Lucky Ducks

Amelia and Noah got to start celebrating Christmas early this year... at GG and Grandad's! We're heading to California this holiday for Christmas with the Kemps, so it was off to Salisbury this past weekend.

Boy, did we have fun! Thankfully, Santa found his way and didn't mind making an early drop-off. The kiddos had a ball opening gifts, especially Amelia who pretty much opened everyone's for them. Noah loved getting some toys of his own, but learned quickly that he'd have to protect his territory or Amelia would swoop in for the steal. He'll need Uncle Scott to teach him a thing or two about securing a perimeter.

Once again, Burt and Gayle spoiled us all. It was touch and go there for awhile if we'd make the "good list," but according to Lee's Mom and Dad, we passed the test. Thanks for a fabulous kick-off to Christmas!

Run Julianna Run!

The other weekend, some wonderful girlfriends and I ran in the Southern Village 5K. In November, Lee and I joined the Wellness Center and have been working out rather regularly. I saw this race advertised and - without thinking - signed up. It never occurred to me that Southern Village is ALL hills... or that a month of training might not be enough preparation for a race.

Thankfully, I was able to convince Melissa, Catherine, and Leah to join the madness with me. If not for them, I'm not sure I would have finished. Those hills were killer!

It's been over 20 years since I last ran competitively and I have to admit, the racer in me has been reawakened. My finishing time was nothing to write home about, but I was more than pleased. It was enough to convince me that I might be able to do it again. In fact, I'm organizing a group of girlfriends to run in another local 5k this May.

I'm tempted to say the best part of the SV5K was crossing the finish line (that was at the top of the last hill!), but as good as that felt, it wasn't the best moment. That distinction goes to seeing my beaming daughter's face as I rounded the corner at 2.5 miles. She was cheering, jumping up and down, furiously waving at her Mama. Her smile was big and joyful, and dare I say, proud. I've never had an experience like that... it was by far, the best part of running that race!
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All about Noah

This post should be all about Amelia and her "light-bulb" moment on the ice today. She's a skater now! From the moment she stepped on the ice, she was a different girl... she could skate. I could hardly contain my smile.

The girl I've been watching lay on the ice, scoot on her bum, and cry when she fell for the past few weeks had an ah-ha! moment. It all connected for her today. She could get up easily when she fell, she could glide on the ice, and she moved with a confidence she's not had before. And she was fast! Holy cow... fearless.

But alas, I don't have any good photos of her and only one video that doesn't come close to showing off her new skill. Why? Because I spent the hour she was on the ice chasing Noah who's become a walking fool! It's been one week since his ah-ha! moment at the rink - connecting multiple steps. Today he set a new personal best and walked about 15 feet. The boy couldn't be stopped! I was worn out just trying to keep up with him.

Sorry Amelia... next class will be all about you... as it should be!

Happy Holidays Y'all!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Two small steps...

We had our fourth ice skating lesson today. By "we" I really mean Amelia, but, Noah and I are along for the ride as well. Today's lesson was filled with some highs and lows. The lows included Amelia twice leaving the ice in tears, begging to go home. Taking a page from my wise brother Jon, I reminded Amelia that "Brinson's aren't quitters." Can't say she was immediately convinced, but, eventually, she did get back on the ice.

The highs included Amelia finally learning how to stand up on the ice... all by herself. I won't publicly admit that she's the last one in her class to accomplish this skill. She also skated! Don't be fooled... what looks like simple "walking" is really "skating" to the untrained eye. (It's safe for you to also assume that she's the last one in her class to "skate." Thankfully, she's not the only one to cry.)

While Amelia was taking her first steps on ice, our sweet Noah was taking first steps of his own. He's on the verge of soloing and gave us a glimpse of his new skills at the rink this afternoon. (Way to go mom for remembering the camera!) Check out our boy... WALKING...

Brinson Holiday Cards... a retrospective

Today we received our first holiday card for 2008. It's from my mom & dad and includes a great picture of our family taken this summer in Vail, CO, at Four Eagle Ranch. We Brinsons love, love, love holiday cards! It wouldn't be Christmas without the wonderfully creative cards from our dear family and friends. They all get hung around the opening from our kitchen into our den. Each one is admired over and over... Amelia loves to tell us who's in each photo.

