Count like Count Von Count!
One!
Two (ah ah ah!)
Three!
Four!
and Five! Five Big Videos!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
This weekend's soccer
Last weekend had Christopher's team playing a 'house' team from Soccer-zone (a team made up of random individuals, not an organized team like the Okemos Cheetahs....Christopher and Matthew played on house teams last year). This house team didn't really show up, so, Matthew and Austen from the younger team helped them out.
Matthew's team had two games, they won on Saturday and were crushed like grapes in Sunday's game. Our opponents from Sunday have practiced together for about a year now and doesn't really have any weak players and it shows. Their good players, however, push (push isn't the right word...forearms might be better) quite a bit and Matthew took quite a beating. One of the downsides of editing all of this video is I had the chance to go back and see all of that pushing.....
Here's Christopher's video....pay close attention at the beginning, Christopher will tell you exactly what the other team's problem was after the referee blew the whistle to start....
Matthew's team had two games, they won on Saturday and were crushed like grapes in Sunday's game. Our opponents from Sunday have practiced together for about a year now and doesn't really have any weak players and it shows. Their good players, however, push (push isn't the right word...forearms might be better) quite a bit and Matthew took quite a beating. One of the downsides of editing all of this video is I had the chance to go back and see all of that pushing.....
Here's Christopher's video....pay close attention at the beginning, Christopher will tell you exactly what the other team's problem was after the referee blew the whistle to start....
Monday, December 10, 2007
More viola
don't want anybody to go into withdrawal without a daily dose of orchestra music! Here's Kevin's recital from yesterday.
This *will* be the end of orchestra video for a while!
By the way, Kevin's viola instructor is the gentleman playing the harmony with him.
This *will* be the end of orchestra video for a while!
By the way, Kevin's viola instructor is the gentleman playing the harmony with him.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Friday, December 7, 2007
This Weekend
Busy Weekend on deck:
Kevin - Basketball Practice Friday night, Viola Recital Sunday
Matthew - Soccer Saturday, Soccer Sunday
Christopher - Soccer Saturday
plus "Spamalot" on Saturday night....and, of course, Steelers, Steelers, Steelers on Sunday.
3rd of 5 from Wednesday below.
Kevin - Basketball Practice Friday night, Viola Recital Sunday
Matthew - Soccer Saturday, Soccer Sunday
Christopher - Soccer Saturday
plus "Spamalot" on Saturday night....and, of course, Steelers, Steelers, Steelers on Sunday.
3rd of 5 from Wednesday below.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Winter Concert - Suite Francaise
The lighting, for some reason, in the Chippewa Middle School Auditorium was horrible. That, and Kevin's seating position, precluded a lot of close-in views of him for the rest of the pieces.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Winter Concert - Song #1
The 5th grade strings performed first, then the 6th grade orchestra.....simply amazing how much better the kids are after a year of instruction!
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Rice (not Jerry, or Anne, or even Condoleezza)
1) How any grains of rice appeared in my order of General Tso's chicken today?
2) How much higher will Melanie's score be than mine (41?)
http://www.freerice.com/
2) How much higher will Melanie's score be than mine (41?)
http://www.freerice.com/
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Look Up!
Look up....the top of the page, on the left. See it, the "next blog" link?
I've discovered two things recently.
1) www.sitemeter.com. You can see the little icon for it on the lower right of my blog underneath Christopher's tiger face. This site allows me to track how many visits the blog gets and, roughly, where that person visited from.
2) that "next blog" button, I think, gets the blog some strange visitors. Our most recent guest hails from:
Location
Continent : Europe
Country : Italy (Facts)
State/Region : Lombardia
City : Treviglio
Lat/Long : 45.5167, 9.5833 (Map)
Buon giorno!
I've discovered two things recently.
1) www.sitemeter.com. You can see the little icon for it on the lower right of my blog underneath Christopher's tiger face. This site allows me to track how many visits the blog gets and, roughly, where that person visited from.
2) that "next blog" button, I think, gets the blog some strange visitors. Our most recent guest hails from:
Location
Continent : Europe
Country : Italy (Facts)
State/Region : Lombardia
City : Treviglio
Lat/Long : 45.5167, 9.5833 (Map)
Buon giorno!
From the Sports Desk
Christopher ends up on the wrong end of a 6-2 defeat....team played really well though!
Matthew's team defeats the other U6 team from Okemos
No highlights from Christopher's team from the game on Sunday....lost 18-1!
Matthew's team defeats the other U6 team from Okemos
No highlights from Christopher's team from the game on Sunday....lost 18-1!
