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Monday, June 23, 2008
June 21st-22nd 2008
This week marked Noah’s Graduation
from High School. On Wednesday morning we all left Southern Maryland to go to the ceremony. The trip was uneventful except for pockets of summer construction.
We arrived at my mother’s at 12:30 and had just enough time to change clothes and
get the kids clothes changed. We arrived out at Central Bucks East about a quarter till two
o’clock and traffic was backed up everywhere. Erin let us jump out and find a spot. We found
a good spot in the bleachers. Cinda, Noah’s aunt, then saw me and we talked for a minute. We all decided that the bleachers
were a decent vantage point of the festivities, so they joined us.
 
 
Both families showed up with my
Mom, Erin, I and the boys and also Noah’s Mom Dixie, her mother and Uncle Eric, and Uncle Bill and Aunt Cinda. Noah processed
in early behind us in the bleachers. The graduating class was over 480 kids. A plane flew over wishing congratulations to
the class of 2008. As the kids were sitting I double checked the list while the speeches were made by the best of the class
including the Valedictorian. It started to rain. The umbrellas went up everywhere
as Erin ran to the van to get ours. Before long the hot sun was back out but with more ominous darker
clouds heading in. The sun still shone when Noah accepted his diploma. It was a happy moment shared by all. Finally with 40
kids left it started pouring again. This time, Noah’s aunt shuffled most of the
family to the car, and Erin took my Mom and the boys to the van.
Dixie and I waited under umbrellas to see the end of the ceremony. It wasn’t long before the lightning created a mass exodus to the auditorium. It took about 40 minutes to
get the kids segregated from the parents. Dixie had two tickets and invited me in which I was very
appreciative of. Noah did not see us but we got to see the kids turn their tassels and throw their hats. They flew everywhere.
I caught one and handed it to one of the kids. Noah said one got stuck in the rafters of the gym. After the ceremony Dixie
and I walked out to wait for Noah. I also kept in contact via phone with Erin so we could eventually
meet up outside. By then it had stopped raining again, and the sun was out. We
took a few shots outside the school where I met a couple of Noah’s friends, Louis and Amanda.
Dixie
and her Mother had graciously invited us over for a post graduation reception. Dixie had a nice catered
spread from a local restaurant as well as a neat cake that the two little ones eyed down. We all enjoyed talking about the
graduation and Noah. Aunt Cinda helped Erin and I keep tabs on Jaxson. Eric took us all out in the
back and got some nice shots of the happy families and Noah was patient and flashed that handsome smile he has numerous times.
Also his buddy Joe and his family stopped by with a gift for Noah. It was a framed picture when they both were in second grade.
Joe was graduating from another high school that evening.
Alas we bid a most appreciative
good night. Erin and I dropped Grandmom and the boys off at her apartment. We
then went to the next town to pick up a graduation present from Sue and Perry that her niece had for Noah. They were in Hawaii.
The following morning we picked up Noah for breakfast which I had planned to be at Doylestown Inn but they no longer do breakfast.
So we ended up at the Dublin Diner and gave Noah his cards and graduation present. I also sent a Bonsai Tree to the house
as a present.
We then went back into town and
dropped Mom off and went to Fonthill to take some nice pictures of all of us. The visit was way too short but we had to work
Friday so we dropped Noah back off at his house. He will soon be taking a trip
to California with his Aunt Cinda.
We stopped back by Mom’s and loaded
up the van with toys. Mom may be moving later this summer so she is trying to downsize her current apartment.
Erin and I got through a tired
Friday settled in Friday night with a pizza dinner and just watched a bit of TV. On Saturday morning we all got a slow start
but headed to the library to get books. I had some come in from around the state. We then stopped by McKays grocery for a
few items. Upon arriving home the kids napped while Erin and attacked the long over due mowing. When
the kids woke up Erin had set the pool up for them. Liam then helped me wash the truck. It was then
that I discovered the new flapping sound that started with the truck. I will have to reseal the weather-strip on the top of
the windshield. On Saturday night we had shrimp and watched Pirates of the Caribbean with Liam. We
were not 100% positive that he could handle the scary creatures but he seemed to be okay. After the boys were in bed Erin
and I wii’ed for a bit.
 
