Our Family Blog

Sittin Pretty

2012-01-31T13:02:00.004-05:00

Yo, wut up? Hanging out in the morning.

Luke seems to be in charge today - "You questioning me?"

Upside-down eating is probably not recommended in the parenting manual.

I Karate You!

2012-01-29T14:10:00.002-05:00

Above: Lessons advance quickly. On the first night of a 6-week course Jack entered Thunderdome with another boy. Below: He beat the poor kid 3 out of 3 death matches by knocking him off the mat.I was proud but...concerned...when Jack finished with a victory dance and an guttural, evil maniacal laugh. The other parents, of course, looked at me. One asked what I was doing with him at home. Huff.

Below: They did some mat work to practice falling techniques. Jack wanted to make sure he got it right so he "let" the other kids go first.

Below: Is this karate or dance class?

Below: Someone needed a little talk.

Toothy

2012-01-26T11:24:00.001-05:00

No wonder he doesn't sleep through the night; he's either teething or a vampire. So far, we have two teeth.

Little Poser

2012-01-24T00:20:00.001-05:00

Some times I get carried away when I get the kids in Photoshop.

But there is nothing more fun.

Except seeing Jack enjoy himself.

My Magnetic Responsibility Chart

2012-01-22T17:32:00.000-05:00

It's been difficult to disabuse Jack of the idea this is a board game. But, if gamification is what it takes, let the games begin! The magnetic chart consists of weekly tasks such as "Make your bed," and "Set the table." When he completes his task we place a magnet on the board. He loved it so much the first night he wanted to give the house a makeover.

Karate Kid - First Lesson

2012-01-20T17:58:00.001-05:00

We braved a blizzard to get Jack to his first Karate lesson. It was a baptism by fire but he dove right in. Above: The master and owner of the dojo shows Jack the techniques for making a fist and smashing skulls. Below: "A thousand repetitions. Do it! Ok, just do two."

Below: Punching paper...a class favorite as evidenced by the loud round of applause when the exercise was announced.

Below: Balance, grasshopper, balance.

Below: Lining up for the punching dummy. Jack was shown the proper punching technique on round one. Here he sizes up the situation and prepares his fist for the perfect punch. Ah, the focus!

Below: A successful hit! I missed the shot of the actual punch but was pleased that he laughed afterword.

Below: The instructors were very good about integrating the new kid. They took turns giving Jack extra attention. This class was finishing a 6-week course but he was able to tag along. Jack starts his course next week.

If he still wants to go after next week we'll get him a gi.

Oh, Deer

2012-01-19T19:30:00.000-05:00

Our friend and neighbor stopped by to bring Jack to see our other neighbors, a herd of deer. Before I found the camera he was close enough to ride them. Record sighting = 15.

8 Months Old

2012-01-15T16:41:00.002-05:00

They grow up so quick! Luke turned 8 months old today. Compare to Jack at 8 months.

He enjoys talking about it, too. He's getting loud and wants to be a part of every conversation.

And his first tooth is fully operational! He talks about that as well.

1st Dungeons & Dragons Game - Kinda

2012-01-14T17:36:00.000-05:00

Since Jack is too young to play D&D we just built maps in my basement lair.

The best part were his elaborate stories about teamwork and epic battles. Of course there were dragons and bad guys (not necessarily the same thing).

Cute-E-Pies & Nyan Cat

2012-01-11T23:11:00.002-05:00

Sitting around at lunch.

Below: "Dad, can I watch some videos?" Jack asked. "Sure son, as long as they're educational," I said.

Education means Nyan Cat (below). He watched it over and over. Or was it this version? It really is worth watching these kids react to Nyan Cat.

There is also a 100 hour version of Nyan Cat because "restart" is annoying.

Supportive Big Brother

2012-01-10T13:15:00.000-05:00

Jack uses his man hands to hold Luke for the above shot.

Lounging around the living room.

Little Luke-A-Duke!

2012-01-08T23:27:00.000-05:00

A few shots of our little guy. Interesting note about the above photo...Jack's ears stopped glowing by 6 months. Should we be worried?

Who teaches them how to be so darn cute!

He's really turning on to the world. He's been grasping things for a while but has recently taken a special interest in FattyLumpkin. Luke is absolutely entertained by his brother. He laughs hysterically when Jack spins in circles.

Snow Flow

2012-01-07T10:32:00.000-05:00

Before we even got back from New York we were hit by blinding snow on the road. Might as well put it to use.

Above: This run ended up crashing into Dad's legs. Below: Log after the other snow munchkins returned to their homes we played.

Below: Guess where this half made up snowball went. Yep, my face. Thankfully it was more like powder.

As I type its all melting; a week of high 40s approaches.

New York Christmas - Part 3

2012-01-05T21:31:00.000-05:00

Grandpa and Nanna came back from Vermont early to see the boys. And I would like to think their parents too, but these days we're "Jack's parents" or "Luke's Mother."

Above: I think someone saw a snake in the Christmas tree or something. Below: Grandpa teaches Jack poker.

Below: Ok, so it was not poker. More like a matching game.

Below: And of course animals are involved. It's not the best shot but it had to be included because Sebastian XVII joined the game. I'm more concerned about the tail in the face. Brush that beard!

We had a great time!

