Happy New Year

Happy New Year
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

From a couple of monkey boys. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2012.

New Year Lights

New Year Lights
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Saw this treasure on the way back from the McCaricks party. Home with fire blazing for the rest of the year.

Thermal New Year

Thermal New Year
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Heading out for an early new year party then back here to hang out in front of the fire to see 2012 come on down.

New Shutters

The final few shutter arrived when we were gone and the house now has brand new shutters all the way around.  I also got the little S shaped "hold backs" to make sure we don't get them flapping around in the next hurricane. That was the demise of many of the old shutters. 

Minnesota Wild

Minnesota Wild
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

The Wild lost today but the boys loved the game. They ended up leaving with new sweatshirts and a puck that got over the glass. Good times.

Cinderella

Cinderella
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

A show at the Old Log Theater before the Wild game tonight.

Christmas Night

Christmas Night
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Yes, the Lutheran's have candles too. We had latkes and steak tonight with a very tasty salad. A play at the Old Log Theater and a Wild hockey game are on the agenda tomorrow.

Sixth Night

Sixth Night
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Besides being the 6th night of Hanukkah, it's a un-naturally warm Christmas Day. Rachel is lighting the candles tonight and the boys are still getting presents galore. We went to see Tin Tin this afternoon and it marked the only theater movie I've seen all year. I don't like movie theaters much but it all went well.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

The boys just begging to open presents. They finally did after a few more pictures and a phone call. Now they are all jazzed up to get the Santa gifts. The cookies and milk are out for the big man.

Down Time

Down Time
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Taking a break from the nerf gun wars and reading something on the iPad. Mae and Dylan fight all the time but then hang out really really well. Not sure what that's all about.

White Christmas?

White Christmas?
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Got a quick dusting of snow this morning but it's still pretty brown out there. At least we saw snow fall. We've had really snowy Christmases the last few years so it's time for a non-snowy one.

Squirt Hockey

Squirt Hockey
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Checking our the Orono vs St. Louis Park hockey game. The Orono Spartans are down 2-1 but Finn is hangin tough goal.

Early Flight

Early Flight
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Winter solstice

Winter solstice
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Tomorrow is the shortest day of the year and the beginning of the sun's climb higher in the sky each day. I like the long winter nights and look forward to many more of them over the next couple months. I suppose Spring will be a nice change when it comes but I never look forward to the dog days of summer.

Happy Hanukah

Happy Hanukah
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Dylan appears to be blinded by the two candle glow. Gonna be a lot of fire when we put together the advent wreath and menorah on christmas.

2011 School Pictures

The both look good but Sam has a little surfer dude curl happening in his shot.

Somewhat Fierce

Somewhat Fierce
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Jeff's old band played at his 50th birthday party at Mainstreets in Hopkins. Auto Body Experience played as well and the crowd of 125 had a good time as far as I can tell. I saws whole slew of people I haven't seen in years, including Roach, Cousins, Caroline and Andy, old neighbors and other folks I used to see all the time when I lived in Minnesota. I think Jeff had a good time even though I'm sure he was wishing it was him on bass up there. I wish he was too.

Mazzy and Finn

Mazzy and Finn
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Dinner tonight at a nice little Irish pub in the stop light free town of Maple Plain Minnesota. Mom, Dad, Rach and the kids. Minnesota has some snow but not a ton of it. I hope it whitens up a bit before we head back here in 10 days for Christmas. Jeff's 50th birthday party is tomorrow night and then I'm back to DC on Tuesday morning.

First Basketball Game

First Basketball Game
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Sam had to sit but Dylan was his typical Honey Badger self and stole 15 balls and scored 6 points. The little Cav's won 20 to 7 in a really good defensive effort. More scoring will happen when Sam is back in the groove.

Basketball Practice

Basketball Practice
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Sam is sitting out the second practice for the little Cavaliers. Sam and his scoring prowess will not be with the team until January, missing two games. He's really looking forward to getting back into action.

Polamalu

Polamalu
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Dylan doing his interpretation of Troy Polamalu.

Out Gunned Again

Out Gunned Again
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

My light display is not up to this standard but it didn't take me as long to do it either.

Railroaders

Railroaders
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

We took a trip over to Fairfax Station to see the annual model railroad display today and the boys got excited about model trains again.

Pain Deer

Pain Deer
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

A Dylan and Nicole creation.

Decorating the tree

Decorating the tree
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

These kids can really deck the halls.

Tree Time

Tree Time
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Picked up the tree today and will be decorating tonight. I have also put up the all the outside lights today and if I'm lucky will enjoy them until early February.

Funny as a Crutch

Funny as a Crutch
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

The new X-rays still look like a stress fracture but the dr doesn't think he should have as much pain as he has. Sam says its gotten about 20% better over the last couple weeks but these crutches should take more pressure off the bone. The dr thinks an MRI would be a good idea so we are probably scheduled for next week.

Gingerbread House

Gingerbread House
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Made of real gingerbread at the Ritz Carlton Crystal City. They build it every year and smells really good.

