Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Friends and Family:

Wow - I can't believe it is Christmas again. It seems like I just did this last year. 2008 has been a very busy year for us. Murl and Kelly spent six months renovating the back porch............check out our archived blog for construction pics.

The Finished Product

Colin graduated from Bloomingdale High School this year and started college this fall. He is attending the University of Central Florida. He earned a 3.625 GPA this semester and is currently on the Dean's List. He is applying for an RA position next fall and has received word that he will be going to the 2nd round of interviews. We are so proud of him.

Carter is a sophmore this year at Bloomingdale High School. He tried out at the end of his Freshman year for "Ambassadors" and made it! He is singing (and dancing) and having lots of fun! They have sung lots of places this fall including a 911 memorial service and at the Epcot Candlelight Processional. He will be going to New York in January to sing at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Very Cool..................

911 Memorial


Christmas Concert

It is our hope that you have the most blessed Christmas and prosperous New Year!

Love,

Murl, Kelly, Colin and Carter

Happy Halloween!

I Dream of Jeannie............................


Major Anthony Nelson and "Jeannie"


"Oh Master!"

We hope that all of you explored your trans gender roles this Halloween too!

Some pics from the party we went to (somehow, I missed the Pirate Wenches who were awesome:


Hippy Chick, Wicked Witch of the West, Grandma eaten by the "Big Bad Wolf"

Joe Dirt

Pirate, Hippy Dude, Joe Dirt

Pirate, Jeannie

Pirate Dave

Dorm Life!

MOVE IN DAY!





Well, he made it! Or shall I say WE made it! I can't believe our baby has gone off to college. This is Colin and Cristina before we left.

We moved him in the middle of Tropical Storm Fay - it was such as nasty and yucky day. But we persevered and it really wasn't too bad. He seemed a little subdued but I think leaving your girlfriend behind and going away when you never have before was a bit overwhelming although he would never admit that. I didn't boohoo - just a little teary-eyed was all. I woke up at 3:00 AM the night before we left. I went into the family room where Mr. Colin was asleep on the couch with all the lights on and the Olympics on TV. That's when I cried. I just watched him sleep for a while. Guess I got it out of my system.

Nick's side before he moved in............

Colin's side before we moved him in................

It is amazing how fast 18 years goes by. You plan for it and expect it and see it coming but don't "get it". I still haven't gotten it but I can tell you this - It is alot like Christmas - there is this big build-up, waiting, getting everything ready - then it's a bit anti-climactic. When we got home I had the "after Christmas" blues - that is the only way I know to describe it.

Afterwards.........with friend Mike

Afterwards.............Bet you won't be able to see the floor in a couple of days!

Classes start today so I will be interested to talk to him tonight. If you would like to contact Colin direct, his phone and address are:

Cell - 813-362-4307
Dorm - 407-882-4206

Snail mail - PO Box 164913
Orlando, FL 32816-3222

Physical - Apollo Mailroom
4000 Central Florida Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32816-3222

Colin and Nick

Facebook worthy?

Proud parents!

More Proud Parents!

Now I know where the kids get it from : )

He looks a bit underwhelmed don't you think?

The Back Porch Project

Hi Again Everybody:

Thanks for all the nice emails and blog comments we received about Colin. He leaves for College on August 22. I will post again when we get back and have "dorm" pics - While you can still see the floor!

Ugly Before pic

Anyway, many of you know we have been working on our back porch for a LONG time. It has been fun, exhausting, frustrating and well worth it. We have done most of the work ourselves with the exception of the new roof and the laying of the pavers. An electrician tied in the new electrical but we did all the rest of the wiring.

I am very lucky to work for a company where I am exposed to alot of building materials and trades and have gotten free materials (tongue and groove ceiling that came from a house we built that the customer didn't like the color - so we took it and sanded and restained it); builder discounts (columns and travertine pavers); discounted installation (pavers); Murl earned gift cards from Nestle that paid for all lighting and ceiling fans (no out of pocket at all); employee discount on sectional sofa pieces (A dear Client/friend works for Pottery Barn) and many end of the season clearance and sale items from Sam's, Pier One and HomeGoods. I think the only retail we paid was for the roof, trim materials, plants and landscape materials. I am posting before, during and almost finished pics.

We lived over 6 months with these awful holes cut into the ceiling from the electrician.

The drywall comes down!

Check out my handy-dandy electrical work! Yep, I did it : )

Murl installed the new columns - It took alot of muscle!

The new ceiling going in............

Exterior Trim complete and lighting done

Ceiling finished and polyurethaned - First Ceiling fan installed

Interior Trim work underway - pavers sitting in the yard - would you look at that ugly fence???

We even tried our hand at stucco - the door sills looks pretty good!

Check out the crown moulding - I am pretty proud of it!

Pavers going down - Fence Pressure washed - better but still ugly!

Pavers done and sealed! New roof and gutters too!

New Furniture! Ugly red work bench is going away!

Fence Side complete

Plants and pillows really start to cozy up the space

Kneewall placement - Also, the fence is looking better since it has been cleaned and stained. That was the worst job of all - staining the fence.....never again!

The kneewall will be stucco to match the house with a travertine cap to match the pavers. We still have to dig and bury the drain - yuck! And of course alot of landscaping left to do as well.

Murl can now watch football - yippee!

Still don't have the kneewall complete - it will probably be a couple of weeks before that gets done. The firepit arrived. We have already been enjoying our new space. Come visit and we'll have a few drinks and cook out.

Happy 18th Birthday!

Welcome to our Blog!

A couple of months ago my dad suggested that I start a website or blog so that I would have a place to post pics that family and friends could see and even make comments about. Thus “Householders in Florida” was born. My first post is in honor of Colin’s 18^th Birthday.

We were watching home videos of Colin’s first birthday a couple of weeks ago. It is just amazing to me that 18 years have gone by. I remember when he turned nine telling Murl that he was halfway through his childhood. It felt like time was slipping through my fingers faster than I could keep up with. Now I just can’t believe it. It makes me sad – yes. But I am also proud. He has become an upstanding adult. He has consistently made good choices in friends and his mistakes have been few. He has a strong personal code. College is the next step of “age appropriate responsibility”. Although I worry about how he will get himself up to get to class on time – I suppose it’s like worrying about potty training – they eventually figure it out!

Please join us in celebrating Colin’s 18^th Birthday. Enjoy the slideshow and if you are up to more photos you may click on the Picture below to be taken to our Web Album dedicated solely to COLIN! When you are there click on Slideshow and sit back. And as with any Blog – your comments are welcomed and encouraged.

Colin

Happy Birthday – Colin!

We love you very much,

Mom and Dad

http://picasaweb.google.com/kehouseholder/Colin