New York Christmas - Part 2

2012-01-04T23:37:00.003-05:00

Above: A family get together at Aunt Sue's awesome new place. From Left to Right: Jack, Mary, Melissa, MJ (back), Sarah (front), Grandma, Me, Aunt Sue, Luke. Below: Holiday rage gets me again.

Below: The mood swings are getting faster. Anyway, it was really nice to meet Melissa!

Below: Aunt Sue incited a riot by supplying the Silly String but for some reason no one called the cops. Jack had a blast!

Below: Face the nozzle AWAY from your face!

Below: It was chaos. That's Sarah dodging a double attack as Jack sneaks around back.

Tomorrow - NY Christmas Part 3: Grandpa & Nanna teach Jack poker.

Aquatic Acumen?

2012-01-04T18:12:00.001-05:00

Jack just asked, "If I was turned into a fish could I still think?"

New York Christmas - Part 1

2012-01-03T14:13:00.002-05:00

We had a wonderful time in New York. Like the hobbit (or Bavarian) "Second Breakfast" you could call it a "Second Christmas." But it was just as tasty as the first. Above: Mary with the boys. Below: Jack delivering a gift. He takes his responsibilities seriously.

Below: Grandma and Grandaddy playing hot potato with Luke. Now cut that out!

Below: Waking up but unwilling to get out of bed.

Below: Jack takes a look at a bright morning.

Below: Does New York water clean better than Ohio water? Ask Luke.
Below: Hanging out with cousin Angela, Grandma, and Grandaddy.
Below: A surprise visit with Doug, an old childhood friend. We had not seen one another since 1988 but were best friends from stroller to middle school stockade. We had a wonderful 5-hour coffee to share stories and catch up.
Below: Back in the 70s we did everything together. From right to left: Sue (my sister), Doug, and me. In this photo we were running away from home again. The insert is Doug (background) and I playing around on vacation. Doug was the MacGyver of the neighborhood and build the car with a garlic press, rubber bands, and q-tips.
Below: Another shot of the gang from those idyllic days. Doug is all the way to the left and I am 3rd human from the right. Lady is was Doug's dog and a great companion for adventures in the woods and dirt pits.
Next Post - Part 2: Silly String fight with Aunt Sue, Nanna and Grandpa, and more.

HexBug Hive

2011-12-26T16:06:00.000-05:00

As requested by our New York family here is a photo of Jack's 4th HexBug environment design. It is the first layout that employs the Hexbug Hive, a multilayer central location for nano-bug social life. Even FattyLumpkin parties with these little guys! If this is not enough for you, watch the commercial to experience full numinous awe. Oh, and I blame Aunt Sue for getting the original starter kit for Christmas. But now that she started it, what kind of father would I be without getting "The Hive" for my little robo-entomologist!?

Christmas Day 2011

2011-12-25T19:24:00.001-05:00

Above: We hope the Twilight Turtle brings Jack some comfort in the darkness of night. Below: Doctors are getting younger and younger. A glum twitch caught me off guard when I saw Jack dressed this way. He looks...older.

Below: Jack received a lot of nice things this year but the plush Angry Bird seemed to get his attention like nothing else. It even outpaced the GameCube!

Below: Horsing around. Don't even ask what I'm wearing unless you want to question Aunt Sue.

Below: We spent a long time building various environments for Jack's HexBug Nanos.

The below video is a quick clip of Jack coming downstairs first thing in the morning.

The following video is Luke's reaction to Christmas.

We enjoyed eating good food and being with the boys all day long. We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas Eve 2011

2011-12-24T21:35:00.001-05:00

We made Christmas cookies, put magic reindeer oats in the hard, and set out food for Santa. We also tracked Santa at NORAD. Above is the Advent Calendar we used to count down the days, compliments of Uncle Mark.

And lets not forget hot chocolate!

Have a wonderful Christmas!

K9 Christmas & Gingerbread Houses

2011-12-22T19:57:00.000-05:00

Above: It's not often dogs grace the pages of this blog, but this was too good to pass up. Nanna and Grandpa from New York sent this with the caption, "Only animal lovers can appreciate how long it took to get this picture." Below: One of the things Jack did with Aunt Sue was build a Gingerbread House. It took almost as long to build our home. Click the image below to start the animation.

Now click here for a +12 to Christmas spirit boost Star Wars style!

White Christmas for You?

2011-12-21T15:00:00.002-05:00

If you're interested in the probability for a white Christmas in your area we have the answer! Visit this website to find out!

Aunt Sue!

2011-12-21T13:28:00.000-05:00

We had a nice visit with Aunt Sue. The boys really enjoyed her attention and Dad and Mom actually got to go on a date! Below Aunt Sue reads a book (the same book) to Jack that she enjoyed as a child - Frog and toad Are Friends.

We also celebrated Dad's *cough, cough* 29th birthday. Or whatever!

More updates coming soon. Mary has bronchitis and a sinus infection and we're all behind due to semester's end.

Happier Faces

2011-12-16T15:53:00.000-05:00

Some random shots of the boys while we prepare for Christmas.

Head-to-head brothers.

Serious Faces

2011-12-14T19:24:00.002-05:00

You would never know Christmas is approaching...

...with faces like these.

