Because I married a funny man...

about once a year we are invited to a Young Life camp so he and some other funny friends can entertain some high school kids. I say "we" when he's really the one invited and Grayson and I just get to tag along for the fun. He's funny. Seriously funny. This is about the fourth or fifth run of this "program" where the guys are McDonalds workers who want to be on America's Got Talent. They sing funny songs. Real songs with funny, McDonald-ish lyrics. Like for the chorus of "Hero", they sing "I can take your order baby, would you like some fries with that, I can su-per-size that for you, only for thirty-nine more cents" in their best Enrique voice. Did I mention it was funny? Someone asked me this weekend, "does he sing at home?" I think they expected me to say no, but because he's funny like that, I got to say yes.


Here we are in November of last year at camp...Grayson was only 2 months old.

And this year...

We got some great Christmas card photos too...I'll post the out takes of those later.

Roomies

Kristin, Hannah, me, Amy, and Krista went to high school together and were roommates for most of college. And I've even known Hannah since elementary school. This weekend, we were only missing Krista. We're a bit spread across the state now, but it's so fun to catch up in person when we get the chance. Babies in tow and babies on the way.

Aunt Kiki being silly with Grayson.

Grayson loving all of the extra attention. Note: since we've been home, she's been wondering where her audience is.

The view of a snowy Windy Gap from the front porch of our cabin.

Cousins

Maymay and Peeps happened to be babysitting for Jackson and Avery this weekend, so they came over at lunch on Saturday for a visit. Sorry about the pink bib shot Jackson, your bib had gone missing and Grayson only rocks pink. At least I turned it around so the flowery side was hidden.

Peeps and Grayson playing on the couch.

I cannot describe how hard it is to get a good shot of a 2-year-old and 1-year-old together. My first attempts were to have them standing holding hands. Then we decided to immobilize them. This was the best I came up with.

Avery was going in for the hug on Grayson in her stroller and Grayson thought it was best to lean on in for the love.

More Windy Gap Fun

Grayson loves, I mean loves, John (aka Ja-Ja for John-John). I think he seems to like her too.

Here she is going in for a smooch on his head.

This is a sweet indoor playroom in the new staff housing at camp. We were excited it now had toys since the outdoor playground was covered in snow. Grayson squealed every time we entered the room. The extra fast slide was a fan favorite. Along with the bean bag chairs.

Becca (aka "Beh-ba, with the "beh" louder than the "ba") and baby Eli, who was digging his sling all weekend.

baby it's cold outside

at gap kids trying on hats. seriously, who buys this for their kid. no offense.

It's official: we have a toddler.

Evidence below:



And p.s. "yes" we are those parents that make their kids walk across the room to get a ball and then throw it just as they get to it so we can see them walk some more. And we're not sorry for it either.

And p.p.s. I just saw that after you finish watching the video above, that Youtube suggests watching Annie Lenox's Walking on Broken Glass video. We, however, do not suggest it.

farmer's market

play it again

Feed my Sheep

For the last couple of weeks I've been serving to, cooking for, and eating with some homeless and hungry friends in Greensboro. These seven or so days have been a blessing to me like you wouldn't believe.

p.s. - I fulfilled a lifelong dream this morning: learn how to crack eggs with one hand like they do on the cooking shows. Score!

Fall Photo Shoot

(smelling the leaves of course)

Update

15 seen. 6 shots. 0 dead.

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huntin'

6:03am . . . 13 minutes till "if it flies, it dies 2008" officially starts.

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This week...

A fun visit from Grammashu, who brought a new book that makes sounds!


Trying on new shoes wearing half of her footed pjs.


A playdate with Anna...don't they look like they could be sisters?!


Reading while driving. I told her it wasn't safe, but the Foot Book was too good to put down.


And lots more walking...video to come soon.

Dress rehearsal...

I forgot about these cute pics from the night before halloween and couldn't pass up posting them!

Last Week...

Trick or treat from our little ballerina...





Off to a party at Mac's house...and my feeble attempt to get shots of all of the cuteness before the meltdowns.

My Other Blog is More Famous

I got a mention on the New York Times' Freakonomics blog today for a post that I wrote on our Jonathan Smith & Co. blog (www.blog.jonathansmith.com).

It's the kind of stuff economics nerds get excited about . . . needless to say: I'm schuper exschited*









*schuper exschited = super excited in my "nerd with braces" voice

camo bjorn

fyi: Grayson didn't want to get out.

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Happy Birthday Weekend Review

(long post alert! got a little long-winded while watching Cold Case, my bad.)

For my birthday, Millie wanted to take me away for a weekend. We decided on Asheville for the people-watching, city-walking, and food-eating; it ranked highly on all metrics.

Friday night, we dropped Grayson off at my parents' house, where she had her own adventures.

Saturday morning we drove up (Mil had a great car-nap) and got to Asheville in time for breakfast at Tupelo Honey. It was a great little place, I had free range biscuits and gravy, bacon, and eggs and Mil had a salad with chicken. We did some walking and shopping; Mil tried on a $500 pair of cowboy boots that were on a 'clearance' rack (what!). No intention to buy (duh), but just wanted to see what all of the fuss was about.

After we walked all around we checked in at our hotel. We've stayed at a few B&B's and Hampton Inn's in our days, but since we're on a budget (and since it was my birthday) we stayed at the illustrious Red Roof Inn - West Asheville. If you ignored the standard silk/polyester top blanket, the room was great.

For dinner we went to The Corner Kitchen. Mil found a $25 off $35 coupon for $2! Awesome. So we lived it up: I got a NY Strip and a Three Philosophers beer (might be the best beer I've ever had) and Mil had the pecan encrusted trout. Mmm.

After dinner, we caught a movie. I know, it goes against the whole "if-you-can-do-it-in-town-don't-do-it-on-vacation" thing, but we haven't seen one in ages. We saw Secret Life of Bees, a book Mil had read and I never really heard of. Long story short: it was great. Not just a chick-flick. After the movie, we grabbed dessert at French Broad Chocolate Lounge. Mil had the Lavender Creme Brulee and I had the Maple Butter Cake. We split a french press of decaf and just kicked it. Fun times.

Sunday morning, I let Mil slept in (along with the help of Daylight Savings Time) and we caught breakfast at Sunny Point Cafe. Mil got the jam and cream cheese stuffed french toast and I got the MGB (Mighty Good Breakfast).

We stopped in to see my sister and our niece and nephew, exchange some baby gear, and were back on our way. We hit up some more shops (we went in most of the ones that weren't burning incense) and then grabbed lunch at Doc Chey's Noodle House and split some Edamame, Basil Rolls, and some Pad Thai. Again with the Mmm.

The weekend was great. We saw more Subarus, Obama stickers, tattoos and iPhones than I ever thought possible. The people-watching was great too; Mil always got the seat that faced the most people so she could figure out their story. If anyone knows where you can buy some cheap cowboy boots, just let me know.

ps: millie says to stay tuned for halloween shots of pookie and her friends...