Hansford525

Close Call

2012-02-09T20:31:00.000-08:00

Sorry about the abrupt close the other night. Like I explained the first time I wrote I do this thing late at night. So the other night as I was about to tell you what else happened in January I heard a noise coming from the hallway. I went to hide thinking daddy was really gonna let me have it for sneaking out of my crib, but thankfully it was just Nana-ssippi. She's staying with us since mommy's been working day and night (even at bed time) all the way in Georgia. Anywho, Nana-ssippi and I just talked for a bit, and just before we both went to sleep I dragged her into a little fun. I had her put me back in my crib and then hide in the closet. I started to fake cry until daddy came in, and then the contest was on for who could hold their laughter the longest as daddy stumbled around in the dark with only bed head and a pair of skivvies. I didn't make him suffer too long, but Nana-ssippi and I have been laughing about it since.

But back to January and where I left off.....

So you'll never believe what else happened...

It's the Saturday before daddy's birthday and all the hype is about the old man. So I figured, I'd just take a little time off of doing the normal super-cute-baby things that steal all of mom's attention, and let the guy have a couple days of glory.

Thing is when being super-cute is just part of being normal, it's hard to just turn it off.

Turns out mommy was using daddy's b-day as a ruse to get my guard down. I think we're going out to the store to get daddy a sucker or something, and the next thing I know I'm strapped into a chair and have a blanket strung around my neck. Then some complete stranger is coming at me with shiny blades and tugging on my mane. Next she breaks out some buzzing contraption that seems to have automated the amputation of my sweet locks. Needless to say, I was pretty much freaking out...

"Listen lady, you may have the weapons, but I'm not going down without a fight."

"I've got the rest of my life to be 'all business'. I want the party back, in the back."

"I'm gonna break that camera if you don't put it away."

So, yeah... I had a pretty rough go of it. But you know, the more I look at myself in the mirror, the more I'm adjusting. And, turns out... still super-cute.

Memories

2012-02-07T20:09:00.000-08:00

I've heard mommy and daddy talk about needing to update the blog, but each time I check it... NOTHIN'! My guess is the few of you who might check this site have been thinking the same thing. Thing is I know those two are busy... I'm a big part of keeping them that way. But there's a few things that have happened in the last month, that if I don't write it down, I'm sure to forget (I may not have the memory problem of some of you older readers, but Moxley's told me that he's already forgotten almost everything about being my age). While I'd like mommy and daddy to do the record keeping for me... if they won't, I guess I'll have to take the responsibility on myself.

Here's a bit of what happened since last time...

Cousin Saylor hooked me and Mox up with two pair of matching jammies. It's awesome 'cause when we wear the matching pair mommy and daddy have no idea who's who. Mox filled in for me in the high chair for a bit, and I got to stay up late one night.

Mommy and Daddy can't tell us apart... but if you look close it's like Moxley always says,
"He's handsome and I'm cute."
Oh wait, if Moxley's saying it, he says, "I'm handsome and he's cute."
Great, now I'm confused as to who's who.

One day I woke up from my little noon time nod to Moxley hollering about daddy building what he thought had to be our very own slide... NOPE! Much to our wonder, our daddy couldn't figure out how to complete a slide, so we ended up with a scoot.

"I'm supposed to do... what?"

"Yeah daddy, you're right the bright colors do make this more exciting than just dragging myself across the kitchen floor!"
"No... no.. I'm not being sarcastic."

So you'll never believe what else happened...

Twenty. One. Two.

2012-01-03T21:14:00.000-08:00

Wanted to post a couple pictures from Christmas-time and I'll follow up soon with some words.

What's better than Words with Friends?

Parades with Friends!

Ahhh... the time honored routine of dressing them up and attempting to take a good photograph.
Difficulty Rating (DR):
3 year old + 1 year old = 8 DR
3 y.o. + 1 y.o. x 5 cousins eating cookies in the next room = 1,000,000 DR
Oh well.

Judah's pulling off four of my favorite things

1. Jeans

2. Argyle

3. Kicking back on the couch

4. Contemplating how it is that ~~I am~~ he is so good looking.

Ever since we dated, Angie expressed that she wanted to bestow upon a son a name that I just couldn't buy into. You see, the moniker she wanted to give is one that to me seems a bit out of our class. Now if we were a family of "old-money", I'd probably go with it, because we'd have so much money it wouldn't matter for the child. But since we haven't got old-money, or even new-money for that matter, I figured giving a kid a name like this would either make him a snob, get him beat up, or both. But it would seem that somehow in capturing this picture of Moxley, combining the open collared with a sweater vest, surrounded by Christmas presents galore, and a smile that is straight out of the country club catalog, maybe she's had her little guy all along...

Wellington Conrad Hansford III
(I think I'm on a pretty safe limb in guessing that there's never been a Wellington Conrad Hansford the first, but she was insistent on including "the third" suffix. Richie Rich, eat your heart out! $$$)

Big Boy Birthday!

2011-12-03T12:48:00.000-08:00

The obligatory statement at birthday time is "I can't believe it's already been 3 years." Truth is though, I can't. It honestly seems like a week ago that I was kicked back in a hospital recliner watching Jeopardy on television while Angie and some hospital personnel were busy doing something. All the commotion in the room that night really ruined my concentration, and I remember getting at least 4 questions wrong just because I forgot to answer in the form of a question. By the time the Final Jeopardy question was posted, as you might imagine, I was pretty upset that Angie and her crew weren't keeping the noise down, and yet I was getting the sense that she was upset with me. WOMEN?!?

Turns out, a short 50 minutes after the worst Jeopardy round of my life (thanks in no small part to all the distractions) we welcomed our little Moxley into the world, and honestly, I've not had the chance to watch the famed game show uninterrupted one night since.

With Moxley turning three this week, I'm certain that his inquiring mind will only increase in it's desire to learn more about the world, his parents, and everything else. This all feeds into my master plan of developing my very own Jeopardy Champion, so when he asks, I'll be answering in the form of a question.

"LOOK AT ME! I'M THREE!"

Cake Boss, meet The Queen of Cakes

With Angie presenting the Birthday cake with candles aflame we started to sing Happy Birthday...

Either we've got bad voices, or Moxley didn't like being the center of attenion.

There's a debate about water-boarding as torture.
It's settled that the quartet of Judah, Angie, Nana, and me requires no debate.

I wish to be able blow out the candles again.

and again...

Angie seriously re-lit the candles no less than 10 times.
(By the next day when he asked for a candle on a leftover slice of cake, she dug out a self re-lighting candle. It was a hit.)

Big Smile + Messy Face = Awesome Cake

Besides showing off Angie's mad cake designing skills, there's good money in food photography...

Truth is though, I think it's the cake in this case that's making my photography look so good.

If we'd known that Moxley would have gotten such a kick out of blowing out his birthday cake candles so many times, you can bet that I'd of pushed to save some money on gifts and opted instead to buy a couple 89 cent boxes of candles for him to blow until he hyperventilated and forgot about presents all together. Another unfortunate circumstance for Judah, as we've learned this with our first born and will save money the second time around.

Happy Birthday Moxley, with this kitchen you get to bake your own cakes from now on.
"What do you mean there's no Lucky Charms" said a disappointed Judah.

Oooohhh! Sweet!

And the award for Largest Gift in the Wrapped Category goes to.....
Nana!

When asked why he worked so much to fully unwrap the gift before getting at the toys he said,
"There's only 4 weeks to Christmas, I need all the practice I can get."

Tonka: making little boys, BIG boys for 56 years

Judah impersonating Mommy strutting her stuff at Target.

Best Western

2011-11-20T21:01:00.000-08:00

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure my dad's generation grew up on the classic western flicks of yore. Until recently I had a Clint Eastwood box set of his, and I've heard him refer to going to Vietnam thinking he'd be John Wayne (and quickly realized that the bullets were real and he wasn't on a Hollywood set). I think I'm right in remembering that Mel was a fan of the old westerns too, and I'm know I'm right in remembering he was fond of a western style shirt (a fondness we definitely shared). I don't see a whole lot of these movies coming out of Hollywood these days (without Aliens at least. What the...?), and I doubt there's even been a pilot pitched to the television networks based in the genre since the Lone Ranger was cancelled.

My guess would be that this absence of the western is due to a number of factors, with the main one being character development. The cowboys of our cinematic past were heroic and strong but mostly silent, allowing their good looks and gun-slingin' to win our hearts. Nowadays, we want to know some back story. We want to know the inner pain that brought them to this place of solitude, bent on justice for the commoners while just barely skirting the law themselves.

Well, H525 productions is in the works to give you just such a story...

It starts by showing a young Indian brave burying his beloved horse. Despite the tribe moving on, the young brave, Ju-Ju lingers at the grave site until his tribe is long out of sight. It's at that time, he hears some rustling of leaves.

Oh no!
Someone come this way... I all alone... no horse... no bow... no, no, NO!

As the stranger gets closer, Ju-Ju has identified him as a cowboy and Ju-Ju gets scared. But, something's different about this cowboy. He seems upset...

"Losing my dog was one thing, but now Quickster, my horse?!?!
What will I ever do without Quickster?!"

Thankfully for Ju-Ju the Indian brave, the cowboy has not only been narrating his problems out loud, but Ju-Ju understands English (although he can only speak it, in a broken, stilted Hollywood-indianese sort of way). So understanding the pain of the cowboy, Ju-Ju steps out to introduce himself and sympathize in his loss.

"Sir, I Ju-Ju.
Me know..dead horse... make heart sad."

Startled and embarassed, the cowboy tries to deny his sadness, but soon realizes, he's been to loud in his whining sorrow. Sheepishly, he asks...

"What do you know about losing a horse?"

"Me.. just buried mine... Hasty... here... today!"

The cowboy knowing that an Indian should be his enemy, struggles with the conflict of his emotions over the sad (broken, stilted, Hollywood-indianese) story he's just heard and the battle raging within him for caring about young Ju-Ju's pain. Struggling, he can't contain himself any longer, again thinking about his own fallen horse...

"QUICKSTER!"

Anyway, that's just the beginning... you know before even the title pops up. The title of course would be Cowboy and Indian: BFF!

Happy Belated Halloween.

November: So Far

Leaves

"What am I gonna do... I just lost a contact!"

You may think that Mommy raked a pile for us to play in. Nope... our whole yard is this deep."

I may commission more photos to be taken from this angle, with this lighting, with the leaves changing in the background. It makes me look pretty grandiose.

Miscellaneous

Judah recently decided that he'd like to learn more about the meaning of his forename. He's done his research and learned that it means "Praise" and is of Hebrew origins. With the Holiday season ramping up, he also discovered that Hanukkah begins before Christmas and lasts a whole eight days. He thought that perhaps by donning an imitation yamaka we might be fooled into some additional gifts.

"Seriously Momma, I'd like a dradle"

"What??? There was still some mac-n-cheese in there? Oy Vey!"

Fortunately, the cheese came off easier than the yellow stain of a millipede's guts that Judah squished out all over his hand just before dinner time. Angie was so grossed out, there was no time to run and get my camera (a photographer without his camera is no photographer at all).

Finally, we've not ever done any advertising on our humble blog site; sure we could use the extra money, but we do this for the love of the art of blogging, not for the money (unless some random reader out there would pay us to continue to do this, in which case... call my people (me)). So it's with a heavy heart that we place an advertisement to finish out this post. Thing is, I don't think it gave the intended impression of it's designers when it came across the eyes of our young Moxley.

Said with a tangible tone of concern in his voice:
"Mommy, is that a poo-poo tower?"

Catching Up

2011-11-10T14:01:00.000-08:00

Chapter 3
The Out of Towners

This is the final chapter of the compelling internet drama - Catching Up. In truth, I got to thinking that if something is posted here, particularly if there are pictures, it is something that we are catching you, our readers up on. It would seem then, that titles are not my strong suit.

Anywho... the weekend after our big journey to the opposite corner of our fair state we had the pleasure of welcoming some family into our humble hometown. The Handwerker Trio took to the highways and pulled into Greenville early Friday evening the 7th of October. I thought perhaps they had come just to congratulate Angie and I on completing another week of work. That, or as often as my Mom has been over this way recently, perhaps Allison thought she might be able to wish her a happy Birthday in person.