Superstar

2011-12-11T11:34:00.001-05:00

Jack was the Master of Ceremonies for the tree topping this year. A successful event! He did, however, ask for a Godzilla Tree next year. That's a tall order.

Preschools Gone Wild

2011-12-10T14:23:00.001-05:00

U is for what?! The artwork even looks like something you might find in a clown's unmentionables. Aunt Sue went to "Clown Camp" (yes, really), maybe she can confirm.

Santa at Kent State

2011-12-09T09:45:00.001-05:00

We took the boys to see Santa at campus. Jack left his Christmas list at preschool but remembered enough to give Santa a few ideas.

Below: Cranes? What cranes?

Below: Holidays are hard.

Below: Mary Lou organized the event as a fund raiser for the nursing program's Tanzania HIV clinic. She's the director for the program but plays bouncer here as she kicks the jerk with the camera out. At least we got some hot chocolate before our exit. Ha!

Clap Me Back to Sleep!

2011-12-08T07:10:00.001-05:00

Above: Not a great photo but this is Jack at 6:30 a.m. trying to clap the tree back off. Yes, The Clapper. Below: FattyLumpkin helps me grade papers at this cruel hour.

Library Card for Jack!

2011-12-04T10:29:00.001-05:00

Congratulations Jack! He is officially the proud owner of a Library Card. One of the books he checked out this week was The Digestive System by Darlene Stille. It's all he wants to read! Some of the illustrations are pretty gross but he remains unphased. Below: This is how many of our photo shoots end.

Luke's 6 mo Stats

2011-12-01T18:30:00.001-05:00

Little Luke's percentiles are much lower than Jack's were...much. But like his big brother he was off the charts on the Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed Scale! And you should know, the photographer is wearing the same outfit. Update: The whole family is sick with colds. The boys are least phased by it. Luke is still out drooling us, thankfully.

Columbus Thanksgiving

2011-11-27T22:02:00.001-05:00

A few days in Columbus Ohio. Above: Dad, stop pinching my shoulder! Below: The Grandparents put Jack to work immediately.

Below: "Alignment is very important, Jack."

Below: After the child labor laws were broken it was time to feed the workers. Cookies!

Below: And a goodbye hug with Alexis. Um, take it easy guys.

Below: An early gift exchange. Oh look, it makes noise and shoots plastic balls out of a cannon. Yippie!

Below: How do I look, Grandma?

Below: We call her "Techno Alice." Jack's Great Grandmother shows her iPad skills.

Gobble, gobble!

Thanksgiving Baby Bear

2011-11-23T09:19:00.001-05:00

Fact: 9 out of 10 babies who are dressed up as animals have turkeys for parents.

Seriously, I can't even move.

A happy Mom with her baby bear.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Luke is 6 Months Old

2011-11-18T14:57:00.001-05:00

On November 15 Luke turned 6 months old.

Yes, he looks like a 62 year old Welshmen here, but really, he's only half a year.

Below: The Luke patented "Hypnotic Stare" or as we like to call it, the "I put something in my pants for you" face.

Brothers.

Jack relaxing with the iPad.

Cookie Kid

2011-11-15T23:50:00.001-05:00

There is no greater motivation for our little chief than cookies.

Saturday Morning Cartoons

2011-11-13T15:29:00.001-05:00

Above: Brothers enjoying the age old tradition of Saturday morning cartoons. Below: But really, who dressed this child?

Below: Ignorance is bliss...Happy Luke!

Below: It's a thug, a Death Eater, or one cool cat.

Leaf Play

2011-11-09T23:48:00.001-05:00

Exploring the woods to find the single perfect leaf.

That way!

Below: Do you smell something? Note to viewer - Look for the cat in the background.

ISSUE 2 UPDATE: Thankfully Issue 2 (& SB5) was handily defeated with 94% of precincts reporting a margin of 62% to 39%. Gov. Kasich came into office with this plan in the barrel. He and the republican leadership will find more refined ways to forward their plutocracy agenda. They will take small components of I2 & SB5 and spread them around. They've already done so by altering K-12 budgets. They want to privatize public universities. Let's just hope yesterday's election indicates that Ohio is on to these extreme positions [RANDOM ARTICLE].

Proud Voter

2011-11-08T13:42:00.001-05:00

We voted for the amendment to lower the legal voting age to 4 years. And we voted NO on Issue 2. Now lets see if the rest of the state can stop voting against their own self-interest. We may find out tonight.

Vote NO on Issue 2 this Nov. 8

2011-11-05T13:31:00.003-04:00

Please vote NO on Issue 2 and repeal Senate Bill 5 on November 8 (see polling locations). Issue 2 is unsafe, unfair, and will further hurt Ohio. It will increase the size and scope of government in local matters (interesting because it's a Republican driven amendment). It is unsafe because the people doing the work will be ham-stringed when it comes to input: firefighters, police, emergency responders, and teachers. It is unfair because the low salaries of these employees will be further drained while politicians, who use these services, get huge raises. Don't let the propaganda fool you, Issue 2 will not save money. Unions have been making concessions, not lining the pockets of the ultra rich teachers and fire fighters...oh wait, that makes no sense. Issue 2 is dangerous. Vote NO on Issue 2

Lightning Fast African Lava

2011-11-04T08:47:00.002-04:00

Above: Thank you National Geographic! What house does not hoard bent yellow back issues of National Geographic Magazine in the attic? We're honoring the tradition too! Jack loves looking at this map of The Great Rift Valley and the lava under Lake Kiv. Below: We don't just do fun facts around here. We do lightning fast fun facts!

