Happy Easter

We have had a great Easter Weekend.

First Greg got Friday off so Thursday night we went camping(that will require a seperate post, but here is a preview photo of Clara loving her first S'more).

Saturday Clara had a easter egg hunt at Nicolle's Gym. We feel that for Clara's agressive and competitive development it will be to her advantage to compete against children older than her. So when given the choice, we registerd her for the 12-18 year old easter egg hunt division. Clara enjoyed seeing the eggs and the staff that was responsible for the hunt did a good job in making sure Clara was able to get some eggs, before the college freshman came in to take them all. Only after the easter egg hunt did Clara realize that there was candy associated with each egg. She will be kicking herself for that one for weeks to come. It was her only shot at getting refined sugar this year.

After the Gym we went to the Greensboro Farmers Market. We had a hearty breakfast to give us energy back that we lost from the Easter Egg hunt. While we were looking for plants for our garden, Greg saw some beautiful flowers and decided to surprise Nicolle with flowers. OK, Nicolle did drop some serious hints before he bought them

Nicolle "Those flowers are the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen"

Greg "Speaking of flowers, I was at a yard sale today and this guy wanted $.15 for a half used stick of chalk. I told him I could not go higher than $.12."

Nicolle "Those flowers would look great in our kitchen."

Greg "You know what would look great in our kitchen is one of the hats that you can drink soda from two sides"

Nicolle "I am buying those flowers"

Greg "Then it is coming out of your fun money"

When we got home, we painted eggs, and Clara went for the Neo-Impressionist style and summoned her inner Seurat . Here are Clara's eggs and one of Nicolle's as well. Nicolle's style is the lesser known Out of Focus Camera Style.

On Sunday, Clara got to wear her Easter outfit and we got to go to church as a family for once. After church we were able to look at some of the flowers in our yard.

Also, after watching Mary Poppins, Clara has been wanting to 'Go Fly a Kite." We got one and figured that the wind generated from a passing vehicle would help fly a kite (Trucks are the best). Here is what Clara was able to do. She is a Natural.

PS. For those of you wondering, Nicolle won the NCAA Brackets, and Clara got 4th out of 16 people. That is right, a 2 year old was able to predict that MSU and Carolina were going to play in the finals. Makes Greg's pick of Wake Forest winning it all look kind of silly.

Grandma's Daddy

By Nicolle:

My Mom has gray hair. Clara calls her "Gi-Gi." Whenever she sees someone with gray hair, she points at them and says, "Gi-Gi." Also, whenever we see someone who looks around the same age as her grandparents- male or female- (but without gray hair), she points and says, "Grandma." She isn't subtle about this, by the way, and some people might think it rude. Well, today she saw an elderly man (probably in his 80's). She pointed and shouted "Grandma's Daddy." Hilarious.

NC Zoo

This last weekend, we went to the Asheboro zoo. Clara could not wait to see the lions and was willing to let anyone know what a lion sounded like.

First we saw the alligators. Clara liked them, but Nicolle and Greg were a bit paranoid for a while, thinking everything that moved was an alligator.

A Gorilla walked right up to Clara (with only a glass window between them) - she was half excited and half terrified.

Clara enjoyed seeing the animals and has been talking about them ever since.

The most wonderful time of the Year

I love this time of year. We have a bracket and if any of you wish to join, you are more than welcome. Don't think you need to know anything about Basketball. You will beat Greg Regardless of your basketball knowledge.Here is the information:To accept this invitation and join the group, click the link below (or cut and paste the link into your browser's address bar).

You'll be asked to enter the group's password before you can join. The group password is included below.http://sherwoodbracekts.mayhem.sportsline.com/e

Our Group password is: ASUrules

Get Well, Soon!

By Nicolle:I'm feeling grateful. My best girlfriend just recently found out the reason behind the myriad of health problems that have been plaguing her for the last several years. She found the diagnosis herself, by doing research online, after hundreds of doctors/tests/and treatments had proven ineffective. Way to go, Trin! The best news is there is one surgery that should fix all of the problems. Surgery was today, and I hear it went well. Here we are in choir at Belmont University, where we got to know each other 11 years ago.

