A Year of Change

Remember when you were a kid and laughed at hump day? I hope you know now that they call it that because it’s the middle day of the week.

I just made it home from the gym, the car wash and the grocery store and it’s 6:30am. I’m taking the misses dentist appointment in an hour as she doesn’t feel up to going. She does have physical therapy at 10 downtown. Yesterday we went to the IME (independent medical examiner) up in Thornton. It was pretty painless and mostly consisted of questions. There was little if any sort of physical exam as he just looked at her neck and felt the top of her back and that was it. We expected more of a hassle. Who knows what’ll happen now, we just want the misses head to feel better. Of course it was worse the rest of the day as he made he look down and to the side which causes pain.

We then ran to get me a haircut and return a coat to Nordstroms that fell apart on my trip. Both boys had their haircuts later in the day after school with the youngest getting a buzz cut. Tonight he has his first basketball game at 7pm.

Tomorrow I fly to Seattle at 8:20 in the morning and will be back in Denver at 10:30 in the evening. It’ll be a long day but it’s better than spending the night.

I only have 45 minutes until I need to be at the dentist, (I hate the dentist) so I’d better run. Everyone in the house is itching, some more than others. The youngest has a rash and we can’t figure out what it is, oh well, everything goes away sooner or later.

Take care and God Bless,

Today the kids are back to school, the misses has a doctor appointment at a doctor the opposing council on her workman’s comp case is making us go to, I have 20 re-caps I need to get out to winemakers in Italy, everyone still needs a haircut and we have a bunch of bills to pay. Lacey the lab woke me at 4:23 am barking for breakfast which is probably a good thing with all I have to do. It’ll be in the mid 60’s today and almost 70 tomorrow. Hard to believe it’s January. It’s also really really dry outside, so much that they say we need to water the trees.

Yesterday was work work work along with a trip to the sporting goods store for new tennis shoes for the boys. We headed downtown at 4:30 for a meeting with our friend the doctor to discuss her skin care line that we’ve been working on for 6 months with her. By 7 or so, we arrived at home and Mom made some fish tacos for dinner.

Maybe the misses will write some more when she wakes up as I need to run and get some of those re-caps finished. Hope you all are well, have a great day.

Well at least the San Francisco 49’rs are Super Bowl bound. I’m still not over the Denver loss and think they would have beat the Patriots after watching last nights AFC game. Oh well, the NFL draft is only about 90 days away. For the misses, Grandpa Bob and all others in California, I hope the niners win.

Here’s a comment from yesterday’s post from Annette,

We are all rooting for the 49er’s today.  I’m sure all of our family in California will be glued to the t.v. for the NFC Championship game. I really hope they win!

The oldest had his baseball tryout yesterday, and did very well fielding and had a good showing at bat…especially since he hasn’t picked up a bat in the last 4 years.  Already the lobbying antics of coaches were in full force.  One boy at tryouts had played on another team for the last 4 or so years and the coaches went over to his dad one at a time to list the reasons why he should play for them.  I hope our team is not the crazy competitive type…just competitively fun.

The Mister had most of the Christmas lights down by the time I got up, so after the tryouts we took down the garland and de-Christmased the rest of the exterior of our home.  I took everything up to the attic and stored the attic ladder that has been obstructing our garage door since early November. Now we can once again clean our garage.

Uncle T and Aunti B came over to bring the youngest his birthday gifts.  He loved everything, especially a stuffed animal that he said he wanted.  Aunti B searched and searched for this plush collectors stuffed blue “My Little Pony”.  The look on our 9 year old’s face was priceless!  Good thing Uncle T reminded me to get my camera ready when the gift was opened or I may have missed the photo opp.  Our kiddo told us all that he had been joking about wanting a stuffed animal but the pony soon made it’s way to our youngest’s shoulder where the he rode around most of the day.

The Mr. made breakfast for all of us this morning..Thank you, Honey!  The boys are lounging on either side of me..not much room with all the legs and the Mr. is now cleaning the kitchen…thank you again!

I think our plan for the day is a sportsman’s show and a family hike.  Have a great day…Go Niners…and

God Bless

Both boys went to birthday parties yesterday after school and as it turned out, both were going to sleep overs. Not knowing what to do with our alone time, the misses and I had a quick salad and steak by candle light (the misses idea!) and headed off to see the new James Bond movie, Skyfall. About 5 minutes before it was over my phone rang, (it was on vibrate) and it was the oldest telling me he was getting a rash as the classmate whose house he was at had cats to which he’s allergic. So we picked him up 10 minutes later which is for the best as he has baseball tryouts this morning and needed his sleep. Meanwhile the youngest spent the night at his friends house who also had a birthday party yesterday.

