Will They Still Love it in Late February

Counter Attack
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

As you can tell, the boys still like the snow quite a bit; of course it is the first snow of the year, which brings a smile to the faces of all but the hardest curmudgeons. The question is, will they still love it in late February? I think they will; we don't usually experience enough of it to wish it away. What is interesting is that our 6 year old's enthusiasm for snow is growing and is getting closer to that of his brother.
RAP

Smart, Sage or Mature

GQ
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Alex came to the grocery store with me Monday night when he did not want to, so I decided to reward him. I presented him a choice between a 1.99 snow globe or a candy bar. Without hesitation he said he wanted the snow globe, and without prompting he stated his reasoning; he said, "If I would have gotten the candy bar, it would have been gone as soon as I ate it, but I can have the snow globe for a long time." You could say this is a "smart" or "sage" decision, but I think a more appropriate description would be "mature."
RAP

A Dinosaur Named Sue

A Dinosaur Named Sue
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

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

You are only 6 once, and you have to make the most of it!

Six
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

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

Birthday Boy

Birthday Boy
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

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

Cleaning Up

Cleaning Up
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

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

Michigan Week 2005

Got 'Em
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

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