Back

We are back from London and I'm getting ready to take the next kid to Chicago. Dylan and I had a great time and are pretty exhausted but happy to be home with Sam and Momma. He thanked me for the trip on the drive home from the airport but I think I got more out of it than he did.

High Street

A happy crowd on High Street Tottenham after a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace.

Big Ben Selfie

Dodgems

Sam and Dylan loved this place in 2012. Dylan still loved it today.

Brentford FC

We both slept over 10 hours last night which is a new record for Dylan. We were up for close to 30 hours on Thursday/Friday with a lot of activity so it wasn't surprising. Our first stop this morning as a rib boat tour on the Thames. This a really fast boat with some irreverent tour guides. It was a blast. We moved on to dodgems (bumper cars) at a place near the London Eye that we found when all four of us were here in 2012.

We then hit the tube to South Ealing to catch a Brentwood FC football game. It's a second division team about halfway to Heathrow in a quiet little section of London. Our guide at Wembley told us yesterday that Griffin Park is the only pitch in England with a pub on all four corners, just outside the gates. We had lunch at one of them. It's a great little field that handles about 12 thousand people which made it very fun to see the game a couple rows up from the pitch.

We made it back to the hotel by 6, hung out a little then went to dinner in the neighborhood. We are having a great time. Need to get some sleep now, Tottenham game tomorrow.

Presser

Where the players and coaches will answer to the people.

Wembley

Too tired to post anything useful. The private Wembley tour was fun.

Just Because

Soccer Starts

The boys played their first soccer game in almost a year and a half and now they play the full field with 11 men. They last played in the fall of 5th grade and it was basically half fields with 7 but it goes full field in 7th/8th grade. A lot more running involved but the boys did well. Sam played a boring half in goal, no shots or saves and he only touched it twice. He then played a half in the defense where he did a great job clearing the zone. Dylan played striker, mid field and defense. He was passing well and had a couple shots on goal. They both looked really good out there and the team won 3-0.

The Daddy and Donald

On to my 52nd year and more fun with Nicole and the boys. I really appreciate all the nice cards and gifts from everyone and while a mid week birthday is never a wild day, I was very happy to spend it with the family, here at home. I'm a lucky guy.

Middle Schoolers

The first day of 7th grade went well. They figured out how maneuver to all their different classes and came home in one piece.

Time to Turn

A few leaves in the yard are starting to turn. We are heading into my favorite time of the year where the fireplace is burning and the leaves are turning. September is still basically summer, particularly around here but the signs are in the air. I would rate this summer as hot, but not out of control hot hot which was nice but I'm looking forward to those chilly, open window nights coming this way in a few short weeks.

The boys are heading back to school tomorrow and there is a lot of nervous excitement about a new school in the house. I think they are going to do great.

First Phone Numbers

I got the kids their first phone numbers today. Yes, they have a couple of our old iPhones with new numbers and if they can manage to not break or lose these, we will get them new iPhones this winter. The funny part was that we went into the ATT store and gave them the phones and just let the store representative pick the new numbers. She knew they were twins but not which one was older. She gave us the new numbers that were identical except for the last number, Dylan' ends with 5148 and Sam's 5149 or one digit higher, like the 1 minute difference on their birth certificates.

Anyway, email me if you want their new numbers and I will send them to you.



Sent from my iPad

Still Friends

They spent a lot of time together over four days but they still seem to enjoy each other's company. My only disappointment is that they didn't put on a show in the basement. Uncle Tony needs to join us next time and direct a new Laundry Room Players production.

Newseum

The boys were up till 2am last night watching movies and telling inappropriate stories so didn't emerge from the basement until around 10am. We spent a few hours at the Newseum which was better than I expected then came back here before dinner and a ghost tour in old town. We are going to miss our the cousins.

FDR

Here are the kids contemplating the legacy of Franklin Delano Roosevelt at the FDR Memorial yesterday. This was just one of many stops. They took in the Holocaust and Spy Museums today. It didn't wear them out so much that they couldn't have a nerd gun battle the minute they walked in the door. We are staying in and cooking burgers tonight then out tomorrow for dinner and a private ghost tour in old town. I'm not sure what our day trip will be tomorrow morning but I know that Dylan and Sam will miss their cousins when they head home on Wednesday.

