Christmas 2003

We celebrated Christmas 2003 in Atlanta this year with Jeremy and Emily. Mom and Pop Brees were with Grandma Millie in Lake Charles and passed through on their way home.

A Boy and His Kite

Emily tipped us off that Jeremy wanted a kite. Rather than wrap it, we just assembled it that morning. The first words out of Jeremy's mouth was, "Who's is that?" Bingo.

 

Stacy and Emily 

Let Me Take Your Picture Brother 

Chain Frame 

Mission Lanterns from Jeremy & Emily 

Jazz. 

Figuring out the Kite

After breakfast, we went to the local YMCA soccer fields and tried to fly the kite. Winds were variable and the darn thing required the skill of a military pilot to fly. More often that not, once up it simply cartwheeled and took a nosedive into the dirt.

 

More Figuring Out the Kite 

Figured Out the Kite 

What's with the Eye?

Stacy with one of her patented "crazy eye" faces.

 

LSU Duckie

We saw this and couldn't resist getting it for Dad. We think he should attach it to his person for the next Peachtree Road Race to really show his support.

 

Bacci Ball 

Love Spoon 

Hot Sauce

Dad finally figures out what the name of the hot sauce means. He received Ring of Fire ("so hot it'll burn you twice") amoung others.

 

Thanksgiving 2003

We spent Thanksgiving 2003 with the Hundt's in Wisconsin. We had a great time with Don, Kristy, Heidi as well as Parker and Lucy. We went for a long walk, took red-wagon rides down the driveway, and ate more than we should have. A relaxing weekend.

The Puzzle Squad 

Bubble Girl 

Sailing

Stacy had always wanted to take saling lessons so we decided to do it during the summer of 2003. As one would expect, the Georgia summer days were practically windless, so we learned to sail without really sailing that much.

Stacy at the Helm

What a perfect day. We went out and there were no other boats. The wind was blowing nicely and the temperature was cool. A great day sailing.

 

Jeb at the Helm 

Patrick and Shannon Stomach Surfing

When we stopped to swim and eat the boat started drifting close to land. So, we cranked up the engine and moved further out. So S&P wouldn't have to get out of the water, we just towed them behind. They made a fun game of it.

 

Heeling Quite Nicely

This was earlier in the summer when we went sailing with Patrick and Shannon. The wind was really blowing and we were heeling over so much the lower rail was touching the water at times. As you can tell from Shannon's expression, she's was a bit uncomfortable with the angle.

 

Synchronized Kissing 

Wales

Between jobs last August, I made a very last minute trip to Wales. Stacy wasn't able to go with me so it quickly became a castle tour given Stacy's disdain for forts and castles. This was my first time in Britain and my first time driving on the left. Overall, I had a great time. The food wasn't as bad as they say and the beer was excellent. The countryside was beautiful and lush with an ever-changing blend of rolling hills, steep mountains, winding rivers and ocean vistas. I'll tell more about the trip in the following picture captions.

Conwy Castle from the Town Wall.

This picture really doesn't do the castle or the town justice. It's perched right on a tidal inlet and the old wall still encircles the entire town. You can walk about half-way around the town on the wall, retracing the footsteps of countless guards and watchmen over the ages. The castle was very nicely preserved. The town was cute, but a bit touristy. When I asked the owner of the B&B I was staying in if she could point me to a pub where tourists weren't likely to be found and her reply was, "Well, this is a tourist town now isn't it." Exactly.

 

Conwy Tidal Inlet.

This is the tidal inlet on which Conwy Castle sits. Not an hour after this photo the tide had pulled almost all the way out and the entire inlet was dry. Sailboats had a vertical and two angled keels to keep the boat relatively upright when grounded. I later walked about 1/2 way to the Irish Sea along an old seawall.

 

Conwy Castle View.

A view into the castle from one of the tall towers. An overexposed view of part of the town is in the background.

 

Conwy Stairwell.

I'm enthralled by staircases in old structures. It's here you can typically see the impact of centuries of use in the depressed center/front of each step. Also, you touch the walls just wondering who and how many people put their hands there for support.