What are the dogs barking at???

So we had just put the girls to bed on this Sunday evening and I was getting ready to do some work in the kitchen. Suddenly, I heard Buddy the Beagle raising hell in the backyard. So I knocked on the window in an effort to get him to stop barking, but like my wife and oldest daughter, he ignored me. So out the back door I went and saw Buddy the Beagle and Tiger each standing on opposite sides of an azalea bush. So I am thinking great they have cornered a baby rabbit or something. As I approach the bush, I quickly realize that ain't no rabbit, that is a big snake! I quickly ushered the boys into the house and told Laura of the situation outside. I then headed for the garage where I grabbed a shovel and a push broom and headed back for the bush.(My thought was to use the long end of the push broom to move the snake and then whack it with the shovel). As I approached the bush this time, I heard a slight rattle. After a call to my older brother, it was determined the best way to get rid of the snake was to continue with the original plan. As soon as I got closer he darted in a hole in the ground escaping the rash of the shovel. As the snake slipped into the hole, I noticed there was no rattle, so this clever snake figured out if he moved his tail in the dry leaves, he would scare the piss out of me and he was successful. Another conference call and the decision was made to pour gas in the hole and cover it with dirt. As soon as the gas hit the hole, the snake popped back out and determined I was still there and decided the gas was a better place for him. So I covered the hole and hopefully that snake is rotting down there. As my Poppop Oliver used to say, "DAMN A SNAKE!"

The letter J

This blog is dedicated to Baby J. She needs some attention in the blog. Isn't she getting big?

To much partying at the pool!

Baby J and Uncle Patty

Baby J and her Great-Grandmother Gills

She's so Hollywood!

Summer is almost here!

So another busy week for the Columbia fam. Laura and the girls made a trip down to Beaufort to see the Thompsons and the Freemans. They had a blast playing and even made a trip to the beach. It was Jacqueline's first road trip and she did great. Delainey watched movies all the way down and back and didn't make a peep.

On Friday Delainey made a trip to a local farm with her school. She was so excited about getting to ride on the school bus. Delainey even picked out her clothes for the day and she insisted on wearing her cowgirl boots to the farm. On Friday night we had dinner with Mimi, Uncle Bubba, and Aunt Niki. Delainey and I were able to sneak in a little fishing (and feeding the duck family). Two fish so far, we aren't doing so bad.

Saturday was Delainey's last soccer game for the year. Unfortunately, the other team didn't bother showing up, so the kids just ran round a bit and then we had a pizza party to pass out the trophies.

Jacqueline is growing like a weed and starting to become more vocal. It is great to see her start smiling more and more every day.

Congrats to Sarah, Will, and Annah!

Congrats to our friends Sarah, Will, and Annah on the arrival of baby Liam! He was born Thursday night at 11:26pm and weighed in 7lbs and 11oz and measured 19 inches long.

Poppie's Girl

So last night Mimi invited to her house for dinner on Thursday evening. So I told Delainey, if it wasn't raining, she and I could do some fishing. She thought that was a great idea and became very excited about. She was so excited it was all she talked about today. At 3pm, my office phone rang and I saw it was our house. I said hello and the response I got was, "Daddy, it sure is taking a long time to go fishing today." I told Delainey that in order to catch a fish, we had to be patient, so off she went to watch more cartoons.

I 5pm, I left the office and headed to the hardware store to get some nightcrawlers (those are worms for you non-fisherman). I pulled into Mimi's driveway expecting to get tackled at the door by a 3 year old that couldn't wait to go fishing. However, I walked into a living room with two sleeping girls! Delainey woke up way early this morning and then didn't take a nap, so on the ride to Mimi's she fell off into dreamland.

Once I woke her up and asked if she still wanted to fish, she popped right up. Her first question was, "Where are my worms Daddy?" The second picture is Delainey picking out just the right worm. She was actually more interested in playing with the worms than she was fishing, but oh well. So we tossed the bait, hook, and bobber into the water and waited. Then some little punk fish stole our worm! So Daddy baited the hook again and we tried a second time and waited. It wasn't long before Delainey had her first fish (a bream)! She was so excited and kept saying how cute he was.

I know her Poppie was smiling down from Heaven to see his Delainey using his cane pole to catch a fish!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Hola chicos and chicas! We hope everyone had a great weekend. The Columbia fam stayed busy as always. Laura and I finally had a chance to go on a couple of dates this weekend and had a really great time hanging out with our friends and catching up. Friday night the girls hung out with their Mimi and had a blast. She spoils them rotten as always. Can you believe that for the first time since Delainey was born, we hired a babysitter? We have been very fortunate to never have had to hire a babysitter since our family has been so close by, but Saturday we didn't want to burden anyone and bit the bullet. Both of the girls did really well and I think it will be easier for us if we ever have to do it again.

Saturday morning Delainey played in her second to last soccer game of the season and she is really starting to catch on now. She is also being a very good big sister and helping her Mommy and Daddy when she can. Jacqueline is growing like a weed! She is even starting to sleep through the night for 5 and 6 hour spurts. Laura is very grateful for that sleep.

Sunday, we went to church and then headed over to Knightbridge to help Uncle Bubba and Aunt Niki and Mimi do some work to get the house ready to put on the market.

Delainey celebrated Cinco De Mayo by getting a haircut today. She really is turning into a big girl!

This coming weekend Aunt Michelle is graduating from Winthrop and we are very excited about going up and seeing her and Uncle Patrick. We hope everyone has a great week!