A very good one!

Days - they don't get much better than this one. Unless you're Charlie Sheen and you've just found yourself in a slightly downtrodden hotel bar, but I digress... This was a fantastic day.

First, Red's last soccer practice/JAM and I run around the lake this morning. I've been feeling less than svelte lately so I wanted to take the opportunity during Red's last soccer practice (which would usually find me standing on the sideline tending Pudge and messing around with JAM) to take a run around Greenbelt Lake. Yessir, JAM and I ran all 1.73 miles (yes, I measured... using Google Earth thankyouverymuch - see the end of this post) around Greenbelt Lake! Didn't even stop running once (except two short times to try to explain to JAM how to run without stomping and digging his feet into the ground on every step and to let Pudge - who I was pushing in the jogging stroller mind you - throw his rock into the lake). So, mostly 1.73 miles without stopping. I know... and no one was even chasing me with any sharp kitchen utensils!

When we got back to Red's soccer practice we were in time to see some final games being played:

| |

After the games the coaches called us all up to the Community Center for an end of season shindig - and by shindig I mean cupcakes and cookies and apple slices (thanks to Wifey) - to give all the 3 and 4 y.0.'s their medals. Yes, medals. Red was so proud of her medal!

| |

|

And Pudge was happy as a pig in slop to get a cupcake of his very own.

|

After lunch, JAM and I took off for his baseball game. (I really need to bring a camera to one of his games because poor Wifey, when she does get to make it to a game, is saddled with the two little ones and she can't do both jobs of cameraman and playground monitor for the other crazy kids on the death-trap playground.) JAM's team has gotten soooo much better in the 10 weeks we've had them all together. They've gone from a team of all brand-new-to-this-level-of-ball kids (who most of them didn't know where first base was - honestly) to now I've got the whole infield moving on each pitch, they know where they're supposed to be and they move without hesitation. I'm so proud of them. They were even in the game today until the end of the third inning (thanks to the other coach putting in their "project" pitcher we were tied at 7 after the 3rd)!!! But then the other team got tired of us being close and put in their real pitcher and shut us down and they scored another 7 in the 4th so we lost 14-7. But HEY - we were tied after 3!!!!

Then, we had such a fantastic time tonight when we had some long-lost friends over for dinner. Alright, not so lost, but we've owed them an invite to our place for a long time and I finally nipped things in the bud and somehow the planets aligned and we were able to make it work. Certain people, who were supposed to join us, were either in another country or tied up with previous engagements so our party was slightly less populous than originally planned but we had such a fantastic time reconnecting with these good friends. The kids all played so spectacularly in the yard, with no problems to speak of - even after not seeing each other for so long - so we were blessed with being able to enjoy the fire pit unmolested for quite some time before we had to relent and break out the s'mores. :)

Yes, from exercise to soccer party to a grand day for baseball to a wonderful evening with friends..... they don't get any better than this!



The run:

Snowpocalypse 2010

Wow! Now that was a storm! Being a NY transplant to a state much further south, I've been wishing for this for years. We got a good one back in December and, except for the delayed visit from my beautiful K, we were so thankful for the winter wonderland we were able to go out and enjoy. Kids need to be able to go out and play in this type of weather. Some of the only childhood memories I haven't repressed are from great times outside in huge snowstorms back home. :)

With the storm finally over we bundled up the three amigos and took a short walk (in distance only, short legs in deep snow makes for a lengthy stroll) around the neighborhood to see what Mother Nature had done to our community. With pictures rolling in to Facebook from friends all over we had to bring our camera with us to document the event. The little legs of two members of our party were very tired by the time we got back home, and the legs of the two biggest ones were pretty sore as well from having to bushwhack our way through the 2+ feet of untouched snow coming back to our house. I carried Red through, put her down on the other side and went back for Pudge so Wifey could concentrate on not slipping and breaking an ankle. By the time we got home I was ready to crawl into a hot tub... wish we had one of those.

