Wedding Debut

Clay's niece had asked us back in September if Gavin could be her ring-bearer.  After consulting with Aunt E and making sure his niece knew EXACTLY what she was getting herself into, we agreed.  Well those 6 months sure passed fast!

Friday night was the rehearsal and dinner where Gavin entertained himself by climbing/flipping himself over the backs of the pews onto the next seat.......Normally I would not allow this type of behavior but it was already WAY past his bedtime and I was willing to do about anything to prevent a meltdown/scene in the church and give the bride a nervous breakdown.   



Oh and did I mention that Clay had been commissioned to make some fruit art after his display at Gavin's birthday party??  And even though I had reminded him countless times we both managed to forget during our crazy week until someone at the rehearsal dinner mentioned it to him......  So off to Publix we go at 8:30 at night praying they have a watermelon and/or any other melons.  By this time, poor Clay had contracted Gavin's eye infection and was beyond miserable and his eyes made him appear as though he had been standing in a cloud of smoke from illegal drugs for the past two days straight.

When we ordered Gavin's suit for the wedding he was wearing mostly 12 - 18 month clothes so we figured ordering a 18 - 24 month should be fine and maybe even a little big.  Well thankfully Ashton kept asking me to have Gavin try it on and finally about 3 weeks ago we did.  WOW! that thing was TINY and HUGE!!!  The pant legs were about a foot too long but the waist was a good two inches too little.  Gavin is pretty long waisted but most 18 - 24 month shirts are plenty long.  NOT this one!!  We were hoping that once we got the pants altered that they would come up high enough to keep the shirt tucked in.

Thankfully we purchased a white shirt just in case.

As you can see, the vest was also too small and BARELY buttoned.

The tie was so short (clip on, couldn't be adjusted), it barely hit the top of his belly, so there was no getting out of wearing the vest.

But OH what a CUTE little boy he was!!!  no matter how uncomfortable it made him :-)

Since Gavin has adored Joey, the groom, since the 1st day he met him, we were hoping that Joey could just bend down at the front of the church and Gavin would come running to him.  Clay stood with him at the back of the church and I sat in the 2nd row hoping that if he wouldn't run to Joey he would at least run to me and make it most of the way down the aisle.  

I only got this one awful picture but he did such a GOOD job!  He came racing down the aisle swinging his pillow to and fro and made everyone laugh.

Joey had a reward for him, for doing such a good job which was also how I kept Gavin mostly quiet through the remainder of the ceremony.  Although Gavin kept yelling for "Daddy" and trying to get his Papa's attention in the next row.

The happy couple!

And I would be a terrible wife if I didn't show off Clay's recently discovered super talent at fruit carving!  Who knew!!

Week from you know where!

Springtime is always super busy for everyone, I know, and it has definitely been no exception for our family this year.  Since Clay is pretty much a single parent during tax season, I decided to give him a few hours of peace and quiet and take Gavin with me to the 13th Annual Sporting Clay Shoot fundraiser for the CAC on the 25th.  I know this sounds insane but I felt like it was do able for 2 main reasons. 1. I already knew the sound of shotguns didn't bother Gavin because at our SS Christmas party the guys shot skeet and it didn't phase Gavin in the least.  2. I was assigned as a volunteer to the drink cart, which consists of riding around in a golf cart and asking the teams if they want any water or soft drinks.  When I found out the night before that my brother and his girlfriend, April would be there, I knew that would only add to Gavin's fun time.

So off we went after I got off work on Saturday to Southwind Sporting Clays.  Once I mentioned to Gavin that Uncle Dave would be there, he couldn't quit saying Dave, Dave, Dave the rest of the ride over there.  I did get a bit concerned when I got there and the volunteer coordinator told me I had been reassigned to sit at the table and sell raffle tickets.....Of course she had no idea when she did that, that I would be bringing my toddler and since she doesn't have young children I am sure she forgot how impossible getting them to stay in the vicinity of the raffle table when it is outside and there is a BOUNCE HOUSE just 20 yards away is.  After about 30 minutes of chasing Gavin around the Kids Zone and trying my best to get him to stay by me, I admitted defeat and went to beg her to change us back to the drink cart.  Thankfully she did and it was smooth sailing from then on.

Gavin taking a break from the strenuous job of slinging water bottles and diet coke to play with sticks.













Uncle Dave and April

Gavin had a slight runny nose while we were there, but nothing unusual.  After we returned home and he woke up from his nap I noticed that he felt hot and sure enough he had a fever.....  It got higher as the afternoon wore on but nothing dangerous and his runny nose got worse and was accompanied by a nasty cough.  We skipped church on Sunday to spare all the other attendees from our germiness and when he still had a fever Sunday night and his eye was getting all gooey, we knew it was off to the Walk in Clinic on Monday.  Sunday night was not a good night, normally when Gavin gets sick, he sleeps even better than usual.  Not this time, oh no, not this time.  I can't even remember how many times poor Clay got up with him and each time Gavin would be screaming, "EAT, EAT" but then wouldn't eat anything.  His appetite had been off for about a week or two but I just chalked it up to toddler pickiness that I am always reading about.  

