Chris and Judy

Little Conversation..

2008-09-16T19:28:00.002-05:00

While we were riding in the van...

Katie: Never ever.
Micah: Katie!
Katie: Never ever.
Micah: Never ever you!
Katie: I'm not gonna stop never ever.
Micah: Don't say that!
Katie: NEVER EVER!
Micah: Katie! I got my fireman hat on!
Katie: NEVER EVER!
Micah: My monkey sign, too!
Katie: Never EVER!

The Beginning..

2008-08-31T21:03:00.005-05:00

From that lunch with Norman, he left me with one photograph on my camera. This is the photo that really has become the catalyst for me to learn how to use my camera and become a better photographer (or you could say to become a photographer at all).

I love the way the glass is in focus, but the background is slightly out of focus. (click on the photo to see a larger version of it)

Photographic Memory..

2008-08-31T20:12:00.005-05:00

I went to lunch with an old friend. Norman and I have known each other for about 13 years, but most of the time between then and now we have not stayed in touch. As it goes sometimes, we are back in a situation where we work in the same company. This affords us the opportunity to talk, have lunch, and enjoy good company.

In passing, Norman made a comment that he likes photography. Having a nice camera myself, I mentioned to him that I would love to learn more about photography. We ended up at lunch one day, and I surprised him by bringing my camera. I shared the embarrassing tale of owning a Canon 30D and not really knowing what to do with it. I told him I usually just keep it on the desk and use my little, compact camera for everything. After a few moments of silence (I think he actually lost consciousness), he said, "Don't worry, Chris! It's easy!"

This is a great time to stop and explain Norman speak. Norman is a very kind, very optimistic, and very gracious person. Although I had caught him off-guard with my failure to use my expensive camera, he was sure I would be able to quickly pick it up and learn.

Here is a rough outline of the advice that followed.

Get out the camera booklet and read it. Even if the settings don't really make sense, it is important to know where the settings are on the camera and how to adjust them.
Don't ever use Auto Mode again. Only use Manual Mode, Aperture Priority Mode, or Shutter Priority Mode. If you're going to learn how to use a digital SLR, don't look back.
Read Understand Exposure by Bryan Peterson. It is a relatively short book (160 pages) and includes pictures as examples on every page.
As you read sections, stop, put down the book, pick up your camera, and take pictures. As I started this step, I had to look at my camera booklet to see how to change the settings, then I could practice. This is a critical part of the process. If you don't take pictures as you go along, you will not carry that over as actual learned information.
When you finish the book, take more pictures.

As you can see, actually taking pictures is a huge part of his advice. The book he recommended really did a great job at breaking down photography for someone like me (newbie). Now, I will admit that I haven't become a professional photographer overnight. That's the good news -- I'm not making any silly statements about some magic bullet. However, I now can say for sure that I have made more progress than I expected to have made in only a few days time. Here's a list of accomplishments I've made:

I know where most of the manual settings are on my camera. I know how to change the aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and several other items. In full Manual Mode, I can actually take pictures. (I know that sounds silly, but I could not make that statement a few days ago.) I can actually go outside or into a poorly lit room and take pictures. If my picture comes out too dark, I don't have to get the flash out. I can make a quick change to my settings and magically lighten the picture.

With a few of these basics down, I'm also able to throw in a few fun (artistic) tricks. I have photos using pan, distorted proportions, and subject isolation. For me, these are some of the pictures that really get me wanting to learn more and become a better photographer.

Tropical Storm Fay..

2008-08-22T19:01:00.004-05:00

So, tropical storm Fay came into town. She stayed a little longer than really necessary. We lost power from 2:00 AM until just after 5:00 PM. Thank goodness for cool weather! The rain came down pretty hard and the waters really rose. We had our gutters replaced just in time. We diverted the water away from the house fairly well.

Our neighbor across the street had a tree fall over on her car and house. I ran over to check on her and make sure there wasn't any pressing damage. Surprisingly, there was no damage (not even a scratch) to the car. The tree also did nothing to the roof. The rain finally let up for about 2 hours, so we went to cut up the tree. Turned out to be about 20 people out while we strategically removed the tree from the car, moved the car, then cut the rest away from the house. All's well that ends well, right?

Wake 'n Bacon!

2008-08-17T21:40:00.002-05:00

Can we say Christmas present?

Click on this link: http://www.mathlete.com/portfolio/wakeNbacon.php

Baby Squirrels..

2008-08-15T21:18:00.002-05:00

For the past few days, we've heard this horrible high-pitched screeching coming from the large oak tree in our front yard. Today when I got home from work, Judy said she saw a baby squirrel in the tree next to a nest. I looked up and was able to see him. After about 30 minutes, we noticed that one of the baby squirrels had fallen (about 25 feet) to the ground. We gathered around and stared at it to see if it was still alive. It was breathing and moving a little. After another 15 minutes or so, a second baby squirrel fell to the ground. Another 30 minutes or so, and a third squirrel hit the ground. We didn't see any adult squirrels around. We could do nothing but leave the squirrels (untouched) and hope for the best tonight.

Here's a video of the baby squirrels..

Nuclear Testing Site..

2008-08-13T12:04:00.002-05:00

I went today for Nuclear Testing. I'm not really sure what that means, but they injected me with a little radioactive material (twice) and did some imaging of my heart. I also had the great pleasure of receiving one of those injections while I was running 4.5 miles per hour at 18% grade on the treadmill. Just before she gave that dose, she said "now hold perfectly still". That reminds me of how the dentist always asks you questions while he has both hands and six tools in your mouth.

All things considered, it went very smoothly. The tests weren't as bad as I had expected and the office and staff were super nice. Dealing with nice people that enjoy their work is always such a pleasure.

Laptop Crashed..

2008-08-12T18:56:00.003-05:00

The laptop stopped working. Well, it stopped working when someone dropped it. It wouldn't even turn on. So, we've been without the laptop for about 2 weeks now. Yes, yes, I know what you're thinking. "Don't you guys have like 3 other computers running in your house?" And the answer is yes. But we use the laptop as our daily pc. It provides convenience and mobility for our computing on the go. You have to be mobile with kids. :)

Well, we bought a used laptop on ebay. We decided to go with a unit exactly the same as what we have. There are many good reasons for this decision. It was very cheap. We like cheap right now. Because of the nature of our problems, we knew we could probably just pop the hard drive in this new one and go. Turns out it WAS that easy. We can also use all the power supplies and other components. We'll have replacement parts if something else breaks (excluding the suspect motherboard). Also, we replaced our laptop because we broke it, not because the thing was too slow or something. This one seems to be working out just fine.

Election 2008!

2008-07-28T21:50:00.000-05:00

Pita Love..

2008-07-27T11:08:00.002-05:00

I love pita bread. Not really just any pita bread, though. I have a special love for fresh, soft pita. Pita bread doesn't seem to stay this way for too long. You have to get it fresh and it will turn into normal pita within 2 days.

Growing up, I didn't get fresh pita that often. Every once in a while, we would make it to Lakeshore Produce early enough to get some! I say early enough, because you had to be there when they opened if you hoped to get some. It seemed to be in great demand.

Well, I've had a renewed love for pita recently. I found that I could get it fresh from Hala Cafe, located on University Blvd. I find myself going once or twice a week to pick up fresh pita bread. Mmmm...

Bike Ride

2008-07-01T16:17:00.003-05:00

So, I've been keeping you updated with the bike rides. It helps to motivate me knowing that either my success and accomplishments are shown to you, or they are clearly displayed as a failure. That may sound harsh, but it is purely analytical for me. I have some friends that I ride with during certain times, but that provides a gap in motivation. Sometimes they can't go and sometimes are schedules don't allow us to ride at the same time. The blog is more consistent for me.