Friday, November 30, 2007
Rain-fade
so, one of the downsides of satellite TV is rain-fade; if the storm is strong enough, you don't get signal, and, well, no tv for a few minutes. Doesn't happen very often, but, during very bad thunderstorms, you get it.
Came home from work Monday night...no tv...satellite signal is low. It's snowing, but, not all that hard. Call Directv, go out and look at the dish, and there's a light layer of wet snow that's stuck to the dish...it's been 2 winters with dish, so, first time in that long that this has happened. But, no tv until the snow is removed.....
So, really can't go out on the roof to clean it off....what do you do?
Answer: go to the garage, get one of the super soaker water guns the children have spent the summer soaking me with, go up to the bathroom window, fill the gun with hot water, and shoot the dish (20' out) until the snow drops off.
Problem Solved!
Came home from work Monday night...no tv...satellite signal is low. It's snowing, but, not all that hard. Call Directv, go out and look at the dish, and there's a light layer of wet snow that's stuck to the dish...it's been 2 winters with dish, so, first time in that long that this has happened. But, no tv until the snow is removed.....
So, really can't go out on the roof to clean it off....what do you do?
Answer: go to the garage, get one of the super soaker water guns the children have spent the summer soaking me with, go up to the bathroom window, fill the gun with hot water, and shoot the dish (20' out) until the snow drops off.
Problem Solved!
Monday, November 26, 2007
Trill?
I don't know what to call this noise, I guess 'trill' works ok. He can do it all day long........always with a smile!
Boys Soccer - Saturday Game
Highlights(?) from this weekend's 10-4 loss. Tripod used for the first time...jumpy picture problems much better. Kevin did miss two events: A Christopher breakaway that didn't turn into a goal and a Matthew goal (he scored from midfield right as the quarter began).
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Christopher P/T
The over-promised under-delivered post is here...but, it's sadly anticlimatic, there's no "zing" commentary like Matthew's provided.
Christopher is doing great. His behavior is excellent (apparently he chooses only to act up at home!) and has many (many!) friends. Reading is coming along very nicely, he's very quick with math, and he's definitely taken the encouragement he received in kindergarten to heart. Christopher would often finish his work (specifically art, coloring, etc.) early and his teacher asked him, if he did finish early, to go back and add detail. So, almost all of the time, when he brings home art, there's a lot of detail in the surroundings. I'll try and find a good picture that shows this and scan it in soon.
Speech therapy is going really well.... 'th' sounds are really really good! Preview of things to come....Christopher can make a noise (like a spanish 'r', but way faster, almost a trill) that both Suzanne and I can't even hope to replicate. I'll post it, and we'll see if there are any more genetic 'anomalies' out there.
Christopher is doing great. His behavior is excellent (apparently he chooses only to act up at home!) and has many (many!) friends. Reading is coming along very nicely, he's very quick with math, and he's definitely taken the encouragement he received in kindergarten to heart. Christopher would often finish his work (specifically art, coloring, etc.) early and his teacher asked him, if he did finish early, to go back and add detail. So, almost all of the time, when he brings home art, there's a lot of detail in the surroundings. I'll try and find a good picture that shows this and scan it in soon.
Speech therapy is going really well.... 'th' sounds are really really good! Preview of things to come....Christopher can make a noise (like a spanish 'r', but way faster, almost a trill) that both Suzanne and I can't even hope to replicate. I'll post it, and we'll see if there are any more genetic 'anomalies' out there.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Ignore the stiff-arm (pushes)
the ref did.....I didn't even notice them until I "went to the tape"....
PS: Kevin provided the camera work for today's game; glad he enjoyed doing it.
PPS: Christopher was sitting near Kevin during one goal. You'll hear it.
PS: Kevin provided the camera work for today's game; glad he enjoyed doing it.
PPS: Christopher was sitting near Kevin during one goal. You'll hear it.
Sorrow Looms
Today Kevin finishes off "Where the Red Fern Grows" for his latest book report...he's on page 210 and it ends at page 240. And in the next 40 pages the tale of a boy and his 2 coon hounds turns into a tale of a sad boy and a fern planted on the graves of 2 coon hounds. :(
Went out with Suzanne last night and saw "American Gangster". Good, but if either of us would have realized how much of a drug-focus the movie had, we probably wouldn't have went. Oh well, should have known better.
Current book: "Gettysburg" by Stephen Sears. Have slowly been working my way through Sears's books after having "Chancellorsville" recommended to me. Wish I would have done the books/battles in order, but, oh well.
Matthew plays soccer at 1 pm....Christopher had 2 goals in a close loss yesterday.
