For some reason, that utterly escapes me, the boys been wanting to go hunt frogs. On Sunday afternoon, while I was at work (which I will be a lot this coming month), Jenny took them to the creek by the Glick Road pool. The amazing thing was how almost a dozen other kids from the pool spontaneously joined in the search for their own frogs. At the end of the search they captured no frogs, but isn't it the journey that makes them richer?
RAP
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
The Karate Kid
This is a big week for Alex; you would think he would be overflowing with enthusiasm for the start of kindergarten, but he is not. Alex is insanely excited to start Tae Kwon Do. Yes, Tae Kwon Do. When Alex first walked into his Dojo his 'master' told him how they would be breaking paper soon; Alex was on a different page, he was ready to attack wood!
Alex's principal recommends Tae Kwon Do for all the active boys, and claims that it gives confidence and discipline. In addition to those qualities, I am happy to see that it is reinforcing the idea of earning what you want; all week long he has been talking about how he can earn a head band and a ribbon, and trust me he wants them!
RAPatton
Alex's principal recommends Tae Kwon Do for all the active boys, and claims that it gives confidence and discipline. In addition to those qualities, I am happy to see that it is reinforcing the idea of earning what you want; all week long he has been talking about how he can earn a head band and a ribbon, and trust me he wants them!
RAPatton
Monday, August 29, 2005
Message From A Bottle
This is one of the first pictures from our new camera; it is a Sony, and more importantly it is scarlet. Jen insisted on the color, and it seemed appropriate for the time of year.
Our old camera has been touch and go for the last few weeks. Most of the time the cover wouldn't close, which would damage the lens over time. Other times it would not turn on. At times it is still functional, but less than ideal. Which has led us to our new 'cute' (Jen's word) camera that Jenny will be carrying around this autumn.
R. A. Patton
Our old camera has been touch and go for the last few weeks. Most of the time the cover wouldn't close, which would damage the lens over time. Other times it would not turn on. At times it is still functional, but less than ideal. Which has led us to our new 'cute' (Jen's word) camera that Jenny will be carrying around this autumn.
R. A. Patton
Good bye Mr. Wiffle
In the final game of the season that our boys will play at the Osgood house, Michael finally hit a home run. As you can see from this picture, that ball is on it's way out -- Good bye Mr. Spalding, or in this case Mr. Wiffle. It landed over the fence (right field of course) in the neighbors yard, and under house rules was a home run. Michael was very excited and he did not even realize that he got an RBI also. Of course, he does not know what an RBI is!
RAP
RAP
Friday, August 26, 2005
Molly Gorman Memorial Baseball
The neighbors kids on Doresta road had a Molly Gorman memorial baseball game in her honor, complete with a rendition of the national anthem on the electric guitar. Of course, being the curious cats that they are Michael and Alex took their turns playing with the guitar. Michael in particular took a fancy to it. He would crank the speaker all the way up and let it blast as he picked away at the strings.
RAP
RAP
Friday, August 19, 2005
Summer is giving way to Autumn
One of the ways that you know that Summer is closing in Ohio is the appearance of thick morning fog, such as what enveloped us today. As I crossed the dam, I could only see about 10 yards in any direction; the world was white, and it appeared that only my car and a small stretch of road was in it.
Another sign that Summer is giving way to Autumn is the appearance of football players, in all shapes and sizes, practicing here, there and everywhere. Now that Michael is a football player, he is part of the scenery that defines the onset of Autumn, letting us all know that crisp, clear skies are on their way.
RAP
Another sign that Summer is giving way to Autumn is the appearance of football players, in all shapes and sizes, practicing here, there and everywhere. Now that Michael is a football player, he is part of the scenery that defines the onset of Autumn, letting us all know that crisp, clear skies are on their way.
RAP
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Hardly Working
Alex loves coming to work with me. Not surprising, since he does no work, gets to drink root beer and play video games. I'd like work too, if that was what it was like!
Michael likes coming to work also, but instead of playing video games he prefers to draw and write. He also partakes in beverages, but prefers diet Sprite from the break room vending machine.
RAP
Michael likes coming to work also, but instead of playing video games he prefers to draw and write. He also partakes in beverages, but prefers diet Sprite from the break room vending machine.
RAP
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Chopsticks
P. F. Changs has been one of our favorite bistros since the days when Michael was a wee lad in Charlotte. It turns out that, on a nationwide basis, this restaurant has issued a gluten free menu. With these new dishes in hand we decided it was time to add some sophistication to the boys palettes. Surprisingly enough, both boys liked the scallops, and they even ate them with chopsticks. Of course, they pushed the chopstick through the scallop and consumed them like a marshmallow at a BBQ, but still, they ate them with chopsticks.
RAP
RAP
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Frozen Ice, Flavored with Colorful Syrup
As the summer winds down, the opportunities for having a good snow cone dissipate. Some people associate summer with apple pie, but our boys think of frozen ice, flavored with colorful syrup. Cold treats for hot humid days to consume between the shrill whistles demarking the rest periods at the pool.
Autumn may be rapidly approaching with its crisp air, football games and return to school, but today it is summer, and it is time for a snow come.
RAP
Autumn may be rapidly approaching with its crisp air, football games and return to school, but today it is summer, and it is time for a snow come.
RAP
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
First Practice
Michael's first football practice was last week, and he was very excited. He gets a little twinkle in his eye when says "if you want to play football, you have to play a little rough." Being flag football, he might be a little disappointed with the roughness, but it will be good to learn the game.
