New Toy

Paige’s new fun toy is the "Johnny Jump Up". She is starting to get a hang of it. She was flying all over yesterday. She also decided to give us the super model pose. You know….the over the sholder look.

Paiges's First Snow

So the weather report comes in Friday morning. Big winter snow storm ready to hit Asheville Friday night. All my employees are asking what happens if they cannot make it to work in the morning. The grocery stores are flood with people buying milk, bread, soup, firewood, and the list goes on. People around her go crazy when there is a chance of snow. Key word here is "chance". All the place I have lived school has never been canceled due to the weather mans predictions. Anyway…we only got a few inches in Asheville, but I guess the North Carolina and Tennessee border got hit pretty hard. It was good to see some white stuff. Lyn, Paige, and I loaded up in the truck and went for a little ride up towards the Parkway to enjoy Paige’s first snowfall. We had a lot of fun!

Learning About Computers Early

Paige felt like she need to help Mom write her notes.

Paige Eating Big People Food

Paige has this little red cup Grandma Jan gave her and she loves it! She thinks she is so cool. Well…I think she is cool too.

Icycle Time

Every year I go to a race called the Icycle in Fontana Village, NC. They do a cross country race in the afternoon, and when the sun disappears, and there is no light to be found the night downhill race beginnings. The race is always known for its crazy weather. It might be 65… and it might be zero and snowing. More times then not its snowing and usually a muddy disaster. Most of the time your lucky to finish the race due to the conditions. I started doing this race when it first started in 1997. The only time I missed a race was the three years I was in California. Now that I’m back on the East Coast this was my third time racing it since I have been back. It has turned into one of those races were if you miss it, you feel bad. When this race was first formed maybe 30 racers would show up. This weekend there was something like 180 racers…big change. Anyways….it was a lot of fun. Raining in the morning turned into snow by race time, and the course was a wreck, but I loved every minute. Unfortunately I did not finish the race. I made it two laps and lost both brakes and I was all over the trail because I was riding worn out tires. After the second lap I decided it was best to give up and not hurt myself. We stayed at the village saturday night and drove home sunday morning. Good times!

Staying dry before the race
Eat a little mud during the race
I haven't even thought about cleaning my bike. I might just start riding my single speed again. Maybe I'll clean my bike sometime next year.

Pretty In Pink

Paige looking good in pink
More pink
Trying out her new pink robe

Paige Loves Animals

Paige and Mommy getting ready to go on a walk with Russell and Marsi. Sometimes I think Mommy is crazy for walk all of us together.

Marsi, Mom, Paige, and Russell
I think Paige might want to grow up and be like her mommy...a vet
Fran enjoying some loving from Paige
A little more lovin' to go!

We had a little party after Paige’s Baptism. It was a great little party and Paige was in her “check me out mod”. My mom and sister flew in from the Husker state to join in on the festivities. Yes Shelley your eye are closed....sorry this is the only digital photo I had.

Me, my mother, Shelley, and Paige

Paige and Daddy watching a little Sunday morning TV. Someday (when Paige gets some hair) she will have bed head like Daddy. Something wrong with the weather this week. Last Friday it was snowing on my drive back from Tennessee and Sunday it was 65 degrees and today I think it was like 70 degrees. Go figure! It a great night for a night ride… so I’m out of here.

Paige being a big girl

Daddy showing off his bed hair

Sunday morning Lyn said "hey lets go to Lake Lure and tour the HGTV house". I don't know how many of you actually watch HGTV but every year they build this amazing house and give it away for free. This year the house is about 30 minutes outside of Asheville. For $20 a person ($10 going to local charity) you can get a ride up to the house and do a 30 min tour. This place was awesome!!!!! See more photos on their web site www.hgtv.com

They say this flag is worth $3,000,000 and comes with the house.

New Years Eve

Usually for New Years Lyn and I have been known to go somewhere and whoop it up but as you all know things have changed. This year we went to our neighbor’s house and watched Time Square on TV. Paige got to hang out with her friend Sarah and celebrate the New Year. I did pull out my cow haired Vegas shoes to add a little flash. It was a great New Years Eve and we were only two blocks from the house which was nice.

Paige and Sarah On Christmas Eve

Paige and Sarah Getting Nutty On New Years Eve

Pass Me Another Glass Of Wine

The Cow Hair Shoes

What A Game!!!!! Way To Go Huskers!!!!

Last night was the big bowl game between Nebraska & Michigan. I had it all planed out. I have a friend who is from Michigan who was going to come over and a few other people. Chips, dip, beer, and pizza was ready for the eating and drinking until out of nowhere I got a fever of 100.5 about 2 hours before kick off. I had to call everyone and cancel the party, but I still managed to hang in there and watch the game. It was one of the best bowl games I’ve watch. Maybe the Huskers are back? I guess we will find out next year.

Christmas Day

Christmas Day brought a lot of excitement and seeing a lot of people in a very short period of time. We spent the morning here Asheville opening our gifts from Santa. Paige really had a lot of fun. At about 1:00pm we packed the car and headed to Johnson City, TN to be with Lyn’s family. We had a lot of fun and Paige got so many toys I thought we were going to have to rent a Ryder truck to get it all home. I hope everyone had a good Christmas.

Aunt V and PaigeAunt Carolina

Opening presents is exhausting when you are almost 5 months old.

Granddaddy Rick

All the critters on Paige's blankie.

Christmas Eve

When we moved here Lyn an myself started a Christmas Eve tradition. After church we head to the Grove Park Inn. This place is beautiful! People come from all over to spend Christmas at the resort. They have the national ginger bread house competition on display which is really amazing. When you look at some of the houses you cannot believe everything is eatable. We had a cocktail, looked at the ginger bread houses, took a few photos and headed home to prepare for Paige’s first Christmas.

We Think Paige Might Be Teething...What Do You Think?

Last Wednesday night early Thursday morning a big ice storm was heading for Asheville. Ice…I hate ice storms! Hummmm….no better time then now to head to the beach! Wednesday night after work Lyn and I packed the car, grabbed Paige, and headed for Hilton Head, SC. For those of you who are not familiar with Hilton Head it’s an island on the South Carolina coast about 30 miles up from Georgia. It’s a very quite and exclusive island. Not a lot goes on here but good food, if you like to shop it will knock your socks off, great golfing, and awesome quite beaches.

We were offered a condo for the week so we took it without any hesitation (thanks Ed). It’s about a 4 ½ hour drive from our house to the beach at Palmetto Dunes (that’s where we stayed). We got out of town before the storm hit and spent 4 days hanging on the beach, dining at some great restaurants, and spending some good quality family time together. This time of year is always a good time to head to the beach... because no one is there. Everyone has left their million dollar homes behind and retreated back to Florida for the winter. This was Paige’s first visit to the beach. She loved it…we think.

It was a great trip and we really enjoyed ourselves. Everyone needs some good family time with their family. Here are a few photos of the trip.

I have Mommy's finger!

Still hanging on!

Now I'm starting to develop some spit bubbles...cool!

Hilton Head Island

Paige get some sun. Yea...no ice!
Look Mommy and Daddy...I'm a big girl!
Daddy and Paige walking on the beach.
Who said Santa to busy to fish.