I was new and shy. Trinity was outgoing and made me feel welcome. We became fast friends and had tons of fun working on projects and studying (okay mostly laughing late into the night) together. We knew we'd be each other's maids of honor, before we even knew who we would marry.

Love you, Trin! Thanks for being such a great friend. Get well, soon.

Winter Wonderland

On Monday, Greensboro got a massive winter storm. School was canceled for a month, Roofs caved in due to the weight of the giant snowfall, Doors could not open because of the snow blocking the doors and Greg's job had a two hour delay (I didn't know work had 2 hour delays, I thought that was just school). Greensboro received 5 huge, mind blowing, crippling INCHES of snow.

Being from New York, when I hear Snowstorm, I imagine measurement in feet, not inches so when the normal NC Winter Storm Warning comes up, I get excited until I hear that 1 inch may be possible. This was the most it has snowed since we have lived in NC.

Clara had a blast in the snow.

She got to go sledding for the first time.

She did some snow angels with her Dad

She even got to hang out with a snowman and sing the Snowman song.
She was sad however, because she was unable to get to class due to her car being snowed in.

Overall we had lots of fun and by Thursday it was in the 60's and all the snow was gone.

Those Sweet Words

By Greg,

There are very few words that get me as excited as a word in an email that I recieved recently. The word is WON. That is right. I have Won something. Not just any something, but a LOT of somethings. Not 1 but 7.

I found a government surplus site online one day while looking for cheap Christmas presents. This is the site that any government agency can sell stuff. I found some recovered stolen items for sale like flat screen TV's and other stuff. It is a closed bid system (you enter your bid and no one can see what you bid).

Well, after bidding on over 50 items, I finally won something. I won a lot of Blackboards and Corkboards for only $5.00. 4 black boards and 3 corkboards. There was only one problem. They are not the hand held black boards, but are 8 feet long and 4 feet high.

So, if I want to be able to bid for anything ever again, I need to find homes for 3 of the Blackboards and 2 or 3 of the corkboards .

So if you are wanting to have a Blackboard for one of your walls, let me know. Please do it fast, too, there are a bunch of used lug nuts that I want to bid on.

Editor's note: We are not trying to sell these... they are FREE FREE FREE to a good home. Or to anyone who will take them out of our basement... you can even use our truck to haul them).

-Nicolle "I am married to a compulsive deal-shopper" Sherwood

Tea For Two

Written by Greg:

Clara turned two this last week. She had a Birthday party with 3 of her friends. They had a Tea Party (Lemonade), and got to play dress up too.


Is that a Bomber Pilot or a Princess?

Match Maker Match Maker Make me a match

There was a point in the party where the four girls tried to serenade the adults in the house with their sweet melodies.

Is that the Three Tenors or the Four Toddlers?

After singing, then girls moved over to the piano and composed

Clara had a great time and loved it when everyone sang her happy birthday

Nicolle made snacks for the kids and adults and as always they were great.

Those are Tea Pot shaped Sandwiches

Happy Birthday to our sweet Clara!

Most VALUABLE Player

Friday’s key player was not Greg Vlasney with his 13 points and outside shot to stretch the defense. It was not Greg Tukes filling in for the absent Tom Daugherty at center. It was not the Gregs (Vlasney, Tukes, and Sherwood) with 6 for 8 free throw shooting at the end to preserve the 53-42 victory. It was someone who had 0 Points, 0 Rebounds, 0 Assists, 0 Steals and 0 Blocks. He did however, manage to get 5 fouls.

Mike Burbridge made the summit wards Chris Baughan sing Sinatra after the game. The lines were never more true, “I’ve got you, under my skin.” Mike got under Chris’s skin from the start of the game, and only let him relax when the 2nd team came into the game.

