Dad Stories

This is so true of todays generation…

2011-09-20T17:05:00.001-05:00

Beat-up!

2011-09-10T10:27:00.001-05:00

My little Joshua got into a fight with a sidewalk yesterday and it was heart breaking. We had just seen Zoo Keeper which was better then I expected but that is another story and were outside playing when I heard a blood curtailing scream from my little guy. I don’t usually run to him every time he cries but this was different so I went running. Good thing my friend Kevin was at hand because he had a first aid kit with him so I was able to patch him up. Very sad to see your kid in pain and bleeding. Hope this pic is not too gory for you all but had to post….

Just make one

2011-07-28T21:56:00.001-05:00

Alex has been dropping the DS play system hint for most of the summer for his Birthday. I for one loth the idea of my child being one of those kids who plays games all his life and eats and sleeps technology. I feel that if we get him one it will be a hard train to slow and we also know that his little brother will want one as well so that will be another fight to stave off. Oh the joys of parenting. Anyway I did find this pleasing that he decided to build his own out of Legos and thought I would share his creation. It is pretty cool actually and very detailed for a 6 yr old. He also said he was going to write a story about it in the morning.

Getting close

2011-07-27T20:22:00.001-05:00

The end of July is near and that always signals our wedding anniversary. This year it will be 12 years since we stood at the alter and gave our vows to one another. Still haven't decided what to do for it but it does look like it will be crazy hot just as it was on our wedding day. We did a boat dinner cruse one year and that was a lot of fun so maybe again.

The Heat

2011-07-24T16:15:00.001-05:00

The weather around here has been brutal as was most of the country the last couple of days or so. So what we did to beat the heat was to stay inside and feel blessed to have air-conditioning. The pool has been a great spot to hang out at this summer but lately even that has been to hot to go to. Crazy to think that it is too hot to go to the pool but with the air quality in the red zone we really had no choice if we want to be healthy. Its going to get cooler this week and we hope to continue are pool outings and summer cookouts. Next week the guys are at Bible camp with our church so that will be a nice little break for me to hit the gym again and some much needed me time. We are having a great summer and hope you are as well.

WV Trip

2011-07-07T09:15:00.001-05:00

On a whim we decided to go to the Canaan Valley in West Virginia. It was going to be a very hot weekend to be in the DC area so we decided to go and explore the mountains. The drive was very scenic and went fast so the boys were in good spirits mostly and those of you with kids get the idea. I took lots of pic for you all to enjoy. We are having a great summer and hope everyone else is too.

W.V. trip

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Horse Ride

2011-04-11T08:57:00.002-05:00

It is nice to have friends in cool places such as my friend Kara. She is an old friend of mine and she invited my family to her Horse farm out in the beautiful Va country side. Alex and Joshua were all keyed up to go as we had to cancel our first attempt due to a sick kiddo. So with that the boys were bouncing off the walls to go and be like a real cowboy. Even my beautiful wonderful wify got to go for a ride on Pewter which is a really nice gentle horse. Alex was a bit nervous but got on first and seemed to love every minute of it. Joshua was next and he too was a bit nervous at first but then had a really good time. The boys were a bit taken back as to the size of a real horse so it was really good to get them exposed to them up close. Kara has a really fine facility that she runs and it was a real treat to go and see it all. The kids have lots to tell their friends as many of their friends don’t get a chance to ride a full size horse. Here are a few pics of the outing.

Horse ride

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Bullying Prevention

2011-03-10T14:45:00.001-05:00

Presidents Program

2011-02-25T12:03:00.001-05:00

Alex has been working on his presentation for a month now along with his fellow classmates and this was the big day to talk in front of the whole kindergarten class. He was president Zachary Taylor the 12th one of the United States. His speech went like this “ My name is Zachary Taylor and I am the 12th president. The California gold rush happened while I was president. My nickname is “Rough and Ready”” All the kids did well and only one little girl had trouble remembering her speech.

First day in the 60s

2011-02-14T11:50:00.002-05:00

I don't know about all of you but the first warm sunny day of the year really gets me motivated to do stuff around the house. After a long dark winter it is a great feeling that the end is near just 5 more weeks officially. A little taste of things to come is a good thing and it being Valentines day it is even more appreciated. Not really big plans for us this day but I am hemming her pants and replacing toilet seats for her as requested. Not very romantic but the day is still before us and more romance this evening. Come on spring!

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T18:55:00.000-05:00

I made this video for all of you to get a little taste of our past year here at the palace and we are blessed again to enter another one with the hope of many more good times.

The Boyz 2010!

Happy New Year everyone and hope that this year is better then the last for all of you that are special in our lives.

The Gift

2010-12-27T13:34:00.001-05:00

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! I had an especially good one this year with my family and friends. I received lots of cool gifts like a Kindle, Bret Favre red practice jersey and a Capitals Ovetchkin winter classic jersey to name a few. But the most special gift that I received was from my oldest Alex who is in kindergarten now and that was a pinch pot that he made and gave me. He made it in his art class I suppose and wrapped it in a paper bag with tissue paper that he also hand decorated. It was a little dramatic when he first brought it home on the last day of school before the winter break. He wanted it to be a TOTAL surprise but as usual I emptied his back pack and put the present under the tree and when he saw that I had found it he went ape shit with tears. I calmed him down and said this is still a surprise as I have no idea what was in the bag. This whole thing really got me thinking how important I am in his life as sometimes I forget and take for granted. Good bless my little buddy and I love him to death.

Christmas show

2010-12-15T14:23:00.001-05:00

Josh had his second performance today at his pre-school and did very well and was as wiggly as always. The class sang jingle bells and some other festive tune that I can name but it was sung with enthusiasm by the whole class. Since Josh is a double dipper as they are called (attending 2 classes a week) this was his second performance. I remembered to bring the camera this time unlike yesterday. The teachers at this pre-school do a good job of putting on these little productions and it is always lots of fun to see the kids do their thing and be so proud of it.

Taekwondo

2010-12-14T16:52:00.001-05:00

Josh and Alex went to a place called Top-Kick for a birthday party. I was a bit apprehensive about the atmosphere there as they all seem to be very military like and lots of conformity. Not that there is anything wrong with that type of thing but for a 3yr old it seems a bit much. Once I saw how the session was run and saw that they seemed to have a good time and in fact little Josh really liked it I felt ok with the rigid and structured activity.

Josh has been having some anger issues at pre-school and I have been working with him to channel it in a more positive way other then to strike other human beings that piss him off. This is a far cry from Alex by the way so a little new for me. Anyway I think this Taekwondo thing may be a good tool to help the little beast control his anger and get some energy released. Today was his first session and he again seemed to like it and the uniform is a hit too. He is wearing the outfit as I type this and no telling how long it is going to stay on him. I just hope this is not too pricy but As a new student he got a free uniform and 8 sessions for free and after that we must plunk down some cold hard cash. We will soon see if he sticks with it.

Christmas is upon us

2010-12-11T14:25:00.001-05:00

This year is going to be a fun one to remember. I usually don’t get very excited for it like I do the coming of spring but this year is different as we have kids now that are entering into the cool toys stage in life. My guys are pretty much the typical guys with Legos and stuff that smashes and crashes. The only artsy fartsy thing that has been on the list for Santa is from Joshua and he wants play dough so he can build a city he says. I know a city out of dough should be interesting. Alex my daily book writer wants Legos and a harry potter magic wand and I suppose he thinks that he can make his little brother disappear on command when he so choses. So I have had a pretty fun time shopping this year for them and the rest of the family. Another reason that I am a little excited for Christmas is that both my little guys know why we celebrate Christmas and with out prompt from me they say it is because of Jesus birthday. Good old Catholic pre-school and CCD to the rescue.

