Some Beach Fun

I can't believe how quick 2 months go by before you realize how long its been since the last post!! Not much has been going on. Casey's out of school for a month for his summer vacation then starts back to his hectic school schedule in June. I can't believe that this time next year we'll have a college graduate and teacher on our hands. Our lives will be so different. I know Casey is ready to get out!! God has really blessed us and provided during the last few years. I'm so thankful for a great job (even though it's at night) and for Casey to be able to go full time and finish early!! Anyway....we were able to have a quick summer vacation to Destin!! We went with my parents and 85 year old grandparents. It was very relaxing and interesting considering the wide generation gaps. We had a lot of fun laying in the sun, eating yummy seafood, and Casey even tried his hand at deep sea fishing.....he caught a 15 lb grouper!!! There were a lot of pics but here's a few to have a look at.
Isn't Destin beautiful? It looks like the Carribean.



We were on a walk to the beach

Three generations of girls




The boys getting ready for deep sea fishing!


Coming home from a long day. Nobody got sick the first day but Casey and my dad had some tummy trouble the next day. That didn't stop them from catching A LOT of fish though!

GOT FISH?

Out to dinner

My Grandad's crazy!! Hee-Hee!

Gotta Love Spring

Springtime is sort of here. I love the days when it's sunny and warm. Although we've had some FREEZING nights lately....I know the real Spring weather is on it's way. I'm so excited about all the flowers, plants, and veggies we're going to plant. And spring means summer's around the corner which means....pool time!!! I love getting in the pool with a float or laying beside it with a good book. Just a thought about what I'm looking forward to!

Snowshoe

We went to Snowshoe last week for Spring Break/Our Anniversary. It was Bee-utiful!! It snowed the first 2 days we were there...I'm talking snowflakes bigger than me! You had to wear everything but the kitchen sink to keep warm in the 20 degree weather. It was great just to get away from the real world for a few days and spend some time together. Here are a few pics of the trip. We don't have any of us actually skiing and snowboarding because honestly we were just trying to not fall on our booties!! I fell and hurt my knees the 2nd day so after that I hung out at Starbucks drinking coffee and reading by the fireplace...Not too shabby for the injured!Casey snowboarded and probably enjoyed going down the mountain at warp speed without me.

Look at all that Snow!!!! You can't even see the other chairs because they're covered in the white stuff!

We drove up earlier and spent the night a couple hours away so we would have more ski time. This is what our car looked like the next morning.

This is our studio room with a great view of the mountains.

We warmed our feet and backsides by the fire.

What if?

I know it's been WAY too long since we've blogged. We've been having loads of fun with Kai's new laptop. Hope you enjoy.

Kai, Casey, Lisa, and Kelly

Lisa...yes that's really her!

Kai the professor

Kelly. Woah!! Now that's scary!

Talk about a big mouth!!

Kelly with 3 front teeth

Casey the Sumo Wrestler

My personal favorite of Casey...can you imagine him laughing?!?

Casey the Mountaineer

Casey the eyeball head

His friend...Lisa the eyeball head

Kelly and Casey! Hah!

Kai and Lisa!

Smile!

good - evil

drew this in ps tonight. took 2 hours.

cloud view

Drew this tonight in photoshop when I should have been writing a paper. Reminds me of Black Rock Mountain in North Georgia.. there is this campsite up there a few miles out on a loop trail. My first camping trip alone I woke up there above the clouds.

I think I'm going to keep working on it later.. it's fun adding buildings and stuff.. maybe a lake. I definately need to take the text off though.
EDIT:

I keep deleting things that I added.. it's hard to know where to stop. I started to put in a whole city sticking up out of the clouds on the left, but it just cluttered the landscape. I'm still undecided about the stars. They're hard to see on this small version. I like them, but they don't really fit the lighting. any suggestions?

modifications: I worked on the character a bit, added to the city, took out the text, added stars, and added the seascape on the left.

Edit:

modifications: had to add reflection of light house in water, saved a blue version too

You think you can play

Lot's of people I know play guitar. Perhaps you.. yes.. you my friend. Perhaps you have dreams of being a great guitarist. Today I would like to show you a couple videos that will help you. It will help you by CRUSHING your hopes and dreams of being an exceptional guitar player. Try not to make out with your monitor as you Watch this nobody kid send you into another world.

Ok.. you still think you can play? Well then watch these 3 fliptards go off like their up against the devil! There are 3 of em.. THREE in one spot.

