As if the seasons were in lock step with the calendar, summer weather arrived this weekend: 90s and humid. Fortunately, the pool opened this weekend also, and we spent a few hours there each day. The water is not the only tool at the pool's disposal to keep us cool; there are also the fabled 75 cent snocones. This year Alex has chosen the green flavor (yes, green is a flavor now!) and Michael is a bit more wild, preferring a blue-green mix.
RAP (5.31.2006)
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Monday, May 29, 2006
Shipwrecked
Michael had his end of the year school party and enjoyed many good times during it. The girls who are "shipwrecked" with him are Lauren and Madison. Michael was suppose have a game last night, but begged Jenny to stay at the party saying it "was the best day of his life!" Looking at the weather (storms were moving in) she relented, and they stayed.
Alex was not so fortunate; since I coach we go. Alex had a rough first inning, missing several balls while at second base. When I talked to him about it he said it was because he "did not get a lot sleep 2 nights ago." I told him I did not care. Fortunately, he recovered in the third inning and made three great fielding plays while being the pitcher.
RAP (5.29.2006)
Alex was not so fortunate; since I coach we go. Alex had a rough first inning, missing several balls while at second base. When I talked to him about it he said it was because he "did not get a lot sleep 2 nights ago." I told him I did not care. Fortunately, he recovered in the third inning and made three great fielding plays while being the pitcher.
RAP (5.29.2006)
Monday, May 22, 2006
First Base Your Out!
There was a break in the weather last that let us squeeze in a game, with one condition; we hade to play in the outfield. That is why you see first baseman Alex in the grass. Initially he did pretty well. On the third hit of the game he attacked the ball, fielded it and tagged the base before the runner got there. It was a perfect play.
As the inning wore on his interest melted away. Soon he was mentally picking daises, which is a bad thing to do at first base because they throw the ball to first every play. As the inning ended many balls would be sailing towards Alex and he would be looking elsewhere; thankfully no one throws the ball that hard or acurately or else it could have been bad for Alejandro.
RAP (5.22.2006)
As the inning wore on his interest melted away. Soon he was mentally picking daises, which is a bad thing to do at first base because they throw the ball to first every play. As the inning ended many balls would be sailing towards Alex and he would be looking elsewhere; thankfully no one throws the ball that hard or acurately or else it could have been bad for Alejandro.
RAP (5.22.2006)
Friday, May 19, 2006
First Communion
When a picture captures a good moment, but is lacking in quality (in this case it was too low light) to salvage it you do something artistic; for this image, this was my attempt at saving it. Michael is the clean cut kid closest to you and the priest is Monsignor Hendricks.
Due to his food allergies Michael needed the non-gluten host so he and Jenny go to church early and request it. Before first communion, Michael went up to the clergyman at the entrance of the show and said "Special Host, please!" as if he was ordering a ham and rye
R.A.Patton (5.19.2006)
Due to his food allergies Michael needed the non-gluten host so he and Jenny go to church early and request it. Before first communion, Michael went up to the clergyman at the entrance of the show and said "Special Host, please!" as if he was ordering a ham and rye
R.A.Patton (5.19.2006)
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Dublin Learning Academy
Recently Alejandro tried to persuade his mother that she really needed to work part-time at Whole Foods. You would think his motivation would be for the 20% discount or that it is a cool place to be, but those were not among his reasons. He wanted her to work there so that he could go to Daycare after school with his friends!
With Jens' health, we decided that it would be good to lighten her load, so Alex's is spending the last afternoons of the school year at the Dublin Learning Academy. The social animal in him is having a great time, and he is overjoyed to get 2 more recesses. In addition, we think it will be good practice getting him ready for all day first grade next year.
RAPatton (5.18.2006)
With Jens' health, we decided that it would be good to lighten her load, so Alex's is spending the last afternoons of the school year at the Dublin Learning Academy. The social animal in him is having a great time, and he is overjoyed to get 2 more recesses. In addition, we think it will be good practice getting him ready for all day first grade next year.
RAPatton (5.18.2006)
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Little Angel
Michael had his first communion last week and, with his hands clasped, looked like a little angel. Actually, he looked very much like a door to door missionary or bible salesman; completely wholesome and trustworthy.
Alex also had to wear a suit, but with different results; his jacket was unbuttoned, his shirt was untucked and generally he looked like he was trying to find the nearest party. What is ironic about that is that overall Alex is the one that we joke is our little padre, but clearly if Alex was going to be a man of the cloth he would be one of those Irish priests that "seeks out" the lost sheep.
RAP (5.17.2006)
Alex also had to wear a suit, but with different results; his jacket was unbuttoned, his shirt was untucked and generally he looked like he was trying to find the nearest party. What is ironic about that is that overall Alex is the one that we joke is our little padre, but clearly if Alex was going to be a man of the cloth he would be one of those Irish priests that "seeks out" the lost sheep.
RAP (5.17.2006)
Friday, May 12, 2006
Rally!
Michael had his first game the night after Alex's opener, and went 2 for 3. If you would had seen him at the batting cages before the game, you would consider that a miracle. He was so good hitting at the batting cages when we had last went (he went 11 for 12 in one set), but before the game he swung and missed at the first 36 pitches,and never got much better. Ouch.
