Mocha Friday

September 29, 2006 by Adam in Family

Mocha Friday. Work's been busy, but productive. I've had that general sense of satisfaction all morning.

Last night was Sam's soccer practice, a gorgeous Fall evening with a hundred or so kids running around with soccer balls. They had a special training thing over at Adam's elementary school. Mostly Emma and I just played on the play structure while Sam strutted his stuff.

I've been under the weather these last few days, but I'm feeling like I'm on the mend. Hopefully our family can get some outside play time this weekend, though tonight is our traditional swimming night.

The kids are doing well, seemingly enjoying school and looking forward to Halloween. I keep pestering Jamie, trying to figure out what she does during the mornings when the kids are away. I usually get one to three words. Yesterday it was "gardening."



I'm on the mend today, after a bad headache y...

September 28, 2006 by Adam in Family

I'm on the mend today, after a bad headache yesterday. It was the end of two full days of team meetings at work, which is enough to drive one mad. I also checked out my possible new work location, which isn't all that bad. The worst part is that I'd need to buy a card and drive each morning. At least there's a gym on site.

The kids went to Dave's house while Jamie and I had our theoretical date night. All I was up for was watching Upstairs, Downstairs with Jamie on the couch. Otherwise I was popping painkillers, taking a bath, and generally trying to take it easy.

Sam's first spelling test is today, though he was moaning about wanting to do math instead last night. Our evenings are getting increasingly packed, with soccer practice tonight. Busy, busy.



What a weekend

September 25, 2006 by Adam in Family

What a weekend. Sam had a great time at John's house, playing assorted games and generally carrying on. With just Emma, it was a quiet Saturday morning. I did a solo library run and we did some serious window cleaning, breaking out paint scrapers and removing storm windows. Saturday evening was Sam's first soccer game and Jamie's birthday party. It was a low-key affair with Angie, Pat, and Dave coming over to play Trivial Pursuit.

Sunday had Ray and Ella coming to visit, mostly spending the day at the park with everyone playing tennis. Sam in particular got really into the game. Emma and I collected balls and wandered about, with only minimally getting into trouble.

I helped Sam do his first homework of the season, and later broke out my made-up Adventurer Bob versus the Math Monsters game, doing time tests for addition and subtraction. He's a little rusty, but not too bad. Emma was a bit grumpy, often just wanting to be by herself. I think it was a pretty tiring day for her, and she's still a little sick.

As for me, it's a week of team meetings at work. Yee haw.



It usually takes me a couple days of freezing...

September 22, 2006 by Adam in Family

It usually takes me a couple days of freezing fingers before I realize that it's really Fall and I need to wear gloves when riding to work. It's official.

Emma had an exciting day yesterday, having her friend from school, Darumdev, over for a visit. In school she made apple pie and was horribly excited by the whole thing. When it came time to take Sam to soccer practice, she fell asleep and wasn't too happy when I woke her up in fear she'd stay up really late. I made a little movie of us passing the time.

Sam's been doing well, growing up smart and good-looking as always. He and I have been having fun playing on the computer each afternoon. We also have very interesting conversations - last night we discussed addiction and torture, of all weird subjects.

As for me, it's Mocha Friday and it's time for me to head off and get that wonderful elixir. Happy weekend to all.



Emma's foot wasn't so great yesterday, with J...

September 20, 2006 by Adam in Family

Emma's foot wasn't so great yesterday, with Jamie keeping her out of school and taking her to the doctor. After an x-ray, nothing's broken, but she's still walking funny on it. We took Sam to soccer practice last night and mostly hung out in the car. Emma had fun looking at maps of Italy and explaining how I'd taken a wrong turn.

Jamie was pretty tired for her birthday. The extent of the festivities was her opening up the cards we made for her and taking her down to open my present. Last weekend Sam was throwing a frisbee over the fence. On our walk to retrieve it, we stopped by a yard sale at the local B&B. There was a nice 30's vintage end table. After much sweating and pushing, we got it home, covered it with blankets, and Sam made a "Do Not Look" sign.



Yarrr! Avast ye scurvy dogs, it be Talk Like...

September 19, 2006 by Adam in Family

Yarrr! Avast ye scurvy dogs, it be Talk Like a Pirate day, and ye best be sailin' over to this here site so you be talkin' good and proper-like.

Poor Emma hurt her foot last night, rolling around with Sam in the play room. Hopefully it's better today, though she didn't want to stand on it at all. She had me carrying her around from dinner time until bedtime.



The weekend has wrapped up and I'm heading in...

