At this point in Michael's young life he is a dinosaur enthusiast. With that knowledge their is no way we could drive through Chicago without stopping at the field museum; after all, next time we make this journey who is to say that the boys will be interested in ancient thunder lizards -- strike while the iron is hot!
Not only do they have the famous T-Rex named 'Sue,' but they also have a special gallery of Chinese dinosaurs (Chino-saurs as christened by Michael).
RAP
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
You are only 6 once, and you have to make the most of it!
It has been quite a birthweek for Alex; his party was a success (as reported in an earlier card), the class party went well, the Buckeyes broke the spirits of the rodents from up north with last second heroics and this morning he opened his presents. The day is not over, and we will celebrate our six year old until after the sun sets this day. After I finish work this morning we are venturing to Easton and taking Alejandro to Build a Bear (I wonder what he will get there!) and tonight we will stroll under thousands of Christmas lights at the zoo. You are only 6 once, and you have to make the most of it!
RAP
RAP
Monday, November 21, 2005
Birthday Boy
Alex's Birthweek celebration is under way. Wednesday night we had his annual, Happy Birthday Alex/Beat Michigan Party. The kids kicked field goals, threw passes, did cheers, played musical footballs, smashed a pinata (with some assistance) and ran through a banner with their own names on it as the other boys cheered. It was a roaring success, and the guests got fired up; almost too fired up at times. One kid kept saying Michigan @#@!#/; I did not want that language in my house, and stopped it, but it was hard because what he was speaking the truth.
RAP
RAP
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Cleaning Up
On Sunday afternoon the boys and I ventured to the West Side of town in order to shop at Party City (Your 12th Party is free!). After we found a football Pinata, I asked the boys if they wanted to go out to the Cemetery, and they both said yes. They are still amazed that I lived in a Cemetery as a child, and they liked linking it to a Halloween story they heard at the library last month.
It was a beautiful day, and all the plots were in good condition. When Michael read Grandpa Patton's marker, Alex immediately said "He used to live with our Grandma in Florida." The Erwin marker had some residue from weed eating on it, so the boys decided to clean it. Of course Alex did it with the white sleeve on his shirt, but I could not be too mad at him (it was a good deed, and I don't do the laundry!)
RAP
It was a beautiful day, and all the plots were in good condition. When Michael read Grandpa Patton's marker, Alex immediately said "He used to live with our Grandma in Florida." The Erwin marker had some residue from weed eating on it, so the boys decided to clean it. Of course Alex did it with the white sleeve on his shirt, but I could not be too mad at him (it was a good deed, and I don't do the laundry!)
RAP
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Michigan Week 2005
As the Buckeyes were cruising to a 40 plus point victory over, what was then, a top 25 Northwestern Mildcat team, the boys and I started our Michigan Week Celebration. We made a huge pile of leaves and in the warm, bright, autumn air proceeded to jump in them repeatedly.
The highlight of Michigan Week 2005 is, just like every year, the Birth Celebration of Alexander O. Patton. We spent all day Saturday making banners with each of the kids names on them (they get to run through them as everyone cheers!), and a good part of Sunday driving around town acquiring supplies. It shall be quite a party.
RAP
The highlight of Michigan Week 2005 is, just like every year, the Birth Celebration of Alexander O. Patton. We spent all day Saturday making banners with each of the kids names on them (they get to run through them as everyone cheers!), and a good part of Sunday driving around town acquiring supplies. It shall be quite a party.
RAP
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Zorro, Chicken Little 3D & Zathura
After a long respite, there has been a string of films that the boys have wanted to see. 2 weeks ago we went to The Legend of Zorro, last week ventured to Chicken Little and Friday night we enjoyed Zathura.
Zorro was OK, but it was nice to see the boys enjoy (somewhat) more adult fare. Chicken Little was pretty good, and we saw it with the new 3D technology. The glasses were not those goofy green and red lensed onesof yesteryear. Instead they were polarized, and the 3D was quite impressive and enjoyable.
Finally we saw Zathura; the boys like the book and board game, so it was no surprise that they enjoyed the movie. It was a bit darker than I expected, but they took it all in stride. At the end of the film Michael declared, "I even loved all the scary parts!"
RAPatton
Zorro was OK, but it was nice to see the boys enjoy (somewhat) more adult fare. Chicken Little was pretty good, and we saw it with the new 3D technology. The glasses were not those goofy green and red lensed onesof yesteryear. Instead they were polarized, and the 3D was quite impressive and enjoyable.
Finally we saw Zathura; the boys like the book and board game, so it was no surprise that they enjoyed the movie. It was a bit darker than I expected, but they took it all in stride. At the end of the film Michael declared, "I even loved all the scary parts!"
