Bowling

I grew up in the bowling alley, along with everyone in my family.  I even got the opportunity to bowl for the Clemson team when I was in college.  I have never bowled a perfect game but I was always fairly consistant.  I was even carrying over a 200 average when my Dad managed at a local alley when I was home from college.  I bowled in my last league in 2001 when Hayes was born.  After that, I only wanted to come home to my little girl every night.  I've missed it, along with so many other things over the years.  I got so caught up in trying to be a good husband and father that I seemed to completely lose my own identity.  Now that I am on my own and taking my life back I have been feeling the need to bowl again.  So, I took the kids out this past Sunday and we had a great time bowling a couple games.  I was even able to teach Hayes a few things.  I remember as a kid, listening to my father's coaching and thinking that I already knew everything he was trying to teach me.  It was exactly the same with Hayes.  I told her afterwards that I was so proud of how she improved after listening to me and she said it wasn't me, she just figured it out on her own.  Now that I'm older with kids of my own, I just want to thank my dad for everything he has taught me over the years in bowling and in life.

MORE SNOW!!!!!!

Having grown up in the South and now living in the North, I really do enjoy having snow.  I have my moments when my socks and shoes are wet and cold that I long for warmer weather, but I can honestly say that the few months of frigid temperatures is a good exchange for the hot, humid southern summers.  The kids love getting out there and playing in it.

We got about 6 inches last Friday night.  The roads were a bit treacherous in the morning when I went down to Florence to pick up the kids.  By the time we headed back up though, the plows had everything cleared.  We got a few more inches on top of that today and will have a couple more tomorrow.  It will be a good day to work from home.  I have my "new" antique desk set up looking out my window so I can keep an eye on the kids while they play outside.  And they will be going outside tomorrow to play!  I need a break from "Phineas and Ferb" and my sofa needs a break from Chooj jumping up and down.  As much as I love Hayes' reading, she also needs to take an activity break from hiding out in my closet on the shelf where she has constructed a reading nook.

We played outside for a bit on Sunday, sledding, building a snowman and having a mini snowball fight, which was more like me trying to get Hayes while she hid behind everything.  I did get a picture of the snowman before Chooj ate most of his nose.

Inside activities on a snowy day

We could never get Hayes interested in puzzles when she was younger.  Chooj loves them.  I started a puzzle about a week before because I have such an active social life now that I am living on my own.  I used to do a lot of puzzles when I was a kid.  Hayes actually got in on the action once I got closer to the end and she even finished up the last 20-something pieces for me after a lesson on how to compare the shapes and colors to find a good match.  It was more of a fight than a lesson, but I think it started to sink in a bit.

Chooj is way too excited about our Gamecube.  It's the first thing he wants to do in the morning, the last thing at night and every other second in between.  He even tells me before bed that he is going to wake me up in the middle of the night so we can play.  I will say that his hand/eye coordination for a 3 year old is amazing.

Shadow was more interested in the comfortable sofa.  He seems very lonely now that Sophie has left us and I am doing my best to get used to only having one pet and not running out to find another dog.  I have been taking him out to play and for long walks around the apartment complex.  He loves to chase me down when I run.

Goodbye Sophie!

On Monday, I said goodbye to my beagle Sophie.  Shannon brought her home to me just before we married nearly 11 years ago after I whined about wanting a puppy.  I didn't realize anything was wrong with her until Sunday because all she has ever done for years is sleep, but I did notice her eating less over the last couple weeks and she completely stopped eating and drinking this past weekend.  I could tell she was in pain and I couldn't stand to see her suffer.  The vet said she had cancer throughout her body, so we said goodbye and I held her while she went to sleep. 

She has never been a people dog, always keeping to herself.  She hated her feet touched and cutting her claws was like wrestling a pig covered in oil.  I have two funny stories that I will always remember. 

Although, she did not cooperate with me cutting her claws, she had no problem letting a stranger do it.  One time, after having her claws trimmed at Petsmart, we were taking a walk around the store when she found the perfect opportunity for revenge.  Coming down the aisle in front of us was an incredibly attractive woman and Sophie took that opportunity to squat down and makes the biggest, smelliest poop of her life.  This was back when the Petsmart employees cleaned up after your pet if they made a mess.  I high-tailed it out of that store as fast as I could drag that fat, laughing dog.

I think it was the next visit to (a different) Petsmart for the claw trimming that Sophie made her poop right outside the front door before we went in.  I got in before anybody caught us.  As we were leaving the store I saw that someone had stepped right in the pile with their heel and slide about two feet.  I am so glad I wasn't around to see that pissed off person.  After that visit, I started trimming her claws myself and it wasn't very long after that I noticed all the Petsmart stores had installed "Oops!" cleaning stations all over their stores, so owners could clean up after their own pets.

Sophie, you will truly be missed!  I love you!

Quick visit to TN

On our way back from SC at Christmas, we made a side trip through TN to visit our property in Hohenwald and say "Hi" to our friends.

Our first stop was to visit Judy.  Afterwards, we left to visit her husband Mike at his hardwood flooring shop and get some lunch at the General Cafe.  It took us a little while to get there, because we realized we left Sophie at their house when we were halfway to town.  I really miss hanging out on their front porch.

After lunch, we went to Bruce's house.  Here he is helping Hayes grow a few more inches.

While Bruce was getting us some cake that he had made for welcoming us back to Hohenwald, I sat in the recliner with a passed out Chooj.

While Chooj napped, Bruce gave us a tour of the work he is doing to his house.

Sophie found herself a hole to hide in, out of the cold wind.

Bruce and Hayes pose for a picture on his gravel pile.

Bruce has set up a great compost pile.

Chooj finally woke up to join us!

Our cabin is looking a little rough.

Hayes is collecting some of her favorite pink stones to take back with her.  She wants to make Bruce a walkway using the stones because pink is Bruce's favorite color.

Someday soon I will be replacing this cabin with a much nicer one!

A forgotten post

I am trying to play catch up with my blogging tonight.  On Christmas day, the kids and I traveled to Charleen and Dave's house.  The next day we went up to Columbia to visit my parents.  Here a few pictures from that visit.

Hayes finally gets to try out her new scooter

Chooj and cousin Cohen think the air compressor is too loud

Grandma is taking Chooj for a ride on the powered scooter

Hayes takes it for a spin with the boys running behind.  This was a little while before she crashed into the Explorer.  I think she just wants to stick to the manual scooter for a while.

There were a couple more presents to unwrap at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

My grandmother is watching the action from the sidelines.

My beautiful sister-in-law Hope and my new niece Kayla pose for a shot.

I have to get my baby fix.

I may look goofy, but it made Kayla laugh.

Grandma gave Chooj a new bag to pack his stuff in.

Here is my new bed packed up.  Shannon always said I overdid it when I strapped things down, but we have a long way to travel back to Ohio.

Besides, I'd rather be safe than like this guy!

If there is computer and internet available, you can find Hayes playing on Webkinz.

The house I grew up in.  It sure is nice to come back to visit!

Our last stop in SC was to visit my friend Brad.  Here Chooj is playing with his son's Bradley and Camden.

Sledding again

Although, winter has been pretty mild this year we have gotten a little snow.  When that happens, it is time for sledding.

Here goes Hayes on her knees

Watch out! Here comes Chooj!

"You kids be careful!"

"I'm watching you!"

Forget sliding on snow, let's keep using this worn patch.

The boys!