Mocha Friday

November 30, 2007 by Adam in Family

Mocha Friday. I'm not quite there yet, though its lure will be getting me into the shower momentarily.

It's been a rough week, with lots of illness and running about. Yesterday I went to work and then got a call from Jamie letting me know it was my turn to watch a sick Emma for the day. I tried to keep an eye on her as well as do work remotely, which is always a bit stressful.

Emma and I headed out to 5th Street to fritter the time away. I had a mocha and Emma had steamed milk with vanilla. She drew, I read. Eventually we did a little Christmas shopping until I realized she wasn't really up for it. For the rest of the day we stayed at home, other than a brief trip to the park when the rains momentarily broke. By the time Jamie returned from the gym and showered by six that night, I was pretty wiped out.

We have some interesting things happening this weekend. Emma has a birthday tomorrow and Sam and I plan on riding our bikes by the river. We also have a dinner at Barbara and Zoltan's house, which is always entertaining. I have more Christmas project work to do, though I'm feeling pretty good about my overall progress. Most of the gifts have been purchased and now I'm working on my typical presents for everyone. Busy, busy.

I had so much fun having Isa come visit, and ...

November 29, 2007 by Sue in Wielesek

I had so much fun having Isa come visit, and going with her to Jordan's school, Brushfire, having play dates with Emma, Sam and Jordan, and a nice birthday dinner for Sam at Bob's with all the kids on Wednesday night. Thanksgiving was fun this year, and I appreciate Adam's posting a picture of the dinner table. No matter how vain I am about my matching china, etc., you'll notice there's always a carton of milk sitting on the table.
I'm kind of struggling with the analysis stuff, going through difficult times in the past. Nonetheless, I strongly recommend the experience if you can afford it. I feel more and more able to withstand the buffeting of events the future always at some times brings. I am working hard on not being self-denigrating. Would you please stop me and remind me that next time I make fun of myself. Thanks, and one of the best things in my life is the love of my family. As the ad says, "Priceless".

My kids are awesome

November 29, 2007 by Adam in Family

My kids are awesome.

At the moment, they're playing some elaborate game with ever-changing rules. Just a moment ago, Sam ran by with Emma on his back. He was making screeching noises and Emma was zapping imaginary creatures with a blaster. They've been going at it for an hour.

I feel greatly improved from last night, when I not only was knocking on heaven's door, but ringing the doorbell and peeking through the mail slot. Yet again I was reminded just how bad throwing up sucks, along with the inability to swallow pain pills. Fortunately I got to blissful unconsciousness around seven o'clock and woke up at three the next morning feeling almost normal. I made it to work, a bit late, and felt greatly elated from the lack of blinding pain.

Other than that little speed bump, life is going fairly well. Thanks to Amazon, I think nearly all of my Christmas shopping is done. Seraph and Robbie hopefully got their birthday gift certificates (let me know if this one didn't go through). I didn't completely spoil the children, but I got pretty close. Fun, fun.

Quick little hello to everyone! We survived ...

November 28, 2007 by Seraph in Cortez

Quick little hello to everyone! We survived another Thanksgiving, and enjoyed a quiet weekend doing our usual routines.
I have yet to pack anything for my trip (leaving Friday morning), but I did pick up the miniature toiletries, which is really my favorite part of traveling.
Robbie and Isa will be pretty busy while I'm gone, and I think the time will fly by. But, if any of you want to call and make sure they've eaten more then cereal and grilled cheese sandwiches, it would be greatly appreciated!

I was deathly ill last night, with massive he...

November 28, 2007 by Adam in Adam

I was deathly ill last night, with massive headaches and throwing up. Fortunately I was much improved this morning, to the point where I made it to work, though admittedly a little late.

I might have gotten Sam's stomach bug that made him stop eating last night, though I have a decent appetite this morning. It could also have been Jamie's soup and food poisoning. So tasty and so deadly, just like Jamie.

The four-day weekend extravaganza is finally ...

November 26, 2007 by Adam in Family

The four-day weekend extravaganza is finally coming to a close. It's hard to know where exactly to begin, as so much happened. Probably the most happy news is that I finally feel better, as do Jamie and Sam. After not eating for most of a week, he cheerfully munched down pizza and applesauce as normal. Sadly it looks like Emma might be getting the sniffles. Poor girl.

On Thanksgiving I went over to my mom's house in the afternoon, leaving the kids with Jamie and her family. I loved chatting with my sisters in the kitchen, though Sadie's absence was sadly noticed. There was lots of food and conversation, which I think is my version of Heaven.

