Band Director Carson

Here is a clip of Carson being Carson at the Band Supper in Elmwood last night. I believe it may be the first time he's paid attention to the band director and was trying out his moves.....

Is it Halloween Already?

Tara and I went to a marriage retreat this past weekend and left the kids among the grandparents from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon. We told the kids that we were going on a 'retreat.' During the weekend, Tara and I were to focus on our marriage and each other rather than worry about the kids, the house, our jobs, etc.

Nevertheless, we broke the rules and called to check on Carson and Hannah sometime Saturday evening. Hannah apparently went up to Joann, Tara's mom, and told her that we went 'trick-o-treating'. That's pretty close to 'retreat.'

We were worried that Hannah would want to see a giant bag of candy when we walked through the door.....but she didn't. She just wanted a bunch of hugs.

In Loving Memory

This post is in loving memory of Sidney. He had a short life but lived it to the fullest and brought us a bunch of memories. His departure leaves a big void in our family; one that we'll feel for some time.

We adopted Sidney when our Golden Retriever, Bailey, died three years ago. Sidney was from a breeder (read: puppy mill) and ended up with a birth defect; kidneys that didn't work very well. Our vet thought that, given similar situations he's witnessed in the past, Sidney wouldn't live more than a few months. He managed to prove everyone wrong living three years.

Sidney and Bailey were fantastic dogs however both died early in their young lives and both were from breeders who turned dogs over as quickly as they could. Starting with Ginger, we now adopt all of our animals from the Capital Humane Society as well as donate to this organization....and urge the rest of you to consider this as well.

Rest in peace Sidney. We'll miss you.

What we're up to

This week, I discovered that it's time to register Carson for summer baseball. He has a choice this year. He can either play one more year of T-ball or he can play coach-pitch. I would prefer him play coach-pitch since he has been hitting pitched balls for the last 4 years but I decided to give him the choice.

I asked him the other night to choose between the two or even choose not to play baseball anymore. He asked a few questions and then decided to play coach-pitch. I'm certain that this will challenge him more than T-ball.

Baseball still seems to be Carson's favorite. He asked to play catch the other day--when the weather was about 20 degrees and our hands were frozen. He still asks to go down in the basement and hit balls when its cold outside too. I'm sure before too long, Tara and I will have to schedule off on weekends to go to tournaments if he plays select ball also.

Hannah is in 'Dance Dance Dance' at school and likes that type of activity. While both kids are very 'music oriented,' Hannah is very much so. She claps and dances to the beat when catchy songs are playing on the radio. She even sings the words to some songs.....I will never forget being at Grandma and Grandpa's house over the holidays and she began singing a 'Christmas carol":
"Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
Had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw him
You would have to call him names.....
Womanizer, womanizer, womanizer, izer, izer"

Her current favorite song is "Mona Lisa" by the All American Rejects. In addition to her dancing and singing, her new interests are putting on make-up with her mother and getting her nails painted. I'm in trouble with this one.

In the nuts....

Carson was telling us about his day yesterday at the dinner table:

"I was playing soccer and then Gwenny kicked the ball and hit me in the nuts."

"Excuse me?" Tara asks.

Carson repeats himself. Tara asks him, "What are nuts?" Obviously baiting him along.

"They're right here," and points at his crotch.

Tara gives me a look that's priceless. It sure is interesting what kids learn at school these days and how fast they grow up.

Community Playhouse

Last night, Tara and I took the kids to see Willy Wonka at the Lincoln Community Playhouse. Tara was able to get tickets from her work as they are a sponsor of the playhouse. Let me tell you, this was a great show and one that Carson and Hannah both enjoyed. I was extremely surprised to see Hannah sitting attentively through the entire show, clapping at the closing of acts, and laughing at appropriate directed humor. Carson watched the movie sometime prior to this play so he absolutely had an idea what was going on.....he even mentioned at certain points that the play was just like the movie. Tara and I thought the play was awesome--certainly something I would go see again....and it was great to get the kids out of the their normal routine. It exposes Carson and Hannah to something different then they are used to and lets their imaginations run wild.

Quick Update

Okay, I know already.

It has been a while since we've posted anything. It was pretty hectic around the house since Carson was on Christmas break and both kids were kept home quite a bit around the holidays. We've been up to the same 'ol stuff though. Getting up early, trying to tempt the kids into getting dressed for the day, Hannah throwing fits, arguing over where they were going to sit at the dinner table and who gets to sit by who, Carson tormenting his sister, more 'Hannah Fits', then bedtime.....only to do it all again the next day. Whew.

We had a pretty good new year; a good couple of days off where we stored Christmas decorations and tacked a few other odd projects around the house.....and Tara and I got to spend some time together by ourselves doing what we used to do b.k. (before kids) like walking around the mall, going to out-of-the-way shops, and having margaritas at the local Mexican restaurant.

We want to wish everyone a very happy and above all, HEALTHY 2009 and we will try to keep the stories coming......between 'Hannah Fits' that is.