Luke's First Food

2011-11-02T15:16:00.001-04:00

Above & Below: Hey, Dad, what ya doin with dat cam...Aurgh! It was a trick!

Below: On the way to get Jack from preschool Mom noticed the hand prints on the car window. After reading this she had a good cry.

Halloween 2011

2011-10-31T20:52:00.000-04:00

Jack and I did the neighborhood rounds while Mom and Luke manned the door. There were few ghouls out tonight due to rain but we braved the weather...for a while :) Below: Jack, do you see a ghost?

Below: The spoils! Both boys have slight colds. Jack's nose ran more tonight than did his legs.

We hope you all are having a wonderful Halloween. At preschool Miss Amanda asked Jack what Luke was going to be for Halloween. Jack admonished, "Luke's just a baby, you know. He can't dress himself!" That's telling her! Don't act surprised if you don't get a snack next week!

Columbus Visit: Gobble, Meow, and Wow!

2011-10-30T13:53:00.002-04:00

Above: Jack and Luke got to visit his Columbus grandparents (and Great Grandmother) while Dad was at a meeting. Below: What is there to say besides, "Fat Turkey!"

Below: The boys also got to carve some Jack-O-Lanterns. Did they do that with lasers? Knowing Jack he used laser cats (link 2, 3, 4....it's endless. I dare you to do a search).

Below: ...Speaking of laser cats. We also got to visit Aunt Janice. She was the kind soul who introduced us to Lamby. Now its Macy, the ever-purring cat that vibrates and scares the you-know-what out of FattyLumpkin. Notice the comfortable table cloth Macy is sleeping on. It was a surprise gift from NY Grandma. Very festive!

Selma Einhorn Passes Away

2011-10-26T15:10:00.001-04:00

Selma Einhorn passed away on October 23, 2011. She was technically my step-grandmother but also so much more. Selma was a model of dedication to her late husband, Joe. She was a paragon of strong kinship.

Until the last few years she was a ball of energy who was vitally engaged with the world around her. I still tell Selma stories in class when we talk about longevity, health, and intentional activity. I'll keep telling those stories. She was extraordinarily fortunate in her last years because she had a wonderful daughter, son-in-law (my father), and grandchildren who helped and loved her on a daily basis. She had a good, long life.

Above: I don't know what we were laughing at in the photo, probably because Selma's smile stole the moment. Below: Selma's legacy, well, except for Dad. The photo includes her great granddaughter, Madeline.

All the photos were taken at our wedding in 2004 (she was 85). Rest in peace, Selma.

Selma's funeral will be held on November 4, 2011 at the Green Acres Mortuary & Cemetery (401 North Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85257. Phone: 480-945-2654).

Not All Fun & Games

2011-10-25T13:33:00.000-04:00

Time outs are far and few between these days, but they happen. Discipline is a wee bit important. Ignoring these teachable moments is a hair away from neglect - so sit in the corner! On a lighter note, Jack has entertained us with a few interesting statements lately. Quote 1: "If you drink the wrong potion your eyes could explode!" and, Quote 2: "Mom, what's a 'faragy'?" Mom says, "I don't know." Jack concludes, "It's something that lives in your testicles." Go figure. And by the way, the time out had nothing to do with these statements.

A Clean Baby is a Happy Baby

2011-10-24T15:07:00.002-04:00

Yesterday's bath. I know, horribly exciting.

Even the pacifier can't hide that smile.

Unfortunately, Luke is teething and not in the best spirits lately. It will be nice when that passes.

New Sleep Record - 10:42!

2011-10-23T11:24:00.004-04:00

Like an adolescent with a raging HPG Axis our sleepy head woke at 10:25 a.m. He stayed in bed another 17 minutes talking to himself. Was it a growth spurt? Premature puberty?

No. Last night the bloody smoke detectors rebelled; "Low battery," and "BEEP, BEEP, BEEP!" all night. Dad made a 4:15 a.m. run to Walmart for batteries. Jack, who had crawled in bed with us, was having a great time. Luke, not so much. As Mom and Dad interrogated the traitorous smoke detectors with a flashlight Jack giggled and repeated, "I like watching you guys work." We, on the other hand, like sleep.

Someone had energy in the morning. Huff...Zzzzz.

Jack Creates Life!

2011-10-21T18:41:00.004-04:00

Above: Jack created his first "creature" in the Spore editor last night. This is a postcard from "Yellowie," his alien and her babies. Below: Now he is working on a space ship.

I'm most impressed with his high frustration tolerance. He beats some adults I know on that trait.

It's just good we're not pushing the space theme too hard.

Good Morning...

2011-10-16T10:50:00.004-04:00

Luke joins us for breakfast; just another day of laying around, eating, and getting more attention than Occupation Wall street. We call it Occupation Kitchen. By the way, does anyone else think Luke looks like a convict in that outfit?

Noodle Drills for Godzilla

2011-10-15T13:44:00.004-04:00

Above: Godzilla sighting in Ohio. Below: So organized.Click the image to view raw intensity!

Below: Such a good listener!