I almost fell asleep in the movie about half way through due to jet lag. A quick trip to the snack bar woke me up but it always takes a couple of nights to get back to normal.

I ran to Boulder yesterday morning and after a $$ stop at the grocery store, was home a bit before noon. I need to take down the christmas lights today after baseball tryouts before the weather changes which it always does. Today at 2 we’ll also have the youngest guys family birthday party as Grandma and Uncle T and Aunt B have some presents for him.

We’d like to go to the stock show and see some horses and cattle so maybe well get that in tomorrow. I’m pretty much through with football until the Super Bowl but will cheer for the 49’rs.

That’s about it, maybe the misses will write something. I could go into bills, politics, gun control and more but am trying to block it all out. We’re praying for some big changes this year and so far, things look promising. We’ll keep you posted. Take care, have a great weekend and God Bless.

After 20 and 1/2 hours of flying I finally arrived at Denver International Airport at 7:15pm last night. I had left Florence Italy some 21 hours or so earlier on the long journey. I made it to Frankfurt Germany ok but then was delayed due to light snow, de-icing and apparently waiting for a half a dozen passengers from a connecting flight. That coupled with fierce headwinds of 200 kilometers an hour resulted in a 9 and 1/2 hour flight to Dulles (Washington D.C.) and me missing my connection to Denver. Upon landing I was told they had me on a noon flight today which I would have been on had I not been the type of person to question authority. I kindly but sternly told the lady at the connection desk that that just would not work for me. Magically I was on a flight 60 minutes later but in seat 34B which is in the middle in the back. I didn’t much care as I was just happy to make it home on Ty’s birthday.

The trip was long but successful. We had a couple mishaps including Antonio rolling his Fiat and ending up in the hospital and Luisa going into town one night alone and supposedly being drugged and robbed at a bar (long story!) before also ending up in the hospital! Throw in a late night or two including one until 3:30am watching the Bronco’s lose (WTF) and it made for a long long trip. Yes it was Italy but I might have well have been in a hotel in Cincinnati as I didn’t see much else but the inside of an office.

I sure enjoyed the misses writing while I was gone, as I’m sure you did too, and will have to get here to continue as she paints a much prettier picture of life and tells more about the kids and our life than I do. She joked she was going to drift into politics several times but waited for me to get back!

I woke this morning just before 4am and feel pretty good. I fell asleep a bit after 9pm so I snuck in 7 hours or so. I’ve started the laundry, fed the dogs and will soon head to the gym. Both boys have literally grown in the 8 days since I left. They look and act so much older and were happy to see me at the airport. Both boys ran up to me and almost knocked me over when I walked out of the terminal. My lovely wife looks great as usual and everything here at home was fine. I’ll have to give her some kind of break this weekend and take the boys somewhere and send her to the spa or something. Both boys have birthday party’s tonight with the oldest guy having a sleep over. I’d prefer he stay home as I miss him and he also has baseball tryouts tomorrow morning as you know a bunch of 11 year olds are not going to go to sleep early!

Well my second cup of strong coffee is kicking in so I should get ready and head to the gym before I miss my window. In Italy I start the day with 2 doppio (double) espresso’s so a couple cups of coffee here is about the same dose. The boys have Monday off (Martin Luther King Day) and except for a call at 9am and a meeting at 10am and one at 5pm (who scheduled that one!) I’m going to try to spend the day with the kids. Maybe we’ll go to the stock show!

Hope everyone is well, it’s great to be home, 8 days without my family is just too long for all of us but sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. Take care, stay safe and God Bless.

The Dawn of Time…and…220,000,000B.C.,       Ty’s cake minus the black frosting.

My gosh time really does fly.  I feel like just yesterday we were readying ourselves for Kindergarten and already we are in the latter half of 3rd grade and my youngest is 9 years old today. I keep looking through photos from the last three or so years and the boys growth is unbelievable.  I’m reminding myself daily to live in and enjoy the moment, because the moments are too rapidly speeding by.

