Washington Post

Nicole and the boys volunteered to put out bags with glow sticks for a cancer vigil last night and were featured in the picture in the Washington Post. Sam only got his arm in the shot but I think he worked as hard as Dylan an Nicole.

Great Weekends

Sammy and I got back from Chicago yesterday afternoon. Like the trip with Dylan, it was great to get him one on one. They act differently when they are apart and we can talk more about what each one of them wants to talk about without the other one chiming in. I like them together too but it was fun to travel with each of them alone. We were really lucky with the weather in both locations, sunny and 70 pretty much the whole time in both cities. I know Nicole had fun with the boys when I was gone too and we will reverse the whole thing in two years.

Wildcats

After some high speed cruising, Navy Pier fun and shopping, we headed north for a Northwestern football game. It was a case one but the home team won. We took the L up and uber back. I liked all the great old houses in Evanston and the campus is quite lovely as well. We are heading back to DC in to morning but have had a fantastic time in chi town.

Sea Dog

Morning high speed cruise on Lake Michigan.

Wrigley

Cubbies

We got up early his morning to take the L up to Addison and got a really fun tour of Wrigley Field. Our guide was fun and had lots great info on that 101 year old park. We followed that with lunch at the Cubby Bear and a game against the Pirates. We had great seats a few rows behind the the third base dugouts but, alas, the cubbies lost. Uncle Ollie would have approved of the day, except for the loss.

Sky Tracks

Sammy and I arrived in Chicago around 2pm today and got situated before venturing out to look for hip shoes. Sam found a couple shops he wanted to visit, one in Wicker Park which is pretty trendy these days. We had dinner there too and are getting ready for some sleep before our early Wrigley visit band Cubs game.

Cotillion

The boys started the two year Cotillion process tonight while we had dinner and drinks with New York Mike, Carrie and another couple. I think Nicole and I had a better time but the boys had these kids form their grade school with them. The goal s to have civilized children with table manners and all that Jazz at the end.

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.