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Coming Home
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

The boys made it home safely this week; Alex with his bears, and Michael with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (which, I would like to add, he finished on the flight). It is good to be home. Home is more than a place though, it is an idea, a state of mind. I could have taken the boys to Tae Kwon Do anywhere in America this morning, but it would not be the same. Where else could I turn on the on the radio at 9:35 am Saturday morning and be blessed with the replay of the Ohio State Miami 2003 Fiesta Bowl? Where else would I have hit the button and be popped into the the end of the first over time, and stay with it all the way to the end? It is good to be home.
RAP (8.29.2006)

We Can Be Heroes

We Can Be Heroes
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

While we were in L.A., we went to the local Science and Industry Museum to see the Science behind Marvel Heroes. It seemed to reinforce the science concepts we saw at the Star Wars science exhibit, especially the concept of magnetic levitation for Michael. Speaking of Michael, his Captain America Shirt (the one we got him for taking his super soldier shots) was a big hit; I had people ask me where they could get it for their husbands and sons.
RAP (8.23.2006)

Meet You Halfway

MeetYouHalfway
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Alex gets lots of credit for Alex-isms -- his observations of the world that are amusing, and show us a different perspective of reality. Alex does have a lot of them, but he also spends a lot more time with his mother than Michael does, which allows her to observe them and pass them on. Michael has been in school all day, so Jen does not spend as much time with, but last week while swimming Michael had a Michael-ism.

He told Jenny that it was too bad that this Hotel was not around when God was around. Jenny was confused, so Michael explained it would have been a nice place to be born. So Michael thinks that the nativity should have happened at the Ritz instead of in a barn.
RAP (8.22.2006)

Two Brothers

Two Brothers
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Jenny's Uncle Bill is a Magician, and that allows him to be a member at a club in Los Angeles named the Magic Castle. With his membership he took us to a brunch there on Sunday (children are only allowed in on Sunday). Being a fancy place, we had to dress up, and that means pictures!

Since Michael has read two Harry Potter books and is in the middle of the third this was a good time to see a magic show. The kids were very impressed with the card tricks, magic pianos and slight of hand.
RAP (8.18.2006)

Welcome To LA

WelcomeToLA
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Micheal's reading prowess continuess to increase. Last week he read "Harry Potter: The Chamber of Secrets" in a handful of days. He started it on the weekend before we left and finished all the 347 pages by Thursday. The great thing is he is now interested in another reading challenge, and was even up for "Harry Potter: The Prisoner of Azkaban," but we have decided to steer him towards something else in order to broaden his horizons. Perhaps Judy Blume's "Ramona the Pest" or "Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing". Whatever we choose I am certain he can do it.
RAPatton (8.16.2006)

Dodgers win!

Dodgers win!
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Michael loves the Dodgers, so each summer we try to attend a Dodgers game . This yearI tried to get tickets to see them defeat the nefarious Giants, but I had to settle for tickets to watch them crush the odious Rockies. After seeing the game, "settling" would be the wrong term; the Dodgers won the game at the bottom of the 9th when Kenny Lofton's double created the game winning RBI to break the 3-3 tie. What you see in this picture was the moment of jubilant celebration as the speakers blared "I love LA" and the crowd (including our guys) went wild.
RAP (8.15.2006)

Triumph

Triumph
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

I had been moving around this morning finishing packing and getting reading for work. Finally, a tad before 7, I came back out into the great room and the lights were on. I looked at the couch and their was Michael reading "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets." It is a 330 page book and he is halfway through; he only started Sunday. Jenny and I were talking last night and think that Michael might already read faster than Jenny! Not only does it do it quickly, he retains it and enjoys it!
RAP (8.14.2006)