We decided that this year we would do something different for New Year’s besides sitting in bed and watching the ball drop. So we headed to Biloxi, Mississippi to check out the Casino’s and spend a night away from the jmonsters. We recruited Courtney and Andy to come with us since a group is always more fun and we don’t get to see them nearly enough.
After checking in to the Hampton (where else) we freshened up (meaning napped) and headed over to Biloxi to go to dinner. We didn’t really make any plans and ended up at the Hard Rock Cafe Casino. We had burgers and nachos and overpriced drinks and enjoyed looking at all the memorabilia on the walls. After dinner it was on to the Casino. We split up and walked around the Casino to get a feel for the games and decide what we wanted to lose our money on first. We tried a few slots and then found the machines that Mommy likes to play, Poker. After awhile we decided to check out the tables. Mommy has always wanted to try blackjack but we were only able to find $10 tables. So after much hand wringing Mommy got the nerve to sit down and try it. After getting $70 in chips and playing a few hands she soon found out she was in way over her head. It took about 15 minutes to lose all that money but at least was able to get a few free beers in the process. Most expensive beers ever!
Well, it was back to the 25 cent poker machines and Mommy was determined to win back her money. Daddy was content to sit and watch and get free beer whenever the cocktail waitresses walked by. He was most concerned about tip money. After winning a couple of hands we placed a max bet and hit with four of a kind. Woo-Hoo next thing we knew we had $148.50 in quarters. Nowadays you don’t get the satisfaction of filling up your bucket with quarters you hit a button and a slip of paper comes out with what you won, just like an ATM machine. We cashed in and found Courtney and Andy and found out that they had also won something so we decided to get out while we were ahead. We stopped at the ice cream shop on the way out for overpriced ice cream to top off our night in Biloxi. We had a lot of fun and realized when we got back to the hotel it was only 9:30 and what do you know we watched the ball drop in bed and an hour early to boot!! A great way to start 2009…
A few days after Christmas we made the journey down to Florida. This year we decided to spend New Year’s down there. The jmonsters couldn’t wait to see everyone. They love visiting Grandma and Grandpa in Florida (mommy and daddy do too!) Jessie, Abbey, and LuLu were waiting to greet us at the door. I think they get excited too since Tallmonster and Smallmonster play with them. After a great meal, Courtney and the gang came over and we opened presents and visited the rest of the night. Amazing how grown up the kids are getting! Colby now has his permit and on Tuesday he drove us to the beach. It was a perfect day to go to the beach, and this time we were smart enough to dress the boys in their bathing suits but did forget towels. Sure enough as soon as we got there Tallmonster was playing in the waves. Smallmonster takes a little longer, or he’s more cautious, but was soon wet. They dug holes and watched the surf fill them back in and in no time had sand filled bathing suits. Not having towels was a bit of a pain and the jmonsters did not like the idea of showering without a towel. At least we had thought to bring extra clothes so it was a just a little bit of suffering. It was worth it and someday we vow to rent a place for a few days on the beach…
On our way to Florida we always get excited when we pass the big water tower that looks like a giant butt. You would think it would be in Georgia but it is actually in South Carolina. The kids always giggle and Daddy and I always shake our heads at their juvenile humor but wonder what they were thinking when they built it, it does look like a giant peach colored butt! This year we got a picture for proof and decided it must be blogged about. Oh the things long car rides make you do…
After suffering through the school day the jmonsters were beside themselves about Halloween. Not only were they ready to collect all the candy it was on a Friday night to boot.
Smallmonster kept reminding mommy that he was going to stay up until 9:00! Whoo-Hoo! After rooting through the costume tote Smallmonster decided to dress as a mummy in a costume that Tallmonster had worn a few years ago.
Tallmonster wasn’t so easy and after many trips to all the Walmarts, Targets and even a Party City we settled on a scream costume much to Mommy’s dismay. There was no talking him into something original so he joined the thousands of other scream masks on Halloween night.
Daddy stayed home and handed out the candy while mommy (dressed as a cowgirl) went out to trick-or-treat. We met up with some neighborhood friends and walked the hills of our neighborhood. It took over an hour to do the 30 or so houses. We were all pooped by the end and their buckets were overflowing with goodies.
