Our Happy Place

2012-02-06T07:26:00.001-05:00

Good morning!

Monster Jam

2012-02-05T14:40:00.002-05:00

We went to Monster Jam a couple of weeks ago.

And while it would be obvious to you that Leo would have enjoyed it, I submit this video taken while sitting next to Lily.

I've put up the text of what she is saying. You can decide for yourself if she was enjoying herself or not.

CLICK HERE

2012-02-05T08:16:00.001-05:00

2012-02-05T07:37:00.001-05:00

Mmmmm.....

New Video

2012-02-04T16:17:00.000-05:00

Here's a link to a short (4 minute) video of Lily (and Leo) looking for dresses for Lily's First Communion...

CLICK HERE

2012-02-04T11:48:00.001-05:00

Daddy's favorite BBQ for lunch.

2012-02-04T10:12:00.001-05:00

Looking for First Communion dresses AGAIN???

Video

2012-02-03T09:35:00.002-05:00

This is a link to a promotional video for the kids' school.

In case you didn't see Leo in his Saint Leo the Pope costume from All Saints Day - you can see him walk by at about the 28 second mark...

Click Here

2012-02-03T08:23:00.001-05:00

No school today.

Florida Phyllis

2012-02-02T16:17:00.002-05:00

Florida's Groundhog Prognosticator.... click here

2012-02-02T15:27:00.001-05:00

After school trip to the strawberry farm for a snack!

2012-02-02T11:06:00.001-05:00

Chin ups!

2012-02-02T08:06:00.001-05:00

Sorry for everyone else but I'm happy to have six more weeks of this! Thanks Phil!

2012-02-02T07:45:00.001-05:00

Good morning! Cupcakes for Groundhog Day!

2012-02-01T07:54:00.001-05:00

Good morning!

2012-01-31T16:20:00.001-05:00

Building a dirt ramp to jump with his bike

2012-01-31T12:35:00.002-05:00

Are we not drawn onward, we few, drawn onward to new era?

2012-01-31T12:18:00.001-05:00

2012-01-31T10:39:00.001-05:00

A few pictures from Leo's class during Parents' Day.

2012-01-31T10:38:00.001-05:00

Good morning!

2012-01-31T10:09:00.001-05:00

Parents' Day at school today.

2012-01-31T10:07:00.001-05:00

2012-01-30T19:16:00.001-05:00

Busy day.

2012-01-30T07:40:00.001-05:00

Good morning!

2012-01-28T10:36:00.001-05:00

Shopping for First Communion dresses.

Finally Friday

2012-01-27T10:16:00.000-05:00

Rainy start. Storms started shortly after 5am. Should be sunny and nice by the end of the day.

I'm using my Buccaneer coffee mug this morning to celebrate our new coach. I haven't used it since September when the old regime started on a ten game losing streak. But today I'm feeling good about our coach for the first time in three years! I also like this coffee mug because it's one of the few that the handle doesn't heat up when I microwave my coffee.

Finally Friday.

2012-01-27T07:37:00.001-05:00

Good morning!

2012-01-26T17:00:00.001-05:00

Lily working on a playlist for her iPod.

2012-01-26T11:40:00.001-05:00

Lunch at Panera's

2012-01-26T07:40:00.001-05:00

Good morning!

Hump Day

2012-01-25T11:54:00.000-05:00

I love the smell of our house in the morning...it reminds me of Grandma's house...oatmeal, coffee and shaving cream. I know - sounds weird. But those smells always remind me of mornings at Grandma's. Those weren't the only smells at Grandma's. She used to use this nasty pink gel to comb our hair down. Oh that stuff was awful. The oatmeal was good though.

It's noisy at the office today. There is a lot of construction going on outside. A new sidewalk is going in and there is a jack hammer hard at work. There's also a new townhouse going in and they are laying the foundation out today so a lot of "beep-beep-beep" from the trucks backing up. I kind of feel bad for my neighbor who is an EMT on the night shift. He has a hard enough time sleeping because his bedroom backs up to my office. And we have thin walls so he hears me on the phone all morning. Or singing.

So I reconciled a checking account and had a one cent error. One penny. I've had that happen before and I know a one cent error is the hardest to find. I've literally spent days finding one cent errors. So I scratched my head, warmed up my coffee and settled in to find the stray penny. Lo and behold, I found it on the first transaction I checked. I guess that means I get to sit back and enjoy the cup of coffee.

I'm picking Leo up at school this morning. Diane's car is still in the shop with an elusive electrical short. When it's a dead battery, you kind of feel relieved taking it to the shop and finding it's more than just a loose battery cable or something simple. But, like I said, I can't even get to the battery so it's not like I could have done anything.

2012-01-25T07:41:00.001-05:00

Good morning!

2012-01-24T12:10:00.001-05:00

Ok... Maybe not completely dead. Special thanks to the folks at Chrysler for making the battery inaccessible to the average Joe. A quick jump and we're off to the garage!

2012-01-24T12:04:00.001-05:00

Uh oh... Something is dead.

