Breakfast and Grooming Don't Mix...

So, what happens when you rub your head but have bananas and milk all over your hands?

Scroll down to see...

Weekend at Kentucky Lake

This weekend we vacationed at Kentucky Lake with Don, Pat, Susan, Amy, Neal, Jack, David, Katie, Jonathon, and Elizabeth. We had a great time boating, tubing and eating, eating, eating. Here are some pics! Even a little car trouble couldn't ruin the fun...








For more Brooke pics, check out the "Weekend at the Lake" entry at http://dicksfamily.blogspot.com/

Girly girl!

Brooke, while rough and tumble as any tomboy, definitely is very girl-y when it comes to fashion and baby dolls! The girl loves accessories!!! Hats, shoes, glasses, purses, and jewelry are lots of fun. This is the outfit she put together last weekend. Never mind that the shoes are three sizes too big, she just had to wear them! (She’s very particular about shoes.)



We’ve also had lots of fun with nail polish this week! (Never mind the kicking and screaming while I was clipping her toenails. She was the stillest I’ve ever seen her awake while I painted all of twenty of her nails!) She likes to show them off. Those nails are tiny! Good thing I've had a lot of practice with little paintbrushes....



And her baby doll is second only to her beloved “baba” (a.k.a. “blanket” to those who don’t speak Brookese). She has a ritual of draping the blanket over her rocking chair (every part must be covered, mind you), setting the baby in the chair, getting in it herself and rocking with the baby. That order, every time, at least twenty times a day. Oh, and poor Baby Zoe can’t wear clothes anymore. Apparently Brooke thinks she’s hot (or a nudist).



"Night night babies!"

Troy's Getting Married!

Or should I say "hitched" (since he's a Texan).


From Troy: "After waiting many years to find THE ONE, I've been blessed.
I got engaged to Jennifer Myers in Houston - yes, it finally happened. We are very excited and look forward to a great future together. Attached is a picture from the big proposal night."


Congratulations Troy!

Timberrrrr!

A couple of days ago the Bartlett Pear tree in our neighbor's yard split, dropping a giant limb into our yard. Fortunately it missed the playset and the house! Mr. Peters is taking care of the cleanup, which should be done by Wed. Unfortunately this was my favorite tree in the whole backyard (we got the shade). It will probably have to be cut down. I'm going to miss that tree!

Mr. Peters is taking care of the cleanup, which should be done by Wed. Unfortunately this was my favorite tree in the whole backyard (we got the shade). It will probably have to be cut down. I'm going to miss that tree!

The left-side broke off during a windstorm on Saturday (I think). My theory is that it then unbalanced the tree, and the stress caused the right branch to split off on Sunday when there was no wind at all!


Whew! That was close!

Satisfied Customers...

The chances of Erin finding her camera anytime soon are looking bleak, but we scrounged up these few...

Garrett and Brooke seem to approve of the new swingset!

Another Satisfied Customer!

De-mildewing the swingset. The neighbors were glad when the swingset project moved to the BACK yard!

I've Been Negligent...

I know, I know: What's up with the playset? Did you ever get the rollbar installed on the Miata? Do anything interesting for the 4th? I'm running behind on updates. I'll have some up today as soon as Erin can find the camera! Check back tonight.

Brooke's Swingset Has Arrived!

...but it needs a little work.



Hopefully we will have this mess looking great and assembled in time for our July 4th Waggener Family get-together!

A New Adventure...

Several weeks ago I was approached regarding an opportunity at a company called SupportSoft. They sell customer service software and are based in Redwood City, CA. Although I was content at The Home Depot, I was intrigued by their offer and the possibilities it presented. So I spent a couple of days interviewing and a LOT of time praying.

While they are based in CA, I would work alongside several of their employees here in Atlanta. Being part of a smaller company means we get to wear a lot of hats and attack problems quickly, something large companies generally discourage. I would have to travel around the U.S., but when I'm not on the road I would get to work from home!

On Friday May 12, as we drove northward to Kentucky, I got the offer from SupportSoft. This seemed to be the answer to our prayers. I accepted the position as Global Services Architect, beginning June 5.



So now I'm finishing out my final days at The Home Depot. It is a bittersweet time: exciting challenges ahead, good friends and memories left behind. Look for upcoming blogs from the road!

And special thanks to everyone who was praying for us regarding this decision. We seem to have gotten clear direction, and that was the best I could ask for!

Yogurt Disaster!

While traveling home from Mother Dot's house this weekend, Brooke got a little cranky in the backseat. Erin handed her a cup of strawberry yogurt, thinking "no way can she open this". She got real quiet. 20 mins later I glanced back and saw THIS!

The Photographer Comes Out From Behind the Camera!

This is Erin's first appearance on the blog, because she's usually behind the camera!



Brooke, where's the moon?

New Cycling Buddy!

I have a new cycling buddy. She's not too fast yet, but she stays right on my tail no matter how hard I go. And she really pushes me on the uphills! Sometimes she'll sing as we tour the neighborhood, other times she just falls asleep. But she's always up for a ride!

Let's go for a ride, Daddy! Safety first!

Right on my wheel, where she belongs.

Those reflectors really work!

Easter Pics

Here's some Easter pics of Brooke...

April 23, 2006 Autocross Pics!

Introducing: Honey!

In case you haven't heard, I am the proud owner of a 1991 Mazda Miata named "Honey". Born in Hiroshima, Japan in February 1991, she was the 14,740th of that year's litter. She has spent most of her life in Birmingham, AL and Newnan, GA.

After 150,000 miles, her previous owner towed her to a repair shop complaining that she wouldn't crank (picky, picky). After he heard what it would cost to fix, he instead sold her to the shop. They in turn sold her to my buddy Hector at RSpeed - a Miata specialty shop in Marietta, GA. Hector was going to put a new engine in her, freshen her up a bit, and sell her for $3,500+.
I bought her, as-is, for $1,800.

She still didn't run though. After much work, we came to the conclusion that the head was cracked. Hector sold me a used engine for $100, I dropped it in, and she runs great now!

(on the left: old & busted. on the right: new hotness!)

What have I gotten myself into?!?

Honey and I have discovered the great sport of autocrossing. In the top picture we had just gotten back from a day of racing, hence the reason her wheelcovers are missing (it's a safety thing). I'm completely hooked on this sport! I don't have any pictures of me competing, as Erin hasn't been able to come to an event yet.

The next autocross is April 23 at Turner Field. If you want to come ride-along, just let me know. The full schedule is here.

Pleasant Morning at Camille's House