Later that evening we find our Hero.....

This pose has become Jack's MO his "Modus Operandi". Aimee and I started to notice that every time we whip out the camera, Jack goes into a Transforminjaturtlemrincrediblespiderbatmandarthvaderlarryboykungfupanda mode. I need a better camera with a much faster shutter speed as it is getting much harder to catch all the action! So to capture the fullness of this moment simply add you own sound effects....."BAM!" or "WHOP!" or "POW!" will suffice, but I have an affinity for "KaPLEWEYPOWBAMWHOPCHOW!!!!".

and a doll, a puppy, and a pony.......

No words were spoken, but after looking at this picture you know exactly what she was thinking;)

BUBBLES! ! ! ! !

Bathtime just gets better and better! No one told me that you can put bubbles in the water...this is great! I mean, at first I thought mom lost her mind, pouring soap into the water, but whoa! The more I splash the more spherical delight! OH JOY!

......and she is off!

FALL

I noticed that our trees have been fully stripped of their foliage.......this typically catalysis within me the groans of the doldrums associated with the tedious battle that rages between man rake and November winds.....AAAARRRGGGHHHH. But this year was different. My first thought was not typical to years past, my first thought was......how COOL. Jack and I can go play. So, we pulled out the blower and rake and created a pile of leaves that storied about a foot higher than Jack. After about 20 minutes of prep, the official first annual Piland family pile obliteration party began. Fun was had: Jack and Dad = 1, leaves = 0

FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE at last

Maggie has decided to camp out under the table. She is acting like Columbus upon stepping onto the dry land of the new world (I know Bahamas) she too will soon realize that her new spot is not as great as she first thought. Movable chairs and peoples feet have a tendency to strike out and get you when you are least expecting. It will be exciting to watch her seek out new discoveries and at the same time heart wrenching when she bumps her head, knocks her nose and pops her lips. All part of the fun......camera (check), ice bag (check), band aid (check)...we're ready!!

Jack attack!

Big brother on the bed.....one of the things hindering Maggie from staying still. By the way, a haircut has been received by the aforementioned bouncy brother.

Its BOW time!

It was an exciting Sunday around the Piland house as Aimee decided that Maggie finally had reached "critical hair mass" and could support a bow. Apparently, the addition of a bow is worth commemorating (I dunno, I just do what I am told;). We took about 20 pictures.....this is the only one to turn out....of course the hair brush was integral to accomplishing the task of getting her to stay still. Anywho, the more important thing (no photographic evidence of course) is that Maggie successfully crawled across her bedroom floor yesterday morning. It was quite beautiful and accomplished, yet Jack (fulfilling the role of the "Russian judge") gave her a 7/10. He said it was wobbly. Soooo, this weekend will consist of continued baby-proofing and crib mattress lowering. She is certainly fearless....and that is quite frightening!

Mom & Mags

Rub-a-Dub-Dub 2 kids in a tub

Jack was finishing his bath last night when Aimee decided to throw Maggie in the mix. It continues to amaze me how much she has grown! She thoroughly enjoyed her time in the tub and continues to frighten Aimee and me with her daring and lack of fear. I had her on the bed after the bath and she bolted for the edge. Looks like the next few months are going to be a little interesting.

Dirty Steaks are AWESOME!

Well, after about a year of thinking about it then immediately forgetting, I finally got up enough gumption to try a "dirty steak". A "dirty steak" is when you cook the slice of bovine directly on the natural lump charcoal. You get your charcoal white hot, make sure your steak is dry then lay it directly on top of the coals. Your first thought is that you just ruined a nice piece of meat, but 3 minutes per side later you are rewarded with a perfectly cooked steak. No charcoal sticks to it and it is not burned (some char, but WOW is it good)!!! I encourage you to give it a try, or you could simply buy two 2 inch thick rib-eyes and I will be over directly!

We bought a new security system for the house.

A 4 year old in a spider-man costume is all the protection we need!

