Spencer Loses Manhood

We took Spencer to the vet this week to get neutered, front paw declawed and receive his shots. He handled it pretty well and was the clinic’s favorite pet during the visit. Everybody told us how much they loved him and how friendly he is with people. They said that whenever they put him in the cage he would cry until someone picked him up and held him.

The vet said he did really well with the surgery. When he woke up afterwards, he didn’t act any different like some of the other cats do. He had to wear the ring at first to keep him from licking the areas of the surgery.

Right now we can tell Spencer is still in a little pain and he’s hobbling around. He slept the the entire first night back with Noah in his bed. I went in there once and Noah was using Spencer as a pillow. Later I went back in and Spencer was using Noah’s head as a pillow. It was really cute, especially since Spencer doesn’t usually go to Noah’s bed.

Shelby’s First Grade Performance

 

Shelby’s first grade class performed their musical, Bugz. She was a chorus member. Shelby was really excited about it and has been singing the songs all the time.

New Trampoline

 

We got the kids a trampoline for Easter. I never realized how much of a pain in the butt they are to put up, especially the netting around it. It didn’t take Shelby long to figure out how to do flips, and Tamara had to try it out as well.

Noah’s New Friend; Beehive

Noah immediately made a new friend in our new neighborhood who lives next door. His name is C.J., and the two have immediately hit it off and spend nearly every evening playing together.

Tamara caught them racing their bikes, which are exactly the same, down the sidewalk. Of course, Shelby being the entertainer that she is, fills in the commentary of the action.

At the end of the clip, Tamara zooms in on a beehive we had formed on a bush in the front of our house. It was the size of a pineapple, and we later found out it was actually just a huge mass of honey bees.  It wasn’t there when we moved into the house a couple of weeks ago.

We found a local beekeeper who was going to meet us at the home to take them away for free. I came home to meet them and when I went to look at the hive, it was gone. The only trace of them were a few lost looking bees flying around. I thought maybe the beekeeper had came before I got there and saw the hive and took it away, but he came a short time later. They said when bees are starting out a new hive, they sometimes leave suddenly to go somewhere else. We thought it was funny that they left the day we called someone to get them after they had been there for at least a week.

Spring Media Guide Covers

Women’s Basketball Guide Places Third Nationally

The Memphis women's basketball media guide has been judged third in the nation by the 2008-09 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Publications Contest. The guide was selected as one of the nation's best among 85 entries.

The 202-page publication, which finished second in District IV, was written and edited by Assistant Media Relations Director Tammy DeGroff and designed by Assistant Media Relations Director and Publications Coordinator Brandon Kolditz. Cover photography was provided by Joe Murphy.

National Results

University of Kentucky (Susan Lax, Kim Troxall, David Coyle)
University of Oklahoma (Jared Thompson, Scott Matthews)
University of Memphis (Tammy DeGroff, Brandon Kolditz)
University of Kansas (Katy Longergan, Beau White)
Virginia Tech (Torye Hurst, Allison Jarnagin, David Knachel)
University of Connecticut (Randy Press)
Duke University (Lindy Brown, Duke Sports Information)
St. John's University (Rachel Constantine, Mekale Jackson, Athletic Communications)
University of Notre Dame (Chris Masters, Cynthia Lemcke)
UNLV (Mark Wasik, Paul Palmer)

Best Cover: University of Kentucky (Susan Lax, Kim Troxall, David Coyle)

Spencer aka “Butthead”

We had a new addition join our household in February. The kids call him Spencer, but me and Tamara refer to him as Butthead. Shelby and I were out for a jog, and a couple of blocks from our house a small stray kitten started chasing after us. When we got home, the kitten ran right inside and made himself at home. He’s been a part of our family ever since.

Butthead is a lot different from our other two old cats. From the very beginning, he let them know he was the Alpha Male. Butthead hogs the food and water dish and chases them away from our bed so he can get the prime spot. The other cats, even though they were bigger than him, were too afraid to fight back.

One thing Butthead does that drives us nuts is he likes to play with the water dish. Whenever we fill it up with water, he splashes it around with his paws until there is nothing left. It makes it frustrating trying to keep water out for the other cats.

He also likes to hop in the sink and shower when we are in the bathroom. He makes himself at home laying in the sink, and he’ll come and peak in when we are taking a shower. Quite often he has fallen into the tub, but the water doesn’t seem to faze him that much.

Noah had a hard time at first because Butthead liked to pounce on our feet when we walked by in the morning. We all could handle it, but every morning we would hear Noah screaming because the cat was biting his ankle.

As evidenced in the picture with Tammy, Butthead likes to sleep on his back and sprawl out. We catch him in this pose all the time in our bed.

Shelby’s Eighth Birthday

It’s hard to believe that Tamara and I already have an eight-year-old. Shelby turned eight on April 15. We got her a makeover game for the WII, some sunglasses, a couple books and some earrings. Grandpa and Grandma Kolditz gave Shelby her first set of scriptures, which she is very proud of. Her uncle and aunt Matt and Nikki got her a Hannah Montana purse that she now uses for her Digi game system and other personal items. Grandpa and Grandma Williams spoiled her with cash. Unfortunately, I was out of town traveling with softball, but Shelby had a very enjoyable birthday. Thanks to all those who wished her happy birthday and gave her gifts.

Chucky Cheese

We let the kids decide where they want to go eat for their birthday, and of course they always want to go to Chucky Cheese. We had to celebrate Shelby’s eighth birthday a little bit early because I was heading out of town. Shelby and Noah always have a lot of fun and Tamara and I try to enjoy the really bad tasting pizza. Then we get to use the tickets the kids get from the games to get some overpriced junk .

2008 Family Pictures

2008 Family Picture

Shelby's 2008 School Picture

Noah's 2008 Picture