| I've never been one to do that annual Holiday Form Letter, and admittedly, hardly one to ever read the ones I get, but this has been such a big year here, I thought I'd go out on that thin limb and make up my own version of the dreaded Form Letter. It's been a year of "FIRSTS" around Soggy Bottom Land. My first trip to Florida. My first trip to the Gulf of Mexico. My first trip to the Atlantic Ocean. All those were firsts for Brian, Everett and Garrison as well. The three boys got their first airplane ride flying from Florida to Iowa City for the 2007 Ponseti Symposium - OK, so Brian has ridden Angel Flights before, but this was a big commercial airline. It was the first time any of us had attended one of these Symposiums. Although Chriss had seen them before, this year was the first time the boys and I had seen a real, live, wild Alligator. The first time we fished or kayaked in the Gulf / ocean. 2007 was also the year that I finally - at the age of 42 years old - got an actual automatic dishwasher installed in my own home. I also broke historical ground recently when Chriss got me a cell phone. But enough of all this talking, it's way better to see it, so here for your viewing photo pleasures is our year: 2007 to 2008 A Year at Six-Feet.com Return to Home Page |
"Oh my God! Has another year flown by already!?" Chriss
says, realizing it's 10 minutes till midnight and 2007 will soon
begin.
says, realizing it's 10 minutes till midnight and 2007 will soon
begin.
The first big event of 2007 for the Six-Feet gang was this ice storm at our home in
eastern Oklahoma (Muskogee county) two weeks after the year began.
eastern Oklahoma (Muskogee county) two weeks after the year began.
We bundled up once and ventured out to see
the land scape, but mostly we weathered the
storm indoors playing goofy dog tricks and
huddling under blankets.
the land scape, but mostly we weathered the
storm indoors playing goofy dog tricks and
huddling under blankets.
With all that finally out of the way, the focus was on getting Brian his Bear
Badge (which he did)! Good work Brian!
Badge (which he did)! Good work Brian!
By March, the winter blast had moved
on and spring was in the air... but so
were our plans to move south to
Florida. That last ice storm was a real
motivator!
on and spring was in the air... but so
were our plans to move south to
Florida. That last ice storm was a real
motivator!
With plans to relocate to Florida came plans to make a fast trip up to Iowa City again so
the boys could have their clubfoot check ups with Dr. Ponseti before we lived so far
away. I drove the three of them on a fourteen hundred mile round trip to Iowa and
back with my mother-in-law June riding shotgun. Above, Dr. Ponseti talks to Brian.
the boys could have their clubfoot check ups with Dr. Ponseti before we lived so far
away. I drove the three of them on a fourteen hundred mile round trip to Iowa and
back with my mother-in-law June riding shotgun. Above, Dr. Ponseti talks to Brian.
Poor little Everett had a nervous break
down and ran away to hide, but I
managed to get this one photo of
Garrison, Brian and Dr. Ponseti.
down and ran away to hide, but I
managed to get this one photo of
Garrison, Brian and Dr. Ponseti.
We also toured MD
Orthopaedics while we were
in Iowa, which was pretty cool.
Orthopaedics while we were
in Iowa, which was pretty cool.
Just after returning from there it was
Brian's 9th birthday!
Happy Birthday Brian!
Brian's 9th birthday!
Happy Birthday Brian!
And three days after that we were on
the way to Florida, relocating our home
half a continent away.
For three days, this was the view
through my wind shield (Chriss driving
the U-Haul up there).
the way to Florida, relocating our home
half a continent away.
For three days, this was the view
through my wind shield (Chriss driving
the U-Haul up there).
Fifteen days after returning from Iowa,
we loaded the car again and headed
to Florida to meet Chriss's new boss
and look for a house to buy. Yea, the
first trip to Florida for the Soggy
Bottom Boys and I! (Chriss had been
here before) We got to see our first
real live palm trees!
we loaded the car again and headed
to Florida to meet Chriss's new boss
and look for a house to buy. Yea, the
first trip to Florida for the Soggy
Bottom Boys and I! (Chriss had been
here before) We got to see our first
real live palm trees!
