Monday, December 31, 2018

Resolutions

Someone got up early and wrote down some resolutions with her running gang.

Friday, December 28, 2018

Snowport

We got to the airport on Wednesday night about 10 minutes before this mess showed up. Spent some time on the runway being de-iced but only ended up being about 45 minutes late getting home. Still, we didn't get to our beds until 1:30 am so we were all pretty tired yesterday.

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Winter Walk

We ended up running around on a small lake near by during a walk on Christmas Day. The boys left Kevin because they don't not get to walk on frozen lakes much. I grew up on them.

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Badger Christmas

Jeff and Karen went full Wisconsin on the kids this year. It offered a theme for this years fireplace shot.

Monday, December 24, 2018

White Christmas

Maybe an inch on the ground but it counts as a white Christmas. Big storm heading here the day we leave.

Sunday, December 23, 2018

My Buddies

Got called up for some audience participation tonight at Triple Expresso in St. Paul. I did my duty and played along. It was a fun show and I got a nice picture with my co-stars.

Minnesota

A festive house in hopkins with a little snow on the ground. This display must take a lot of work.

Friday, December 21, 2018

Tale of Two Quarters

The boys played well in the 2nd and 4th quarters tonight. It was enough to win. Sam had a half dozen rebounds and 2 points. He was disappointed in the scoring column.

Saturday, December 15, 2018

Patrick

Patrick has been cutting my and Nicole's hair for 20 years and probably gave the boys their first real haircut as toddlers. It had been a while since he's worked on them because his salon is in DC and it's easier to go down the street to the barbers shop than into the city. Patrick looks so little now.

Sunday, December 09, 2018

Hanukkah

Lots of fire with three menorahs.

I don’t know

Found this on our shared photo stream. Nicole ran a 15k this morning and wore this. I was asleep when she left and gone when she returned. I didn't see the outfit in person.

Saturday, December 08, 2018

Early Track

Nicole dropped Sam at basketball practice and ran around a frosty field this morning. It's turning cold around here but we are missing a big snow storm by a hundred miles tomorrow. Parts of Virginia and North Carolina are getting 20 inches. We are getting nothing.

Friday, December 07, 2018

In the Groove

Sam had a rough game on Tuesday against Yorktown, as did all the Eagles. He and they rebounded tonight, and beat North Stafford by 20. Sam had a season high 6 points with 10 rebounds and a beautiful block for a charge. The boys were running on all cylinders tonight and are 3-1 for the season.

Tuesday, December 04, 2018

‘‘Tis the season

We are slowly, day by day adding ornaments. Too much kid activity to get it all done in one sitting.

Sunday, December 02, 2018

Tree Time

First night of Hanukkah and time for a tree.

Saturday, December 01, 2018

Having Fun



Sent from my iPhoneThe eagles went 2-0 for the season with a convincing win against the Mt. Vernon Majors. Sam played well, collecting 10 rebounds and scoring 3. He's still trying to find his rhythm on offense but he's getting there. This eagle team can show a lot of different looks and has a number of deep threats to manage. That should open up the middle a bit and give Sam many opportunities to score this season.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

One Down

Sam started last night in the Eagles first game against the rival Hayfield Hawks. The event is billed as the battle of the birds and is always the first game of the season. The eagles started out slow and trailed at halftime 28-50. They made that 22 point deficit to win on a buzzer beater 76-74.

Because the two high schools are only a couple miles apart. The players and fans know each other pretty well and the competitiveness is high. Holding this victory over the hawks heads for the next year will be satisfying after hawks holding the trophy from a 2 point victory in 2017.





Sent from my iPhone


Sent from my iPhone

Friday, November 23, 2018

Thanksgiving

Nice to have Tim, Stephanie and Rex nearby to join us for the first thanksgiving at home n the last 15 years. Nice to use the wedding china for the third or fourth time ever as well.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Boxing Out

Sam using his body to prevent the 6-10 get at the hoop. I think the team Tuesday only has a 6-8 guy. That should seem easy.

Tall Order

Winning the tip with a 6-10 center is tough. Sam gave it all he could. Played physical with him all game. This last scrimmage should get them ready for the first real game against arch rival Hayfield on Tuesday.

Friday, November 16, 2018

Hazmat

Snowy Thursday in November with a lone hazmat umbrella. Fun to get a little white stuff this early in the season. Not sure what that means for the rest of the winter. We've had a sorta snow drought the last few years but over 50 inches of rain so far in 2018. If the water keeps coming, it's bound to turn to snow at some point.

Saturday, November 10, 2018

Coaching Twins

Proud of these guys.

Champions

Two games and a brilliant game plan brings a championship. The boys were a little slow in the first game against the chiefs but didn't allow any points in a 12-0 win. The championship game was against a Seahawks team that beat them by 6 points two weeks ago. The boys adapted their game by listening to the coach of the Raiders (who lost to the Seahawks in the semifinal), one of their kids parents and a little advice from me.

It was good to see them seek and listen to advice to devise a way to completely destroy a team (36-6) that hadn't lost all year. A key to success is the ability to ask for help and listening to and using outside perspectives. They both did a great job of that and brought home gold after leading these boys to second place finish last year.