Kindergarten "Oh No"!

2010-09-07T09:44:00.003-05:00

Our little Alex is a big boy now and off to the public school system. Where did the time go? Is he going to make it ok? Are they going to be nice to him? What if? What will he do? Oh no and more oh no. Take a breath and breath for all is well and good. These are the things I have been telling myself for the past weeks leading up to today. I got him up at 0730hrs and we picked out his clothes for the day. Then we had a good breakfast followed by brushing teeth and washing his face. The bus was quiet late but I was not worried as lots to do this first day of school for them too. I then took a quick picture of him loading on to the bus and a quick kiss and he was gone from my sight to a foreign land called school....He was however eager to get on that bus and waved good-bye from the front seat with a huge grin on his face. He will be just fine! I trained him well!

Some Summer firsts!

2010-07-28T16:44:00.001-05:00

Well Alex has been pretty busy so far this summer. His first big deal was learning to ride a two wheeler last April and now is on to a bigger bike. He has had a few mishaps along the way but no broken bones as of yet. He did go flying into the woods however at the bottom of our house after he got going too fast and forgot to use his breaks. He has since mastered the breaks and very weary of hills now…The second big deal for a 5yr old was learning how to swim in the big pool. I have been working with both Alex and Josh and now are able to swim 10 meters or so. The breathing to the side needs some work but the summer is not over yet! The boys are getting to be lots of fun and it is wonderful to be their for the big deals in their life.

Bathroom remodel

2010-07-19T06:39:00.001-05:00

Last week I tore out our old shower as it was in need of a remodel. We redid our sink last year to accommodate a two sink design that includes a granite top but stopped short of any further work. So we are excited to continue the work and finish this big project. I can work on it in small pieces and still have time to properly watch the boyz. We are lucky in that we have three other bathrooms in which to use while I fix the master bath. Here is a few shots of the progress. The progress doesn't look like much but under that new floor is new base flooring on the left as the old had water damage and was rotting out. The drain also had the be relocated 7inches more away from the wall to get it centered for the bigger shower bed that is to come. A good solid base is paramount for a shower bed to be tiled later. Next step is to frame out the shower walls and bed. All the while with little curious people looking over daddy's shoulder…..

Birthday/Fathers day weekend

2010-06-21T20:35:00.002-05:00

What a great weekend I had. Friday was my 47th birthday and spent it first with my 3yr old Josh who had a birthday party for another 3yr old at Burke lake park. We go their quite often for play dates and such but this was for a party this time. At this stage in my life it was really fun to spend it with some of Joshes peeps at the park where we had cake, pizza, tuna fish sandwiches and fruit. We rode the train and played at the park jungle gym. In the afternoon I spent it tinkering with my archery stuff and shooting at my deer target. That evening we all went to see Shark tale on the lawn at the community center with a few hundred of our closest neighbors. Alex and Josh thought it was a great flick as did Emilynda and I. That evening I had a cold one and a birthday cigar to cap of a great day. The rest of the weekend was filled with family time and cake. My father and brother also made an appearance for a fathers day cookout with the wify grilling some tasty Filipino fare. We are a lucky bunch us Americans that we are free to do this type of activity on any given weekend.

Soccer

2010-06-05T11:55:00.003-05:00

Alex finished his spring soccer season today and he received a little hardware for his participation. He did ask me what the trophy was for and I simply told him it was due to his perfect attendance at games and practice. I am not a big believer in participation trophies but I stomached this one as it was his first team sport to some degree. He has been carrying it around the house most of the day so I guess this silly award for just showing up is cool for him and so it is cool for me.

Summer Fun pt1

2010-06-03T10:35:00.004-05:00

Well summer is finally here and this is my favorite time of year. After all the snow from last winter the garden and forest around our house really came to life strong this spring. The boys and I have been busy watering and planting with mommy and now a big crop of home grown veggies is in the works for the fall. My beer hops are growing well to for the second year so I should have some nice hops to harvest to make some beer with this year.

Snowmageddon again!

2010-02-10T11:20:00.005-05:00

Been inside a lot this week so more time to blog and talk about kids, snow and whatever. Another 10inches on top of the 24 we had on Saturday and just finished digging out yesterday just in time for this one. Alex and Josh are loving it as they are climbing the snow drifts and piles like they are mountain climbers. I did promise Alex that we would build a tunnel and igloo so he has been reminding me hourly it seems. Careful what you promise a 5yr old as it will come back two fold and as a parent you better follow through or you will be mud. Pic of Alex on his mountain before this latest storm.

Potty Trained

2010-02-08T19:19:00.006-05:00

At 2yrs 11 months my little Joshua has mastered the potty! It was two days of hell and leashing the boy so to speak but he is now officially doing the deed on the potty with little help from me. Still gotta wipe little butts but much better then diaper duty. To see him last week poop and pee on the potty all day with no accidents and his reaction to it was truly grand for he and I. I rewarded him with a small toy for his accomplishment that he picked out beforehand and the sheer accomplished look on his little face was worth the pain. No pull-ups and cold turkey is the key to solid success in my opinion and I am 2 for 2 at this point in my daddy carrer. I think potty training a boy before they are three is pretty good from what I have heard. Been a good weekend with the Caps still on a roll, saints winning the super bowl and me becoming a diaper-less daddy after 5+ years. Beer me somebody!

Snowpocalypse

2010-02-06T14:07:00.010-05:00

Snow means well I think we all know the answer and Apocalypse means "An Apocalypse (Greek: Ἀποκάλυψις Apokálypsis; "lifting of the veil" or "revelation") is a disclosure to certain privileged persons of something hidden from the majority of mankind. Today the term often refers to Armageddon or the end of the world, which may be a shortening of the phrase apokalupsis eschaton, literally "revelation at the end of the æon, or age". In Christianity The Apocalypse of John is the Book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible."From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. So this term Snopocalypse seems to fit for me just fine. A bit on the scary side per the definition but this monster snow storm beats any storm I have ever been through. The last time it snowed like this in Washington was back in 1922 and not to many people alive today to remember it. My back deck has 21inches and my lower deck had more in the range of 30inches but snow tends to swirl and collect back there. My oldest asked me if he had to go outside because he was afraid he would be berried but I assured him that I would not let that happen. My youngest went out with out a hitch as no fear has set yet in his mind. Oh and on a side note he is potty trained at 2yrs 11 months old but I'll save that story for another blog post. Here are a few snow pics for you all to enjoy.

The new decade begins

2010-01-08T10:53:00.003-05:00

Has been a busy start to the new decade for this stay at home parent. One the first day of the new year Alex and I went shopping for a new TV with our Christmas money from family. We decided to replace our little 13" box tv in our kitchen to a 32" HD TV and boy what a difference.The price was right to at just 389 so didn't blow the bank. We originally put it in our bedroom but I ended up staying up most of the night watching AMC movies and that didn't go over well with the Wify. HD is grand! Also this year I had a umbilical hernia repair that I have been meaning to do but just couldn't find the right time to get it done. My belly button was really starting to bother me so i made an appointment with the surgeon and had it fixed last Tuesday. Still a bit sore but not bad. The procedure was outpatient and have been watching lots of TV on our new screen. Wild card weekend is here and can't wait!

