Buddies

Anya and Mouse the cat are best buddies. I caught them sharing a rare quite moment this morning while I was working on the new sand box.

Dinosaurs

Yesterday the boys and I rode the train into Chicago and spent the day at the Field Museum. Andrea wanted to do some shopping around Naperville, so we drove up Thursday night and caught the Metra there, then hopped on the 'school bus' for the quick trip from Union Station to the museum campus.

The Field Museum is a monstrous, stately old building full of intrigue, mystery and, well, history.

One of the most anticipated pieces of history was Sue, the museum's star attraction as the largest, most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex ever discovered. She never fails to impress.

The dinosaur bones are truly amazing. I'm not sure if Paxton is so amazed, or just ready to get back on the train.

The 3D movie about Sue was quite impressive, although too scary for Paxton. He didn't like the animated dinosaurs stomping around and roaring at him.

Walk like an Egyptian.

 Tired boys. Paxton's shirt kind of matches the tiger stripes, huh?

It was a beautiful day.

Paxton Ponders

Paxton had a riddle for me this morning.

"Dad?" he said, "what comes with wrong feets?"

"What, Paxton?"

"Shoes!"

Four-Eyes

Like my new specs?

Here comes the dismount...

It's been a clean routine on the low swings so far and if Anthony can stick the landing he'll have the lead for sure. Here comes the dismount. The crowd holds their breath! Here he goes...

Wait.

He forgot to let go.

He's down. Oh boy, the judges are really going to penalize him for that. Too bad. Better luck next time I guess; he seems to be taking it pretty well, but that had to hurt, huh?

The Baby Turns Two

Our little Anya is two. Paxton still calls her the 'baby,' and I suppose in some ways she always will be, but she's quickly blasting past the toddler stage into full-blown, rambunctious, mischievous little-girl-hood. Right now she's supposed to be asleep, but I hear her singing to herself in her crib. She'll soon be out of her room, sneaking quietly up behind me for the fifth time tonight, blanket in hand and thumb in her mouth and big blue eyes looking up all sweet and innocent like maybe this time I really didn't mean it when I said it was time for bed.

She loves to sing. Lately it's been "Happy Birthday" and "Baa, Baa Black Sheep" mixed liberally with phrases and tunes from "Twinkly Star", and "A, B, C, D" and "We Will Rock You."

She was very excited to finally get to sing "Happy Birthday" to herself after watching her brother's take their turns in January and February. Her buddies Gwendolyn and Samuel and Adrian came over to help celebrate. Chaos ensued.

Which candle do I blow out first?

This look says "I just stuck my finger in my ice-cream cake and there's nothing you can do about it!"

Andrea found a cute little kitchen set and stocked it with dishes and play food. Anya was delighted. Yes, that's a Home Depot carpentry apron hanging on the side - maybe next year I'll get her a woodworking bench.

Happy birthday to meee!

Eleven Years of Monkey Business

Kenrick turned eleven last month. There's not much to say but wow, where did this big kid come from and what's he done with our little bug?

Andrea and the two littles weren't back from Idaho yet on his actual birthday, so we opened a consolation present and decided to postpone the party for a few days. Some consolation huh? I know, I know, Lego's again! But if it still works why fix it?

When Mommy finally got home we had a Birthday supper and a quiet little celebration. What's for supper? Grilled shrimp, rice, and fruit salad. Yum!

The Crew, all back together again. I'm not sure what Paxton is doing.

Happy Birthday tooo yooo...! How about a Key Lime pie for a birthday cake? Andrea ran out of green frosting for the letters, so even the words on the cake are a bit unconventional. Oh well...

Kinda cool to have your very own name on a shirt, huh?

So, our little Kenrick is growing up, stretching out, and as silly as ever. He's a great big brother and a smart, talented, helpful, and energetic little boy. We love you buddy, Happy Birthday.

Agony

Agony is seeing your wife's smiling face stuck to a map in Rawlins, WY, eight zillion miles from my smiling face in the middle of Illinois and knowing that she's got some tricky driving ahead of her before that gap starts to close.