The parents were thrilled as well. They all gushed over the job the boys did with their kids.

Coach Dylan

The defense that Dylan coached gave up one touchdown in two games today. Hard to beat a team when you can't score.

Coach Sam

A devious grim while destroying the previously unbeaten Seahawks.

Thursday, November 08, 2018

Practice Gear

Sam got his new varsity practice uniform today. He loves new clothing. He can't wait to see the home jersey, away jersey, warm ups and shoes.

Fort Hunt Warriors Rugby Jacket

Dylan's birthday gift from Elaine showed up today. He's happy. He's happy with all his great gifts.

Tuesday, November 06, 2018

Sunday, November 04, 2018

Short days, long shadow

It's been a pretty lazy day around here. The extra sleep was nice. Dylan has rugby practice in a bit and Sam is heading to the movies. They have the next two days off school for teacher work days.

Saturday, November 03, 2018

Coach Conference

Dylan and I had a tough game while Sam played basketball. We really didn't need to win this game but it was nice to get the W regardless. Next week the boys take their team into the playoffs as the number 2 seed. It will be a fun day.

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Happy Halloween

Only one pumpkin this year. We've been busy. No trick or treaters anyway. Boo.

Sunday, October 28, 2018

Kicking Clinic

Dylan spent the morning learning all the various kinds of rugby kicking from the kicking coach for the Australian National team. He's really picking my up this game quickly.

Twofer

Nicole getting ready for her second marathon in October. I'm at a kicking clinic with Dylan and Sam is sleeping off his late night homecoming party.

Homecoming fun

Dylan, Mick and some freshman girls heading to homecoming.

Friday, October 26, 2018

God of Thunder

The sophomore float got first place.

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Thor

It was Marvel day. He will be recreating this character on the sophomore homecoming float tomorrow.

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Ted and Cool Cat?

It was animal day at school today. Dylan was he beer swilling, pot smoking Ted while Sam seems to be a cat of some sort. I wasn't home when they went to school so I'm not sure.

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Character Day

It's homecoming week and each day is a new opportunity to dress up. Charlie Brown and Ron Weasley from Gryffindor showed up for school today.

Sunday, October 21, 2018

Last Game?

Dylan is considering going all in with rugby and not trying out for winter basketball. The seasons overlap in December, January, February and he is way more passionate about rugby. He has played basketball for 10 years and I hate to see him put it behind him but he has to do what he thinks is right. He's found a nice family of players with fort hunt rugby and he wants to put all his energy into that club.

Saturday, October 13, 2018

First Fire

October 12, 2018.

It was a long, moist summer.

Early Austin

Left Austin at 7am on Friday to return to Fall in Virginia. Austin is a nice town for Texas. I hadn't been there for 30 plus years of so. I should probably go,back for south by Southwest one of these years. I've built two fires this this weekend and while it might be a little warm for it, I just couldn't resist. Lows around 50 and highs barely making it to 60. That's fire weather in my book.

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Tex Ass

The capitol of Texas in Austin. Lots of worse places in this state but let's hope that Beto starts making this a reasonable state.

Sunday, October 07, 2018

Chicago

Nicole completed another marathon today. It looked a little wet.

Extra Time

Dylan stayed to get some extra kicking in after practice tonight. The coach and a few kids stayed as well to help him. Rugby people are nice.

The Bills

Missing a couple but they still managed to get another big win.

Saturday, October 06, 2018

Hands Full

Sam had to deal with three guys on the Woodson basketball team 6-6 or taller today. He was up to the challenge and used his body to box out and frustrate the big men. The Eagles lost by 7 but played well for a fall league game.

Friday, October 05, 2018

Blackboard

It was hard to read in my backup camera in pitch black but a nice message in daylight.

Night Stalkers

Some of Nicole's running buddies invaded our property in the middle of the night to set up this little pre-Chicago Marathon gift and driveway message. I was a little freaked when I was heading to work at 6:30am. I immediately checked to see if we had been TP'd as well. Thankfully, not. It's nice that the 4 am running crew is cheering her on.

I took her to the airport a few hours ago and she has already landed safely in chitown.

Saturday, September 29, 2018

Sun

We gotten 10 inches of rain in September and are 20 above normal for the year. We finally got some blue sky and it's supposed to last all week. The boys lead their flag team to another route today. I think it was 42-12 or something like that. It appears the they don't play the other two good teams until the end of October. The Seahawks and Saints will be a real test for these boys. Sam played a basketball game this morning and got the win, Dylan has a game tomorrow and rugby practice in the afternoon. Saying goodbye to September and welcoming October when fire season typically starts.

Friday, September 28, 2018

Favorite Month

This guy got an early start on my favorite month and possibly my favorite holiday. It as good to see after a couple of days in the Supreme Court nomination nightmare. The whole thing makes me sad. So many opportunities missed that wold have saved us all from this nightmare. Trump must have other evil options that that don't have sexual assault in their history. Or maybe, nominate someone that just leans a little right and might get closer to an old two thirds majority of the once prestigious Senate. The Supreme Court isn't a political appointment.

Happy Halloween.