Maria Alex

Maria Alex
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Last week, we had Maria over for a playdate. She has been pursuing a play date with Alex for quite a while, and, at last, he relented. This is a young lady who gets what she wants. The most noteworthy thing about the playdate was how Michael and Alex were competing for her attention; Jenny christened it the Maria Olympics. They boys wrestled quite a spell to impress the lady, but she also impressed them by joining in. During the playdate, Michael told Jenny that, "Maria is a fighting kind of girl." To which, Jen asked if he liked that. He responded with a big smile, "Yes!" Jenny is interested to see if this an omen of things to come.
RAP (1.15.2008)

Rose Parade

Rose Parade
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

One thing we really want to do is to have the boys help build a Rose Parade float. I think it would be a great experience that would tie them to something larger than themselves. Wherever they may be on New Years Days to come, they could see the parade on TV and know that they were part of that grand tradition. We learned that they can help under parental supervision as young as 7, but they must work at least a single four hour shift. Four hours for becoming part of the Rose Parade seems fair. RAP (1.10.2008)

Michael's Tree

Michael's Tree
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

At lunch today, Alex and I told Michael that one of the villains in his story should berate Kool Kid's trusty pet Kool Nine (He likes puns!). In a jam session, we came up with the idea that the foe should say "Why don't you have your little Kool-Eight (pun of Kool Aid) get us a drink" to which Kool Nine would respond "Arf Arf!" translated as "Oh Yeah!" The boys laughed each time I did my impression, but they said that I sounded more like Duffman than the Kool Aid pitcher guy. RAP (1.9.2008)

Bring It On

Bring It On
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Invariably, one of the highlights of the boys visits to California is playing with the Osgoods. In addition to enjoying baseball and tag, they engaged in touch football last week. Looking at the picture, you see a Michael that not many are familiar with. Perhaps he is uncomfortable being that aggressive as Michael and that is why he is wearing his Kool Kid glasses. I don't know, but is a much more intense Michael than we are used too, and that is not the end of it; this morning he asked to play tackle football. RAP (1.8.2008)

Playtime

Playtime
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

It was a good Christmas once more. In particular it was nice to share it with Jake, he is a good kid and he is just starting to get the hang of Christmas. I worry about how many more magical Christmases their will be for Michael and Alex. I think a few more, but I don't know how many more. I took lots of video this year, so there were fewer pictures than normal. Plus I need to clean the lens on the camera. I think there is some water dried on the lens and it is driving me nuts.
RAP (1.7.2008)

Zoo Crew

Zoo Crew
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

This was taken at the zoo during their winter light wonderland. It was a very busy evening at the zoo and the cars were stacked up on Riverside Drive. On the way out we even ran into the Schembechlers. However, we did not see anyone in animal costumes that evening, but if there would have been one, rest assured I would have engineered a picture with the boys. Those pictures are gold for the end of the year books and a chance to get an image of the boys with Simpsons or an oversized Koala cannot be missed! RAP (12.31.2007)

Michael And The Judges

Michael And The Judges
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Here is a picture of Michael with the judges from the writing contest; of course for his category Jenny had to recuse herself, so she was only on honorary judge for that round but he still wanted her in the picture. Despite his success, he has not been writing more prose and instead creating more issues of Kool Kid; I believe he is up to issue 18 now. On the other hand, Alex is busy typing away more adventures of "Kiddy." RAP (12.28.2007)