Good Night Message -- 6/24

Daddy got home in time to see the kids, have dinner, and hang around with the family a bit this evening. The French camp continues, for Mommy and kids alike. Combine that with a visit from a neighborhood friend, swimming, and other activities, and you get this: two tired children (and a tired off screen Mommy). I think Maddy's yawns are staged. But the sleepy eyes were not.

Too Tired. Too Much Fun.

Good Night Message -- 6/22

The kids recap the day's activities. We can do better.

The kids started their second week of French camp today. And today was Mommy's first day of lessons too! By all accounts, the camp has been a success. Based on this video, however, we might need to work on our short-term memory skills.

Bon soir! (This posted a day late due to technical difficulties. Sorry.)

Poolside (UPDATED)

Here are the first takes on the Flip.

The swimmers are progressing well. John can and does jump into the pool solo without any bouyancy assistance. And the good news is that he can (nearly) swim solo. Maddy has been swimming well for a while. Recently, she started diving. Daddy is, well, floating with vast expertise.

The slide is ingenious, not cheap.

UPDATED -- I'm still learning the best way to upload videos. Please see my complaints department with any concerns. Enjoy!

I think this is in HD. Can you handle it?

Videos and More

It's been too long since I updated the website to begin to list the many valid reasons I have for my absence. So I won't even try. The good news is that we're back. Tomorrow is Father's Day. I got a Flip camcorder, so stand by for videos.

The Flip. Too cool.

I'll do my best to limit the videos to important stuff. Like the kids in the pool. Or playing. Or pretty much anything. Enjoy!

The Boys Visit the Boys' Store.

Planespotting.

After an early trip to Pump It Up for a birthday party, John and Daddy decided to let the girls take care of themselves this evening (at a second, later birthday party at Pump It Up). We went to the Boys' Store.

For those that haven't been, every conceivable form of model vehicle resides at the Boys' Store. Helicopters buzz inside. Planes zoom outside. And, if that weren't enough, boats, cars, and trucks are also available for inspection and sale (but, please, do not touch).

We had a great time, both amazed and hopeful about the prospect of more models and fun in our future.

We call it the Boys' Store.

Read It Here First!

Boldly going where no kindergartner has gone before.

Madeline just came home with an award from her kindergarten teacher. And a new book. I like the award, but the new book really makes me proud.

All year long, Madeline has been bringing reading books home. At home she reads the book to one of us; we sign a paper to say she read it. At school, she reads the book again; a parent from school signs the paper if she reads it perfectly. All the kids do this. Those that get it down faster move on to the next books first.

The teacher uses the same books for her class that she's been using for years. And the early books in the series show their age. Each of them has been pawed, bent, and scrapped by each kindergartner over the years. Over the course of the year, the books Maddy brought home have improved in condition, reflecting progressively less and less historical circulation. And, now, she's run through them.

Madeline's certificate tells me that she's completed another series. That's great. But the brand-new book puts her achievement in perspective. She's turned into a reading machine without peer. Pretty sweet.

A Slow Day? Huh.

We're not always eggciting.

We capped off a busy day for all the members of the crew today with a quick meal. School and Chess Club for Maddy (with homework to boot). Johnny did both gymnastics and soccer practice. Mommy shepherded them along while keeping all of the moms in the St. Pat's Moms' Club on the straight and narrow. And I had another massive filing, collecting materials from all corners and getting it into shape for filing minutes before the deadline. Returning home, we were all truly done. I concede none of this is earth-shattering stuff. But it's a livin'!

Mermaid Update

The Mighty Mermaids.

Here is a picture of the Marmaids, scourge of the U6 girls' league. And a link to the team's blog. Enjoy!

Movie Date with the Crew

The Cast of Characters. Indeed.

The four of us went to see Monsters v. Aliens at Studio Movie Grill after church today. I think I laughed more than the kids!
The weather didn't give us much of a chance to be outside -- except to search for and pick up the eggs that the Easter Bunny left in the rain (silly bunny). The kids both went home completely exhausted after a very heavy weekend. They'll recover with an additional day off (not for Daddy) and be ready to go full speed ahead.

Maddy's Soccer: Mermaids!

Fernando Torres does not play for the Mermaids.

Yesterday, Maddy's soccer team -- The Mermaids -- won an all-day tournament. They went undefeated the entire day and took the U6 championship in a 4-0 victory. Madeline scored five goals over the course of the day, including one in the championship game and three in another game.

Melanie and John supported Maddy throughout the day. Daddy was able to get out of a work commitment in time to catch the bulk of the the first play-off game and all of the championship.
All the girls played their hearts out. And the parents were very proud of their Mermaids.

Inaugural Post

This has long been a plan of mine -- to reconnect with far-away family and friends through a family-run blog. I'll do my best to keep it stocked with recent materials. And I plan to get the kids involved. Hopefully, Mel will also join in. Here's hoping!

The point is that, while we are doing great here, we love and miss the family.