Christmas Greetings

2009-12-16T15:53:00.006-05:00

Twas the week before Christmas and all through the palace not a single little boy was steering not even a wify but this old man was stirring and sipping a well made drink and contemplating another great year gone by. It has been a great year for us as Alex is in his final year at pre-K at St. Marys and moving up to kindergarten next fall. Little Joshua on the other hand my be headed for 2day Pre-k in January but he needs to get out of his diapers first as well as recruit 4 more toddlers to join him for the class to go forward. Alex has been really enjoying school this year and has many friends. Joshua is also doing well with me at home and it always surprises me how quiet and behaved he is when Alex is at school. They are lots alike in appearance but in personality they are quiet opposite. Emilynda is hard at work for us and her new position has been a big challenge for her and the Family this past year as she spends lots of late nights working to keep everything under control. I try to have a kiss and a good dinner ready for her when she arrives home in the evening. How luck am I to have such a cool wife. I have had a good year too raising two rowdy boys and watching how they grow while keeping our little home running smoothly. Lots of house projects to do and things to fix. My truck needed some major work done to it over the summer and I managed to get it all done on the weekends. Need to gut our master bath after x-mas and put a roof on our deck and the projects keep on coming.... Hope all of you have a merry Christmas and a Happy new year.

Love always from us to you!
Patrick, Emilynda, Alexander and Joshua

PS Santa comes tonight and we boys can hardly stand it!

Post Halloween fun

2009-11-03T19:52:00.002-05:00

This is a little dose of the Halloween fun we had last weekend with the boys. They wanted to be cowboys or rather Alex wanted to be one and Josh just followed suit. They were pretty excited until Alex said he didn't want to see any ghosts. I told him I couldn't guarantee that but will do my best. He lasted about a dozen houses and wanted to break for home so we did. Josh and Mommy were still in the mood so they visited more houses. They are at a fun age now as they have real wants and needs and have lots and lots of opinions on things. He is already planning on what to be next year and the presents he would like for the the upcoming holiday. The wheels of reason are turning well at our house.

Nice get away

2009-10-28T10:56:00.004-05:00

I was very fortunate to get away hunting with some friends last week to the George Washington National Forest. I had a really good time hunting and saw lots of game but nothing close enough for an ethical shot. Here are a few pics of the area and it was beautiful this time of year!

He's 5 !!!!

2009-09-17T09:32:00.003-05:00

Five years and what a ride so far. He had been talking about his birthday for weeks and months and was always showing me at the local retailers the items on his dream list. Funny how kids think you are made of money and anything is obtainable to good old daddy. Gosh that sounds familiar...haha! Anyway we had a nice little party for him when mommy got home and she walked in with the biggest present he had ever seen. The look on his face was that of pure joy and awe as well as shock to the size of the package. He had been making his own drum set out of pals and such so we got him a real drum set. After setting it up I went down stairs and had some whiskey..HaHa no not really but this set has some real sound to it and is no cheesy play set. He played until bed time at around 9pm. Oh joy! Seeing your kids happy is a true joy and nothing like it. Rock on little buddy!

Back from vacation

2009-08-17T07:52:00.003-05:00

Well we have been back for a week now and all is well. Fun to go away but also fun to be back and that is the mark of a good time. We drove nearly 3000 miles all total and with a 2.5yr old and 5yr old in tow in a corolla not to bad. They had their moments but so did I as did the wify. Highlights from the trip was toe man at one of the motel stays and the fish Natzi in Bayfield.

Fish Natzi= What will you have? a second later= Sooo what will you have?! Make up your mind as I have lots of shit to do!!!! The look on her weathered face seemed to suggest...

We ordered our smoked white fish and got out of there for fear of us being smoked as well. Had fun times on the big lake and with Mom and Paul sharing there summer home. Grandma turned 70 and that is hard to believe but very much the active lady as she has always been. We took lots of pictures and even traveled to Duluth for a day and watched a big boat come trough the harbor. We can't wait to get back next year and maybe a family reunion in the works.

SAHD video

2009-07-21T13:34:00.002-05:00

This is a nice interview on the state of Stay at Home dads in the country. Nice!

Nats game fun!

2009-06-11T10:37:00.004-05:00

Had a chance to go to a Washington Nationals game as part of a retirement event for Emilynda's former co-worker. The seats were in the outfield with plenty of room for food and toddler movement. We even had a server that brought us anything we wanted. Alex and Josh also received two game used baseballs from the batting practice before the game and that was a fun gift for them. They also bought two miniature bats courtesy of the tickets we had which included $20 each for food and whatever. A very fun time and hope to do it again. Nat's lost however but the fun was priceless!

Kiddos are really growing!

2009-05-11T13:24:00.002-05:00

I just uploaded a new pic to my homepage and realized that the boys have really grown up this past year. I know they are growing but you don't ever notice it until you look at old pictures compared to the current ones. Alex is a real little person with lots of drama and attention to detail in all that he does. Josh is talking more and more and makes a small sentence from time to time. He loves to say "NOPE" with an emphasis on the p sound at the end of the word. Since the warm weather has arrived here in Va we have been hitting the local parks and riding the bike more from place to place. We also had a fun mothers day with a cookout and some fun Philippino food.

Nice plug for us!

2009-03-23T11:44:00.004-05:00

I came across this short documentary on a group of Stay at home dads in San Francisco. Did a nice honest piece on us home guys!

To see the video in higher resolution, click here

He's Two!

2009-03-20T20:41:00.003-05:00

The little one is a big two today and loving it. We had a cool day at home watching noggin, Napping and playing in his room with his big brother. Mommy got home and baked him a cake and we sang the ritual happy birthday song. His Grandpa and Grandma called too to wish the little man a happy birthday. I have said this before but how time flies as it seems just last month that he was born. He now eats more then his big brother does! Crazy!

Unofficial start of spring?

2009-03-01T18:07:00.002-05:00

It is march 1st and I declare this the start of spring! Problem is that we are getting snow right now and expect to receive 4 to 8 inches by the end of the night. Cold temperatures on the way as well so not so spring like. We have had a good couple of days with near to above normal temperatures for some good hikes with the boys so can't complain too much. Gotta start to plan our garden plantings this year and maybe start some slower seeds to help get the spring feeling in the house. Boys are growing strong and really look forward to some playground stuff soon after this storm goes through and melts...

Great weather latley

2009-02-12T09:34:00.001-05:00

The last couple of days the temp has been around 70 degrees. Lots of hikes and outside play for us. That is the nice thing for this area as winter comes and goes for short periods of time. Before we know it it will be mid March and the start of spring and it can't ever seem to come soon enough.

Mid winter dull-drum

2009-02-06T09:39:00.004-05:00

Its that wonderful time of year that I love so much........NOT! Well there are good things to be done when you are home bound and car-less in the dead of winter such as getting caught up on the laundry, picking up all the kid crap once again so as to just have it pulled out again by little hands and the ever fun endless little toy fights that come along with having a 2yr old and 4yr old. Oooh the bliss of winter dull-drum! But seriously it is fun to watch cartoons with the kids and play our new Wii and all the fun toys little boys have. Just really looking forward to spring and planting! Gonna be in the 50s this weekend so that is a plus to this cold snap!

This picture always makes me warm:

Can you believe it!

