Spring has Sprung

Cole taking it all in.

This week was a good week for us and the boys.  Both boys are well on the road to recovery from their latest snotty noses and coughs.  When one gets sick we always know that the other will not be far behind.  We know the course the sickness will take, and in a way this is comforting.  As GI Joe always said, "Knowing is Half the Battle!"

Yesterday we spent much of the day at Forsyth Park having a picnic with some friends.  It was a beautiful day.  Overcast, and not too hot or cold.  Just right.  Rain was in the forecast but we lucked out and stayed dry.  The boys loved being outside.  They love to run free!  We spent much of our time trailing closely behind as they went exploring, always there to keep them from biting small dogs or little girls.  James Shaner (in pic below) and Michelle came over for dinner.  James is an excellent cook, and he prepared a French meal for all of us.  The menu (all prepared from scratch):  French Onion Soup, Scallops, Roasted Beets, Scallops on top of a carrot puree.  It was delectable!

Our friends the Michelle and James Shaner (left) and Mandy Waterman (right).  Mandy's husband Doug is currently deployed to Iraq.

Coop carrying grapes to his new buddy David Muccioli.

Just happened to catch a photo of these guys taking part in a citywide game of "Capture the Flag."  Gotta love Savannah!

 Our spring is quite busy. Meg and I will be taking a five day trip to St John soon.  My mom (GG) will be coming out, along with her friend Donna to watch the boys while we are gone.  We are excited about the trip, but I know it will be tough being away from the little guys for that long.  We are fortunate to have family willing to keep the boys.  Megan's parents will be keeping the boys in April when we attend the American Association of Endodontists Meeting in San Antonio.  We plan on making stops in Austin and Ballinger while in Texas.  It is time for us to start considering places where we will eventually settle down.  Oh yeah, I almost forgot.  We are going to the Masters in April.  Our friends the Dalzell's scored some tickets, and invited us to come.  We are pumped about this once in a lifetime opportunity.

The rest of the pics from our picnic can be seen on our smugmug site, along with thousands of other photos.  Just look in the feature gallery at  http://bickel.smugmug.com

With all the upcoming St Patrick's Day festivities about to kick off here in Savannah, I figured I would include a photo from St Patty's Day in Dublin in 2007.

St Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin
 

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.
- Mark Twain Innocents Abroad