On a recent "pajamas and cocoa day" the kids were allowed to take a stuffed animal to school; Alex chose to bring in Big Bear. He always brings in Big Bear, and not because he is his favorite. Big Bear is his escort because he is the biggest bear in the bed. He proudly rides next to Big Bear on bus 55 and escorts him to class, collecting smiles along the way.
I believe that despite being streetwise, Alex takes pride in his youth, and is in no hurry to grow up; this display is his embrace of his youth. This seems to me to be wisdom well beyond the street. Of course, small, itsy, bitsy part of it may be, that he might have just wanted the attention. :)
RAP (12.26.2008)
Friday, December 26, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
They Still Hear the Bells
Jake is absolutely in love with "The Polar Express," so we took Michael and Alex up to Massillion to ride that fabled Christmas train. Legend has it the train will stop at your door Christmas Eve, but we took no such chance; Bill scalped us tickets (they are in high demand and you can only get them through a lottery).
The train was decorated as the season dictates and the chefs, elves, conductors (all volunteers) did a great job of entertaining the kids. They brought hot chocolate and cookies as we headed to the North Pole. Once we arrived, we saw Santa, the Grinch, Frosty and a variety of characters from our seats in Car 7. At that point Santa embarked on the train. Michael and Alex may have been a few years too old for some of the evening, but they most certainly were not too old for Santa. They lit up as they talked about Christmas, and he handed them each a sleigh bell, one that they were still able to hear. RAP (12.24.2008)
The train was decorated as the season dictates and the chefs, elves, conductors (all volunteers) did a great job of entertaining the kids. They brought hot chocolate and cookies as we headed to the North Pole. Once we arrived, we saw Santa, the Grinch, Frosty and a variety of characters from our seats in Car 7. At that point Santa embarked on the train. Michael and Alex may have been a few years too old for some of the evening, but they most certainly were not too old for Santa. They lit up as they talked about Christmas, and he handed them each a sleigh bell, one that they were still able to hear. RAP (12.24.2008)
Buy a 5 grandkids Photo Session, Get 1 Son Free
For obvious reasons, we couldn't send you postcard with this photo until now. Taking advantage of everyone being in town Thanksgiving weekend, we gathered the grandchildren for a portrait done on Black Friday.
Shortly after the session, we received a phone call indicating that calamity struck; the batch was lost by the studio. We had to gather the kids once more and do it again on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, before everyone dispersed. To make things more challenging, Ellie didn't want to leave father's arms. We used the missing pictures as leverage to get the classic deal of buy a 5 grandkids photo session, get one son free. We had all the children sit a top of Billy, and covered him in a black cloth. You can't see him in the final image, but he was there, and here is the proof that there is more than meets the eye. RAP (12.24.2008)
Shortly after the session, we received a phone call indicating that calamity struck; the batch was lost by the studio. We had to gather the kids once more and do it again on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, before everyone dispersed. To make things more challenging, Ellie didn't want to leave father's arms. We used the missing pictures as leverage to get the classic deal of buy a 5 grandkids photo session, get one son free. We had all the children sit a top of Billy, and covered him in a black cloth. You can't see him in the final image, but he was there, and here is the proof that there is more than meets the eye. RAP (12.24.2008)
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Competitive Fire
The boys' basketball games are on Saturday; to get them ready I have been taking them to the gym at the Rec Center Friday nights. We practice for an hour, and then go swimming. It is very popular, and their are big bodies all over the court, so we also do drills that don't involve shooting.
I want to encourage and help Michael to run like he is capable. He has always been fast, but he has not been running with good form, and not tapping into his 5th gear. So I corrected their form and had them run a gasser. Alex won, and I wasn't going to have that, so I had them run again and again until Michael won. He had downed a bottle of water and was breathing through his mouth, which I did correct, so he was hurting. More interestingly was that Alex was struggling too, but his fire wouldn't let Michael win just to get it over with. When Michael finally won, he earned it.
RAP (12.23.2008)
I want to encourage and help Michael to run like he is capable. He has always been fast, but he has not been running with good form, and not tapping into his 5th gear. So I corrected their form and had them run a gasser. Alex won, and I wasn't going to have that, so I had them run again and again until Michael won. He had downed a bottle of water and was breathing through his mouth, which I did correct, so he was hurting. More interestingly was that Alex was struggling too, but his fire wouldn't let Michael win just to get it over with. When Michael finally won, he earned it.
RAP (12.23.2008)
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