2009-01-22T19:52:00.003-05:00

Today was a busy day from getting Emilynda off to work to giving a little cultural lesson to Alex's class mates and stopping by my dads house to wish him a happy 70th birthday and my little Josh was very grumpy all day due to this I suppose. He did have a good nap but I guess that was not enough for his little being as upon arrival of his mommy at 7pm and a new diaper he took it upon himself to tuck himself into bed and fall asleep. He cracks me up on a daily basis!

Inauguration Day

2009-01-20T07:26:00.005-05:00

Inauguration day is at hand. We had the chance to visit the capitol and mall yesterday to take in the sights and sounds of the coming celebration and even the day before the atmosphere was prickling with excitement. The choir was rehearsing for the next day and we as well as thousands of others got to hear,listen and applaud their efforts. In all the years that I have lived and worked in this city I have never seen such an excitement for an event of any kind. I feel a newness for our country and for my family for this is truly a historic event and really can not be over stated. To share this with my own family was a real joy and blessing. The whole day today will feel like a rebirth of hope for our country and way of life. Have a great celebration everyone and from a former insider look for the moment that Barack Obama becomes the offical 44th President of the United States at that moment is right after he utters the words "So help me God" That instant is when the transition of power switches from the Old to the new. A very chilling and exciting moment and look at the attention of the secret service from Bush to Obama if you are able and you will see the attention shift. An amazing moment to witness!

Eating like a champ!

2009-01-17T08:32:00.003-05:00

Gone are the bottles and baby food and the total reliability on his daddy for a nutritious meal. He is now very content to stuff his little pie hole with what ever you place in front of him be it waffles stuck on a fork or a good bowl of spaghetti and the ever presence of mind as to what ever his big brother is having. Oh the sheer mess of it all but surprisingly not as one would expect from an almost 2yr old. Eat well my friends!

"Stuffing it all in"
"That content feeling"

late holiday pic!

2009-01-15T09:34:00.002-05:00

My little candy cane boys made possible from their Grandma in California!

Merry Christmas 2008

2008-12-24T12:23:00.002-05:00

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas and to remember why we have the holiday. He was Jesus and born in a manger To mother Mary and Father Joseph with loving guidance from the lord. A nice way to live and celebrate the wonder of Christmas. But good old St. Nickolaus is the icing on the cake for us and some fun goodies for all who truly believe! Now that is what I call a cool Christmas. I again hope that all of you are as blessed as we are in this holiday season we call Christmas.

My little indian

2008-12-17T17:32:00.003-05:00

I found this picture and printed one for his mommy for work so I thought I would post it here for all to see. Joshua my sweet little Indian boy!

Geting close now

2008-12-16T09:55:00.002-05:00

Christmas is a mere week away now and the excitement in the house is growing. Emilynda and I went to the local Target with the boys last night and did some silly shopping for this and that. I got some coffee for 7bucks a bag and some pop corn and the boys dreamed of new toys in the toy department. All there stash is away at Grandpas house and soon to be under the tree from the big S.C. We are very luck as compared to others in this economic down turn but the spirit of giving lives on it seems. I see many people giving to others in need and that is always good to see. Alex has a big Christmas play on Thursday with his preschool class and that should be lots of fun. I hope to take many pictures of the event to share.

The Haircut

2008-11-08T11:14:00.004-05:00

Emilynda took it upon herself to chop the boys melon. And I mean chop! Just take a look at this people. I mean he looks like he just got out of the tribe in Papa New Gunie for goodness sake! He seems to however like it and now that it has been a whole day it is starting to grow on me too. Emilynda started to just get it above his ears and well as you can see the rest is visual history. He also reminds me of a squared away marine. Not a bad thing. Enjoy the show!

2008 Vote

2008-11-04T14:56:00.002-05:00

What a historic day today will be or is already. A man of color is in all likely hood going to be the next president of the united states. Emilynda and Alex went to the polling station together and did the paper ballot option. She let Alex put the ballot in the box and be part of the process. I can't help thinking about my two sons life times and what they will witness in the future and what kind of candidates they will vote on. I can remember the first time I voted in an election and it was for the second term of the Reagan era. How far we have come from then to now. My late Grandfather was a Republican but I was brought up as a democrat. I often wonder now who he would have voted for in today's election. Hard to say but I know how our family voted today and hope that my kids will be given the same balanced outlook for an informed vote as I have in my life.

Now go vote if you have not already!

Fall fun

2008-11-03T11:39:00.002-05:00

Over the week end we went to the park and relaxed for a bit. Emilynda has been studying very hard for her up coming CPA exams so a needed break was in order. These family times always remind me how lucky we are as a family to have healthy energetic kids to play with. The weather was perfect and the fall color was at its peak for us. With the winter weather soon to come it is a must to get out on these beautiful days and enjoy our kids. They are growing so fast and really cool to see them play and interact with on another as they do their growing.

Halloween is back

2008-10-29T18:34:00.003-05:00

Alex has decided to be Sportacus from the Noggin TV show Lazy Town. Emilynda did the work and created this. He has a party tomorrow and then a parade so more pics to come.

Birthday Boy

2008-09-16T09:50:00.007-05:00

Hard to believe I know but our little Alex is a big 4 today. He has been a wonderful child most days and a real gift to our family. He takes care and watches out for his little brother on a daily basis. I am a bit sad that he is growing up so fast and that is really funny as some days I yearn for him to be a big boy and no whining! Such as life as a parent. We seem to never be satisfied and forever looking forward to the next step and yet sad that the last one is gone forever. He had a party at his school today and I made some jello treats for his class to share at snack time. I heard that the best part was the whipped cream on top. Happy 4th birthday little buddy!!!!

Back to Pre-K!

2008-09-11T08:16:00.002-05:00

Alex went back to school yesterday and oh what a tale to tell. He had been excited to go back for about a week now and seemed happy to be going back to see some of his old friends. Well we biked there and all was fine and dandy for Daddy. We got to the class entrance and my little dude started to walk to the door and I said "Hey bud you forgot to give me a huge and kiss" He then walked half way back to me and then suddenly did an about face and raced into the class. I was crushed!!! The boy didn't even give me a wave or any sort of a good bye. He'll be 4 next week and already embarrassed to give old dad a good bye huge and kiss. Growing up way to fast! Thank god I don't have a daughter as I would need therapy after something as traumatic as that! HaHa

Daddy Rap Baby!

2008-08-21T15:29:00.004-05:00

I found this from a friend of mine on the Say at home dad boards and a heavy dose of daddy rap by the way.

- Watch more free videos

Jr. Bowman

2008-08-11T10:57:00.008-05:00

I have been busy this summer with all sorts of fun things with the boys and I thought I would share one of them here. This is a picture of Alex and his new bow built by his own father. I am proud of it as it turned out better then I thought it might. Alex has been asking me for the past three weeks if it is done yet and today I said yes it is little buddy. I think you can see his happiness on his face. Wow what a great feeling it is when your little one likes what you have made for him. This was my first attempt at bow building and now to make some cool arrows for him. Don't worry Josh will get his own custom one when he is older. Look out deer their is another hunter in the woods.

Cool 4th !!!!

2008-07-03T08:56:00.002-05:00

Well our plans are to hang out by the Potomac river and watch the fireworks on the Va side. We haven't been down since Alex was about two and Josh is the similar age now. The plan is to bike there and then bike back to our car a little way away. The traffic down there can be brutal and hard to find any place to park ect. Hope the weather holds out for us and not to hot but here in DC that is unlikely. The triple H's (Hazy,Hot,Humid)are norm this time of year. Hope all of you have a great and safe weekend!