We detoured through Cedar Keys on
our way back to Oklahoma, so this was
my first look at the ocean at the Gulf of
Mexico.
our way back to Oklahoma, so this was
my first look at the ocean at the Gulf of
Mexico.
..... and this was the view in
my rearview mirror....
Garrison, whom I took great
measure to keep entertained
at any cost while I drove
alone for a thousand miles.
Everett and Brian thought
riding in the U-Haul was much
cooler, so the baby and I
were on our own.
my rearview mirror....
Garrison, whom I took great
measure to keep entertained
at any cost while I drove
alone for a thousand miles.
Everett and Brian thought
riding in the U-Haul was much
cooler, so the baby and I
were on our own.
Despite a minor break down on the U-Haul and a blown out tire on the car carrier
hauling the old Bronco, we finally made it to the Florida state line!
hauling the old Bronco, we finally made it to the Florida state line!
In Oklahoma, we'd had Chriss, myself, our boys,
my sister, her husband, their four grown boys,
Chriss's brother, Chriss's mother, a cousin,
another nephew and some neighbors help us
pack this 27 foot truck over the course of three
days. The Bronco was crammed full, as was the
rest of my car except the drivers seat and the
baby's seat.
Once in Florida, we were sadly on our own.
We couldn't close on our new house yet but
Chriss had to be there to start his new job. All
that means we had to empty the truck in to a
mini-storage shed....by ourselves. In one day.
Then go sleep in a cheap motel for three
weeks. If you ever have this crazy idea to go
stay in a cheap motel for three weeks, with your
three active boys and three dogs that the motel
manager banned (that's another story) - sober
up and think again!
my sister, her husband, their four grown boys,
Chriss's brother, Chriss's mother, a cousin,
another nephew and some neighbors help us
pack this 27 foot truck over the course of three
days. The Bronco was crammed full, as was the
rest of my car except the drivers seat and the
baby's seat.
Once in Florida, we were sadly on our own.
We couldn't close on our new house yet but
Chriss had to be there to start his new job. All
that means we had to empty the truck in to a
mini-storage shed....by ourselves. In one day.
Then go sleep in a cheap motel for three
weeks. If you ever have this crazy idea to go
stay in a cheap motel for three weeks, with your
three active boys and three dogs that the motel
manager banned (that's another story) - sober
up and think again!
Eureeka! A stroke of genius to unload
this heavy boat with no men to help!
Tie that sucker to a post and drive
away! AaahhhH!
this heavy boat with no men to help!
Tie that sucker to a post and drive
away! AaahhhH!
Ta Daaa!
| With the business of moving out of the way - at least until we had to load it all back up to move in to our own house - it was time to start exploring our new home state. |
This is a day we fished and floated around the gulf waters
at Cedar Key.
Brian in the kayak above, Everett top right, and Garrison
to your left. Brian and Everett in the big cedar tree.
Garrison threw Chriss's favorite fishing pole in the
ocean.... Oops.
at Cedar Key.
Brian in the kayak above, Everett top right, and Garrison
to your left. Brian and Everett in the big cedar tree.
Garrison threw Chriss's favorite fishing pole in the
ocean.... Oops.
Our First Time to Float at Cedar Keys, FL
We walked the 400 odd steps down in
to the bottom of the devil's
millhopper....and back up again.
to the bottom of the devil's
millhopper....and back up again.