RAPatton
Monday, November 14, 2005
Michael is the best person I know
Monday evening Alex and I were driving home after dropping Michael off at CCD, and I took the opportunity to ask him a pretty standard hypothetical question: "what would you do with 10 million dollars?" Alex immediately responded that he would buy Michael the Robosapien (a toy Michael has wanted since before last Christmas). I pointed out several other things he could do with it, including helping bears, but he remained steadfast. Once I was convinced of his resolve, I asked him why he would do this. His response: "Michael is the best person I know."
RAP
RAP
Wednesday, November 9, 2005
One Smart Panda
I went to Michael's parent teacher conference last Thursday and it went well. The word 'Wow' was used repeatedly when discussing academics (dominated in 'around-the-world' last week, just like I used too!). Apparently he is one smart panda, but I think we knew that already.
His social skills are getting better; he participates in class frequently, and listens to his classmates. His skills are not perfect, but they are adequate and getting better all the time. Mrs. Coho thinks that looping has been good for Michael and definitely recommends it again next year (have the same teacher for 3rd and 4th grade), which is important because teacher recommendations carry a lot of weight. Overall, he is doing very well and I think he will continue to be.
RAP
His social skills are getting better; he participates in class frequently, and listens to his classmates. His skills are not perfect, but they are adequate and getting better all the time. Mrs. Coho thinks that looping has been good for Michael and definitely recommends it again next year (have the same teacher for 3rd and 4th grade), which is important because teacher recommendations carry a lot of weight. Overall, he is doing very well and I think he will continue to be.
RAP
Tuesday, November 8, 2005
The Right Kind of Heroes
After we arrived home from seeing 'Chicken Little' the other night, I was checking our email while Michael & Alex were preparing for bed. Apparently they were talking about the qualities that defined a super hero, because I overheard Alex forcefully proclaiming, "every super-hero must be smart." He went on to explain, with extreme conviction, that it was not strength, speed or colorful tights that allowed them thwart evil; it was their intelligence.
I had a broad smile as I eavesdropped, knowing that my sons were admiring the right kind of heroes (the smart ones) and they right kind of qualities. This insight of Alex's was quite clever, clever enough that perhaps Alex will be saving the world one day.
RAP
I had a broad smile as I eavesdropped, knowing that my sons were admiring the right kind of heroes (the smart ones) and they right kind of qualities. This insight of Alex's was quite clever, clever enough that perhaps Alex will be saving the world one day.
RAP
Friday, November 4, 2005
Batman And Robin -- Trick or Treat
Halloween Fan,
For some reason our city fathers decided to have Trick or Treat on Halloween night this year, and what a night it was. It was clear and warm for October. In the low east sky, Mars was shinning bright, and in the east, his sister Venus was illuminating the night. Jenny took them out for the first half, while I passed out candy, and then we switched places.
Once again, it did not take long to go trick or treating because the kids ran from house to house. Eventually, when the candy buckets were almost full, the running became a problem because Alex's kept spilling his. We must have stopped 7 times as he tried to regather all his candy!
RAP
For some reason our city fathers decided to have Trick or Treat on Halloween night this year, and what a night it was. It was clear and warm for October. In the low east sky, Mars was shinning bright, and in the east, his sister Venus was illuminating the night. Jenny took them out for the first half, while I passed out candy, and then we switched places.
Once again, it did not take long to go trick or treating because the kids ran from house to house. Eventually, when the candy buckets were almost full, the running became a problem because Alex's kept spilling his. We must have stopped 7 times as he tried to regather all his candy!
RAP
Thursday, November 3, 2005
Each thing in it's own time, in it's own season
As the nights have gotten cooler we have had the opportunity to use the fireplace once more. I really enjoy the seasonality of the boys lives; they don't long for what has passed, but instead embrace what is and what is coming.
Right now they are talking about their birthdays, soon it will be Christmas and then sledding. Each thing in it's own time, in it's own season. Unlike them, I am looking ahead a bit, because I think this could be the Christmas that they remember for the rest of their lives. The time when Christmas morning is most magical, and that has me very excited.
RAP
Right now they are talking about their birthdays, soon it will be Christmas and then sledding. Each thing in it's own time, in it's own season. Unlike them, I am looking ahead a bit, because I think this could be the Christmas that they remember for the rest of their lives. The time when Christmas morning is most magical, and that has me very excited.
RAP
Tuesday, November 1, 2005
Whoa, Nellie! It will be a humdinger!
It is not time to plan for Alex's annual Buckeye Birthday Celebration. Last year we went out of the home, and had it at the Buckeye Hall Of Fame Cafe. It was nice, but I really think the home parties were better. Another change for 2005 is that the invitation went from a player, to a coach; perhaps next year he will be in the marching band!
At his party the kids are going to run through banners, kick field goals, throw passes and do the O-H-I-O A-L-E-X cheer. Whoa, Nellie! It will be a humdinger!
RAP
At his party the kids are going to run through banners, kick field goals, throw passes and do the O-H-I-O A-L-E-X cheer. Whoa, Nellie! It will be a humdinger!
RAP
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