Another fun day with the boys

2008-06-19T08:51:00.005-05:00

Thank you all who wished me a happy birthday yesterday!:) This is what I did to celebrate 45yrs on this earth. We first had an Eggo waffle breakfast to start the day off right. Then we had a fun play date with some of Alex's classmates at a local park were we fished and climbed on the play equipment. Then we were invited to one of his friends house for a cookout and ate hot dogs and brownies. Then in the afternoon I got our bike gear out and met Emilynda at the slug line and rode home with her. Needless to say I get a nice workout pulling these boys up and down hills. The weather has been super the last couple of days so it was nice to get out.

Its so hot ......

2008-06-10T10:52:00.002-05:00

Its so hot that the devil came over to my house and asked if he could build a fire to stay cool.
Its so hot that a squirrel burst into flames the moment he got into the direct rays of the sun.
Its so hot that my neighbor was grilling on his outside refrigerator.
Its so hot that my hot sauce jumped out of the fridge and into the freezer.

So what does all this have to do with kids and my life well nothing except that a man with a pitch fork is in my back yard by the fire drinking hot sauce and grilling a squirrel on a refrigerator. No that is hot my friends! Forecast for today is 99 and humid with a heat index of 105 again.

Serious Biz

2008-06-02T10:06:00.003-05:00

Serious Biz for sure and that being biking. Just look at the expressions on my boys as they mount up for a morning ride. Alex must have his helmet for the ride as Daddy and Mommy always wear theirs and well little Joshua is actually pushed by yours truly so the melon protector rule is for given. They have a good time but not to far yet as we only go to the end of our sidewalk and back a few times.

Lack of time

2008-05-01T11:31:00.002-05:00

Ever get in that mode of kids...Chores...Sleep ect? Well for me it has been that way for a bit since our vacation. Granted I have gotten lots done. Re-arrange the basement, gardening, two Nats baseball games, Seeing the Pope, and two birthday parties but it still seems I have no time to finish anything. Not to mention my blog and picture posting. I think I need a list and then check them off as I go and that way I can see my progress. I am however very glad that spring has sprung and arrived and look forward to some fun outdoor activates with Alex and Josh and finish somthing to the end. Did I mention that our upstairs bath room is being remodeled by me? And yeah it is not finished yet!! Ack!

Hi All

2008-04-03T01:04:00.001-05:00

We got back safe and sound and had a wonderful time in sunny California visiting friends and family! Big post soon.

Wiggle Giggle

2008-03-07T10:31:00.004-05:00

Its official that my oldest has turned into a wiggle-giggle boy. Just look at this picture and you can see the craziness that is coming out at all times of the day. So do you think there is to much camo on him? Better to hunt in I say. :)

I gave him a buzz the other day for our trip to California and he went buck wild on me and bounced off the walls and has been that way ever since. He is really becoming a little man these days and it is really fun to watch. He loves preschool and has made lots of new little friends.

Smoker mania

2008-03-06T09:14:00.003-05:00

The last month has been busy and as a result not much computer time but on the positive I received a cool gift from one of my brother inlaws for some work I did to his home. It is a silver smoker made by Char-Broil! Very cool gift and already have used it twice since sunday. My oldest helped me build it and was very happy to help out old dad with the nuts and bolts of the operation. Yesterday we grilled some yummy chicken breasts and the charcoal taste is great as compared to the gas grill we already own. Nice to have the option of gas or wild fire for my grilling needs.
Here is a pick of my beauty!

I plan to smoke a chicken this week end and a future venison something in the future.

Show and Tell

2008-02-01T14:22:00.000-05:00

It was show and tell at Alex's preschool today. He has been thinking of things to bring for the last couple of days and the top listed items were: Deer Antlers, toe bone from a deer and a bamboo flute from the Philippines. I was pushing for the shock value of the deer items but in the end we opted for the flute. I would have loved to see him show his precious musical item to his little friends but all I could get was a quick 3yr old version of the event. Yes and another yes to my questions and then a very hard blow on the flute to make your ears crack in the confines of the car as we drove home. Ouch!

Sore and more!

2008-01-24T09:03:00.000-05:00

Since my last post and just three days of getting back into shape I am hurting in every part of my body and more. I knew it was going to be tough but ooohhh am I out of shape. They say that pain is weakness leaving the body and I must have lots of weakness! Anyway I do feel better and had forgotten how good it feels to relax after a good workout and guilt free eating. The 300 Spartan workout is a beast and my only goal now is to be able to complete the workout in a few months of training as now I can only do a fraction of it.
On the home front and the boys they are good and help be workout too as their weight and picking them up helps.

And here is pic of my littlest buddy eating people.

2008-01-21T11:11:00.000-05:00

For all of you worried about my health here is a video of a workout I found that I can do at home while still watching the boys or during nap time. Wish me luck!

300 Spartan Workout Training. Home Version - Watch today’s top amazing videos here

Preschool

2008-01-04T14:39:00.000-05:00

Today was Alex’s first day at preschool. I was nervous to the fact that he won’t let go of me in a new situation and this was very new to him. I have been prepping him before he went and said to him that he goes to work now like mommy. We had also showed him the room at our church that he would be going so that was an ice breaker. Last night at bed time I asked him if he was ready to go to school and he nodded and answered in a squeaky voice “YES”. Well we got to the school and the minute we hit the door he darted for the class and once inside he saw a work bench full of play tools and went right to work. He never looked back to me and so I left feeling happy that their was not a meltdown but a bit disappointed that he didn’t seem to care that I was gone. I know get over it and be happy it was so easy. But when I came to pick him up with Josh he had a huge smile on his face and couldn’t stop talking about his new fun experience. A proud dad moment! Only one minor miss-hap and that was a pee pee accident as he didn’t want to pee in the girls room. I take him to the men’s room and the urinal. Guess there isn’t one in the lady’s room? HaHa

Almost here

2007-12-21T14:29:00.000-05:00

The big weekend is here finally! Alex and Josh are getting crazy for Christmas and so are we as getting the Santa fever is really fun. Emilynda bought little josh some new toys for the big day too. We have to remember that hand me downs will only work for so long. We plan on having a quiet day here at the house with the boys and my head to my dads home too for some other holiday fun. My deer meat stash is starting to dwindle so maybe I should go for a hunt this weekend before the season ends. Also I need to get these Christmas letters out! Crap I am always late with these. Merry Christmas to all my readers.

Started a family tradition

2007-12-17T17:25:00.000-05:00

I have a fellow friend of mine who too stays home with his infant daughter and he told me what he used to do as a child growing up. His family would celebrate the 12 days of Christmas and get to open one package each day up until the 25th. He explained that this way you would get to play with the toy or whatever that day and not be overwhelmed by the holiday and the mountain of gifts. We are lucky in that Alex and Josh have lots of people who buy for them so we are going to adopt this practice in our house. Last night Alex opened his first gift from his Grandma(my mom)and it was a 100pc puzzle of spiderman. WoW! He says its a big people puzzle so he needs help but not to much as puzzles he loves.

update on the potty front.

