Two Weeks Off

I know it doesn't look like it, but I actually took two weeks off from blogging earlier this month. I can't say it was something that I planned, it just worked out that way. It was the end of the semester for me and it seemed like every free moment on the computer was spent grading some type of assignment. I didn't even keep up with fantasy sports very well. Still, my hiatus made me think about the role the Internet and blogging plays in my life.

In the past year I've created accounts all over the web - facebook, twitter, flickr, and other social networking sites, but blogging has always been my favorite medium of communication. I think I like sharing my real thoughts without being limited to 140 characters or trying to impress someone with a clever little one-line synopsis of my life. I'm not saying I don't like those other services, but blogging has helped me find a voice, my voice.

I say that I use this blog as an online journal, a place to record the goings-on in our lives. Still, I find that I like to share more than just videos and images about our family. Sometimes I feel I get sucked into the minutia of the "brag blog" where we simply detail some major accomplishment by a child or even the minor accomplishments of Tara and me. I'm not saying those posts aren't important, but I don't want to look for reasons to blog. You know the events that I take the camera to, just on the off chance I will have something to write about. If something is important to us, it will make the blog (even if there isn't a picture, gasp).

So why am I sharing all this - I don't know, but I keep coming back to a central idea, this is my blog and I share what I want, when I want.

Kennedy's Preschool

Kennedy had her last day of preschool today and I have to say it was a bit emotional. Her teachers are so sweet and have made her class so much fun. Kennedy has absolutely loved preschool this year.

Kennedy's teachers are amazing. Laura and Trisha have been so cute with Kennedy and even with Alex and Dylan. We hope that the boys can get in their class when it's their turn for preschool. It's fun to see Kennedy go to class each day and not even hesitate to go through the door. Her teachers always give her big hugs and make her feel so welcome. We will miss them!

Kennedy brings home great little crafts and art projects each day, and constantly talks about school. She asks me at night when she gets to go to school again and if I say "tomorrow morning", she reminds me to make sure I wake her up so she won't miss class. It's fun to see her so interested in school and having so much fun. We'll see if she keeps that attitude when she starts bringing home homework in a couple of years!

Here's a few pictures of a field trip that Kennedy's class took to Fairmont Park last week.



The kids made little boats and decorated them and them watched them float down a little stream. Kennedy had so much fun with her boat and Alex joined in by floating his basketball down the stream as well.


Dylan just hung out with the crew and was a good little boy, as always!


In the past couple of week, the class has also been to the zoo, Wheeler Farm and had a fun water day. Kennedy has had an awesome experience in preschool, so Laura and Trisha, thanks for your hard work and thanks for making it such a fun year!

Kennedy's Big Dance Recital

Kennedy ended her year of dance with a final recital last Saturday. After a couple of months of debating whether she liked dance or not, she finally decided that it is okay and she might want to sign up next fall. I think she mostly likes to be on the big stage, performing for an audience. Kennedy and her class did a great job on their little dance.


Here's a cute video of the dance. Kennedy is the tallest dancer, of course. I'm sure I'm a little prejudiced, but I think she did a great job!

Deja Vu- All Over Again

On Wednesday night I received a phone call from Tara telling me that the Xterra died on her as she drove the .5 mile from the Rec to our house.

"What do you mean it died? This is the car we just dumped a bunch of money into last month."

"I mean, it quit on me as I was driving down Highland Drive. I was lucky to coast into a driveway along side the road."

I piled the kids into the van and we went out to rescue Tara from the broken down SUV. Sure enough the vehicle we put a new fuel pump into 6 months ago was dead. The battery turned over, the starter was working, but nothing was happening. I pushed the car into the parking lot and headed back to the Rec to finish work for the night.

As amazing as this is to me, the Xterra needed to go back to the mechanics. The car that traveled a total of 4 miles in the past two weeks needed another $200 repair. This time is wasn't the fuel pump, but rather a type of mounting bracket that connected to the fuel pump.

I can't believe the last 6 months with this vehicle. Since we decided we were going to buy a new car we've had to put over $2500 into the SUV that sits in the carport 98% of the time. We're almost like the little old lady that simply drives her car to church and back. Well, with the amount of money I've put into the Xterra each time I drive it for the next year will be worth about $30 a trip. Great.....

Toadally Frogs

It seems like we've been making more an effort to take the kids out this month to see some different places. Today Tara brought the kids up to campus and we headed over to the Museum of Natural History. I know, museums and kids usually don't mix very well, but the new exhibit was all about frogs and we knew Kennedy and Alex would love it.

The exhibit was pretty cool. The kids saw several different toads and frogs. Some that I'd seen before, but most that were new to me. I thought one of the best displays was a tank that allowed the kids to go inside the middle of it and look around. Kennedy thought it was crazy.

Once we'd finished with the frogs we searched through the rest of the museum to see what we could see. There were all kinds of displays on wildlife and local animals. There was a room full of bugs that delighted the kids and freaked the moms out. Spiders aren't Tara's favorite and there were plenty to observe, although I don't think she looked for them very hard.