Instead of filling up the posts with mileage numbers, I added an item on the right (below the family picture) that shows the mileage and dates.

Bike Ride

2008-06-30T15:51:00.002-05:00

Rode today during lunch. 8.3 miles.

Baby Bumbo

2008-06-24T18:33:00.002-05:00

Bike Ride

2008-06-22T14:31:00.000-05:00

6.16 miles

Bike Ride

2008-06-20T19:16:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, I dusted off the old bike. I had to do some minor adjustments, but I took a quick ride down the street and back and all seemed well. So, I hooked up the bike trailer and took Micah along for my first trip out in a long time. It was hot. He was heavy. I rode 2 miles in 10 minutes. That was enough.

Today, I rode again. 6.25 miles

Sick of the Gym!

2008-06-20T19:00:00.002-05:00

Okay, maybe I wasn't sick of the gym, but I was sick and couldn't go to the gym. Turns out I had strep throat for 4 days before I got antibiotics. Better in 2 days. I missed 3 days at the gym. I went back today. It was very difficult and I didn't feel too great afterwords. Don't think I'm going to give up on it, though.

You did what?? Part 2

2008-06-09T19:04:00.003-05:00

Yes, I'm still hitting the gym. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I've completed 2 weeks now. I'm still enjoying it. I feel energized after leaving the gym and I seem to think a little more clearly while working.

Also noteworthy.... I don't look like that yet. Hmm...

You did what??

2008-05-28T16:40:00.003-05:00

Okay, I have done something that most of you may find shocking. I joined the YMCA at work. I also WENT to the gym and WORKED OUT. Hmmm... I'll give you a moment to imagine that.

I have considered the gym for many years, but never been. I joined with a friend, so I think that helps to motivate me. I guess it won't be long before I look like this:

Maybe I won't. Maybe I wouldn't want to... haha... In case it means anything later, I started today at 167 lbs.

PicasaWeb

2008-04-27T10:38:00.001-05:00

the tide...

2008-03-10T14:43:00.004-05:00

This is a song by Newsboys called The Tide. I came across the words to this song on my computer. I had found the core of the song on the internet and then added in the actual lyrics based on the track. I had done this when I was feeling as though I had run aground. I found great comfort in this song. I would set the track to repeat and listen to it over and over.

think i'll wait for the tide
seems it's all i can do right now
there must be a reason
i've run aground
i'll wait for the waves
to come
by the moon and the tide
like a man and his bride
i will wait
on you, Lord
and we will run so far from here
to your.........safety
think i'll lie in the sun for awhile
maybe inside out
i've been leaving messages for you
i'm sure it will all work out
and i know the waves
will come
by the moon and the tide
like a man and his bride
i will wait
on you Lord
and we will run so far from here
to your.........safety in the storm

there is courage for the simple man
to the holders of secrets and scars
learning to stand with reaching arms
we'll wait until the very last
no matter what will be
you're always good
always good
to me
we will run so far from here
i know the waves
will come
by the moon and the tide
like a man and his bride
i will wait
on you Lord

we will run so far from here
i know the waves
will come
by the moon and the tide
like a man and his bride
i will wait
on you Lord
we will run so far from here
to your.........safety
to your.........safety
to your.........safety
to your.........
to your safety

Profile Update...

2008-03-06T20:24:00.003-05:00

I just noticed that the family portrait on the top, right of my blog is "out of date". It is missing one member--Amy Jo. I will have to find something to replace that picture with. We haven't gone to get any professional pictures done yet.

Travel humor...

2008-03-05T17:13:00.002-05:00

In my last job, I did a bit of travel. If you have done any traveling by air, you can probably appreciate the humor in this video. Enjoy!

Peculiar Things...

2008-02-25T21:02:00.004-05:00

I mentioned the cold I am just getting over in the last post. So, I thought it best to go get some Cold-Eze. Those are like cough drops, but more along the zinc lozenges line. The idea is to aid speedy recovery. I popped the first one in on the way home and quickly remembered my aversion to them. I don't like the dry feeling they give your mouth (I think it's the zinc). That led to the thought, "how peculiar am I? I really have a dislike for the particular way zinc makes my mouth feel, even though I know it helps me." So, we'll call that Peculiar Thing #1: I do not like the taste of zinc lozenges.

Immediately my mind jumped to Peculiar Thing #2: I do not like lotions or creams on my skin. Whether it be moisturizing lotion, sunscreen, or anything similar, I just can't stand that feeling of something on my skin. This usually crops up as an apparent issue to others when I refuse their polite offer of sunscreen while out in the sun. Even if I end up getting sunburn, the thought of having to put lotion or even aloe on my skin seems worse than the agonizing burn.

Speaking of the beach, Peculiar Thing #3: I don't like the feeling of salt and sand on my skin after going to the beach. That usually keeps me off the beach altogether.

Peculiar Thing #4: I don't like soggy breads. This one might not sound so peculiar at first, but read on. I don't like when you get a sub or sandwich from a shop and the juices from the meat have made the bread completely soggy. I don't like syrup poured over my pancakes or french toast, because it makes the bread soggy. I prefer the dip method. Guarantees the bread has syrup on it without being mushy. If you heard this one from Judy, she might refer to it by my 'spoon under one side of my plate to prop it up and keep the syrup from touching my pancakes.' She's always enjoyed telling that story.

Update...

2008-02-24T21:03:00.002-05:00

So many things have been going on since Amy Jo was born... I just haven't had a chance to get online and post until now. So, I'll try to get you caught up..

Amy Jo is doing well. She is looking and acting more like Micah than Katie these days. She is now 4 weeks old. She weighs almost 11 lbs. She is sleeping well and eating well. Judy is also doing well. She is really amazing and has done very well adjusting to three kids. She has made several trips out with all three kids. I don't know how or why, but she has... :)

Judy took her first trip to the hospital (ever) as a patient. The short story is that she had an infection and needed IV antibiotics and 24 hour observation. All things considered, we were in and out as quickly as anyone could wish to be. I don't think Judy or I would choose to do that again anytime soon. Thank goodness for those who serve us in the medical field, but more so, thank goodness for health!

So, I end up getting back to a regular work routine just in time to come down with some fierce cold (or sinus something). I ended up missing some work, slept for basically two days, and have been slowly coming back to full strength.

That's about where we are today. I'm still on the mend and Judy is still amazing. I'll fill in a few other stories soon.

Amy Jo Andrews

2008-01-29T19:46:00.000-05:00

Born Sunday, January 27th at 1:49 AM. 9lbs 8ozs. 20" long.

Just another post...

2008-01-27T20:04:00.001-05:00

Not much new to report here in the Andrews house. Everything is business as usual. Oh, yeah, we had a baby this morning. We also got a new coffee maker. It is really nice.

More on that later...

Old Couples..

2008-01-02T20:37:00.000-05:00

Tonight I was watching TV and there was an old couple in the airport. She said to her husband, "I've got to go to the bathroom. Come on, you have to go, too." His response was, "How do you know if I have to go to the bathroom? ....okay, you're right. I do have to go." LOL...

That reminds me of so many conversations and interactions I have witnessed with old couples. I really admire couples that have been together so long that they communicate on another level. They know each other in such great detail that the normal observer is amazed. They also share a lifetime of stories and experiences.

What a truly wonderful gift from God! I aspire to grow old with Judy and be one of those old couples!

Christmas Pictures..

2007-12-30T12:51:00.000-05:00

Katie got a shopping cart for Christmas. This isn't just any shopping cart, though.. I think someone must have searched high and low to find the "Special Edition" with squeaky wheels. When I say squeaky, don't be confused. You know how sometimes you grab a cart in the store and start pushing it around and every person is stopped in their tracks as they turn to see what that horrible noise is? That's this cart.

We extend our sincerest gratitude for this gift. :)

Holidays..