Gavin's eye looked bad on Monday morning but not awful however on the ride to the doctor he all of the sudden started crying and saying, "eye, eye, eye".  When we get there and I open up the back door to get him out of his seat, both eyes are now looking disgusting and producing excessive amounts of matter.  So in we go to the walk in clinic to be surrounded by 20 other highly contagious children slinging snot and coughing everywhere for almost 3 hours!  Every time I go there I feel the need to bathe in disinfectant when I leave!  When our favorite PA finally got to us, he said Gavin had the worst looking eyes he could remember seeing! Of course then I feel like a TERRIBLE mother for not taking him to Urgent Care over the weekend. Anyway, we get loaded up with prescriptions and it is off to the house.  The PA says Gavin needs to stay home at least 1 more day and probably 2.  Normally it wouldn't be such a big deal, however 1. it is tax season, 2. Clay is beyond swamped at work, with things that can't be done at home, and 3. I had already asked to take off at least part of Thursday so that I could take my Dad to have a heart cath.  

So the next two days are spent with me and Clay trying to alternate being home with a unbelievably cranky, hungry (but won't eat), non-sleeping, screaming, crying.  Wednesday morning we both agree that Gavin is NOT better and back to the virus breeding center we go.  Thankfully Wednesdays are not nearly as busy so we got in and out in a little less than 2 hours.  Gavin had lost 1/2 lb since Monday so in addition to a shot he got some Pediasure as well.  And of course after I go to Winn-Dixie to purchase some of that incredibly expensive stuff, Gavin decides he no longer likes it!!!  PRAISE the LORD, the shot started working not long after we got home and we could tell a noticeable difference by that night.  Which was good because Gavin was due to make his ring bearer debut at a wedding on Saturday!!

Hug

Gavin is growing by leaps and bounds everyday and he does or says something new at least a couple times a day.  But what he did this morning, completely melted my heart and made my day!  He had woken up right before I was leaving this morning and he was sitting in Clay's lap at the table.  I kissed him goodbye and then when I kissed Clay.  Gavin says, "Daddy, Daddy, hug"  He wanted a family hug before I left!  It was SO sweet!!  Man I love that little boy!

Turkey or Treat

I have 8 tickets left. If anyone is interested, let me know so we can meet up today.  I have to turn everything in tomorrow.

 

 

Emily A. Browning, CPA/CFF, CFFA

Manager

Fowler, Holley, Rambo & Stalvey, P.C.

P.O. Box 1887

Valdosta, GA 31603-1887

Phone (229) 244-1559 Fax (229) 245-7369

ebrowning@valdostacpa.com

 

Circular 230 Disclosure - Any U.S. tax advice contained in the body of this e-mail was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by the recipient for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed under the Internal Revenue Code or applicable state or local tax law provisions.   

This e-mail and any attachments are intended solely for the person or entity to which addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged information.  Any review, dissemination, copying, printing or other use of this information by persons or entities other than the addressee is prohibited.  If you have received this e-mail in error, please contact the sender immediately and delete the material from any computer.

 

Fun weekend

My brother asked me what Clay and I wanted for Christmas and I told him a date night with babysitting included! So he went above and beyond and purchased us this package on livingsocial.  The only downside was that it had to be used before 2/29 so we couldn't wait until tax season was over and really drag it out.  So anyway we settled on going this past weekend after I got off work on Saturday.  I hated leaving Gavin especially since I was out of town all of last weekend, but Clay and I desperately needed some alone time and Gavin needed to bond with his Uncle Dave.  In addition to a night at the  best B&B ever we got a canoe trip, a spa certificate, and a gift card to a local restaurant.  All of this was located in High Springs, FL which was just a straight shot down 75.  We decided to get our herbal baths before dinner on Saturday and then take the lazy canoe trip on Sunday before heading home.  Neither Clay or I had any idea what to expect with the herbal baths but I knew it would be relaxing and I truly was not disappointed.  What I did not expect was how incredibly hot that water would be!  I like my showers/baths really hot and I thought for sure I would have to ask them to warm mine up for me, but WOW! was that water scorching hot!!  I was sweating like a beast and sucking down water like I was in a sauna!  Poor Clay was in this tiny Japanese soaking tub with water that came up to his chin so there was no skin exposed to the cooling air and he had to get out a couple of times.  I got to be in the huge claw foot tub and read my book, but even I couldn't last more than 30 minutes or so.  I am glad I gave us a couple of hours in between the spa and dinner because after all of that sweating in the bath tub, I had to take a shower after we checked in at the B&B.