Andrea has been in Idaho with her parents for the last couple weeks. She started back yesterday morning but only got as far as Rawlins and had to stop because the interstate was closed. We didn't know for sure when or if it would open back up again today because more bad weather was predicted for that stretch through Elk Mountain all the way to Cheyenne, but by about 8:00 this morning the WYDOT web site reported an open eastbound so Andrea tossed the kids in the van and burned rubber. She's on the road again now. I've got my fingers crossed.

A Big Bucket

This afternoon as we were getting in the truck to go somewhere, Anthony said "I wish I had a big bucket of Things That Are Okay To Throw Out The Window."

Me too, Anthony. Me too.

Paxton Turns 4

So, all six of our birthdays are clumped up into the first five months of the year. Paxton's is first. Do you know what the worst part of having your birthday first is? By the time everyone else has had their birthday, you can't remember when your own was and you have to wait so very long until it comes around again. Seriously, Paxton has been anticipating this one since June.

One of his very specific requests for the last couple of months has been for a "race car cake". A red one. Andrea happened to have a car cake mold handy and, as usual, did a great job decorating it. The big day can finally be described in a time frame an almost-four-year-old can understand! Paxton's so excited he can hardly see straight. Anya just wants to get her finger in the icing.

We surprised the Birthday Boy with a ceiling full of balloons when he woke up in the morning. He was predictably delighted.

Andrea generally lets the kids pick out their Birthday Menu. Paxton picked taco pie, fruit salsa with cinnamon chips, smoothies, and brussel sprouts!

Any doubts about how old this little boy is? Anya the Imitator thinks she knows too.

 Time for presents. I wonder if he know his piggy bank isn't full of money yet?

Opening presents in the Pandemonium House is a group effort.

Maybe if you smile long enough your face will stick that way. Happy number four little buddy!

Finger Rock Trail

How to spend a free Saturday in Tucson, Arizona? How about a nice little hike? Sounds good.

There's a trail just north of Tucson that I hiked with a friend from work when we were here in May that has been a source of embarrassment for me because we got lost and didn't get to do much of the actual trail. I figured today would be a chance at redemption.

The Finger Rock Trail starts at the base of the Santa Catalina's on the edge of Tucson and climbs over 3500 feet in 3.4 miles to the top of a stack of rocks overlooking the city and the desert beyond.

Here I am at the trail head, happily oblivious of the challenge ahead.

See the little finger of rock in the gap between the two larger outcroppings? That's Finger Rock. See the stack of rocks to the right of it? That's where the trail ends.

It was a little harder hike than I anticipated, but I made it. How could I not?

It took me 6.5 hours. I'm going to be sore in the morning. If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend it.

Here's a link to a few more pictures: Finger Rock Trail 2012

Clowns

Andrea was trying to get the kids to smile nicely for a group picture. They wouldn't cooperate, so she told them to look silly instead. Success. Made me smile :-)

Budding Artist

A while back Kenrick's Art teacher submitted one of his creations to be considered for showing at a children's exhibit at a little gallery in Decatur. His piece was selected to be shown - one of a hundred out of four hundred entries - so this afternoon we went to the presentation of the awards and watched Kenrick pick up his second-place red ribbon!

The gallery, with all the kids and parents waiting anxiously for the ceremony to get started. Kenrick's is the yellow piece standing on the pedestal in the corner.

 The proud artist with his Tropical Fish Triptych.

Mixed Measurement

The other day Anya was on the bed with her stacking dolls, very carefully taking them apart and then fitting them back together. Paxton bounded into the room and hopped up on to the bed, brandishing a little stopwatch that he'd been playing with. "Okay Anya," he declared, "let's time you! How long does it take to put your dolls together?"
She started. He clicked the button.
When she finished, Paxton held the watch high. "Good job, Anya!" he said looking carefully at the numbers, "fourteen pounds!"
Andrea about fell off the bed.
They did it again.
"Two pound-animals!"
Is that better?
"Mommy?" Paxton asked, very seriously, "How do you stop this thing?"