Live it Up

At nearly 11 years old, Sophie has reached that age in life where you just start to do whatever is left on your bucket list. Walk to the playground and slide down the slide? Check.

Full Circle

Thanks to Nintendo recycling their classics with their new mini system, I feel like my childhood has come full circle.  Hearing the Super Mario music in the background as Everett tries to save the princess brings back a certain nostalgia that is hard to describe.  It's even got Meggan back in the act....

Friendly Request

Children, or possibly Teddy, please do not place stuffed animals on Sophie while she is sleeping. For some weird reason, anything like that freezes her and she won't move until it is off....as evidenced tonight....for the entirety of bath time.....

Forever Young

In honor of my favorite little girl in the world turning 8....




May the good Lord be with you
Down every road you roam
And may sunshine and happiness
surround you when you're far from home
And may you grow to be proud
Dignified and true
And do unto others
As you'd have done to you
Be courageous and be brave
And in my heart you'll always stay
Forever Young, Forever Young
Forever Young, Forever Young

May good fortune be with you
May your guiding light be strong
Build a stairway to heaven
with a prince or a vagabond

And may you never love in vain
and in my heart you will remain
Forever Young, Forever Young
Forever Young, Forever Young
Forever Young
Forever Young

And when you finally fly away
I'll be hoping that I served you well
For all the wisdom of a lifetime
No one can ever tell

But whatever road you choose
I'm right behind you, win or lose
Forever Young, Forever Young
Forever Young ,Forever Young
Forever Young, Forever Young
For, Forever Young, Forever Young

Worth 1,000 Words

This picture speaks volumes about the youngsters in my house....

Amelia is engrossed in a TV show, but still slightly bored. Teddy doesn't realize he's a small horse or that there is a person underneath him. Everett is all smiles and knows where the camera is.   

What I Can Show

Here are the pics I can show from our trip.  Items not pictured mostly involve Everett wrecking a hotel room like a rock star...and by rock star, I mean covered in candy wrappers and wearing only underwear.

Checking out the view...

 Riding the trolley to the ice cream shop....

Building with blocks ....

Taking advantage of room service...

Unscathed

Everett and I made it back home from our wild night.  I'll post some pictures tomorrow, but for now, I'll say it doesn't matter how much money you spend on a room.  It doesn't matter how cool a trolley ride is. It doesn't even matter that you "sneak" downstairs to buy gummi bears past your bedtime....for a kid, nothing beats jumping up and down on a hotel bed.

Manly Men

Everett and I are about to embark on our first annual Men's Day. We have a hotel room booked 20 floors above the city. We have a trolley ride to go get ice cream. We have an indoor pool. We have the Lego Batman movie to go watch. We have room service in speed dial. Today, rules are optional. Diet is optional. Sleep is optional. We are guided only by fun. Please send bail money.

Team Player

Teddy is finally starting to earn his keep around here.  I don't know how we did dishes before we had him to help us clean the hard to reach places...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Since tomorrow is Valentine's Day, I figured there is no better way to start it off than a public love letter to my wife...


Meggan, when it comes to you, Valentine's Day is a redundant gesture.  It's laughable to think I could fully express my love for you in a single day.  You're at the forefront of my mind every waking moment.  You somehow manage to be the foundation for my life and the inspiration for my wildest dreams.  From very early on in our relationship, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you.  I'm sure it seemed foolish to some at the time.  In hindsight, I was just foolish to think I had an understanding of how incredible it would be. You're not only a wonderful wife to me, but you're the mother every child deserves to have.  Amelia has a shining example of how to be a woman and Everett gets a daily view of the caliber of wife he can hope to find one day.  As with every area of your life, you've set a very high bar in this marriage...a bar I intend to happily pursue until my dying breath. Happy Valentine's Day to the love of my life.

Randall

Two for One

Somebody get the crime tape, our house was the scene of a double homicide.  Unfortunately, I didn't catch any of the action.  That said, after gathering clues, I have two prime suspects in custody...

 Two innocent lives cut short....

Suspect 1- The Caramel Killer

 Suspect 2- Santa's Little Yelper

Coach 'em Up

Everett is starting to enjoy basketball, but he's always been a fan of wrestling. Thanks to Coach Luke being a good sport, he got to enjoy both last night...


Those two white sticks are also known as Everett's legs....

A Tiny Bit Bigger

I can't tell, but it looks like Teddy has grown a little bit in the few months since we brought him home...

The ride home with him...

How he looks today...

On the bright side, he's now big enough to drive Amelia to school...

Good Day

Everett's day included sleeping in, scoring a team high 4 baskets in his basketball game, riding the train uptown to get lunch and milkshakes, going to his best friends camping themed birthday party, and getting to have a sleepover after the party.... THAT is how you do a Saturday.

Love Note

Everett knows his big sister's birthday is in February.  He just doesn't differentiate between February 1st and February 23rd.  Either way, this is the sweetest note in the world....