Bryton is learning to fish

We are so excited that Bryton is learning to fish. Many thanks to our friend, Van Mitchell for being such a great and encouraging teacher.

Spiders and swelling

These pictures do not fully express the grossness I am dealing with. In my move to a new office, I moved furniture and kicked out the previous tenant who kept a large number of houseplants in the space. When I moved the furniture, vacuumed, and reloaded the room, I made some resident house spiders angry. Unbeknownst to me, three bit me. That night, I became ill with chills, fever, watering eyes, congested sinuses and nausea.
The next day this lovely rash sowed up and the pain began. The dr. sent me for an ultrasound because he thought it might be a blood clot. They also drew blood and found high levels of toxins which is how they found the venom I had been fighting off. The rashy thingy was because one of the bites also placed a funky bacteria under my skin. The Dr., a venomologist (huh?), and four nurses then poked prodded and examined my leg until they found the puncture marks.
It is still twice the size of the other leg but the fevers have finally stopped.

The amazing part is that this variety of spider is very small and is common in homes with houseplants. Usually if someone is bitten, they feel like they have a cold for about 24 hours and that is all. It was the combination of 3 bites and the bacteria that made this so exciting.

The kids are calling me "Spider-Dad" and keep asking me if I can sling a web yet.

Shae's Birthday

The big day finally came and she turned 5. Wow, a kindergartener in the fall. Boy, do I feel old!

Ohio trip

Well, we did our annual summer pilgrimage to the Oh-Hi-Oh. I have attached a few photos that I think encapsulate our experience.

Sorry I still cannot turn them right side up. :)

Anyone Up For A Competition?

Hey Gang,

I am working on a community service project for the incoming first-year students (we don't call them freshmen anymore) of MSU. We have our theme for the event but are in desperate need for a logo and t-shirt design. I know many of my brothers and sisters out there are experienced t-shirt makers (ie. Heiselt Reunion shirts, cows, you get the idea) and I've heard some of you have some graphic art experience. . .I've also heard some of you are just good with crayons!

Inspired by L and M I would like to put this logo and t-shirt design competition out to you and get your input. However, this is a fast turnaround! I need your information via email (send in pdf or word format please) no later than this TUESDAY, APRIL 29th, at 7 pm, Central Standard Time. Here are the specs of the event:

Service Dawgs (who we are)

DAWGS stands for (Donating A Wonderful Gift of Service)

Monday, August 11th, 2008

8:30 Registration

9-11:30 Event

Mississippi State University

If you can leave room for logos on the back of the shirt that would be grand.

It will be a white shirt (one color front, three color back). No pocket on the shirt, but you could have a pocket design.

Our mascot is the bulldog.

You can use the M state logo, but not the others as I have to get approval from the institution.

Also inspired by L and M there will be prizes for the best logo/t-shirt. I will post the designs here online and we can vote for them.

1st Prize - Cold Stone gift certificate

2nd Prize - Blockbuster gift certificate

I will also present all of the designs to our Service Dawgs committee next week. If your design is chosen for the logo by the Service Dawg team, you will get a free t-shirt. Now, who doesn't want a free t-shirt?

So, let me know if you have any questions. . .

Otherwise, GAME ON!

Easter Anyone?

We had a great time at Grandma S.'s House for Easter. It came complete with dinner and even an Easter Egg hunt!

Holy Cow! (Really!)

Last weekend was also the Open House for the MSU Vet School so we hit that too! Despite my children's fear of animals (okay, mostly Shae) we went for it! Luckily, our home teacher Rustin Pickett was there and he made things work for Shae. He even convinced her to sit by a horse. Wow! Bryton fed a horse from his hand (he thought that was cool) and pet a donkey. Emoree was up for holding the baby chicks, but that was it!


My favorite part had to be Peaches -- the cow with an actual hole in her side. Yes, you can stick your fingers in the hole (gloves are provided) and feel the stomachs (there are four in a cow!). It was possibly the most stinky, totally awesome experience I have ever had. Although my photo is
not my best side, there is evidence that I too stuck my hand in Peaches. So the next time any of you come to MS -- this is the first place we are going!