2007-12-29T20:40:00.000-05:00

Wow... Are the holidays already over?? I can't believe that Christmas has already come and gone and that we are almost a week past that.

As you can imagine, Christmas with 2 kids plus a wife who is 8 months pregnant can provide quite a busy schedule. We put a little more effort into Christmas this year because Micah is to the age where he is starting to understand and enjoy it. I put more Christmas lights on the house this year than any other year. I also followed it up by going the day after Christmas to buy about 8 more strands of lights for half price. Looking forward to the lights next year!! :)

We also spent a lot of time (as usual) with our families for Christmas. It was good to get together, eat, and enjoy our families. The kids always enjoy time with family.

To follow up a really great time at Christmas, I went camping with Micah, Jeremy, and Logan. We went camping for real -- no campsite..we went to the forest. Made our own campsite. It was a lot of fun and I think Micah will have lots of good memories from that trip. I really can't wait for the next opportunity to take him.

Three Year Olds in Public..

2007-12-16T13:40:00.000-05:00

We were eating lunch on Sunday in McAlister's. We had been sitting at our table for about 5 minutes waiting on our food to arrive when a loud noise came from behind us. A few tables over, another family was seated with a baby in an infant car seat perched atop an overturned high chair. The high chair must have fallen back and the car seat and infant hit the ground. The baby was obviously unharmed and the fall was quite gentle, but made enough noise for everyone immediately around to notice. I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable for the father who picked up the baby--his embarrassment was on his face. Everyone that had seen it looked on as the father held the baby. In a truly natural three year old volume level, Micah exclaimed, "Oh, it was only the baby!" ...whew! We were all relieved. :)

Custom License Plates..

2007-12-12T13:41:00.000-05:00

Here is a link to a website that I find rather amusing and useful, too. This is the Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles site for Personalized License Plate inquiries. You just type in what you would like to see on a license plate, click the button, and they will tell you if that plate is currently available. Very nice...

Personalized License Plate Inquiry

GMTA..

2007-12-09T13:00:00.000-05:00

I happened to look at Judy's blog the other day. It was a little embarassing at first. I realized she wrote a post about our Ikea trip, too. I think it is funny if you look at these two posts to see how similar they are and how we speak the same way. When you've been married for 8 years and known each other for 14, I guess that is bound to happen.

My Ikea post: http://chrisandjudy.blogspot.com/2007/12/ikea-again.html

Judy's Ikea post: http://mommystory.blogspot.com/2007/12/7-hours-later.html

Gun Training Your Kids..

2007-12-06T18:59:00.000-05:00

What? Did I title this post Gun Training Your Kids? hehe.. Here's a funny story that forces the issue, IMO.

So, Judy has taken a strong position of "non-exposure" for our kids and guns. Most of you know I enjoy guns, but I've kept them locked up and hidden (my kids have never seen any of my guns).

Naturally, Micah has taken to making anything a gun. I get the impression that nearly all boys just know guns and what they do from birth. He prides himself on the sticks from the yard that especially have a "gun-like look" to them. He plays for hours "shooting" these guns.

The other day Judy and I sat in the driveway while Micah played with his gun. He brought it over to Judy and offered her the opportunity to shoot the gun. She politely declined, but Micah urged her to join in. She took the stick...err..I mean gun and pointed it out straight. Micah, timely as can be, gave a loud "BANG!" then immediately said "You killed him, Mom!"

The look on Judy's face was priceless! She didn't know what to say. LOL I think I have come to the conclusion that if WE don't teach our kids about guns and safety, that they won't know (about guns and safety). We already know they are aware of guns and what they can do.

I'm not proposing to sit Micah (3 years old) down and give him a "gun lesson". I just don't think non-exposure is the answer. Seems that you run the risk of your kids making up their own reality.

Ikea again..

2007-12-05T22:10:00.000-05:00

Judy and I were able to take a trip this past weekend to the new Ikea store in Orlando. As most of you know, we are huge fans of Ikea. I must say that the Ikea Orlando store is much better than the Ikea Atlanta store. I don't recommend anyone bother going to the Atlanta store. They just don't have it together. [reference Ikea Atlanta post]

We went with Josh and were supposed to meet David and Avonn there. If you've ever shopped in an Ikea, you'll understand that we just weren't able to meet up with them. But, nonetheless, it was nice to take Josh on his first trip and we were also grateful to spend time with LB. She lives in Orlando and met us there to walk around and catch up.

Seven hours later, we had procured a few items including a new dining table and chairs for the kitchen, a new bed frame and such for the guest room, and some other items. Yeah, I said seven hours. We arrived before 10:00 AM and got in the car to leave after 5:00 PM. (Hmmm... Judy seemed fine to wander around Ikea for 7 hours, but she is "too pregnant" to put the Christmas lights on the house?? Yeah, right!) ...wait.... just in case you can't see my obvious sarcasm, I'm only kidding. Judy "tested" a lot of the chairs and stuff. hehe..

Josh was able to get a few things for his house, too. I think we all left Ikea with a things still on our lists. That's the draw of Ikea, I suppose. Judy and I are planning another "mini run" soon.

Nothing to See Here...

2007-11-14T14:41:00.000-05:00

Micah is really growing up fast and is always amusing Judy and me with his questions and the words he uses. Katie continues to amaze us with the words she puts together into sentences. They both are changing on a daily basis and it reminds me to take more pictures and value the ones I already have. I often flip through the old pictures and find it astounding how they have changed.

Backup, backup, backup! That is how many copies of your electronic photos I recommend you keep for backup purpose. Please, please don't feel comfortable with your pictures on your computer. Keep them on your computer, yes, but also burn them to CD or DVD. Then copy them to a second computer or external hard drive. I heard a statistic today that says that 60% of electronic photos are accidentally deleted or lost. That doesn't sound right, but if you have ever lost just 1 folder of digital photos, you understand the heartache.

If you are interested in a solution that requires little to no time, let me know. I'm not selling anything, just want to offer help. I have lost photos before and also suffer with laziness when it comes to just doing what you know you HAVE TO do before losing those valueable photos.

Easy photo fun! Here's a few ideas for EASY things you can do with your treasured photo memories.

Video collage: Okay, I know what you are thinking. "Yeah, a video collage of my photos sounds like a lot of work and a lot of time! I just don't have the tools to do something like that." I'll give you partial credit on your response. Yes, it does take a LITTLE time, but no, it does not take a LOT of time. As far as tools, here's a great start. Every computer I have ever sat down at with Windows XP seems to have this program called Windows Movie Maker. Now, you're probably like me and have never noticed it. Go look.. I'll wait... START, Programs, Windows Movie Maker. This program is not some fancy smancy, answer to your movie producing career. This is a simple program that allows you to take photos and/or videos and put them together with transitions. It also gives you the ability to set it to music and add a title at the beginning. It really makes a sharp video (Click Here to see an example)! When you get real fancy (like me) you can add little videos from your digital camera along with the still photos. When you actually sit down and import a few photos, you are going to see how quickly you can make a neat-looking Video Collage.
Traditional photo album: Well, DUH.. Print a few of your favorite photos, cut them up, paste them into a photo album. There's a whole movement associated with this, so I won't go into many details. The idea is simple, though. The one thing I want to say about this one is this... Seems like a lot of time would be required to make a nice photo album. That's true...... if you wait 10 years before you decide to go through the photos and start an album. Don't do that. Instead, take 1 day a year to pick a dozen or so photos from the year and make one or two pages in an album. By the time 5 years rolls by, you will be amazed at how nice the album is and how many memories you have captured in this book.
Delete those 'other' photos: You know what I'm talking about. You took about 30 digital pictures at that birthday party, but to be honest, only about 10 of them are even worth keeping. So, delete the others. I find this more challenging than the other two ideas. But, if you trim your collection to something more manageable, it will become more meaningful. And think about this... Have you looked at photos from 20 years ago? If you have, you know all the memories come alive with a dozen quality photos of an event. No need for 300 photos of the first-born son's first birthday party.

