Fun things we do with our free time ...

When we have down time from solving mysteries, we enjoy lots of hobbies that might surprise you about us, such as ...

... reading (but I'm sure you already knew that) ...

 ... Avery enjoys styling hair ...

 ... yes, she really really enjoys it ...

 ... she even styles her own hair now all the time ...

 ... we bowl ...

... we bath together ... to conserve water and it's so much fun ...

... we dress up as our favorite Superheros 

(Emery is still growing into her "Thing" costume) ...

 ... we professionally ride horses (well, you probably 

already knew that, but we just love showing off pictures 

of our new horse Sophie ... isn't she the cutest) ...

... we perform puppet plays of "Hamlet" ...

 ... we love to give others tons of tattoos ...

 ... and Avery practices shooting as a proud NRA member
... while Emery prefers perfecting hand-to-hand combat!

Our investigative process ...

 The first clue ...

To illustrate our extraordinary SIS services (Emery typing here, with Avery as the photographer), follow along as I walk you through how we naturally operate when chasing down a big mystery. First and foremost, you always have to keep your senses open for both the "in the weeds" and "the big picture" details.

For example, take this picture above as the first clue for solving the next great mystery. You have to ask yourself, "What am I looking at exactly; is it a micro- or macro-view?" while always keeping in mind, "What does it mean in the context of the mystery at hand?".

 ... the second clue ...

With each new piece of evidence you have to evaluate separately and then jointly with all of the other previous clues to detect a pattern, then pulling that thread deeper for a current line of reasoning.

 ... the third clue ...

As you start to tie these separate clues together, a theme might suddenly appear ... or likewise, new evidence redirects your current thinking to some new underlying theme.

 ... the "Eureka Moment" clue ...

As in all great mysteries, there will be a clue that suddenly bridges the gap between all other clues and confirms your hunches and direction. The picture above is that very eureka moment where you suddenly realize all of those previous clues were just close-ups of a pretty pink jacket worn by someone, but the real mystery is, who is that person???

 ... an "Almost There" clue ...

As each additional clue appears, you progressively get closer and closer and closer to solving the mystery. Aha ... well, hello there Sophie!!!

... the "Aha Moment"!!!

Today, a new era has begun ...

We (Avery here doing most of the typing until Emery's hands get bigger and she can type faster) may look, act, and seem very everyday normal, but know this, we have recently formed a new secret enterprise called Sister Investigative Sleuths, or SIS for short. Our number one goal is to help all of those in need. No job is too big or too small. If your cat disappears and is nowhere to be seen, call us and will get that tabby back home! You say you seem to be missing a freshly frosted cupcake you had sitting on the counter, we know exactly what happened to it! You think you have ghosts lounging in your attic, we have a proven system for routing out such pranksters (since there are no such thing as ghosts, it's probably just someone's little brother)!

The idea behind our new secret enterprise came to us one day quite peacefully while we were both napping together after a long, very long, car ride ...

... where Emery usually dreams and calls out for "Boobie" all the time (such as in the video below, and yes its the same Boobie I wrote a song for back on this blog entry) ...

... but instead of images of Boobie this time, she dreamt the same thing I did, cascades of images floating by of all the amazing wonderful help we could provide if we teamed up together to combine our talents ... such as finding all of our missing puzzle pieces and finally finishing a puzzle without any huge holes in it ...

... or finding that lost little puppy all alone in the scary wilderness ...

... or rooting out the causes behind mystery noises that happen throughout the night...

... or always ready at a moments notice for when something fishy begins to occur ...  

... and that great sister like us can have fun everyday all day long, as long as we have each other ...

... and oh yeah, our dreams usually end with a calisthenics workout routine ... you have to be in shape to do what it is we actually do ... below is a example of our morning routine.

All Good Things Must Come to an End ...

