2008 - great expectations - dashed!

We had high hopes for 2008. We already knew it would be the year Annabelle will begin to walk, the year we move and the year we become solvent.

But thus far we are not off to the best start. The kids entered the year with a nice stomach bug, replete with vomiting and portents of copious diarrhea to come in the following days. However, in that brief window between the kids' vomiting and their certain future malady, Dad, undeterred and selfish as ever, headed out into the wild for the first WBL of the year at 10 a.m. on 1/1. While there was a certain satisfaction in the ride, the 40 degree temperature and 20 mph winds do not suit his lazy proclivities, and he was left feeling spent and cold for the remains of the day.

So, in an effort to get the kids out of the house for the first time in a few days, and to quench B's undying thirst for playing at a train table, we headed out to Barnes & Noble. Barritt, satiated, was nonetheless hesitant to leave. After a few tears, all was well with him, when Mom and Dad turned to one another. "Does your stomach hurt?" each asked the other in turn. Damn, brace yourself.

The virus completed its assault of all 4 Chamberses by the waning minutes of January 1. We are now all over stage 1, and the kids are in the midst of stage 2. All this goes to say, if you need to contact any of us, we will definitely be home for the next couple days.