So, that's it. A few little ideas that I have been thinking about. The biggest factor for me is always the 'just do it' part. So, just do it.

No New Posting Strategy..

2007-11-04T20:48:00.000-05:00

Okay, so the 'New Posting Strategy' is useless. I failed to think of all the details. I can not email from work, because of the gigantic legal disclaimer at the bottom of all outbound emails. Just for fun, here's a slightly modified version of what you would have seen at the bottom of my posts. I can't imagine that it wouldn't be distracting.. hehe..

My Company, Inc., and its subsidiary and affiliate companies are not responsible for errors or omissions in this e-mail message. Any personal comments made in this e-mail do not reflect the views of My Company, Inc. The information contained in this document may be confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. This document may contain material that is privileged or protected from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient or the individual responsible for delivering to the intended recipient, please (1) be advised that any use, dissemination, forwarding, or copying of this document IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED; and (2) notify sender immediately by telephone and destroy the document. THANK YOU.

New Posting Strategy..

2007-10-21T19:30:00.000-05:00

So, I found a new way to post on the blog. Turns out they have a way to submit posts through email. I find this interesting because it gives me the opportunity to send forth a quick thought during the day. I will give it a shot and we'll see how it goes... (consider this a disclaimer in case my posts seem cryptic.. hehe)

For those of you who might be bored...

2007-10-19T09:47:00.001-05:00

I (Judy) decided I'd try my hand at blogging. Nothing too exciting, but I'm hoping it will act as a kind of diary for me. So, if you have nothing better to do, feel free to check it out... ;) http://mommystory.blogspot.com.

Over a month??

2007-10-01T16:03:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it has been over a month since my last post! That means time must be flying by and I haven't noticed. I better run through a few updates for everyone...

Chris' Job
I have changed jobs. I was at my last place for 5 1/2 years. It was really a great place to be and I am so thankful for the opportunities and experience that it provided me. I started at Blue Cross Blue Shield on August 6th (Happy Birthday, Jeremy!). It is really a great move for me and provides even more opportunities! I've been there for about 2 months now and I am still excited about it.

Baby #3
The new baby is due January 21st. Judy is doing great and we are both very excited! As for a name, we still haven't settled on anything. I'm sure THREE kids can't be any more work than TWO. :)

Micah & Katie
Micah turned 3 and Katie is 1 1/2. They are both so much fun! They keep Judy and me on our toes, but I suppose that is what kids are for. In preparation for the new baby, we put Katie into Micah's room (out of the nursery). We have two beds in there and thought we should get a head start on that transition. The first night we pretty well. Katie got out of bed once.

Responsibilities..

2007-08-26T07:16:00.001-05:00

Judy takes time to get some web-surfing done while the kids take care of other things..

Princess Party!

2007-08-18T13:56:00.000-05:00

Micah enjoying the slide like a boy..

Marketing in 2007..

2007-08-05T19:59:00.000-05:00

This is great. I almost threw this away before noticing the advanced marketing on the top left corner. (You may want to click on the picture so that it zooms in and you can see it.)

"Rayovac 12 pack -- 4 MORE BATTERIES vs. other leading brands 8 pack"

Katie Walks!

2007-08-03T09:36:00.000-05:00

Season of Changes..

2007-07-05T13:41:00.000-05:00

This summer seems to be a Season of Changes. Obviously, our family is changing with the good news of baby #3 on the way. I would like to say that I have changed--after reading that book (last post) in my relationship with Judy and my view toward my role in our relationship. We have also changed vehicles. We traded in our Nissan Armada for a Honda Odyssey minivan.

We had been considering unloading our Armada for a few months. Gas money was a large factor. The news of baby #3 brought about real thought to 3 car seats. The truck seated 8, but we couldn't come up with a good way to configure them. We could have done 3 car seats across the second row, but then would not be able to access the last row. The thought of climbing up into the truck to load kids into the last row, folding seats up and down, and putting some in the second row didn't seem right either. I'm sure we could have managed. I would hardly call this a tough situation.

All of those factors aside, when your pregnant wife drives the kids down the road, depresses the brakes, and finds that the truck does not respond, it seems like high-time to find another vehicle. I would like to say that this is a one-time occurrance, but it has happened once before. Two separate times for the brakes not to respond does wonders for your confidence in a truck. I would also like to think that Nissan had some big recall, or atleast a technical service bulletin, related to "the truck no longer stops while driving", but that is not the case.

In all fairness, both times we took the vehicle in after brake failure, Nissan politely serviced the vehicle. By politely, I mean they allowed us to bring it in and they serviced it. The second time, they had no apologies for the brakes failing again. They claimed it was not related to the first time, and replaced most of the brake controls. When I picked up the truck after service, the brakes made a funny noise. The service manager took a look at it, then told me he would have to order a new part (the same new part they just installed) again. What a relief, huh?

Needless to say, we were motivated to find a Honda minivan. We did our research, shopped a few dealerships, and talked with friends who recently purchased the same vehicle. We made a stop by one particular dealership, expecting to "seriously look", but ended up buying that night. It was all very quick. Oddly enough, we hadn't expected to purchase that night. The salesman was fantastic, the dealership was honest and open to respectable deals, and made the purchase one of the best we've had yet.

We love the van and it provides more than we need. We are no longer a "truck family", but atleast I can say we are now a "Honda family". Honda continues to live up to the reputation we have known for so long.

As far as other changes.. Micah seems to have an amazing grasp on "no diapers" and it would seem that there is no looking back now. Katie is [still] not walking, but we hope she does soon. I'm sure there will be other big changes soon. I will keep you informed as they pop up!

Family Time..

2007-06-17T13:47:00.000-05:00

I just finished re-reading Gary Smalley's book 'If Only He Knew'. I have read it several times now. He confronts husbands and challenges them to a better relationship with their wives.

Toward the end of the book, he takes a moment to speak on the subject of relationship building for the whole family. He shared camping as an activity that had a proven track record of unifying a family. As illustrated in his book, it isn't always easy-going while they were camping, but made the way for long-lasting memories that they all remembered and laughed about for years.

Below is one story from his book that made me think of so many of our trips and camping experiences as a family.

"Colorado was the destination for our own trip in our own trailer. We could hardly wait to experience the beauty of snow-capped peaks and sniff the aroma of pine trees. I could already hear the sizzle of rainbow trout frying in the pan. As we started up the mountain, our station wagon slowed from 50 miles per hour to 30, then to 25, then to 20, until we finally slowed to the pace of 15 miles per hour. "Hot" read the temperature gauge. I felt like I was wired to the engine because my palms were sweating so. Our children sensed the tension in the air and became hyper and loud.
"I've got to stop at the next pull-off area," I told them. My nerves were frayed as I pulled over. All three kids jumped out immediately. I hadn't even had time to worry about the overheated car when our youngest, Michael, screamed at the top of his lungs.
His older brother, relieving some pent-up energy, had kicked what he thought to be an empty can. Unfortunately, it was half-full of transmission fluid. The can had landed upside down on Michael's head, and he was covered from head to toe, a terribly unhappy little boy. His nose, his ears, even his mouth were dripping with it. Not expecting such a calamity, we had no water in the trailer to clean him up. We worried that he had injured his eyes because he blinked rapidly the rest of the trip."

Andrews Spawn #3..

2007-06-03T20:45:00.001-05:00

Yes, we are with child. More Judy than me, but you get the idea. To be honest, it is very early as of yet, so we pray that God would continue to bless us as he has twice so far.

We are doing something a little different for this child. We are taking names from everyone, we will throw them into a hat, and pick out one on the day the baby is born. Please put a comment on this post or email us directly to have your entry added to the lottery.