My favorite part of the museum was turning the corner to enter the dinosaur exhibit. Alex is totally into all things dinosaur and I knew this would blow his mind. He was a little scared at first because he thought they were real. After realizing that it was all "fake" he quickly warmed up and went from display to display making his dinosaur growl and saying, "big dinosaur."

It was great to have Tara and the kids come up to the U to see me. It was even better to take a couple hours off and spend some time with my family. It was toadally worth it....

Dylan's Big Smile

Lately, I've been trying to get Dylan to smile as much as possible. He is such a sweet kid and his smile melts your heart. Sometimes he is quick with a grin, other times he needs to have a little encouragement. In this video I'm not sure if he's smiling or has gas. Either way I'll take it.

For Mommy

This year I really wanted to get the kids involved in Mother's Day presents. They are old enough now that they should have some say in what they want to give their mommy. We talked about it a few days ago and Dede decided that Mommy needed some new slippers. So off we went to Target to find some slippers. We found some slippers, but lost Alex (only for a minute), went to the potty twice (once was a false alarm), and stopped by the candy isle for a quick treat. I think the kids knew they were with a rookie shopper.

The other major present was of the home made variety. Rather than buy Tara a bunch of stuff she may or may not want I decided to make something that she may or may want. We made a little movie of our family - Best of, So Far. My favorite part of the movie is the voiceover work by Kennedy and Alex. Each of them took a turn narrating their part of the movie and telling their mommy how much she means to them. Happy Mother's Day Tara....

Click To Play

Under the Sea

For the past few weeks we've been looking to take the kids to the planetarium to see one of their 3D movies. I knew that Alex would really like it if we rode Trax, so he could say he was on the train. Now, I don't mind Trax, but a stroller on Trax is never easy. Still, it was for the kids. So, we packed up the kids, added a few cousins and grandparents, and off we went on a downtown adventure.

If you haven't been to the planetarium lately, it is really fun. We got there about an hour before the movie started and no one cared. They played on all the different exhibits which included the moon and mars scapes and everyone loved the weather station where they could see themselves on TV. We even piled everyone on the giant scale to test our weight on other planets. Funny, but we didn't take a picture of that one! Still, it was fun to watch the kids as they just kept running from station to station to see the cool stuff.


The movie we saw was called Under the Sea, about a 45 minute show detailing life along the Great Barrier Reef. It was awesome! The 3D allowed the kids to get up close and personal with all the different creatures and plants along the ocean floor. For Alex it was his first 3D experience and he kept reaching out to touch the "fishies". Once he couldn't grab them he kept taking off his glasses to figure out what was wrong...

Two big thumbs up from our family about the Clark Planetarium and Under the Sea.

In the Doghouse

A couple of days ago we got into an interesting discussion in the office. The topic: Mother's Day. I was curious what a man's obligations are for Mother's Day. I know I'm going to help the kids buy a present for Tara, I'm going to buy a present for my mom, but how many other presents do I need to buy?

"You should only help your kids buy their mom a present," came the first response. One guy said that he buys a present for his wife from each of his children and then he buys a present from him. Another said that I need to buy three presents, two for Tara - one from me and one from the kids, and one for my mom. He then added, "What are you doing for your mother-in-law?" What?! I have never bought my mother-in-law a present. It's not that I don't care about her. It's just - she's not my mother. I let Tara take care of that one. Is this wrong? Should I be buying a present for my Mother-in Law? After all, she's directly responsible for Tara.

I still haven't figured out the proper etiquette on Mother's Day presents. I just want to make the day a nice one for Tara, my mom, and yes - my mother-in-law. If all the women in my life have a great Sunday perhaps I can avoid the doghouse.

It's the Dreaded RSV

We made it through the first two babies without having to deal with RSV. Unfortunately, Dylan now has two older siblings who are both kinda sick and neither is very good at covering their mouths when they cough. This led to Dylan getting a "cold" at the end of last week. No big deal we thought, "We've had kids with colds before." Still, a couple of days passed and Dylan wasn't getting any better. We decided it was time for a trip to the InstaCare.

After a few minutes with the doctor the diagnosis wasn't a cold, it was RSV. "Your son is going to need to go to Primary's, immediately!" This wasn't a suggestion, it was an order. In fact, the doctor wanted Dylan to go to the hospital in an ambulance. Fortunately, Tara talked him into letting her drive to Primary's - saving us the $200 buck an ER ride in the ambulance would have cost.

We've never taken a child to the ER before. Truthfully, beyond the occasional cold, our kids have been incredibly healthy. It's a different experience to have to sit on the sidelines and watch doctors shove tubes down your baby's throat. It was the only way to clear out his lungs and help him breathe. Even though it makes sense, it doesn't make it any easier to watch.

After a few hours Dylan was back home and sleeping. His cold still isn't completely gone, but we've been a lot better at sucking out the mucus and he's breathing a lot better. Now, we just need to convince Alex not to "share the love" with Dylan in the form of a snotty, wet kiss...

5 Things I Never thought I'd Say

I love the way this minivan handles.

Just spit it out into my hand.

I'd love some more asparagus (insert most vegetables here).

Does this smell like poo?

I'm kinda tired. Can we just go to sleep?