The Devil's Millhopper, Gainesville, FL
The Alligator Farm at St. Augustine, FL
| Castillo de San Marcos St. Augustine, FL – for those of you who don't know (Hey, I didn't before we moved here), St. Augustine is the oldest city in the United States, starting with this fort's construction in 1672. St. Augusting (city) celebrated her 442 birthday in 2007. |
| And of course, we had to go visit the beach! Mine and the boys first trip to the Atlantic Ocean St. Augustine, FL |
| We spent a day floating the Santa Fe River |
| and visiting the Teaching Zoo |
| We visited the alligators at Newnan's Lake |
| .... and others at Paines Prairie |
| Crescent Beach, Atlantic Ocean |
And lets not forget, Garrison learned
how to walk this year! Here he is,
finally in our own house instead of that
motel.
how to walk this year! Here he is,
finally in our own house instead of that
motel.
| Fort Matanzas St. John's River at the Atlantic Ocean, FL |
Brian, Everett and
Garrison in the fort
tower
Garrison in the fort
tower
Suwanee River Float
We met this little alligator floating the
Suawnee River. We went to see
Manatees but saw him, instead.
Suawnee River. We went to see
Manatees but saw him, instead.
| 2007 International Ponseti Symposium Iowa City, Iowa |
Another big event in 2007 was that the boys got to take their first Plane ride up
to Iowa City for the Symposium. We got up 3 a.m. to catch our flight and went
to the event late that night with out any sleep.... this photo with Maria says it all!
to Iowa City for the Symposium. We got up 3 a.m. to catch our flight and went
to the event late that night with out any sleep.... this photo with Maria says it all!
| St. Louis, Missouri Going to see Dr. Dobbs |
We flew out of warm sunny Florida and
landed in this! Wowzer, what a trip -
the three boys and I on our own in St.
Louis for three days!
Calgon take me away!
landed in this! Wowzer, what a trip -
the three boys and I on our own in St.
Louis for three days!
Calgon take me away!
| Christmas In Florida 2007 |
| A Winter Float on the Gulf at Shell Mound (a little north of Cedar Keys) |
While our family back in Oklahoma was freezing, we decided to end our year with a great float
trip on the Gulf, embarking from a little place called Shell Mound.
trip on the Gulf, embarking from a little place called Shell Mound.
The boys were eager to go!
You know we're Floridian Transplants because that
little thing known as "Low Tide" never entered our
mind as we attempted to launch....
and got terribly stuck in the mud.
Thanks to Chriss, who waded waist deep in the
muck, we escaped the clutches of the ocean's low
tide quagmire.
little thing known as "Low Tide" never entered our
mind as we attempted to launch....
and got terribly stuck in the mud.
Thanks to Chriss, who waded waist deep in the
muck, we escaped the clutches of the ocean's low
tide quagmire.
| Eventually we ended up in the water, in a sea of fog.... This is Chriss, Brian and Garrison in the kayak. |
Our paddling landed us here: Hog Island, a small unhabited dot that's
not on most maps.
Garrison stops to investigate as the others go on.
not on most maps.
Garrison stops to investigate as the others go on.
Later it is Jell-O,
and naps...
on the island shore.
and naps...
on the island shore.
Little boys and beaches go hand in hand.
One of the 10 angry Stingrays they caught that day.
I did a little better. Sitting there
nursing the baby and holding a pole, I
reeled in a cat fish (he's in my hand).
nursing the baby and holding a pole, I
reeled in a cat fish (he's in my hand).
Sadly, even in Florida the winter days darken
early, so it was time to wolf down some cold hot
dogs and start packing up.... Good bye
beautiful little island paradise!
(of course we took our trash home with us, are you nuts!?!)
early, so it was time to wolf down some cold hot
dogs and start packing up.... Good bye
beautiful little island paradise!
(of course we took our trash home with us, are you nuts!?!)
The birds let us paddle right up to
them before taking off.
them before taking off.