Now I had never stayed at a bed and breakfast so I had no idea what to expect.  Saying that though, I seriously doubt that there are many bed and breakfasts as beautiful, relaxing, nice and fun as this one.  It is owned to Paul and Lucie Regensdorf, Paul is the house comedian and Lucie is the gourmet cook.  There are two big houses that make up the property along with a big, beautiful garden that you can enjoy, with ponds and fountains and lots of flowers (during the spring and summer).  They had complimentary drinks and YUMMY cookies, that tied us over while we dressed for dinner.  The restaurant was just a short walk down the street and completely blew our expectations out of the water.  High Springs is a tiny town about 20 miles from Gainesville but you wouldn't know that from the Great Outdoors Restaurant.  Either the entire population of the town was in there or this place draws patrons from miles around.  And the food was outstanding!  They had a huge patio where they have live music every night, but it was so packed that we couldn't find a place to sit and I was so tired there was no way I was going to stand up.  So we moseyed on back and slept like two parents who know this might be the last night they get uninterrupted sleep past 5 am for the next 6 months :-).   

We woke up refreshed to freshly brewed gourmet coffee and relaxed on the couches in the den until breakfast was served.  Now I am used to eating within 20 - 30 minutes of waking up so I was starving by the time everyone else got in there and breakfast was served, but boy was it worth the wait.  We had fresh fruit, carrot cake coffee cake or strawberry coffee cake if you preferred, and overnight English muffin french toast (no clue what it means, but gracious was it good).  I thought my stomach was going to pop right there at the table! We sat with a family that was down for a wedding, that just happens to be from 4 exits past my friend Jenn in MA and a local couple celebrating a birthday.  We had the best time laughing and joking around and I was sad when breakfast was over and we had to get going.  We were already 45 minutes late for our canoe trip and we still had to stop and get batteries for the camera.  On top of the wonderful breakfast we were served, they also packed us a lunch to take on the canoe trip!

When I had spoken to the B&B owner when booking, she suggested that we enjoy the spa after the canoe trip but since I couldn't get off work before 12 we had to do the canoe trip on Sunday and the spa on Saturday.  Not until about 30 minutes into the canoe trip did I realize exactly why they had suggested we do that.  Dear heavens was that a workout!!!  The guy at the Santa Fe River Canoe Outpost said it should take us about 1 1/2 hours at a leisurely pace to get to the pickup point at Rum Island.  Yeah, right!  We were battling a 100 mph wind that wasn't constant but sure seemed like it for 4 miles and it took us at least 2+ hours (not sure of the exact time we started) and there was absolutely NOTHING leisurely about it. I felt like that fat little hamster on the Geico commercial, "Row, row, row, row"  But boy was it beautiful and super peaceful and relaxing for the mind if not for the body....Oh but guess what, we have no pictures because after all that with getting new batteries and everything, we left the stupid camera in the car!  And I was too worried about the canoe tipping over to take my cellphone out of the ziplock bag :).   It is something I definitely want to do again but I think we will check the forecast a little better and we might try a kayak, Clay says they are easier to row.


Meanwhile back in Vld, Gavin is living it up with his Uncle Dave and April.  This was my brothers first experience at babysitting, EVER!  I made lots of lists with lots of directions but I need not have bothered, Gavin spent the whole time being spoiled rotten, not having to take naps and eating bags of chips and other various treats!  To say the least he was sad to see them go!

David's best friend lives here so they went over there for playtime with his two kids and dinner, Saturday night.  Gavin really got into playing with their toys, especially this Captain America shield.  David got this super funny picture and a video of his reaction to the shield shooting out discs.  David said they had already done this about 20 times when he took the video and Gavin still was just a surprised as before :).

Apparently, fun was had by all and we will definitely be taking advantage of our new found babysitter again after tax season is over!

Turkey or Treat

 

Emily A. Browning, CPA/CFF, CFFA

Manager

Fowler, Holley, Rambo & Stalvey, P.C.

P.O. Box 1887

Valdosta, GA 31603-1887

Phone (229) 244-1559 Fax (229) 245-7369

ebrowning@valdostacpa.com

 

Circular 230 Disclosure - Any U.S. tax advice contained in the body of this e-mail was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by the recipient for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed under the Internal Revenue Code or applicable state or local tax law provisions.   

This e-mail and any attachments are intended solely for the person or entity to which addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged information.  Any review, dissemination, copying, printing or other use of this information by persons or entities other than the addressee is prohibited.  If you have received this e-mail in error, please contact the sender immediately and delete the material from any computer.

 

Tunes for Toddlers

We made our 2nd Annual trip to Tunes for Toddlers at VSU and had a wonderful time, just like last year.  Gavin was much more interested in what was going on than last tim, although he still lost interest way before the  demonstrations and performance by the cute little kids were over.

 Next up was the Instrument Petting Zoo, where the percussion instruments were the biggest draw for him and most of the other children.

 And for the 2nd year in a row, the xylophone was the instrument of choice.

 Although Clay tried to widen his horizon with the drums, he didn't have much luck.  Gavin kept picking up all the various other sticks used on other instruments and taking them back to bang on his beloved xylophone.

They did let him test out his skills on the trombone, we decided to wait on signing him up for any lessons :-).

We made a quick trip to the park, or as quick as any trip to the park can be before heading home for naps.  I usually never have the camera with me when we go to the park, so I went a little overboard with the pictures.  I am sure all the other parents thought I was nuts, I was snapping away like I was the paparazzi following the latest celebrity train wreck.

My little daredevil!

 Watch out! Here comes Daddy!!