Clear, Blue, Easy!

2007-05-30T05:31:00.000-05:00

Good news is forthcoming.

Goofy kids.

2007-05-11T10:53:00.000-05:00

Look at those goofy smiles! Katie is enjoying her new chair that her Aunt Wendy got her for her birthday. Of course, she isn't allowed to sit in her chair unless her big brother gets to sit in his at the same time. ;)

Proportions..

2007-04-20T16:49:00.000-05:00

It would seem that the proportions are off in this video. This moment was captured on my cell phone (sorry for the poor quality). Sometimes you get rare opportunities to catch amazing things on video. You just have to go with it for the sake of sharing.

This is a video of Dad riding a tiny clown bike. I really couldn't believe my eyes.

Domestic Violence..

2007-03-30T08:49:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure what brought this to mind, other than to say that's just how things go for me. When I lay in the bed and try to go to sleep, so many things just pop into my mind.

Judy and I went to Cancun for vacation several years ago. We stayed at a huge resort with tons of stuff to do. One of the activities we did was to rent a few Yamaha WaveRunners. They were pretty nice and fairly fast. We started out from the beach and didn't get far before we started to play and have fun. Without warning, Judy was coming straight at me and her WaveRunner rammed me in the side. The worst part of the this is that the bottom of the WaveRunner is curved, so it rose up out of the water and hit me in the side of the ribs. It knocked the breath out of me and I thought for sure our vacation was over. After a few minutes of purposeful breathing, I was able to mostly recover. She said it was my fault.

I've moved past it now (and did then, too). I just thought it was funny for this to pop up in my head and wanted to share the funny story.

Bathroom Journal - 3rd Edition

2007-03-19T18:07:00.000-05:00

Here is a picture of our bathroom as it stands today. As you can see we have made some significant progress over the past few weeks. It was really a lot of work (all of which Judy did) to get the walls finished and painted. Notes for next time: hire someone to do the drywall and sanding. That is no fun.

We are getting pretty close on the tile, as well. From the picture you can see the walls of the bathtub are done, the floor is done, and the front of the bathtub shelf is done.

We received the bathtub last week! This is big news, as it took just over 4 weeks to arrive. Now that we have that, we have the template for the tub and can finish the top of the tub shelf (including tile).

We got the cabinets assembled and mounted. They look really sharp with the dark tile. I just set the countertop on top (for now) so that we could see what it is like.

We also got the pendant lights mounted above the vanities. They look really sharp! We have yet to mount the mirrors, sinks, vanity fixtures, and final resting spot for the toilet.

Won't be long now! We are getting really excited! I will write more later about the fun I had with the jackhammer.

Micah

2007-03-15T21:40:00.001-05:00

Root Beer

2007-03-15T21:28:00.000-05:00

While I was in Milwaukee, WI back in 2005, I asked one of my business contacts about root beer. Downtown Milwaukee is full of micro-breweries and I was sure to find a good one! The recommendation came for Sprecher's Root Beer. I found that it was available in the hotel restaurant where I was staying. I can't remember how many I drank, but I'm sure it was enough for a belly ache! Sprecher's has to be one of the best I have ever had. You can also order some on their website (click link above) and they will ship it to you. If you are a fan of good root beer, this stuff gets a strong recommendation from me!

Driving at 253 MPH..

2007-03-14T19:25:00.000-05:00

That's not a mistake. I said it correctly -- 253 MPH. This is a video clip of a Bugatti Veyron. I know what some of you may be thinking: "What a waste!" For you, I say, "Yeah, but isn't that cool?" hehe..

My favorite parts of the video:
1) The "extra key" that enables the "high speed" mode.
2) He moves from "talking about the car" to actually "driving the car."
3) He is almost speechless at the end, after hitting 253 MPH.
4) Tires wear down in 50 minutes. Fuel consumed in 12 minutes.

Bugatti Veyron at top speed
Uploaded by Flabber

Bicycle video of Dad, Mom, & Logan..

2007-02-28T07:42:00.000-05:00

Click in the video window to activate, then click again to play the video. Make sure you have your sound turned on. Enjoy!

Haircut?

2007-02-25T22:20:00.000-05:00

Judy says I need a haircut. I'm not sure what she is talking about. Micah took this picture. He's pretty good with the camera. I found this photo amidst only 300 unrecognizable photos. One good picture out of 300... that's better than Judy!

Micah driving his power wheels..

2007-02-24T21:18:00.000-05:00

Bathroom Journal - 2nd Edition

2007-02-20T22:05:00.000-05:00

Here is a picture of the walls with tile. As you can see we chose a natural slate look with a little bit of light color trim. This picture still shows a little of the grouting haze, but no worries. Don't be confused by the location of the toilet. We didn't move it into the bathtub area. We just moved it over while tiling the floor in the bathroom. I added a before picture below. It really contrasts the changes. And, yes, that IS a mirror on the wall in the bathtub. I begged to put another mirror in, but Judy wouldn't have it. :)

The picture above is while standing in the bathroom, looking straight at the tub area. The picture below is while standing in the bedroom looking into the tub area from the doorway. Kudos to our tile guy. He spent a lot of time making our tile look amazing!

No turning back now...

2007-02-07T20:24:00.000-05:00

We've been toying with the idea of remodeling our bathroom for some time now. It's the one room in our house that we haven't touched since we moved in almost 5 years ago. Before we have another kid (and for anyone who is reads into that statement, no, I'm not pregnant right now), I really wanted to have a nice bathtub to enjoy during pregnancy and birth. So, we finally bit the bullet. It didn't start out that way, though. We were just going to do a little dry wall work. Before we knew it, we had ripped out all of the tile and pulled out the bath tub. Oops..

Did you know?

2007-01-22T20:12:00.000-05:00

Did you know that you can click on the pictures on our blog to see them full-size? This tip comes from dad. It also proves that, in computers, if you are not constantly learning something, you are not very good at computers. :)

Amazing creation.

2007-01-16T22:03:00.000-05:00

Day 7 - Tuesday, January 16
It started to warm up a bit today and it was absolutely beautiful. We got an early start to go snowshoeing at Rocky Mountain National Park. As we drove to the park, we were struck by the mountains with the gigantic green trees, untouched white snow all with a backdrop of the bluest sky we've ever seen. As we drove through the winding roads, we could only imagine that this was a tiny preview of what the Lord has in store for us in heaven.

...and then, came the snowshoeing. It worked okay for the first 1/4 mile or so, but then Katie and Micah got fed up with the pull behind sled we had them in. But, the snow was too deep for Micah to walk in without his own snowshoes and Katie was too heavy to carry through the snow. So, it was a short lived trip for Chris and I. Chris' parents and brother continued their trek through the forrest while we headed back to the cabin for the kids to take nap. Even though it was a failed adventure for us, it was well worth the drive just to see the scenery.

We ended the day by eating at a local restaraunt called Chop House. We came back to the cabin to pack up and clean up the cabin. Tomorrow, the amazing vacation comes to an end. It was a great trip, but we are definitely looking forward to sleeping in our own beds tomorrow night.

Relaxing day.

2007-01-16T21:54:00.000-05:00

Day 6 - Monday, January 15
Chris and I were beginning to get a bit of cabin fever. So, we got up early with the kids and made our way to Boulder. We got a bite to eat at Chick-fil-A (of course) and then did some quick shopping. When we got back to the cabin, we played outside in the snow for a while with the new inner tube. Wow. That thing can fly down the hill. It was great fun riding it down, but it was miserable trying to trek back to the top of the hill in knee deep snow. So, that didn't last long. After nap time, we went driving around Long's Peak and Mount Meeker to take some pictures while Chris' parents and brother went to nearby Estes Park shopping. The scenery is so breathtaking here (pictures will be posted soon). For dinner, the whole family went back out to Boulder to Benihana's. All I can say about that is 'Yum'.