Below: Noodle drills.

Swim lessons continue until November.

Green Terror

2011-10-12T13:19:00.003-04:00

Grrrrr!

A scary monster never looked so adorable.

O is for Oscar

2011-10-10T13:08:00.001-04:00

Above: Today in preschool the focus was on the letter O. Apparently they made little Oscars. Below: If you have not yet tried the Portal 2 game, or don't know what I'm talking about, head over to Steam and download a copy. We'll play coop! It's a story driven puzzle-solving adventure with a villain named GLaDOS. After beating a level last night she called me a horrible person (its a long story, we have a history). You just can't beat that kind of entertainment! Now that I look at him, Oscar looks like a green portal. That's Owesome!

The life of Riley

2011-10-09T20:59:00.000-04:00

No, Jack is not sick. He woke up and asked for breakfast in bed. He saw Arthur eating breakfast in a book the night before. See, reading is bad.

Boo Boy Playing

2011-10-06T21:37:00.000-04:00

It was a beautiful Autumn day and we made the most of it. Jack and I just ran, chased, and rolled.

Until the neighbor boy joined the action. I was grateful Jack found a new target.

You!

And here is a video of Luke.

Walk Around the Block

2011-10-02T15:22:00.003-04:00

Jack would not take his hands off the stroller or his brother.

Below: Who's steering this thing?

Below: I look ridiculous in these ears.

Below: They made me wear it. It's just your turn - suck it up.

Below: Today Luke's first soft food went down as easy as he goes down for naps.

3 Heads Are Better Than 1

2011-09-30T17:04:00.004-04:00

Or four...

Luke's 4 Month Checkup

2011-09-27T21:20:00.000-04:00

Our beautiful little bruiser is doing well at 4 months. He didn't like his shot but mastered the rest of the checkup without a problem. A nice byproduct is that he took a long nap afterword.The poor little guy has his first cold.

I seem to have forgotten to add head circumference to the graphic: 43.5 cm.

Argentina

2011-09-25T21:20:00.002-04:00

Late last spring Jack dubbed the woods behind our home "Argentina." The above is "Argentina's Throat," the entrance. Don't ask me.

Above: According to Jack today, the grass opening is Argentina's muscles. Below: The various mounds of dirt in a larger field is "Argentina's oxygen," which he promptly smashed with his foot for 15 minutes.

And some child labor over the weekend.

Lunch with FattyLumpkin

2011-09-24T10:30:00.000-04:00

Above: Sixteen-year-old FattyLumpkin joins the boys for a bite. Captions would have been fun but letting you project your own is better. Of course, I got in trouble for allowing this! Below: At preschool Jack drew two germs named "Filber" and "Rybin." [Edit: Jack told me I had posted the drawing upside down. Fixed]

"Cough, cough!" Suddenly I don't feel so well...

4 Months & Roly Poly

2011-09-17T10:26:00.002-04:00

Luke celebrated yesterday's 4 month birthday by rolling from back to belly.

Below: "Now Mother, how many times have I told you, I like a full peat pulp application with a left- to right massaging pattern."

Luke's fussiness has subsided in the past couple weeks and he's much more attentive and interactive. Of course this is always in invitation for Jack to engage him. You can also see one little tooth popping through his gum.

Kaleidoscope Kid

2011-09-14T08:28:00.002-04:00

"I see 100 of you!"

Big Beautiful Baby Head

2011-09-12T14:18:00.000-04:00

Now that's a walnut! As Mike Meyer's "Scottish Father" would say, "A head the size of Sputnik!" (longer scene here)

Rain Man

2011-09-10T16:40:00.005-04:00

Or rain boy, at least. Soaked and loving it. Jack ran back-and-forth tirelessly until I finally called him in. Who am I to stop such childhood bliss? That kind of joy should be encouraged.

He has been asking to go back out ever since.

Oh, Buckeye Vision Care, you can send the check for free advertising by the end of the month. Make it out to you-know-who ;)

Family Fun

2011-09-05T17:58:00.005-04:00

Grandma and Aunt Sue visited for the holiday weekend. They spent a lot of time with the boys. Above from left to right: Mom, Luke, Jack, and Grandma Betty.

Our friend Tsunghui gave Jack a cocoon recently. Guess what Mr. Cocoon turned into?

Freedom calls...with a little help from Grandma.

Jack gave chase but the butterfly had an advantage.

And there was a lot of this...

It was a great visit. Jack will miss them and so will we.

Bean Bag Boys

2011-08-29T15:46:00.001-04:00

The semester starts today but you would never know it by looking at these two. Jack, you have a little something on your shirt. A little soccer with Mom helps extend the summer a little bit, too.

Littler Harrier

2011-08-27T12:18:00.001-04:00

This morning our little guy "participated" in his first cross country meet. He desperately wanted to run with them so we (kind of) lined up with the varsity high school boys at the Salem Early Bird Invitational. Ready, set...

Go! Jack ran after them with all his might!

And kept going...

Below: This is about 400 meters into the 5k race where they had to make a 90-degree turn. He was still at it.

Below: The 2-mile mark.

Below: Like any good teammate he cheered on the girls varsity after his race was over. Our neighbor is in the lead pack and finished very well; possibly 3rd but we were too far from the finish line to find out for sure.

