Dreaming of a White Christmas

(Quickly apologizing for the great time lapse between April and December...oops!)

Yes, we're missing the snow. Today we had the temperatures for it (woke up to 29 degree weather!), but no precipitation.

As per tradition, I was sick again over Thanksgiving and I'm apparently passing on the tradition to Bryant. We celebrated at home with our tiny 8 pound turkey and some simple, yet delicious, side dishes - including some green beans we procured on our trip out west. Yum!

Bead bracelet making with the Girl Scouts was a lot of fun, although I had absolutely no voice and had to croak out instructions. I was told my class was an absolute hit! Now that I'm an official Girl Scout (they had to sign me up to allow me to join them at their Encampment), I'll be helping with the occasional activity. I find it hilarious since I was never a Girl Scout and I only have boys.

While I was working away making bracelets, Jeff and the boys were out getting in trouble and came home with a new car - a 2007 Chevy Trailblazer. We traded in our car and Jeff's motorcycle. Turns out that between payments and insurance, we're actually saving $60/month now. Plus we have a cool new vehicle we fight over. :)

Corbin has learned how to open the oven and dishwasher. He also climbs up EVERYTHING!!!! I'm completely exhausted by the time bedtime comes chasing that darn kid. But then he blows me kisses as I lay him in bed and I can't help but smile. He also gives the best hugs.

Bryant had his first Chorus Concert and did a fabulous job. He sang almost every song and put his heart and soul into it. Even Corbin enjoyed some of the songs.

Last Friday, I offered all the cash I could find in the house (meaning the contents of our change jar) to Bryant if he weeded our flowerbeds in the front yard. TWO HOURS later I go out to find not only Bryant, but several neighborhood kids doing a FANTASTIC job!! I was simply amazed! Jeff was floored when he came home and saw what they had done. What great kids! I couldn't be prouder as a mom.

In order to cover a couple of patched up holes in the bathroom wall (the result of an effort to discover the location of a knocking pipe), we repainted our main bath. Jeff worked hard painting the edges and was starting to roll when we decided the color we had chosen resembled toothpaste. He sent me to the store to remedy the situation. It's now a wonderful light beige color and it really makes the white cabinets and trim pop.

Now for some photos...

Oops...

Where did April go? Last time I checked, it was the last week of March! This will be quick, but better short and sweet than not at all, right?

Bryant got a great speaking part in the Spring Chorus Performance. This is a really big deal because there are over 150 kids in chorus and only a couple dozen got parts. Out of those kids, only about a dozen got good ones. Great job, Bryant!

Bryant has also completed his Wolf badge. And got straight A's for the third time in a row!!! He's on a roll this month!

Corbin got his first tooth and has started army-crawling around the house. He insists on feeding himself as much as possible and has finally started taking a bottle (woohoo!).

Over spring break, we went camping to Gold Head State Park, only about 40 minutes from our house. It's beautiful and we had a great time - hiking, fishing, kite-flying. My parents came for a brief visit the last few days of spring break. We did the St. Augustine thing, took pictures at the beach, and took Corbin to the pool for the first time (he loved it). Spring Break ended way too soon!

Jeff and I can't think of much else to say, but teething baby = mush-for-brains. We'll try again when we can actually think straight...

More computer 'issues'

The internal speakers on my netbook died. What is up with the computers in my house?!!! It's not like it's a virus or anything. Dumb computers... They just don't like me.

PC problems...

Our PC decided it didn't like showing us what we were doing and died. Well, just the video card. Unfortunately, the video card is integrated and can't be replaced, so we're looking to get a new PC. I wish I knew how to retrieve the information on the hard drive, though. I lost a month's worth of pictures (minus the ones I've posted).

New pictures!

Bryant being Bryant
Corbin's new grin

A 'Grape' Performance
Bryant narrating at his third grade performance

Cool car

Helping out

Helping clean the table (eww!)

It's bubble time!

So proud to be upright!

Bryant working on his Pinewood Derby Car

Corbin being cute (of course)

New Bed!!!

Jeff finally broke down and ordered a new bed! Hurray!!!! Now I just have to wait for it to be delivered. Torture!!!

Has it been 6 months already?

Corbin had his 6-month appointment this week. 19 lbs, 2 oz and 27-1/2" long. What a big boy!

Motivated!

Today, I've been extremely motivated to work on my writing. Every chance I get, I've been on my netbook. Unfortunately, Corbin thinks today is the day for short naps and lots of mommy lap time. Mr. Grabby-Hands makes staying motivated difficult!

Funny stuff...

Driving home from church today, Bryant says "Dad, is your foot on the gas pedal?"