Ouch.

2007-01-15T15:53:00.000-05:00

Day 5 - Sunday, January 14
Jeremy (Chris' brother) and I (Judy) went skiing today at Eldora mountain. Jeremy went snowboarding while I stuck to the traditional skis. I was a little hesitant because it's been over 10 years since I skied last. But, to my surprise, it was easy to pick up again. After 10 or so runs on the green slopes, I told Jeremy I wanted to try the black diamond slopes. I used to be good at it, so why not try it again? We hopped on a 20 minute lift ride that took us to the very top of Eldora mountain (10,000 ft). It was a beautiful view at the peak of the mountain. The slopes didn't look too bad, but I figured I should warm up first by going down a blue slope. It started off easy enough, but all of a sudden it seemed to turn in to a 90 degree drop. This was not how I remembered blue slopes being. I couldn't slow down and I was thinking it was only a matter of seconds before I wiped out. Before I could finish that thought I realized I was tumbling down the mountain. When I finally stopped, I looked back up the mountain to see 1 of my skis, 1 of my poles laying about 100 feet above me, and some very nice people skiing to my aid. That was enough to scare me out of trying a black diamond slope. Except for a few bruises and a bit of a scare, it was overall a fun day. Although, I doubt I'll be skiing again anytime soon.

While we were skiing, Chris, the kids, and his parents went out to Boulder for some shopping. They bought a inner tube to try sledding on. We can't wait to try that tomorrow!

And the fun continues...

2007-01-13T16:19:00.000-05:00

Day 4 - Saturday, January 13
Chris and I were beginning to have Chick-fil-a withdraw. So, we got up early and drove about an hour away to the nearest Chick-fil-a for breakfast. After feeling refreshed, we came back to the cabin for some fun sledding. The snow was falling beautifully today and it warmed up quite a bit, so it was a great day of play outside. Micah was all about doing the sled by himself. He had a blast. Katie enjoyed being pulled around on her little sled as well. And, well, let's just say everyone else had just as much fun sliding down the hills.

Snowed in?

2007-01-12T10:11:00.000-05:00

We are in Lyon's, Colorado and we're having a blast! That is located just outside of Denver. As you can see, we have plenty of snow to play in. It's a little colder here than we're used to. The day's have been between 0 and 10 degrees. That's pretty cold for Floridians. But, it is absolutely beautiful. God is such an amazing artist!

Day 1 - Wednesday, January 10
We spent most of the day on airplanes. The kids did great. Micah was a little hesitant boarding the first plane, but by the time we started to take off, he was super excited.

Day 2 - Thursday, January 11

So, we've been really busy checking things out. We visited Boulder today and went hunting for sleds and fun things to do. We went to Estes Park to a small restaraunt for dinner. We're definitely finding that there aren't a whole lot of good dining choices near our cabin. So, we decided to get a bunch of food to cook at the cabin instead. Between throwing snowballs at daddy, building a snowman, riding around in the car, and adjusting to the time difference, it's been an exhuasting day for the kiddos.

Day 3 - Friday, January 12
These pictures were taken this morning. The first one shows our view from the back of the cabin. The second one shows the view from the front of our cabin. The third photo was taken downstairs. Looks like we could get snowed in, huh?

Today we went sledding and Chris' dad attempted to use some ski's we found in the closet at our cabin. It was pretty funny. It was super cold today.

Picture Day!

2006-12-31T19:24:00.000-05:00

Firetruck

2006-12-30T18:59:00.000-05:00

Christmas 2006

2006-12-26T09:01:00.000-05:00

Micah and Katie at Christmas. Katie is sporting the santa dress and new earrings. Micah is playing with his new remote control dump truck.

They both really enjoyed this Christmas.

Get Rich Scheme!

2006-12-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

We have become nearly sold-out for a plan to get rich! We have come across some materials that lay out a detailed plan for how to use your money to gain wealth. We are very excited and have started the process to work the system in our lives. It goes beyond just money, it requires changes in our day to day lives and is causing us to reorganize our priorities. We excitedly listen to a radio program that comes on daily in which callers can lay out personal situations and the host reinforces the principles of the plan. It really helps to motivate us toward financial prosperity. It keeps us on track.

I must admit that a friend at work, who is also a Christian, told me about this guy. It all sounded very radical to me at first, but I just could not deny the numbers described in his examples. All of his principles are laid out in a book. The book takes you through the entire thing and tells you how you go about piling up the money. I know that my commitment to actually reading books is lower than most, so I looked for the book on CD. I'm in the car enough that it really helps to have that time for listening to a book on CD. Unfortunately, the book on CD was as pricey as I had imagined. So, I went searching at the public library. To my surprise, they had it! I quickly got a copy and listened to the book. I found myself making excuses to go places in the car and driving the long way home just to listen to the book. I couldn't put the book down (that's the phrase regular book-readers use). Within a day and a half, I finished the book and can't really describe the high and excitement I was feeling. It was urgent at that point to get Judy to read the book and get excited.

Why does it seem that when we are really excited and eager for something, that it always takes the other person SO LONG to come up to speed? Perhaps that is just the way it felt. Once Judy made it through the book, we began to discuss the book as a whole and the details of his process. It wasn't long before we both decided this was something we just had to do.

In short, Judy and I are excited about the possibilities shared in the book. We work each day toward the goals. Let me see if I can break down a little part of the basic idea. Get rid of debt. Okay, I think that pretty much sums it up. What do you think? Once out of debt, the fun really begins! Turns out your biggest wealth-building tool can be your income. Who knew? We'll keep you posted.

Destination Ikea

2006-12-04T21:39:00.000-05:00

Judy and I have a favorite store for furniture and housewares. It is Ikea. Ikea is a swedish store that carries a huge selection of furniture, housewares, and more. It is really amazing. The store is about the size of a two story mall. A good bit of their furniture reflects more of a contemporary design, while they also carry some traditional items. The real catch here is that almost everything they have is very well priced. A lot of the furniture and such that you buy comes in flat-packs. This is the innovation that made Ikea popular (and more affordable). That's right, you have to do some minor assembly on many of the items. Now, let's not get confused here...This isn't exactly heirloom worthy material, but instead offers the ability for young people (or old) to furnish more of their homes with less resources. Overall, it is really a good way to do business. It certainly isn't the end-all for furniture or housewares, just a great place to start. One more catch... there aren't any local to Jacksonville. There is talk of one opening in Orlando soon. The closest for now is Atlanta, GA. If you think that seems too far, we used to drive 2 hours North of Richmond, VA to go.

Truett's Grill \ Chick-fil-a

2006-12-04T18:24:00.000-05:00

This past Saturday I experienced one of the best treats I have had in a long time. While in Atlanta, driving on I-75, a friend and I discovered Truett's Grill. For those of you less infatuated than I am, S. Truett Cathy is the founder of Chick-fil-a. After seeing the sign on the highway, we immediately went to the internet to find the story behind this restaurant. (See back-story here) Not everyone was excited about the possibility of eating at a glorified Chick-fil-a (I won't mention any names). But, to be perfectly honest, David and I weren't asking for any opinions on where to eat dinner. We had already decided.

We arrived, and to our surprise, it looked to be a diner style sit-down restaurant. It was decorated with many items S. Truett Cathy had owned and enjoyed (car, motorcycle, bike, train, etc). As we were seated, I looked the menu over carefully. In addition to the standard Chick-fil-a menu (I made sure everything was there), they also offered hamburgers, chicken fried steak with gravy, field peas, salads, and many other delicious southern-style meals.

I ordered the Hot Brown. This was chunks of chicken served in a thick white-sauce with melted cheese, bacon, and toast. All I can really say is WOW. It was really something. I also had a side of field peas that didn't disappoint.