The oldest and I woke the birthday boy with a big “Happy Birthday!” and an early birthday gift….a small Lego that the youngest has already put together and he is now happily playing with.  I’ll make a cake this afternoon, so he can have birthday cake with Dad when Daddy gets home tonight.  We are picking Dad up from the airport at 6:30 and hopefully we will be home by 7p.m.  t will be so nice to have him home.  We’ve all really missed him.

The boys have there first creative class after school today.  I really hope they enjoy the class and the teachers.  Both boys really like their principal and he is teaching part of the course…I’m hoping his presence will create inspiration for writing.

The kiddos both have birthday parties to attend tomorrow.  The youngest goes to his buddy, Scott’s party directly after school, 3-5 and the oldest hits his at 6p.m.  That is a small window for a family party, so I will be checking schedules for Saturday around 4:00p.m. The youngest just told me that he would like a confetti cake with black frosting, colorful sprinkles and “Happy Birthday Ty” written in orange, blue and white.  The black frosting may be my only challenge…that and time.

Tomorrow is “Decades Day” at school…which means the kiddos need costumes that represent their favorite decade. The oldest has decided 2-3 million b.c. (give or take a decade or two)for his favorite  decade, thus…a caveman costume.  I bought the fabric yesterday and I’ll put the costume together sometime today. I have a giant buffalo bone that he can carry, since weapons(club) are not allowed. The birthday boy wants to be “The Big Bang” or “Dawn of Time”.  He also had me call Uncle Larry to check out a favorite decade from a Scientist’s point of view.  Uncle L suggested we look at the 1920’s…relativity and quantum mechanics.  We did that and the youngest thought about dressing as Albert Einstein, however, this morning he is back to the “Dawn of Time”. I think I’ll make both…I need to cover my bum!  Albert shouldn’t be too difficult…a mustache, crazy hair, suit and tie with a mini chalk board with E=mc2  (squared)written on it.  “Dawn of Time”…I have a few ideas and hopefully I can bring one of them to fruition sometime today.

Time to go…exercise, clean, laundry, pick up the mirror, make a cake and create a couple of costumes:-) The kids won’t be home until 3:45p.m. for those of you giving a birthday call.

P.S. Here is a picture of my hubby to evoke a chuckle for your tummy!

God Bless,

LLF

I’m wake at 0’dark thirty due to my barking pal.  Apparently when she eats dinner a half an hour earlier than her normal schedule she wants..demands her breakfast an hour and a half earlier.  That math just doesn’t quite work.  Oh well being up this early gives me a little quiet time to enjoy.

I was just about to get some exercise yesterday when the phone rang and the school was calling.  The oldest was in the clinic felling very nauseous, so off I went to retrieve him from school.  He stayed in his bed reading and completing homework that his teachers gave him.  At 11:30 we had to run a few errands including the bank, the toy store, the book store and a quick return at the grocery store.  The oldest finished the Harry Potter series, so I bought him a new book…The Tales of Beedle the Bard (a character from Harry Potter).  He really wants to read War and Peace, as I remember the book..it was a bit difficult to follow and very long.  Who am I to discourage his ambition?  I think I will check that book out from the Public Library.

The boys were lounging on the couch on Sunday…all legs.  I thought I would post a picture so you all may see how they grow on a daily basis, and so daddy may see his boys just hanging out.

My Dad’s buddy…college room mate..passed away yesterday.  I can remember all the pranks they would play on each other all the way through adulthood.  The men(boys at heart) had an ongoing bet on the Cal vs.Stanford game and the winner would do something to the loser.  The first memory I have of these pranks is when I was 3.  Kenny, my Dad’s great friend T.P.’d (toilet papered) our house on Southgate road.  We had two huge oak trees in the front yard and I don’t think Kenny missed a branch.  One of the years that my Dad’s team won he took me with him to Kenny’s to return the prank.  I was really young and boy was sneaking around quietly trying not to get caught fun.  It must have been only 8’o’clock at night, so you can imagine how quiet we had to be.  I was laughing so loudly inside that had a giggle escaped we would have been doomed.  One year Kenny and his boys caught us and Kenny’s  wife, Marion was standing in the front doorway holding back a laugh of her own.  Marion is a lovely, sweet and quite “proper” as I remember her..I think they invited us in after we were “busted”.  My memories may not be exact, but I do cherish what I do remember of the rivalry that included bragging rights for an entire year. Great memories, and I am so very sad for my Dad’s loss.

