Field Trip To Xmas Tree Farm

Elle's Pre-K class took a field trip to Happy Hollow Christmas Tree Farm today. It was about 39 degrees with a stiff breeze. Evidently the directions were wrong, therefore many kids arrived late...while we froze our butts off. Once all the kids were there, the teachers sent the kids running to find "the tree with candy canes on it." After a couple of class photos in front of the tree, each kid assisted the teacher with sawing the Leyland Cyprus (I thought these were used for hedge) tree down.

Don't Forget The Lyrics

No, I am not talking about Evan's doppelganger, Wayne Brady's show! I have never been one who can listen to a song and memorize the lyrics. Laura and Elle can do it after a listen or two. I have always blamed it on early Michael Stipe indecipherable lyrics. I have been known to sing a wrong lyric or two.

One of my favorites of all time is when Owen sang "Changes come around real soon make us swimming in bed" from John Cougar's "Jack and Diane." For whatever reason I once thought that Elvis' "Return To Sender" was "three times December."

Elle has been listening to a lot of Christmas music lately. I bought the Burl Ives "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" CD recently and she has learned almost every word to "Jingle, Jingle, Jingle" and "There's always Tomorrow" (will blog on that later). We were driving home from Sam's last night listening to B98.5 since they play Xmas 2-4-7 when "Silver Bells" came on. I could hear Elle singing in the back seat, so I turned down the radio just in time to hear her singing "Silver-ware....silver-ware"!

Giving Thanks

We didn't travel to Louisville, KY this year for Turkey Day. Instead we went to Bremen, GA and ate turkey with Laura's family. Last week, Elle had her Thanksgiving recital at MCA Pre-K. She and her classmates performed 3 tunes. Afterwards, we ate a small meal together.

We talked Elle's cousin, Kayleigh into wearing Elle's indian outfit from last year and pose for this pic. She was a good sport!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Creekers in Woodstock

Special thanks to Dan and Wen for hosting 25 of us plus a gaggle of other neighborhood kids today! It was great to see Conor and Owen who we don't get to see as often. It didn't take 5 minutes before all the old stories were retold.

Creeker Kids

Creeker Kids cutting up!

Tiller and Elle hamming it up!

Jacob Gallagher IS the Heatmiser!!!

Evan Looks Like Everyone

Us Creekers have always felt that Evan could be a Hollywood double. Reason being - Evan looks like everyone.

Reason #1: Evan looks like Sean Penn

Reason #2: Evan looks like Josh Charles (aka "Knox Overstreet in Dead Poets Society)

Reason #3: Evan looks like Wayne Brady

Reason #4: Evan even looks like the kid on the Pampers wipes package

So there you have it. Based on this well-rounded, well-researched study, Evan DOES look like everyone! Heres looking to next weekends' Creeker Reunion!!!

Halloween 2008

I am so glad Elle likes Halloween as much as I do. I am starting to get worried that my little girl is goth in training, though. Her favorite ride at Disney World is The Haunted Mansion. Her favorite movie of late has been The Nightmare Before Christmas and one of her favorite shows has been The Addams Family. She is already asking to be Wednesday Addams next year. She has the dark hair and pale skin down pat already.

It was a good night of trick-or-treating. We left out after the first wave of kids came by the house. We left a bowl of candy on the porch along with the Halloween playlist I created playing on the boom box. Really wish I could have seen the faces when the transition from Disney World Halloween music to The Misfits occurred! I was a bit disappointed by the number of "blacked out" houses that were not participating, but Elle didn't know any different. If only we were Mexican so that we could celebrate Dia De Los Muertos tomorrow. I love their traditions.

Circle Of Life

As I mentioned in the previous post, the owners of our condo let us extend our vacation two extra nights at no charge. Our last day at the beach was a bit cool in the morning, but perfect once the sun came up. Elle got to play with her friend Bailey from "Tucky" again today. They will soon be pen pals when we get home.

The Circle of Life. No, not a Lion King reference. Unfortunately, we witnessed a lady drown at the beach today. She was scuba diving with a group that she regularly went diving with. Apparently they did not use the buddy system or use diver down floats. The worst part of it all, my mom thought she heard the lady yell for help. Mom went to the lifeguard to tell him and he said that she is part of a dive group, "she is fine." Everyone kept an eye on her and at times it seemed like she was swimming around. At least 10 minutes went by and finally a few of the divers came running down the beach and pulled her out of the water. There happened to be an EMT on the beach. After working on her for what seemed like an eternity, they airlifted her off the beach. Everyone has taken it hard. We are all second guessing what could have been done. I had actually left the beach around the time mom spotted her in the water. Laura called me on my cell while I was up in the room to let me know what was going on. Call it hokey as I know not everyone believes in premonitions, but I twice told Laura earlier in the week that I was going to save someones' life on the beach. I wasn't even there.