While we were talking to the waitress about the place, we told her this was our first visit and how excited we were to learn about it. She quickly delivered deserts for everyone at the table, free of charge! All the way around, this was one of the most exciting dining experiences I've had. I am glad to have this opportunity. There are only 2 or 3 of these Truett's Grills, all in the Atlanta area. If ever there or driving through, you must stop and see for yourself.

Micah takes a ride!

2006-11-28T09:46:00.000-05:00

Micah and Melinda are going down the inflatable slide that Kim provided during the Thanksgiving lunch. We all had a great time. There was this slide, a blow up jumpy house, horseshoes, croquet, golf carts, hay rides, and horse rides. And not to be forgotten, tons of good food. It was really nice to see the family all together having a good time. Kim is an amazing hostess!

Sitting Pretty!

2006-11-04T12:16:00.000-05:00

Katie is now
sitting on her own.
..and, yes, she is still
sucking on those
two fingers.

Micah the Dinosaur

2006-11-04T12:15:00.000-05:00

Katie on the Move..

2006-10-25T19:36:00.000-05:00

This has been quite a week for Katie! She had her first taste of baby food this week. We gave her some banana baby food. She wasn't so impressed. We later tried pear baby food. Again, not impressed. I'm sure it won't be long before she changes her mind.

A friend of ours gave us a great idea in the way of starting babies into the world of eating real food. She said she gave her daughter pieces of food that she could hold, like sweet potatoes sliced thick, pears, etc. That sounds like a winner. It seems babies are just as interested in holding things as they are in eating things. And we all know where things immediately go when babies are holding them.

Katie also had another first. Judy was home with her today, playing on the floor. Katie made it up onto all fours (body off the floor) and made a few small movements. Wow! I don't think it will be long before she is mobile.

This is a great picture of Katie doing what she is always doing--two fingers in the mouth.

Don't Mess With Texas!

2006-10-21T09:46:00.000-05:00

Judy's grandparents were in Jacksonville for a visit from Tuesday night to Saturday morning. They drove in from Ft. Worth, Texas. This is a photo of us at the River City Brewing Company. It's funny how quickly the kids warm up to grandparents and also how quickly the grandparents' love for their grandchildren is visible. In accordance with tradition, they brought tamales and tortillas for all of us. It's funny how an ice chest full of tamales just doesn't seem like enough. Grandma cooked several meals for us. There is nothing like a home-cooked meal from Grandma! Having them here with us makes Judy and me want to visit them in Texas all the more. Perhaps we need to find a way to work that into the budget!

Bicycle! Bicycle!

2006-10-16T17:32:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Micah pulled something out of his hat that we didn't see coming. As you know, I'm doing a little bit of cycling. (..or maybe I'm still biking. I don't have one of those skin-tight jerseys yet. I think once I get one of those, then I can say I've been cycling.) Part of the fun included taking a song from Queen and making it a ringtone on my cell phone. I set it to a few of my cycling buddies and when they call, it plays.

So, we're all in the truck, things are quiet, and my cell phone rings with this Bicycle song from Queen. Micah immediately started singing, "Bi-cycle! Bi-cycle!" from the back seat. If this doesn't strike you as funny, go listen to the song. It was very amusing.

Period of growth and change..

2006-10-06T11:54:00.000-05:00

It really seems we are in one of those especially fast-changing times with Micah and Katie. Here are pictures of each doing things they enjoy. Micah looks to be pondering the giant elephant statue at the Jacksonville Zoo. He loves the zoo. He enjoys seeing all the animals and being around all the other kids.

Katie is jamming out in her exer-saucer. She's starting to become very mobile; she is rolling over to get places, getting up on her knees, and also started scooting backwards in the walker. Just for the record, Micah is 2 years old and Katie is 5 months old.

Micah Turns Two!

2006-09-29T13:00:00.000-05:00

We had a big birthday party last weekend. The party was for Micah and his good buddy Lucas who was turning 3 a few days after him. We had all the neighborhood kids, all of Micah's friends from church, and lots of family over for a big outdoor party -- complete with a big water slide and lots of food. It was lots of fun!

It is so hard for me to believe that my little baby is already two years old. A few years ago I would have never imagined I would enjoy being a mother so much. The Lord has taught me so much about His love for us through having little ones. It's awesome!

It ended up being a pretty eventful week in the Andrews' household. On Wednesday before the party, I attended a wonderful birth -- a little boy who was born to a very sweet couple. On Friday, Micah and I spent all day baking cupcakes and getting party preparations together. Micah was a huge help on the cupcakes (at least he thinks so). Saturday morning was the big party. Then for Saturday night, Jeremy was nice enough to get us tickets to the Flordia/Kentucky game. And somewhere in there I was able to squeeze in two doctor's visits for Katie's 4 month check up and Micah's 2 year check up.

Endless Summer Watermelon Ride

2006-09-20T18:06:00.000-05:00

Jeremy and I decided to join the 17th Annual Endless Summer Watermelon Ride that offered a 30 mile ride. We trained up for a solid month and a half and had no doubts about finishing the 30 miles. As you can see, some of us may have gone a little overboard with the tight bike shorts and sporty "wicking shirt". Have you heard of these things? They "wick" the sweat away from your body. Hmm.. Back to the shorts.. no, really.. onto something more pleasant.

We both ride standard mountain bikes, but aspire to something greater. It would seem we are both looking for ways to finance such a great expense. Do you know how much a street bike costs? wow.. Just to give you an idea... I was in a sporting goods store and found a rack of those nifty biking shirts. You know, the ones that make you look like Lance. I managed to find one that wasn't crazy with endorsements and looked like it would fit. As I pulled it off the rack, I happened to glance at the price tag. How does 80 bucks strike you for a shirt you wear while riding your bike?? Yeah, needless to say, I continue to sport the all-american cotton tshirt.

So, considering the cost of things, we've opted to ride high on our standard fare bicycles. Of course, we've upgraded here and there, but nothing too fancy. We've switched out the tires for something smoother; tires designed for street riding. I chose the standard 2 water bottles securely mounted to the bike. Jeremy chose the camel pack. That's not a nicotine death sentence; it's a backpack that holds water with a giant flexible straw. As to safety, we both wear helmets. I will say that I had to special order mine; the bike shop didn't carry any large enough to contain my large brain. We both also have nice 'computers' on our bike that tell us how fast we are going, how far we have travelled, how much time has elapsed, and where the closest Chick-fil-a is located. I made that last item up.

What was I saying? Oh, yeah, the Endless Summer Watermelon Ride. So, Jeremy and I show up. What a large gathering of bicycles! There were tons of people there. We started out and didn't look back. I will say that Jeremy set the pace and I tucked in behind him. Being the 30 mile ride (the shortest ride), we passed quite a few people. Come to think of it, we were passing people for the first 15 miles. When we reached the 15 mile mark, they had a rest area. A rest area? Yes, a rest area. Most surprising to me, though, was that everyone stopped. Jeremy and I couldn't understand, so we kept on riding. We don't need no stinkin' rest!

So, we ease up on the pace for about 1 mile, drink some water, eat a granola bar, and get serious again. By this time, we're convinced we're at the front of the pack. We didn't see anyone. We pound away a little more and find a few more riders to pass. At 18.2 miles, we pass two ladies keeping a good pace. Just as we tuck back in line in front of the two ladies, Jeremy's bike lets out a loud PSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! I knew immediately this wasn't good for us. We pull over, kindly smile at the ladies passing us now, and take a look at the situation. His front tire is flat. Flat. Now would be a good time to talk about what real bikers would do. A real biker would have a spare tube, tools, and air. This would make for a 5 minute change and we would quickly get back to business. That being said, we haven't hit the 'real biker' status yet. So, we wait patiently for a truck to come by and kindly return us to our car. End of story.