Friday was Thanksgiving with Jamie's side of the family. It began with a big red N stuck in our window, and the kids dressing up in Nebraska outfits. Of course, we won't actually mention the football game itself, but the result wasn't for lack of spirit from our family members. Food followed, along with more presents for Sam. The evening wrapped up with some non-stop Transformers, along with some dirty glances from Jamie as we edged near the kids' bedtime.

Saturday was our relaxation day. Since no one was feeling good, there was a lot of movie watching. The only exercise we got was playing boxing on the Wii. Today I've got "Wii back" from frantically punching.

Today was the party, and the preparation for it. I raked leaves while Emma dug for worms and Jamie went to the store. We did a lot of playing in the basement. The party itself was a big success, renting out a swimming pool and splashing away the afternoon.

Now we're all tuckered out and getting ready for return to our normal routine tomorrow.

We just got back from Sam's birthday party, e...

November 26, 2007 by Adam in Sam

We just got back from Sam's birthday party, even though he technically turns nine tomorrow. Like most birthdays, it's been a long affair, with his first present arriving early this month, another batch Wednesday, and more scattered over the weekend. The present that got the biggest reaction seems to have been the Nerf rocket launcher, and Emma seems enamored of the Nerf bow and arrow ("I finally know how to do this!" she just told me).

Jamie planned a pool party, which turned out nicely. Endless kids gathered in the Tamarack pool that we typically go to. Getting in the warm water was a wonderful comparison to the cold weather outside. Earlier today the kids were playing with blocks of ice in the backyard.

Now that he's nine, he's old enough for my old fencing club. We might check it out this week.

It's Mocha Wednesday for me, and a busy one a...

November 21, 2007 by Adam in Family

It's Mocha Wednesday for me, and a busy one at that. Sam's home sick today and I'm at work, but coughing away. As a measure of recovery, I managed to sleep through the night and only woke up for a few minutes with my coughing.

The Thanksgiving festivities start tomorrow. I think I'm making bread both days. It would be also nice to take it easy for awhile, though we'll see how much R&R I can manage on this holiday and birthday weekend.

Everyone's still sick

November 20, 2007 by Adam in Family

Everyone's still sick. I've been waking up coughing the last few nights. All Sam ate yesterday was a milkshake and other fluids. Jamie's sniffling about and generally tired. Only Emma seems her usual self.

Last night the kids and I made pirate swords, pistols, and a hat with a skull and crossbones on it. Hearing Emma say "Yaar, matey" is quite inspirational.

I finished up Gears of War the other day

November 20, 2007 by Adam in Adam's Games

I finished up Gears of War the other day. It seemed like a really fast play-through, but perhaps that was because I was sick and had a lot of time on my hands. It was the perfect level of game for me, lots of shooting and a pretty straightfoward plot.

I'm not sure the game was "Game of the Year" quality, but it was fairly fun. There were a few times when things were somewhat repetitive, though never to the point of putting the game away. The end was clearly set up for a sequel and the story itself wasn't particularly gripping. (SPOILER AHEAD) I could sum it up as "Figure out where to deliver bomb and then get it there.", though of course the interesting part is in the details.

I drove Isa down to Eugene yesterday

November 19, 2007 by Seraph in Cortez

I drove Isa down to Eugene yesterday. It sounds like she'll get to see everyone for play dates this week. When I left she was happily creating a cardboard fort in the living room.
Robbie & I are planning on driving down on Wednesday night. It will be nice to see everyone again!
Isa has a chior concert at the Oregon Zoo (zoolights) on December 6th. I'll be out of town, but I know she would be thrilled if any of the family was able to make it. If you can, check in with Robbie about the details.
I leave for my trip to Asia on 11/30, and get back on 12/10. Work has been a little nutty as we get prepared for the trip, and head off the usual daily disasters.

I'm hoping that everyone is on the mend this ...

November 18, 2007 by Adam in Family

I'm hoping that everyone is on the mend this morning. Both kids got very little sleep Friday night, and so both were very tired yesterday. Emma was wacky, crying at everything, and eventually took a long nap. Sam was quiet and watched a couple movies. I dosed them with Advil and got them to bed early. Now they seem in pretty good shape.

Jamie went off to a chocolate tasting party at Sharon's house, and then later to pizza at Pat's. I'm still sick, so it was almost fortunate the kids were too. They mostly wanted to sit around and watch shows. We did have a fun half hour before bedtime, taking turns shooting Nerf darts into ceilings, windows, and whatever.