Turns out they just wanted to see us... and by "they" I mean Saylor, and by "us" I mean Mox and Judah. Truth is us parents are just pawns in the grand scheme our children have cooked up for us. We're just playing their game.

Handwerker Helper
Two hands... two boys... One happy family.

"Aunt Allison, whatever it is you're getting me tickling me with doesn't look safe."

"OOOHHH! Mommy, Aunt Allison was just getting me with a leaf? She's so crazy!"

Instead of using his legs to walk, Judah enjoys putting them to use kicking his dad in the backside.

In the light of day, the Children of the Corn aren't scary at all.

"I kinda like the whole bug eyed look...

... but pink just ain't my thing."

Two Men, Two Maps... Double Trouble

Angie and the two-headed Hansford.

Who needs a gym membership?

The catwalks of New York and Milan have nothing on the beauty on display in the corn paths of South Carolina.

I wonder who's use to being the center of attention?

We lost Allison somewhere along the way, but 6 out of 7 finishing the maze isn't too bad.

Joy Ride.

"So there I was, staring down this twelve pointer... I take aim and wouldn't you know it... I only had a Nerf gun. Uncle Dean you gotta tell my Daddy to get the real thing."

Cousins by birth... Friends by choice.

We're two Wild and Crazy Guys.

"I think you're gonna need some help picking up that apple Moxley."
(note: Judah calls pumpkins (and almost everything else) apples.)

"These South Carolina apples are much bigger than the ones in North Carolina"
(Note: Again, Judah calls pumpkins (and most everything else) apples. Give the kid a break he's only 1 for goodness sake.)

My sister's daughter the motherly type? No way! Who would have ever guessed that?

Downtown Greenville's never seen a gang of thugs this tough before.

Will these moms survive, or be ready to jump off the bridge?
Tune in next time for an all new Kid Swap!

Because it produces that giant smile, Moxley's logged more time airborne than most jump masters.

And the smile comes out when he gets to spread his wings and dive bomb his momma too.

Judah doesn't quite get the concept of wings, but he knows if Moxley enjoys it it's got to be fun.

"Apple?"
(Seriously, he says Apple a lot.)

Family by birth... Best-friends by choice.

"Mom, I think you were right when you said the crazy comes from Dad's side of the family."

Behind every great man is a strong woman.

"Aunt Angie... Can I keep him?"

Catching Up

2011-10-22T20:59:00.000-07:00

Chapter 2

Charleston Charm

So after hitting the beach the first couple of days we were in the South Carolina Low Country, we decided we wanted to just enjoy some of the attractions of the area. With the help of our Dad (and yours: Father-God, the Creator of the Universe) and the foresight of our trusted weather man, our wish to turn down the thermostat by 15-20 degrees but maintain beautiful sunny days worked out amazingly.

Now, despite Angie and my status as transplants to this state, our boys are natives and we do consider it home. So it's with some state pride that I would put the state flag of South Carolina in a design contest against any other state in the Union. Wyoming would compare if they got rid of the seal, Tennessee is cool in it's simplicity, and Arizona is graphically pretty cool, but at the end of the day the Palmetto State wins. With this flag being the one, which regardless of what the future holds, will always represent the birthplace of our two boys I thought it'd be good to get some state history under our belts. So, starting our day on Saturday, October 1st we strapped on our jackets and headed to Fort Moultrie on Sullivans Island. You see it was Colonel Moultrie, who at the original palmetto log fort here on Sullivan's Island fended off a British attack in 1776, thanks in part to the soft strength of the palmetto log itself. Who knows, if not for the palmettos and the Palmetto State we and our kids may have been born under this flag, been eating fish and chips, and never heard this.

Saturday, October 1st

The Fort & The Swamp

"This place is a Hide-and-Seeker's playground... Can we move in?"

"Dad, I can't believe you gave your nice camera to that guy. He looks a little suspicious and I bet he can run fast in those shoes." - Moxley

"Judah, if you ever find yourself on the end of one of these things, make sure it's this end."

"Hey Moxley... are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Later that same day, we headed off to the Magnolia Plantation. The main draw for us on this day was that the grounds contained a vibrant swamp. With the boys having gone light on their naps, we figured, at least we might get a little bit of peace if we threatened bad behavior with uncaged alligators. Fortunately, they behaved brilliantly, unfortunately we weren't able to use the alligator threat (I thought it may help for years to come).

"What do you mean this place doesn't have a potty?"

"Listen ol' man.. put your hands on the handles and push me that-a-way."

"Moxley, I may be holding you now, but if we see a 'gator or snake, you'll be holding me... Got it?!?"

Underwater Family Portrait - check
Swamp Family Portrait - check
"Just a cave, skydive, and space family portrait to go."

Angie and I can claim to have seen an actual alligator's head, thanks to the keen eye of another couple on the trail. Aside from some turtles though, and a large spider this bird ended up being the most exciting animal we were able to point out to the boys.
(That may sound like a complaint, but actually the swamp was oddly beautiful and a very enjoyable walk.)

After a long day, Mommy and the boys enjoying some play time at the "Elevator House"

Sunday, October 2nd

Downtown Chucktown

We have encouraged Moxley to start each day with a Daily Affirmation.
I think he misunderstood 'Daily' for 'Ali' Affirmation - "I'm the Greatest in tha' World!"

And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you... Matthew 5:30
"I may be missing the real meaning of, 'don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing', but right now, I need my left hand to just hold tight, and not let go of ol' righty."

Mommy and Judah leaving Hyman's Seafood
"Judah, I'm quite sure Hyman's Shrimp & Grits are on the menu in Heaven."

Angie wanted me to have a stranger take a family picture here, but I've been around the block once or twice and she can't be trusted near a fountain.

Sittin' on the dock of the bay,
Wastin' time.

"I wish that...."
I can't tell you what he wished for or it won't come true, but let's just say we'll all be better off if it indeed comes to pass.

"Hey boys, we're one person shy of perfect."

A king's throne doesn't give them near the power I get from this seat.

Little man's tuckered out after the first half of the day.

After strolling the market, eating a great lunch, and walking along the waterfront of downtown, we had to make a call... Go home and recover for Monday, or get every last minute of our family excursion. I think you can guess what we chose.

Having only visited the swamp at the Magnolia Plantation the day before, and our pass being good for a week, we headed back to take in more of the massive estate, and their petting zoo.

For those who've never seen Spanish Moss, it really adds something spectacular.

"Really Mommy, this is the best you can do to get me in the picture?" - Judah

"Judah, this is Bambi... Don't tell your Uncle Dean where he lives."

"I say, I say..."

"I say, that's one good lookin boy."
"That's one weird looking tweet-tweet." - Judah

Finally home again, it didn't take Mox long to dose off to his favorite novel.

Catching Up

2011-10-16T20:23:00.000-07:00

Chapter 1

Beach Bums

It's been a busy few weeks. Fortunately, it's been busy in a really good way. In fact, I'd be happy to be busy with this amount of fun any time. Now it's time to get busy filling you all in.

With a need for either Angie or myself to stay home to watch the boys the last couple days of September, we thought that a better idea would be for both of us to take off work and watch the boys have some fun out of town. So we did just that. We told our bosses they could take these jobs and... please hold them until after the weekend for us 'cause we're doing a family vacation.

Besides a couple overnight trips to Savannah and Atlanta, we've not had a great deal of opportunity to take advantage of the geography of our adopted home (now four years and counting). And although I'll be anxious once the boys are a little older, we acquire a tent and some sleeping bags to get up into the nearby mountains, it was a no-brainer that this time we were going to the beach (Happy Wife, Happy Life).

Thursday, September 29

Judah's first beach visit

"I thought Momma said that sand feels good between your toes..."

Waterboarding is it torture?

"Judah, I screamed like this... 'Aaaarrrrrggghhhhh'

the first time Mommy and Daddy brought me to the beach...."

"...Now I can't get enough"

"It's ok little man... Daddy will keep you safe."

(If I'm the one writing, you can guess who gets to be the hero.)

Happy boys, brings Mommy joy

Friday, September 30

90+ degrees, empty beach

"One day Moxley, this will be our back yard."

"Mommy... do you think we can move here before I'm old enough to mow?"

"Ok, now this I could get use to... Daddy, get me a milk with a little umbrella in it."

"See Judah, Mommy wasn't lying about the beach... it's AWESOME!"

I love family vacations

101

2011-09-28T20:02:00.000-07:00

If you are old enough to read, or have ears you've certainly read or have heard about the surge in the value of gold over the past year (it's dropped nearly 13% in the last week or so, but is still up 20% over a year ago). Now, in my work I need to keep track of this stuff because a fair number of folks ask about the shiny rock. Well, this is not a financial website, and neither should my advice be taken without a fair consultation and paying me a large sum of money, but I do have a tip for you... I've come across a website that I think points to the next hot trend Things Apples are Worth More Than. It's amazing! I guess that whole "Money doesn't grow on trees" adage my parents always preached turned out to be wrong... Crazy 20th century thinkers! I'm guessing that I may not be the only one onto this trend though, so I rallied my troops and headed out to gather up as much of the prized fruits as possible in an attempt to become a very wealthy man.

So many trees. So many apples. Angie and Moxley are off to work.

Dad says if I pick enough I can get a new car (seat).

I'm just shooting for enough money to get some clothes that aren't hand-me-downs... Spoiled first child. Despite all this loot, bet I get the old car seat.

Risk vs Reward

Cha Ching

Apples are the root of all kinds of evil.

"No no no Moxley. That's green gold and it ain't worth squat. You can't even give that stuff away."

(In all honesty, Moxley does give that stuff away... to me or his Mommy.)

We got about all we could handle... or more accurately all I could handle.

Having had such good luck with our bounty on our visit on August 10th, we decided that the only thing better would be to gather up some more apples with the help of an extra set of hands.

Nana, your son is a slave driver. We're in North Carolina, I'm sure there's child labor laws up here.

Mommy, just keep shakin' it, I'll catch'em when they fall.

Daddy conveniently forgot the backpack... Guess who gets to do the heavy lifting this time.

(Daddy ain't no fool)

"So your daddy told you boys this is worth more than what???"

EDITORIAL NOTE:

Turns out the linked website about the value of Apples is actually the value of Apple the technology company. Here's hoping Angie is up to cooking some apple strudel.

SOME FUN!

Hope there's no talking snakes around.

Oh the temptation.

I saw Mommy bite one first.

"The woman made me eat one too.."

SOME PICS!

I am a blessed man.

My two leading ladies.

How bout those apples.

Momma and the Monkeys

Praying with your eyes open...

Thank you God for apples!

Finally, I thought that surely if I gave everyone enough time someone might congratulate us. But after three weeks of anxiously waiting, I figured perhaps no one noticed. Our last blog was our 100th! Television networks celebrate a sitcom/sitdram centennial episode like its a cure for cancer. But no love for H525. I suppose we'll have to whoop it up ourselves. Which is exactly what we plan to do. We're celebrating our 101 posts with a trip out of town, sponsored in part by TravelDad (that's not a real company, it's that my dad travels a lot and could help us out by contributing some Marriot points for our hotel stay. Thanks TravelDad!). I guess H525 Post 102 will fill you all in on the details.

By the way, as part of our quest for 1000 posts (36 more years at our current pace - hang in there) we're making it easier for you to be made aware of posts 102-1000. I've added an email sign-up on the right side of the page which apparently will make those who sign up aware of a posting.

Hoops, Hoopla, & Discovery

2011-09-07T03:38:00.000-07:00

Summer is over, and life continues to fly by. I know as a kid summer seemed to race, but now with a kid of my own (2 in fact) the pace only quickens. And it's not just summer, before we know it we'll be singing happy birthday to Moxley, then Jesus, and then you guys can sing it to me. I don't much care to find the fountain of youth (I'm cool with 32 and expect someone will still need me (and feed me) at 64, so I'll be happy then) , but if there is some magic spring where flows an elixir to slow down the present, let me know because I'm due a vacation and I just want the second hand to move a bit slower. I guess that's the main reason I do this little blog. Because one of these days (sooner than I would like) the H525 gang will be all grown up, and since there is no magic spring to slow life down, these posts will serve as my fountain of youth, the pictures, stories and commentaries to remind me of my presents.