Jeremy Holmes and Greg Wheatley got the assignment to lock down Chris when Mike was not in the game. To Jeremy and Greg W’s credit, they did a great job defending Chris, and since Bishop Sweat out with a back injury, Chris is the league’s smartest and best player. Even with Jeremy and Greg W’s hanging on each of his arms and sticking a hand in his face, Chris would make some impossible shots, keeping Summit ward in the game.

When Mike took on his assignment, he did not just want Chris to miss his shots, he didn’t want Chris to touch the ball. Mike shut down Chris, limiting him to 2-6 from the field, and when asked to comment after the game, all the Mike could say was, “He did score 4 points on me.”

When Mike fouled out with 2 minutes left in the game, his work was done. Lakefield ward had scored enough, and Summit ward been contained. 4 points from free throws, and a layup later, the buzzer sounded and Lakefield was 2-0.

Michael Aagard told Mike at the beginning of the game to stick to Chris like gum, and he wanted to know flavor he was. (Stealing a line from the greatest sports movie ever)

He was Dentyne.

Church Brawl, I mean Basketball, has Begun

Church basketball has started for the 2009 season. I (Greg) will practice my beat writing skills and give a recap from the game and commentary.

Friday Jan, 2nd was the first outing for the Lakefield’s mens team, and they picked up where they left off last season. Just like in the stake championship last year, Lakefield had put the mercy rule into effect before halftime with a final score of 58 to 18.

It was a balanced team effort led by Michael Aagard and Greg Vlazny scoring 14 points each, and Tom Dougherty chipping in an additional 10 points.

Coach Bob Musso still felt there was more to improve, “I don’t remember anyone putting their hands up on defense.” Coach Bob said after the game.

In addition to Coach Bob’s comments, Greg Vlanzy got a technical foul and was forced to sit out for 5 minutes. Also, the ref made some threatening remarks toward Greg Sherwood after he picked up his second foul in the first half.

While the team is able fast break, it needs to work on its half court team offence. Too often when the ball was brought up, the team takes the first chance they see and even force it when something is not there.

Our next game will be against a difficult Summit team. I hope to have photos and more stats for the game. Maybe somebody will volunteer and we can make a Fantasy league out of it. Here is a hint, don’t pick up Andrew.

Go Sun Devils

Looks like the Marron and Gold Pulled off the comeback victory. It makes is so much nicer that it was against BYU.

http://www.sltrib.com/byucougars/ci_11279405

Clara Takes a Bow

Clara has learned how to show thanks to her adoring fans.

Christmas Concert

Nicolle has a choir concert coming up, if anyone is interested...

Bel Canto \bεl 'kanto\: [It.] Beautiful Singing

Home for the Holidays

An evening of holiday cheer and seasonal classics

Friday, December 5 • 8:00 PM
Saturday, December 6 • 8:00 PM
Monday, December 8 • 7:30 PM
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church2105 W Market St, Greensboro
Tickets and more information:
336-333-2220 or www.belcantocompany.com
Single Tickets:$20 Adult, $15 Senior, $5 Student
Group Discount: $5 off per ticket for groups of 10+

Twilight, I don't get you

BY GREG:

Before I begin, I have to admit that I have not read or seen any of the Twilight Books or Movie.

Having said that, I don't understand how a book can command such a following from so many groups. I am not being critical of anyone that likes this series. All I am doing is making an observation from the marketing that I have seen for the movie and conversations I have heard from my friends.
Here are the observations that I have made

1. The Marketing seems to be focused on the same group of people that like shows like Smallville, Dawsons Creek and other Teenage dramas


2. When I am in an Airport, I see the books prominently displayed, indicating that there is a strong demand from the business traveler for this book


3. HBO has seen there is a strong demand for the Teenage Vampire Drama's and has started a series True Blood. Wikipedia says that it will be the third most viewed HBO series behind Sex in the City and The Sopranos.

Someone please tell my why there is such a huge craze about this Series. A friend of mine wrote about it on his blog and now gets a few thousand(maybe less) visitors to his blog every day.

Is this another Harry Potter trend where the book appeals to a wide range of readers?

Do the people who enjoy it, enjoy their high school years?