Will stop now....Christopher wants to play chess.
Went out with Suzanne last night and saw "American Gangster". Good, but if either of us would have realized how much of a drug-focus the movie had, we probably wouldn't have went. Oh well, should have known better.
Current book: "Gettysburg" by Stephen Sears. Have slowly been working my way through Sears's books after having "Chancellorsville" recommended to me. Wish I would have done the books/battles in order, but, oh well.
Matthew plays soccer at 1 pm....Christopher had 2 goals in a close loss yesterday.
Will stop now....Christopher wants to play chess.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Stay, we must not lose our senses
Kevin's daughter bride is an 8th grader.....gotta like the 'older woman'!
Monday, November 12, 2007
With Cat-Like Tread
With cat-like tread,
Upon our prey we steal;
In silence dread,
Our cautious way we feel.
Friday, November 9, 2007
I say "_____", you say "Lion"
Christopher and Matthew's parent/teacher conferences were last night. Matthew's conference featured:
- his picture journal (1st entry: football players, 2nd entry, football players, another entry..."da lions and da vikings"),
- his handwriting (doing well),
- his social acumen (he has two best buddies, Ali and Noah, and they do everything together). Teacher has learned not to seat them together....when they tell the class to take seats, if the teacher say "Sit responsibly, where you won't get into trouble" the three of them know to sit apart from each other, but, if the teacher forgets to say that, they're together like glue.
Woo hoo!
Christopher entry next.
Pirates of Penzance Jr. opens tonight for a 2-night tour.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Halloween Recap
No school today; think that teacher's union wised up and said "we don't want any part of your sugar-hyped over-tired kids"....
So, as you can see, Kevin went as Freddy Krueger. Kevin's been fascinated by horror movies, reads the recaps of them on Yahoo, etc. But he really hasn't seen any of them. We told him, if you want to be Freddy, you have to watch Freddy...but, that didn't happen, and last night he went out.
9 pm last night, boys are settling in for bed, Kevin walks into the room, and I put on the Nightmare on Elm Street showing that we had Tivo'd a few months back. Movie starts out with this girl wandering around in this furnace area and Freddy stalking her and getting ready to do his thing. Kevin is freaking out...this part wasn't in any of the recaps or reviews that he's read, he doesn't know what's going to happen. "Dad, what's going to happen?" I don't know. "Dad, can you watch it and then tell me what happens and then rewind it" No. "Dad, I don't think I'm old enough for this'. Ok, don't watch it.
We never did get to the end of that scene....he slowly edged out of the room, was watching the TV through the crack in the door, and then left before Freddy got close enough to do ???? (I still don't know, and don't remember, what happens next!)
Monday, October 29, 2007
They can all eat cake!
Christopher, after dinner: "Dad, can I have some cake?" (Suzanne made a halloween cake last night....Dad called 'dibs' on the bowl for the leftover cake batter, but, sadly, it accidentally ended up in the dishwater before the cake batter could be removed from it)
Dad: "No, we just ate dinner"
Cpher leaves, stage right. Dad continues to listen to the Spaniels "Goodnight, Sweatheart, Goodnight" with Matthew......after a quick tour through some oldies with Matthew, walk out to the kitchen, where, the Exhibit (Marked People's Exhibit #1 by the Prosecution) was in plain view.
Dad: "Christopher!" Stomps upstairs as he hears Cpher: "yeah?"
Dad: "Did you get some cake?!?"
Cpher: Sheepish look "yeah...."
Dad: "Did you eat it all?"
Cpher: "no...."
Dad: "Where is it?" Cpher points to other room....Wiley up on bed, eating leftover crumbs off of plate.
Dad: "Aaaaagh!" Wiley chased off, Christopher banished to his room.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Weekend Update
Kevin: Book Report woes conquer all......
Christopher: Lots of hand-drawn pictures with the arrival of the desk in the boys room. Lost our final outdoor soccer game of the year (had a *ton* of chances to score, and didn't convert, and then finally the other team did).
Matthew: Flag football season ended today....a few stiff-arms, a pass completion, and some long runs......
Current Book(s): "Horizon Storms" by Kevin Anderson and "The Looming Tower" by Lawrence Wright". Horizon storms is a sci-fi epic, Looming Tower is the story of the Al-Qaeda and the road to 9/11.
Christopher: Lots of hand-drawn pictures with the arrival of the desk in the boys room. Lost our final outdoor soccer game of the year (had a *ton* of chances to score, and didn't convert, and then finally the other team did).
Matthew: Flag football season ended today....a few stiff-arms, a pass completion, and some long runs......
