The Evolution of Ears

Paxton's ears are shaped totally different than Kenrick and Anthony's. In fact, they all have their own unique shape. See?

Is the distance one's ears project from the head dependant on age? It looks like it here, but I don't remember Kenrick's being pasted to the side of his noggin like Paxton's seem to be. Maybe I yanked on them too many times. Anthony's are well-shaped, not as good for yanking. Did Paxton's ears develop in defence of this environment? Did his older brothers somehow tip him off about Daddy's tendancy to use the ear flaps for grab handles? I don't know.

He'll be more aerodynamic anyway.

One Month Birthday

Paxton is officially one month old today!



Most of that month has been spent looking like this:


No, really he's been a pretty happy boy. We've had lots of this:


and, of course, this:


Awww, isn't he cute? We think so too.

How do you make a snowman

1. You make a snow ball.

2. You roll it until it is big.

3. You make anuthr snow ball.

4. You roll it until it is midl sisd.

5. You make anuthr snow ball.

6. You roll it until the snow ball is as big as your hed.

7. You put a cerit and two roke's for the eyes.

Kenrick

Winter Wonderland 2 (Update)

Added some photos, take a look.

Ribs You Can Stick To

This evening we stopped for a bite to eat at the newest barbeque joint in Peoria, a little cafeteria-style Texas meat mixer called Hickory River Smokehouse. Goooood. This is actually the third time I've been there and haven't had a chance to write about it yet, but this time I tried their ribs and couldn't keep quiet any longer. Wow.



The ambience is a bit sparse, just some tables set in an open rectangular room with flat panel TV's hanging along the outside walls. The tables have paper towel holders like Famouse Dave's, and there's a small condiment bar along the inside wall, but not much else gets in the way of the meat. And that meat - bird, beef, pork, all smoked - is fabulous. The brisket has a light but definite smoke flavor, very tender, the turkey is great, and the ribs were perfect. All of the meat is served bare, no sauce. You get a choice of a mild or a hot sauce (or a mix of the two) either over the meat or on the side. We haven't tried the hot sauce yet, but the mild is very flavorful and the mix is, well, hot! Finally, the sides go well with the meat. Standard Texas stuff -beans, slaw, potato salad, corn bread - but all a little unique and so far all good.



I'll go back again.



Here's a map.

View Larger Map

New Shoes for the Ram

Last week I had to accept the inevidable and finally replace the tires on my truck. The choice was accelerated a bit by at least one out-of-round tire that was making us hop down the road like jackrabbit on speed, but I did have 75,000 miles on the originals. (Which is a lot for you non-automotive folks out there.)



I picked up a set of Goodyear Fortera Triple Tred 185/50R20's for a pretty decent price (relatively speaking) and am really happy with them so far. We've got the same tread pattern on the car and they've been really solid in the rain and muck so I'm expecing the same on the truck. We've gotten a few chances to try them out in the snow lately, so far so good.



Anyway, take a look. Pretty wide huh? A little lower than the originals, but not too much even though I went from a 60-series to a 50-series. These pictures from our aformentioned camping trip last weekend.

Winter Wonderland 2

Last Wednesday night after hearing that a snowstorm was heading our way I was thinking about hot chocolate and my nice warm bed when Eldon called. Turns out he'd heard about the snowstorm and was thinking about camping. Naturally. "This is about as good as it gets," he proclaimed and I could tell he already had is new sleeping bag packed and the deer steaks marinating in his Secret Sauce. Thus began the Second Annual Southern Illinois Semi-Epic Winter Camping Trip.



Before all you responsible-type people out there get too worked up about me leaving Andrea to fend for herself with new baby and all, be assured that I didn't commit to going with Eldon and crew right away. But Andrea assured me that she would be fine (even though she probably meant that she thought I had rocks in my head) and so after much deliberation I confirmed that I do have rocks in my head and decided to venture out again this year. This time, I'd take Kenrick along - partly to help ease the load on Andrea, mostly because I thought he'd really enjoy it. Also, my buddy Don was planning on going and if he was going, well, I couldn't just stay home, could I?



So anyway, by 5:00 Friday afternoon the Kenrick, Don, and I piled into the truck with half a ton of camping gear, clothes, sleeping pads, bags, and rations, and - feeling very manly - headed south into the snowy and treacherous wilderness. We pulled in to Robert's farm at about 7:30 to find the rest of the crew sitting on straw bales around a blazing fire in a snowy little gully just down from a corn field. Perfect.



Supper was taters and beans with deer steaks courtesy of Eldon and Kyle. And hot chocolate. The temperature dropped to the low twenty's. Perfect.



Kenrick and I set up my little tent and spread out our foam pads and sleeping bags. It was getting pretty late and he was starting to drag a bit so I stuffed him in his mummy bag clothes, coat, and all, and cinched it up tight. He was asleep before I left the tent. Everyone else made various beds under the stars; Bruce's clan and Robert made a big platform of straw bales, Kyle and Doug and Don found flat spots on the snow to lay down foam pads, and Eldon filled a ditch with straw. Everyone wrapped tarps around their sleeping bags and drifted off to the call of the coyotes. Perfect.



