PUZZLE COMPLETE: We could not leave it unfinished.

So, this week has been an interesting one. Joe continues to "grow" ... this week Melissa found him on the couch. That is right ... he was playing on the floor while she was doing dishes one minute and the next he was up on the couch watching TV. Gah!

And then last night he was bouncing off the walls ... no literally ... he was running into the couch - across the room to bump into me - back over to his chair to climb "over" it - somersault on the floor - back up and off to mom - back to me - back to the couch ... repeat with variance. Gah! But all with smiles and laughs ... for all of us :)

I should also note, Joe has finally started to pick up on more of the sign language. He has got "please", "milk", "all done", "more", and sometimes "food" and "thank-you". It is the cutest thing to watch. He even has the "all done" so down pat that he knows that it will get him off the potty ... and thus tries it almost immediately - Joseph!!! - but he doesn't have a very good poker face.

Cover for Joe's toy chest come in the mail

The lucky kid of ours also got this wonderful gift in the mail from Grandma Pat ... it even matches his latest stuffed toy. Great choice of fabric mom ... fits perfectly ... looks great! He, of course, got other treats though for some reason the promised "Arrowroot" cookies were missing ... did Grandpa "cookie monster" Bahan pack the box ??? Hmmmmmm!

[Stolen from Joy of Tech pages]

Byron and Tracy welcomed Mason Armstrong to their family at 4:49am July 21. Weighing in at 8 lbs, 4 oz. and 21" long, Mason is happy, healthy, and home with a very happy - but tired mom and dad. He also, apparently, looks like a spitting image of little Tracy ... and it must be true ... just so darn cute ;-)

Melissa and I could not be more excited for you two ... enjoy the many wonderful days and nights ahead - nothing is more precious. We can't wait to get to meet the little guy.

Mason Armstrong, just resting easy

On the last full day in sunny Florida we thought we would go on at least one more adventure. We took a couple kayaks down the Myakka River to see what we could see.

We saw birds and cranes ... fish and bugs ... and of course the famous Florida gators. It was perfectly calm, the sun was shining, and we were completely relaxed floating down the river.

Tonight we are planning some sushi and a screening of X-Men 3. Bev is quite interested in seeing how the movie turned out after seeing the filming at Hatley Castle where she works. Tomorrow they fly out at noon ... so we also have to finish that puzzle that is covering our dining room table.

Exciting news is in the works...

Joe breaks down the Friday night Jam session

So, if I were artistic I could probably put together a blues tune on the pain Joe is currently describing to us. Yesterday he really started feeling a little below the weather ... hardly ate at dinner - except for the fries which were apparently much better than mom's pasta. By the time we got home he was fussy and looking for cuddles ... guess tooth number 11 (or could it be 12 ... I am losing count) is not playing nice.

A little Tylenol and bedtime ... a few hours later it was back to the horrifying screams of pain soothed only by the computer. Oh child of mine. Then it was back to bed ... again. Only to have my alarm go off at 6:30 ... no that is not my alarm ... it is only 3? Joe ... man! The pain was back and he was letting us know, and this time it came with a fever of 101-102 ... ick! So we got some cold cloths, cold water to drink, and another hit of the good stuff - then just tried to calm him down. It was about 30+ minutes before we were back in bed with the fever on its way down. Poor little guy.

I hope today treats you better.

Well, it has been a really long week for me. Think the stress started to get to me on Friday and I came down with something -- but ... it was Friday and I got to sleep in the next day. Except for a afternoon tee-off time with Bev (Mom/Grandma) we stayed mostly around the house - and the pool. Alicia, Melissa, Joe, and Grandma enjoyed several trips to our pool - including a late night dip after the stars came out.

But Sunday we wanted a little more. So after breakfast at First Watch we headed the car north towards Tampa and hit "Adventure Island" ... and with it hot and sunny it was just what the doctor ordered.

We spent most of the day lounging around, taking the easy street around the Rambling Bayou, and hanging out in the kids pools. But once the crowds cleared - they made their money today - we hit a couple of the slides ... even Joe got on a couple. It was a blast. An easy, relaxing, fun day in the sun and and man-made surf. Now to lube up with Aloe and hit the sack ...

Alicia pokes her head through the waterfall

Joe loves the squirting water

They even had a sandy beach for us to lounge

... sandy enough for Joe to get buried

Joe wanders the "beach" pondering his next adventure

It has been a little while (like 2 years) ... but the wee one is back for another tour. Just too bad that the rest of the family could not join her this time ... we miss all of you. Now ... last time we hit Disney, Sea World, Cocoa Beach, Mote ... so what do we do this time? Busch Gardens, Adventure Island, Myakka canoe trip? ... we will have to see - going where the wind takes us right now.