2007-12-13T09:44:00.000-05:00

I am pleased to announce that Alex has had no accidents since Monday at the library and oh what a scene it was. A puddle of fresh yellow pee on the carpet and a trail of pee to the bathroom. Spent a good 15minns cleaning and apologizing to the staff and then skunked home as dumb daddy did not remember to bring a change of clothes. He was pretty uncomfortable and so now he tells me when he has to go and all is good "knock on wood" I still put a diaper on him at night but so far he wakes up dry and then tells me he has to go with in 15mins of waking up. High fives to us. So glad that we are on the right track of independence as changing was becoming a real pain.

Potty time

2007-12-10T20:35:00.000-05:00

The time has come for me to go in full force on the training. We took away the diapers on Friday as we are planning to put little Alex in pre-school in January and he needs to be trained. It was my hope that I could get him traned last summer but my lazyness and mostly his protest kept me at bay but now he must. He has done really well and seams happy when he gets it right but he had two set backs today with one pee-astrophy and one poop-astrophy. I must have an iron stomic as today I got both a handfull of pee and a handfull of sticky smelly poop. eeeewww! We put him in a diper at night and some say that is cheating but I say it is just insurance! My my has my little buddy grown and no going back now!

Musical beds

2007-12-06T08:50:00.000-05:00

Being that my wife has a strong Filipino culture ingrained in her it is the custom to co-sleep with the kids at birth and then to move them on to their own bed in time. Well that time has come for our not so little Alex. The past month or so we have been weening him to his own bed that that my dad and Mary Ann got us last year for Christmas. The first night was blood curdling screams of misery and protest. Not a fun night by the way! I did the time for the crime and so now he goes in their with out protest but and I repeat but There is a list of must do's for this to happen. First; I must go with him and carry him, Second; I must have his water ready and available, and Thirdly; I must stay until he is completely asleep and absolutely no sneaking out or a tongue lashing will accrue. Daddy You left me, I'm afraid of the beaver ect. ect. So it is best to just stay put until the inevitable snore of a three year old. The funny thing is that at 0200hrs or so I mysteriously wake up to a little boy next to me sleeping soundly. Oh well at least he sleeps in his bed to start.

Snow is here!

2007-12-05T13:54:00.000-05:00

We got our first snow of the season today and may get an inch or so. Alex's first words this morning were "Daddy snow look! Daddy snow look!" while pointing and jumping up and down in a frenzy of delight. He has been wearing the boots we got for him last year in the house but he wore them with out socks so his feet got blistered. ack! I like snow and the seasons but just in short doses however. That reminds me we have to get our Christmas picture done so I can get it out to you all on time this year!

Locked out

2007-11-27T20:35:00.000-05:00

This morning my little Alex thought it would be funny to lock daddy out of the house while I was taking the trash out. The wind was howling and in my thin pajama pants and t-shirt I was not laughing but my little monster was ....inside in the warm house. I yelled through the door and he laughed some more and ran to the kitchen to tell Josh I think. I went around back and got the latter and climbed up onto the deck to get his attention to let me in. But he was already at the front door with it open and unlocked so I quickly flew down the latter and ran around the house in the crisp wind to beat him from closing the door again and locking it. I was out their a mere two min's but it seemed much longer as the feeling of utter helplessness came over me. I didn't know weather to laugh or cry at the situation. I gave him a stern talking to as to the dangers of locking the door on daddy after I got back in. From my post on my daddy site it has happened to a many of a stay at home parents. Fun start to the day!

Thanksgiving recap

2007-11-23T20:45:00.000-05:00

We had a nice quiet little family dinner together and all went well. I cooked the turkey after brining for 24hrs in a lemon salt bath and other assorted spices. Also made a pumpkin pie and Emilynda made a wonderful wild rice stuffing and green beans. As an appetizer we had a venicin salad. All and all a great day and good family weekend.

Want it ! Need it !

2007-11-15T06:37:00.000-05:00

The I wants have started and last for days! Alex loves to look at catalogs like his daddy and dream of all the goodies one could have. He told me yesterday that we had to go to the store right now before someone else would get it. I tell him that wanting something doesn't mean that we are going to the store to get it as we don't always get or need what we want. He hasn't grasped that concept yet! So he goes on and on about going to the store to get whatever and then insists we have to go right now before it is to late. Oh yes the sky will fall if we don't act now! Aaaack! He has become a hardened consumer at aged 3.2yrs. Well of course I don't give in to this gluttony of wanted goods but it is becoming harder and harder to quill his appetite of the wants. So lies the delema of every parent on the best was to teach thankfulness of what you have and what you really need and to exercise restraint for the wants and gotta have it right now mentality. Hard to say no to your little ones but even harder when you have ones as cute as mine. :)

Too cute for his own good!

Humbling hunting success

2007-11-13T09:27:00.000-05:00

My senses were very acute and my patience and concentration were at it's max as I followed the heard of four does and three fawns through the woods. The two bucks that I saw were in the distance at an ever close proximity to their harem. I quietly watched and waited and for the most part invisible to them. I got to within 25yards of the biggest doe or so it seemed and then she spotted something in the brush that alarmed her. She stamped her front hoof to warn the others and they all came to a abrupt standstill. We had a stair off for what seemed like an hour. I keeled motionless in the thicket of thorns and brier as she checked me out very carefully. Slowly she then moved to my left to give me a perfect broad side shot to her vitals at 25yds.
Yesterday at around 1400hrs I harvested my first deer. It will be an experience that I will never forget for it's powerful and profound sense of accomplishment and one with nature. I felt at the time of the shot a twinge of guilt and a feeling of excitement knowing that I would feed my family for the days to come. I know now a bit how it must have felt for our early peoples as hunters and gatherers as they provided for their families. Being a catholic and a friend of Jesus I said a prayer of thankfulness for my gift and promised to respect the animal that for which I had just harvested.

Shorter days a comming

2007-11-12T10:23:00.000-05:00

The winter is slowly coming and the days are shorter and shorter. These are the hardest days for a stay at home parent I think. We still go for walks and the play ground but it takes more effort as you have more to put on and bring. The good thing is that the humidity and bugs are gone so no need for bug spray or sunscreen. Many of my counterparts have gone indoors how ever so the mall is a good place to go around the holidays with the kiddos. Every mall around here has a toddler play area and the bigger ones have lots of activity. Well here is to winter and the indoor activities and the ongoing drive to keep myself sane during these low light days. Oh I almost forgot the library in the winter is also a favorite hag out for us in the cold days of winter. The above photo is from the beach in September just to keep things warm around here.

The candy boys

2007-11-01T08:47:00.000-05:00

Another hallowed Halloween has come and gone and every year it gets better and better. I have never been a big fan of Halloween and dressing up in silly costumes but when you have kids it is just more fun. Last night I was just going to sit home alone with my thoughts and let Emilynda go out with Alex to trick or treat. As much as sitting home all alone and not be bothered for this and that and to quietly do what not I relised that these moments are counting down and once they are gone they are gone so I went. We had a great time and it was fun to see Alex and all the other kids gleaming and squealing at all the Halloween fan fare. The weather here was perfect and cool but not to cool. Alex was bob the builder complete with cell phone but he left his play laptop at home for it would get broken he thought. Josh was poo bear and this time I remembered not to pinch his chest with the zipper as I did a few years back with his brother.ouch! What a fun night and getting back to the childhood fun with your kids is priceless.

Josh on the move

2007-10-19T19:22:00.000-05:00

I thought I would donate a post on our youngest boy. He is really growing fast and it seems faster then the first. He is crawling and pulling himself up to stand now which is quite a feat for my little pork chop. He will be 7months old tomorrow and I can't believe where the time has gone. His first tooth has come in on his bottom jaw and he loves to gnaw on my cross that I wear around my neck. Teething must be a real drag for the little guy and hope that it ends soon. We got him a little mobility thing and he loves to roar around the kitchen floor in it but if you aren't careful he will sneak up behind you in it and catch your heals! ouch! this is a pic of him today riding in it.