Sad but effective

Sad but effective
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

I wanted to watch NFL football, Dylan is watching the CFL Grey Cup game on ESPN 3 and Sam is watching Star Wars II. We still make them eat on the floor when we don't eat like humans at the table so this seemed like a good solution.

Good to be home

Good to be home
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

We had a great time in New York this week but it's nice to be home.

Line Up

Line Up
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Grandpa and I took the boys on a quick trip down to the police museum near Wall Street. Lots of guns and other police stuff to look to check out.

Turkey Boy

Turkey Boy
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

We delivered cookies to the fire fighters on Great Jones street tonight and Sam was in the Thanksgiving spirit.

Times Square Thanksgiving

Times Square Thanksgiving
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

We took a quick trip to Toy R Us in Times Square to see the full size ferris wheel and T Rex. The boys bought a couple toys with their birthday money as well.

Festivus Pole

Festivus Pole
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

The East Village is full of light poles with all these fasteners on them. Different colors and all the way to the top. I'm not sure how they got them on without doing them one at time. Seems like a lot of work but they are very festive.

Chocolate Face

Chocolate Face
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Dylan gets into his dessert.

Billy Elliot

Billy Elliot
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Uncle Adam hooked us up with some tickets to Billy Elliott tickets today and the boys learned every swear word ever uttered by the human race. It was a very good show and the boys loved it. At one point, an actor referred to her hoohoo and Sam asked Adam what that was. I don't think he got an explanation. Back at home base and thinking of dinner.

Trying to understand

Trying to understand
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

911 Memorial

911 Memorial
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

IMG_5588

We had entry tickets for 11am and spent some time looking into the pools and trying to remember how everything happened on that horrible day. I have to admit, I'm forgetting some of the details that were so clear back then. It's a beautiful space and will only get better as the construction projects around it start to wrap up. Sam's leg is still bothering him quite a bit so we came back kind of early and are watching a movie again. Sam's going to have a hard time doing much in the city this weekend but it's just nice to be here with the family.

3D Sam

3D Sam
Originally uploaded by homerclees.


Watching the Green Lantern in uncle Adam's newly updated 3D theater room in the East Village, NY. Pretty easy trip up to the city today. Looking forward to the 911 memorial tomorrow morning.

Christmas Comes Early

Christmas Comes Early
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

I bought some additional outdoor lights today and while rummaging around the Christmas stuff I found the stocking and threw them up on the fireplace. They will probably be there till late January. Love the holidays.

Get a Leg Up

Sam has been complaining of leg pain for the last couple weeks but has been able to play football pretty hard regardless.  His desire to compete seemed to over take his pain, at least at game time.  I made an appointment with my knee doctor last week for yesterday to avoid a diagnosis that would not allow him to play the big game on Saturday.  Turns out, he has a stress fracture.  It was pretty obvious that something was wrong since he was in tears most of the time and didn't sleep that much.  We had him in an old walking boot but it really didn't fit anymore.  We feel bad but he really wanted to play that game.

Anyway, he has a new boot, adult large and is suppose to stay in it for six weeks.  He's still got a lot of pain but the right size boot is already helping and he understands that he has to take it easy or Dr. Kittridge threatened a full leg cast.  Sam is a big guy and he plays hard.  I think speedy growth is just putting stress on the bones.  He is going to miss the early part of the Basketball season but the two games in December are just scrimmages.  He's disappointed but understands what he needs to do.

Pull

Pull
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

I hit 5 clay pigeons today at the skeet and trap club. First time with a gun in my hand and it was kind of fun. I'm still not going to shoot anything alive but firing a shotgun at clay was good fun on a perfect fall afternoon.

Unfortunately the boys lost a really close football game to the Bulldogs earlier today. The idiot director of the i9 league seated the team incorrectly in the playoffs so we had to play a more difficult team in the semi final than we should have but the team itself and their coaches were the nicest group we played all year. The cheating packers lost in the semi's too so not all was lost.

Leaves

Leaves
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

The wind is howling and the leaves are coming down hard today. Had to stay home with Sam today because of his leg. Not sure whats going on but we have a dr appointment on Tuesday.

Football Awards

Football Awards
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Sam and the coach.

Football Awards

Football Awards
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Coach Cory with Dylan.

Go Colts!

Go Colts!
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Team party last night at Glory Days in Burke. Had the whole team there and everyone seemed to have a good time. One more football weekend with the playoffs coming on Saturday. Win game one and you go straight to the championship game 30 minutes later. We had the best record in the South Division but the two teams from the west in the playoffs look pretty good. One is 6-0 and the other is 5-1. The only thing I've learned about youth football is that it's anyone's game.

Ka Boom!!!

Ka Boom!!!
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

IMG_5553

Secret Agents

Secret Agents
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

The shadowland birthday party theme was secret agents complete with two bomb cakes. I can post those in next.

Happy Birthday Boys

Happy Birthday Boys
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Some early morning presents. Lots to open through out the day.

Playoff Bound

Playoff Bound
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

The little Colts did what they needed to do and beat the Bucs 12-0 to advance to the playoffs. Sam had a 40 yard touchdown and Dylan had a pair of sacks. More football fun next week.