I'm trying to arrange for a breakfast outing. The thought of good coffee and tasty pancakes is greatly appealing.

Sam went to John's birthday party Friday nigh...

November 18, 2007 by Adam in Sam

Sam went to John's birthday party Friday night and only got a few hours of sleep. Evidently his friend Zach decided that repeatedly rolling over everyone in his sleeping bag was a keen idea.

The next day he was very tired and seemed to be coming down with the sickness that we've all gotten. He couldn't nap, but ended up going to bed early and sleeping for twelve hours. I think he's much improved now.

Dorothy's special award!!!! I'm pleased to r...

November 18, 2007 by Yayoe in Yayoe

Dorothy's special award!!!!
I'm pleased to report that Danica, Lohring and I accompanied Dorothy to a special event in Erie where she received the Outstanding Philanthropist award at the National Philanthropy Day luncheon. Over 200 people applauded her generosity. Her life-long involvement with theater and the arts led her to make the first significient contribution that launched a multi million dollar campaign to build a new theater at Allegeny College. The new lobby will be named after Dorothy and Franklin. She was also the first to donate to her Unitarian Universalist church's capital campaign. She also made it possible for future cardiac cath lab patients to receive treatments in Meadvile rather than having to travel to Cleveland. In addition to all these capital gifts she supported numerous charities including the Academy Theater, the Crawford Heritage Foundation, the Wesbury Foundation and the Port of Meadville Airport. We were so proud to hear about all her contributions and had tears in our eyes when she received the award.

Dorothy has come a long way with her recovery. Thanks to Danica, who has been her skilled case manager, she is getting stronger with the help of several caregivers and a personal trainer. Her progress has been steady and she's looking forward to our 2008 family reunion in Oregon, at the end of May. Danica is planning this event. We'll be back for Thanksgiving IF we make all our airline connections. Wish us luck with traveling during this time of the year where it's snowing here!

Work has been very exciting lately, as I cont...

November 16, 2007 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Work has been very exciting lately, as I continue to plan for a week training for all the state Campus Compact VISTA leaders and VISTA project supervisors in January. However, I've had also had some important community building moments with Rhode Island Campus Compact, particularly around the Photobooth application on their office's Macbook.

I've also had some great but challenging new breakthroughs with my graduate search.

Next week I'm off to Meadville PA with Danica, Andy, and Ben to visit Dorothy. It will be tons of driving, but I'm excited to see some long-lost family members!

One of the nice things about being sick and t...

November 16, 2007 by Adam in Adam's Games

One of the nice things about being sick and taking the day off is that I get to indulge frivolous things like playing computer games. I played more Gears of War this morning, getting through the first act of the game. Like many highly rated games, they slowly introduce you to the game mechanics and then once you've mastered those, they move on to new ones.

At the moment I'm leading a squad of men after a somewhat messy battlefield promotion. The commands are pretty simple - attack, cease fire, and regroup. Hopefully I remember to actually do something with them. So far I've been fairly successful as a one-man army.

The architecture of the game is pretty neat looking - a ruined city with classic elements. I can see how it might get a little dull after awhile, so hopefully they'll mix it up some more.

Well, it's Mocha Friday

November 16, 2007 by Adam in Family

Well, it's Mocha Friday. I ended up making my own mocha as I'm home sick today. I had to break a date with my mom, which was disappointing. Theoretically some consultants were coming in to work today and I was going to train them, but I'm certainly not up for it.

I don't feel horrible as long as I'm properly medicated, just sniffling and coughing all over the place. I've been waking up in the middle of the night the last couple nights when the Advil wore off, eating cereal and watching the t.v. show Chuck. I've also been sleeping on the guest bed in the craft room so Jamie avoids my tossing and turning.

The kids were very sweet to me last night. When Emma found out I was sick, they made a little bed for me to lie down and be taken care of. Of course, that game didn't last long, but it was the thought that counted. Soon enough they were playing pretend, lost in the desert. I was narrating their adventures, which ranged from making a shelter out of couch cushions, to finding food and water, and finally fending off wild animals. Fortunately they had a bath later, in part to wash off all the claw marks which they created using red washable pens.

As for today, I'm going to try and take it easy for a change. I've got laundry going and I might head over to the library. Otherwise I hope to lounge about and do things to take my mind off being sick.