We got back to the house and checked out their loot and smallmonster spent a while sorting all his candy into different piles. After having some treats it was off to the showers and dreaming about next years’ haul…
Today is Daddy’s Birthday and unfortunately he is traveling and isn’t home so we can celebrate. As Mommy was thinking about it she realized that today we have been in North Carolina for 1 year. WOW, how time flies. We are truly happy to be here and don’t regret making the big move one bit. The jmonsters have adjusted very well and this school year has been great. My how things can change. The leaves are changing and who knows maybe we’ll see some snow this year…just not as much as NY!
Well, Mommy did it!! She wanted to surprise Daddy with a 40th Birthday party and has spent weeks planning and scheming and keeping secrets and last night was the big party. Thanks to Jim, Maureen and the boys for coming up with a reason for Daddy to get out of the house. Jim had a geocache that he wanted to find at Triad Park so Daddy readily agreed to help them out.
Of course this wasn’t the first plan. Tallmonster had his last football game yesterday and was originally scheduled for 2:30 and would have ended right around 5 which is what time the party was scheduled. Well, Mommy found out on Thursday night at practice that the game had been moved to 1 pm. So after a frantic call to Jim (he was going to go to the game and then come over for dinner/party) he came up with the geocache idea. It was perfect! The only bad thing was they left the house at 4 and the party was scheduled for 5. Thanks to the help of Maureen, Tara and Ginnie we decorated the house in record time with streamers (red and blue Giants colors) balloons and signs.
Daddy had no idea the party was going to happen and was surprised when he walked in the door. He was a little miffed that Jim wouldn’t let him get a beer out of the fridge in the garage before he went in the house though! Good thing because he would have noticed that it went from being pretty empty to stocked full of beer! We had 5 couples and kids from the neighborhood and it turned out to be a great night. Mommy is glad its over and even happier that it was a Surprise!!!
Smallmonster and a couple of friends from the neighborhood learned a hard lesson today. They were over in the neighbor’s yard playing when they found a bee’s nest. Someone thought it would be a good idea to throw rocks at the nest to see what would happen. Well Mommy was in the garage when I saw Smallmonster running as fast as he could screaming about being stung. Mommy tore off his shirt (and in the process got stung) and started counting the bee stings. He had two on each shoulder and after getting him in the house and getting his shorts off out came more bee’s. He was stung at least 8 times and wasn’t a happy camper. Smallmonster vehemently denies throwing any rocks but Mommy told him the bee’s didn’t care who was throwing they just wanted to get even! May this be the only bee incidents for the rest of the year…
Tallmonster had his first game today at the Northwest High School field. We were at the field by 8:00 am (so much for sleeping in on Sat. morning) for weigh-ins and warm ups. He was quite nervous but excited about finally getting to play a game. We did have a uniform problem that had Mommy rushing home to get a needle and thread as they have to have a patch on their pants and Jerrad’s was falling off. Mommy only ironed it on and of course it didn’t hold so after a hasty patch job he was ready to go. Mommy might have to break out the sewing machine and sew it on good and tight.
He started on the offensive line at right guard after only practicing once at that position. He had been a defensive tackle but was moved at the last minute. Needless to say it was trial by fire.
Unfortunately their team lost 13-0 although it was a lot closer than the score suggests. Both scores were on big plays and the defense held after the first quarter. The Colts were driving in the last couple of minutes of the game and got down to the 15 yard line but were not able to punch it in before time expired. The team was upset about the loss but can definitely learn and grow from there. Until next Saturday…
Mommy and Daddy finished up the first (prototype) build of Jake’s Chair. This is the first project since Daddy bought his new table saw and router table (while mommy was away). After much cursing about the band saw (that is now on its way to the rescue mission) and spending the morning sanding away all the teeth marks from the saw, he was ready for assembly. Mommy was recruited to help and we spent the afternoon putting it together. We only ran into a small problem with the parts getting mixed up and some extra holes being drilled but nothing wood putty won’t fix. For a first time “chair project” Daddy was pretty pleased. It will look nice next to the fire pit while we roast marshmallows, but needs a coat of red paint to finish it off. Now he only needs to build three more after he buys more tools…
