My daughter called and chatted with my sister a while yesterday morning; I guess a lot of it was girl talk relating to my daughter's pregnancy so I've decided not to feel insulted because she didn't ask to speak to me. They're still planning to leave Ft Worth after work Friday and get in here sometime Saturday. I can't wait. I've only been back from down there about three weeks but I miss them all already.

I guess they had Ian's birthday party over the weekend and the swingset I bought while I was down there (my b'day present to Ian) was ready in time for the party. Sounds like it was a hit.

I wish we could have weather like we had today over the weekend but the weather gurus think it's going to warm back up. I think the high today was 83 and it was beautiful out. They're calling for upper 80s Saturday and Sunday, which I guess will still seem nice compared to Ft Worth. Aside from the swingset and the horse being outside I just enjoy sitting in the back yard and I hope that's where we'll spend a major part of the weekend.

I argued with myself about buying a weedeater and having Kyle do some cleaning up around here before the weekend but decided against it. The budget's going to be tight enough till Friday that I wouldn't feel comfortable spending the money and I want to spend Friday just taking it easy so I'm well rested for the weekend. We should be fine after the first of the month -- I don't have any more trips planned or fences I want built -- but I can't spend anything from now till Friday that doesn't really have to be spent. After Friday (when I'll get my pension check since the 1st is a holiday) I still need to throttle back some and start saving for Christmas in case I still don't have the rest of my money by then. If I don't have my money in time to buy another car by then I need to have money available to rent a car to drive to Texas again, and I'll need money for gas and motel rooms, a nice present for Ian and something for my granddaughter even though she won't be old enough to be impressed yet. I gave Ian a computer for his first Christmas but I think it's still around so I need to come up with a different idea for his little sister.

Twice now I've seen one of the kittens out back climb the ladder and slide down the sliding board on the swingset just like she had it planned. Both times she's tried to go up the slide first then walked around to the ladder after she gave up. Maybe she'll show off for everyone this weekend.