Happy Halloweenie Dogs

Yeah, it's a silly holiday. Not to be taken seriously. We had a record number of trick or treaters this year. Most notably was my newphew Zack... I mean.. Lord Darth Vader. Strangely enough, the infamous sith lord was accompanied by a beautiful young lady (Ginger, my sister-in-law) and 3 halloweenie dogs. I thought it was hilarious.. I mean scary how vader gets red eye when you use a flash.

Since Kelly and I don't have any children.. and our friends never throw Halloween parties for some reason. (Maybe we can work on that next year).. we really have no reason to buy costumes or anything. However, my mother-in-law loves our dog so much that she went out and bought a pumpkin outfit for her. Chloe acts like she really likes it. Kelly was working all night, so I was home to hand out candy alone. I bought almost $20 worth of candy and I promise you it's all gone. Except for one handfull in the bowl.. that I was saving for that one creepy 19 year old guy that comes up to your door at 11pm even though your lights are out. I hope you guys had a fun/safe Halloween.

Bare Fisted Texas Hold Em' Champion

Every year some friends get together at Darrell Skogman's for the Bare Fisted Texas Hold Em' Championship. Daniel Tritt, the reigning champ had won 2 out of the 3 tournaments held. It was just Daniel and me left at the table after 9 other guys (and a girl) had been eliminated. On the final hand they both were "all in" after the flop. It was basically even with Casey as the chip leader by only a tiny margin. Casey had a pair of aces with a seven and Daniel had a pair of kings with a four.
Darrell had been dealing the whole night after punking out early. Only two cards left to fall. As long as Daniel didn't get a 4 or a king... Casey would be the new champion. Darrell put down a four to give Daniel "2 pair" on the turn and the house went bananas. It was a good thing the women and children were all safe over at the Tritt's house next door. Only the river card left to flip over .. everybody knew Daniel would be etching his name on the trophy for a 3rd time. The unthinkable miracle had already taken place... lightning never strikes tw.... wait.. what's that card?!?! Darrell dropped a seven giving Casey a higher "2pair".. giving the tournament an ending that the World Poker Tour would salivate over.
Later, after a corny reenactment for the girls, it is rumored that Daniel shouted threats at the new champion and his wife as he pulled away from the premises. "Enjoy it because you won't have it long!"

Renewable Energy

I guess the only thing holding the US back from taking advantage of an unlimited supply of renewable energy are the political lobbyists in Washington. Oil and auto companies are rich right now, and they have a firm hold on our politicians. I was thinking about underwater wheels that take advantage of ocean currents as a source of energy. I thought it might be a new idea, but apparently it's been done since the 1700's. The NEW way to harness power from the ocean is brilliant. They have these things called wavefarms. Basically a wavefarm consists of giant flexible tubes that take the kenetic energy from the waves and convert it into electricity. 472 square miles of ocean could power the entire United Kingdom! That's amazing. Mix these ocean powers with solar power and we can change to a world that uses mainly renewable energy sources instead of fossil fuels. We need to do some research and find a way to invest in whoever has the patent.

self portrait in photoshop

Uncomfortable Bed

Chloe needs a man.

Peace in the Middle East

Man, this guy is Dr. Peace. Try to pinpoint the part of the video in which you become uncomfortable.

A Crash

Ok...picture this scene...it's the middle of the night. Everything's pitch black. The dog's sound asleep....Kelly and Casey are sound asleep....dreaming wonderful, peaceful dreams when all of a sudden......CRASH...THUD...GLASS BREAKING******* loud sounds from the living room made all three of us jump 10 feet off the bed....Casey....the hero that he is runs out of the bedroom, turns the hall light on and as he's banging his fist against the wall to scare whatever made that crash he's yelling, "May I help you?? Get out of my house!!!" in a very scary tone. I....the girl that I am....am frozen standing still in the bedroom...waiting for a gunshot or screaming...something. What seems like forever in silence was only a few seconds...I go down the hall into the living room to find Casey searching the house and theN we spot it.....the picture above the mantle has fallen and a crystal bowl has been shattered all over the floor. Phew!!!! My heart can now get out of my throat and back down to where it belongs. Let me tell you.....to think someone is breaking into your house is the most frightening, helpless feeling I have ever had. Casey of course says...he was ready to go in there and I quote, "tear their eyeballs out and slam their head through the wall." My hero!

Casey's Birthday....a little belated!