Sure to be sure ... it will be fun! Bev and I are planning a golf expedition this weekend and I am sure it will include Settimi's and the beach.

So, we rolled out of town here on Thursday for a short break - just the three of us. Jae and Cynthia offered to hooked us up at this great resort in Orlando, and we took full advantage.

Joe tests some rocking chairs outside the Cracker Barrel

Friday night Melissa and I were able to slip out for the evening - to Pleasure Island to be exact - and with Joe on his first sleep-over at Jordan's we were able to bust loose. So ... first up was the improv comedy club. We are seated next to a phone on the wall (great) - there are several spread around the room and they use it to introduce a member of the audience ... and themselves. Wouldn't you know it ... ours was the one that rang ... so after about 5 minutes of Q&A in the spotlight (work, family, interests, etc) they came out and sang a tune all about Melissa and I. It was a lot of fun ...

Then it was off to the dance clubs ... and just like visiting the house of the three bears we had a hard time finding anything "just right". The 70's/80's club was too old (though fun for a bit), the hip-hop clubs was hard to catch the "groove", Melissa is not into the techno (though the rotating dance floor and reflecting living-statues were cool), the Irish pub was too "american", and one club we enjoyed the music but was packed with 15 year olds ... that was a brutal experience ... are we really that out of touch???

So, after enjoying a night of club-hopping we caught a cab and headed home -- asleep before our heads hit the pillow ... man ... didn't even get pictures. Anyone up for taking Joe more often so we can get back into shape???

At least we know how to play in the pool ...

The next day we met up with Jae and Cynthia for Dim Sum, a stroll in Downtown Disney, and a short visit to our complexes "Saturday Night Karaote" ... Jae is quite the entertainer ;)

By Sunday, we were done ... so we just packed up and headed home. Tired of vacationing we stopped by Walmart, grabbed a couple flicks, made some nachos and killed the evening ... so this is what five years of marriage does to people. Guess we failed you Krishen ... we did turn into that old married couple family.

Joe checks out the tunes at Virgin Records (Downtown Disney)

Joe and Jordan share that "moment" that will haunt them the rest of their lives

And they still remained friends

Happy Anniversary

Today marks 5 years of our adventure together ... and what a ride it has been. Seattle, Vancouver, and now Florida - from the mountain peaks to the swamp lands - from parties to parenthood ... it has been quite the journey. And the best part of it is ... we are not done yet.

Raise a glass to another 5 years ... may they only get better.

(Alright ... now ... who's still betting?)

The fourth of July down here is marked with a big, all-day party capped off with fireworks. We, however, took it easy once again - last year we were in Canada and the year before that we were in St. Augustine. This year we watched the shuttle head into orbit, via CSPAN while sitting on our coach, and then watched the soccer game. It wasn't until after dinner that we headed downtown to join the festivities ... but I am glad we did. Joe loved the fireworks, not concerned about the sound or flashes of light, but instead gazing up at the display in the sky - making sure to point each one out.

The next day it was up and at the office early - the weekend is over. Lucky for us the week is only two days long ... so we will be on our 5th anniversary vacation very shortly.

Discovery sits on the pad preparing for the 2005 launch

So, this Canada day we thought we would take a trip ... get out of dodge ... see the world - and things leaving it. So the three of us pilled into the car at 10AM and headed east. We stopped for lunch on the space coast at this little diner tucked off on the side of the road and waited ... and ate. As the clock ticked down we made our move to the beach - but the launch was called off due to weather. Anvil clouds were reported within 20 miles of the launch site ... disappointing ... but maybe we will try again on August 30th for Atlantis. Discovery was rescheduled for the next day - but has been delayed once again to the 4th, unfortunately we could not stick around.

Let it get us down? ... I think not. We are at the ocean ... at our favorite beach ... so play in the waves we did. After enjoying the sand, sun, and bath-tub seas - and a stop at the Cocoa Beach Surf Co. - we started the long trek home. Our ride home was almost un-eventfull, a bobcat was probably a wee-bit scared at one point, but we took it slow and safe.

All told it was an exciting day ... one we truly enjoyed ... but it finally came to an end. Still no solid plans for the 4th ... right now we are just enjoying some time off.

Joe was found pushing Tiffany around on her little popcorn truck