2012-01-24T07:37:00.001-05:00

Good morning!

2012-01-23T07:38:00.001-05:00

Good morning!

2012-01-22T18:45:00.001-05:00

Sleepy KeeWee

2012-01-21T16:37:00.001-05:00

Monster Boy!

2012-01-21T16:18:00.001-05:00

Monster trucks!

2012-01-21T12:36:00.001-05:00

KeeWee helping in the garden.

2012-01-21T10:59:00.001-05:00

Still working...

2012-01-21T09:56:00.001-05:00

Doing some chores so he has money to spend at Monster Jam tonight

2012-01-21T09:23:00.001-05:00

We got Pit Passes!

2012-01-21T09:18:00.001-05:00

Ten hours until Monster Jam. Leo is beside himself with excitement. I think I have lined up Pit Passes and a ride on a Monster truck so we are going to pick those up.

2012-01-21T09:09:00.001-05:00

Dove inside Lowes

2012-01-20T12:30:00.001-05:00

Looks like we'll be playing the Clean Up Game later

Sick Day update

2012-01-20T11:00:00.000-05:00

Patient Number 1, Lily... At last report, she was eating and playing with the dog.
Patient Number 2, Leo... Hot chocolate seems to have helped. He's been here at the office watching TV and playing nicely. And loudly.

Next up, Lunch!

World's Largest Emerald Up for Auction | Fashion - Yahoo! Shine

2012-01-20T08:57:00.001-05:00

Diane – don’t click the link unless you want to ruin your Valentine’s Day gift!

World's Largest Emerald Up for Auction | Fashion - Yahoo! Shine

Sick Day

2012-01-20T08:34:00.002-05:00

Good morning! We had a couple of belly aches this morning so we've called in sick to school. Leo is going to hang with me a little this morning and Lily(she came home sick in the middle of the day yesterday) is at home. I decided the best thing for Leo was a trip to Starbucks for hot chocolate. Not sure what Diane's course of action is for her patient. We'll check in later and see how she's doing.

2012-01-19T16:50:00.001-05:00

It's in the upper 60's outside. Sunny. Not a cloud in the sky. It's 73 degrees inside. And we just put a fire in the fireplace.

2012-01-19T07:45:00.001-05:00

Good morning!

Winnie the Pooh Day at Holiday Insights

2012-01-18T09:48:00.003-05:00

Winnie the Pooh Day at Holiday Insights

Study: Checking smartphones increases stress

2012-01-18T09:10:00.000-05:00

Study: Checking smartphones increases stress

2012-01-18T07:38:00.001-05:00

Good morning!

2012-01-17T15:17:00.001-05:00

Vet appointment

2012-01-17T14:40:00.001-05:00

Waiting for Lily.

Nice and clean!

2012-01-17T09:08:00.002-05:00

2012-01-17T08:47:00.001-05:00

Dentist appointment this morning. No complaints from me. I love the dentist.

I had three pounds of salmon for breakfast.

Busy day... Dentist, Tech Lab. KeeWee has a vet appointment this afternoon. Lily has Girl Scouts this evening. And someone has to make a run to Plant City for more strawberries!

2012-01-17T07:31:00.001-05:00

Good morning!

2012-01-16T14:31:00.001-05:00

Lily talking to the neighbor boys. Older boys. Eighth grade.

2012-01-16T14:21:00.001-05:00

Carrots for dinner!

2012-01-15T11:51:00.001-05:00

Think Mom would mind if I leave him on the sandbar?

Hold on!

2012-01-15T11:32:00.002-05:00

A few waves broke across the bow so Leo decided to stand.

And, yes, I told him he could take off the life jacket since we were in about 6 inches of water.

2012-01-15T11:30:00.001-05:00

Update from the Bridge: We are about 1000 yards south of the main channel in three feet of water. The water is crystal clear and we are over a mostly sandy bottom. Flounder are plentiful but the wind is picking up and we are taking waves over the bow. It's sunny but barely in the mid 50's. We are headed north to the main channel to try a trout hole or two before making the turn east towards home.

2012-01-15T10:48:00.001-05:00

Little redfish

2012-01-15T10:30:00.001-05:00

Flounder!

2012-01-15T09:17:00.001-05:00

It might be 40 degrees but WE WANT TROUT!!!

2012-01-14T19:06:00.001-05:00

Why, yes, my kids are in bed!

2012-01-14T16:40:00.001-05:00

No, it's not big enough for dinner.

2012-01-14T13:01:00.001-05:00

Just follow your nose

2012-01-14T12:56:00.001-05:00

Uh... You might want to turn around

2012-01-14T12:54:00.001-05:00

Lions

2012-01-14T10:46:00.001-05:00

2012-01-14T10:38:00.001-05:00

2012-01-14T10:33:00.001-05:00

Lunch time for the giraffe

2012-01-14T10:24:00.001-05:00

Dessert ship

2012-01-14T10:13:00.001-05:00

On Wisconsin

2012-01-14T10:10:00.001-05:00

A little cool today.