Growing up

2007-10-16T06:29:00.000-05:00

The boys are getting big and growing fast. Alex turned three last month and is becoming a little opinionated person. His language is coming along nicely and has some funny ways of saying things. An example is his tendency to go into high pitched mode when he is unsure of an answer although cute at first it becomes annoying when he does it for effect on every sentence! Ack!! His manners are doing well too as he even says "no thank you" when he is mad! Funny stuff! Joshua is climbing up and moving about well now as he is a strong little dude. He has the screamer award as at times the pitch is ear drum crushing tone. I didn't think a person of 21 pounds could muster up that much volume but he seems to have no problem with it. All in all the boys are doing well and we are having a ball playing and raising them. I even figured out how to practice with my compound bow in the back and still watch them and be safe.
On another matter the hunt goes on but no luck. I am starting to realize though that hunting is more about the hunt then it is about the kill but then again I knew that all along!

Fall has arrived

2007-10-03T19:45:00.000-05:00

Been kinda lax on the bolg entry's lately but hope to get better involved soon. I have taken up a new hobby and it has taken a big chunk of some of my limited free time. The new hobby is Bow Hunting and I have been practicing my shooting for the last couple of months. I can hit a nice tight bunch at 20 and 30 yards so I am now confident I can harvest a deer with minimal suffering or none at all. I had to take a 10hr class to get my hunting license from the state and then get the applicable tags for deer and other big game that comes along with the license so I am all legal. I have been out three times so far in my camo and gear but it is harder then one might think. I have come in contact with the deer on all my outings but have been unable to get the right shot or close enough with out being detected. Deer are smart and can see and smell like nothing I have ever seen. The antler less deer season started on the 15th of September but this Saturday starts the buck season. Wish me luck as my wife is getting antsy for some tasty deer meat. And yeah my wife is more gung-ho then I am about getting a deer as they are eating her garden.

Here is one at work in our yard.

End of Summer?

2007-09-10T08:55:00.000-05:00

Well for me the summer and fall are the same in that my kids are still with me full time. So many of my fellow SAHDs love the coming of September as they get a break from the kids during the week but not me. Alex could have gone to preK this year but we elected to keep him home as the budget and other things determined our decision. I have been tiring to teach him numbers and letters while home so that will become routine this coming winter.I also am looking into Montessori pre-k materials to do this fall and winter.

It's been 8 years

2007-07-30T21:20:00.000-05:00

What would I say if she were here now? What would be the right thing to say if she were here now? Hard to say really but all that comes to mind is "I Love You" very ordinary but very truthful. Eight years ago on a very hot summer day, like it is today, I married the most beautiful women in the world and she became my wife. She really became my wife the first time we held hands on our first date. When our hands touched it was as if nothing else mattered and all would be peaceful and grand from this moment forward. So what would I say if she were here again now in this moment? Many things run through my mind as to what I would say. I could say thank you for being my bride and putting up with all that my personality has to offer. I could also say thank you for bearing our two beautiful sons who have become the other loves of my life. I could even say thank you for being the wonderful women that you became and sharing your life with me through the good times and the not so good times. But the truth is that I love you and no other more appropriate words come to my mind to say to you if you were here. It is really strange that these types of thoughts seem to only come to ones sense once that person you care for so deeply are not around to hear them. I would love to say these things to her now but it is not possible but maybe if I wish hard enough she will hear them anyway. Eight years seems to go by so fast but yet in my mind seems like all my life as the time we spent together is all that really seems to matter now. I wish to have many more years with the love of my life and I shall as she is sleeping upstairs and tomorrow is another day with the love of my life. Happy Anniversary honey I love you more then you know or able to show.

A good visit

2007-07-25T09:55:00.001-05:00

Our newest niece is on her way home today and it was fun to see her and attend her baptism last Saturday. She is 3weeks older then our Josh but the genes are doing there part for Josh is much larger. It is Filipino culture to pierce her ears shortly after she was born so now she has pretty diamond earrings or so it seems to me. Her is a pic of our boys and her before they left.

4 month check-up

2007-07-20T15:10:00.000-05:00

Joshua had his 4 month check up today and he weighed in at a whopping 18.4 pounds and a head measurement of 17+ centimeters. The nurse had to check his melon twice as she was sure she miss read it. Anyway he is in good health and received his 4 shoots in the thigh and one oral vaccine. For those of you that know Josh he is by no means skinny so lots of places for a shot and or shots. His next appointment will be for 6 months along with Alex's 3yr appointment. Were has the time gone!

Back home

2007-07-18T12:52:00.000-05:00

We had a great trip to the great north despite the pain of traveling with young ones. Our flight was nice and uneventful but no matter how hard we try we always seem to bring things we didn't need or use. My family too seemed good despite losing a great aunt in my case. I also was able to see some distant relatives that I had not seen in some time. Its funny how funerals bring all of us together but rarely do we get together other wise. I don't know why we don't have some kind of family reunion but maybe some time before we all crock. Its good to get home after a bit of a vacation and get back into our routines. Alex missed his toys and I think Josh missed his little bed. I know I missed our home as this place we live is just unmatchable in feeling and comfort. Here is a choice pic of our trip.

Trip woe's

2007-07-09T07:28:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow we are going on a family vacation/funeral for my great aunt. We haven't been away from the house with the kids since Josh was born and before that over a year ago with Alex. I love to go places and get away but taking the kiddos is always such a hassle. You not only have to pack for you but also them at their wee age. I tend to over pack and want to be totally prepared but that often works out to to much fricking shait to bring. Also the added worry of having the right things on hand at the right times during the trip like toys, jucy juices, diapers and wipes, wet-ones, wifes milk, extra change of clothes, joshes Nuk, ect. ect and on and on it goes. Before I had children I never understood why packing with kids was so much more work and worry but now I know. oh joy! I did get Alex some new portable Thomas the Train goodies so that will help keep him occupied for the trip. I would love to get away on my own for a weekend but then again where is the fun in that? See you people on the other side.

AT&T National Golf

2007-07-07T10:01:00.000-05:00

I am or better yet was a pretty good golfer back in the day but lately with wife and kids and other money draining endeavors I rarely get to play anymore. My wife and I are big Tiger Woods fans and also really like Phil Mickelson so we decided to go the the new tournament at Congressional Country Club for the pro am last Wednesday the 4th of July. We got to see our favorite players and soak up some quality family time with our young ones. And yes you did read right we took our 2yr old and 3month old to the tournament. It was harder then we thought and you would think by now we would know this before hand but alas no. My wife had never been to a golf tournament so this was new to her and she quickly relized that we would be walking quite a bit. Despite the added baggage of our two adorable sons we had a great time but next year I think we will go solo and leave the kiddos at the in laws. Here is a pic of Alex and I with the tenth hole in the background.

Dadstock

2007-06-30T08:52:00.000-05:00

A great event for us stay at home dads. My fellow compodrays are busy up in Chicago land having a great get together at a fellow dads home. The day includes eating, beer drinking and good conversation and above all a time to meet others that share our profession. To bad it was out of my means to attend but next year it maybe doable. Some of us on the east coast are still hoping for a group meet-up this summer. Cheers to you guys and be safe!