On Sunday Erin and the boys cleaned
up the long overdue toy area and we all took turns on the slot track during the day which Liam wanted to play with. I watched
Dan Wheldon win the Iowa Indy Car race. Erin went to get her haircut. She got it short as she had been
thinking about doing that for a while. We had a nice meal with London Broil, Green Beans, and really good corn on the cob.
After dinner Erin and I watched a decent thriller called 1408. The story could have been tied up a little clearer in the end though but the real lightening and thunder out our den window
added to the spookiness.
 
This will be our last blog for a couple of weeks as we are going home home next week for a week. Dawn will be flying
in on Wednesday and Kate is also coming up too. This week Jaxson also start speech
therapy back up on Wednesday. We have the feeling Miss Penny will be quite amazed when she hears all of Jaxson’s new words.
He is doing really well. Erin started potty training him this weekend but this will take time.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Noah's Graduation!!!!!
Click this link to see the pictures!!!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Friday night was great. The weather was beautiful. We packed the lawn chairs, loaded up the wagon, threw in a bottle of
merlot and headed to St. Mary's College to watch the River Concert. We seem to ALWAYS enjoy this. It's something our little
county puts on every summer. It's amazing just how well attended this series is, and just how well its organized and presented.
The evening's theme was Celtic, but it seemed to us they threw in a little Jazz too, not that we minded. We always run into
half a dozen folks we know, and I even passed out a few biz cards to fellow babywearers. The boys were pretty good, and we
felt good about exposing them to a little culture.
 
  
We got home a little on the late side on Friday night. I didn't even bother putting the kids in pajamas, but just quickly
transported them from carseat to crib. Therefore, it is easy to understand why we slept in on Saturday. We particularly enjoyed
loafing around while we watched old cartoons on the Boomerang network. It's my new favorite way of re-living my childhood.
Russ and I seemed to enjoy the Wacky Racers and Smurfs a little more than our kids though. Figures.
We eventually HAD to venture out, however, because our cupboards were bare, and we needed to get some shrimp to take to
the Marks' house that afternoon. They had invited us for a cook-out, and we always enjoy their company, so we were happy to
bring something tastey. We got home after a large grocery shopping trip. I had just enough time to get us some lunch, and
get the kids down for a quick nap before we headed on over to Bill & Janet's house. Fortunately, they only live in the
next neighborhood South.
As expected, we had a great time with our friends. Liam and Jax were just delighted to play with Rosalia in her pools and
tent. Us "grown-ups" had some great conversation amidst some tastey food and beverages. After feasting on a fantastic dinner,
we let the kids play for a while longer, before coercing them to have a bit of a camp-out on Rosalia's bedroom floor. They
were SO tired, that it really didn't take much to get them to sleep. That allowed us to have more fun playing games on the
Wii. Around midnight, we figured we'd better gather up the youngin's and get back into our own beds. It was rather convenient
to only have about a 4 minute drive home. We really had an excellent time, and can't wait to return the invite to them!
  
  
We had high expectations on Sunday, but our two late nights just wiped us out. The boys and I made Russ some breakfast
for Father's Day. Jax mixed up the eggs, and Liam did great at making AND buttering the toast. We presented Daddy with a binder
of collage pages. The collages had pictures of him and his boys - all three of them - doing all sorts of things over the past
4 years. The rest of the day was really laid back. I managed to get the tomato plants that Janet had given me into the garden.
I am hoping the rosemary she gave me will take off as well as hers too, because it smells heavenly! I took the big dogs to
the dog park, but that was the only reason to go out. That evening, Russ enjoyed his favorite meal of crab legs. I got the
kids to bed early, and hit the hay myself at around 9:00. I heard Russ come in a bit after midnight… guess he just didn't
want his Father's Day to end!
  
