Back in the Classic City

There is nothing really requiring a new post, but after traveling for 10 days, I've seen how many of you in the B&A Nation have this as your home page, and I know you are longing for an update. And I know you are tired of looking at the Pee Break post.

This one will be brief, because Annabelle is busying herself trying to pry the keys off of the laptop. Also, Ghostbusters II is on, and I don't want to miss too much.

We had a good trip through SC, NC, VA and back, over the course of ten days. In the middle, Mom and Dad dropped B&A in Roanoke, and then went to see Uncle Patrick in New York.

But right now, on a lazy Saturday afternoon, it is all hazy. All I can really remember is the trip yesterday from Winston to Athens. Normally, an average human with slightly above average bladder control can make the trip in 3:50. However, for four persons, who encounter a perfect traffic storm of rubbernecking in Charlotte and more traffic induced by a fatal car accident in Gaffney, SC, it takes 7:08. Yes, 7:08. But, we are aware that we were safe and warm all day, and even relatively happy when we got home.

Barritt and Dad immediately got back in the car though and headed out to get a Christmas tree - we hadn't gotten one yet because we didn't want one to starve to a crisp while we were gone. It was there, at Lowe's, that we learned the greatest beauty of waiting till December 21 to get a Christmas tree. All fraser firs, even the relatively alive-looking ones, now cost $2.00. And they smell like new.

OK - the movie is at the part where the river of haunted ooze fills the subway. Also, Annabelle is about to eat an ornament. As for the picture, it's of B at the Mill Mtn Zoo in Roanoke. It's also the only one of either kid that doesn't feature a runny nose . . .

Fame?

The Winter Bike League has started in Athens once again, and for the first time dad is participating. And here, in his first jaunt, he is caught on camera, participating in a citation-worthy offense. Don't nobody tell the NC Board of Legal Examiners . . . but just in case, we won't tell you which one he is.

Early Holiday Greetings from the Chambers

If you won't be able to actually see us this Holiday season, this is pretty much the same routine you would see in person.

Thanks to Jay and Kelley for the heads up on choreography.

T-giving Wrapup

It's 8 o clock, the kids are in bed, and we're thankful for a few minutes to sit back and watch TV and digest, among other things, heirloom turkey, collard cobbler, spinach madeline and apple cranberry pie. Dad is already apprehensive about eating a turkey sandwich in the library tomorrow, just as he has previously done on the Friday after Thanksgiving for two years in a row - exams are always a little too close to Thanksgiving. For that matter, this is the 8th Thanksgiving in a row Dad has had exams or papers hanging over him. We presume it is the last.

But we're thankful for lots this year. Two great kids, we're all healthy, we have great friends, and we'll soon have a member of the family gainfully employed.

Annabelle may be thankful for her weight gain here at Thanksgiving - 2 lbs in the last month. But she has no way of telling us. Barritt, however, revealed the following, just before bed tonight:

Dad: B, what are you thankful for on Thanksgiving?

Barritt: (pauses) Treats . . . and food . . . and friends . . . and French toast.

Enough said.

Take this, growth chart!

New for Winter: Annabelle's fat face, for extra warmth.

"I want to go to mountains"

This was Barritt's mantra all weekend. We just spent the weekend with good friends Rick and Amy in Blue Ridge,GA. We visited Amicalola Falls, where Barritt got to see a park ranger with a barn owl up close, while eating his fill of their excellent (presumably state-subsidized) buffet. We then headed to the cabin, where leaves were in their autumnal peak, and where there were views of Tennessee and South and North Carolina. But even when we were already there, Barritt kept reiterating that he wanted "to go to the mountains." Yes, even while driving over the Appalachian Trail at Neels Gap, he repeated himself.



We can't figure out what further kinds of mountains he is longing for. Maybe he is thinking eschatologically. Occam's razor, however, suggests that he may simply not know what mountains are.



Regardless we had a good time. And Georgia killed Auburn. Which was also awesome.

For those who have demanded recent video

We've had some serious tech issues lately. And we forgot to film anything on Halloween per se. But this is close. Barritt's first pumpkin carving. It was obviously a little too exciting.

We miss New England, but . . .

This time of year it is hard not to miss New England - the crisp weather, the Sox in the World Series, months ending in "r" meaning that lobster is probably $3.99 a pound in our old supermarket.

