Nan and Din invited to neighbor's Birthday Party

Today Nan and Din were invited to our neighbor's 5th birthday party. Instead of going to their regular sitter they stayed at the neighbor's house during the time I had to leave for work and when Yulia got home. Usually this only occurs on Saturday now that I have requested 8 pm to 4 am shifts. It has only been two weeks since I have changed shifts and just about 10 days since Yulia started her job at Dillards.

Banana trees

Today the banana trees that I ordered from TyTy Nursery in Georgia arrived (bareroot). Got them planted with the help of Ananda and Adinda. Three different varieties: Texas Star, Mysore and Brazilian Dwarf. All three varieties are supposed to withstand cold weather in winter. According to another source the heat here in the summer will not be a problem if the plants get water when they need it. My biggest challenge is to figure out when that is.

Removed the solar cover from the pool, went swimming with the girls. Water temperature was 82 degrees. Felt pretty nice but with air temp in the high 60's we were cold when we got out. I left the solar cover off (at least for tonight). Need to clean the filter so that the auto pool sweep operates better. When the solar cover is on the pool sweep and the skimmer do not keep all of the debris out of the pool as good as when it is off.

Latest picture of Bailey Pratt (Anthony's daughter) 

Yulia gets a job

Yulia got word that she starts working for Dillard's Dept. Store in the Perfume Dept. With training to begin on Thursday, April 7th. This is a full time position. We do not know yet all of the details: how long it takes to receive any benefits, whether or not there is a 401K and other details associated with new employment. The good news is that she did this all on her own. This makes me really proud.

In order to keep from paying too much for day care I switched from Day Shift at the Luxor to Swing Shift starting tomorrow. This way I will be able to pick up Ananda from school. We do not know yet how her days off will mesh with my days off. While on Day Shift my days off have been split most of the time. My first schedule on Swing Shift has me off Monday and Tuesday. Since I am still on the Extra Board my days off will probably change depending upon who is on vacation, which Holiday it is or ???. Once the merger with MGM Mirage is complete there will be at least a few changes hopfully at least some of them will be beneficial to our family.