Loverboy morning snapshot

"Dear PlayBear...I never thought this would happen to me, but..."

Christmas in February??

'Twas many nights after Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The Pookah bouncer was stored by the chimney with care,in the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there. One child was nestled all snug in his bed, while visions of bottles danced in his head. And mamma in her LSU Sweatshirt, and I in my cap, had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, Grandpoppy sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window he flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The smell of waffles filled the living room air – signaling to all that Santa had stopped there.

OK...OK - I know what you're thinking. Christmas in February? Have they finally lost their minds?

No, we've not lost it yet - as you'll recall, Pookah, David and Kathryn couldn't get to Mississippi during the holidays. With much anticipation, we finally made the trip to Will's Grandparents last weekend. Here are some of the images from the trip....thanks Grandpoppy and Grandmommy for a great weekend.

Weekend Update

The breakfast club is reunited and welcomes a special guest!

Dave welcomed his good friend Chad Brocato to Lafayette for a weekend of work in preparation for an upcoming EMS conference.

Dave and Chad share coordination of the JEMS Games - an international competition that tests the skills of highly trained paramedic teams.

Kathryn kept the boys well fed with greater than military precision - offering home cooked meals that rival the finest restaurants. As far as we can tell, Chad had at least five bowls of the Gumbo!

On Sunday, KC, Dave, Will and Chad met Jay and Amanda at Cracker Barrel for breakfast. We laughed out loud, drank record amounts of coffee, and tried to convince Amanda to put Will down for a minute so that she could eat (all efforts proved unsuccessful - Will and Amanda are an item.)

The weekend came to a close much too soon. Chad began his journey to return to South Florida around supper time...just as Jay and Amanda came over for some more Gumbo.

Thanks to all for another great weekend! Would you please pass the potato salad?

KC's Valentine's Day Scavenger Hunt

Dave recently discovered the hobby of Geo-Caching. It's a modern form of the scavenger hunt using handheld GPS and maps with clues. The term's meaning is easily defined from its words. Geo = geography and Cache = stuff. With this is mind, Dave decided to hide Kathryn's Valentine's Day gifts throughout the apartment. Referring to a map of the floorplan and a few cleverly worded clues, Kathryn had a great time searching for her presents.

Here's the map and directions that Kathryn received before starting the adventure.

Your attention please: Your husband arranged a collection of sentiments to express his love for you. He had neatly placed the items in the living room but an explosion in the laundry room has distributed a debris field throughout the apartment.

Your mission: Locate the evidence of your husband's love using the enclosed map and clues. provided below.

Clues:

The search for sentiments can be fatiguing. You had better bring some handpicked berries to snack on while you hunt. Geo-cache #1 is located at 07°W, 20°N.

Mmmm...yum. I hope you enjoy the snack I prepared for you. Now, let's look for your first real gift.

A professional woman can only walk in heels for so long. When you come home, you need to pamper your aching arches. Proceed to 12°W, 09°N.

Wow! How are you feeling? You look great. Are you ready to continue the search?

One of the things I've always admired about you is your intuition and intellect. See if you can use your skills to find this next gift. Proceed 20°W, 19°N.

Good job - my nose tells me your skills are perfectly honed.

Let's vow to keep this party going. Proceed to 20°W, 13°N for advice from others who have made this journey before you.

I'll look forward to hearing the stories you've learned. Perhaps we should make time each evening to briefly reflect on our couplehood.

You know, tired muscles really respond to touch and heat. Proceed to 15°W, 18°N for your next gift. Don't forget the numbers 2.18.06.1445.

Etc.

Happy Valentines Day!!

Roses are red

Violets are blue

If you give me a bottle

I'll love you!

Orlando visit a blast

The family's quick trip to Orlando was fantastic. In just three short days Dave, KC, and Will packed in a little work and a great visit with KC's best friend Amy and her family.

Dave was invited to speak at the 27th Annual International Disaster Management Conference - speaking to a group of approximately 500 attendees, the presentation about lessons learned from the response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita was very well received.

After a quick change from a suit to casual clothes, Dave introduced KC and Will to Dave's close friend, John Todaro. John mentioned that he's never seen Dave smile so much - he's right!

Dave would have liked to visit with John longer, but we had to hit the road. So, we packed up the rental car and headed to Amy's house in Stuart via the Florida Turnpike.

Visiting with Amy, her husband Mike, and their son Robbie was the highlight of the trip. We swapped tales of parenthood, passed babies from couple to couple, cut up, and had a great dinner. The only downside was our having to return to Orlando - We're all looking forward getting together again soon.

Kathryn and Amy ceremoniously opened the Leaning Tower of Pisa wine bottle - a gift that KC gave to Amy several years ago. At the time, they agreed to wait until a special occasion to open the bottle. Since that time, Amy moved several times - always bringing the bottle with her. I'd say that being reunited and introducing each other's husbands and sons is a special occasion - too bad the wine turned to vinegar (fortunately Amy had bottles of red and a Pinot Grigio in reserve). Long live the Pisa!!

An interesting note - Will is becoming quite the experienced traveler. He calmly sits in our lap, looks at everything (never missing a beat), and generally flirts with the ladies as they pass in the aisle.

On the return trip, he had the flight attendant wrapped around his finger. She was a lot of fun and even helped us get a picture taken in the cockpit. Overall, the trip was too short, but we had a great time!

KC - I love you...Infinity

BREAKING NEWS - Lafayette Braces for New Cookie Mix

Lafayette is about to be taken by storm - no, not another hurricane...not at least yet, anyway. Brace yourself for a sweet-tooth extravaganza brought to you by William Noel Enterprises...introducing...Will's Finest Cookies!

"If it's Will's, it's got to be good" exclaimed marketing director David LaCombe. "Sure, most everyone has tasted chocolate chip cookies - but these babies are going to knock your socks off. Each batch is mixed personally by William - ensuring that just the right amount of love is included.

During the media frenzy, LaCombe was asked where the cookies would be sold. "I'm sorry people...these are a private label reserved for Will's private use. Given the approaching Valentine's Day holiday, I would guess that these delights will arrive in the arms of Will's closest friends and family."

Cookies in a Jar - R and D report

William Noel is pleased to announce the pending release of his new cookie in a jar gift kit.

Borrowing from a popular practice of placing cookie ingredients into a jar, the Will's Finest Cookie line of products contain a secret recipe rumored to be developed by Will and his Mom.

Dad got into the business - heading up business development, marketing, and flour pouring (pronounced: making a mess).

"Prior to the release of the products, we've received overwhelming interest from prospective customers," said Kathryn LaCombe, Director of Research and Development. "We've increased production efforts to keep up with demand."

According to William Noel Enterprises, the finished products will debut at a press conference scheduled after Will's afternoon nap on Superbowl Sunday!

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