Does this green shirt make my head look big?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Jack is now officially four years old and Mom and Dad are late (very) in getting any evidence of the birthday bash up on the web (sorry). Jack "my head is optimus prime" Piland had a terrific time (of course we must ignore the fact that he re-injured his head by bumping into a running party goer, she was WAY out of line playing at a party, the nerve). A few tears and an icy pop later, all was well. We enjoyed a split birthday party with his pal Peyton Williamson. The building was decorated in two parts (1/2 transformers and 1/2 tinker bell). Much much fun was had and the birthday celebration lasted the entire week. Check out the picasa web blog (upper left of the page for more pics). Our little boy is quite awesome!

New Pics!!!

Click on the middle of the slide show picture (top left of this page "The Kids") to access the Picasa Web album. We have added quite a few pictures! ENJOY!

SAFE!!!!!!!

I do think that their is a time and place for just about everything. For example, the first time you attempt a Head-First "Pete Rose" slide, you should locate your attempt on a well-maintained baseball diamond......NOT a church playground climbing apparatus. We were attending our annual FALL festival at church a week or so ago and Jack was enjoying himself on the playground. In his diligence to climb back to the top of the slide faster than Optimus Prime would be able to do, he dove head-first into the corner of a step. He got up, cried out and walked over to Aimee and me. It all looked to be ok until the hematoma started forming and blood started spewing (too graphic...sorry), I mean niagra river flowing like he ruptured a main under the city of Atlanta with its antiquated plumbing system close-down Peachtree street for a week spewing (better?). I got the bleeding stopped with a baby wipe and the golf ball size hematoma was iced down with a first-aid cold pack. All pain and hurt was quickly nullified with a raspberry icy-pop and we were sitting back at the playground in no time at all. Jack was finishing his icy-pop and sitting in my lap when, being the concussion "expert", I decided to give Jack the once-over. Kids having a great time all around us, hollering and screaming with glee, I asked Jack to count my fingers (I held up three). He looks me in the eye and goes, "Three dad, can I go play now?" I'd call that cognitively intact. He then went around showing off the massive lump on his forehead.

REAPING the rewards of one's efforts

Aimee and I had Jo and Joanna over the other night for some grillin fun which led to Aimee realizing that Jack had never tried SMORES.....For that matter neither had I. One coat hanger, some hot coals, 2 Chocolate bars, a few marshmellows, and a box a graham crackers later we realized that we ALL like SMORES. After devouring two of the big delicacies Jack decided that the resulting sticky fingers were too much to deal with. He asked to take a shower......WOW we should have SMORES more often.

SMORES: First Timer

The PEDIABOX 5000 Infant Entertainment System

I was going through some of the hundred or so pictures I have been meaning to post when I came across this little contraption devised by Aimee. I am thinking about drafting a provisional patent and claiming Intellectual Property on this device. I think that we can have this on the shelf by Christmas! $79.99 base price with an additional $29.99 integrated padding and playset upgrade. Thoughts?

Alabama Score

A little late is posting this, but this captures a true DAWG's reaction to the Bama game.

Short lived screams and night of the iguanas: I feel a "FOY" award coming

Well it is Tuesday afternoon, about 4:00. I am sitting here on the living room floor, back propped up against the couch watching Miss. Maggie play in her ExerSaucer and contemplating on how awesome of a father I am. Two things have happened over the past three days to foster and confirm such thoughts. I had to take Mags in to the physician for her 6 month exam today. I must admit that at first I was not too thrilled about having to take her. Today was one of those days you build up in your head as a truly purposeful and productive day. I already planned how everything was going to transpire in my head: Finalize the research manuscript that has been collecting dust on my desk for over a year and move on to three other new projects (Today was the DAY). That was until Aimee reminded me of the appointment last night. So, begrudgingly at 12:00 I drove over and picked her up and we went to the pediatric clinic. We arrived early and they got us in early (really cool). They anticipated that Miss. Maggie was going to have a bad visit (lots of planned sticks ahead of us). WOW! What a pleasure to have such a calm, cool little cucumber as a daughter. How dumb am I? (uh no post on that please...rhetorical). I would have missed out on the coolest 20 minute doctor visit ever (Yeah 20 minutes...my girl rocks!) This little (16 pounds 6 ounces; 27 & 1/2 inches long with a 17 inch head [insert quote here: "its got its own satellite system.....HEED PANTS NOW!] girl has got some moxy, for after three shots, one finger prick and an oral dose of something terribly nasty, my little tough one was smiling. One short lived scream, one split second glance of "why are you doing this to me?"and (without pause) smiling. NOT the little "are you sure it is going to be okay?"grin, I am speaking of the ear to ear, cheek compressing, lip attenuating "I Love You Daddy! You are the greatest" written all across her face, could smelt iron ore in the middle of the arctic circle smile. Both of her tiny pearly white bottom incisors gleaming up at me (covered by copious amounts of slobber of course). She is a TOUGH little cookie and I don't even care that the manuscript has collected another day of dust. It CAN wait......now on to "the rest of the story"...Feats of great fatherly ability and Big Brother.