 Avery "moving on"

I'm sad to say that this will be the very last entry into my blog!!! After 4+ years of engaging you all in the blogosphere with all of my wise life observations, goofy stories, and humorous pictures/videos, I have decided that it is now time to "move on". Thanks so much to all of you out there that would take the time to view, read, and even comment on my blog, where all of such have been captured in a series of real books that I will cherish forever.

That said, I would now like the opportunity to share with you the new vehicle I will be "moving on" with ... it turns out that my baby sister Emery is a fast learner as well (maybe even faster than me) where as after only reading a book to her once, she was immediately able to read it back to me word for word!!! Here's a video of me reading to her ...

Emery would see me busy as a bee most days, where frantically trying to type up new blogs on the computer in the limited time I have was always a constant issue, so she offered up the idea of a joint collaborative blogging venture. The only thing was that since I had already "done" the normal blogging theme, I wanted to shoot for something new and exciting, so the only question is, what should that be?

Emery and Avery dreaming up an

exciting new theme for their joint blog

Below is a video of a direction we might go ... it could be really fun if we can do it right .... stay tuned for the relaunch, you won't be disappointed!!! 

Note that all my previous blogs will still be contained in the new joint effort, only that the face, description, and theme will be completed changed forever.

Introducing my new fabulous little sister, Emery!!!!!!!!!

Emery's birth announcement 

(sent out by the one and only Auntie Em)

I can't believe it finally happened!  My little sister Emery popped right out of Mommy's tummy and straight into my life, for better or for worse!!!  She's such a cutie, isn't she?  Take a good look and see for yourself ...

 Guess which one is of me on the day I was born ... 

we sure do look like sisters!!!

 Can you guess who's picture that is next to Emery??!?!  

That's Mommy, the day she was born ... 

well, I guess it's official, Emery is Mommy's kid!!!

Mommy and Emery had to stay 

in the hospital for a little while ...

 ... but I got to come visit all the time ...

 ... along with Grandma Wendy ...

 ... and even Grandpa Charles ... 

but even better yet, I got to sleep over at their 

house until Mommy and Emery came home!!!

 When Emery did finally come home, I immediately 

tried to make her feel as welcomed as can be... 

I introduced her to Scout-No ...

 ... got her moving fast in a really cool swing ...

 ... read all my favorite books to her ...

 ... sang songs to her as I held her 

close and tight in my arms ...

 ... started working out all her muscles ...

 ... set her up to relax in a really cool vibrating chair ...

... and even shared lovely quiet naps with her in the car!!!

So far Emery, you are the best little sister

 I could ever hope for ... I love you so much!!!

Goodbye For Now, My Nikki ...

Avery and her Good Friend Nikki

It's taken me some time to figure out exactly what to say, since wonderful memories with you have danced vividly since that last tear filled day. So here's my so-long, my goodbye, my farewell if just for now, since we will laugh again together someday, my Good Friend Nikki, and make new memories out loud.

You came into my life out of nowhere, 

from a place I now know is called Oregon, 

and returned back there again with me forever changed.

You brought good people with you to share from your life, 
warm people I'll always remember.

 Even a Dog and Dan, both as zany as can be,
everyday we had so much fun, I can't really even believe.  

 You took me to all so many places, great places that felt so warm,
especially in the arms of someone I truly adored.

 And bought me so many tokens, oh so much, 
all of which you didn't have to do,
 I was easily just as happy spending only the time with you.


 You were my first real friend, 
before I even knew what that meant.

 And all the pictures you captured, 

from our days and our fun, 

leaves me with so many moments to remember.

 
All the memories I'll cherish from 
all the time we spent together.

 You made me feel free enough to dance

and strong enough to act silly, even on cue.

 You made me feel beautiful, grownup, 
like someone to fully challenge the world.

 
 And goofy, don't forget all the goofiness, 
I really did like to bring out the 
goofiness, didn't I?


 You are all those things and more,
you were a wonderful first teacher to 
help show me what the world is really all about.


Thanks for all the memories, Nikki, past and more to come, 
I'll see you soon again, I promise.