We thought he said we wanted to be a 'quarterback', but we misunderstood; he says he wants to be a 'cornerback' and is very excited to tackle people (it is flag, Michael!). Practice is longer and hotter than he would like, but that is a good thing. You have to learn that many good things are not easily gained.
RAP
We thought he said we wanted to be a 'quarterback', but we misunderstood; he says he wants to be a 'cornerback' and is very excited to tackle people (it is flag, Michael!). Practice is longer and hotter than he would like, but that is a good thing. You have to learn that many good things are not easily gained.
RAP
Tuesday, August 9, 2005
They remind me of ...
Michael loves to wear these camouflage shorts, I am certain that you have seen them in pictures many times, and I think they are terribly ugly. As we were entering our third store (out of 5) looking for the right size football to practice with, I asked Michael why liked to wear them. To my complete and utter surprise this was his reason: "They remind me of Papa being in the Army and of the USA Army, so that is why I like to wear them."
>RAP
>RAP
Friday, August 5, 2005
Curious George
The boys love meeting superheroes such as Spider-man and Captain America at Universal Studios. In addition to meeting the Marvel characters, they also had an unexpected meeting with a literary icon: Curious George.
The Curious George books are some of the first Michael was able to read on his own, and the boys have read/had them read to them many times in the short lives, making this a thrill worthy of it's own comic.
RAP
The Curious George books are some of the first Michael was able to read on his own, and the boys have read/had them read to them many times in the short lives, making this a thrill worthy of it's own comic.
RAP
Thursday, August 4, 2005
Fearless Attack on the Ocean
Before we go on any trip, the boys first question is: "Is there a beach?" After we arrive, their first query is: "When are we going to the beach?!" I would say that they have an enthusiasm for the seaside!
One of the ways that I know that they are getting older is how much more cavalierly they attack the ocean. I did not wear my suit, and quickly wished I had as visions of throwing my camera and wallet to the sand as I ran in after them swam in my head. They don't just like playing in the waves, they like getting knocked down, having the ocean overwhelm them. My reaction to their fearless attack on the ocean is one of the ways I know that I am getting older.
RAP
One of the ways that I know that they are getting older is how much more cavalierly they attack the ocean. I did not wear my suit, and quickly wished I had as visions of throwing my camera and wallet to the sand as I ran in after them swam in my head. They don't just like playing in the waves, they like getting knocked down, having the ocean overwhelm them. My reaction to their fearless attack on the ocean is one of the ways I know that I am getting older.
RAP
Wednesday, August 3, 2005
Sandlot Baseball
One of the kids that lives next to the Gormans is an absolute baseball nut, and he seems to have a 'sandlot' game in his yard every day. As you can see he has his own home plate but for 1st, 2nd & 3rd he makes due with chalk facsimiles on the sidewalk and driveway. After breaking 1 too many windows in the past, they now use wiffle balls.
Being a very friendly kid, he invited Michael & Alex to join in their games, and our boys accepted. For Alex they did a 'soft toss' (just throw it up next to him) and gave him unlimited strikes; when he was struggling they would conspire to commit errors so he could get to base. They were going to do 'soft toss' for Michael also, but I would have none of that, and made them pitch it to him. To their surprise, he was able to hit pretty much every ball that was thrown at him. They all went towards first base of course, and under house rules most were declared 'foul balls.' Joe was incredibly impressed with Michael's eye hand coordination, because, like I said, he hit them all (foul after foul).
It was the type of experience that populates Norman Rockwell paintings, and it has made our boys lives richer.
RAP
Being a very friendly kid, he invited Michael & Alex to join in their games, and our boys accepted. For Alex they did a 'soft toss' (just throw it up next to him) and gave him unlimited strikes; when he was struggling they would conspire to commit errors so he could get to base. They were going to do 'soft toss' for Michael also, but I would have none of that, and made them pitch it to him. To their surprise, he was able to hit pretty much every ball that was thrown at him. They all went towards first base of course, and under house rules most were declared 'foul balls.' Joe was incredibly impressed with Michael's eye hand coordination, because, like I said, he hit them all (foul after foul).
It was the type of experience that populates Norman Rockwell paintings, and it has made our boys lives richer.
RAP
Tuesday, August 2, 2005
Loves the Dodgers!
A part of our annual trip to Southern California is a Dodgers Game. Ironically, it seems that each year the Dodgers play the Reds when we go see them! This game has become such a part of the boys culture, that the Los Angeles Dodgers are the only professional sports team that the boys identify with. Michael might call them the 'la' Dodgers, but he is fan of the team. The day before one of the neighbor kids asked him if he liked the Dodgers, and Michael told him that he 'loves the Dodgers!'
RAP
RAP
Monday, August 1, 2005
Rides May Turn Your Stomach, but Heroes Save the World
Each time we go to California we try to do something fun; Disneyland, California Adventure etc... This time we chose Universal Studios. We have done it once before, but we did not push ourselves, so there were plenty of things to do on this visit.
We went on the Studio Tour (saw a member of the Desperate Housewives cast), rode the Jurassic Park ride and saw the Water World Show. For all their flash and glitter, I don't think they were as impressive to the boys as meeting Spider-man and Captain America. Rides may turn your stomach, but heroes save the world.
RAPatton
We went on the Studio Tour (saw a member of the Desperate Housewives cast), rode the Jurassic Park ride and saw the Water World Show. For all their flash and glitter, I don't think they were as impressive to the boys as meeting Spider-man and Captain America. Rides may turn your stomach, but heroes save the world.
RAPatton
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