Our newest neice

2007-06-26T08:52:00.000-05:00

This is little Sara our new addition to my extended family. She is a couple weeks older then Josh but a smaller little fragile beauty. They will be in from the west coast until late July. Its really fun to see the differences in size between the two kiddos. We hope to see her lots untill they have to go home.

Cool wify!

2007-06-25T07:03:00.000-05:00

My birthday was a week ago and I thought it was over until next year. I mean I received my presents and had a fun weekend with a trip to the river ect. So this weekend I went biking with a few family friends yesterday and got thoroughly punished by them. I came home to an empty house and enjoyed the quietness. I took a shower and layed down with my oldest for a nice afternoon nap. And when I awoke an hour later and rambled downstairs I was greeted by my extended family and friends as my cool little wify organized a little belated Birthday party for me. What a great surprise and a fun time indeed.

Birthday Trip

2007-06-19T11:35:00.000-05:00

It has become a tradition for our family to do a day trip on my birthday. This year we went to Harpers Ferry West Virginia. It is a 65 mile trip from our house so an easy distance to manage with two little boys. We site seed the the small historic town which is a National Park now. Also waded in the river as this pic shows. Had a great time as being with family is important to me od days like these.

New Friends

2007-06-07T08:08:00.000-05:00

The past couple of weeks Alex has made some new friends through a dad forum that I frequent quite often. Check out his site over in my links section on the side. The owner of site has two fun boys and they took too Alex well and played well with him even though they were a little older. This is the two of them screaming and have a great time. We hope to hook the kids up again in the future but they live a good distance from us so it unfortunately won't be an every weekend deal. Yesterday we went to the zoo and meet another stay at home dad there and they too took to Alex well. One of the best things about having kids is watching them play and interact with other children. A really fun time for both me and him.

Summer is here!

2007-06-04T08:58:00.001-05:00

Spring and summer are the best time of the year to be a stay at home parent for me. The weather is good most of the time so one can take the kids to a number of places to blow off some steam. We went to Gettysburg and Hershey PA. on memorial day weekend and had a great time. The zoo is another great spot to go in the summer as lots of stay at home parents their to mingle with. This summer I hope to make the best of it for going outside and getting Alex his exercise as well as mine. Later this month is Fathers day and my Birthday and Joshua's baptism on the 16th. Good times to come and enjoy.

To much trouble

2007-05-24T06:47:00.000-05:00

You my be thinking this is going to be about my little Alex causing mischief or are newest Joshua not letting us sleep but no it is about the both of them. We had planned to go to the beach this past week for a few days of rest and relaxation before my wife went back to work from her maternity leave. We got all packed and the house clean and were ready to go put all the stuff in the car when we looked at each other and said Do you really want to go? Well if you want then I want to and on and on as the story goes. But the real issue was not were we were going but how we were going. Traveling with a newborn and a 2yr old still in diapers is a chore pure and simple from all the crap you need for a newborn to the whining and crying of being in a cramped car for three hours on the road. We always forget that uprooting our life at this stage is rarely worth the trouble even if it means going to a nice place at the beach. Oh we will go some time this summer if we have the opportunity again but this time with a 2month old and a demanding toddler our house next to the woods will do just fine. Happy trails everyone and here is a pic of Alex chilling at home.

2 months old

2007-05-21T06:31:00.000-05:00

Hard to believe Joshua is that old already. He is growing faster then Alexander was at this time it seems. His monthly check-up is next week so we will see how he is doing weight wise. The nights are better now that he is a bit older. Before we were lucky to sleep more then a couple of hours at a time but now we get 4hrs at a time most nights. His personality too has improved and become more noticeable. The smiles and cooing are more frequent and it is fun to watch. Alex still loves to kiss and huge Josh and in turn Josh coos and smiles back from time to time.
The official stats for Josh are 14.7 pounds and 2ft long and is above the charts in all categories so my take is he will be bigger then Alex in the long run. My new nickname for him now is "pork-chop" as his thighs are as big as his waist it seems. This is a close up of his left paw! :) Doctor said he is a very healthy boy to this point and that is always good to hear.

My Mom

2007-05-12T07:21:00.000-05:00

At my stage in life their are lots of mothers to be aware of on this mothers day. The first one of course is my own mother who gave birth to me some 43 years ago. The older I get the more I realize how special she is to me and to my family. She has been their for me through every crisis and every happy time in my life. She has provided for me and raised me to the best of her ability and continues the be a great friend and mom. I always know that if I ever need anything she will assist in any way that she can as my mom's love is truly unconditional and deep. I feel at times that their is nothing I can say or do to express my gratitude for her being their for me but as I know the only thing she wants is for me to be happy and safe. Thats what all mothers want for their kids I believe and the older I get the more I get it. I love you mom and I am happy and safe as well as my little family.

Home projects

2007-05-10T10:02:00.000-05:00

Projects are fun but can be a chore if you have to many. This past week I have been building a shed, adding on to our lower deck, making supports to be able to store my canoe and building a long walkway with a staircase. I get little bits of time to do these things as two kids really put a dent in the time you have to spend on stuff like this. As of now I have the shed built and canoe stored and started the walkway. The deck add on is in the planning stage and hope to start that next week before my wify has to go back to work. I also have been wanting a hammock along with the wife so that is yet another project on the table. I love projects but one has to be careful not to get over ambitious or then these become a chore. I almost forgot I have stuff to do for our church as well as for my dad! Aw crap here I go again!!!

Hi Bob

2007-05-03T07:14:00.000-05:00

We broke down again and succumbed to the corporate marketing hype of a TV cartoon show. Bob the Builder is one of Alex's favorite DVD's and can watch it over and over and over some more. The belt buckle plays the theme song when pressed as well as various other quotes from the star Bob such as "can we build it? Yes we can". It is really pretty cute to see him dress up in the get-up and pretend to fix stuff. I took this picture the day we got it for him. The hard hat fits his round head perfectly but that is no surprise since the stuff is made for toddlers. What happened to Diego? He'll be back I'm sure.

Fun weekend

2007-04-30T07:38:00.000-05:00

We didn't do anything real spectacular like going to a far off place or have a life altering experience but we did figure out how to better manage our life with two kids in tow. For some of you I know this is old hat but for us it is pretty new and unexplored. Saturday I got away to do some things for my Dad as he can't get around like he used. This task of moving books from one place to another and more stuff to the storage locker was fun in that it gave me a break from some of the parenting doldrums we all know so well. These include but not limited to: laundry, vacuuming and the ever pleasant diaper changing toy pick-up chore. I also went to the Home Depot on Sunday for some much needed supplies for my new shed and landscaping projects. I filled up my F-150 to the max with lumber, stone paver's and 4x6 beams. I did all this with the co-operation from my wife to adequately joggle the little one's with out making us both crazy. A good weekend indeed. Now the rest of the week I will be building and digging to the delight of my better half. Next weekend we need a road trip but the gassss!!!!!

One month check-up

2007-04-25T06:45:00.000-05:00

Joshua had his one month check up yesterday. His vitals were good and he weighed in at 12lbs 6oz and 22 inches long. His head is 15 inches around. The doctor said he was in great shape and very healthy. His weight is in the 95% category so no surprise their but he has gained 3lbs since his birth weight. He has also started to coo and smile a bit and that makes our day when that happens. His big brother Alex is being good to him and likes to kiss him lots and we hope that continues.