It got me reminiscing about the cards Lee and I have sent out over the past seven years. I went searching, and delightfully, found them all. I can't wait to add this year's card to our growing collection... especially, because it's sweet Noah's first appearance.

2002


















...in front of our new house, shortly after we got married...

2003













...a favorite photo my dad took of us on the train in Asheville, NC...

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...at Federal in LA for the X Games wrap party... secretly pregnant with Amelia (joy!)...

2005


















...our wonderful friend Lauren took this first family photo in Duke Gardens (Durham, NC)...

2006












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...it was too hard to pick just one photo for this year... dad took another great family portrait of us on our 2nd favorite beach - Ulua, in Wailea Maui; our favorite photo of '06 - dad took in CA on a little train; Halloween with our dog Gus in Chapel Hill; playing at home....

2007











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...family portrait on our favorite beach - Crescent Bay in Laguna (pregnant with sweet Noah!); Amelia at home; our little surfer girl at Holden Beach, NC...

Trottin' for Turkey

Check out a few videos of Noah "walking" on Thanksgiving...

Noah practicing his walking...


More walking...


Here comes Noah...


Audition tape for "So You Think You Can Dance"...

Watch out Kimmie Meissner...

Amelia had her very first ice-skating lesson today. I knew we hit the jackpot when she got off the ice and immediately said - with a big smile on her face - "Mom, that was really fun!"

She's signed up for eight weeks of lessons - every Tuesday afternoon for one hour. Prior to today, she's seen a rink twice... the first was a Carolina Hurricane's game. The second was a very special outing with her wonderful GG to see Disney-on-Ice. According to Gayle, Amelia's eyes were very wide as she watched the skaters twirl, jump, and glide across the ice.

It's not like she's been begging to learn how to skate. Quite the opposite... she's never even mentioned it. I came across the lessons by accident... on Sunday... signed her up on Monday, got her a helmet and some mittens... and voila!... Amelia was struttin' her stuff on the ice this afternoon.

There wasn't a parent at the rink smiling bigger than me. I was so proud of... how she put her skates on and immediately started dancing... how she easily made a new friend... how she couldn't wait to see the rink... how, without trepidation, she stepped on the ice for the first time... how she didn't give up fall after fall after fall... how she sweetly found a hand to hold when she needed a boost of confidence... how she smiled at me when she came off the ice.

My darling little bird is growing up...

Dad and Amelia Win! Heels victory, merely a sidenote.

I'm so proud of Amelia for enjoying the ENTIRE North Carolina / Georgia Tech football game. She cheered, she yelled, she colored, she she sang the alma mater! She even booed the Rambling Wreck from Georgia Tech - nah, just kidding, she didn't boo anybody.

She did think the Tech "bumblebee" Buzz was very silly. When told that Georgia Tech's team were the Yellow Jackets, Amelia had a tough time figuring out why they were wearing white shirts instead of yellow jackets.

Julianna's guess on Saturday's activities was pretty close. We took the bus to campus and hit Tar Heel Town. Amelia was fascinated by the UNC band and watched them until they marched off to the game. After visiting Tar Heel town, we stopped off at Lenoir Dining Hall and grabbed some Chick-fil-A sandwiches. We then headed off to beautiful Kenan Stadium and enjoyed a thorough beating of the Yellow Jackets. Amelia did a great job at the game - helped by snacking on pretzels and leftover Halloween candy.

What a great Saturday!

Go Heels!

A quick pic of Amelia and Lee before they headed to the UNC Football game this afternoon.

Here's my guess of their game plan...