Peace out people.

In all seriousness I think he ran about 1.5+ miles around the course. Dad needs an oxygen mask.

Hurricane Irene

2011-08-26T14:12:00.002-04:00

We're sending positive vibes to our family and friends on the East Coast. If things get bad just come on over! Ohio should at least be less windy. You can track Hurricane Irene here.

Hamtastic!

2011-08-23T21:49:00.002-04:00

Trying to take a photo of Luke alone is nearly impossible. The resident ham always muscles his way in...but we don't mind!

Hamtastic!

Who Do Monsters Like?

2011-08-20T11:51:00.000-04:00

You can't make this stuff up. Jack woke up to find the green monster of doom in his schoolhouse. As depicted, he came to the conclusion (with NO prompting) that monsters like Aunt Sue. Go figure. Click to enlarge.

New Record: Luke Sleeps 7 Hours!

2011-08-19T22:51:00.000-04:00

Luke put up some big hours last night with a whopping 7 zonkers in a row. Congratulations to Mommy on getting some REM sleep.

Palling Around

2011-08-17T09:44:00.002-04:00

The boys palling around.

3 Months for Luke

2011-08-15T13:45:00.005-04:00

Above: Lounging Luke. Below: Luke and Jack both at 3 months.

Below: Mr. Fussy.

Below: Sorry Luke, another comparison shot when its your 3 month birthday! Ah, the plight of the younger brother.

Below: All Luke! Click to enlarge photos.

Fetch & Jump

2011-08-13T11:57:00.005-04:00

Above: I hypnotize you. Below: "Duhhhh," says Luke. Smiling is hard.

Below: We went out for ice cream and a picnic of sorts.

Below: Then Jack needed saving. From what?

Below: Jack thought he needed saving from this poor flea bitten dog who just wanted to play fetch. He brought us a stick. Dad tossed the stick. Dog chased stick. Jack ran from dog.

Below: Jack would jump to guess where? Rinse and repeat.

Cucumbermania

2011-08-09T08:35:00.004-04:00

Tickled pink about this future pickle Jack shows off his prize cucumis sativus. You might be interested to know the cucumber is originally from India where they have been grown for 3000 years, have an average of 8 calories, are 95% water, and are categorized as either slicers or picklers. The cucumber could inspire the next chapter of Westside Story!

Becoming J A C K

2011-08-07T21:09:00.002-04:00

Above: The exact magazine I saw this on escapes me but the desire to repeat it never diminished. I'd like to make one for Luke but its difficult because he can't even hold up his head. Below: Placing pillows to avoid the lava floor.

Brothers

2011-08-06T13:34:00.004-04:00

Just dorking around the house.

Above: Reading test - LF, UA, KC, EE?

Below: Another photo from the recent visit with grandparents.

Happy Birthday, Aunt Sue

2011-08-04T09:42:00.002-04:00

The boys, and the rest of us, wish Aunt Sue an happy birthday. I wish we were closer! Enjoy your day.

Scary Gus

2011-08-03T13:34:00.004-04:00

Jack was helping his mother prepare dinner. He turned to his mother and said, "I don't like Scary Gus." Mom asked, "Who is Scary Gus?" Jack pointed to the asparagus and said, "You know, Scary Gus."

Columbus Photo Ops

2011-07-31T21:23:00.007-04:00

We had a nice visit to Columbus last week. Above is Jack and Luke's great grandmother. She's always a blast and did a pretty good job holding our little fatty. Below is a fun video. Sorry about the orientation. The iPhone sends these things sideways so I lost some real estate when rotating it.

Above: Cousins, cousins, everywhere! And that is just the beginning. Below: Uncle John was a big hit with Jack. For Luke, well, he was a comfortable crib.

Below: Grandma eating out with Jack.

Below: Aunt Janice had us over for lunch as we headed home. Always the gracious host and good for a tale or two. You know, she was responsible for Lamby!

2-Month Checkup

2011-07-26T21:26:00.001-04:00

Luke passed with flying colors and a couple yelps from a shot in each leg. He came home and passed out as seen in the photo above (click to enlarge). Our little QTπ is actually a couple weeks past 2-months so forgive us if the numbers are a bit off.

Grandpa & Nanna Visit from NY

2011-07-23T13:30:00.000-04:00

This week we had a very nice visit from Grandpa and Nanna from New York. They brought gifts (below) that Jack and Luke enjoyed. Notice that most of Jack's gifts make a lot of noise!

Below: A recent lightning storm brought down a tree out back. Grandpa started slicing and dicing until Jack decided to show him how it's done. "Put some muscle into it, Grandpa!"

Below: Working hard or hardly working?

Below: Aurgh, Jack looks so grown up here. Excuse me while I sob into my sleeve.

Below: Gratuitous baby photo. Luke is smiling more all the time...but he's still a fuss-budget.

Other Stuff: We lost power for almost 12 hours last night. The four of us camped out on the living room floor with no phone, lights, or interweb...and we survived!

Summer Rumpus

2011-07-18T18:59:00.008-04:00

Above: It started innocently enough, drinking from every watering can in sight. Below: But soon turned to an attack on the 11 year-old neighbor boy (click images to enlarge).

Below: Then it was impossible to get near Jack as he sprayed everything in sight, including himself.