On the Town

Del Ray for Mexican food tonight, then the Fairy Godmother for dessert.

Cousins

A lovely selfie from Dylan and Mae.

The Mall

Rachel, Finn and Mae got in late last night and the boys stayed up late messing around in the basement. I got them up early and marched them about 4 miles to see a half dozen monuments and memorials on the Mall. Everyone seems to be having fun.

Spring Photo

Sam's last portrait in grade school.

Spring Photo

Dylan's last portrait in grade school.

Codzilla

Before we had one wet ride. It was fun and exactly the kind of thing 12 year old boys enjoy.

Swan Boats

The boys didn't enjoy the Swan Boats as much as Codzilla but they tolerated them for Momma.

Back from Boston

I'm glad to be home after 7 days in Boston, 5 of them with Nicole and the boys. We saw a lot of the town and many spots on the Freedom Trail. I think the kids got a good feel for the city and I saw a few things I hadn't seen on a few dozen previous visits. It was hot but not terrible for touring, baseball and boat rides. Nicole was able to borrow a kneeling scooter from our friend Larry which helped a lot. She still had to push herself around with one foot but going down hill was much easier.

Make way for Sam

...via PhotoToaster, using these settings.

Sent from my iPad

Make way for Dylan

...via PhotoToaster, using these settings.

Sent from my iPad

Fenway

We met the Wards for a Red Sox game at Fenway Park tonight. It was the boys first trip to this historic stadium and we had a great time watching the Sox jack four home runs.

Did They Ever Return?

No, they never returned.... They will ride forever beneath the streets of Boston. We took the T a couple times today and saw the USS Constitution. It's hot out there, like DC this time of year but further north.

Old Statehouse

Dylan is not impressed with Sam's legislating at the Old Statehouse in Boston. We saw the Old North Church, the Paul Revere house, Faneuil Hall, the Boston Massacre site and the Old Statehouse today. We are off to see our friends at Babson tonight then it's back to work for me tomorrow and Nicole and the boys to see more of Boston.

Ice Cream Break

Momma is having a hard time getting around but we made it to Boston Commons with a stop off for ice cream after dinner. It had been a week since I'd seen the "little" guys and I'm looking forward to hanging with them in Boston the next few days.

ACS Meeting

Another ACS meeting, this time in Boston. I've done a couple of the regular activities and have another meeting tomorrow morning, then Nicole and the boys show up for some freedom trail fun and a Red Sox game.

Cabin Boys

The boys dodged some rain on Monday and Tuesday but have perfect weather today and the rest of the week. 80's with low humidity will make sleeping in those rustic cabins quite nice I bet. Cool, low humidity days are not common around here in August, they are getting pretty lucky.

Book of Mormon

I've had the soundtrack for years but got to put the songs with the staging together tonight at the Kennedy Center with Carrie and Mike. It was a bunch of fun.

Off to Camp

We dropped then off at Tockwogh today and while they seemed a little subdued, I think they will be back on the groove in no time. This will be their third time at this sleep away camp and they have their friend Timmy with them. They also have a couple kids from Steve and Patty's street in Catonsville in their cabin. We learned about this camp from them a few years ago. I hope it's a fun week for the little monkeys. I miss them already.

Mid Summer Lull

The boys had no camp this week and spent most of it at home or running errands with Nicole. I unfortunately had a full week of meeting until today and was at work most of the week. I was at home today and found some time to hang with the little guys. They have another day here and then they are off to sleep away camp in Maryland. They seem to like that camp and the freedom of being on their own, sorta. We miss them, of course but Nicole and I have tickets to see Book of Mormon at the Kennedy Center on Tuesday and a Counting Crows concert at Wolf Trap on Thursday. That should keep us busy.

