we have had to pay for.  We were glad to have it done but it has been painful the manner in which it was done.  The project was finished in July 2010 but we could not hook up until April 2011 because of bureaucratic procedure.  The week after the hookup to the sewer was completed, our septic tank was decommissioned--which means they crushed it and filled it in so we could not use it any more.  Because of our increased use of water after Bill's accident, I worried a lot about the septic tank so this is a positive event for the long run.  

SEWER LINE:

WATER LINE:

FRONT VIEW:

DURING

AFTER

Catching up with April and May 2011

I've not been too good at keeping up with things since I got back home.  I will try to catch up some on what has happened in April and May.  As you may know we were anxiously awaiting the birth of our grandson in April.  Below is a picture of Rory with Xena the last time they were in Franklin before the baby was born.  As you can see they are good buddies.  On April 28, Kendra and Rory made an unscheduled trip to Franklin after tornadoes hit the Madison-Athens area leaving most of North Alabama without power for a week or more.  They decided to travel to Franklin for the comfort of air conditioning and refrigeration despite the fact that Kendra's due date was only 5 days away.  By Sunday, May 3, 2 days from due date, however, she was getting a little nervous about delivering away from home so Josh drove up and they all went back together.  Adam provided them with a generator so they could hook up some of the essential things they needed and wouldn't you know the power came on late that night.  Better prepared for the worst than not.  

May 5: With no baby arriving on the due date, Kendra was induced and Archer Hayden joined his family and the world weighing in at 8 lbs, 15 oz..  Kendra had a relatively easy delivery considering Archer's size and was happy to have it all over with.  

May 8th was Mother's Day and Tami, Tony & Connor sent flowers.  Bill, Adam & I drove to Madison, AL to celebrate the day with Kendra, Josh & Rory and of course Archer.  A special day for a new Mom.

We arrived before lunch so we could fix the meal for them.  

And of course we enjoyed meeting Archer for the first time.  Kendra went home from the hospital on Saturday and we saw him on Sunday.  This picture reminded me of Kendra when she was a baby because this was what she did most of the time for about the first year.    

Lest you think it's his normal personality though, this is how he was most of the time.  I still can't decide who he looks like.  

It appears he overheard something we said about him and didn't like it.   But he appears to have the response on the end of his tongue.

Bill had a chance to hold Archer too and enjoyed being with his new grandson.  He was very careful that we propped Archer up on a pillow so he didn't have to worry about dropping him.  His hands have improved a lot but he still can't grasp objects.

On Friday, May 13,  we again travelled to Kendra's to celebrate her 30th birthday.  Tami and Connor went with us this time.  

Although that may look like humongous ants or possibly cicadas crawling across her birthday cake, it's actually large sugared blackberries.  

Josh and Rory posed in between lunch and cake.

And of course here are the 2 cousins in a very sweet pose.  

All things must come to an end so here we are buckled up and ready to head out for home.  Connor and Papa keep each other company in the back seat.