We have ESPN's Mike & Mike show in the background while we eat breakfast. Breaking news: Ken Griffey, Jr. has been traded from the Reds to the White Sox, pending Griffey's approval.
The Boys: "Junior is going to play for the Red Sox?"
Me: "No, the White Sox"
The Boys: "WHHHHYYYYY?"
How do you explain to two little boys who take turns being the Reds right fielder how the business of baseball works? It's not definite yet, so we won't delve too far into it, but Ben did just got a Junior T-shirt and poster for his birthday. It'll be a difficult day for these kids if the deal goes through.
*Edit: It has been confirmed that Ken Griffey, Jr. is indeed leaving Cincinnati and moving to Chicago. No word yet on what Junior's role will be for the White Sox and it's hard to believe that he went there for the sole purpose of going to the postseason. It is in my opinion that they had to have promised him some position or he would not have gone. But I will stop pondering on this because this is supposed to be about mis tres hijos. I'll let you know their reactions to the trade after a short nap.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Lake Lorelei
There's nothing like going away for the weekend and it being truly relaxing. It helps when where you're going isn't more than an hour away! My Grandpa's friend lets us use her family's cottage on the lake each summer, and it comes complete with a nice deck and patio with fire pit, a great dock for fishing, speed boats and all those things you can attach to the back.
Lou and Ben are in heaven when we're there.
They love playing baseball in the yard; fishing for hours on the bank of the lake; swimming in the water by the dock, with no fear of the fish at their feet; and of course throwing on a life-vest and zipping around the lake. Afterward they get a drink, a snack, and the two of them climb on this odd-shaped but extremely comfortable chair and watch all the cartoon shows we don't have at our house.
Lou & Ben were so excited to play hide 'n seek with Shannon & Jill. You can see how well Ben was at playing it.
Charlie all decked out in his life preserver.
There were all these creepy gigantic birds around. In fact, there were 7 of them hanging out on the jungle gym. Luckily, there are no missing children.
This is Bullet. He's Uncle Billy's wonderfully laid back dog.
He mostly did this the whole weekend.
And as much as I think he's a cool dog, I've got three rascals of my own to deal with.
Lou and Ben are in heaven when we're there.
They love playing baseball in the yard; fishing for hours on the bank of the lake; swimming in the water by the dock, with no fear of the fish at their feet; and of course throwing on a life-vest and zipping around the lake. Afterward they get a drink, a snack, and the two of them climb on this odd-shaped but extremely comfortable chair and watch all the cartoon shows we don't have at our house.
Lou & Ben were so excited to play hide 'n seek with Shannon & Jill. You can see how well Ben was at playing it.
Charlie all decked out in his life preserver.
There were all these creepy gigantic birds around. In fact, there were 7 of them hanging out on the jungle gym. Luckily, there are no missing children.
This is Bullet. He's Uncle Billy's wonderfully laid back dog.
He mostly did this the whole weekend.
And as much as I think he's a cool dog, I've got three rascals of my own to deal with.Friday, July 25, 2008
Role Playing
Louie and Benny crack me up on a continual basis and although the reasons change the one that always gets me is when they act things out, especially "real life situations." Meaning: they act like adults they know, taking on a persona and having big people conversations.
Today they are reliving the last of Daddy and the Gang's baseball game. Lou is Tommy and Ben is Josh. They talk about the game (Tommy was the catcher and Josh was the pitcher), they talk about buying new bats (Daddy did that very thing), they talk about going back to Uncle Hog's afterward ("Do you want to ride in my car Josh?" "Sure, Tommy, Thanks." "You're welcome. Have you ever been in my car, Josh?" "I don't think so, Tommy.")
They're so serious and having a good time with it. I try to suppress my laughs. Did we do this as kids? I have vivid memories of role playing, but I don't remember acting like the adults in my lives. Maybe I should be happy with their choices--the people they pick to be are good folks.
Today they are reliving the last of Daddy and the Gang's baseball game. Lou is Tommy and Ben is Josh. They talk about the game (Tommy was the catcher and Josh was the pitcher), they talk about buying new bats (Daddy did that very thing), they talk about going back to Uncle Hog's afterward ("Do you want to ride in my car Josh?" "Sure, Tommy, Thanks." "You're welcome. Have you ever been in my car, Josh?" "I don't think so, Tommy.")
They're so serious and having a good time with it. I try to suppress my laughs. Did we do this as kids? I have vivid memories of role playing, but I don't remember acting like the adults in my lives. Maybe I should be happy with their choices--the people they pick to be are good folks.
Woo-Hoo! Downtown!
Last night we went to the Florence Freedom game with Martha, TJ, and Ian. Kevin took Lou and Ben to a game last year, but this was Charlie and my first time at the stadium. There's a big play area and open seating for the most part, so I imagine it's pretty family-friendly, although I'm one of those "crotchety old people" who believe the more bells and whistles you put at a stadium the further you are from the game. We didn't see a lot of baseball on the field, but it was great hanging out with our friends!
As fun as the experience was, the highlight of the night was driving through downtown on the way to, and then again on the way back from the game. As soon as the boys see the skyline they start hootin' and hollerin' about being downtown. You'd think that they never get to go down there with the way they were getting all riled up about it.
I decided that anytime the boys are being crankapotapuses we're going to take a drive downtown so that all their whiney-ness and grumpy-ness disappears and smiles overtake their little faces.