Current Book(s): "Horizon Storms" by Kevin Anderson and "The Looming Tower" by Lawrence Wright". Horizon storms is a sci-fi epic, Looming Tower is the story of the Al-Qaeda and the road to 9/11.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Poway 2005
So, two years ago I was in San Diego working for FEMA as the region recovered from weeks of torrential rains. These rains, after the Cedar Fire in 2004 had burnt off a lot of the vegetation, caused lots of erosion damage.
I took this picture at the top of Iron Mountain Peak; it's about a 90 minute hike from the trailhead on Highway 67 to the top.
The map is from the fires, October 2007....the top of Iron Mountain is in between the numbers 1191 and 1992 on the map (just east of Highway 67). The picture I took was looking, I think, northeast......that view's a lot different today, obviously.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Time to grow up
One nice thing about middle school is that many of Kevin's grades are posted online. While some teachers don't use this feature all that much, Kevin's math teacher uses it constantly. He had taken a math test last Monday, his second of the year. His first test was ok....he should have done a lot better so we made sure he studied for this one. So, by Friday, he hadn't received the results, and there, in the email, it came through. 102/100.
So, I pick him up from school, quizzed him to see if he had brought everything home from school that he need for the weekend, and told him we'd be going to Starbucks for some hot chocolate.
D: "do you know why?"
K: "because I remembered all of my items"
D: "Noooo"
K: "Oh, my math test. How did you know?!?"
blah blah blah
D: "See what happens when you study? You'll have to make sure to study for all your tests from now on"
K: "Why??? Waaah"
D: "It's not elementary school....time to grow up now"
Saturday update: Kevin soccer. Goal posted here if you're interested.....
http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=3eb3faa429a341aa2c55d7&skin_id=601&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=email
Went to Uncle John's Cider Mill.....pumpkins procured, fruit flung (really! by slingshot even..), apple cider swallowed.
Penn State wins. Good. Penn State FB players arrested. Bad. Joepa "road rage"? Hilarious....
So, I pick him up from school, quizzed him to see if he had brought everything home from school that he need for the weekend, and told him we'd be going to Starbucks for some hot chocolate.
D: "do you know why?"
K: "because I remembered all of my items"
D: "Noooo"
K: "Oh, my math test. How did you know?!?"
blah blah blah
D: "See what happens when you study? You'll have to make sure to study for all your tests from now on"
K: "Why??? Waaah"
D: "It's not elementary school....time to grow up now"
Saturday update: Kevin soccer. Goal posted here if you're interested.....
http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=3eb3faa429a341aa2c55d7&skin_id=601&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=email
Went to Uncle John's Cider Mill.....pumpkins procured, fruit flung (really! by slingshot even..), apple cider swallowed.
Penn State wins. Good. Penn State FB players arrested. Bad. Joepa "road rage"? Hilarious....
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
The start of a blog
Why not? We'll see how long I do it before the family figures out I've started one. Or if I can find the time to keep adding to it.
Dad update: had lunch at Bennett Woods with the boys today. Volunteered to help with the tickets for the upcoming musical, had a meeting about that. Came home to find a letter in the mail from my Dad....quite a shock (but quite harmless in the end...just some clippings of a Steeler article in last Sunday's Post-Gazette)
Song o' the day: "Our Life is Not a Movie But Maybe" - Okkervil River
Book o' the day: Have bookmarks planted in two of them currently, "The Landscape Turned Red: The Battle of Antietam" by Stephen Sears and "A Forest of Stars" by Kevin Anderson
Cpher update: Stung by a bee at recess today, did well on his spelling test
Matthew update: hit his head at school today (bad day at Bennett Woods for the boys!); totally engrossed in Backyard Football on the PC
Kevin update: No homework today. Really. oOff at the 6th grade Haunted Hay ride.
Dad update: had lunch at Bennett Woods with the boys today. Volunteered to help with the tickets for the upcoming musical, had a meeting about that. Came home to find a letter in the mail from my Dad....quite a shock (but quite harmless in the end...just some clippings of a Steeler article in last Sunday's Post-Gazette)
Song o' the day: "Our Life is Not a Movie But Maybe" - Okkervil River
Book o' the day: Have bookmarks planted in two of them currently, "The Landscape Turned Red: The Battle of Antietam" by Stephen Sears and "A Forest of Stars" by Kevin Anderson
Cpher update: Stung by a bee at recess today, did well on his spelling test
Matthew update: hit his head at school today (bad day at Bennett Woods for the boys!); totally engrossed in Backyard Football on the PC
Kevin update: No homework today. Really. oOff at the 6th grade Haunted Hay ride.
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