Enjoy the pics-

- Pudge, ready for battle.

- The snowbank on our back patio is taller than JAM. Pudge doesn't even stand a chance.

- Mondo icicles hanging from our roof. And yes, our Christmas lights are still up. Don't judge me.

- Snow up to Wifey's thighs.

- It's about to swallow Red!

- Pudge to the rescue.

- My angel making an angel.

- My van's in there... somewhere.

I love snowy trees. My favorite photo of all time is Ansel Adams' Oak Tree, Snow Storm. I know. poofta.

| |

- Our driveway, absolutely untouched. I don't think I'll be at work on Monday.

- Do we finally throw in the towel when we see the monster tow truck stuck in the snow?

Um... would someone tell these people to get the hell out of the road?

|

- Resting in a snow bank on the side of the road. Stay classy Greenbelt.

| - Dunno, just liked it.

- All was quiet on our abandoned roads.

We walked down to the soccer/baseball field down the street to see how it looked. The snow was way too deep to do much but we played for a minute.

|

|

- Cars just absolutely buried.

- Quiet road at sunset.

Our new playground. Wonder why no one was around?
|

Check out this zoomed pic. Don't think I've ever seen something like this - the snow stacked up on the kiddy swings. This will be fun to think about during those hot summer days playing at the playground.


- Poor Pudge, with his little legs, was not at all happy about walking back up the hill. Especially as the snow plow hadn't been by yet and we were having to walk in tire ruts.

- Untouched snow - it was really pretty out. And so quiet.

- If ever a sign was not needed, this was it.

- Looking back down the hill at the buried cars. They're not going anywhere anytime soon.

- Guess who's had enough?

- The wind was playing cool tricks with the snow in between the houses near us.

- Us. Wifey commented that we hadn't taken any pics, just us, in a long time. Well, consider that oversight rectified.

Proud

Earlier tonight was just awesome. My big guy, who we spend wayyyy too much time trying to keep on the straight and narrow, absolutely wowed us twice in one night. First, the spelling bee.

JAM brought home this monster spelling list that was something of a culminating list for 1st and 2nd quarters. 150ish words were on this thing. Some of them I don't think I'd be able to spell without writing them down (I am a man who LOVES SPELL CHECK!!!) It was a daunting list to say the least, especially for a kid who has to work as hard as he does to sit and concentrate on anything not Lego or Star Wars. But he and Wifey studied. And practiced. Hard. For many days. Practiced until words like thoroughbred and ninety nine and handkerchief came out flawlessly without fail.

Then, today was the big day. Actually, it was supposed to be yesterday but they got a one day reprieve from their teacher. For most kids I think that would be a blessing but for our little man it was just another day for the anxiety to build up. He admitted to feeling "real nervous" this morning as he thought about the upcoming event. Did he back down though? Nope. He threw his hat into that purely optional ring (yeah, he could have sat it out if he had wanted, like about half the class decided to do) and he aced that sucka. You heard me - he's one of three finalists from his class now. Got all 13 words he was asked correct. Didn't even pass on a single word. And I'm bragging. And I'm happy to do it.

The finals are tomorrow. The 3 finalists from each 4th grade class. As he said - "8 losers, 1 winner. I better be one of the winners." I didn't say he was the sharpest knife in the drawer, he just spells reel gud. Just like his old man.

So as I sat here tonight watching him absolutely engrossed in his book (with toes on both feet tapping and his left hand playing with his lips, nose, and cheeks - always moving) I was just in awe of this amazing kid. He shows his beautiful head on occasion, like when Wifey posted on FB about yesterday morning when this neverseenbefore kid got up early, all on his own with no grumbling or arguing (a small miracle unto itself), made his bed, came downstairs and made his own lunch.