Here's some pics from Casey's BIG 3-0!! We had so much fun with the people who could come and we missed everyone who couldn't. Check out the pics!!

They love their Falcons and their video games.

Woah!! Where's the fire department???

This was a surprise on our camera! Darrell....we KNOW you did this!!! Poor thing....she's scared to death!

We've Been Tagged

Ok....you think you know people until you find out what's in their closet or freezer. This is actually fun to see what people have so here goes:

FIVE THINGS IN OUR FREEZER:

1. Ground Hamburger
2. Ice Cubes for Chloe
3. Bread
4. Popsicles
5. 1/3 of Einstein's Cryogenically Frozen Brain which Casey has not yet figured out how to install

FIVE THINGS IN OUR CLOSET: (coat closet)

1. Games ( like Friends Trivia, Cards, and Poker Chips)
2. Coats
3. Vacuum Cleaner
4. Painted Gord for decoration in the fall
5. Medievel Short Sword (no really!!)

FIVE THINGS IN OUR CAR: (there are a lot more than 5!)

1. Cds (including Clay Aiken....yes Jenny I'm on the bandwagon too!)
2. 20 Questions handheld game
3. Sunglasses
4. Umbrella
5. Roadside Emergency Kit (including flares...oh yeah!!)

FIVE THINGS IN MY PURSE: (not Casey's)

1. Advil
2. Bath & Body Works Cottonblossum lotion
3. Northside Hospital badge
4. Chapstick (never leave home without it!)
5. Calender

Ummm....let's see...who's left? We tag Hugh and Hollie...

Ladies in the house....I need HELP!!!

Ok...so Casey is doing some yard work yesterday and he finds a family of black widow spiders. That's fine and dandy....so I think to myself sas he's telling me this "ok you stomped on them and now they're dead!" NOPE!!! Think again! When I get home this morning....he's got a BLACK WIDOW in a mason jar with holes punched in the top. He says...."but I want to keep it as a pet!" WHAT!?! Right now as I'm typing....this creepy....long legged....not to mention poisnous spider is staring at me. What is with men and spiders? Josh had pet spiders and now Casey has joined the bandwagon. I feel like they're crawling all over me. And I get to go to bed with it IN MY HOUSE!!! I'm going to have dreams of spiders on me all day!! Please help me convince him to get rid of it and that ONE pet is enough! If it's not gone when I wake up....I'm afraid Ms. Widow is going to meet a grave end.

Fantasy Football

Please show this entry to the football fans in your household. We are recruiting for the 2nd annual Virtual Beatdown Fantasy Football League. It's real easy to play .. that is.. if you can pass this quiz.


1. The purpose of these pants: (best answer)

A. To look sexy.
B. For protection.
C. Bladder control.
D. All of the above.

2. What is this? (best answer)

A. Pigskin
B. Chew Toy
C. Bladder Control
D. Handbag

3. Who is this?

A. Carlos Santana
B. Nehring, Joanna
C. Eatta Mylanta
D. Prospero Fontana
E. None of the Abovana

4. What are these men doing?

A. Enjoying a rock concert.
B. Blocking a kick.
C. Enjoying a Kai Bash
D. Who cares, change the channel.

5. This is:

A. Pro Wrestling Suplex
B. Pass Interference
C. Completely Unnecessary
D. Bladder Control

Last year Eric won the Fantasy league despite valiant efforts by Kai, Stephen, and me to stop him. This year we want new recruits to join us in our efforts. It really only takes a few minutes a week to stay competitive and I will be sending a handmade plaster Lombardi Trophy to the winner. You get to name your team and design a logo if you want. It makes watching the games a bit more fun and it's FREE!
So, if you answered:

1. B
2. A
3. E
4. B
5. B

Please click on this LINK and remember the password is: splashischam

If the link doesn't work you can go to www.nfl.com/fantasy

league name: Virtual Beatdown
password: splashischam

that is splashischamp with NO "p" at the end. I know that it would have been much easier to remember if it still had a "p". I'm not sure how that happened, Stephen mentioned that the password field may have been limited and that the lack of a "p" is a simple result of my inattention to detail, but make no mistake that the "p" is not at the end of the password that starts with "splashischam". The easiest way to remember this is think about splashischamp and then remove the "p" from the end. Otherwise you will have splashischamp and the password will be incorrect. If you type in splashischamp .. and it says the password is wrong.. do not start trying splashischimp or splashischump.. simply remove the "p" and you will be accepted into the league.

PS The password is:splashischam