2012-01-14T09:56:00.001-05:00

Leopard at the Naples Zoo

2012-01-13T16:39:00.001-05:00

Looks like I'm out fifty-cents

Friday the 13th.

2012-01-13T10:25:00.000-05:00

Finally Friday. I think I could really use a weekend. Oh, and we get a three day weekend!

Lily and Leo had a great Facetime Chat with Grandma last night. I think they all enjoyed it. Kind of neat to have video chats like that. They wanted to call her again from school just before drop off to tell her they hope she had a nice day.

We've cooled off again this morning. I think we are in the upper 50's thanks to a new front that has blown in. It's still sunny and we'll have highs in the 60's the next couple of days. Supposed to be a beautiful weekend.

I just read that 43% of people think God is helping Tim Tebow win football games.

2012-01-13T07:40:00.001-05:00

Good morning! They requested separate pictures this morning.

2012-01-12T12:21:00.001-05:00

Good morning!

2012-01-11T19:04:00.001-05:00

Leo had a slight mishap with the toothpaste. He didn't know anything was there until we took this pic to prove it to him.

2012-01-11T19:03:00.001-05:00

Lily at guitar practice

Oops!

2012-01-11T19:00:00.000-05:00

Sorry about the last couple of posts. Turns out a text conversation between me and Diane ended up posting to the Blog! Wow...that could have been embarassing!

So, I've got a couple of little nuggets from Lily. First of all, I found this list in a stack of work on her desk. I have no idea what it's all about - but this is what it says...

YOU WILL NEED...
1. 15 pieces of wood
2. an angle vise
3. wood glue
4. a small pet
5. a box of nails
6. hammer
7. measuring tape

Just found it funny.

Lily has been learning about Martin Luther King Jr. in school. Today, she was telling me about what she's learned about him and that time period. She told me about segregation and how "black people had to drink out of different water fountains". She added..."and white people had to ride in the front of the bus! They weren't allowed to ride in the back!"

2012-01-11T12:14:00.001-05:00

Cloudy Wednesday

2012-01-11T09:31:00.000-05:00

No sunshine this morning. Front blowing through that will cool us back down into the 60's. It's cool, and cloudy. The kind of weather that makes you wish someone had bought you one of those Snuggies for Christmas.

Diane has a hair appointment this morning. She usually texts me a picture so I can show Leo and Lily. I'm under strict orders to not post it here on the blog. Sometimes I think I need another blog. One that I can keep anonymously just so I can post pictures of her sitting in the salon chair or rant about people that I really don't like anymore. Either way, I expect it looks something like this...

So I get to pick Leo up at school. And today is a discount day at Chick Fil A for his school. Usually, that means when he gets picked up, he comes out having made plans with his best buddies about going to lunch. Nothing like conspiring of a bunch of four year olds. It's pretty typical. Leo says, "C. is going to Chick Fil A - can we go"? Turns out C. is telling his Dad the exact same thing about Leo. Then the parents get together at CFA and realize we've all been taken by these future con artists.

Another good Leo story... there is a tough little girl in his class. Ok, I don't mean "tough". She's very nice. She's just bigger than he is and she likes to pick him up and get in his face and poke and pull and hug. (Note: Everyone in Leo's class is bigger than he is) She clearly has a crush on him. Leo's teacher told Diane that the other day this little girl was right up close to Leo's face. Face to face and Leo just stood there with a big fat grin on. The teacher told Diane how good Leo is about that kind of thing. No matter what someone does, he just smiles bigger and bigger. So we asked Leo about that instance. And he remembered very clearly. We asked him "what was she saying when she was right in your face and you were smiling so big"? He said, "She was telling me how much she hates it when I smile at her".

2012-01-11T07:41:00.001-05:00

Good morning!

2012-01-10T07:40:00.001-05:00

Good morning!

2012-01-09T15:23:00.001-05:00

Snack time. Vanilla yogurt. With sprinkles, gummy bears, chocolate chips, strawberries and chocolate sauce. Yumm.

Monday

2012-01-09T10:40:00.000-05:00

Fortunately, I don't have anything on this ship which is falling into the ocean off of New Zealand. I did read that almost 100 containers had been removed but when it split, recover of the containers was being canceled. They have, however, attached locator beacons to some of the containers so they can be recovered after they've fallen in.

Leo coming over for lunch today. And bringing me a big bowl of the beef stew we made for dinner last night.

2012-01-09T07:38:00.001-05:00

Good morning! ( I think I'm making a print of this one to frame)

2012-01-08T18:45:00.001-05:00

Leo's room. I have no idea how he sleeps at night.

2012-01-08T16:43:00.001-05:00

Scooter accident.

2012-01-08T13:35:00.001-05:00

2012-01-08T13:23:00.001-05:00

I'm actually doing more than just following my kids around and taking pictures .

2012-01-08T12:48:00.001-05:00

Bath time

2012-01-08T12:36:00.001-05:00

2012-01-08T09:44:00.001-05:00

Leo is cutting out coupons for grocery shopping.