This coming Wednesday we are all going to Doylestown to see NOAH GRADUATE!!!
Monday, June 9, 2008
June7th-8th 2008
It was a quiet hot hazy weekend. We didn’t
do a whole lot. On Friday night my Mom called with news of her moving for the first time in 18 years sometime this summer.
After we ate pizza and got the kids washed up and into bed, we got online and looked the apartment manor over. We called her
to talk about it. It is in New
Hope and will be smaller, but new and modern and in a semi-retirement community. We have encouraged
her to do this for a while but I guess now is the right time for her.
On Saturday I went in to work to make up
for time from the past week. I had a job offer that I finally turned down after seeing where I would work the preceding Tuesday.
I am glad I asked for the tour as it helped me make a tough decision. I knew of the place and did some work at night there
back in 2000. There are too many unfavorable politics there and I really like where I work now.
Liam tagged along with me and we stopped
and got some breakfast at Sheetz. I only had a couple of hours to put in. Afterwards Liam and I walked around in the quiet
and looked at all the Jets were I work. He loves coming in with me just for that reason. While we were up to that, Erin inspected
last years wading pool and decided it was time for a new one this year. She said they were going fast as she picked out a
nice little one. Jaxson and her got it ready.
Liam and I went to the library as I had
books in from around the state and Liam wanted to check out some new books. We had a good time. One on one time with each
of the kids is great for Erin and I to do sometimes. It helps us form bonds with the kids and give them individual attention.
After we left there Liam and I went to the grocery and got groceries for the next couple of weeks. It seems everything is
going up now days. A gallon of milk and a gallon of gas seem to be in a race.
Once home the sun was up and the heat was
on. We all spent time around that little pool all afternoon. The kids loved it and Erin and I enjoyed soaking our feet and
playing games with the kids. On Saturday afternoon we all had seafood and watched Big Brown come in last place at the Belmont.
Erin actually picked the long shot winning horse in fun. Even Liam picked a horse to win. Erin and
I watched a little TV and then I watched the late Indy Car race from Texas.
Danica did not have a great car but got a top ten. Marco almost won but wrecked at the end and Indy 500 Dixon continues to
dominate.
 
 
 
On Sunday Erin did
puzzles with Liam in the morning. It was really hot again so it was pretty much a repeat of the day before. After dinner,
Erin got the laundry around and I bathed the kids and got them ready for bed. We watched an old 1973
movie called Dillinger with Warren Oates and I read for a bit. This week is a 5 day week as we are working Friday to take
a day off the following week to attend Noah’s graduation. Where have the 18 years gone by so quickly?
 
One last note. Erin
was smart and decided to wait until after the weekend to get gas. It usually goes down. Not this weekend. $3.75 up twenty
cents to $3.95!!!!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Short, but busy weekend.
Friday Russ stayed home. He got a little work done, but was primarily staying home so that the MetroCast Digital
Cable folks could hook us up. He took the boys to daycare to keep them out of the way.
I went into work to make up a few hours.
That evening, we enjoyed perusing some of our new channels, but I was not impressed with the complicated remote!
The next morning, we all got around fairly early, but had planned to go our separate ways.
Russ and Liam headed to Waldorf to see the movie, Speed Racer. They'd planned a day around it to just spend some
nice time together.
Jaxson and I headed a bit further Northwest, to go to Frederick, MD. I was checking in with a lady who runs a sling
business called www.simplyslings.com. I am going to be an independent party consultant for her, so I wanted to attend her latest workshop and
make some purchases for a demo kit. I plan to host parties, that would promote sales and earn me a commision.
I found it all very fascinating, and even got the opportunity to help a family with 3 week old twins to sling them both at
the same time.
Even though our paths diverted, we all arrived home at about the same time in the early evening. Liam told me all
about the movie and his time with Daddy. They went to ToysRUs and even had crab at Red Lobster! Jaxson was
just glad to be out of the van. Really though, I found it nice to have a special lunch with him at McDonalds, and he
learned to socialize a little without his big brother. The day did us all good.
Sunday morning, I spent some time just playing with the boys. We ran into some trouble later that morning, when
Russ tried to watch a movie. Unfortunatley, we didn't have the correct cables to hook up our VCR/DVD to the new TV sans
the converter box for the digital cable. The frustration and irritation levels were pretty high, but Russ perservered.
Liam and I, however, abandoned ship. I planned to take him to see an Eagle Scout Ceremony. My friend Melanie, has
three great kids. He youngest and only son, had achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, and we'd been invited to his ceremony.
I thought it would be a great activity to expose Liam to, and I wanted to show my respect.
It was a very nice ceremony with great attendance. Liam was a little wiggly on my lap, but found new patience when
I reminded him of the tasty looking cake over in the corner. He asked me how many people Billy had saved in the fire
when he noticed the Firemen's helmet patch on Billy's display. Later I had him ask Billy about it, and I think Liam
was a little clearer after hearing the real ways Billy earned his patch. Learning how to put out different fires and
using a fire extinguisher might not have been as glamourous as Liam had pictured, but I still thought it was great that he
asked and gave his congratulations.
Since we had snacks after the ceremony, and I found myself quite tired after a busy weekend, it was easy to agree when
Russ offered to order a pizza.
Short and busy, but it did allow us to spend some nice one on one time with each of the boys.
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