Hoops

The very first Christmas gift Moxley received from Angie and I was the Little Tikes Basketball Hoop. You've never had a child or been to Walmart if you don't know what I'm talking about, it stands about 5 feet high in total with the hoop about 4 feet off the ground. He showed some initial interest, but never very much in the thing. Judah on the other hand, seemed to want to strap on his Converse All-Stars and shoot some hoops before he could even walk. Anywho, here's some pictures of some Hansford hoops.

Judah Hansford,1 year old, 2'10", 20.2 lbs, Basketball's Great White Hope.

Ready to launch.

Recognizing Judah's proficiency for the sport, his over-bearing, live-vicariously-through-his-son father decided that if he is to be the greatest ever NBA star, he needs to start practicing with the regulation size ball. Meanwhile, his brother throws down a nasty dunk with that sissy ball.

BOO-YAH!

That's as screwed up as a tennis helmet.

If you watch any basketball at all, you know the game has a lot to do with the skill of ball-handling, the finesse of shooting, the power of the drive to the basket, and the strength to muscle in on defense and on the boards. Perhaps, though, in the modern NBA the greatest skill of all is that of faking a foul. I decided that in order to prepare my boys for this we'd do some practice. Judah may have the pure hoops skills, but I think Mox may take the crown in this the Reggie Miller category .

Come on Ref... he got me on the arm!

AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!

(I'd say the native american war paint, or mom's version with sidewalk chalk adds a ton to the drama.

Well played sir.)

Two shots from the free-throw line for you....

And a practice Oscar acceptance speech for you.

Hoopla

2011 marked the 37th annual Simpsonville Labor Day Festival for our little home town, and the first time we attended. With the threat of serious rain storms we decided to hit the fair as soon as we could on Saturday. Little home towns create little festivals, but when it's little guys you're trying to impress it all comes off pretty big.

If you let me have it, I'll keep it in the garage, and only play with it on the weekends. I'll even share with Judah... I promise

Ok... busted... the Moxley quote above was fictitious. However, he really did say, "Mommy, I want the really big slide for the back yard."

This scornful look is directed at you, Mr. Carnival Police. Forget the basketball calling, I'm going to law school and I WILL change the height limitations on the Fun Slide for future generations. I hope the 2012 Presidential hopefuls will take up my cause.

I've always wanted to ride in a helicopter, and Moxley seems to like the idea of them... But after this experience I've satisfied another of my life dreams... Wanting to know what it feels like to be stuffed in a coke can and thrown into the air.

Too short for Helicopters??? This is absurd.

I just wanted to prove (after the prior picture) that we actually did get off the ground.

You can tell by his expression Moxley loves the Fun Slide, but the remainder of the weekend, he wouldn't stop talking about how crazy he was for Angie's sweet retro hairstyle.

Discovery

For folks like my Nana and G'pa who just celebrated 61 years of marriage (an awesome and noteworthy accomplishment), Angie and my 4 year stint is still in it's infancy. However, for the guy who is in his first (and last) marriage 4 years seems like a fair enough amount of time to have learned a good deal about his wife. I must say, after this weekend, the things I've learned about Angie make me question if I even know her at all. I don't know who all reads these little blurbs about our life, but if you do it's likely because you know us. And if you know us, you've likely heard Angie tease me about having never peeled an orange before 2008 (true), or having never eaten a fresh peach before 2009 (true). I'm like much of my generation... I know what fruit is and where it comes from, but just like I don't go take a bite out of a cow when I want a hamburger, I was raised eating fruits and veggies that were conveniently packaged for us humans in cans. Naturally, for a gal who ate food right out of the garden her parents kept in the back yard this came as a surprise. Well, it turns out, she holds some surprises as well. I learned of the first surprise on the way home from the fair, when after visiting a very limited petting "zoo" area she shared that Moxley was a bit scared about a particular animal and didn't want to pet it, then she admitted that she too was a bit timid and in fact wouldn't pet it because she didn't know what it was...

"I had to read the sign to figure out it was a llama... I thought it was a funny looking pony with gigantic eyes."

Learning that at 29+ years old Angie was uncertain of what a llama was, was hilarious to me, and I nearly drove off the road in our neighborhood laughing. But silly turned to serious later in the weekend when together we watched the movie The Conspirator. The film revolves around the events and ensuing trial of those involved with the shooting of our nation's 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. Now it's because of the trial of the "conspirators" (mainly concerning Mary Surrat) that early on in the movie the audience (Angie and I in this case) sees Lincoln get shot. Angie, however learned thanks to Robert Redford (director) in the year 2011, that Lincoln was killed as a result of this shooting.

"What??? He dies?"

"I knew he got shot in a theater, but I thought he died of old age."

(to my absolute astonishment at having been born and raised in Illinois and unaware of these facts)

"Lincoln was from Illinois? Oh... yeah.. Land of Lincoln. I guess I have been to his house."

Now she claims that she surely knew this information and that three consecutive years of sleep deprivation has robbed her ability to recollect these facts. I, however, would argue that I scored a smoking hot woman who managed her good grades with her good looks, so really who cares what she knows. Either way, the scary thing is she's twice as smart as I am, so be on the alert for more surprising facts about us as time moves on.

one is fun

2011-08-28T19:55:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's easy to look around and notice the things that other people have that we may not, but then at other times we are reminded of the things that we've been blessed with. Birthdays are such an occasion. And last weekend we got to celebrate the first birthday of our amazing Judah. So since you are reading this, we consider you family, and if you happen to have one of those days that you are feeling like you are missing out, just think, you've got Judah. Nothing else even compares.

One last picture of Mommy with her 0 year-old.

"Oh sure," says Mr. Elephant, "the king of the jungle gets to be the star again on the big cake, and me... the 'smash cake'... GREAT!"

"You want me to do what? I don't buy it... This is entrapment!
I'll use a fork thank you very much."

The point of the Smash Cake is to make an enormous mess, and my kid is using a fork?
Aunt Kathleen has her prodigy.

Oh wait... Scratch that.

There was nothing else around the cake when I set up to take the picture, but it was so big it had it's own gravitational pull. (seriously, it's hard to tell here, but this cake was huge.)

Huge cake meet huge mouth.
or
Torture by Birthday Cake
or
Mississippi resident, embarrassed that her home state ranks as fattest is caught force feeding South Carolinian children in an attempt to tip the scales.
(Anyone know where Nanassippi is from?)

"Think Judah...THINK! Where can I hide these that he won't find them." the inner-most thoughts of a younger brother.

Cousins? Not today. Today Judah and Keegan are Birthday Brothers.

Happy Birthday Keegan!

"Seriously? I get all those toys and you take me away from them for pictures?"

"Ok, a pic with Mama and Dada... check... Pic with Mox... check...."

"...I'm outta here... Back to the toys!"

A Few Hours later....

"Really? More pictures? You paparazzi are too much. Can't a guy just enjoy his birthday in private? Take your camera and leave me alone."

"I said... LEAVE ME ALONE!"

Birthdays are exhausting.

Happy Birthday Judah!

bye bye July

2011-08-02T20:48:00.000-07:00

It is amazing that July 2011 has come and gone. Life moves fast I suppose...

Here's a some pictures from July

LL Cool Mox. Colgate's called about paying for that smile.

If you tell me it's bed time one more time... I'm gonna raise some...

The Mox ain't the only one who can pull off the slickster hairdo

If he's smiling because he's causing trouble, Angie and I have a long road ahead of us.

Cards Rule, I Drool

Practicing for a future as a Mime, Moxley shows that it was Monkeying around that caused the bang-up on his noggin.

Atlanta... Meet Hollywood!

Something's fishy

Duuuuhhhh duh... Duuuuuhhhhh Duh

Looking at the reflection, you'll see Mom and Moxley loving the exhibit, but that 11 months is a little young yet to get to excited about the World's Largest Acquarium.

How many of you have a family portrait under water? Bragging rights belong to us!

Cute photo idea? or Time to change Judah's Diaper?

Mox didn't get enough of the water at the Acquarium.

Timing is everything.

Momma you so crazy!

Thank you God for Oreo cookies!

A year in Heaven

2011-07-16T12:23:00.000-07:00

I've just finished reading the book Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo that Angie received as a birthday present from a friend. It was a very interesting read about a little boy, Colton Burpo, who during a very serious medical emergency was blessed with a visit to a very literal and specific heaven. Being that he was only 3 or 4 years old at the time of this occurrence his parents became convinced of little Colton's story because the things he reported were beyond his comprehension or knowledge otherwise. (This synopsis would have received a failing grade on a 5th grade book report, but you get the point.)

Anyway, the book got me thinking about the Heaven beyond this world and what a wonderful place it must be. And being that it has now been a year since my father-in-law Mel was welcomed into Heaven himself, I thought it'd be neat to just ponder on what he's been up too. (Mel, assuming you've got access to the internet up there, I'll understand if you stop reading and go right on back to visiting with your parents, or talking with Jesus, or soaring around Heaven with your year old wings. All of those would seem preferable to me. Just know that we miss you, and look forward to seeing you again.)

So I'd like to share some thoughts on things that have crossed my mind about what Mel may have been up to in the past year. These imaginations are limited by the human mind, and specifically my human mind.

- I've not met all of Angie's extended family, but to my recollection, the only person on earth that I've personally met that knew Mel outside the restraint of paralysis is his brother Phil. But even still, it had been some 56 years since Phil would have seen him walk so it's not hard (in fact it's fun) to imagine that Mel has been walking. I'd even venture a guess that if we do actually get wings in Heaven while all the other newbies in Heaven a year ago were flying around from mansion to mansion, Mel may have been just enjoying staying on the ground. Probably walking for days and days, and then picking it up to a jog and eventually a full out sprint. I would expect that he's enjoyed his legs so much he may have even racked up more 26.2 stickers in a year than his son Ken has. Anyway, I bet Heaven's cool because Mel is free from paralysis.

- Of course, one of the great sorrow's of losing a parent at the stage of life that Angie and I are in, is that now as parents ourselves, 1. we appreciate our parents so much more, because we better recognize all that they have done for us, and 2. we want our kids to know our parents. Moxley shared some very special time with his Papa (now 'Papa in Heaven') but very limited, and Judah will of course have never known him personally. That is sad in and of itself, but even selfishly, I never got to enjoy one of Mel's great passions, and one I'd of hoped my sons would have been able to do with him, fishing. Angie knows so much more about fishing and fish than I ever will because of fishing trips with her dad. So, I've often over the past year thought of Mel out on a little bass boat listening to the Beach Boys on a little battery powered radio quietly enough as to not disturb the fish. In my imagination it's always perfect weather, the water is still and the fish are biting. It's an experience I wish I'd of had with Mel myself, and something we'll do with our boys in his memory (with his rods) at some point, but I'm happy to think that he's enjoying it off the golden banks of lake Heaven.

- Martha, I've got to imagine you'll have some pretty stunning jewelry waiting for you some day.

- Mel loved working on clocks and watches. Now, my understanding is that Heaven exists outside our concept of time, so I'm not sure what need there would be for watches and clocks, but God is a good father. So my imagination here is one recognizing God's love for Mel. For many of us there was a very specific day where scribbled colors on a page went from trash to precious art, and that was when we became parents. Although it has no significance to anyone else, to a mom or dad it is priceless. So I'm thinking that although the numbers on the face of the clock may not hold much significance in a realm where time doesn't exist, the beauty of the craftsmanship that Mel has put into his work so impresses God that His house is now full of clocks. And you know that when God loves something, it's good, so I'm guessing there's plenty of work for Mel to do for all his neighbors who now want to have a Ringenberg Grandfather Clock.

If you knew Mel, and have an imagination of what he could be doing in heaven, let me know I'll post it for others to enjoy too.

Oh Glorious May

2011-06-01T17:46:00.000-07:00

Honestly, I cannot think of any other thirty-one day stretch that has brought as much awesomeness as May 2011 brought to the H525 gang. All of us fortunate enough to have a great mother were given a day to reflect on their amazingness in May. And then, of course the biggest of H525 holidays "525 Day" (or May 25) which four years ago began this wild adventure that is H525. Those two things alone in a thirty-one day period would make for a good month, but there's more.... so much more!

You all read early on this month that I was blessed with a new job. I am happy to report that after two weeks (a long weekend, YEAH!) and a day, things are going great.