So we leave vacation having witnessed a death, but arrive home to the birth of Riley Megan. She is the granddaughter of Laura's friend and our neighbor, Roxanne.

Beach Update

On Facebook last night, I mentioned that Laura and I overheard a group of three teenage boys looking for "prospects." We both howled, but then I got a little sick to my stomach thinking about my own daughter in, say, 10 years. This afternoon two of the three boys scored some prospects. As they walked by with two girls, I heard the blond-haired kid say "See we both have jobs and buy our own stuff." I am sure that won them over. Dickheads.

Back on the beach today, I am very thankful that the owners of the condo allowed us to extend our stay until Monday. I think Laura and the owner have a thing for each other...maybe that is why we got the free extension!!! Weather has been great all week, but the surf has been rough. Today, it wasn't as hot (low 80's) and the water was clear and calm. For the first time all week Elle got a chance to play in the ocean.

Oh and this is a picture of a killer whale or maybe just a dolphin...

Elle The Little Fashionista Gets Inked and Painted

This weekend the Navarre Beach Arts Festival is taking place. We went to something similar here in the spring. I think we got Elle a tie-dyed shirt with crabs on it then. Laura went early to check things out while we were at the beach (see previous post). Laura came back with a butterfly tattoo on her toe, not real, but Elle thought so. It was buy one get one free so it was Elle's turn next. She chose a hibiscus.

Next up, was face painting. (Editors note - I bailed after waiting 30 mins) An hour later, I introduce to you Madame Butterfly...

God, I have my hands full!

Baptism At Sea....Introduce A Little Anarchy

Laura, Elle and I are at Navarre Beach for a little beach getaway. My folks met us down here for the week. It was nearly 6 years ago we were married here. This weekend the weather has been nice. Overcast at times and windy (sorry Dan) and highs in the low to mid 80's. We headed down to the beach this morning and as we were setting up our beach chairs and umbrellas, we saw a commotion up the beach. Dad, Elle and I decided to see what was going on.

Who would have known? First Baptist Church of Navarre was holding baptisms at sea.

We did not partake, but it was interesting nonetheless. Speaking of interesting. Is Heath Ledger/Joker the new Tupac Shakur? I haven't see the newest Batman movie. Heath seems bigger in afterlife. As I walked back from the baptisms, I saw this on the pier.

"Introduce A Little Anarchy" with a photo of Heath as Joker. Note Dad and Elle in the background. What a weird few minutes.

Undefeated, Untied, Unbelievable!

I love that headline from the AJC describing the 1980 UGA National Championship season. It also describes Elle's first soccer season. I can't believe the season is over! 7-0 and an aggregate score of 60-15. There were only a few close calls. Mason and Daylon scored 75% of the goals with Preston and Jonathan scoring the remaining few. Unfortunately, no matter how hard I coached, I couldn't get my girls (Elle, Sophie, and Isabella) a goal. Grayson, the other coaches' son, only made it to a few games this year and wasn't able to tally a goal either. Elle played really well considering that most kids were a year or so older and most teams had a hotshot boy who dribbled circles around everyone. Until next year! Daddy is very proud of you!!!

I Don't Want To Be Buried...

In a Pet Cemetery. We spent Labor Day weekend in Waynesboro with my brother Jeff and his family. Jeff's first job with the GA DNR was at Di-Lane Plantation. Di-Lane was originally owned by Henry Berol (of pencil fame) and was a hunting retreat.

You see, Waynesboro is the bird dog capital of the world. Di-Lane is haunted by the ghost of Henry Berol and I am guessing any number of his beloved bird dogs and horses buried in the cemetery above. I spent the night there in the mid-90's and can tell you something wasn't quite right.

For whatever reason, I have always remembered one of Henry's favorite dogs' name - Piccolo Pete. What a great friggin' name! "Petey Greatest FTD" (Field Trial Dog).

Go Dawgs!

On the eve of the biggest game of the season (thus far), I figured I would share a little piece of history. I believe the photo was taken around the second week of June 1990. Just a few weeks after high school graduation and a month or so before I cleaned up and became a frat boy. My mom has always gotten a kick out of the fact that my middle name shows up as "Andre" (they ran out of space). I have always found solace in the fact that my middle name overshadows my Danzig-esque mullett.