Jeff was cleaning a mirror in the bathroom.
Here's what I thought Jeff said: "I need glass cleaner."
I replied: "Why? Did you see the spots on the mirror?"
Here's what Jeff really said: "I hate glass cleaner!"
Here's what he thought I said: "Why? Did you see yourself in the mirror?"

Update:

Bryant had bronchitis, but he's doing much better. Corbin is perfectly fine now. I'm still feeling the after-effects (mildy stuffy nose, plugged-up ears), but I'm doing good. We're back to school and back to our routine. Woohoo!

Florida Shouldn't Be This Cold!!!

We have had record lows here in Florida. Brrr!!!!! I actually had to pull out our winter coats. And wear them!

Besides freezing to death, we've been dealing with colds. Or the flu. We'll find out tomorrow, when we go to the doctor. Bryant has been running a fever off and on for over a week now. Corbin is dealing with a not-so-lovely cough, and I'm just plain miserable.

I found out my sister, Amber, is getting married sometime this summer. Hurray! It'll be interesting figuring out how to work going to the wedding and Yellowstone. I hope she picks a date soon...

As many of you know by now, Jeff and I have signed onto Facebook. At first, it was just to goof off, but now...I have reconnected with friends I haven't seen since high school and family I didn't even know I had (including two aunts, an uncle, and several cousins!). It's been so amazing and it came at the right time in my life. I needed to feel connected.

Bryant brought home his second straight-A report card last week. Hurray! We're so proud of him!

Gotta keep this short. My cold medicine wore off about an hour ago and I really need to take some more. Photos will have to come later.

Okay, that last post posted weird, but you get the idea. I'm not gonna take the time to fix it (Corbin will be waking up any time now!).

Brrr!!!!

Corbin rolled under the tree...ooh, don't eat that!







Christmas morning







Wait a minute...where did that picture come from?

Peek-a-boo!

Christmas chorus performance

The Boys and the Big Guy

Bryant's Chorus performance at Jacksonville Landing

We are freezing! The temperature has been dipping into the low twenties (brrr!). They're even forecasting snow for late tonight or tomorrow - the first time in twenty years.

Christmas was really good. We finished everything about two weeks early (including wrapping of presents - yes, you can be disgusted), so we were able to sit back and relax. Jeff took off the entire week between Christmas and New Years. It was so nice.

Santa and others were really good to us. Jeff got a drill press, I got my netbook (hurray!), Bryant got Bakugan and a couple of games for Wii and DS, and Corbin got a driving toy (steering wheel that makes a lot of noise) and a mini basketball hoop. We were all very happy.

We also got a GPS from someone...who was that again? (Ha! Just kidding, Darrell and Terry!) We utilized it to go to Blue Spring State Park and saw literally dozens of manatees, including babies! It was so much fun.

Corbin is now a whopping 17 pounds! What a big baby. No need to lift weights with that kid around. He's such a happy kid, too. Smiles left and right to anyone and everyone. He's been eating solid foods for a whole month now. He absolutely loves squash, sweet potatoes, and applesauce mixed with oatmeal. Green beans...not so much. He cries when I try to feed them to him.

Bryant is getting so tall. And his hair is getting so long. He no longer wants me to buzz it, so I have to get it cut. I just don't remember to go and get it done until it's falling in his eyes.

Bryant had a couple of chorus performances before the Christmas break. One was at Jacksonville Landing. It was really neat to see and he did a great job. He really gets into the acting part. He puts up with the singing aspect. My kid is the one you always see being a total goober. He's not being bad, just really funny.

Jeff just started in a new position at work. He went from having the best team in the site to possibly the worst. But he had been 'asked' to take it on from the higher-ups, and it's not a good thing to turn them down... He'll do a great job, though, and turn them around. He's got a reputation for being able to do that sort of thing.

Jeff has also been spending a lot of time in his workshop (formally known as our garage, which is too small to fit our vehicles). He's built a couple of cabinets for the garage and refinished a chair. Santa's elves gave him a couple of woodworking reference books (they highly recommended them) and he's going to build a shelf for them. Soon, he and Bryant will be building their Pinewood Derby cars. Busy, busy boy!

I graduated from my children's writing course (finally!) and received a pretty diploma, which was promptly framed and hung up in the office for inspiration. My instructor recommended me for the advanced course. I'm considering it for now, but I think it's something that will have to wait for a bit. I'm utilizing nap time to get my writing done. My goal is to have my manuscript submitted by the time we leave for Yellowstone in August.

As for Yellowstone - we have determined we'll be driving and pulling our fifth-wheel. It just made more sense. And we really want to be able to bring home some more green beans and tomato soup. We're down to just one jar of each. :(

Hugs and kisses to everyone!