But that's not all, May also gave us...

The reuniting of friends.

(Thanks to Erica's willingness to come here with her son Angel.)

Moxley learned about his roots from Papassippi.

Great weather got us outside, where we saw ducks...

Swans...

and Mox caught a whiff of the prize for April's showers.

But wait there's more...

Judah gave us a smile that may just cure cancer.

We caught photo evidence that Moxley's not all bad.

We captured the one in a million shot where both boys are looking at the camera...

so just deal with the perpective making it look like the tower is leaning behind us.

And then there were the balloons...

Lots and lots of balloons.

And clearly with all these funny blobs flying around someone remembered who to call...

May be dreadful at the gas pump, but bustin ghosts takes precedence over green house emissions.

And finally with all the excitement, and the weather heating up the boys needed some time to just chill poolside...

Caution: NO DIVING!

This picture looks familiar...

Afternoon showers.

Yep, it was pretty much a wonderful, fantastic, so great, very good May!

For Years...

2011-05-24T19:35:00.000-07:00

Angela, I thank God he has given us to each other to share one life, one love, one heart.

With God’s help, I will try to be everything He wants me to be for you so I may meet your needs and fulfill your dreams.

I will love you with and unconditional love just as Christ loves us.

In love I will tenderly lead you, protect and provide for you, nurture and care for you, and honor and respect you.

I will stand by your side in darkness and in light I will lift you up when I am strong and lean on you when I am not.

I vow to be faithful and true to you alone.

May my love give you strength all the days of our lives.

Happy Anniversary!

I love you forever.

Jesse

Dear Mommy

2011-05-07T21:06:00.000-07:00

even though i haven't yet figured out the whole talking thing yet, having moxley say the abcd's over and over and over again, i put two and two together to learn my spelling. dadda has me on his lap enough while he's on the computer, so that's where i figured out typing.

first of all, you may notice this letter was typed pretty late. you know that i went to bed, 'cause you put me there, but you said over and over how you wanted me to sleep good tonight in honor of your big day, so i thought i'd come write you a letter.

the truth is i normally get out of bed for a while each night before i bother you with that whole crying nonsense. i do normal stuff... check some sports scores, chew on anything i can get in my mouth, play with simon, sneak into moxley's room and dip his hand in warm water (i love to hide in his closet and watch dadda fumble around with changing his diaper in the dark). but all those things get boring, and eventually i just want to hang out with someone. i'd be happy to just come in and ask, but again, the whole talking thing isn't working yet (i know what i want to say, i just can't seem to get it out. i've heard dadda say the same thing to you, so i hope i figure it out before i'm ancient like him.), or i could text message you, but noooo... you said i'm too young for a cell phone... whatever. so i scream. you gotta admit it's effective.

here's the thing momma, i understand moxley has lived here a while longer than i have, and from what i gather he was the only kid you owned until you bought me (by the way... am i from target? kohl's? the mall?). anyway, he told me that for at least the first 18 months i should ask specifically for you at night. and, boy was he right. there's just something about the way you feel, the way you hold me, and the way you smell that makes me feel so good at night. i guess sometimes you misunderstand my cry and you send dadda to come visit my room, but the guy is rough, hairy and well... doesn't smell like you.

besides the nighttime preference, i prefer you in the day time too, here's a few reasons...

- you clear out my nose - i swear when you're doing it i want to hit you, but afterwards life is so much better

- style - thank God you check me over on the days dadda gets me dressed. it's not every day that nana has girls over, but just in case, i'm glad you call the shots on clothing.

- pain relief - crawling, and now pulling up has created its fair share of bumps and bruises (not to mention the kicks, jabs, and shoves of a big brother), but there must be magic in your lips 'cause it's the cure.

- feeding - i mean, dadda's never even tried.

anyway, i just wanted to say happy momma's day. i'd tell you your a great mom, but it'd be like telling the sky it's blue, or telling moxley he's crazy, or telling justin beiber he's awesome, all those things go with out saying. so instead, i'll tell you the truth... you are the best.

love, judah

Congratulations to my love!

2011-05-05T10:52:00.000-07:00

This isn't a picture of Jesse but I'm sure this is how he felt late Wednesday night when he accepted his new JOB offer!!

After months and months of praying, the Lord has blessed Jesse with a new job! Jesse signed up with a local staffing agency over 13 months ago and had no luck with them until he received a phone call a few weeks ago with a job lead. During the interview for that position the staffing agency called with yet another job they thought would be a good fit. After multiple interviews, phone calls and negotiations between the 2 companies, Jesse accepted an offer from a Greenville area bank. He will start his new position on May 16th. While he enjoys working for State Farm, he feels this banking position is more in line with his future career goals. Thanks to all of you who were praying for him in this area. I am so happy for him and for the opportunities he will have in his new position.

South East(er)

2011-04-27T17:54:00.000-07:00

Hallelujah! He is risen!

Yeah, so forgive my tardiness in this post and therefore it's Easter celebration, but the fact is it's old news anyway, but such good news it's worth celebrating any day.

Like most other American families, Easter goes beyond just the good news of the resurrection for us at H525. We celebrate with candy, eggs dropping out of the sky, pastel colors, a giant ham, family time, and a good ole fashion egg hunt. It's really an entire weekend of activities. So I'll guide you through last weekend.

Friday
Because Angie wants to ensure that her boys aren't as inept in the kitchen as her man, she has taken to doing instruction early...

Julia Child has nothing on Angie's Child, and....

Reese's better watch their back

Saturday

Saturday was great. Moxley and I went out and got Angie/Mommy a potted hydrangea (that smelled "delicious" - Mox) and a couple Cadbury eggs. Next we tackled our fears of trusting (hard boiled) eggs in the hands of our two year old, and went against our better judgement of combining this risk with staining dyes. What could possibly go wrong?

Knowing that if anything went wrong, Moxley would attempt to frame him, Judah excused himself from proximity of the "danger zone"...

Oh... the possibilities

Granted, I've been away from dyeing Easter eggs for a long time now, but I don't remember being able to create dinosaurs with them. You can find anything at Walmart!

Later on that evening, we brought the boys to our neighboring town Fountain Inn for a surprise...

Already loaded with a bag of Easter goodies, Mox looks to the sky for the giver of this bounty

Yeah, God is the giver of all good things, but in this case He gave using a helicopter dumping Easter eggs from 100 feet up in the air. Moxley and Judah loved the helicopter.

Mox and Angie wrapped up the evening with a few trips down the air slide. Judah and I took advantage of this time to start to pick through Moxley's candy.

Sunday

Sunday morning around the breakfast table Angie and I started to tell our boys about what it is that we celebrate on Easter. Because I still haven't learned that an 8 month old or a 2.5 year old don't have the attention span of an adult, I think they had lost me right after I said Jesus was killed...

After getting them settled Angie took over with the 30 second Easter summary. Needless to say the boys were thrilled to know their friend Jesus was in fact alive again.

We met with the K's over at Martha's for a lunch that (like always) was amazing , and then we all enjoyed our boys enjoying themselves in a backyard egg hunt.

This won't be the only thing Moxley picks out of Nana's garden all year.

I'm not sure if Kullen and Keegan were just showing their aunt what they'd found or if she was making them bring her all their treats.
Clue: It's good to be in a position of power when candy is involved.

The plan was to have them all match in white polos, but Judah had another idea with the left over egg dyes.

Spring Arrives

2011-04-18T19:42:00.000-07:00

Ok, so in blog language it should be noted that "(I'll fill in more about March very soon)" actually means, I'll post some pictures taken in April in two weeks. You have to understand that parenthetical promises are hardly to be taken serious.

So... onto some pictures taken in April.

Papa Mel loved birds. Moxley loves baths. Take an angel from one of Mel's memorial flower arrangements, place it in a bird bath, have the Mox fill the bird bath, what do you get? A bird bath Mel-morial which his grandson loves.

With two Nana's and a great-grandmother who we call Nana-Nana, things are obviously confusing. Judah thought it was amusing when we discussed calling my mom Nana from Mississippi (Angie and Moxley's suggestion) or Nanassippi (my suggestion).

Pros & Cons

Con: Cranky kid

Pro: BEAUTIFUL WIFE!

It's hard to catch Moxley on camera with a smile and Angie's been missing that dimple. Don't get me wrong, he smiles plenty, but not for the camera. So last Saturday while Judah napped, we worked hard to catch the elusive smile make the dimple reappear.

Smile: Good not Great

Dimple: Barely

Smile: Ornery (like his mother)

Dimple: Got it!

Smile: AWESOME!

Dimple: AWESOME!

Jumpin' Judah

2011-04-04T18:57:00.000-07:00

* IF YOU DON'T SEE ANY VIDEOS BELOW, TRY ANOTHER BROWSER (NAMELY MOZILLA FIREFOX).

It's been over a month since we last reported about our lives. As you might imagine, with a 6 now 7 month old things change pretty quickly. So in order to get something out there to you our loyal followers (or family and friends) Angie asked me to share a couple videos. (I'll fill in some more about our March very soon.)
I probably said this back when we showed Moxley in the "Johnny Jumper", but I really think I would enjoy having an adult sized jumper like that, perhaps at work after dealing with some crabby customers.

Although it may look like this is a stop-action animation, I can promise I didn't submit my child to hundreds of still photographs and then loop them all together. (Truth be told, I may have had I thought about it, but he's so independant now, it's too late.)

February

2011-02-28T17:52:00.000-08:00

Realizing that none of you will likely be reading this on February 28th, (as it's already quite late) I effectively missed blogging during the shortest month, but for the sake of record keeping, I got one in just in time.

There's been some excitement, but I'll get to that in March. So that I beat the clock to get this in by midnight, I'm just gonna post some pictures. And like in school when a teacher would turn the alphabetical world on it's head and start calling for volunteers from the Z's rather than the favored A's (never really effected an H) I'm kicking things off with the baby.

SIXmonthOLD

I may be looking up to you for now, but it won't long before I'm a big boy, 'cuz I've started eating my fruits and veggies....

and I'm always down for a helping of toes.

Baby Boudoir

No really... I'm serious this blanket is amazingly soft

All I've got on is this hat and some smooth jazz!

Daddy's Daddy's Boys
(or Papa's Boys)

You raise me up...

and lead me down the right path.

TWOyearOLD

2011-01-25T15:02:00.000-08:00

So the snow has come and gone, but to imagine that we would have two significant snows here in Greenville within a month's time is pretty amazing.

If you are at all associated with the Gap or any other child clothing catalog, I'm sorry but you may not use this image.

Into the wild!

Illinois relocated

I pray it's a long way off, but I'd like this photo at my funeral. I've got my arm around my beautiful wife, and I've got a smile that comes from having an unexpected extra day with my family. (Plus the vintage photo effect adds the cool factor.)

After the snow came ice, so it was two days at home with the family. This, again, is a gift but without the option to go out things can get a bit crazy...

Local blood bank reconsiders handing out free t-shirts after photo surfaces of two mad men.

Since the snow days of January 10 and 11, I celebrated my 32nd birthday. We've seen the Bears win and lose a playoff game, and had the Mox come down with tonsillitis. In an effort to keep Judah from falling ill as well, Angie and I take shifts in the two quarantined sections of our house.

Welcome to the Future

2011-01-02T04:12:00.000-08:00

Before discussing the future I believe I owe it to you (our faithful readership) to catch you up on the recent past. Really, that's all we ever do as I have no way of predicting the future, so let's get caught up.

OH CHRISTMAS TREE!

With Moxley capable of at least listening to instructions and Judah being immobile Angie and I decided to go au natural again with another North Carolina Frasier Fir this Christmas. This year's specimen was as beautiful as you might imagine, but it lacked the intoxicating aroma we remembered from our last real tree two years ago. It remained looking vibrant from the time we bought it (Thanksgiving) until it's eviction on December 27th. Normally (if normal can be determined in 4 years time), we are a family that will keep our home festively adorned until past the New Year, but John Tesh gave us a stern warning, between Jingle Bells and White Christmas on 98.9 Magic FM, that a real tree becomes so dry over the course of the holidays that a spark can set it ablaze and devour it in flames in less than a minute's time. This of course set off alarms for me even in my insurance infancy, but it was another Teshian warning about these traditional topiary's harboring fungus and mold that brought on it's early demise this year. (I suppose a mysteriously lingering congestive problem for our baby helped push it out the door.)