I'm sick today

November 15, 2007 by Adam in Adam

I'm sick today. I sniffled my way through the night, not getting as much sleep as usual. I waffled back and forth on coming into work. After taking various medications, I feel tired but much more normal, so here I am.

I'm going to a concert at the Hult center with my mom tonight. Hopefully I can stay awake.

Gears of War arrived on my doorstep last night

November 14, 2007 by Adam in Adam's Games

Gears of War arrived on my doorstep last night. I got to play for a half an hour or so after everyone went to bed. I don't have a good feel for the game yet, but I'm liking what I see so far. The visual effects are good. There's a strategic feel of taking cover and firing from cover, something that's very different from the run-and-gun approach most shooter games take.

The most annoying thing about Gears of War is the Microsoft Live! setup. It took a bunch of time to get set up and do the update properly. Compared to the Steam setup, it seemed somewhat clunky.

Of course, now I have a little "gamertag" image I can post on this page. I also found a third-party site that does the same for Steam games. Of course, I'm not sure why I should be bragging that I'm "Teh Suck" by not playing any Steam games lately, but oh well.

Emma has recently figured out the secret of t...

November 14, 2007 by Adam in Emma

Emma has recently figured out the secret of the alphabet. Last night she brought her journal to show Jamie, and she had written down "Horses" by copying it from the word on her pencil. She recognizes most letters and has been asking me how to spell certain words which she'll laboriously copy down.

It sounds like much of this is due to her school, as Madame Janna is having them practice their letters quite a bit. Last night Emma had homework for the first time, practicing her m's on a long piece of paper. It's pretty cool watching her learn.

Back home

November 13, 2007 by Adam in Family

Back home. We had some brief excitement when they thought we might have our Eugene flight redirected to Portland due to winds. Fortunately all went smoothly and we're getting unpacked and ready for normalcy tomorrow morning.

I wrote down journal entries on actual paper while we were on the trip. I typed it all up and added some choice photos to each of the postings below.

I woke up early, went down to the lobby, and ...

November 11, 2007 by Adam in Family

I woke up early, went down to the lobby, and started writing down this little journal. Suddenly, loud fire alarms went off and dozens of people in their pajamas streamed out. The front desk people confirmed it was a false alarm, so I ran up to tell Jamie. They were still fast asleep, so I left them there.

Sam slept in until eight, unfortunately waking up with an itchy, puffy face. He was briefly unhappy, but the allergic reaction mostly cleared up. It's still itchy today, but not too bad. We went to Downtown Disney for breakfast. It was basic, but good. Since the restaurant was a bakery, I had the French toast. Coupled with coffee, it hit the spot.

Once we got to Disneyland, we dropped off Sam's hat to get embroidered, picked up Fast Pass tickets, and hopped on the Mark Twain riverboat. It was slow and leisurely, a perfect ride for everyone.

The boys and girls split up again, Emma had her face painted pink with swirls and glitter, and Sam and I went on Thunder Mountain and then Splash Mountain. The first was a western-themed roller-coaster and Sam thought it was the best ride in the park. The second was an odd mix of water slide and Briar Rabbit animatronic scenes, with a gut-wrenching drop at the end. Sam wasn't very happy with it.

Next was the California Adventure, with lunch first on the agenda. We ended up in a bakery, eating chili and chowder out of bread bowls. Emma had fun feeding the seagulls and ducks that hung out at the San Francisco themed wharfs.

We took Jamie to the vineyard for wine tasting and then circled around the boardwalk. I stood in line forever to buy ice cream for the kids and then Jamie and Sam went to Soaring Over California, which was my favorite ride. Emma and I played around the aviation area and posed with the characters from Cars. When we reunited, it was late in the day. We went back to our hotel for quiet time and early bet.

We used our early pass today and got to the p...

November 10, 2007 by Adam in Family

We used our early pass today and got to the park at seven in the morning. Our first ride was Finding Nemo, the revamped 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride. Emma, again, was scared. Poor girl.

Jamie wanted to do the Pirates of the Caribbean ride with Sam, so I watched Emma in a nearly empty New Orleans square. We reunited and the park filled up with people. We hit a few more rides, such as Indiana Jones, which was fast and bumpy. Emma and Jamie went on the Small World ride, which she enjoyed. Emma also stood in line to meet a princess, finally deciding she'd rather go to Toon Town again. We puttered around Tomorrowland and took the monorail to Downtown Disney.