Sent from my iPad

One for Two

Our last tournament of the year started out rough with a 9am debacle of a game. Our pitching was abysmal and the defense was horrible. We ended up losing by double digits and the boys were pretty depressed. The second game was much better and close all the way until Dylan scored the winning run off a Gio double with two outs in the bottom of the last inning. It was quite exciting and got all the boys back into the season and a game or two tomorrow.

No Basketball August

The boys finished their last of four basketball camps today and while Dylan out scored Sam on the camp evaluation, Sam earned the best rebounder trophy. Sam is a good rebounder, as is Dylan. They should have shared the award. I'm proud of both regardless. It is time to put down the basketball for a month and do other things. They also have one last baseball tournament this weekend and then we are completely done with team events until soccer and basketball start up after Labor Day.

Summer Ball

The Patriots won the summer league and were top seeds in the playoffs but we got knocked out by an inferior team we had beaten three times in the last 9 months. They were hitting everything and we had a ref determined to get Sam out of the game with fouls. Both things combined to sink us 58-55. It was a shame but it was only summer league and we were missing a key player.

The boys played hard the entire game and while disappointed, they held together well. I almost lost it when the other teams coach questioned my integrity (claiming I was't marking fouls correctly) while keeping the score book but I forced him to apologize which he wasn't thrilled about but he realized he had no choice. He's a jackass.

At this point we are in basketball hiatus until September which is good. They need a little break before practices start again in a month and games begin in November.

Ice Cream Taco

The boys are back in town.

Home Alone

The boys have been in California since Saturday and Nicole has been out there since Wednesday. I've had two days in the house by myself and I'm finding it difficult to entertain myself. It's an odd feeling to be here by myself and I miss the crew. I think I'm going to binge on movies tonight and eat waffles and sausage for dinner. Yeah, that's the plan.

Sent from my iPad

U2

Good show but a little too packaged up and sold as some sort of un- followable story. They do have some really good songs.

Hedwig

We trained up to New York on Saturday and met Patty and Steve for Hedwig and the Angry Inch. It was a good show but it was hard to process at first since I was a big fan of the movie. All and all it was very entertaining in a Rocky Horror or Passing Strange kind of way. It was obvious that a fair amount of people seem the show before.

The boys left for California with grandma a couple hours after we left and made it there about the time we were sitting down for some dinner after the show. They have another week of basketball camp in front of them. This time the Golden State Warriors camp.

Patriot Fans

The boys played their 3rd basketball game of the week tonight and won again. They both played well and combined for 11 points, Dylan hitting a nice three pointer early in the game. The team has had a pretty successful summer season. Playoffs begin in a week or so.

Dinner dates

Some shots from our last dinner in Chesapeake.

Fun Weekend

We are back from Chesapeake without a win in the tournament but some good memories. We ended up losing a rain postponed game the morning 7-6 but the boys played well. It was a nice little getaway.

On the Mound

Sam eyeing a strike.

He's Out

Dylan fielding a hard grounder to first and getting to the base before the runner.

Better Outing

The Legend had a game at 11 this morning and after 6 and a half innings they are tied at 6 and scheduled to finish the game tomorrow morning. Rain rolled in and shut down play for the rest of the day. The boys looked much better today with Dylan making some clutch plays at first, Sam hitting a home run and pitching three successful innings. We are up against a wall with the tourney and will likely be heading home around noon or sooner in the morning.

Tough Game

Everything started well with the Legends scoring 3 runs and Sam shutting Glenn Allen down in the first but then the wheels came off. Sam lost the strike zone, fielding was horrible and the bats fell silent. We ended up losing 18-3 in four innings. We go back at it at 11am this morning.

Long Journey to the State Tournament

Here they are in 2nd grade. I think they still enjoy the game that much.

Character

We only had five kids tonight against a team that brought 12. While we lost 50-40 it was a pretty close game considering Dylan, Sam, Scott, Jacob and Marco had to play the whole game. They were pretty winded at the end but we're closing in before they just ran out of juice.

Above a Rainbow

If you look really hard you can see the rainbow we flew above on our way back to DC today. It was a very empty and on time flight. We had a great time in Minnesota but it's good to be home.

Kids Table