The moral of this story is this. I bought a spare tube, tools, and air. Now we wait for another official ride.

a coal miner's daughter...

2006-09-18T19:03:00.000-05:00

Mmmm.

2006-09-12T21:11:00.000-05:00

Nothing like a good chocolate cupcake on a hot summer afternoon. :) This was Micah at his cousin's birthday party a few weeks ago. Katie slept through the whole party, so she didn't get to enjoy a cupcake. But, Micah was sure to tell her all about it.

Chris and Jeremy were in a bike race this weekend. They were going to do the 30 mile ride, but Jeremy's tire went flat at the 18 mile mark. At least that's what they said. ;) I guess I don't have any room to talk. I was going to do the bike ride, too, but chickened out at the last minute.

i'm a big chicken!

2006-09-08T23:26:00.000-05:00

How do you tell someone that you don't think what they're doing is right? Not just anyone, but someone you have come to know, someone you want so dearly to succeed in the abundant life that Christ has promised. What is it in us that makes us chicken? Why do we shy away from uttering the words that need to be said? "Is it my place?" "Will I drive them away?" "What if..." Are these really just excuses we make up in our minds?

I watch as this person lives life and drifts along without the desire for Christ that should match the proclamation and position they hold concerning God. Why is that? It seems there is always crisis, always occasion for distraction, and always something going on that doesn't evidence Christ or the pursuit of Christ.

I find myself chicken... afraid to say what my heart desires to say. I find myself on my knees praying for that yearning, that desire for Him for this person. My heart is heavy with the burden.

hello.

2006-08-29T20:14:00.000-05:00

I have been starting to receive complaints that I haven't posted anything yet on "Chris and Judy's" blog. I guess I just don't have as much to say as Chris. :)

Most everyone probably already knows that we had our 2nd child recently - little Katie is 4 months old now. She was born at home like her big brother, but a little quicker. I think it was the Mongolian BBQ we ate the night before.

I've also had the incredible blessing of being able to stay home with both kids. I never would have guessed that being a stay at home mom with a toddler and a newborn could be so much fun. Micah has his daddy's sense of humor and is always doing something to make me laugh. He is so sweet to his little sister and is a big help around the house. He helps me do the laundry, take out the garbage, mow the lawn, make dinner, ... so what if the chicken has some extra salt in it or if Chris' underwear ends up in Katie's sock drawer?

I also just started back to work a few weeks ago - but I'm only working 2 days a week. I gave up my manager position at BCBS in order to be able to switch to working part time. I thought I might miss the fast paced leadership position, but to my surprise - I don't. At all. No more being responsible for the actions of 25+ people. I just go to work, dabble in some of the latest technologies, and go home. It's sweet.

That's all for now.. Hopefully I'll have some more exciting stuff to post soon!

the profile report..

2006-08-29T16:30:00.000-05:00

Our company put all of it's employees through a personality profile test. I am always amused by the results and even more amused by learning the profiles of others. Perhaps some of this will explain a lot of my actions and words. Here are the results from the test.

Description of Strengths:
Quality oriented, accurate, conscientious, very loyal, carefully persists to achieve results, likes to manage through a system, perfectionist, reserved, introspective, resists change at first, wants time to study the facts, normally does not make mistakes, dry sense of humor, often acts embarrassed over praise, can be very direct, itemizes, skillful with detail, wants accurate results.

Logic: Fact oriented.

Communication by Strengths:
You appreciate people who are candid, to the point, that give you time to gather information before making a decision.

More detail about my specific scores:
As a Structured person your focus is on being right and doing the right thing. You go by the book... YOUR book. Because you follow the established procedures, in a methodical way, you don't make many mistakes. Structured people are usually careful, accurate, precise, and would rather do the detail work themselves than delegate it to someone else who may or may not do it right. You're loyal to people, organizations and what you know to be right. Structured people are often the "glue" that holds things together.

You have the D trait above the line so you also focus on getting things done, in your Structured way. You appreciate it when people provide you with options and choices and then allow you to decide. You like a challenge and take pride in solving problems. You get involved, take charge and take action.

Pace above the line means timing, harmony and cooperation are important to you. People with the Paced trait appear calm, cool and controlled under pressure even though they might not feel that way on the inside. You're persistent and you approach things in a steady, easy-going and relaxed way. You hate it when people come to you with something at the last minute, especially when they could have come to you earlier and allowed you to work it into your schedule.

Looking specifically at your temperament, your Extroversion below the line makes you a private person. Do low E's like people? Of course, but you would rather interact with them in smaller groups. Private people are creative and introspective.

Working with Structured People:
- Be detailed with facts in writing.
- Explain WHY.
- Focus on doing the right thing.
- Support their methods.
- Talk about documented facts.
- Provide opportunity to ask questions and check the facts.
- Act organized and specific.

a taste for something new..

2006-08-27T06:40:00.000-05:00

It's not very often that I am surprised by new selections at a restaurant. That is not the case with Bono's. Judy and I frequent the Bono's near our house. So much so, that the waitresses all know Micah and Katie and are always excited to see us. Under a recommendation, I found that they offer BBQ Cheese Fries topped with your choice of beef, pork, or turkey. Uh, hello!! Did you say cheese fries topped with meat?? All I can say is, yes, they are as good as they sound. Now, I know it may not be the healthiest thing on the menu, but what a treat!

All dressed up and no place to go...

2006-08-25T18:33:00.000-05:00

Here is a great picture of Micah taken in May. He is sporting the 'I drive my mommy batty' onesie (pronounced ONE-Z for you single males), sandals, stylish sunglasses, toy, and a pretzel rod. These are the moments that you realize that your children are more like their mother than you thought.

Micah will be turning 2 on September 21. He continues to amaze us with his quick mind and unending desire to amuse us. Another thing we noticed is his ability to remember and recall things that have long-passed. He frequently refers to the toys given to him by the grandparents and remembers which one presented him with the gift.

the weight of guilt...

2006-08-24T19:29:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine was sharing his feelings on spanking his children. He feels that spanking is not the answer. He shared a story of correction. His daughter did something out of line and created a situation where he could not enjoy an opportunity out and about. That evening, upon returning home, he gave her a dose of "you acted out, and daddy could not enjoy himself." He went on to say that the next morning his daughter awoke and came to apologize for her actions.

My heart felt heavy with compassion. I don't feel that children are in a position to properly understand adult logic or adult issues and also will not properly move beyond such guilt. I feel that the weight of these situations will eventually take a toll on them emotionally.

I returned to a book I previously read by Michael and Debi Pearl. In their book, they said, "Emotionally unstable parents sometimes use guilt to manipulate their children. Parents who try to shame or humiliate their children into right behavior may see the child temporarily acquiesce. But, obedience performed out of the desperation of guilt only deepens guilt, putting the child further out of touch with true repentance and healing."

"Don't overwork your child's emotions with excessive indulgence in: 'Why did you do that? You hurt Mother. You make me feel so badly. What you did is wrong, and God wants us to love our neighbor, etc.' Children, especially young children, are not equipped to deal with deep issues about motive and duty. The degree to which they are morally awakened should be addressed; but to expose them to the adult burden of motive and responsibility can cause them to carry too much of a load."

"Christians find release from their guilt through the Savior who suffered the curse of their sins, but their children cannot yet understand that the Creator has been lashed and nailed in their place. Yet, parents need not wait until their children are old enough to understand the vicarious death of Christ to purge their children of guilt. God has provided parents with a tool to cleanse their children of guilt--the rod of correction."

Hebrews 12:6-8 says, "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons." Hebrews 12:10 says He disciplines us "for our own profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness."

sharing..

2006-08-23T20:36:00.000-05:00