Chriss, Brian and Garrison in the back ground while a seagull is watching me float past.
| The year of 2007 was long, exciting and interesting to say the least here! We covered more than 8,200 miles this year with all the trips, two to Iowa and back, to Florida and back, then moving to Florida, and going to St. Louis - add all our little day jaunts probably bring that number closer to 10,000 miles but it's been a blast! Sometimes we miss our old home and our family left behind in Oklahoma, but speaking for myself because Chriss mostly says Florida sucks, this past year (8 months of it in Florida) have been worth every minute of homesickness we may suffer. It was a change our family needed - get out, blow the dust off and remember what living is all about... We've all had to stretch our comfort zones and discover there is so much more to life than the same four walls, the same city limits. The same ideas, the same faces, the same old conversations with the same old people day in and day out. Oh sure, there is a beauty to some of that, and a comfort... but in our time away, we've also discovered many new places, new interests, new faces, new foods; We've had to re-evaluate what was important, how important it was, and we've all found some things weren't nearly as significant as we'd originally given them credit for, while others we continue to hold dear to our heart from here, and from a distance. It's been a leap of faith. An act of courage. An adventure I'm proud to have given my boys. In short, It's been a rush. The Soggy Bottom Boys - Brian, Everett and Garrison, along with Chriss and Myself are wishing all of you a wonderful, adventurous new year in 2008! |
| Happy New Year Everyone! |
The boys were soooooo tired and
soooo dirty by the time we were done!
Two days later Chriss left for a week of
job-training out of town, leaving us on
our own in a strange new state, in a
cheap motel, driving his old Bronco
that was missing a brake light, hell, it
was missing BRAKES period! The
tags were expired and it didn't have
insurance as we rolled on four bald
tires with the cords showing through...
OH ya - we were having fun now!
soooo dirty by the time we were done!
Two days later Chriss left for a week of
job-training out of town, leaving us on
our own in a strange new state, in a
cheap motel, driving his old Bronco
that was missing a brake light, hell, it
was missing BRAKES period! The
tags were expired and it didn't have
insurance as we rolled on four bald
tires with the cords showing through...
OH ya - we were having fun now!
We had fun with this little dude at the alligator farm....
amazing what five bucks can still buy a person these days!
amazing what five bucks can still buy a person these days!
Don't turn your back on him, Brian!
Another Beach-going day before Brian started back
to school.
to school.
Critter Control
Giving up taxidermy for a while, Chriss got a new job as the branch manager of the Gainesville, FL
Critter Control office. It wasn't long before he started bringing home all kinds of new toys for the
boys to play with.
Critter Control office. It wasn't long before he started bringing home all kinds of new toys for the
boys to play with.
Like a deadly Coral Snake.
Garrison holds a
harmless brown snake.
harmless brown snake.
And this baby
raccoon.
raccoon.
One day it was an armadillo
Then came the three squirrels that
also had to be bottle fed.... with so
many baby animals to make bottles for
and feed every day it's no wonder my
real kids all lived with dirty faces!
also had to be bottle fed.... with so
many baby animals to make bottles for
and feed every day it's no wonder my
real kids all lived with dirty faces!
Cedar Key, FL
| On this day we visited the Cedar Key state park (boys on the cannon) and found conch shells on the beach. Good thing we had a big dump truck along to carry them! Then we went fishing off a pier. |
Brian caught an eel. And a Stingray.
Chriss caught one pissed off Seagul.
Chriss caught one pissed off Seagul.
| Speaking of Critter Control, look what Chriss did to His Truck...Ouch! |
[Nephew] Blake had moved down from
Oklahoma to go to work for CC also. He was
in the wreck with Chriss. Strangely, he quit
the job and moved home a couple weeks
later.... a connection?
Oklahoma to go to work for CC also. He was
in the wreck with Chriss. Strangely, he quit
the job and moved home a couple weeks
later.... a connection?
Smitten with his first plane ride to
Iowa, Everett had an airplane
cake for his 4th Birthday!
Happy Birthday Everett!
Happy Birthday, Mom, too!
Iowa, Everett had an airplane
cake for his 4th Birthday!
Happy Birthday Everett!
Happy Birthday, Mom, too!
| Happy Birthday Chriss, December 24th - we always eat cake for breakfast on his birthday :) |