Below: There was pause for the discovery of a baby frog.

Below: A rumpus that lasted for what seemed like hours. Our neighbor was a good sport as Jack continually tried to knock him down, smash, and throttle him. Ok, maybe not throttle, but he kept wanting to race and was intent on "winning." Ah, summer fun.

Luke: 2 Months Old

2011-07-15T16:17:00.007-04:00

Our little guy is 2-months old today! He's pretty fussy, especially at night, but we're still kicking! He's more alert every day. Below: The shape made by the four hands is supposed to look like a house. The hands belong to my wife (she should have been a hand model instead of the Power Pig...don't ask) and Jack.

Below: Why I never let my wife have the camera!

Dance, Dance, Revolution!

2011-07-14T21:32:00.002-04:00

Every now and then Jack breaks out the moves and cuts some rug.

And eventually gets annoyed when I break out the camera.

Protector Lambs & Reading Hams

2011-07-11T11:06:00.004-04:00

Above: Lambs have been known to partake in various activities: racing, mutton busting, cutting grass at the White House, and a few morbid but pro-social endeavors. Our Lamby enjoys Sumo wrestling. Or maybe he's just being protective? Go Lamby! Below: Jack reads to Luke. It was a finely woven tale in "Jackenese."

Note: For those who have tried calling lately I can report that we finally have our internet connection problems solved. After 5 service calls they isolated the problem out on the line and fixed it at 9:00pm Sunday night. Jack and I watched the technician ascend the pole in his bucket and I launched into an overly detailed description of the various wires that run to the house and the function of electric power plants. Jack looked at me with big eyes and said, "Worms live under ground!"

The Boys!

2011-07-08T19:20:00.001-04:00

Charles Torpey Funeral Arrangements

2011-07-06T09:35:00.012-04:00

I'm re-posting the funeral and visitation information for Charles Torpey since our little blog has increased 300+ hits per day, all of which are Charles generated. There is a nice video clip below.

Funeral Arrangements: Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at 10am on Saturday (July 9) at Church of St. Mary, 40 Spring Mount Road, Schwenksville, PA.
Visitation: Friends may call for the viewing on Friday evening from 7-9pm at the R.L. Williams, Jr. Funeral Home, Skippack Pike at Cedars Rd., Skippack. View their obituary.
Get Together: Some of Torpey's Terps from the 1980's are planning to stay at the Holiday Inn in Kulpsville (about 9 miles from Schwenksville and 5 miles from Skippack).
Cards can be sent to: Janice Torpey, 210 Keely Lane Schwenksville, Maria PA 19473. Thanks to RJ Spalding for this information and the updates.

Media: The .competitor has a short article on Charles as does the Philisports.com site. Visit Remembering Coach Charles Torpey at La Salle to see what people had to say about Charles. Here is some video of Charles discussing the Atlantic 10 Championships. The advice he gives at the end of the video (regarding preparation and performance) is something I remember his saying 25 years ago. When it works stay with it! Here is another video snippet.

Here is another video someone made...

Jump to this post for more information.

4th of July

2011-07-05T17:03:00.001-04:00

We hit the Canfield 4th of July parade yesterday. Below: Really? I have to stay with Luke? He's not even awake.

Below: Parade gear? Sunglasses - Check. Backpack - Check. USA T-Shirt - Check. Cool attitude - Check it out!

Below: Jack's favorite part was chasing down the candy thrown by people in the parade. It got more competitive than cage fighting but he got his share. I have never seen anyone eat that much gum. It was horrible. He could not grasp the concept of endless chewing. You swallow food, right?

Below: Many games were also enjoyed. Frustration tolerance was tested. In the game seen below you were supposed to stand behind a line that was about a mile back.

Below: One of the prizes Jack won at the "pull the lollypop out of the wood post game." Um, yep.

The worse part was the giant "bouncy caterpillar." Kids went in but they didn't come out. Parents gathered at the mouth but their children never materialized. The single teenager in charge was overwhelmed. Everyone said, "Someone needs to go in there!" Guess who went it? The other parents shouted their kid's name at me, asking me to send them out. That didn't work. Instead, I just yelled at every kid I saw. They ran out, all buy my son who put up a fight. We went home after that. Below: What you talking about, Mommy?

Charles Torpey Dies July 1, 2011

2011-07-04T22:57:00.001-04:00

See funeral & visitation information for Charles Torpey here.

Yesterday Charles Torpey suddenly passed away. He was a great man and a truly outstanding coach. He impacted so many people in a positive way. I went to the University of Maryland to run for him, as so many of the athletes did. I also transferred out when Charles left. About 67 Track & Field and Cross Country runners left or quit when Charles made his exit. He was a ball of intense energy, played an astute psychologist, and was a technician of the trade. He cared...a lot. Spoiled by the fact that I've been coached by so many outstanding people; Charles was the best. His record speaks for itself. La Sallle posted an article about him today (also linked from the front page). Please read it. Other articles can be found here and here. There is a thread on the Lets Run forums as well.

Above is a photo from my freshmen year at U. of Maryland. It was the pre-national 8k Cross Country meet at Madison Wisconsin. Pictured: [Top Row from left] Jack Peach, Me, Charles Torpey, [Bottom Row from left] Mike Palmer, Dan Foley, Denis Cullinane, Mark Coogan, and Chris Chattin.

