Daddy's a pimp, Daddy's a pimp!!!

I have fallen off the radar when it comes to blogging.  My apoligies.  I have a lot to catch up on.  I have spend the recent past in deep studies for my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.  Who doesn't want to be a certified pimp?

 

After long nights and seemingly short naps that I used to study, I took the test and passed.  What does it all mean?  Well, as of right now, it is just some initials and a line item on my resume.  I am hopeful and looking forward to more doors opening and more dollar bills rolling in, but we will see how all that plays out.

 

After successfully passing the test, I walked into the house to see Jen, P, and J all yelling and Owen holding his sign and cheering "Daddy's a pimp, Daddy's a pimp!!!" 

 

It was awesome and hilarious. 

Summer 2011 (NC)

NC
I saved up some vacation time for the summer so we packed it up and headed to the Carolina's for almost 2 weeks.  Step 1, survive the car ride there...  Luckily, we were leaving from NOLA and in a caravan with Gaga, Pops, Sissy, Uncle Doos, and Anna.  Without too much hassle outside of an overturned 18 wheeler and a detour off the interstate, we made it in decent time to Mimi and Uncle Jack's lakehouse. 

We were camping wilderness style in what we affectionately referred to as The Love Shack.  Attached to the lakehouse property is a 3 BR trailer rental property that was presently empty, so we took advantage of that and we made it work with pack and plays and some air mattresses.  It worked out great.  We are steps away from the action, but able to let the boys sleep at night.  It was perfect. 

It would be a short trip to NC for the boys as they were heaed to MM and PPs house in two days.  We did play in the lake, take some boat rides, and went to Hillgay to let the boys run around the grounds.  As the years progress, it will be easier to let the guys around the deck and not have to worry about the lake so much, but for now, we have to cut their trips short and let Mommy and Daddy play in the lake!!

garden pics at Hillgay

Once we dropped the kiddos off with MM and PP, Mom and Dad had fun at the lake.  We took a trip whitewater rafting on the Nantahala and had a great time.  The weather was perfect and Jen and I just kept thinking of the future when we could take all the boys!!

Rafting on the Nantahala

We spent the rest of the time, kneeboarding, tubing, kayaking, eating and drinking and we stayed for the big 4the of July fireworks festivities (fireworks on the lake).  In addition, we had a run in with the cops...we had to be towed back into the house by the Sheriff as we got the ski rope tangled in the boat propeller...I think we learned our lesson that trip - make sure the ski line is clear BEFORE you start the boat!!  Anyway, we had a great time, but it was time to pack it up and drive to SC to meet the boys and MM/PP.

Happy 4th of July!

Summer 2011 (SC)

SC
We went on a few adventures in SC too.  We took the boys to Lazy 5, which is a a safari adventure place where everyone could touch and feed the animals, luckily it was overcast so the sun didn't beat us down.  After losing a few animal feed buckets to wondering llamas, we made it through and had lunch there.  The boys were all good, though Ben didn't have a choice as he was strapped in the Snugli the whole time!

We also went to the Discovery Place Kids and had a great time (even though it was sort of sensory overload by lunchtime).  They have so much to do there, it is a great place and everyone will have such a good time in a year or two when we don't have to herd them like cats!!  Owen (ok, I) had fun building cars to race down the ramp against other kids (and their dads).  We beat the top seated champions!!  Well, I'm guessing he was since he and his son looked like the head design engineer for Nissan.

our winning car

We all had fun playing in the pool at SCCL and going on adventure walks down the paths and just relaxing in less than 100% humidity.  It was pretty hot, but without the Louisiana humidity, it was totally bearable.

14 hours in the car later, we returned home safe and sound as usual, but the last few hours were a bit tough to get through!!