I had no idea what was wrong. At the game his troubles continued through his first at bat; after that I had him switch bats and he got on base at his next 2 bats. He was forced out at 3rd during his 2nd at bat and stranded on 3rd during his last so he was a little disappointed that he did not score, but I think he enjoyed the contest.
RAP (5.12.2006)
I had no idea what was wrong. At the game his troubles continued through his first at bat; after that I had him switch bats and he got on base at his next 2 bats. He was forced out at 3rd during his 2nd at bat and stranded on 3rd during his last so he was a little disappointed that he did not score, but I think he enjoyed the contest.
RAP (5.12.2006)
Author's Tea
On Tuesday Michael's class had an Author's Tea where they showed off the stories they minted and the a seperate country report they crafted (Michael had Guatemala). All the parents attended, including Jenny and yours truly, who were singled out for helping turn 7 (yes 7!) of the stories into movies.
It would not have been that big of a deal, but their green screens were not uniform creating lots of extra work in the editing process. I was not happy with the final results, but the kids were. and their laughter is what counts. Michael had a great part where he was a horse and had to shake himself dry. Of course, that was a section where I put a wee bit of extra elbow grease.
RAP(5.12.2006)
It would not have been that big of a deal, but their green screens were not uniform creating lots of extra work in the editing process. I was not happy with the final results, but the kids were. and their laughter is what counts. Michael had a great part where he was a horse and had to shake himself dry. Of course, that was a section where I put a wee bit of extra elbow grease.
RAP(5.12.2006)
Thursday, May 11, 2006
It is Still Going!
After the season opener, the Cubs are still undefeated. Since we don't keep score that might not sound important, but it is to the kids; whenever they ask me if we won, I tell them that we did not lose. Alex fits in with the other Cubs quite well; three of the boys go to his school, and they all can growl like a Grizzly.
In the first inning the other team hit every ball to the pitcher and we had the right kid on the mound and at first. If it was a real game their first 8 batters would have been out. Of course, I attributed this to fantastic coaching. Alex did not have a ball come near him until the 3rd inning and by then he had visions of bruins dancing in his head, and missed all three opportunities.
RAP (5.11.2006)
In the first inning the other team hit every ball to the pitcher and we had the right kid on the mound and at first. If it was a real game their first 8 batters would have been out. Of course, I attributed this to fantastic coaching. Alex did not have a ball come near him until the 3rd inning and by then he had visions of bruins dancing in his head, and missed all three opportunities.
RAP (5.11.2006)
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Three Bucks
Sponge Bob was not the only character at the baseball game; there was also the legendary Brutus Buckeye. As you can tell, Brutus knows how to strike a strong pose, a pose that puts fear into feral rodents everywhere.
The boys picked out their own hats for the game. I was surprised by Alex's choice, but it was a good one. I was also surprised by Michael's choice also, but hey, it's Michael! It is funny to see how small that hat is on him now; we only bought it 2 years ago!
R. A. Patton (05.10.2006)
The boys picked out their own hats for the game. I was surprised by Alex's choice, but it was a good one. I was also surprised by Michael's choice also, but hey, it's Michael! It is funny to see how small that hat is on him now; we only bought it 2 years ago!
R. A. Patton (05.10.2006)
Tuesday, May 9, 2006
Purdue Is Going Down
The OSU people certainly new how to get our boys motivated to try out a ball game; they played commercials on cartoon network saying that Sponge Bob would make an appearance. The boys practically begged me to take them.
It turned out to be a good experience. Literally every inning they have something going on. Tee-shirt tosses, hot dog tosses, base running contests etc. It was a pretty well put together package and it was affordable; Alex was free and Michael's ticket was the same price as Cracker Jacks!
R. A. Patton (05.09.2006)
It turned out to be a good experience. Literally every inning they have something going on. Tee-shirt tosses, hot dog tosses, base running contests etc. It was a pretty well put together package and it was affordable; Alex was free and Michael's ticket was the same price as Cracker Jacks!
R. A. Patton (05.09.2006)
Wednesday, May 3, 2006
Batting Cages
Recently I have been taking the boys to the batting cages on the weekends and they have been doing well. In one set Friday night, Michael hit every ball except one. Of course he hits almost all of them straight to where first base would be!
Being in teeball I was surprised that Alex wanted to use the batting machines as much as he does. He also has been improving; in one sortee this weekend he hit four in row; that made him very excited!
R
Being in teeball I was surprised that Alex wanted to use the batting machines as much as he does. He also has been improving; in one sortee this weekend he hit four in row; that made him very excited!
R
Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Say Cheese
Michael just picked up a 20 dollar digital camera from the Discovery Store, and he has been taking it everywhere. Most of the pictures I captured this weekend included Michael taking a picture. His camera holds 20 pictures, and out of his first batch two were pretty good. What is funny is that Michael knows exactly what he wants to take pictures of ahead of time; at the Ohio State baseball game he wanted a picture of a fly ball, and at gymnastics he wanted an image of Laura doing a flip!
RAPatton
RAPatton
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