Christmas '07

After last year's five trips on Christmas, Erin & I vowed never to do that again so we could enjoy our holiday. This year we started off at my dad's house for a small gathering that included Greg and Grandma. We opened our respective gifts and conversed for a while. In the discussion i found out that the DVDs that i normally got dad, he never uses, or even opens. They were the DVDs of the movies he would glue himself (and I) to watching them when ever they were on TV when i was little. So i figured he would like to watch the full uncut version. Not so much. So i was able to counter his attack of my 'bad' gifts showing him that i asked for nothing long sleeved and he gave me long sleeved shirts. So needless to say, we had fun reminiscing about Christmas past.

Then it was off to Erin's parents house. We got there about 12:45 for a 1:00-ish immediate family gift opening. But we had to wait until 3:00 for Rachel to arrive from her festivities with James' family. We did a quick cleaning for the rest of the family to show. Once they were there we talked and snacked. Then we passed out the gifts and opened them. Jan gave Dot and Joe a digital picture frame with old pictures of years past. we spent a good while watching the slide show on the TV. Then we served dinner. It was fabulous. the boys started playing dominoes and i joined in. The first game i played was a great game. I may not have won, but it was so much fun watching Jacob drawing 20 dominoes to get a play. After some games of dominoes, it was off to guitar hero. We played that for a while. i stopped to say good byes to the people as they left and then started the whirl wind of activity. Barb left to take her brother back to Florissant while Erin, James, Rachel, Mr Peters and I completely cleaned the house leaving little to nothing for Barb to do when she got back. Then we visited with Barb for a bit longer and we head home and we were ready because it was 1:00 in the morning. It was a wonderful Christmas.

To see pics click here.
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Grandma's 85th Birthday Party

It just seemed like last year that we celebrated grandma's 75th birthday. I guess time slips by before you knew it was there. The whole Heidemann clan gathered at a nice restaurant in old town Florissant called Hendels. Unfortunately Erin was in Honduras at the time. She came in later that night so i drove the suburban so i could pick her up from the airport directly from the restaurant.

The night started at grandma's before dinner to catch up with the out of towners. Then Greg and I drove in the suburban to Florissant. Once we got to Hendels, we noticed we were in the enclosed porch. It definitely wasn't cold. The heater were radiant heaters that were ceiling mounted. I think they had the heat up a little to much because it felt like i was getting sun burn every time i stood up. We had drinks and talked for a bit while we waited for everyone to arrive.

Time to eat! The menu was filled with excellent choices for dinner but i decided on the fillet - it was an excellent decision. We all crammed into the long table as we waited for the food and waited and waited. I was the unlucky soul who got the food last and it was wrong so i had to wait longer. But once it was there, it was great. After we were done eating, the waiting staff brought out the cake. After i got some snap shots of it, we cut it and served it. Greg was trying to eat my cake so i proceeded to bring my plate of cake to his mouth, but he tried to block it and the cake soared out of my hand and onto his sleeve, icing down. I had a good chuckle at the icing incident.

I checked the time shortly after and i realized i had to go and pick up Erin from the airport. I said my good byes and made a relatively quick exit. I dropped off Greg at his car and proceeded to the airport.

Click here for pics.
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I have a little catching up to do...

I have to start off by saying sorry for the long delay between posts. School has been taking up much of my time. But now that i have the week off from work and i am Christmas break for school, i have time to do some posting. I have a little bit of a back log of events that i need to post for, but i will start with Audrey's first birthday party.

It was a cool October day and i was heading over to Laura & Tim's house for Audrey's first birthday party. I lugged along the camera, and also brought my sugar glider Sydney in my shirt pocket (i will post on her shortly). When i got there, i quickly noticed how few people were there, but i forgot that the party was also the unveiling of Tim's masterpiece: the basement.

As i started down into the basement, i noticed the great fit and finish Tim had labored at for some time. Then i panned over to the bar area. It was marvelous! The bar top was in granite (i think), it was long, dual leveled, well lit and had a built in tap. who could want more? then i saw the sitting area with the 'L' couch from the living room upstairs and a nice plasma mounted on the wall. Finally there was a large play area for Audrey, but it was filled with tables and chairs for the party.

After some visiting and showing my portfolio and business card for Heidemann Photography, the party began for Audrey with her own individual destroyable cake. It came with a single candle and we all sang happy birthday. Then Audrey quickly dove in with her hands. Hand full after hand full of cake went to her face. It was smeared and smashed and flew everywhere - she must of had a blast. But after about five minutes of this, it was time to clean her up, serve cake to everyone else and finally open up her gifts.

Sydney was great. it was her first time at a gathering out of her zippable pouch. she did a little fussing but nothing big. Once word got out about, as i call her; my rat bat, i got her out to show everyone. She was nice and a bit scarred but we were able to look at her cute little face. After showing her off it was time to go. I had Kate help me with my camera stuff out to the car. I had a great time and a hats off to Tim and the work he did on the basement.

For pics click here.
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A Day at the Race Tracks

For Matt's (Erin's brother) birthday, He got a ticket to go on the Richard Petty Driving Experience and actually got to drive one of the Winston cars at Gateway. He arrived at Gateway at around 11 am and had to go through training for about an hour and a half. Then he was able to go driving.

The setup was that two 'students' went driving at a time. When each person drove he followed their lead car. If you wanted to go faster you closed in on the car and then they would go faster and vise versa. So actually the student was in total control of the speed. Matt's spot in line was 22nd and each group took about 15 minutes so the wait was long.

Erin's mom Barb called Erin and I to take photographs of Matt driving. So during the long wait, The Richard Driving Experience offered a ride-along option for those people who came to watch their family members drive. So Erin and I, Rachel, Maria, Reggie and April (Matt's friends) all took the opportunity to ride in the Winston cup car.

Erin and i were paired to ride in the two cars that rode simultaneously. We had to put on the flame retardant overalls and the big helmet along with a neck brace. Then we waited in line to drive while taking in the noise, heat of the cars and the smell of burning rubber. Then our time came to climb through the window and get in the car. The seat was tight, my head was immovable and the heat from the engine filled the car. But it didn't matter, the rumble from the engine was about to roar and we were going to be on our way.

Instantly my ears were filled a sound that was heard so many times while we waited. The acceleration threw my body against the seat. Then we took the first turn. The lateral g-forces were strong. The side bolstering from the seat was pushing hard against the turn-induced forces. My head was pressed hard onto the inside of my helmet, but nothing moved as i was well strapped into the car. As the car zoomed past 130 mph, the heat from the engine made my feet sweat. But none of that mattered, i was exhilarated at the speed, acceleration and handling that allowed the car to take an unbanked sharp turn at 90+ mph and banked turns at much faster which allowed the smile on my face to grow even bigger.

But unfortunately, the ride doesn't last forever. I had to get out and allow the next riders to go on their ride. then about the time that Erin and i got out of our driving attire, Matt was due to drive next. I documented the process of Matt getting in the car through the window and getting strapped in. Then he was given the sign to begin and off he zoomed. I snapped many pictures of his ride.

After we all regrouped and finished off our time at Gateway, we decided to go out to dinner at Cracker Barrel. The dinner was great but the ride along was even better.

To see the pictures, click here.

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