Brixon's latest trick...to repeat every noise we make. He's always been a chatterbox, but today he was nonstop!!!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Brixon's First Cover!!!
We were featured in the June issue of Harbor Style! Here is a portion of the article...you can read the rest at www.harborstyle.com!
"40 & Under
These young couples are doing everything they can to make our community a better place.
Story by Liz Rubini
Photography by Mike Hirst
It’s a story we hear too often, yet another Charlotte County youth who graduated from high school and moved away for college, never to return except for the occasional visit to keep mom and dad happy. They leave because they think there’s nothing to do here. They leave because they think it’s boring. They find jobs elsewhere. They raise their children elsewhere. Yes, we hear those stories all the time.
Well here are three different kinds of stories, stories about two hometown boys who chose to stay in Charlotte County and a big city girl who chose to leave the hustle and bustle behind and move to our quiet little community. They chose to start families here, to bring their children up here. They chose to become involved in their community, to help
it grow and reach its full potential. They chose to make a difference.
When Nick Nemec was growing up in Punta Gorda, there was nothing to do except go to the movies. There was very little community involvement for the area’s younger residents. If you wanted to do something, you had to leave town. No one had any real reason to come here. There was no real sense of community.
Now in his late 20’s, Nick and his wife, Casey, are doing what they can to ensure that’s no longer the case. They want
their son, Brixon, 5 months, to grow up in a community where young people want to be involved. Every day they see that sense of community growing, something they attribute to all the young families who are placing their roots here in Charlotte County and doing what they can to make people realize what a wonderful place this is to live.
“A lot of our friends are having children now,” Casey said. “All the kids are about the same age; they’re all going to grow up together. Their parents are all involved in the community, so hopefully they will be too when they grow up.”
In March 2008, Nick and Casey opened Bin 82, a wine bar and retail shop on Marion Avenue. Bin 82 is “something totally different than what downtown Punta Gorda has ever had,” Nick said, but at the same time, “it’s a great complement to River City, the Wyvern, Jacks, everything we have here.”
As they see it, having a variety of shops, restaurants, hotels and bars is the key to Punta Gorda earning the recognition it deserves. “Punta Gorda is becoming a place where people don’t just come for dinner and then go back over the bridge or back to the Isles,” Casey said. “They come for the day or for the whole night now. They go to dinner, and they go to the different bars and restaurants. They come for entertainment.”
Some of that entertainment comes in the form of the Downtown Get Down, a recurring concert event Nick and his
friend Zack Clark dreamed up last year. It started out simple, just a day to celebrate Punta Gorda’s growth with a small concert in Bin 82’s parking lot. A few months later, they did it again, this time blocking off Taylor Street in front of the historic courthouse and getting The Greg Billings Band to headline the event. More than 2,000 people showed up to celebrate Punta Gorda in music, food and fun.
So what’s next for the Downtown Get Down? Blues Traveler. That’s right, Blues Traveler. On October 24, a Platinum-selling, Grammy Award-winning band will be playing in Laishley Park. The Greg Billings Band will also be there along with local band Low Rent.
Blues Traveler in Punta Gorda. “It all goes back to making Punta Gorda a better place and bringing it recognition,” Nick
said. “We want people to come from Sarasota, Fort Myers, Tampa…They come and now they’re downtown after the concert, and then they stay, maybe at the Wyvern or the Sheraton…and now they’re having a good time after the concert, having dinner and drinks. Hopefully it will make them want to come back.”"
"40 & Under
These young couples are doing everything they can to make our community a better place.
Story by Liz Rubini
Photography by Mike Hirst
It’s a story we hear too often, yet another Charlotte County youth who graduated from high school and moved away for college, never to return except for the occasional visit to keep mom and dad happy. They leave because they think there’s nothing to do here. They leave because they think it’s boring. They find jobs elsewhere. They raise their children elsewhere. Yes, we hear those stories all the time.
Well here are three different kinds of stories, stories about two hometown boys who chose to stay in Charlotte County and a big city girl who chose to leave the hustle and bustle behind and move to our quiet little community. They chose to start families here, to bring their children up here. They chose to become involved in their community, to help
it grow and reach its full potential. They chose to make a difference.
When Nick Nemec was growing up in Punta Gorda, there was nothing to do except go to the movies. There was very little community involvement for the area’s younger residents. If you wanted to do something, you had to leave town. No one had any real reason to come here. There was no real sense of community.
