Michael has been fighting off a cold since he had strep, but he is a trooper. He is almost always filled with an enthusiasm for life as you can see on a recent trip to Johnny Rockets.
Moments before we had our picture with the Easter Bunny, something that the boys had never done. We had the outfits, and they are only kids once, so I figured why not get one. We went early, and that decision paid off. The nice people at Easton took many shots until we captured a good one with Peter Cottontail. Even though Michael was not feeling great, with his enthusiasm, you would never know it.
~RAP
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Friday, March 25, 2005
We can do this the Hard Way or the Easy Way
Last week the boys were diagnosed with strep, and were treated with antibiotics. Alex was prescribed the traditional liquid amoxicillin concoction. In the past, we would mix the antibiotic with Alex's milk, but that was when he was "medium boy." Now he is a "big boy," and I decided that he was going to drink it like a big boy; Alex decided he was going to throw a fit.
I picked Alex up and sat him on the island. Being a bright kid, he asked me why I did this. I did it to make him feel helpless, but I did not tell him that. Instead I informed him there were two ways that he could drink the medicine. The hard way: scream, throw a fit and then drink it. The easy way: drink it and be done. He understood that he was going to drink it, and he unhappily chose the easy way. He continued to choose the easy way the rest of the week, but more nonchalantly than unhappy. Later that week, Michael was complaining about taking his vitamins. Alex walked up to Michael, put his arm around his and said, 'Michael, we can do this the hard way or the easy way.'
~RAP
I picked Alex up and sat him on the island. Being a bright kid, he asked me why I did this. I did it to make him feel helpless, but I did not tell him that. Instead I informed him there were two ways that he could drink the medicine. The hard way: scream, throw a fit and then drink it. The easy way: drink it and be done. He understood that he was going to drink it, and he unhappily chose the easy way. He continued to choose the easy way the rest of the week, but more nonchalantly than unhappy. Later that week, Michael was complaining about taking his vitamins. Alex walked up to Michael, put his arm around his and said, 'Michael, we can do this the hard way or the easy way.'
~RAP
Egg Hunt
Last week the boys enjoyed their first Easter egg hunt of the season. They are wearing red and blue jackets and are carrying wild oats bags. Jen said that we did not need to bring any bags -- the baskets would be provided. Good thing, I took alternative measures.
Her other claim, that they would not start exactly at 2, also lacked veracity. Fortunately, they started as we walked in and the boys are quick enough to claim the lion's share of plastic eggs.
RAPatton
Her other claim, that they would not start exactly at 2, also lacked veracity. Fortunately, they started as we walked in and the boys are quick enough to claim the lion's share of plastic eggs.
RAPatton
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Evil Plan
Because of some mistakes here and there we have wondered if Alex is somewhat colorblind; 10% of the male population is. Last night our fears were allayed.
We were watching the premiere of Clone Wars last night; midway through the episode Alex espoused a theory that one solider was the leader, and the others were the followers. The way that this was signified on the screen was with red markings for the leader and blue ones for the followers. Red and Blue are the classic color blind criteria, and it is good to know that Alex is able to distinguish them so that he can use that data to learn about the world through observations from his own eyes.
RAPatton
We were watching the premiere of Clone Wars last night; midway through the episode Alex espoused a theory that one solider was the leader, and the others were the followers. The way that this was signified on the screen was with red markings for the leader and blue ones for the followers. Red and Blue are the classic color blind criteria, and it is good to know that Alex is able to distinguish them so that he can use that data to learn about the world through observations from his own eyes.
RAPatton
Thursday, March 17, 2005
GQ
Hippity-Hop-Hop, Hippity-Hop-Hop, Easter is on it's in way. With it's arrival we can expect Spring flowers, and new outfits for the boys. This year they will don Ralph Lauren shirts with pastel stripes. One day they will look back and blame me for dressing them like that. At which point, I will state, "it wasn't me, it was the one armed man -- scratch that -- it was, your mother."
RAPatton
RAPatton
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Odd Phrases of Hipster Lingo
The good people at:
http://www.gizoogle.com/
should contract our Alex to help them stay up to date with lingua franca du jour. Alex seems to absorb the odd phrases of hipster lingo as if by Osmosis. Just last week, he ran to tell Jen that something was "radical." This morning he told us that he was "soo into it" and that something was "soo cool."The quirkiest thing is that Alex seems to be picking up on 80s lingo instead of 00s slang.
Robert "Technolizzles" Patton fo` Optimum
http://www.gizoogle.com/
should contract our Alex to help them stay up to date with lingua franca du jour. Alex seems to absorb the odd phrases of hipster lingo as if by Osmosis. Just last week, he ran to tell Jen that something was "radical." This morning he told us that he was "soo into it" and that something was "soo cool."The quirkiest thing is that Alex seems to be picking up on 80s lingo instead of 00s slang.
Robert "Technolizzles" Patton fo` Optimum
Monday, March 14, 2005
Taken in by his Enthusiasm
Jenny had breakfast yesterday with two of friends: Liz Soppe and Michelle Whitaker. Michelle's daughter, Madison, is in Michael's class, and she often volunteers in the classroom. Michelle recounted how recently she was playing an game with some kids in the class, and her amazement at how smart Michael is.
She went on and on about how bright he was; in addition to his intelligence, you could tell that she was taken in by his enthusiasm. Her oldest daughter is in the gifted program (LEAP, it starts in the 4th grade), and she assured Jen that there is no doubt that Michael will be in it also.