Who cares about the tree, it's the stuff underneath it that's important.

The Goods

Honestly, what could be better for Christmas than Judah's Lion, or rephrased...
the Lion of Judah!

"Hey Buzz, I think we're gonna like this kid."

I told Angie upon donning this plaidtastic shirt, a new STL hat and sporting a beard,
"I'm becoming my dad, and I love it."

And finally, fellas, for a lesson in over the top, earth shattering romance, you need only to pick up my latest book, "The Gifts that Make Women Swoon". I present to you my proof...

"Your right Jesse, it is diamonds that make argyle."
she said choking back the tears.

Family, Food, and Fun

Dan, Val, and the boys made the trek down from Illinois again this year for Christmas, of which we are always grateful for a number of reasons. For one, it's good to be reminded of the benefits of natural cures (they own a chain of natural health food stores, and have even started their own supplement company). For instance... instead of using a double dose of Nyquil to tranquilize your two-year-old at night, just have him spend an entire day with his energetic, knife welding, butt kicking, karate trained (yet amazingly endearing) cousins.

Wiley I know you're an entrepreneur, so you don't need my advice, but
BLACK BELT BABYSITTING
has dollar signs all over it. (20% cut for an awesome logo?)

Another reason we're always happy to see the Chapmans is because of their generosity. Honestly, as gracious as Martha and the K's are to us, sometimes it's just nice to be spoiled by someone new. I mean seriously, I don't even have to fake losing my wallet when the check comes. I'm a bit disappointed Dan and Val have never even had the chance to appreciate how convincing my acting skills are because of their generosity.

The final reason we were glad they visited, much to their own chagrin, the Chapman clan brought the wintry weather down south. We had a White Christmas in Greenville, South Carolina! This hasn't happened here since 1964.

Hey Cuz'
(We miss you Nathan, Caleb, and Saylor)

B-lated B-day & other B-lated B's-ness

2010-12-09T17:03:00.000-08:00

Peek-aaaaa...

...BOO! I'M TWO

Should you interact with our family over the next year, please avoid the term "terrible twos". Moxley is a smart little guy and should he know that society just excuses deplorable behavior for an entire year he'd likely fill the role. Not to mention, at 3.5 months Judah is a sharp one too, and should they decide together "terrible twos" refers to the twos of them, there's no telling how long the suffering could last.

Although it's been said since Adam and Eve said it about Abel, I can't believe it's already been two years. But it has, and even though I have a bit of Scrooge in my approach to birthday parties, Angie will always have enough spirit and creativity to make it special for her big boy.

STARS! STARS! STARS!

At Halloween we introduced you to one of Moxley's favorite books Click, Clack, Moo. For his birthday (inspired by watching all the episodes of Cake Boss) Angie decided to make fondant cupcake toppers that matched the theme of his other favorite book "Stars! Stars! Stars!". (In truth we found both "books" thanks to their West Wood Film cartoon versions through OnDemand. However, Angie (the good parent) wants to keep books more prevalent than the boob-tube for our kids, so you can see the hard back edition of Stars! Stars! Stars! behind the cupcakes which Moxley received as his first gift of the day. PS - Thanks Nana & Papa H)

Knowing so much about space, but having very little experience with birthdays, Moxley recoiled in terror, afraid the burning cupcake was a meteorite.

After enjoying some treats, it was time to open some presents...

It's decision time... open up the box of Gator Golf so he and Kullen could play eighteen? or move on to the next gift. After being convinced birthday's aren't a version of Let's Make a Deal, and he'd be able to keep Gator Golf and whatever else he chose afterwards, Moxley told Kullen to wait as he opened the remainder of his gifts.

In the end we had to accept that it had infact been two years already, Moxley scored a ton of great gifts and we had an (kinda*) awesome day. But this was a birthday, and tradition runs deep on birthdays so we couldn't let Mox off the hook for his spankings...

...delivered by Mom while wearing his birthday suit.
(Note: the tradition is the spankings, not the birthday suit part, but at two-years-old it makes for a funnier picture.)

* - My only hesitation in fully committing to the awesomeness of Moxley's birthday was that it fell on an important football Sunday for Bears fans. The Bears played the Eagles in a major NFC match-up. The result of the game added to the awesomeness of the day, however, for the majority of the games broadcast my cable provider gave transmitted this...

Perhaps an impressionists take on Kandinsky's Circles or a Jackson Pollock finger painting? Who knows, but definitely not the Bears vs Eagles.

& other B-lated B's-ness

The other news that I've been meaning to get out is mainly just some more braggin' on my boys. I mean Judah is probably one of the happiest babies the world's ever met...

not to mention super handsome...

and dapper.

Moxley continues to channel his good looks for bathtime-hollywood impressions with his version of Michael Douglas' Gordon Gekko...

And just one piece of the puzzle as to the lineage of these good looks...

Check out the stud on the left... that guy looks like me with a smirk that indicates I've got something up my sleeve. (Note: I can't do that smirk, 'cause I've never got something up my sleeve... I guess it's a cool thing.)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

2010-11-25T15:51:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

H525-O-WEEN

2010-11-07T11:00:00.000-08:00

Another Halloween has come and gone, which means a couple of things: 1) If you are a major retailer and don't have your Christmas decorations up in the stores you are about 2 weeks behind the competition, and 2) if you are a grandparent/great-grandparent or an aunt or uncle who lives away from your loved ones, you are desperate to see pictures of the kids in their Halloween garb. The H525 crew can't do anything for the retailers other than offer an editorial note*, but in regards to the kid photos we surely won't disappoint.

With Moxley being so young last year he wasn't able to voice his opinion as to what he wanted to be so rather than dress him up as one of his fantasies, you'll remember we dressed him up as a fantasy of ours. Well this year was different, I mean he is a whole 23 months old and certainly has a mind of his own. Now, although his communication is limited by an adult's standard, for his age he might be considered gifted. So we decided to let him choose. And he decided to be Farmer Brown from Doreen Cronin's Click, Clack, Moo - Cows That Type. (Truth be told, we knew he was going to be a farmer, and it was convenient that Click, Clack, Moo had a farmer we could use to our advantage.)

"NO MILK?!?!?!"
(read Click, Clack, Moo)

So how was it that we knew Mox was going to be a farmer? Easy answer is we knew what Judah was going to be, and we needed an outfit to compliment his. So your next question obviously is, what was Judah? Well, before the big reveal, I want to promise to those concerned after seeing Judah's costume neither Angie or I have dreams about filial cannibalism (the consumption of one's own viable offspring).

Well, maybe I should just speak for myself.

Anywho, here's a few more pictures from our family Halloween....

With Mox as a corn farmer riding a John Deere, and Judah the cob-0-corn, Angie hopes to instill her Illinois heritage in our boys.

I thought that the Farmer was the one who hauled the corn?

Mox, Judah, and Angie join the Pre-teen Mutant Ninja Cousins at the first door for some Trick-or-Treating.

And a few more photos from earlier in the day...

My brother is crazy....

He's right you know!

* EDITORIAL NOTE
I'm a big fan of Christmas, I really am, but Christmas decor before Halloween is madness. The only reason I've thought as far ahead as Thanksgiving to this point is because pumpkin pie is my favorite food on earth, and my amazing Angie teased my taste-buds with some delectable pumpkin bread. To be thinking ahead to Christmas already seems to just water down the whole holiday. So if the pantheon of retail marketers are reading (which I know they aren't), this measly consumer says enough is enough... no Christmas trees/lights/mall-Santa's until after Thanksgiving.

Fall Fun

2010-10-30T06:36:00.000-07:00

Jesse wanted me to tell you that he will write on here again. He's been very busy the last few months so for now please enjoy the pictures. Also, you can click on any of the pictures if you'd like to view them larger.

Our happy family

Moxley's first time finger painting.

His finished masterpiece

Mox loved it when Mommy and Nana would swing him.

Moxley picking out a pumpkin with daddy.

Judah enjoying the fall weather.

Judah hanging out on the boppy pillow.

Just some pics

2010-10-14T17:25:00.001-07:00

Judah chillin at Nana's house.

Smiling for the camera.

Mr. Serious

Stopping to smell the flowers.

Judah finally awake during daylight.

Not sure about this bath thing yet.

Like father like son.

Judah's first trip to the zoo.

Then and Now

2010-10-10T10:35:00.001-07:00

Then (August 2009)

Now (October 2010)

I can't believe how much he has grown in just 14 months.

Favorite pics from summer 2010

2010-09-23T05:10:00.000-07:00

digging for shells

showing off his adorable dimples

tiny hands and

tiny toes

Introducing....

2010-08-31T12:28:00.000-07:00

Judah Cole

August 17, 2010 at 3:24 am

7lbs 11oz and 19"

dere momma,

2010-06-24T19:58:00.000-07:00

it was just this past sunday that you kep handing me off to dadda to give him 'ekstra atension' on daddas day. (now, between you and me momma, i love dadda and all, but ever since that fire happened at his work, ive been spending plenty of 'ekstra' time with him.) truth is, ive been wanting a reeson to give you some ekstra attention, ekstra love, and ekstra kisses.

when i told dadda about what ive been wanting to do this morning, he told me giving you ekstra attension any time would soot you just fine, but that theres no better day than today becuz its yur birthday.

now, even though dadda told me ive had a birthday before, i couldnt remember what it was. so dadda eksplaned that its the day when you get bigger by one. he told me that yesterday you were as many as all my fingers and toes plus all of his fingers, and that today we could count one of his toes too...

and that all those fingers and toes added up to the number tweny-nine

he also told me that a birthday is the sellabration of the first day that a momma and dadda get to meet ther baby. he said that he wasnt there for yur first birthday, but that nana and popa would be sure to remember it... especially nana he said. then he shode me some pictures of some of yur other birthdays...

next he told me its better to have a birthday than to try and plan for one. he said that his birthdays are always so grate, and that he wants to make yours very special in return.

then he got to the good part...

presents!

dadda told me that birthdays are full of presents. i was confused tho when he explaned that on yur birthday you get presents, and on my birthday i get presents, but on jesus birthday everyone gets presents. i started to wish that today was my birthday or jesus birthday, but then i remembered my original idea...

ekstra atension for you.

so im glad its yur birthday, you deserve it, and i love you sooooooooooooooooo much. i just wish there wood be a fire at yur work too.

happy birthday momma!

love,
moxley

Mox is Back

2010-06-17T10:39:00.000-07:00

Our last post was probably the only post since the birth of our son that he has not been mentioned. No one wrote asking about his absence, but I know you were all thinking about it. So, I've decided to dedicate this entire post to him. This is good for two reasons, he brings the ratings, and the kid's got the looks. Today we look at some firsts.

Outdoor Firsts

Hangin' at a park for the first time with Momma and the baby bump.

Ya'll better invest now... this upside-down outdoor shower is gonna catch on.

Eating Firsts

Georgia may claim the peach, but South Carolina's got'em as sweet as they come.

So I've got to fight for the peaches, but Mom and Dad give me all their corn because they claim you can't beat an Illinois cob... Whatever, I don't care where this thing came from, slather it up with butter and call me a piggy.

Uncle Dan and Aunt Val, I promise I only choose to eat the above two foods... Dad forced this Krispy Kreme sugar bomb on me...

...and then he tortured me...

Hansford 5:25

2010-05-25T12:07:00.000-07:00

We are all familiar with some of the frequently quoted verses from the Bible. Most notable and significant to our salvation is likely the most quoted of all, John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." That's awesome.

In reading the good book recently and getting very involved in the life of Paul, I've spent some time imagining what my story might look like if it were recorded in biblical fashion. My birth would likely not even be mentioned, because it didn't involve any Abraham and Sarah or Mary as a virgin miracle. My childhood may have been overlooked because of it's normalcy (thankfully God didn't ask my dad to sacrifice me on a mountain top, because he's so expedient in getting the job done there may not have been time for the Angel to interfere.) No... more likely in my story the early chapters would have read very much like the story of the prodigal son. And, although I'm sure that my Father was out looking over the horizon always waiting for me to come back, I'm sure it would have taken me longer to come home if not for a certain woman. So in the book of Hansford the first four chapters may have had it's ups and downs for the book's namesake, but it's in chapter five you'd take comfort that he was back on track to live out God's plan. And chapter 5 verse 25 might read something like this...