Downtown Disney was completely new to me, a section of shops and restaurants. We ate at a Mexican restaurant and then hit up the Lego store. The kids were amazed by the huge Lego sculptures and they both left with assorted Lego goodies.

Afterwards Jamie took Emma back to the hotel for quiet time while the boys headed for California Adventure. That park was also new to me, taking features of California history and turning them into rides, shops, and restaurants.

We wandered about, seeing the sights, and Sam declared he wanted to go on the Grizzly River Rafting Company ride. A sign warned we might get soaked, but we scoffed at danger and had fun going down the rapids. We wondered about the sign, as we were merely sprinkled, when a geyser erupted at the last minute and were got soaked to the bone.

We spent another hour drying off and seeing the sights. I liked looking at the architecture, from the recreation of an old boardwalk to a surprisingly clean Fisherman's Wharf. Finally we did the Soaring Over California ride, which was quite amazing. They lifted our seats off the ground into a huge half-dome screen, playing movies of flying over California. Afterwards, we returned to the hotel.

I was exhausted and had a bit of a headache, so I collapsed for an hour. For dinner we went to Downtown Disney, which was very crowded, but fortunately the place we went to had great food. That night everyone went to bed early and got lots of sleep.

We woke up, ate breakfast, and headed out the...

November 09, 2007 by Adam in Family

We woke up, ate breakfast, and headed out the door. While the hotel I chose was technically across the street from Disneyland, the park entrance was a good quarter mile around the block.

Our first ride was the train, which we took halfway around the park. After that was a blur of rides, people, and sights. Emma liked Toon Town, and got Minnie's autograph. The kids ran around trying all the silly doorbells and running through the houses. Sam, dad, and I stood in line twenty minutes to get seated on the Indiana Jones ride, only to have it canceled and we were sent out. We did Star Tours, which didn't impress Sam. Both kids liked the teacups, a long time favorite. Emma was scared by the Tiki Room and the Jungle Cruise. We took Sam on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and he thought it was pretty cool.

We did indeed eat at the Blue Bayou restaurant, which looked like a nighttime New Orleans swamp. You could also see people from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride go by and periodically scream in the distance. The food was really good, especially after eating some of the more fast food in the park.

Afterwards we did the Haunted Mansion while my dad watched Emma. It was strangely unscary, having been given a Nightmare Before Christmas makeover. We wandered around a bit more, then headed home to swim at the hotel and get to bed early.

I had carefully booked flights that minimized...

November 09, 2007 by Adam in Family

I had carefully booked flights that minimized travel time, along with keeping the travel between late morning and early afternoon. Because of this great foresight we were able to eat a leisurely breakfast and drop off some library books on the way to the airport.

Trouble began when I found it hard to get a parking space. We ended up far away in row F (which led to some lovely mnemonics to aid finding our car later). Next when we got to get our tickets, the computer immediately told us our flight was delayed, we wouldn't make our next flight, and there were no more flights that day.

Fortunately the airline people talked to us calmly, told us to ignore the machine, and got us on a flight that was merely a few hours late.

I dug out Sam's early birthday present, Phantom Hourglass, the latest Zelda game for the Nintendo DS. He was enamored and spent every free moment playing.

The flights themselves were fine. Since it was the first the kids could remember, they had a great time looking out the window. In San Francisco we peeked out at the famous hills and I talked about their historical significance in 70's cop show car chases. Emma made friends with an English girl named Jessica. We met up with them again on the bus to our hotels. They were very cute together and Emma whispered to Jamie that they spoke a different language.

We made it to our hotel, tired but happy. A quick call to my dad assured him all was well and we made plans to meet for breakfast the next day.

We're going to Disneyland today

November 08, 2007 by Adam in Family

We're going to Disneyland today. The kids seem excited, though when we ask Emma, she says that Disneyland makes her a little shy.

I think we're all packed and ready to go. With luck, the hotel will have an internet connected computer and I can give everyone updates from the happiest place on earth (according to the brochures).

Traveling again!!! Just a quick note to tell...

November 08, 2007 by Yayoe in Yayoe

Traveling again!!!
Just a quick note to tell you that Lohring will be meeting the Miller/Mellor clan at Disneyland on Thursday and will be returning on the 12th. We leave for Meadville on the 14 and will be back late in the evening of the 21st.

Lohring will also be traveling to Australia/New Zealand from December 20-January 16th. He's heading to Australia for a boat race (crazy huh but fun) and then to New Zealand to see a dental clinic. I'll be in Honolulu from January 3-13th visiting Josh/Jody and little Rob. We'll look forward to seeing you all for Thanksgiving. I'll bring cone sushi and sparkling apple juice, etc.