RAP
She went on and on about how bright he was; in addition to his intelligence, you could tell that she was taken in by his enthusiasm. Her oldest daughter is in the gifted program (LEAP, it starts in the 4th grade), and she assured Jen that there is no doubt that Michael will be in it also.
RAP
Friday, March 11, 2005
Stalkers Creed: Never Give Up!
As you can tell by looking at this picture, Michael and Alex still get along very well, as well as any siblings I have known. Michael stayed home Monday because he was vomiting on Sunday, and Jen said, at times, their was conflict between them. However, by the time I returned home everything seemed fine. One of the things I try to hammer into them is that they are a team.
On a related tangent, we were watching the Simpsons the other night that featured a stalker with a restraining order. The stalker made clear that his Dad taught him to "never give up" and to "never stop trying." Because it echoed my relationship with the boys, Jens was rolling on the couch.
RAP
On a related tangent, we were watching the Simpsons the other night that featured a stalker with a restraining order. The stalker made clear that his Dad taught him to "never give up" and to "never stop trying." Because it echoed my relationship with the boys, Jens was rolling on the couch.
RAP
Wednesday, March 9, 2005
Great Job!
The Dublin Schools promote reading and writing at all the levels in their curriculum; as part of that effort is that they have kids work towards "publishing" a book of their own creation. Michael and his comrades recently completed their manuscripts, and to celebrate they had an "Author's Tea."
It was a big event for the children as they shared their works with each other, their family and friends. Alex was very proud of his brother, as you can tell by this image.
RAPatton
It was a big event for the children as they shared their works with each other, their family and friends. Alex was very proud of his brother, as you can tell by this image.
RAPatton
Monday, March 7, 2005
Stuffed Animal Fight
The young lady who is about to be bopped by Spider-man is not Karri; it is another young lady from Michael's class, Olyvia.
We have suspected, for a while, that she has had a crush on Michael, because she has been asking to come over to our house for a playdate. I have always said that Michael's good looks will help him in social situations and that appears to be true; he will not always have to be the one seeking out people, some people will seek him out. The afternoon went very well; the boys were very excited to have her over and show her all their toys.
R
We have suspected, for a while, that she has had a crush on Michael, because she has been asking to come over to our house for a playdate. I have always said that Michael's good looks will help him in social situations and that appears to be true; he will not always have to be the one seeking out people, some people will seek him out. The afternoon went very well; the boys were very excited to have her over and show her all their toys.
R
Friday, March 4, 2005
Father's Night
Monday we had our annual, and our last (at least for us!), Little Shepherd's Father's Night. When I say annual, I mean annual; it feels like we have been doing this for years and years. In that time my sons have built many things; 2005 project: a mail holder. Alex hammered well, and we were the second pair done.
Afterwards, Alex had three rootbeers: mine, his and a refill! With his social nature, you assume that Alex is the center of attention when he walks in a room, and that is not true. Alex has charm, and he uses it to BECOME the "it" boy. On this evening, Alex used a prop: my astronomy class green laser (you can see the beam in the air at night). As soon as his friends saw it, the only words you could hear were "Alex, Alex!" Being the player that he is, he made his way around the room, and let all his classmates give it a shot, charming his way to the top.
~~~RAPatton
Afterwards, Alex had three rootbeers: mine, his and a refill! With his social nature, you assume that Alex is the center of attention when he walks in a room, and that is not true. Alex has charm, and he uses it to BECOME the "it" boy. On this evening, Alex used a prop: my astronomy class green laser (you can see the beam in the air at night). As soon as his friends saw it, the only words you could hear were "Alex, Alex!" Being the player that he is, he made his way around the room, and let all his classmates give it a shot, charming his way to the top.
~~~RAPatton
Thursday, March 3, 2005
Fast Shoes
One of our errands Saturday was to get both boys a set of new shoes. What does a boy do when he gets new shoes, how does he test them out? Does he walk around and see if they are snug in the toe? No. A boy runs as fast as he can to try his new footwear.
Originally this was a picture of him running at me, but these new shoes were SO fast all I could see was Michael's dust. In addition to being new and fast, these shoes have another interesting attribute: they are Michael's first pair with laces.
RAP
Originally this was a picture of him running at me, but these new shoes were SO fast all I could see was Michael's dust. In addition to being new and fast, these shoes have another interesting attribute: they are Michael's first pair with laces.
RAP
Wednesday, March 2, 2005
School Psychologists Office
Last Friday, Jen and Alex had lunch with Michael at school, and whenever Alex visits his brother at Eli Pinney, he takes a detour. He likes to goes to this inviting room filled with games, toys and stuffed animals. It is a happy place where the door is never closed; it is... the school psychologists office. Let us all hope that this is not an omen of what is to come!
~~RAPatton
~~RAPatton
Tuesday, March 1, 2005
What Could Be
In popular entertainment much is made of young children asking "Why" questions. They are supposed to hound their parents and query them about topics ranging from the mundane to the profound. Michael has never really asked "Why questions."
However, that does not indicate a deficiency, or lack of curiosity; you see Michael asks an entirely different sort of question: "What if..." In matters ranging from the observable world to metaphysics, he often wants to know what would happen if a single factor changes. He is not so much concerned with what "is" as with what could be. RAPatton
However, that does not indicate a deficiency, or lack of curiosity; you see Michael asks an entirely different sort of question: "What if..." In matters ranging from the observable world to metaphysics, he often wants to know what would happen if a single factor changes. He is not so much concerned with what "is" as with what could be. RAPatton
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