Then, tonight, was proud moment of the day #2. We all loaded into the van to go see the big science fair backboard viewing thing at his school. They line up all the backboards and present the awards in the gym. It isn't anything formal, just a few hours when parents can walk through and check out all the different projects. In the middle of all the projects on rusting pennies and soda explosions and melting ice there was JAM's, sitting proud with his award taped on, and the smile on his face was priceless. He gave a little fist pump and I gave him a high five and that was it. No running around, no jumping up and down, no hysterics. Another piece of evidence that he's growing more mature every day. Of course I didn't think of taking a picture though. *smacking head* I take pictures of EVERYTHING and I miss that? I'll take one when it comes home for sure but in the moment would have been so much better.

Yup, tonight was a proud night.

I literally feel sick

I've tried to make my feelings about Facebook well known. I don't want to do it. Well... I guess I need to say I didn't want to do it. I took the plunge and signed up for this blog on Jan 1, 2008. I started that new year with a new _thing_ so I thought this might be another good opportunity to start a new year with another new thing. Yeah, it's true. I took the plunge and just signed up. And yes, this is what life has come to while sitting here in my Dad's awesome leather La-Z-Boy watching the Chick-Fil-A Bowl on New Year's Eve. Yup, I'm old and I just joined the evil empire. While friends are out partying it up I'm sitting here geeking it out.

I'm about to throw up.

So... why? The real kick in the pants came while K was up visiting last week and everything she does is on there and I'm missing it all. So not only am I missing everything in real life I am missing it all online as well and it seemed silly not to sign up.

Doesn't mean I feel good about it though. We'll see how it goes. While I was writing this Wifey somehow found out that I just signed up and she's already sent me 25 friend requests or some fool thing.

I'm doomed.

Didn't know hurricanes could come inside

The presents were all unwrapped by 9am. The Lego sets have been built. The animals and books and Little People sets and paint supplies and cool new homemade Lego table have been ooh'ed and aah'ed over. We were even able to squeeze in a little breakfast of their favorite cereals (which Daddy gave them all for presents :) ) and playtime has now begun. Of course we've got some pics and vids to share. Merry Christmas to all!

Wifey's family had a tradition growing up - you get to open one present on Christmas eve. We thought it would be nice for the kids to open the presents Mem and Pepe sent and I wanted to document the fun for them to see...

We had to get the kids to model those wonderful homemade scarves and hats. I'm putting up two different pics because of the inevitable 2/3 factor. You know - when you have 3 kids in a picture it is inevitable that at best only two of them will ever look good. I'll leave it to you to figure out who's who...

|

- Putting up the stockings, getting ready for Santa's visit.
- The stockings all filled up sitting on top of the new Lego table I built.

- I put this at the top of the stairs in hopes of getting the kids to not go downstairs without us in the morning. It kind of backfired during the night though - Wifey and I heard Red crying and when she went out to find out what the problem was Red was at the top of the stairs crying. When Wifey asked why she was crying Red said she had to go to the bathroom. Her reason for not just going downstairs to go? Yeah, my dumb idea of putting the easel there. Poor kid. But how about my little three year old getting up on her own in the middle of the night to pee and then seeing that I put the easel there and knowing she shouldn't go downstairs? See? I see the bright side of things.

- This is what the kids thought of my idea in the morning. I don't think they were very happy at having to wait. :)

- JAM happy with his Clone Wars stuff.

- Pudge didn't like his cereal at all. Nope.

Some general opening pics -

| |

| |

| |

| |

| |

Forget the shirts, this is the coolest present I ever got Wifey. Check out her new sock monkey footie PJs.

| |

|

Pudge fell in love with his big gift - a Little People carnival set. Little guy even carried it around the room for a bit, and that box was not light.

|

|

Some Lego adoration was had by all.

| |

Well documented path of destruction -

| |

By lunch time JAM had all three Lego sets already built

| |

Pudge playing with the Little People set -

| |

- Red looking good in her new hair ties.


That's it for now. I'm sure a ton more will be coming in the next few days but I'm exhausted and Wifey is busting her butt cleaning this place up so I'd better get off mine and help. AND, I've got dinner to cook. Why the hell I said I'd do that alone I have no idea. :)