"And because God works in mysterious ways, He allowed Jesse a woman named Angela (His most beautiful creation) to call his wife to prove to the world that miracles do still happen."

Happy Anniversary my Love!

ps. Thank you God!

Strawberry Fields Forever

2010-05-18T12:05:00.000-07:00

"Living is easy with eyes closed...."

So maybe John Lennon was talking about something else, but when someone else is willing to feed you perfectly fresh, juicy strawberries, just close your eyes and enjoy.

But wait, to whom does that strange hand feeding my child belong????

... it's my Mom!
(Check out the enthusiasm and unnatural positioning to show off these strawberries, I think Mom and I both may have a future in Product Marketing)

And what about Angie you ask? Well, she is definitely my Princess, but prissy she ain't. She wasn't just along for the ride to look PWP (Pretty while Pregnant), she did most of the picking... even getting Moxley in on the act.

She did however, manage to find a minute to enjoy a bite...

All in all it was a successful outing for the H525 crew + Mom/Nana (used as photographer).

Thank goodness Angie's beauty is so great, 'cause Mox is too cool to get photos with Mom and Dad anymore, Baby H is being shy out of the camera's view, and I am wearing a disguise (Hat, Sunglasses and Beard. "You look like every wanted poster out there" as described by Angie.)

Just a couple more photos 'cause they're awesome...

Either that's strawberry juice running down your chin or this Twilight/vampire craze has corrupted our youth.

Part Mom: Sweet, ethereal beauty staring lovingly at his parents

Part Dad: On the verge of crazy

Catching Up: CANCELED

2010-05-11T12:07:00.000-07:00

So the miniseries was canceled after only one episode. Actually, I just lost track of the blog on the priority list and never got back around to writing the next two posts. I don't intend to get too creative here, but I will fill you in on the other two subjects I had hoped to write about if "The Saga of What's Been Going On" were to have been finished.

The first of the news that was worthy of filling you all in on was Angie's 20-week ultrasound. I'm certain that with Angie's facebook page, or a text message, or a phone call you've heard that the little one is a little boy, but most of you haven't seen the photos. Well, put on your X-ray glasses and check out these pictures.

Little Man, I made this promise to your big brother and so I'll repeat it for you.

To my future son:
Dear Son, I'm so sorry I put that picture of you and your pee-pee up on the internet for the whole world to see. It's just... well... I was pretty excited about you and your mother and I were anxious to share the news of what you were with everyone. I promise you'll never find any naked bath tub pictures on this world wide web (unless you've got the hand-towel coverage).

This photo is the only evidence that I as your dad have of your little feet, but your mom is already predicting your soccer, tap-dancing, or karate proficiency.

Psalm 139: 13-16

13 For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me

were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

Thank you God!

The final chapter of the mini-series would have been this:

The Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

I suppose unless you grow up next to a farm with roosters (or have a crazy urban neighbor that keeps a rooster) you don't much think of the possibility of birds being a nuisance until you become a home-owner. I can remember "drunk" birds crashing into my parents home windows growing up, and birds building nests in the mailbox of my brother's first home, and I've heard about the dreaded bird in the air ducts, but honestly I've always thought these feathered antics were just funny. Well, I am now a homeowner, and notice to that yella-bellied punk (notice the mohawk) pictured above... I ain't laughin'.

In actuality, the fight is seemingly over, and likely was before I even knew of my adversary. But one evening as Angie, Mox and I were doing our evening stroll around the yard, Angie was looking at one of our landscape trees hoping to find a nest to show to Moxley. Having noticed one, I decided to have a look, which brought me closer to the tree than usual. After seeing the Cardinal nest (all Cardinals are welcome here) this is what I saw...

I thought for sure we had some Mutant-Alien Caterpillar or a neighborhood vandal who knows Morse Code, but with some research Angie found the culprit: the yellow-bellied sapsucker. Now, their damage to the tree itself is fairly insignificant, but the trouble comes when a swarm of bugs notice that some bird has opened up a million entryways to burrow out some Taliban style cave system in my tree. So what's the solution???

Answer: Tattoos and Gaudy Jewelry

The "arm-band" style tattoos is a substance marketed as "Tree Seal", but most everyone would call it tar by the smell and look of it. And the jewelry, in this tree we went with a Canadian Dry Ginger Ale can re-designed and hung by Mel. The other tree got some metallic red, white, and blue pinwheels found on sale at Garden Ridge. We've not seen any sign of further damage, so I think we've won, or perhaps that Sucker is waiting us out. Since I was in the tattooing mood, I added a bit of work to one of the trees that may not have been necessary.

Catching Up: The Saga of What's Been Going. An H525 Miniseries: Part 1 of 3*

2010-04-19T12:31:00.000-07:00

So much has happened in the last month, it's hard to know where to start. One might suggest starting on March 21st, the day after our last blog, but my dear friends that would be too predictable. I'd like to start this journey way back on January 16th (2010 not 1979, don't worry). The day was my 31st birthday, and although that in and of itself is worthy of multiple blogs, the reason I'm bringing it up is because my birthday provided a gathering for some news.

Because I have the best in-laws in the world (don't worry Mom and Dad, Angie claims she has the best in-laws too.) we were invited to dinner and desert at Mel and Martha's. The K's anxious for some of Martha's good home cookin, and an opportunity for the boys to spank/hit me 31 times with no recourse joined in the festivities. With all local family in attendance we seized the opportunity to make an announcement. But if you know us at all, you know we like to be creative.

Angie devised the plan, and put me to work. Here's the result:

Front of Shirt

Back of Shirt

And here's how it went down (or sideways thanks to my sloppy camera work):

and....

Ken and Kathleen were certainly excited by the news too, and the boys were more concerned about beating up their uncle.

In truth, the Ringenberg side didn't get the news first, but they were the one's surprised by the announcement rather than Angie and I. My Dad having come into town for a weekend visit a week prior to my birthday asked if everything was still on for a late August family reunion at the beach. Some serious hemming and hawing went on, with funny glances between Angie and I and finally we said, "Well, no. Because we may be in the hospital." It took just a second, and he caught what we were throwing. So as to not leave my mom out of the scoop, Moxley delivered her the news that he was going to be a big brother over the phone with me translating for him.

The rest of the family learned by a birthday invitation.

Then friends got a more customized card.

Front of Card

Inside Card

March "Maaa"-dness

2010-03-20T08:13:00.000-07:00

I'm an idealist. I don't know where I'm going but I'm on my way. *

Thankfully though, with the help of Google Maps, we atleast had directions to get to *Carl Sandburg's North Carolina estate.

Now Moxley may not be ready to tour the house of a dead poet or atleast appreciate it, but it was a beautiful day, my Mom was in town, and we wanted to do something different. And although the Mox wouldn't enjoy an old desk with pens and paper arranged as Carl would have had it, Mrs. Sandburg raised goats, and it was these that we were anxious to see.

So after enjoying the amazing fresh smells of the outdoors on our trek from the parking lot, around the home and eventually out to the goat barn Moxley got his first sense of a farm life. The smell of manure, the sounds of grazing, the maze of fencing, and the reprimand of an old farm hand who pointed out that a goat says "Maa" and not "baa" as my little boy had voiced.

When Life (or Mom) Gives You A Lemon...

2010-03-15T16:36:00.000-07:00

Snowy South

2010-02-24T17:08:00.000-08:00

As I think back on the K's trying to sell us on moving down to Greenville, I don't once recall them advertising the beauty of a South Carolina snowfall.

Here are 4 of God's most beautiful creations: my wife, my son, the snow, and another of God's beauties growing in Angie's tummy.

Part of the beauty of a South Carolina Snowfall is that you get to enjoy the white blanket for it's picturesque serenity and then by noon you can go about your day with none of the interuptions that sustainable snow creates. No real road hazards, no collapsed roofs, no power outages, and no unsightly piles of "gray matter" (those side of the road / parking lot mountains of snow mixed with all sorts of road waste, litter, and whoknowswhat.). Besides that, with the temperatures back up to 45 or so, you never have to worry about the uncomfort of inhaling a breath only to freeze the hair and snot in your nose.

Knowing that the rarity would be short lived, we made sure to bring Moxley out early to introduce him to this treat. Much like his first introduction to the beach though...

... he and snow did not make fast friends.

But really, who would choose to be alone in the cold when you have the opportunity to be in the warmth of your Mommy's arms.

That is until your Mommy puts on her Mommy sized gloves on your baby sized hands and you lose all dexterity of your little fingers.

Another First

2010-01-28T16:32:00.000-08:00

"I have no idea what haircut means, but Mom and Dad seem pretty excited about it. I hope it's not lame."

"Whoa lady, easy on the sideburns. I don't want to look like I'm a 9 month old."

"If I walk out of here with a mullet or a rat tail, heads are gonna roll."

"I came in here looking like daddy on the weekend, I'm leaving looking like daddy during the week."

So we always know which one is our kid.

Happy New Decade!

2010-01-01T10:11:00.000-08:00

I've certainly read it all before that every new day presents an opportunity to start over or strive for new goals, and if that's true, than every hour /minute/ second does the same. That is all well and good, but for most of us it is this day, the first day of a new year, that we are filled with the hope to fly higher than we have before and the determination to put away those habits or feelings which hampered us in the past or those extra pounds we have no more use for. This has never been more true than it is for me (Jesse) this year. 2009 certainly had its highlights, but H525 had its fill of challenges throughout last year and we couldn't be more excited about 2010. But in order to put it all behind us, I'll attempt to wrap up 2009 in our year in review.

Year of the Mox!

Sure, Moxley was born in 2008, but graduating into 2009 with only 32 days (of mostly sleeping, eating and pooping) behind him, it was in '09 that he really made his mark. Early this past year we saw Moxley cross the double digit mark in lbs in January, and we've struggled mightily for him to pack on the second 10 throughout the remainder of the year (think we're close!).

Not much after that we were introduced to smiles and frowns...

We got smiles from both.

Then at week 8 we knew we had parenting down when we had Moxley sleeping through the night.

That all seems like a fairytale now because in week 12 our Midnight Monster reappeared.

BOOGUDY BOOGUDY!!!

Although the sleepless nights have continued, Moxley has an amazing and sacrificial Momma who proved her worthiness for the Mom Hall of Fame in her rookie season. Moving past the nights, the firsts continued for the Mox in '09.

- First family roadtrip. We discovered Moxley's ability to cry for extended periods of time other than in the middle of the night, and our ability to find an isolated parking spot for some road nursing.

- First tooth. As of today we stand at 9 teeth going on 12.

- First beach trip. Mox wasn't a big fan of the surf the first go around in Myrtle Beach.

- First swimming pool trip. With the beach being a bit overwhelming, we decided to join the K5 crew at their neighborhood swimming pool in June. Mox developed the affinity for the water that he lacked at the beach, and his mom couldn't have been more relieved. Subsequent visits to our pool kept our little fish a happy summer boy.

- First mobility. Our pride quickly turned to fear as this new skill combined with the curiosity to "taste anything" presented a new set of problems as this video displays. (Also notice Moxley's patented "Hitch in the Giddy-up" the one knee, one foot crawl. This proved handy for a three point crawl a bit later leaving one hand to carry something.)

- First Word. And this prize goes to the most aforementioned MVP (Most Valuable Parent).

- First National League Central Division Championship. Sure we Cardinals didn't make it much further, but Mox brought home the division pennant and our guy Albert Pujols got the MVP.

Second and third generation of the greatest baseball fans on earth.

-First Halloween. We tricked Moxley into being our treat.

- First Steps. Although Mox took his time getting comfortable with this new motor skill, at the rate he's going now, we're sure it won't be long before we need one of those child leashes.

- First Thanksgiving. Having graduated to table foods by this point, it was clear that Moxley was excited for the holiday spread. I'm still convinced it was the good food on Thanksgiving '08 that made our little man decide it was time to join the world, or maybe he just got crowded in Mom's belly after the feast.

- First Birthday! I would think that birthday parties would get progressively bigger as we got older to commemorate the accomplishment of survival. I learned however, that it's the ever important First Birthday bash that gets all the attention. Maybe it's just every birthday that has the word "first" in it... Thirty-First??? (I'm not keeping my fingers crossed.)