The above is the cross country team photo taken during my sophomore year. Pictured: [Top Row from left] Coach Charles Torpey, Paul Humes, Quentin Howe, Tome Nave, [Middle Row from left] John Chichester, Daren Baker, Me, [Bottom Row from left] Chris Egger, Mike Palmer, Mark Coogan, and Ken Gamber.

I only talked with Charles a few times over the past years but I'll miss him. I'll miss knowing that he's out there inspiring and improving so many lives. I hope the best for his beautiful wife Janice and children Christopher, Brian, and Jenna.

Right: Part of the 1986 XC brochure (click on photos to enlarge).

UPDATE: Thanks to numerous eMail updates more information is available. It appears Charles passed away doing the very thing he loved - overseeing a workout! He was at Green Valley PA riding his bike while Sean Quigley, one of his top athletes, ran a workout alongside. Funeral arrangements are not finalized but Rosalind Taylor Sheppard reports that the plan is to have the viewing Wednesday evening and the service Thursday morning in Schwenksville, PA. Janice is going to let "Ros" know the details on Tuesday. Due to the large number of hits on this page I will also update here when I can. Please keep Janice and he children in your thoughts.

Attention Pig!

2011-07-01T10:20:00.002-04:00

Above: "The camera comes out and big headed Jack jumps in-front of my shot," thinks Luke. Below: "And proceeds to completely eclipse my existence with that Sputnik styled melon!" Luke chides.

Below: "I say 'Blah' to you, brother," says Luke with scolding infant tongue.

Below: "That's better. Making up for..."

Below: "What? Where did the camera go," asks Luke. He scans the room. "Dancing? I can't compete with the Goggle Dance! That is lower than low, you circus monkey."

Eventually, Luke, eventually...

X-Kids

2011-06-30T09:18:00.004-04:00

How Jack Waters Plants

2011-06-28T09:36:00.001-04:00

I'm taking care of a friend's cat and plants. It's easier on Jack's mother if I bring our little hooligan with me and put him to work. I think some of the water trickled down to the plants but its hard to tell. The house is clean. The good news is no cats were drenched in the process.

Shlepipod Faces

2011-06-26T17:17:00.002-04:00

Above: Luke's range of expression is growing wider every week. Here are a few from today. Click photos to enlarge. Below: Jack says these are "Shlepipods." Who are we to argue?

Below: Just another shot of our new little boy.

Letters of Gratitude

2011-06-24T16:17:00.001-04:00

Forgive the shameless self-promotion but my wife said it was appropriate to post this. Honey, may I leave the basement now? Anyway, Kent State did a press release on a recent research project. Check out the KSU website or go directly to the write-up if you want to read about author benefits when writing letters of gratitude.

Genetic Sleeping Similarity

2011-06-24T08:33:00.000-04:00

Stop the presses! We noticed the boys were sleeping in the same position while in different rooms. Only a parent gets excited about this sort of thing but tickled we are. Sorry about the bad angle but I didn't want to stand on the bed and wake them up. They don't sleep in often.

"Crabtastic" Father's Day

2011-06-20T17:26:00.008-04:00

Yesterday was father's day. The boys dressed in their crab shirts (of course!) in honor of Mom's generous offer to cook something nice for a holiday. Dad's penchant for sea food always ends in something fishy.

Today we recovered. Jack reads a father's day card from Aunt Sue to Dad. Actually, he listened to C-3PO read it.

Seafood,Star Wars, and the family...Life is perfect.

Visit with Grandma & Granddaddy

2011-06-19T16:01:00.003-04:00

We had a nice visit with Grandma and Granddaddy from NY. Above: Clearly, Luke was more cooperative. Below: Jack just wanted to play at the playground before the picnic.

Below: Grandma was like a monkey with a blue hat on that wooden playground structure thing. Um, Grandaddy, are you down there?

Below: Really? You want me to share with her? She's a nose picker!

Below: Fine. I'll go bully someone else.

Below: Don't you just love these automated car washes, Dad?

Yep ;) We'll get some photos of the boys on Father's Day up soon.

Luke: 1 Month Old

2011-06-16T10:18:00.011-04:00

Someone is eating well.

You make the call; do they look alike at 1 month? Remember, Jack was born 1.5 pounds heavier at 9.5 big ones.

Four Pricks

2011-06-15T17:11:00.024-04:00

Jack's 4-year checkup went well until the 4 shoulder shots (thus, 4 pricks). Even then, our little trooper did us proud. He is at the 100th percentile for height and the 90th for weight.

Below: Yep, head properly attached.

Below: Four, yes, four shots...one for each year.

Below: Mom re-enters the doctor's office and is greeted by Jack.

Below: Grandma and Granddaddy are here for the week. More updates on that later.

Below: A short video of Grandma and Grandson "dancing."

Today was Luke's 1-month mark. We'll try to post some images soon.

Bubblestorm!

2011-06-11T13:15:00.013-04:00

Above: Jack likes to take my hat. If he starts wearing it I'll never get my hands, or head, on it again. Below: We made bubbles for an hour. Jack kept yelling, "Bubblestorm!" Oh, and "Smack em!"

The focus, the intensity. If we could only find ways to get that type of flow in our lives regularly.