I Want To Be Where The People Are

I Want To Be Where The People Are
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

One thing you can say about us, is that, as a group, we are a maternal set of men. All of us, Michael, Alex and myself all enjoy and are good with babies. At times, some of us may have more (Michael) or less (Alex) interest in the wee ones, but when we are engaged with them we all do well. I don't really know why, but I suspect to an extant it is because we are all still child-like and the little ones recognize that.
RAP (6.29.2007)

Jacobee

Jacobee
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

As I am certain you know, Jacob came to visit us this weekend. He is an easy baby, who loves to laugh and is quite handsome. I had to laugh at one point, Billy called him "Jacobee" which is my nonsense nickname for him based on "Shadobee" from the Music Man. Who knows, maybe it will stick! The boys enjoyed spending time with their cousin, and the good news is that they will see him once more in 10 days!
RAP (6.26.2007)

Alex

Alex
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Playing in the more advanced division has taken some of the luster off baseball for Michael this year. He still likes it, but walking is not as much fun as hitting. I am sure that next year, when he is one of the oldest kids in his division, he will have more fun.

Overall Alex, has been enjoying his games more as time go on. He is paying attention more and being less of a clown. Occasionally it is too hot and that leads to a meltdown, but overall it has been very good.
RAP (6.25.2007)
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Goodbye

Goodbye
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

The other day Michael was talking about how excited he was to go to Middle School in a few years. My first instinct was to caution him, because Junior High is a different world with it's own problems. However, I bit my tongue because it is good that he is ready for the challenge, I want him to be a person who looks forward to new things with a smile, but I also want him to appreciate what he has. Looking forward can be good, but it is also good to look around and appreciate where you are now.
RAP (6.22.2007)

Blastoff

Goodbye
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

In days of recent past, throwing the boys through the air was an easy task. 1, 2, 3 and off they go! 10 yards through the air with a graceful splashdown. That experience is still what Alex enjoys, but Michael has grown, and with his new size getting him those 10 yards is requiring a bit of exertion on my part. So much so, I can now see the day when I will no longer be able to shoot him through the air like an acrobat. Most of the splashdowns are graceful but there was one Alex had last week where he landed flat on his back on the water ... ouch. He did not look to happy, and I apologized saying that was not a twister, but instead a "back buster." At that point, Alex, Michael and I all started laughing. RAP(6.14.2007)

Happy Campers

Happy Campers
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Jenny promised the boys that they could camp out when school was over; that was a promise the boys did not forget, and on the last day of school they camped out in the backyard. Originally Jen was going to camp out with them, but eventually she wizened up and let them sleep outside by themselves, but with our bedroom door open. They were only about 15 yards away and we could hear every peep, but to them, it felt as if they were alone in the great northern woods.
RAP (6.13.2007)

The Watcher

The Watcher
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

The boys report cards came out last week and Alex had a pretty good one. The highest level in most everything and no deficiencies. Michael's was perfect. The highest level across the board in every category, including behavior categories. We were ecstatic. To celebrate we let Michael get the largest ice cream at Coldstone (normally we get him the kid size).
RAP (6.12.2007)

Sunset

Sunset
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Due to the confluence of our busy schedule and the weather, we have not visited the pool as often as I would have liked. However, Michael, Alex, Jake and I were able to steal away for an hour last Friday night. I had to stay next to Jake, and for the first 5 minutes he clung on to me. However, in time, he came into his own and explored the shallow end. He needed constant supervision because he kept trying to crawl, which ended up as a face plant in the water. Timid Alex is a shrinking violet no more; there were days where he wanted to remain planted on terra firma, but now was a tad perturbed that I could not leave Jake to acrobatically toss him through the air.
RAP (6.8.2007)

Honest Abe

Honest Abe
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

As Michael's final 3rd grade project he did a report on Abraham Lincoln -- in costume. Jen was able to attend and snapped this photo. I could not go, but I did help Michael write his paper. We emphasized that Lincoln was the first Republican president, freed the slaves in the confederacy and saved the Union. The things that resonated with Michael was that Lincoln saw his mother die of milk sickness, loved to read and witnessed slaves being sold in New Orleans as a young man; I learned that Lincoln, like Christ, died on good Friday. Michael summed up Lincoln's greatest accomplishment being that he ensured that the nation "of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." RAP (6.6.2007)

Meeting Of The Minds

Meeting Of The Minds
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

We hosted Jake this weekend and all went well. Michael was his usual maternal self with him, but this time around, when called upon, Alex did a great job. Case in point, I was at the deli counter and Jake was starting to get fussy. I asked Alex to keep him happy and what you see was the result. In addition, Alex entertained Jake in the car and at other times, although Alex was not happy I could not throw him at the pool because I had to stay with the baby. RAP (6.5.2007)

The Cleaners

The Cleaners
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

As we are want to do, we journeyed to Sunset on Memorial Day. The boys were very excited about cleaning the markers, stone and crypt. In particular, Michael was anticipating cleaning the top of the stone and crypt. They don't get excited about cleaning at home, so I don't really know what go into them. We brought flowers once more, and Jen planted them. She knew what to get for each site based on the amount of sunlight. The boys definitely know the place well, Michael wanted to see the Mason Monument, where as Alex the war memorial in the back.
RAP (6.1.2007)