But we also see the value of living down here - we are just starting to get crisp weather, but on the other hand, B was able to swim in the ocean last weekend at Edisto. Needless to say, I doubt even Barritt, who seems immune to cold, would be swimming in Massachusetts Bay this time of year.

Then again, if we lived in New England, we might be lamenting missing the excitement of the Georgia-Florida football game. Or the drought.

Enough about Dad

Enough about dad. Back to capturings of the kids, courtesy of the above average LG camera phone.

The 6 Gap Picture

The awaited pictures posted yesterday. Here is Matt, on the course with 89 miles under his belt. To this point he had consumed:

2 waffles
one bowl of oatmeal
one bowl of granola
2 cups of coffee
5 water bottles
1 gatorade bottle
1 clif bar
1 power gel
4 peanut butter sandwiches
15 oreos
2 fig newtons
1 banana

Given his appetite, I think the truck behind him was about to deliver a whole smoked pork shoulder, straight onto the bike.

6 Gap

Matt rode in a century bike race yesterday. I think the syntax of that sentence may be wrong, but you get the idea..."century", as in 100 miles of bike race. It is called Six Gap because it's in the north Georgia Mountains and the course takes the riders up and down six mountains. Impressive, no? You can see from this picture he's still standing (although sitting may be the more difficult feat after seven hours on a bike seat) and he even has his helmet in his hand preparing to ride to class today. He promised to write more once there is an official picture to link to.



Big deal. Have you seen me push these beads?

First Week of Fall - Finally

First, be it known that Barritt has experienced several developments this past little bit. Most obviously, he has experienced his quarterly hair cut, a traumatic experience endured only through watching Baby Einstein whilst eating M&Ms and raisins. We tried to shave the hair with electric clippers, but Barritt was never convinced that dad’s “Hair Machine” has his best interest in mind.

From the picture, Barritt is clearly pointing out one of the haircut’s faults; namely, the bangs are a bit short.

But dedicated blog viewers will note that Mr. B is sporting some new underclothes. Yes, Barritt is moving into the world of what he calls “Thunderpants.” Dad tried to take a firm boxers only stance, but B, having just seen Risky Business and Talladega Nights, was convinced that petit tighty whities were the right first step.


Below we highlight the family’s first encounter with crowder peas, bought last Saturday at the Watkinsville farmers market. Dad, thoroughly versed in generations of the old foodways available in this part of Georgia, takes pride in the fact that he spent nigh an hour Saturday afternoon shelling said crowder peas, thinking that it located him squarely in the centuries-old tradition of pea shelling, giving him, as it were, communion with pea-shelling saints of old. Ironically however, Dad also spent that entire hour simultaneously watching Bravo, a cable channel that prides itself on being at most 15 minutes behind the latest fashion, food, or sexual trends. More irony is found in that Dad watched a Bravo show called “The Hundred Greatest TV Characters of All Time,” and was, as usual, frustrated that Lucille Ball placed so high just because she was a forerunner.

Dad was also miffed that James Garner as Jim Rockford barely broke the top twenty.

Can you feel the magic?

Barritt has a new love. And it isn't Annabelle, per se. It is the act of kissing. Kissing for boo boos, kissing for good night, and then your regular, middle of the day kisses. You never really know when he might lay one on you. And you never really know if the kiss will be open mouth either, like they do in France or the north Georgia mountains. Or if it will be accompanied by the runoff of one or two seeping nostrils. I guess we count our blessings, knowing that we will be longing for the days of being coated with mucus and saliva when Barritt gets to be 'too big' for any smooches at all.

Milestones

Annabelle started sitting up this month. She was a little "late" but we cut her some slack because Mom and Dad forgot that they are supposed to help babies learn this kind of thing. Once we actually helped her into the sitting position and gave her a book or a toy, she took to it quickly. She's also been busy with the army crawl and growing her first two teeth.

First Day of School

Today was B's first day of school. There were no tears, his or mine, at drop off and he seemed to have a great time. He was most excited about the kid-sized yogurt cup we packed in his lunch box and something they sang called "The Quiet Song." All I can get out of him is that it goes "shhhhh, shhhhh, shhhh."

The only downside so far is that he was too keyed up for his nap once we got home. Once I gave up and went to get him, he started DEMANDING to watch Blues Clues, which we've never watched at home before. Soon he'll be asking for a perm and jeans with zippers at the ankle....no, that was me.