1.) Hit the ATM (Dad needs cash to treat his little sweetie)
2.) Head to the Park & Ride lot to catch the fan bus up to campus (Amelia LOVES riding the bus!)
3.) Check out Tar Heel Town (Amelia needs to get her jump on at the bouncy house... a Tar Heel tattoo is also a necessity! Look for Shelby.)
4.) Head to the stadium ("Dad, carry me!")
5.) Lee calls JKB to remember to record game (CHECK!)
6.) Kick-off... start watching game - GO HEELS! ("Dad, what are they doing?)
7.) 1st QTR - get snack
8.) 2nd QTR - open backpack, get out coloring book and markers... look for mascot Ramsey.
9.) Lee calls JKB to report on how he's surviving with a three-year-old at a 3-hour-plus football game (Great!)
10.) Half-time - get another snack, walk around, continue looking for Shelby (Dad, can we go on the field now?!)
11.) 3rd QTR - open backpack, get out Leapster... and a little Halloween candy treat (Dad, Dad, Dad... can I have a lollypop?! Please!)
11.) 4th QTR - another snack?!
12.) Game over... sing UNC Alma Mater to celebrate win (I'm thinking positively!), call JKB to say they're heading home
13.) Hop back on fan bus
15.) Arrive home... Amelia tells Mom and Noah stories about all the fun she had with Dad at the game. (Dad, can we go again?!)
16.) Lee takes everyone out to a yummy dinner!

Kicking off our Halloween Festivities

Check out Starbuck's newest spokes-kid... Amelia. She LOVES their "deeeeeeeee-li-cious" hot chocolate.

The other day our local Starbuck's had a pumpkin painting party for the kiddos. Lee suggested we go. I think he was really looking for an excuse to get another pumpkin-spiced-latte.

Normally, when Amelia paints, she puts 5-6 brush strokes on the page and is ready to move on. This time she was all about the paint. Her pumpkin (and sweater!) was covered.

Fun was had by all... thanks Starbuck's!

Oh, what a beautiful day!

It's the middle of October and 80 degrees here in Chapel Hill... some may call that "global warming" -- I call it delightful. Since it's going to barely make 60 tomorrow, we made sure to get out today and enjoy the beautiful weather

Our wonderful friends Sarah, Taylor, and Catherine met us at the park and fun was to be had by all. I failed in my attempt to get a good pic of Noah -- my fair skinned, light blond hair boy is hard to photograph. Amelia and Sarah stood still for me to take exactly one photo of each. The image of the day goes to Taylor... such a cutie!

So long t-shirts (today), hello sweaters (tomorrow)...

Happy Birthday Uncle Tom

Today is a special day... it's my wonderful Uncle Tom's birthday. All day I've been thinking of him and our many dear memories. I miss him so.

I keep coming back to one of my sweetest memories... the day he met Amelia. She wore her best dress for this important introduction and was on her best behavior. She took to him immediately... quietly slumbering while snuggled up on his shoulder. I loved that their bond had been formed... that she'd get to know the man who meant so much to me... who was not only my Uncle, but who had taken over as Grandfather, who gave me valued guidance, who helped to teach me to "think big", who expected the very best from me... who loved me like his own.

I don't need to see the photo to picture this moment perfectly in my mind. But, oh, how I love that photo. In honor of Tom, I'm posting it today, along with a few others from that first visit three years ago.

What I'd give for him to meet Noah...

Saturday Self-Portrait

Guess who?!

Guess who's going to be Spiderman for Halloween this year...
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Snaggletooth

Noah's got a tooth! He was gnawing on my finger today - like he's loves to do - and I was suddenly surprised with pain. Ouch!

It's not one of his bottom two front teeth... as is usually the norm. It's not one of his top two front teeth... which would make some sense. It's his upper right tooth, next to the front teeth... his "snaggletooth" as we now fondly call it.

He's strange... but we love him!

Cheer she might, but play she WILL!

The other day, Amelia came running out of her room with her cheer leading pom-poms - or as she calls them "cheer-leads"...

"Dad! Dad! You be the basketball player and I'll cheer for you!"

It was at that exact moment I said, this girl needs to be introduced to the wonderful world of women's athletics! Cheer she might, but play she WILL.















So, the fire was hopefully lit at last weekend's UNC women's soccer game against Kentucky. Amelia met her good friends Sarah and Shelby at Fetzer Stadium to witness one of the country's most dominate college sports teams. Aside from the fact that it was beastly hot and everyone was a sweaty mess, fun was had by all.

When the game was over, Amelia couldn't understand why she couldn't get on the field to play soccer. "But, Mom... it's my turn now!"

Success!

Julianna throughout the years

As the primary photographer of this blog, I'm rarely in the photos. Thought it was time I posted a few of myself. Take a look at some of my favorites throughout the years...

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1994