A Diamond Lasts Forever

Let me take you all back to 27 July 2006 (the only reason I remember the date is because it was the day before my little brother got married). Charlie and I rode to the Hogle Zoo with St. Anthony and his Bel of the Ball. I took my wedding band and diamond ring off and sat them on the seat next to me so I could sunscreen Charlie and myself. I forgot to put them back on and when we came back after our day in the zoo the band was sitting there, but the diamond ring had disappeared. We searched everywhere. We called Lost and Found. We even took all the seats and mats out of the car and vacuumed every inch of it and then dumped the bag out to look for the ring. It was gone. Sad and depressed, we called it a loss, but at least I still had the band.

Now, come back to present day--almost exactly 2 years to the day. I got our mail yesterday and noticed that we had a package that needed to be picked up at the post office. It was from St. Anthony and beautiful Bel of the Ball. Inside was a little box with a bow around it and a note saying they had found something that would, hopefully, remind us of home. (You can all see what's coming, right?) My breath caught in my throat as I opened the box, not quite daring to be too hopeful, and there sat my beautiful diamond ring winking up at me. The ring Bart had had custom modified just for me. YEAH!!! Undecided whether I should scream or cry with joy, I sat dazed for a moment and then I chose the former. YEAH!!! And then Jane cried because I scared her, so I put the ring on and comforted her.

So, thanks, St. Anthony and Bel of the Ball. The ring is back where it belongs and looks pretty good, too!

Sitting and Solids

Jane started sitting up really well this week. Now she can barely stand lying there. Sit her up with a toy and she's a happy camper!

Jane also started on veggies this week and has now shunned baby cereal. No more Cream of Wheat for this girl! Apparently she has no taste for NO TASTE. We haven't tried Oatmeal, but I may just put that through the baby food grinder. Bring on the carrots, peas, and a few tastes of whatever is on Mommy's or Daddy's plate...or playground wood chips. Just what ever's handy.

Sprayground

We went to a Sprayground in Kinston. As you can see, it's just a concrete area with a drain and water shooting you, spraying you, and being dumped on you. We were the only white people there and it was quite a show to see Charlie, the whitest boy we know, playing among all the black kids. It really is amazing how kids like kids. He had no scruples in just jumping in like one of the herd, and they let him. I think we'll be going back. It was one of the most fun times we've had.

Too Cute Not To Post

"To Infinity and BEYOND!"

The other day we were outside playing and Charlie kept jumping off a picnic table by the play area. If we told him that it was too high, he would assure us, "No high. I Buzz!" The next time he jumped off I said, "To Infinity and Beyond!" in my best Buzz Lightyear voice. Of course, THAT clinched it. We had a game going. It went like this: climb up onto the table by Anne, Anne asks, "Now what am I supposed to say?", Charlie says (in his one word version), "ANBEYOND!", Charlie takes place at edge of table, and while Anne says "To Infinity and Beyond!" Charlie flies off, landing in a pile of laughter, coming up saying, "A-den, A-den." (A-den is Charlie for "again" in case you didn't know). Do that x 50 and you have our evening!

The game did come to a screeching halt when Cap'n Bart came and sat next to me in the spot where Charlie had been getting up onto the table. After a slight scuffle where we assured Charlie that it was ok to get onto the table next to Bart instead of Anne, he got up and awaited his cue. Bart said, "To Infinity and beyond!" like a real pro, but instead of jumping off the table in due fashion, Charlie turned around and said, "No, Da! MOM." Take that! And now you know who the real cap'n is at our house. Cap'n Lightyear.

Changes

The other day I had a kind of disturbing experience and for some reason it just sat ill with me for the next few days. You can call me paranoid (actually, you can call me ANNE now), but we decided to use different names on our blog. For our full names look to the right under, We Want Only the Brave. So family and friends, please don't be confused. We're still who we are--just not on our blogspot!

Whipped Cream, Anyone?

Today I left Charlie with the left over whipped cream bowl for a few minutes while I did something in the other room. When I came back I looked at him and thought,

"It looks like he stuck his whole head in the bowl."

30 seconds later my suspicions were confirmed

I tried to clean his hair up, but apparently whipped cream has a "Bed Head" (hair gel) kind of affect. Spikes are in now anyway, right?

More Kids, More Park

I know that you all (or y'all, as they say here in the South) are probably sick of seeing Charlie and Jane at the park, but FRANKLY, (I know, STOP calling me Frankly!) you're just going to have to get used to it! 1. This is my life. It's what we do day after day. We like to make you think we're having grand adventures, when in fact it's just Mom, Dad, and the kiddos. At the park. Or...several different parks. and 2. I can't help that Cap'n Bart takes the camera out and gets such cute pictures that we HAVE to share them! What can I say? The subject matter is just AWESOME! So, with that said, these pics are of Charlie and Jane at the play ground by our house and while Charlie is doing his usual run-around-hang-off-and-jump-off-everything routine, Jane is enjoying a good bouncing of "Ladies Ride". She LOVES it!

Christmas In July

Our first Sunday here, they announced a Christmas In July crafts night at the church that included dinner and a nursery. My first thought, "I don't CARE what Bart's schedule is, I AM GOING!" And just because I was looking forward to it so much, I got sick and couldn't go. HOWEVER, we still got to have Christmas in July at our house because my parents bought us a glider for an early present and it came that day! Whenever I put Jane in it, Charlie gets up and sits by her and says, "So..." in a "So, what kind of brotherly advice might I give you?" kind of tone. Sometimes she wants the advice, and sometimes she says, "ARGH! Leave me alone, ya scallywag!"

Do Blondes REALLY Have More Fun??

Bart's mom commented one time on how hard it is to get a decent picture of Charlie because of lack of pigment. We are beginning to see what she means. It's a good thing we put colorful clothes on this kid and that we live in a warm place or we might lose him (you know, in the snow)! So, in answer to the time old question "Do blondes have more fun?" I don't think so, but Albinos just might!

Fresh Air

Because I was sick all night Wednesday and Bart was on call the same night, and we were all recovering from no sleep Thursday, we needed to get some air DESPERATELY Thursday evening. Yes, Charlie is still in his P.J.'s from the night before!

Cookie Day

When Bart was growing up, before his conversion to piracy, Sunday was Cookie Day. Since we don't go to church till 1:00, cookies are all the hype! Chocolate makes the best kind of 5:00 shadow. It's less scratchy and more sweet!

More Fun on the 4th

After the lake, we played for a little while at the park. We went home and had naps, then we just played outside at our apartment. Charlie is always playing with the fire hydrant closest to our house, so of course we had to capture that. The trees are in bloom and beautiful.

4 July Boat Ride

Cap'n Bart had an unexpected day off for the holiday, so we went to a park for the 4th. We rented a paddle boat to go out on the lake where we saw some cranes, geese, fish, and a turtle on a log (and what a cute turtle it was!).

Sunday Suits

We took some pictures of the kids in their coveralls. Jane didn't appreciate our efforts until we put her down on the ground, but she's cute even when she cries.