A quick Bon Voyage to Adam, Jamie and the kids

November 07, 2007 by Sue in Wielesek

A quick Bon Voyage to Adam, Jamie and the kids. Jamie, Emma and I had a nice lunch at Barry's yesterday, as we worked on
holiday plans.
I'm going to be working on an oral history project with the
Bar Assn., asking for volunteers to do histories of some of the older members of the Bar and Bench. (that's how we
refer to lawyers and judges.)
Bob and I went to see Into the Wild - a bit overlong and a little self-indulgent, but otherwise very well done. People
either don't remember the inexorable power of Mom Nature, or
suffer from McDonald Hubris (humankind is so powerful there will always be a McDonald's just over the rise.) It would be
funnier if Oregon rescue teams didn't have to find lost climbers, hikers, or folks who were just out for a Sunday drive (on snowy logging roads.)

Ha, censorship

November 06, 2007 by Sue in Wielesek

Ha, censorship. Well, that's okay, I respect Sadie's modesty. I hope you kids all know how proud I am of you.
I'm struggling on through this psychological analysis stuff.
It's challenging; none of that Wings Seminars easy fix. It's certainly resulting in vivid, meaningful dreams.
Makes me realize how much being a little kid during World War II, and afterwards when my Uncle Al came home, affected me. As I'm sure I've said, he was with Patton's army and was at Dachau, one of the Nazi death camps, immediately after the war. They apparently weren't allowed to bring pictures back, but he smuggled out photos in his boot. As part of last night's dream I was a prisoner of war. Aggg.
War is not a good idea.

I wanted to say thank you to everyone for the...

November 06, 2007 by Seraph in Cortez

I wanted to say thank you to everyone for the wonderful visit on Sunday morning! It was great to catch up and see how everyone was doing. It just makes me miss you all the more!

The week is chugging along

November 06, 2007 by Adam in Family

The week is chugging along. Given that we're leaving on Thursday, I guess we're halfway through.

Last night I took Sam out for another bike riding practice session. He's getting pretty confident and we made some bike adjustments to make things easier for him. Now he's trying more challenging tasks, such as going up and down hills. Fun, fun.

Poor Emma had a touch of a fever yesterday, so we gave her a bath and put her in PJs. Jamie was an excellent mom, reading her stories until her throat was raw. Kiera, an older friend of Emma's, gave her a stuffed giraffe and new Barbie movie, which she completely adored.

The weekend has come and gone

November 05, 2007 by Adam in Family

The weekend has come and gone. It was a very full one, with dinners, brunches, and all manner of activities. Sam was horribly excited that he learned to ride his bike on Saturday. I also took the kids to a marathon swimming session on Sunday for nearly two hours.

We're coming to the realization that we're heading to Disneyland in just a few more days. Soon my life-long dream of eating at the Pirates of the Caribbean restaurant will be complete.

Sam learned how to ride a bike today

November 03, 2007 by Adam in Sam

Happy Mocha Friday

November 02, 2007 by Adam in Family

Happy Mocha Friday. It's long gone, though I still have that delicious caffiene/chocolate glow.

Emma got a glowing bracelet during Trick or Treating, which amazingly still glowed slightly. Bath time turned into a new "Diving in Darkness" game where they'd turn off the lights, toss the glowstick under the water, and then try to find it. Sam was so excited for Emma to get out of the bath and try it himself that he gave up having Jamie read Little House on the Prarie to him.

Everyone seems to be doing well and we've got a fairly busy weekend ahead of us. Tomorrow Emma has ballet and a birthday party. Sunday we have dinner at my dad and Yayoe's house, going over our Disneyland plans next week. Fun, fun!

Halloween has come and gone

November 01, 2007 by Adam in Family

Halloween has come and gone. The kids had a great time, returning with the traditional bag of sugary goodness. In an odd way, the candy was secondary to the whole dressing up experience. Sam really liked his outfit and was happy with the positive reaction he got out of people. Emma really wanted to pass out candy to the people who came to the door.

My mom came by and took a picture of everyone. I think we need more group portraits like this one. I posted a bigger, different version here.

The week is wrapping up as well, our last before the grand Disneyland trip. After feeling under the weather earlier this week, I was frantic with activity yesterday. I got so much done at work, I surprised even myself. Weird.