Ordinary Life

Tonight,  I saw an unanticipated result of our current administration's influence on today's youth. Chandler was describing an efficiency report for Fort Stewart that he had accidentally  "over-seen" while we were in Savannah recently. His grandfather, an engineering contractor for McLean, had some reports lying on a desk, in a closed binder in the same room the boys were bunking. Total happenstance report reading,  really. What Chan was impressed by was the efficiency of the Army as detailed in the report.He was describing how the report listed amount of wattage used per army barrack. And that's when I spotted it.  He said " Army Buh-Rocks " Bunk houses by this name would be the current President of the United States. (And I'm pretty sure he didn't serve...)  We often tease ChanMan about his creative pronunciation skills, and it is a homonym, so, I won't devote any more of this post to something that may embarrass him. However, it is an ide...

Chandler and Logan were featured in the 2012-2013 Florida Virtual School Yearbook with their answers to the theme question: " What does the phrase Cherish Today, Challenge Tomorrow mean to you?" Chandler: "Take each day as it comes and be ready for the challenges of tomorrow."   Logan: " I think the phrase Cherish Today, Challenge Tomorrow means that you should seek out what you want to do with your life and to challenge yourself to achieve the goals you have set."  They can be found on page 5.

Chandler was enrolled in the same FLVS hosted leadership class as Logan but had delays in his project due to waiting on certain items to arrive via shipping. His project idea was to partner with the same CareNet center that Logan had, with an emphasis on encouraging young fathers. We learned that many care centers are trying to increase efforts to reach out to expectant fathers and  provide new parent education  for young men facing a new phase in life.  Chandler assembled "New Daddy" bags. He chose a baseball themed bag and a small, soft baseball. On each baseball, he wrote "Play Catch With Me Daddy" or a similar sentiment to capture the idea that a young man will have an important role to play in his baby's life. He also included a copy of The Life Book~ generously provided by Gideons, Intl.

Tonight's game ends the season for Chandler's 15U Canes. Whew! 

Our firstborn is Fourteen. Happy Birthday Chandler Brice! You are an awesome young man.  What a tremendous gift it is to know you and be a part of your life.  We Love You!

Some family members from home alerted  us to the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship when the ad started airing on tv during this season's Master's Tournament. I promptly registered Chandler and a little later, we received notice that he had made the 'lottery-style' cut for the first qualifying round.  We've been a little pre-occupied with baseball, but Chandler took the opportunity to practice at the driving range whenever he could find a chance to do so.  Though he has been swinging a club since he could hold one, and though he believes golf to be his birthright (I mean, he's from Augusta, how could it NOT be so, right ? Right. ) Aside from friendly rounds of "PuttPutt", this was Chandler's first competitive anything to do with golf.  Chandler's First ScoreBoard   Chandler warms up before his group is called to the tee box.  Chandler waits for his turn at the first event: Driving  Is there anything more fun than entertaining a toddler in a ...

No one in the stands last night bothered with the whole bleacher. We only required the edge of our seats to keep a sharp eye on the field, the coaches, and especially those umps. Each team had scored  dramatic wins in the previous week, bringing them to this third, tie-breaking match for the season championship. Those of us holding our breath were blue by the time a score finally blinked onto the scoreboard in the fifth inning. As we neared the end of seventh inning, the score had climbed in such a way (6-1) that the fans for the opposing team began to quietly celebrate their (inevitable) win behind me. In all fairness, their optimism was understandable. At this age, they only get seven regular innings. It was all but over. Only the technicality of one last  'at-bat' for our team remained before the other team could get on with celebrating their win. With gloves of resignation on their heads and the threat of tears in some eyes, our boys made the switch. I'm not very keen o...

She said "I NEED A PARTY HAT!"  We sometimes call our anniversary a "Family Birthday". Especially during seasons where sitters are scarce and we will be celebrating with the entire family. This was one of those celebrations. We have been very busy with baseball & the business and our family's 'birthday' fell during a particularly Extra Busy Weekend. On Wednesday night, as everyone was busy with Duck Dynasty (I tuned in from my dish washing station in the kitchen) I secretly concocted one of Clay's preferred treats: Jello Cake. (He's forever in the debt of his mother in law for the passing down of this recipe :)  One thing about Jell-O cake is that it calls for Whipped topping- an element that always makes for a decorating challenge... a blank, white, slippery canvas to be improved upon.  I began to rifle through Riley's small plastic toys for something quirky when I came to these two finger puppets. I was quickly inspired to dress them up...

If you have already gotten a Christmas card from our family in the mail, you will recognize right away that this is our actual Christmas card's cover. (Unless you already live in Florida, then you got something a little different) Once you click on the links, you will see that the letter is the same as well. If you have not received a card in the mail, it is either delayed due to the antiquity of our local post office or ...well, I was running low on stamps, see... and I knew that I planned to send this here virtual one... so... please enjoy this version and know we love you very much! Even if you did receive a tangible card in your mailbox, there is a slideshow of the children in the virtual card. Rather than try to get one good shot of the children all looking in the same direction at the same time, I had the realization that I could hit the continuous shot button and improve my odds...2000+ still shots later, I had another realization that a movie would be easier and after...

This weekend, we LIVED at a local ball park while The Brewer Brothers participated in tournaments... Some of the games were LATE GAMES, so we befriended coffee:  Enjoyed healthy snacks (what? they're orange, like carrots!) in the truck with Buzz & Woody  (Rye has just discovered the Toy Story Franchise): Gathered "flowers" in the big field:  Caught up on some reading: Discovered RING POPS  ® Napped: Oh, and we watched a little baseball:  FERNANDINA BEACH PIRATES  12U BABE RUTH LEAGUE

Reptar the Birthday Fish did what fish do best;  he died. REPTAR, The Dearly Departed (no worries, he's still alive in well in this candid shot from the family album) RIP~TAR,  Reptar's Stand In Think anyone will notice? Reptar went to Fishy Heaven earlier in the week and Chandler handled it well...as well as these things can be handled, anyway.  So, I'm not trying to fool him, but, there were a few double takes when he woke up to find this paper fish memorial sitting on the kitchen counter.  In his morning fogginess, he had to get right up to the bowl to be sure it wasn't a real fish.   I made this little "memorial " night light out of Reptar's abandoned bowl. ("Who said shrine?!" A shrine would have candles... it's not a shrine!) I made it because no other fish will be moving into Reptar's quarters...  we have all agreed, No More Pets! Rest In Peace, Reptar. You were a wonderful reminder of why we swore off fishy pets the last time... ....

Just a snippet of one of Chandler's recent games:

Chandler & Fisher are playing Babe Ruth Ball.  Tomorrow is Opening Day. Two games, opposite fields, identical start times... this should be fun! On the bright side, Logan cheers early in the AM...and finishes just in time to catch her brothers' games. Dear God, Thank You For Coffee. AMEN. :)  Chandler @ a recent practice Coach Dad encourages Chan before bat Florida: The Other Rain Forest