- First Second Christmas. Again, Moxley was around last Christmas, but just barely. This time he got to meet Santa Claus, play with his Ringenberg/Chapman cousins, and enjoy the toys... oh the toys.

So that was Moxley's year in review, and as all first time parents know, your baby becomes your life so his review mostly wraps up our year too, but we had a few memorable moments ourselves, I'll share just a few.

Angie's Highlights

Work

The best part of Angie's work year were probably the 4 months that she was at home with Moxley. As you can imagine, people down on their luck continue to need to eat, and this recession has created more people down on their luck. So in one of a few careers where you hope to lose clients, Angie's workload picked up.

Family

There's no doubt who gets the H525 Award for Awesomeness this year. Angie proved herself to be an undeniable force in Motherhood as she gave up all things dairy (this is not just milk and cheese people, it's almost everything.) for the sake of the Mox's digestion difficulties. It would have been more than enough for her to have done all that, but she did it while working full time, getting up 2-4 times each night, dealing with a persistently sick child and taking care of me too. (Fella's sorry but I found the best, and ladies imagine all this without the comfort of chocolate... I've proved my point.)

Miscellaneous

During her time home with Moxley over the summer, Angie read the entire Bible. I suppose after reading the paragraph above, there is no doubt that there is power in the Word.

Jesse's Highlights

Work

Ughhh!

Family

Thank God I married Angie.

Miscellaneous

I know the topic is highlights, but seriously, 2009 was a rough year for me. Since it's better to be able to laugh at yourself I'll share a few missteps I had in the last year.

- Exploded water main. Granted this was not my fault, but it's too bad I don't have video of my reaction to the flooded crawl space, it would have been classic. A chicken with it's head cut off would be my best description.

- Got the Flu. I don't think I've been that sick since my family moved to Illinois and I got the dreaded Kawasaki disease. I subsequently got a cold a couple more times before year end.

- Two Flat Tires. This happened within a period of a couple weeks. Both tires went flat because of a bad stem valve. Seriously, a bad stem valve? One tire was ruined, thankfully, the stem valve can be replaced, and I saved about $85 the second time around.

- Two Roll-Aways. First I want you to just think about what a roll-away might be.... Now read on. What I mean by a roll-away is not putting your car in park and finding it later somewhere other than where you parked it. First time was at work, and my car ended up stuck on the bushes of a retention wall which drops 4 or 5 feet into the neighboring business... ironically a used-car lot. Dangling between lucky and totaled, with some help, I was able to save the would-be-disaster. The next time it was brought to my attention by a curious neighbor who rung our doorbell to ask if that was my maroon car half way in another neighbors yard, and half way in the dark street. "Yes ma'am, I'm afraid it is."

- Three empties. That's right in my thirtieth year of life, I rapidly brought my lifetime average for running out of gas while driving from zero to once a decade.

I think it's fair to say I've been off my game this year. Which leads me back to where we started, farewell 2009, thank GOD 2010 has come. I'm not one who has ever really declared my resolutions, for fear I'll stumble, but this one I'll shout from the mountain tops. I resolve to make this year better than the last. Happy New Year!

Moxley Meets Santa

2009-12-22T07:25:00.000-08:00

Moxley with the real Santa

We hope that you all have a very

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Happy 1st Birthday Moxley!

2009-11-30T17:42:00.000-08:00

Moxley's Smash Cake

Noah's Ark Birthday Cake

Mom and Dad's present

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday dear Moxley...

Happy Birthday to you!

It's my party...

Hooray! I'm one!

Our happy family.

Sunday is Funday!

2009-11-08T16:41:00.000-08:00

Hmmm... I think today I'll teach mom and dad a couple of things about joy.

Joy is discovery.
Even though I've seen leaves before, I've never seen this one. I've heard every snowflake is unique... I'll take the warm weather and find beauty in each leaf.

Joy is trust.
There is nothing like taking flight with your dreams, knowing that you won't fall.

Joy is love.
Being held in the arms of a loved one, hearing their heart beat out your name.

Joy is life.
When the leaves turn brown and fall from the tree, it'd be easy to frown on life, but our Father has a purpose for every season. So even though it may be scratchy, soak it in and smile.

Tasty Halloween

2009-11-01T16:57:00.000-08:00

Moxley's not even a year old yet but if you think, that after missing the opportunity to do some trick or treating ourselves for many years now, we would skip the first legitimate chance we got to have strangers subsidize our candy habit you are crazy. Problem was, we didn't know what to dress a zero-year-old, so we decided to get into full Halloween mode by visiting a pumpkin patch.

"Mom, I've not been around long, but as much as Daddy likes pumpkin pie, we're going to have to get one that's at least this big."

Still struggling for ideas on a costume, we thought we'd spend some more time in an October activity so after the pumpkin patch we decided to try our luck in a Corn Maze.

"No... no... go right. I promise we haven't been that way yet." Moxley said with a fiendish smile and fingers crossed.
I should have figured it out sooner that the one getting the ride shouldn't be the one giving directions.

The adventure into the Maize was shared as a first time experience for all three of us. It was a great time and the weather was fantastic, and because hunger set in after what seemed like days lost in the Maize, all our costume ideas revolved around eating.

"I've heard Illinois is nothing but corn fields, and yet I'm the one to introduce these two to a Maize?"

A few days after visiting the pumpkin patch, Angie decided to try again at getting Halloween-inspired by taking Moxley outside for some pictures in the leaves.

I wish I still had a sense of amazement and wonder instead of annoyance and anger over leaves in my yard. Perhaps Mark 10:15 needs a review?

"You can't get enough of this smile can you?"

Although the photo session was a success, costume ideas were still a struggle, and it became clear that Moxley had food on the brain.

"Seriously Mom, we've been out here all afternoon, I don't ever want to eat and I'm getting hungry."

The big day was fast approaching and again, we were not going to miss out on at least some candy, so we had to come up with a costume idea. After thinking back on our October the common theme was hunger. So fortunately Marshalls had the perfect costume just Moxley's size.

"I'm going to get real worried if I see a stick of butter."

"Mom, the water is really getting warm, I think we've taken enough pictures."

Happy Halloween.

Just a Few Pics

2009-10-28T13:10:00.000-07:00

MAMA

2009-10-12T16:15:00.000-07:00

My baby learned a new word!!

2 525 Years

2009-10-06T14:17:00.000-07:00

In case you are wondering about this entry's title, 2 525 Years, this week marks the second anniversary of our first post. YEAH us! In preparation of the celebration I decided I probably needed some time off work. Now, I am for all practical purposes my own boss, however, since I'm still relatively new within my firm, I didn't want to appear as an ordinary truant, so I needed to legitimize my absence. The ordinary thing to do would be to feign a sickness and enjoy some much needed time away feeling strong and healthy. I am many things, but I am not ordinary. Faking an illness just seemed so childish to me, so I decided to actually get sick. The Swine Flu would have been the trendy choice, but I figured Influenza A wouldn't draw as much attention. Fortunately it's true what the news reports say, people really don't wash their hands so licking a few door handles at the local Walmart Supercenter will get you laid up in bed in no time. Sure it totally debilitated me for 2 days and I couldn't do much for another 2, but in the end it was totally worth the cold sweats, fever, and severe body aches to enjoy some R & R.

In this down time, I clearly wasn't up to my normal photogenic hunkness, nor did I find the strength to get many shots of the beauty that is Angie. However, so as not to disappoint The Mox did find his way into the camera's view, so enjoy.

Ty Pennington thinks he's the stud of the fix-it world with his unbuttoned shirts and "cool-guy" hair?... Check out Extreme Makeover Crib Edition

Ty unbuttons the shirt, Mox loses the pants. Eat your heart out Pennington.

You probably remember the picture of the bath time Lion King. Well, me and Moxley have decided to make bath time Hollywood again.

The Blair Bath Project? or The Bath Witch Project? which will sell more tickets?...

and seriously, if that's not the best Robert Deniro, I don't know what you're looking at.
"You talkin' to me?"

The obligatory "I'm so cute, it's okay if you kiss your computer screen" picture.

"I'm so cute it's okay if you kiss your computer screen."

Some Bad Behavior

Superman?... More like Uncle Scott before the emergency room visit to correct the damage the fireplace did to his head. (I guess this is the difference of interpretation between being a kid and a parent)

If not for my illness, I'd have never known that Angie and Moxley do a Richard Simmons step workout everyday at 9:30. I suppose for the phone's sake I need to find an infant step platform.

Worse Behavior

I think that Relenza needs to have "Acts of Ridiculousness" listed as a possible side effect along with all the dry mouth, itchy eyes and headaches.

Outdoor Pets

2009-09-28T12:48:00.001-07:00

Munching on our bushes

Eating our flowers

2009-09-24T11:05:00.000-07:00

We meant to post this video about a month ago but never got around to it. Enjoy!

Moxley's August

2009-09-01T07:33:00.000-07:00

It's been 6 weeks since we last posted a blog, so for those of you that still occasionally check this site for an update on the Hansford525 clan please forgive us. This post is titled Moxley's August, because as all first time parents learn, the camera rarely seems to find us anymore. So, although Angie and I participated in all of Moxley's August, Mox is the star here. But, who am I teasing, we know who the people want to see, so we give the people what they want.

I've heard Mom call Daddy an ape, but even his hands aren't this big.

Now I may be wrong, but I think this is a bear that I'm sitting on. I'd have more confidence in this assertion if my dad weren't so crazy about this particular beast. You see I hear Daddy complain about a bear market, but root for Chicago Bears. Then he says Cubs are dumb, yet he calls me his baby bear. Seriously old man, I'm trying to learn from you and you seem certifiably insane.

Nana, I have to apologize. Before I we took this picture, I had told Mom to position us so it looked like the giraffe was sitting on your head. OH MAN! I could have died with anticipation to see this shot.

This is Mommy's friend Mrs. Jackie. I really liked her. Mom was so glad I liked her because she said it's important to like people of all skin colors.

You may have noticed something different in this picture. Yep. . . my hand on Mommy's shoulder would have been pulling her hair a month ago. Now I have to settle for treating her necklace like a chew toy.

Broadway's got nothing on me and Daddy's version of the lion king at bath time.

They say a picture's worth a thousand words, but it's really only ten that are important here.

Catching Up

2009-07-18T06:10:00.000-07:00

The summer rush has most certainly been on. And it's about time I caught you all up on what we, the Hansford525 crew, have been up to. Since the last time I wrote we've seen family, celebrated a birthday, and taken a weekend trip to the beach. The pictures below will tell the stories.

Moxley was happy to get reacquainted with Wiley and Eli. In this picture he's showing his cousins that he loves them "this much". These two guys had me screaming for my life when it came time to wrestle, but when it came time for the Mox, they were gentle and even doting on their newest cos'.

The week following the departure of the Chapman's, Mox got to meet some more family for the first time. Uncle Scott and cousin Nathan ventured down from Philly to meet the boy, climb a mountain (almost all the way to the top) and catch a ballgame. Thanks to a packing oversight Moxley's got some sweet shoes for when he turns 6.

The weekend following the visit from 1/2 of the PA Hansfords, duty called me and the family down to Hilton Head Island for some work meetings. Now, I've said before on this blog that work trips are for the birds, but when work springs for the family to join, and the work is to be done on Hilton Head, I suppose I can suck it up. Obviously, there was at least some time outside of the hotel conference rooms.

The last time you saw Moxley on the ocean water he was screaming. Well, his mom had a long talk about how that was not going to be allowed for her boy, and so now he is clearly warming up to the waves and sand.

He likes the sand so much infact, that right after this picture was snapped the handful of sand he's about to scoop up went straight into his mouth.

I'm only smiling here because I didn't realize that Moxley had stolen my hat to mock the nice Pirate gentleman behind us. But you have to admit he's doing a good job, he may have a future in stand up.

Angie is acting like she's reading along with this kind bird, but I checked and the book was totally written in Pelicanese. Nice try Ang... nice try.

Here's the obligatory, "Excuse me, could you please take a picture of us?" . . . "Yeah, it's that button right there." . . . "Oh I'm sure it's fine, thank you so much." Normally, you wouldn't see a picture that involved that conversation on this blog, but these nice folks did a decent job. Thank you nice folks.