Clearly, I've just eliminated myself from the "cool mom" category, but click on the button for some fun back to school shopping.




Play Date

Here's a picture of us with our sweet friends Victoria and Charlotte at a play date last week. Charlotte and Barritt have a hard time sharing toys when moms are there, but as soon as we leave the room, they are all giggles and fun. Hey Cameron, recognize the camera Charlotte is holding? Can't wait to get it back to you. Smile!

I keep trying to blog this picture and keep forgetting to turn it around. So I'm just going to have to count on you guys to tilt your heads to see it. Annabelle is wearing socks Yia Yia knit wondering what on earth her parents are thinking putting socks on her in the dawg days of summer.

Age before beauty

We've had lots of birthdays to celebrate around here lately.

Dad turned 65 yesterday. Here he is in his natural habitat, complete with birding accouterments. He seems to be having some kind of stand-off, possibly with an aggressive clapper rail or purple martin. Whoa! Click on that picture and you can see Dad up close and personal.


Great Aunt Margie, giver and writer of excellent children's books. Happy birthday!

Uncle Sidney celebrated last weekend with an unprecedented 48 hours off work. Congratulations! Maybe if you worked less I'd have a picture of you to post...

Cameron! Three on Wednesday! Look out or I'll embellish something for you.


Here is the other reason Sid and Millie are so busy. Happy belated birthday to Baby Tyler. He is a handsome little guy, much bigger now than he looks in this picture.

We have a big backlog of pictures from all our summer adventures. I'll get the best up over the next week or so.

Okra

Not sure what to say about this picture except the obvious: even a week of 100* weather cannot stifle Matt's passion for food styling. He does stuff like this EVERY times he cooks dinner.

Crafty crafty

How cute! What are they?




Crayon caddies, for when you need to take your Crayolas on the road. Since Barritt is more interested in eating crayons than coloring with them, these will be gifts for friends... Here's a tutorial, should you get inspired.

Under new management

I'm sure our three readers out there (Hi Mom!)have noticed some changes on the blog lately. Outdated entries, out of focus pictures and all around lack of content, to name a few. Well, Barritt has been busy. More on this later. Matt is so un-busy that he can't sit at the computer and Annabelle can't type yet. So it falls to me to update the blog. I'll do my best.

We've been back in Athens almost a week now and there really isn't any place like home. Our house seems so spacious, so comfortable and even so CLEAN compared to our little NC apartment! Barritt and Annabelle were both in pack 'n' plays to sleep since May. By the end of our trip, Barritt was testing its limits, climbing in and out at will and flipping it on its side to make a garage for his trucks. We're all glad to be back in our beds.


By the way, I'm famous.

 

 

 

Finally, pictures

Some of you have remained steadfastly loyal, hoping against hope that after days of drought, a flood of pictures would rain down upon you. Your wish is granted. Enjoy some of our beach moments with cousin Connor.

Hiatus

It should be clear that we are on hiatus. It wasn't our intent, but these days, living in what I have already learned to call the "summer house," we are lucky to even be able to find our toothpaste when we need it. So a USB cable to connect the camera to the computer is out of the question.

Life here is good though. More to come. But don't expect it in a hurry.

Creative energies

More of the Same

Mom is busy letting Annabelle be busy 'eating' milk, Dad is busy studying for exams, I am busy growing my molars, which make me grumpy and make me get up early.

This weekend we pack up the cars and caravan to The Dash. In the same way I use a thinly veiled nickname for the town I live in, Classic City, I'll use the Dash for the town we'll live in this summer. (Hint: the name of the town is two words with a dash in between. Further Hint: it isn't Wilkes-Barre).

I don't really know what is in store for me in the Dash. I'll finally get to assess for myself all the accolades mom attributes to her alma mater. I do know however that I will have a pool where I am living, and that utilities are pre-paid: if you visit, expect the A/C to be set at 42.

Dad Flirts with Greatness

2005 Tour de Georgia champion and Discovery Channel rider Tom Danielson came to town today after the end of this year's TdG.













He showed Dad some important things in Monday night's local group ride, such as:








- how pro bike racers tend to have 18 inch waists
- how pro bike racers tend to weigh 83 pounds
- what $12,000 bikes look like up close
- how cell phone cameras take crummy, but convenient pictures