Maybe that is it, I had more than enough Swirlie's, wedgies and pink bellies to never warrant another trip back to those dreaded years. (Napoleon Dynamite rang a little too true, except for Pedro winning the Election, and Napoleon getting Deb)

Anyway, you get to play the Salesman. Make you case why Twilight is all that, or why Twilight is Saved by the Bell with vampires (that would have been a better progression than the college years)

Imagine Screech as a Vampire, that would make his love of Lisa all the more exciting

Convince me.

Great Pranks

I(Greg) enjoy playing jokes on people. I would consider myself like Jim Halpert of The Office. Some that I have played people in the last year include:

• Auto Correct function in Excel - This is a great one. You go on to someone's computer and go to the Autocorrect funtion choice. The you set it up when they type something, like their Name, the computer automaticly changes the word to something else. Like I type "Greg" and what it turns into is "Greg is a loser with no friends" Lots of fun with lots of laughs.




• Raising the Desk - I picked up about 8 copies of the yellow pages and placed them under each of the legs of my coworkers desk, so when he came into the office, his chair seemed to be about 6 inches lower than before.
  
  
• Flipping the computer screen upside down - ALT + Ctrl + Down. Try it. Quick, easy, and very frustrating for the victim.


• Secret Santa - I printed out a couple of flyers for fake Secret Santa gift exchange and put down the contact information as a guy who is very manly and would never see himself doing that. The flyers were up for a couple weeks before he noticed they were talking about him.



• Reverse the Desk - A guy who I work with is very exact in how he likes his desk to be. It bothers him when I move a pen an inch(which I now do on purpose). When he was gone for a day, another guy and I flipped his office 180 degrees. Everything that was on his right was now on his left. The mouse was moved to the other side, the photos, the bookshelves, the filing cabinets were switched. The Keys on his keyboard were moved to spell his name. Then we swapped his photo of his wife with this photo -

I am now looking for some other ideas. Please let me know some.

Too Funny - Had to share

This is not a political statement, I just saw this video and had to show it to everyone.


Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

Feeling bad this Halloween season?

Dr. Clara is ready to assist youOr take your candy (trick or treating with Addie and Caden)Or hold your hand (downtown Halloween festival with friend, Aleesa).Or unknowlingly share her candy with you after she's gone to bed.

Oops... we are busted.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Clara's funny book

It is funny to see how she categorizes things. She calls every sport "soccie-ball."

• She sees my tennis racket and says, "soccie-ball."
• She sees Greg wearing a race t-shirt with a picture of someone running on it and says, "soccie-ball."
• We drive by a golf course and, again, "soccie-ball."
• Whenever Clara wants me to pick her up, she reaches out her arms and says, "Hold you." It is irrestistable.
• Clara had a diaper rash, and when we would change her diaper she would say "hurt." Then we would say, "Oh, I'm sorry." Her rash is gone, but now each time we change her diaper she says, "Hurt... Ohhhh I soooowwy-" with a very sympathetic look on her face.
• We went for a walk and halfway through, she sat down on the curb. Clara then insisted that we sit down with her. After sitting with us for a moment, she turns to each of us and says, "bye bye Mommy. Bye Bye Daddy." After saying that, she stands up and runs away as fast as she could, laughing the whole time. She must have gotten Greg's gene for playing jokes.

Speaking of playing jokes...

• After having whipped cream on her pancakes, Clara had most of the whipped cream on her face. Greg needed to leave to get to class, so he said his goodbye's, then Clara stood up in her high chair, with a mischieveous grin on her face, and requested Greg to give her a goodbye kiss. She has not done this before or since, but she knew that she would be able to "Share" her dinner with Greg that night.
• Clara likes to pretend with her doll's, It started with her rocking the dolls, but it has progressed to having the doll's go potty, giving high five's to the dolls and having the doll's color next to her.
• Clara read the book, "The Stupids (or Silly's as Greg's Mom would say) and in it, the boy eats with his toes. Soon after that, Clara started trying to eat her toes.