Kenrick didn't wake up until 7:00. I woke up a few times, but more from discomfort that cold. We stayed warm and dry in the tent, but I learned that the snow doesn't make the best of surfaces to lay on, even with a foam pad.



Breakfast was bacon and eggs courtesy of Bruce and his daughter Elissa (sp?). And hot chocolate. I brought my old coffee percolator (I think it used to be dad and mom's) and brewed up a fine tasting batch of java. Topping it all off with one of Don's hobo pies made it, well, perfect.



Kenrick enjoyed following the deer trails through the woods and even found some turkey tracks with Kyle. There was about nine inches of snow on the ground, and the trails were pretty fresh.



Here's a few pictures from Bruce and Don.

First order of business: supper. Eldon presides over taters, beans, and deer steaks. It's getting a bit late and Kenrick's about down for the count.

A good view of the full buffet.

Emily tucks in

The next morning, Doug wakes up to find that someone's taken his house and bed and left him out in the cold. Am I alive?

Getting the coffee going. Kenrick looks like he needs some.

Breakfast, courtesy of Bruce and gang. Bacon, eggs, hobo pies. In that order.

Happy 1/26th Birthday Paxton

On Saturday Paxton celebrated being alive for two whole weeks. Just imagine all that he's had to learn in those two week and what he's experienced for the first time. Let's ask him.



"Paxton, you've been around for a while now, can you tell us a little bit about your experience?"



"Well, learning to breathe was big. That was a big step. I learned you have to breathe to cry, and crying seems to make things happen. And eating. I'm really enjoying eating right now. Sometimes my stomach feels a little funny. There's lots of other things too. All the lights and noises and stuff are like, wow, what's going on you know? I'm not sure what to think of all that. Oh, and I got to meet my big brothers. They're cool. One of them likes to hold me and the other just likes to give me kisses.



"So yeah, it's going all right. It's hard to believe two weeks has passed already. I've probably got a few more things to learn, but I figure if I've made it this far I'll probably survive, you know?

Frizzen

I don't know if you've noticed the little weather thingy down at the bottom right side of our blog, but right now it says minus one degrees F. We seem to be in the middle of some wild temperature swings that have taken us from 35 to -12 in the last couple of days. Proof? Andrea snapped this from the car thermometer this morning.

That's squeaky-snow cold. Hands-numb-on-the-steering-wheel, car-doors-don't-work, eardrums-seizing-up-because-you-forgot-your-hat cold. Booger-freezing-in-your-nose cold. You get the picture. Fortunately, as is typical in our neck of the woods, if you don't like the weather just wait an hour or so. Or a day. It's supposed to be in the 20's tomorrow and the mid 40's by Monday. Weird.

Holding Paxton

Little Paxton is officially one week old. He's spent much of his short life being held and squeezed and passed from family to friend to family, examined and kissed and comforted. Generally, the consensus has been favorable.



In order of appearance: Grandpa Steve, Leann, Marina, Grandpa Scott and Grandma Linda, Trevon, and, of course, Anthony.

Paxton Pics

Welcome to the world little guy. This is your mama...


and this is your papa.


Kenrick and Anthony got a chance to hold little brother when he was just a few hours old. They're very excited to have him, but are wondering when he'll be able to play.

Grandma gets a quick peek at the little bundle and declares him fit to keep.


Day Two and it's time for Mr. Bobblehead to go home.


The car seat seems big enough.

Mom, her three boys, and a temporary pause in Pandemonium. Let the adventure begin!

Hooray!

The Day has finally arrived!



Announcing:

Paxton Robert

8.5 lb 21 in

1/12/2008 5:45 PM

Mom and baby are doing just fine. More pictures to come.

Anticipation

Would you rather look forward to something that you know will happen, but you don't know when, or dread an event, like public speaking, that has a set date but uncertain outcome? I think waiting for this baby is going to drive us bonkers.



Yesterday the doctor suggested that, while the baby looks fine, it may be time to help things along, call me in the morning with your decision. Yes, it's time. We called. The hospital is full. We're fifth in line, scheduled for tomorrow morning at the earliest. Aaaaaargh!

Happy You Near

I realized the other day that my last post was in December and that I hadn't put anything up yet this year, so here it is - the first post of 2008.



First of all, happy new year. Hope this one is twice as good as the last one, and at least as long.



Second, no baby yet. As most of you know, we're expecting our third little tornado. Today is Due Date Plus 6 and counting.



Some of you know my sister and her husband are embarking on an epic adventure into South America, starting today (hopefully). They've requested that their blog account of the trip be kept semi-private, so as much as I'd like to pass along the address I'm bound by blood and sinister oaths of secrecy to only comment "They're doing fine." Good luck Sal, we're thinking about you.



All of you know that my brother Spam is a slacker and needs a good kick in his creative posterior for not posting anything for a month.



As I'm writing this, Ohio State is licking its wounds in the locker room after self-destructing in the first half of the national championship game. Come on Buckeyes, show the world what the Big Ten is made of! (But not like Illinois showed them. Or Wisconsin. Or Indiana. Or Michigan State.) Okay, just make it interesting.



I didn't post a year-end wrap-up. If you want to know what happened to us last year go back and read the posts yourself.



Finally, we're looking forward to much excitement and many adventures this coming year. Check in often. Only leave good comments.