We started the AWANA program at our church on Sunday nights. This past Sunday was the first session. Intent on getting Jack hyped for how much fun he was going to have later that day, I decided to talk non stop about everything AWANA. How we were having AWANAs at the church, and how much fun all the boys and girls were going to have....you know, because of having AWANAs. I really ran this one into the ground for about an hour, with good effect, Jack seamed to be getting pumped about AWANAs being at the church later that day. Weeeeeeell, Aimee is reading a book to Jack prior to his Sunday nap and she asked him, "Jack are you excited about going back to church?" "YES! Daddy told me that we are having Iguanas at church. I want to pet one!".....mission accomplished! Go ahead and send in your nominations for my "FOY" (Father of the year ) :)

LOW SPOT

Can you find the low spot? Can you find the ditch? Nope? Keep looking. Wanted to post this to show just how much rain we received from Gustav. Saturated is a good word. Our builder is building a house two doors down and had just finished putting in all the top soil for the yard.....now I have a bunch of top soil (which is great because I have a few low spots), but it is located in the one spot I wanted to keep low (see ditch). Ditch digging party anyone?

Do these girls look a little stir crazy?

Trent had enough! Being trapped in a house for a 24 hour period is enough to make anyone a little stir crazy, so he and Kristy emptied their fridge, loaded up Kiley and came over. I moved the grill to the front porch and realized, with the evilish grin of 12 year old, that the best way to get your coals to turn white is to place them in the direct path of the 30 knot wind. We went from cold to cooking in about 5 minutes. Half a bag of charcoal was white hot in no time at all. We had some shrimp, potatoes, chicken, onion, salad and of course Polk's sausage...ecclectic (spelling ?), but delicious. The company was, as always, terrific and the kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves. I have to admit that it was pretty weird having Kiley, Maggie and Jack (supervisor) all playing together. The girls are finally at that age where the age difference is narrowing and the playing thing is in full swing. We awoke this morning to heavy, heavy rains. Our front yard is a disaster area. Looks like most of the top soil from our neighbors yard is now mounded up in our ditch (can I get a very unethusiastic yipppeeee).

We are out of work today, but should return tomorrow. We were very thankful to not recieve the brunt of Gustav. Though is looks like folks in LA did not fair so well. Thanks for the prayers and e-mails and phone calls! WE LOVE YOU!

The Piland Family

Passing the Time

Well Jack has spent more time outside today than any other day in the past month. Eleven in the morning and it is typically 90 degrees and 100% humidity. We have spent our day enjoying each others company. Jack and I played outside for a while and enjoyed the wet weather (stiff 10mph breeze, no lightning, lots of steady rain) then we played with Maggie when the power went out. Power is back on now...uh never mind...uh no we are ok. Been like this for the past two hours on and off. Kids are settling down for naps and we are enjoying the day.

SCORE: Maggie: 1 Gustav: 0

Last night was long and sleepless, but not due to Gustav. Though it rained all through the night and we had some small gusts of wind (nothing worse than a typical summer thunderstorm) the real storm took shape of a 5 1/2 month old little girl. She howled and tossed around all night long. Gustav has nothing on her. Her little tummy was upset so Aimee took the first half of the night and I took the second. Jack slept great though and Maggie is out like a light this morning. Aimee and I are just staring at the local news that is saying that it will not get much worse today (except for the Tornado watches). Gustav has weakened and veered west. We will get some winds and more rain, but nothing near the ugliness of Katrina. Prayer answered.

More later: The Piland family