Drumsticks and Stones

We've returned from a fun-filled, cousin-filled and stuffing-filled Thanksgiving holiday in Roanoke. Thankful for the warm weather and healthy kids.

Schaddenfreude Jr.

Usually we can never get our oldest kids to smile like this for the camera - never. But lo and behold, there is a new trick:

1. Go out to Salem Lake on bikes.
2. Find the abandoned ropes course you never knew was there despite going to Salem Lake on a pretty regular basis.
3. Let kids climb on rickety stairs associated with said abandoned ropes course.
4. This includes Jay.
5. Watch kids laugh and smile once Jay falls backwards off the steps into a pile of leaves.
6. Feel guilty, but take picture quickly.

Precious Cargo

B lost his third tooth this morning, whilst camping. After returning home, all of us were on the verge of collapse, but knew that we had to find the tooth fairy pillow. After searching in vain for a few minutes, we gave up hope for finding said pillow this evening. However, Barritt quickly improvised a backup method of delivering the tooth to the Tooth Fairy (see below; and yes, that is his tooth in the treasure chest). His tableau is so good, one wonders if he intentionally lost the pillow. In any event, B has honestly indicated to us that he hopes the Tooth-Guarding Ninjas will come alive later tonight to meet the Tooth Fairy - not to scare her, just to make friends.

While you are here, enjoy the other pics of A&B at Stone Mountain Falls (earlier today), and Jay at the Moose Cafe (last week). It's going to be a while before he goes toe to toe with that moose.

Jay, Dining Room, September

Jay is seemingly everywhere at once these days, except when you are trying to find him. If he is not escaping out the front door, he is sitting on the side of the toilet "washing his feet", or attacking a brother's legos, or attacking a sister's painting or "helping" to take the painting tape down. Here are signs of his mischief from a one week period, in just one room of the house. OK, the first picture isn't mischief; it is a gesture that states the obvious: I'm a third kid, I do what I want until it inconveniences one of the other four of you.

Back from the Beach

In this world of Facebook, Twitter, back to school and getting more than a hundred emails a day at work, it is increasingly hard to find time to keep this old 2005 blog technology updated. Nonetheless, we'll try to do it once a month . . .


The Chambers will never take one of those pictures where all of the subjects' clothes, smiles and dental work all match. Part of the reason for that is philosophical, part of it is because we are all somewhat introspective and therefore none of us perform well and part if it is because there is just too much wiggling in our family. But all in all, I'm pretty pleased with this souvenir from the annual beach trip:

Heat Wave

Baby Jay does not care if he is holding his popsicle upside down. He does not care if he is eating a popsicle before even his brother and sister have eaten breakfast. He just knows that it is 112 degrees in the combined shade of a crepe myrtle and a plastic car, and he is doing what he can to make it to his next nap.

Queen for a Day(?)

Lest you have any doubt this is our four year old getting ready for her first dance recital, the bottom picture confirms that even a dress seemingly made of clouds and cotton candy can't stop Annabelle from being the sassiest pre-schooler in town.

Annabelle likes her lunch to look her in the eye. Please note the cucumber and lettuce were grown in the back yard!

Barritt had his face painted as a werewolf at Dad's company picnic. Fortunately, the full moon passed before the End of the Year kindergarten party.

Barritt's school year has flown by. He LOVES his teachers and classmates. He had a great year.

Quick and dirty

That title describes both Mom in the 36 North Triathlon earlier this month and the next couple blog posts. Maybe if I get the pictures up Matt will write something funny when he has a moment...

Off to the races

B and A made an appearance at the North Carolina State Criterium Championships in High Point yesterday. B had done a couple of kids races before, but had never done a whole lap race. Yesterday he was escorted by our friend Rodney (the guy with the orange seat, who, until now, you may have been thinking was sandbagging an easy win in a kids race), and had a great time.



As for A, it was her first race, and she got on the podium with a solid 3rd place. Technically, every kid in the kids race gets the same prize, but let's just say she was one of the first three in her race to get the prize.

Back in the Saddle

Alas, we have but one picture from the last month or so, and it was taken on Dad's phone. But it is an important picture, documenting Mom's return to the great wide world of outdoor bike riding. Her trusty steed had been ignored in the corner of the basement since about the time she had determined that Jay was her on-board passenger in the Fall of 2009.

The return to the saddle was last weekend, mostly along the banks of the French Broad in Western NC. By all accounts it was a success. Pictured here is Mom, along with our friend and navigator, Jim. Note the horses in the barn to the left, nodding in approval.

And the name of this hydrangea is . . .

Annabelle.

April 3d, 72 degrees in the backyard

Celebrating the first birthday of Jay, a.k.a. the Small Mouth Bass.

This is what Jay looks like on a full suspension mountain bike. We should have gotten one size smaller.

Farmboy

S'mores. Yes, that is melted marshmallow holding her hair back.

Afternoon Caucus

 

 

 

 

These Are Action Shots: You can't expect me to get their whole heads in the frame

Sunday afternoon at the playground:

How we've looked in January

We've been a busy bunch this month - mom and dad have been working more than they really want to, dad finished the cyclocross season, mom has started training for her race season, B had his first science fair project (Honorable Mention! More pics coming later), we all went to the beach with great friends and temporarily escaped what has been a cold cold winter, Jay seemingly is constantly assailed by fevers, drooling and fussiness and A has generally just been a hot mess since turning 4. Hopefully things will chill out some in February, but we have our doubts.

 

 

 

 

The Big 4.0

Annabelle is probably not the first 4 year old to get a time out in the middle of opening presents. She's probably not even our first 4 year old to get a time out in the middle of opening presents. Nonetheless, she was all ears and all smiles once the amazing hexacolored cake hit the table.

Happy birthday kid!

Now get to bed.