Many of the people we know stay in a relatively small geographic area at home, and go to the same places over and over again. It is nice to enjoy a familiar place, but if you go to the same place over and over I would argue that you should explore, do new things and take in the best of the place. At least, that is what we try to do with the boys.
At the end of the year we were in Los Angeles once more, and I took the opportunity to show the boys two of its noteworthy comic shops (Secret HQ and Meltdown), its most famous record store (Amoeba) and a shop that features gluten free and gourmet churros (Xooro). I can't claim that the entire experience wasn't all new; we ended our day trip at the Santa Monica pier which we have haunted before. It may not have been new, but it was different; for the first time the boys rode the roller coaster.
RAP (1.14.2009)
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
The Happiest Place in the Orange County Metro Area
To me, going to a theme park is like stepping back in time and being young once more. After all, everyone is a kid at Disneyland! While it may make us feel young, it also offers a child a chance to feel older as they are able to participate in more of the attractions.
Michael and Alex are now of sufficient stature where they are able to ride all the rides at Disneyland, but there was one attraction that Alex was wary of: California Screamin.' It instantaneously accelerates its passengers to 55 mph and, even more daunting, has a loop to loop. Alex has never experienced a loop to loop and was skeptical to say the least. In order to save face, he claimed he might lose his glasses and that is why he should not ride it, but he eventually relented. Ironically, his glass did fall, but he caught them. In that single ride his fears evaporated, so much so he and Michael rode it until the sun set, a grand total of three times. Me, I was only able to ride it twice; I must be getting old.
RAP (1.9.2009)
Michael and Alex are now of sufficient stature where they are able to ride all the rides at Disneyland, but there was one attraction that Alex was wary of: California Screamin.' It instantaneously accelerates its passengers to 55 mph and, even more daunting, has a loop to loop. Alex has never experienced a loop to loop and was skeptical to say the least. In order to save face, he claimed he might lose his glasses and that is why he should not ride it, but he eventually relented. Ironically, his glass did fall, but he caught them. In that single ride his fears evaporated, so much so he and Michael rode it until the sun set, a grand total of three times. Me, I was only able to ride it twice; I must be getting old.
RAP (1.9.2009)
Thursday, January 8, 2009
A Vocation Vacation
Due to time constraints, and some dissatisfaction, the boys are studying religious education at home this year. We still have to follow the curriculum, fill out workbooks and do the same tasks, but now we are the boys' instructors and they do not have to show up at St. Brigid's at an appointed time each week.
Alex is our spiritual child, and we have often called him "Father Alex," so this week's lesson about "vocation" was one that we were curious about. Alex was proceeding in the lesson about vocation, which he kept reading as "vacation." He learned that it is when God calls a man to serve, and that that man must have utter obedience and take vows of chastity and poverty. Alex needed a better explanation of this, to which he was told, "No breaking the rules, no girls and no money." Without a millisecond passing, and without being queried, "Father Alex" responded "No, Thanks!"
RAP (1.8.2009)
Alex is our spiritual child, and we have often called him "Father Alex," so this week's lesson about "vocation" was one that we were curious about. Alex was proceeding in the lesson about vocation, which he kept reading as "vacation." He learned that it is when God calls a man to serve, and that that man must have utter obedience and take vows of chastity and poverty. Alex needed a better explanation of this, to which he was told, "No breaking the rules, no girls and no money." Without a millisecond passing, and without being queried, "Father Alex" responded "No, Thanks!"
RAP (1.8.2009)
Friday, December 26, 2008
Wisdom Beyond the Street
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)
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)
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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