Return Of The Rickenbacker

I suppose if I was Finnish, I would have been the one accused of stealing Peter Buck's famed guitar September 9th in Helsinki after the show. Ten days later the perp or someone close to the perp turned it in just in time for the Luxembourg concert. Interesting that he has been playing the same guitar since the Chronic Town sessions in 1982. Welcome home Rickenbacker.

"My Gawd, A Freshman" - Munson Retires

Wow. I had not taken the time to listen to Munson this season. I had heard he was calling people by the wrong name and referring to players as 'him'. Having grown up a Dawg and listening to Larry my whole life, I simply feel a void. I felt the same void in 2001 when UK's legendary Cawood Ledford ("Hello everybody") passed away. They just don't make them like they used to, never will.

Just Win Baby!

Well the Flash moved to 4-0 with a come from behind 6-4 victory. Elle had two crucial saves and did a great job with her dropkicks from goal.

Winning isn't always pretty. Just ask the Dawgs. A win is a win. Sometimes championship teams win ugly, win lucky, they just find ways to win. Credit the Gamecock defense. Screw you Darth Visor! Throw that visor and smirk one more time for good measure!

How Many Big Macs Do You Eat If You Are OCD?

Apparently 23,000. Have you read the news today about the guy that has eaten 2 all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun a day since May 17th, 1972? Good god. That was 2 weeks before I was born! Apparently he has only missed 8 days in 36 years. Once because of the death of his mom, once while out of town and could not locate a McD's (likely) and another due to winter weather. The last one put him over the edge. He now freezes up to 5 in the event that bad weather rolls into town. God, I thought I was weird.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/09/10/big.macs.record.ap/index.html

Yearbook Yourself

I was introduced to Yearbook Yourself this past weekend by my step-nephew, Scott. Above I Yearbooked myself circa 1976. You thought Guitar Hero is a fun, drunken get together activity? Better try this out! Don't stop with yearbooking yourself as your own sex! I found I would be a pretty hot co-ed!

Quick Holiday Weekend Update

It has been a busy two weeks - work and now travel. I have spent the last three days in Waynesboro celebrating my nephew, Paul's Bday. Later this week (TS Hanna forbidding) Elle and I head down to Orlando to the Mouses' house with my friend Chris and his daughter.

I wanted to post a photo of Elle and my nephew Paul taken yesterday by my Uncle Doug. I am kicking myself for leaving my camera in the car, but am eternally grateful to him for taking these great pics!

How Many Is Umpteen? Flash Win!

Elle's soccer team won again yesterday beating the Blast by an undetermined amount of goals. The final score was officially Umpteen to 1. When I say 'undetermined' I truly lost count (and Upwards does not support keeping score).

I know my parents and grandparents had a lot of unique sayings (many of which are vulgar). My favorites from my grandmother Vivian (mammaw-pictured) were "Doesn't no sh*t from shine-ola" and "Dumber than owl sh*t."

So how many is umpteen? I am not sure how many people have even heard the term before. I think the first time Laura asked me how many it was I said "17." I say it doesn't matter. It is ambiguously fun!

G-N-I-L-L-E-P-S

Elle is really interested in spelling out everything she reads and writes. The funny thing is that she probably still misses a letter here or there when she says her A-B-C's, but she can read and write virtually all the letters capital and lower case.

So here is the situation. Last weekend she made a birthday card and signed her full name backwards for the first time. She hasn't written anything backwards since. However, she is spelling things she sees backwards (like a Burger King sign). Do we have anything to worry about? Could it be a sign of dyslexia? Is she just entertaining herself?

Future Concert Promoter?

Laura and I were watching Dan in Real Life earlier today. I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Elle kept walking in and out of the room with her Barbie dolls. When I say Barbie dolls that includes various Disney Princesses, Hannah Montana (HM), and High School Musical (HSM) 'charakers.' I was half asleep on the floor watching the movie when I looked over to see the impending concert Elle had organized.

There are so many funny things about these pictures. First of all, I am impressed that Elle lined up all of the dolls in perfect rows of 5. No doubt will be OCD like her daddy one day. The background features Hannah Montana's Backstage playset, which Elle uses as a stage. What you miss in these pictures is the grand entrance by HM in the purple Barbie Porsche Boxster. Now it is time to dissect the 20 concertgoers. By my count I see 4 fully-nude princesses & Oliver from HM, one nude prince with a boot on (more on him in a future blog), and my personal favorite - Troy from HSM half-clothed wearing an apron!

You Gotta Hold Your Mouth Right

I think my Dads' mom, Vivian was the one who started it. For as long as I can remember my Dad has made a funny face when he is a) concentrating on something; b) trying to pry something open; c) working on something intricate. It is a look that must be hereditary. Elle cut out a butterfly she colored the other night and I caught her doing it!