Tagged?

Not sure I got the whole jist of this thing, but Ill give it a try. I like Bro +12's rules(no rules) so I'll follow those. Or maybe I'll just make them up as I go. So here goes...

..A few interesting, little known factoids about myself.

1) The first time I attempted to go down the water slide in my home town I failed and had to do the walk of shame back down the stairs. Although, I did work up the courage and eventually made it down the dang thing. Perhaps this is why I am not a fan of water parks to this day. Or maybe it's all the foot skin stuck to the bottom of the pool(You'll have to ask Erin on that one).

2)I took a summer class in 7th grade about bug collecting and we used formaldehyde to preserve the bugs. To this day every time I smell formaldehyde I think of large, odd looking bugs(and test tubes???). Does formaldehyde cause brain damage?

3)I see a change of occupation in my very near future. (Don't tell my boss)

4)I went to see Episode 2 for a second time by myself and walked out due to boredom. Does that break some sort of geek code or something? (Don't worry, I didn't pay for the ticket. I have connections)

5)When I was in college I thought it "wouldn't hurt to just have a drink or two, or eight" at a party my house was hosting the night before my cousins wedding day. Well, it did hurt. Lucky for me I had a "plus 1" to drive me that was nice enough to pull over a few times so I could...ask for forgiveness...along the side of the road. I think the cousin has forgivin me by now.

6)I drove from Oregon to N.C then to N.H. and back to Oregon in less than ONE WEEK(revised) once, and Erin was with me for half of it. Well sure I flew one section(from MN to NC), but it's still quite a trek. And in case you're wondering, I can make 16 hours straight driving before I start to see things in the road. Things that are not there I mean, like horse drawn carriages. At least I don't think it was real??

7)I'm a stud Table Tennis player. Or at least I like to think so.

8)The summer after HS graduation I spent an afternoon with some buddies in a sewer tube...just for fun. (We had to see where it went)

9)I like romantic comedy's. Yeesh...did I just say that out loud?

10) I know how to count to ten.

11) I don't think we're supposed to go to eleven.

12) I shoulda stopped at nine.

13)I graduated High School in my boxer shorts.

Trapped in a Box

At some point in all of our lives we will inevitably find ourselves trapped in a box of some fashion. Although some of us will find ourselves in this situation much earlier than others. I feel fortunate that I was there to document Avery's experience "in the box" for her and others to study and learn valuable life lessons from.

Avery going through the five stages of Boxation:

1) Anger

2)Introspection3)Reasoning

4)Bargaining

5)Acceptance

Kickin some balls.

Just thought you might like to see the latest write up in the local paper about the Kickball league Erin and I belong to. We're the Sacred Sword and as of last night we are 4-3! Go Sword!

Lifes a Beach

Just back from our fantastic trip to Ocean Isle Beach N.C.. I thought you all would like to see a few photos from the week, so here you go. Right up there is the house we stayed at. It had a great view of the ocean which I think you'll see in later pics.

This one is in contention for my favorite picture ever. Avery just loved playing in the sand, exploring and looking for shells.

Here are the ladies hamming it up on the beach. I think Avery decided that it's time to reapply.











Low tide was fun, the sand close to the water was just stiff enough to support a stroller. Avery was happy to have the security of her super fantastic pink stroller while she got used to the water and the waves.







Catching up with Grandma O the first evening on the beach. She was pretty excited that she was going to get to spend the whole week with TWO grandmas. Talk about getting spoiled ;)











Here is Erin and Avery posing in what I think is just about the prettiest darn light house I ever did see. If it's any conciliation for those of you who may not agree, they told us it was the second brightest lighthouse in the world. Shines 14 nautical miles...or something. They told us we could climb to the top on Tuesdays between 10 and 2 but they wouldn't unlock the doors for us. Guess they thought we might try to send signals to the space aliens or something.






We've been practicing this pose for a long time. We both decided that the beach was a good place to unveil it.











Couldn't resist taking this picture. Just a lovely stand of Bald Cypress in this swamp. I was a little concerned at first but Erin reassured us all that Gators NEVER live this far north. They're all down in Florida.







...indeed.











If you asked Avery I think she'd tell you that her favorite part of the beach was all the birds. She never once got tired of looking at the birds...or should I say Burbs. (She's getting closer)








Just having some fun with Grandma O.











And Having some fun with Grandma G.











Put em both together and it makes her want to dance! (if you couldn't tell Avery's dancing)










Erin and Elley decided that they couldn't resist the temptation to parasail. Even though it was the windiest day of the week and the driver told them they were nuts for agreeing to do it today. He told them that AFTER they were done.








An early morning stroll.

One last family picture just before we hit the road.

So it was a fantastic time had by all. We got to explore some neat places, saw some great critters and did plenty of relaxing along the way. Avery decided to pull out a few first while we were there too. I think she was showing off for Grandma O. She said her first REAL word, "Hello". It was witnessed by all four of us so it counts. (since then she has added "open" to her repetuar(sp?) and we swear she said "all gone" today too.) She also stood up on her own, for a second or two. And as you saw in the one picture she started to dance.
It was an eventful week.

A Doctors visit.

Just before we left on our vacation Avery got to go to the doctor for her 9 month check up. Everything checks out great, she's almost 18 Lbs now. 70th % for height and 20th % for head and weight. Same as she was at the last visit. She didn't get any shots but she did get her finger pricked and got her first band aid!