Angie said that she did not want a surprise birthday party for her 30th birthday. So, of course, I gave her exactly what she didn't want, with a little help from some friends. I believe that the hats are appropriate here for the two of us, hers a crown, and mine the dunce.

It may not be Moxley's party, but he will most certainly cry if he wants to... for the next three hours.

Being that it was the Fourth of July, Angie wanted to thoroughly soak Mox to ensure a falling spark from a stray firework didn't set him ablaze.

Along with a pool party for the Fourth, we got a special visitor coming from his work site in Virgina. Moxley was super excited to see his Papa H, but then...

Papa told Moxley that he wasn't kidding, and he really didn't bring Nana H. with him for the holiday weekend. (Mom, just so you don't have to read between the lines, this is our way of guilting you into making a trip out here.)

The final visitor we had stop by was this nice turtle. Moxley wasn't to sure about this guy, and neither was the turtle sure about Moxley since it wouldn't poke it's head out (which may have been his uncertainty about Moxley or may have been the fact that a 6 foot monster had picked him 4 feet up in the air.)

After a month like that, who can blame the kid for being wiped out.

Happy Summer!

2009-07-08T18:14:00.000-07:00

Jesse will be publishing a new post very soon with more recent pictures but I wanted everyone to see his 6 month photo shoot. Moxley now has 5 teeth and has started crawling. He's getting so big so fast.

Fun in the Sun

2009-06-06T11:07:00.000-07:00

"Man, I am so happy to just be able to relax here by the pool. I mean, you would not believe the week I had. The bosses are saying I've got to eat more, and sleep through the night... the ENTIRE NIGHT! Can you believe that?"

"I'm no expert Mox, but I have been at this game a bit longer than you, so take this advice. Give'm what they want for awhile to get'm off your back. Then every once in a while remind them that you call the shots. Not only do I want you to not eat, I want you to make a point, and throw your food on the ground. And with the whole sleeping thing, mix it up. Stay quiet for a whole week, then wake up every night for a week. It drives these people crazy, and it's so much fun. Trust me man, they ain't gonna get rid of you."

"Ya know Kamden, I'm glad we got to talk."

"Seriously ol' man, I'm six months old now. Enough of the snuggly-wuggly stuff. I mean there are all kinds of girls here."

"No really Uncle Ken... I'm not lying, you really do have something in your nose.... just hold still and I'll get it."

"Dude, whatever you do, don't drink the water."

"She may be my mom, but I still ended up in the arms of the prettiest gal at the pool."

As an added bonus to this blog we are offering an all expenses paid trip to nowhere for the most creative idea as to what Moxley is laughing about.

Weekend Getaway!

2009-05-11T17:15:00.000-07:00

We've all heard of, and may even doubt the existence of Bigfoot, but with this picture I have proof of a Sasquitch or Littlefoot. He's very different, almost opposite from his fabled cousin the Sasquatch, with little to no hair, and obviously much, much smaller stompers. And rather than roaming through the forest, Sasquitch hangs out at the beach.

According to Angie, "Heaven may have streets of gold, but they better all lead to the beach". (Note to God, that's just a joke, and Angie didn't really say it. We don't have any demands, we just look forward to being there, and I'm quite confident that everything is awesome as is.) But the sentiment is true, Angie LOVES THE BEACH! Clearly, she's got some work to do on Mox, as he wasn't impressed with the South Carolina sand, or the cool Atlantic waves.

Since Mox wasn't in a swimming mood, we just set up his tent, camouflaged it by putting a towel on top of it, and Angie and I went and hit the surf. (Note to Moxley's grandparents, and great grandparents, although the camo was completely foolproof, we never actually left your grandchild/great grandchild alone in his tent.)

This may be the only shot we have of any part of the house we stayed at. As you can tell by the railing to the left of Angie, this place was awesome. Our friends even saved us a master bedroom. Thanks friends. I guess dealing with a screaming baby has it's perks after all.

After a long day of bumming at the beach and hanging with friends, Moxley goes to his happy place. And Mom and Dad are happy with the thumb firmly planted in the mouth. Thumb in mouth = no noise out of mouth.

Upon our return home, we joined the South Carolina family for a rib-tastic cookout in honor of Mother's Day. In case any of you were wondering how Angie's first "official" Mother's Day was, this video proves she's been dealing with an overgrown child ever since we started dating.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
To: My sweet and beautiful wife!
From: the big kid

Happy Spring!

2009-04-25T13:18:00.001-07:00

Our future gymnast

Moxley's first trip on the slide

So sleepy

Daddy, Moxley, and Nana H.

One baby is in the wrong bed

Cousins
Dressed to impress

Moxley and cousin Saylor

Easter Sunday

Mox and Papa H. enjoying some James Bond

3 month pictures

2009-03-13T09:30:00.000-07:00

Our First Family Picture

Here is a new picture of Moxley at 3 months of age. We are so thankful that he was cooperative this time. There is one more picture that most of you will be receiving in the mail sometime soon.

Jesse likes to tell people that he was thinking about the current state of the economy when taking this picture. I like to tell people this is how he looks when I'm at work and he's missin his mommy. It's amazing that a frown can make us smile so much. Isn't he the cutest?!

A Day in the Life

2009-02-28T17:59:00.000-08:00

4:15 - 4:30 am

It's normally about this time each morning that my evening snack is wearing a bit thin, and I'm ready to eat. And since Mom and Pops won't just set their alarm, I'm forced to call for their assistance. Now don't get me wrong, I understand that my 'rents enjoy their sleep as much as the next grown-up, but I mean if it's that important to them, follow my lead, sleep during the day. Already, I can tell my folks have got a lot to learn. Papa H. knows what I'm talking about though.

After my early morning meal, I'm generally content to get some more shut eye before really starting my day.

Between 6:30 and 7:00 each morning the house gets buzzing, even though I'm not all that excited about getting up. Pops goes into Simon's room, lays one of his shirts on this funny looking table, sprays it down with water and then crushes it under some machine wired up to the wall. Meanwhile, Mom is making the most fearful noise (outside of Pops' singin) with what can only be described as some tornado gun pointed at her head.

By 7:30 I've just about shaken the sleep off and Pops, all crazed up on his coffee, comes in my room, strips me down and asks Mom about what I should be wearing. He goes through his ritual of calling me naked boy, tickling me all over and kissin on me about a million times when Mom'll come in and ask why I'm not dressed yet.

Around 7:45 all the activity moves to the food room where I get strapped down in the first chair of the day.

What could be more exciting than watching two people feed themselves... obviously you can tell by my expression, nothing.
(Side note: Every time I rock this kickin outfit, Mom and Pops mention some Dean character. Anyone know that guy?)

So next, after Mom goes all gushy with the kisses and the, "I'm gonna miss you SOOOOOOO... SOOOOOOOOO.... SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.... much today." and then proceeds to go on about the same stuff with Pops, she leaves and Pops straps me to the next chair. This chair however, I don't mind as much. It's like NASCAR safety tech meets La-Z-Boy comfortability, so I normally just nod off.

Everyone should own one of these chairs.

When I wake up next, around 8:30, I've somehow gotten to Nana R's place. Now I'll go into all this another day, cuz I keep forgettin my camera, but Nana's place is awesome. I mean as soon as I wake up my boys Danny and Luke are all, "what's up Mox" and three lovely ladies are like, "Hi Moc-E". They all want in with me, cuz they know Ms. Martha is my Nana. Again, though I'll get into all that drama another day.

So 'round 5:30 or so Mom comes and picks me up, I holler at all my friends, and it's off to the crib for the evening. Now on most nights I'll just chow down some dinner, spend some time watchin Mom and Pops do the same, play with some toys, snuggle with Mom, have Pops fly me around like Superman eat some more and then hit the bed, but last Friday was different, so I'll share.

At 7:00 we showed up at this Mexican joint down the road from our place. We're waiting by the door when all the sudden all of Mom and Pops' church group shows up, and I'm thinking, "These rascals set up a surprise 3 month b-day party for me. How cool!" Come to find out, their friend James (who I call big-J) was turning 360 months old, and the surprise was for him.

Me eating away my sorrows of a forgotten birthday. While....

Big-J gets to wear that awesome hat and gets ALL the attention.

A MONTH OF MOXLEY

2009-02-22T14:56:00.000-08:00

It's been a month since we posted pictures so here are a few new ones for you. Things have been extremely busy since I have gone back to work. I am still getting used to my new schedule and only being home with Moxley at night and on the weekends. We will hopefully start posting pictures a little more regularly as things start to settle down.

Happy Birthday Jesse

2009-01-21T14:35:00.000-08:00

Happy 30th Birthday Jesse!

This last weekend we celebrated Jesse's 30th birthday. We hope and pray that this will be the best year of his life so far. We celebrated on Friday (his birthday) by going bowling with some of our friends. We didn't capture any pictures but we had a great time playing girls against the guys. The guys won but it was a close couple of games ;) On Saturday we cooked out with the Ringenbergs. Jesse requested 4 stack pudding as his dessert (thanks for the recipe Roxanne) and everyone loved it. We then went wall climbing with the K's. It was Jesse's first time climbing and he did awesome. He looked like a spider climbing so fast. It was also Keegan's first time on the wall. He was so cute and Ken and Kathleen are pros. I was taking care of Moxley so I didn't climb but I hope to do so next time we go. Here are the pictures of that day.

Jesse on the "superman" wall.

Jesse climbing to the top. The walls were 50 feet tall.

Keegan doing great for his first climb.

Happy 2009

2009-01-14T10:04:00.001-08:00

We are a few weeks behind but we wanted to wish everyone a happy New Year! We had a great night spending time with friends from church.

The guys

Moxley had a good time being loved on by all the girls.

Here are some of his latest pictures. He was finally willing to keep his eyes open for a few. He is now weighing in at 10 1/2 lbs and 22 1/4 inches.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-27T04:38:00.000-08:00

Obviously this message is coming a few days late, but... Merry CHRISTMAS! I'll be more timely in wishing you well for the new year. Before we get to the pictures, I just want to share that we had another amazing Christmas, surrounded by family, the ability to talk to more family despite the miles that separate us, and the blessing of living in a country where we can freely celebrate this holy day (err.. holiday).

Our Christmas gift came a bit early, but we've been able to unwrap him (many, many times) every day where he leaves us some of his little presents as well. And uh... that hot chick next to me is my wife. What a knockout 4 weeks away from giving birth. I am a lucky man.

We were of course very happy to introduce our son to two more of his cousins, Wiley and Eli, who were shining examples of young gentlemen to their new friend.

We were happy to see the Chapman family after some time apart. Val thought she might enjoy stealing another son, but by the end of the week the fatigue on our faces scared her away from having to relive that episode of their lives. (Side note: I could have sworn that Wiley and Eli were in that picture with us.)

"Ok, so you've got me stripped down... Why are you looking at me so funny? And why aren't you putting another diaper on me?"

"OOOHHHHHH, I see. I could get use to this. Let's turn up the jets and get more bubbles."

"Cousin Kamden warned me to keep a towel with me 'cause, 'Those darn paparazzi are everywhere.' Guess he was right. Can't a brother have some privacy?"

"Ever since Mom dressed me up like this last Monday night, Dad's been calling me his Big Bear. And since I was able to watch the entire game with Dad I figure I'll throw in my two cents:
1. If Matt Cassel is sitting the bench in New England before Brady gets hurt, why can't we Bears get a better starter than Kyle Orton? Dad tells me the history of that position in Chicago is just nightmarish.
2. If I'd have stayed up that late to watch the Bears lose in OT to the Packers, I'd probably abandoned rooting for the Bears before I was old enough to have any memory of ever doing so."

GO BEARS! and GO GIANTS!

My first video

2008-12-20T12:41:00.000-08:00

I can't do much yet but I know how to squeak and move my arms.

Pictures of my babies

2008-12-11T15:57:00.001-08:00

Daddy and Moxley

Simon is not too sure about Moxley yet

Moxley being cute

My other baby... he is actually under the covers and is resting his head on a pillow.

Introducing...

2008-12-05T06:01:00.000-08:00

Moxley Grant Hansford
aka "Mox", "The Mox", "a hunka hunka burning Mox"

Even though we received this present almost a full month before Christmas, God's gifts beat Santa's every time.