jmonsters

From 2009-01-17 Myrtle Beach

After our water problem was fixed we packed up the van and headed to Myrtle Beach for the long weekend. This would be the first time Daddy and the jmonsters would see Grandma and Pap-Pap’s new digs. They rented a new condo this year and like it much better. It is on the 16th floor so Daddy and Tallmonster had to hug the wall to get to their room. It’s a loonnngg way down.

We arrived at dinner time Saturday night and couldn’t go to bed without an after dinner swim in the pool. It was like bath water so it was nice and relaxing.

Sunday dawned cloudy and rainy but we decided to head out the to jmonsters favorite store Kleig’s Kites. It is at Broadway at the Beach so we went to walk around (after a morning swim of course) and be tourists. It was rainy but it didn’t deter us from enjoying the day. After lunch at Johnny Rockets, we checked out a new store called Sugar Me and it just might take over as the jmonsters new favorite place. We bought over priced jawbreakers and gummies and decided to head over to the new Bass Pro shop down the road. After checking out the saltwater aquarium it was time to head back and try the beach. It was still raining and so after a quick walk on the beach it was back to the pool.

Mommy had told the jmonsters that it was their day until 6 p.m. when the Steelers came on. Grandma made chili so we watched the Steelers and Pap-Pap and I moaned and groaned through the whole game. Only when we both left the room did something good happen. So we better make sure to do that during the Super Bowl! Monday we had to leave and of course it was sunny and 20 degrees warmer. We walked on the beach while Grandma took the jmonsters to the pool. All and all a great weekend, hopefully next time it will be warmer…

From 2009-01-10 Science Project

Tallmonster decided to work with pulleys for his science project. We took a couple of trips to Wal*Mart to get a few clothes line pulleys and some rope. The Tall One did a little bit of research on the internet to learn about the simple machines.

We did some experimenting in the garage with different combination of pulleys and measured the results with a fish scale. Tallmonster put every thing together on his project board and even typed out a presentation, http://docs.google.com/Present?docid=dcwkzzcr_4gsw39rgd. He didn’t win any prizes, but the project was pretty cool.

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…

From 2008-10-31 Happy Halloween

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…

From 2008-08-30 Football

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…

Today we celebrated Tallmonster’s real birthday, Hampton Inn style. We’re on our way to Memphis for Uncle John’s wedding so we stopped just West of Nashville, TN. Tallmonster was pretty excited about the Leathermann Daddy and Smallmonster had picked out for him. Mom gave the final OK after stipulating that he can only have it under Daddy supervision, the jury is still out on how much solace that can afford.

We followed last night’s activities with a quick geocache over to Edwin Warner Park. We got stumped by GCN4VV, Cane, but found GCN4VR, Bats, pretty quickly. We were running out of time, so we had to get back to the hotel for check out by 11:00 am. The park was beautiful, and a super spot to do some day hikes. Definitely goes on the would visit again list.

We packed up the trusty van and headed west towards Memphis, TN and Uncle John’s Wedding. Daddy implemented an “everything must be in a bag” rule, and was soon being referred to as the bag Nazi by Mommy. The rule was adopted from the utter chaos that ensued while driving to New York the week before last. There was stuff everywhere and Daddy was always on the look out for the chickens and goats that may have been accompanying us. Call names if you want the van look much more reasonable on this trip when compared to last, and you should always strive to “PUT THAT BACK IN THE BAG”!

We had made hotel reservation on the west side of Nashville and rolled in around 5:30pm only to be reminded that it was central time and it was really 4:30pm… Way cool! We immediately got changed into our trunks and headed down to the swimming pool. We blubbed for about an hour or so, and decided to break for dinner.

Mommy and Daddy actually relented and allowed the jmonsters to eat out. We found a really good Mexican place and the jmonsters decided they really like tacos and enchiladas. Go figure, we can actually add something new to the will eat food list. We are up to about ten things that both jmonsters will eat and can be found at the same establishment… Yahoo!

We stopped by The Red Caboose Park in Bellevue on the way back to the hotel. The park had a killer play set that was designed and built by Leather Associates from Ithaca, NY. The also had a real red caboose (go figure) and an old cabin from the late 1700’s. The jmonsters had a great time running from one end of the play set to the other. We finished the night by stopping into Toys ‘r Us and Circuit City for Daddy.

Tallmonster is close to turning 10 years old. We celebrated a little bit early, because we will be pointing the bus West and heading to Memphis over the next couple of days. We let him pick a restaurant, and Fire Mountain was chosen for our fine dining event. Daddy can’t be allowed into an AYCE place because he has an eating disorder and can not step away from the troth.

We headed back to the house and picked up Smallmonster on the way, (he was off to a different birthday party the next neighborhood over). We had vanilla cupcakes and vanilla ice cream, because we have the whitest boy ever.. who in ten years of his life has not strayed from his daily cuisine routine.

It was a Bionicle birthday, they seem to have made a strong comeback as far as being played with. Tallmonster wants us to put on a trophy room so that we can display all of the Bionicle he has built over time. We also sneaked a shirt in there for his one boring birthday gift.

Tallmonster and Daddy were busy working on some irrigation. Well, Daddy was trying to keep his patience with a hose that kept reeling back on itself and Tallmonster was rolling his eyes asking if was done yet so that he could dismissed and go back inside to become pasty with his video game. Daddy finally got the hose to behave long enough to make it around the corner, when he saw something making its way to the garden we just finished digging. It took a minute, but then he realized what it was he actually saw.

There was a yell for Tallmonster to come quick and he actually did, so he must have heard the panic in Daddy’s voice (even though he was trying to act cool about the situation). Tallmonster did his usual  Jeff Corwin thing and explained what type of snake it was and what it ate and all about its natural habitat. It was when he went to pick it up that Daddy saw the actual size of it, and stammered, “Go get your Mother”. Again, Tallmonster did as he was told so there must be something to Dad’s tone when he is scared.

Mom was awaken from her vacation nap, to “Daddy needs you right now”. She came out to see Daddy doing the “Big Snake in the Yard Dance” which is usually accompanied by little school girl screams. Again, Daddy was told that it was a rat snake, and they were good to have around. Daddy countered that it was a big ‘ol snake and we should kill it. Mommy pooh-pooh’ed Daddy and told Tallmonster to head in the garage and get a broom, while Daddy hollered to bring the hoe.

Mommy got her broom and tried to gently pick up the snake with the handle. The snake kept slithering off the end, which was followed by Mommy commenting on how heavy he was. By the third or fourth attempt the snake was getting a bit agitated, although to his credit he never reared to strike. He was however chasing Daddy across the yard, and seemed to be immune to Daddy’s defense of more screaming and dancing like a little girl… followed by desperate pleas of “Bethy get it”… followed by more comments “Boy, this thing is heavy”.

Daddy finally lost his mind, and was just short of throwing up, taking the broom and flinging the creepy-crawler towards the woods. He was heavy so each toss was only good for about ten feet. Each toss Tallmonster screamed not to hurt it, with blatant disregard to his Father’s well being. After three or four tosses the reptile finally figured things out and started to head for the woods, and the snake dilemma came to a close.

Just like the bugs in North Carolina, they grow the snakes big down here as well…