Thanks goodness for downtown.
As fun as the experience was, the highlight of the night was driving through downtown on the way to, and then again on the way back from the game. As soon as the boys see the skyline they start hootin' and hollerin' about being downtown. You'd think that they never get to go down there with the way they were getting all riled up about it.
I decided that anytime the boys are being crankapotapuses we're going to take a drive downtown so that all their whiney-ness and grumpy-ness disappears and smiles overtake their little faces.
Thanks goodness for downtown.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Last Game
Kevin plays on a baseball team made up of my brothers, dad, cousin, uncle, and friends. It's been a great experience to see so many family and friends play together. The boys absolutely love it, and were pretty sad to learn that last night was the final game of the season.
Kevin up to bat
Grandpa staring down the pitcher
My roly-poly baby doing what his momma did when she was little and at daddy's game--play in dirt.
Josh looking back the man on first
Cousin Tommy after a great diving attempt to catch a foul ball, that I missed taking a picture of
The boys taking it all in, learning from the big guys
Daddy and his boys
The Clubhouse A.C. with Benny, Caden, Charlie, and Lou
Kevin up to bat
Grandpa staring down the pitcher
My roly-poly baby doing what his momma did when she was little and at daddy's game--play in dirt.
Josh looking back the man on first
Cousin Tommy after a great diving attempt to catch a foul ball, that I missed taking a picture of
The boys taking it all in, learning from the big guys
Daddy and his boys
The Clubhouse A.C. with Benny, Caden, Charlie, and LouQuestions of Sanity
I saw this written by a woman with three boys. What are we getting ourselves in to??
Things I've learned from my Boy's (honest and not kidding):
1.) A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq.ft. house 4 inches deep.
2.) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with Roller blades, they can ignite.
3.) A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.
4.) If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound
Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can,
to spread paint on all Four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.
5.) You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat,
you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.
6.) The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
7.) When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late.
8.) Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
9.) A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old Man says they can only do it in the movies.
10.) Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year old Boy.
11.) Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
12.) Super glue is forever.
13.) No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.
14.) Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
15.) VCR's do not eject "PB & J" sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.
16.) Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
17.) Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
18.) You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.
19.) Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.
20.) The fire department in La Mesa, CA has a 5-minute response time.
21.) The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.
22.) It will, however, make cats dizzy.
23.) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.
24.) 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.
25.) Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.
Things I've learned from my Boy's (honest and not kidding):
1.) A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq.ft. house 4 inches deep.
2.) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with Roller blades, they can ignite.
3.) A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.
4.) If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound
Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can,
to spread paint on all Four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.
5.) You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat,
you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.
6.) The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
7.) When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late.
8.) Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
9.) A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old Man says they can only do it in the movies.
10.) Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year old Boy.
11.) Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
12.) Super glue is forever.
13.) No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.
14.) Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
15.) VCR's do not eject "PB & J" sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.
16.) Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
17.) Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
18.) You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.
19.) Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.
20.) The fire department in La Mesa, CA has a 5-minute response time.
21.) The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.
22.) It will, however, make cats dizzy.
23.) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.
24.) 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.
25.) Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Norwood Day Parade
This is the time of year where we celebrate anything and everything Norwood. Well, maybe that's an exaggeration, but we did go to the parade last night. In Norwood Days past, Louie and I were winners in the baby contest (we have not entered Benny and Charlie as of yet). So we do have some history with it.
We met Grandma Alice, Grandpa Pete, Jeff, and Lexi down at the firehouse to watch the parade and get some candy! Grandma Alice came prepared with lunch bags, and the kids were treated to really cool fireman helmets that they put on immediately.
Was it the heat, the exhaustion of the past week, or something else, we'll never know, but I wish I brought my camera because Mr. Lou had some great faces that would be funny to post here. Every time a float would pass and throw out candy Lou, Ben & Lexi would run out in the street to gather what they could, with Charlie clapping on the sidewalk. Eight times out of ten they would come back empty handed.
It finally got to be too much for Lou and the tears came pouring down. He was an emotional wreck and it was very difficult for Mommy and Daddy not to laugh. It wasn't so much the candy, but the game of gathering up whatever the people threw at them. This kid is used to doing well at most games he attempts and he wasn't doing well at all at this game. Louie summed it up as we were walking back to our van later:
* We have a lot of rabbits in our yard and the boys marvel daily at how fast they are.
We met Grandma Alice, Grandpa Pete, Jeff, and Lexi down at the firehouse to watch the parade and get some candy! Grandma Alice came prepared with lunch bags, and the kids were treated to really cool fireman helmets that they put on immediately.
Was it the heat, the exhaustion of the past week, or something else, we'll never know, but I wish I brought my camera because Mr. Lou had some great faces that would be funny to post here. Every time a float would pass and throw out candy Lou, Ben & Lexi would run out in the street to gather what they could, with Charlie clapping on the sidewalk. Eight times out of ten they would come back empty handed.
It finally got to be too much for Lou and the tears came pouring down. He was an emotional wreck and it was very difficult for Mommy and Daddy not to laugh. It wasn't so much the candy, but the game of gathering up whatever the people threw at them. This kid is used to doing well at most games he attempts and he wasn't doing well at all at this game. Louie summed it up as we were walking back to our van later:
The problem is: All those other kids were bigger and faster than us. They were like bunnies!*
* We have a lot of rabbits in our yard and the boys marvel daily at how fast they are.
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