Now in his late 20’s, Nick and his wife, Casey, are doing what they can to ensure that’s no longer the case. They want
their son, Brixon, 5 months, to grow up in a community where young people want to be involved. Every day they see that sense of community growing, something they attribute to all the young families who are placing their roots here in Charlotte County and doing what they can to make people realize what a wonderful place this is to live.
“A lot of our friends are having children now,” Casey said. “All the kids are about the same age; they’re all going to grow up together. Their parents are all involved in the community, so hopefully they will be too when they grow up.”
In March 2008, Nick and Casey opened Bin 82, a wine bar and retail shop on Marion Avenue. Bin 82 is “something totally different than what downtown Punta Gorda has ever had,” Nick said, but at the same time, “it’s a great complement to River City, the Wyvern, Jacks, everything we have here.”
As they see it, having a variety of shops, restaurants, hotels and bars is the key to Punta Gorda earning the recognition it deserves. “Punta Gorda is becoming a place where people don’t just come for dinner and then go back over the bridge or back to the Isles,” Casey said. “They come for the day or for the whole night now. They go to dinner, and they go to the different bars and restaurants. They come for entertainment.”
Some of that entertainment comes in the form of the Downtown Get Down, a recurring concert event Nick and his
friend Zack Clark dreamed up last year. It started out simple, just a day to celebrate Punta Gorda’s growth with a small concert in Bin 82’s parking lot. A few months later, they did it again, this time blocking off Taylor Street in front of the historic courthouse and getting The Greg Billings Band to headline the event. More than 2,000 people showed up to celebrate Punta Gorda in music, food and fun.
So what’s next for the Downtown Get Down? Blues Traveler. That’s right, Blues Traveler. On October 24, a Platinum-selling, Grammy Award-winning band will be playing in Laishley Park. The Greg Billings Band will also be there along with local band Low Rent.
Blues Traveler in Punta Gorda. “It all goes back to making Punta Gorda a better place and bringing it recognition,” Nick
said. “We want people to come from Sarasota, Fort Myers, Tampa…They come and now they’re downtown after the concert, and then they stay, maybe at the Wyvern or the Sheraton…and now they’re having a good time after the concert, having dinner and drinks. Hopefully it will make them want to come back.”"
Wanna go for a ride?
On Memorial Day, Brixon went on his very first boat ride! He had a great time! We went up the river to Nav-A-Gator for lunch, and then back to Grandma and Grandpa Nemec's for dinner. Brixon also went swimming in the hot tub...well, lukewarm tub! We didn't heat it up. He really liked it! Here are some pictures of our busy day!
Ooooh...bubbles!
With Mimi
Teaching Grandpa how to drive the boat!
Kisses from T.T.
With Grandma wearing Grandpa's sunglasses!
What are you people doing to me now?!?!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
My 27th Birthday!
This has been such an unbelievable past couple of days! Yesterday was my birthday, so we decided to head up to The Florida Aquarium in Tampa. Brixon slept all the way up there, and finally woke up about halfway through our visit. But boy, was he glad he did! He absolutely LOVED it! Now Nick is insisting that we get an aquarium at home! Brixon was babbling and laughing at all of the fish...it was the best!!! His eyes were so bright and wide open with wonder! It was great. And we were in such a rush to go, that I forgot my camera and videocamera! I never forget those things!! Good thing Nick's Iphone takes decent photos! After that, our friend and Brixon's Godmother Kris had a birthday celebration for me at her house. Thanks everyone for making this my best birthday yet! Love you all!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Baptism
What a great day! Mother's Day and Brixon's Baptism!! He was baptized this morning at Lutheran Church of the Cross by Pastor Redmann. It was such a great ceremony, and Brixon was even mentioned in the sermon! He did great...no tears!! Afterwards, we had a party at our house. As if having Brixon wasn't already a great Mother's Day gift, Nick also got me a beautiful 2 ft. by 3 ft. portrait of one of B's newborn photos! You'll see it in some of the photos...good job, Nick!!!
Well, it's no Filet Mignon...
So after the excitement of the Baptism and party, we decided to try our first solid food! We did a bowl of rice cereal and green beans. The pictures below are a progression of the process!! He was totally confused at first, but ended up really liking the new foods!! And what mom grabs a PINK spoon out of the drawer, and doesn't even realize it until we're done?!?! Oops! :)
Monday, May 4, 2009
Move over, Michael Phelps
It was a balmy 90 degree day here in Florida yesterday, so we decided to put the little man in his baby pool. He loves water, but he wasn't quite sure what to do in the pool! We did get some super cute pictures, though!!!
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