I need to wake the boys…the oldest is quite ticked off at me because I called his name instead of going up to his room to wake him. Wait until he comes downstairs and realizes the time is 25 minutes later than he wanted to get up.  Boy am I in for some attitude.  The youngest was up late due to an itchy rash, so he is going to be in a pleasant mood as well.  At least the dogs are now quite happy…

Uh oh..time to go I hear stomping feet coming down the stairs.

God Bless and please keep my Dad and Mom in your prayers.  My mom was supportive of the friendship including pranks for I’m guessing 50 years. So, this is a difficult loss for her too.

Love to all,

LLF

Gazing out the window the sunrise is stunning.  Brilliant colors of pinks and golds with a dash of lavender on the horizon. The temperature outside is frightful!  I just filled the big dog’s water and when it splashed over the side the water immediately turned to ice.  Mojo seems to really enjoy these colder than cold temperatures.  He didn’t want to come back in after his breakfast, as is the norm on most mornings.  Last night was-6 when I went to bed and the temps were expected to drop to 20 and 30 below in surrounding areas with the wind chill making it 50 to 60 below.  Yikes!  I hung a heavy table cloth over one  window and a towel over another…all I need now is a mustard stain on my shirt and a missing tooth in my smile and the look will be complete.

Two days left until the youngest’s ninth birthday.  I haven’t figured out what we are doing for his party….the family party will have to be Friday after Chess Club sometime around 4:30.  The birthday boy wants to have a sleepover with 4 wild boys at our house…no way… I can’t do it!  I am hoping he decides on an ice skating party..fun, easy and the kids are worn out when the party is over.

The oldest has a birthday sleepover Friday night and baseball tryouts on Saturday morning.  He thought ha may like to play lacrosse, but now that he has been playing lacrosse in p.e. he’s decided on baseball.  A friend of ours said with his height the coaches won’t care about skill level at this age they will just want to get him on their team.  The league holds tryouts and an actual draft starting at 9years old. Wow, I feel like I am behind the 8 ball, because we took some time off of league sports.  Swim team is a given for summer, however, the winter swim team was full and we missed out.  They don’t seem any worse for missing out. The youngest wants to play ice hockey.  That is a commitment.

No one commented on the pictures I posted…what’s up?

Both boys have signed up for an after school writing program, tuesdays and thursdays from 2:45-3:30.  Our school’s principal and a few teachers are putting on this program to inspire more creative writing from students that are interested.   The first class is on the 17th..youngest guys birthday and since we don’t pick dad up from the airport until 6p.m. that should work out just fine.

I am off to take the kiddos out in the frozen cold air.  Have a great day!

God Bless,

P.S. I brushed Lacey for five minutes and look what came off…eww.

LLf

Good morning…the oldest wanted me to wake him at 6:30…I tried.  He actually made it downstairs at 6:55 and is munching on his breakfast.  The dogs are at his feet begging for scraps.  The youngest is still in dreamland.  I made a few attempts at rousting him to no avail.  He must be growing.

I took the boys to The Hobbit.  The kiddos really enjoyed the film until the end when my oldest jumped out of his seat and said, “Are you kidding me!”. There was hushed giggles from the audience.  I explained on the ride home that there are three books(journeys) in The Hobbit series and we may get the books to read before the next movie comes out.  The cinematography and graphics in the film were amazing. From the Shire(where the Hobbits Live) through the forests to the home of the Elf King all captivating images.  The home of the elves in Middle Earth reminded me of the vintage Maxfield Parrish artwork…I’ll let you all give feedback on your thoughts of the attached photos…just the artist I immediately thought of while watching this part of the movie. Actually, if one was to look through  Maxfield Parrish’s body of work inspiration for the cinematography may have been born there.

The big dog stealthily made his way upstairs and tried out the comfort of each of our beds.  He seems to have chosen Papa Bears bed as the most comfy. He has absolutely no regard for the words down, off, or no.  He just smiles…really…smiles at me and waits for me to put my weight and will against his.  Treats and food are the only motivation for him to jump down.  Now, I have three rooms…make that four rooms of bedding to wash..eventually…I have to get to the guest bed which said big dog checked out as well. Yea, me!!

The kiddos and I watched Once Upon a Time and then drifted off to sleep.

Have a great day and God Bless