September 18, 2006 by Adam in Family

The weekend has wrapped up and I'm heading into work in a few minutes. Sunday was pretty exciting, with Jamie deciding that a hike was in order at breakfast. It took some doing to get the kids motivated, but we managed to climb to the top of Mount Pisgah. It was quite challenging, especially carrying Emma most of the way, though the view at the top was pretty incredible. After a few minutes were we so hungry and tired that we ran down and headed to Humble Bagel afterwards.

Sam went to a friend's house for a pirate-themed birthday party. As expected, they got carried away and had full pirate regalia for the kids. Jamie and Emma went to get him a bit early and got swept up in the excitement.

I made pizza for dinner, eating outside while the weather is still nice. Things seem to be going fairly well for our little family these days. We're all in good health, good spirits, and seem to generally enjoy what we're doing each day.



It's Mocha Friday, though I still have an hou...

September 15, 2006 by Adam in Family

It's Mocha Friday, though I still have an hour or so before I actually get to partake. I got up a bit earlier than usual, so all I've had is some oatmeal and tea, my usual breakfast of champions. Tonight is swimming night with the kids, and tomorrow is a hearty breakfast, library trip, and Humble Bagel run. It's my favorite part of the week.

Work's actually been pretty exciting lately, as exciting as computer interfaces get anyway. I've been making good progress on some big projects and managed to get an interface in place that I've been waiting ten years to do.

Last night we went to Sam's soccer practice as usual. Emma took this picture of me, along with several of my lower half and one of the playground at an extreme distance. In the middle of our play structure visit, it started to pour down rain, the first real one of the season. We decided to watch Sam play from the safety of the car.

As for this weekend, I think Jamie's visiting with friends for birthday-related reasons. We've got some gardening to do in preparation for Fall. Maybe we can get Sam to start doing some work around the house for stars, which can be turned into the slew of computer games coming out in a couple months.

A big shout-out to Seraph for not only graduating but getting a job in her chosen profession. As someone who has a master's in biology education and works with computers, I can respect that.



This week is just zipping along

September 14, 2006 by Adam in Family

This week is just zipping along. Hard to believe how quickly things go once school starts.

Last night I nearly knocked out a couple of Sam's teeth. Of course, he takes full responsibility. He wanted me to try and dump him out of a sleeping bag and he decided to hold on with his teeth. Since he's in the process of losing teeth these days, a couple got extremely loose and we had to stop to soak up blood.

Jamie and I also went out to Marche last night, a fancy French restaurant. The food was darn good, and the portions were reasonable enough so that we could actually eat dessert for a change.

Emma seems to be enjoying school a fair amount. She explained to Jamie how she played with a telescope and blood meter, and that she wants to be a doctor.

I'm sadly going to miss Seraph's graduation speech. I'll try to send positive thoughts and make my Seraph voodoo doll as comfortable as possible throughout the day.



We had our usual pleasant swim time on Friday

September 10, 2006 by Adam in Family

We had our usual pleasant swim time on Friday. The kids played with other kids, and occasionally with me. Emma's getting really good at moving around with her floating thing. Sam, of course, can swim like a fish.

Saturday morning we walked down to see the Eugene Celebration parade. My dad came by to watch with us. I learned all sorts of odd things about him, like he got the AIDS dental clinic grant and he plans to build a full-size electric boat and go for the world's speed record. What a wacky guy.

In the afternoon, we puttered around the house, eventually going off to Gavin's birthday party, an old friend of Sam's. Jamie chatted up an Italian woman, trying to get the scoop on places to visit when she and her mom travel there next year. I watched Emma until exhaustion overtook me and I became a bit cranky.

Today Jamie's going to the Coburg antique fair with Pat. The kids and I are going to my mom's for brunch, and hopefully we'll find some time to relax some time too.



Mocha Friday

September 08, 2006 by Adam in Family

Mocha Friday. I'm busy writing reports and fiddling with databases this fine morning, after a ride through the crisp morning air.

The kids had their second day of school, which seemed to go well. Jamie is becoming a woman of leisure, browsing at a bookstore while the kids were off and away. We also went to Sam's soccer practice as usual. They have goalies and bigger teams now, which Sam seems to enjoy. Emma and I played with another kid and picked mint for tea.

Tomorrow's the weekend. I think there's a brunch at mom's, where she plans to consult my siblings and I on her latest five year plan. I'm doing the normal swimming tonight and library tomorrow. Maybe we'll try to watch the parade somewhere in there too.

I'm struggling to figure out what to get Jamie for her birthday. She's got me, what else could she want?



The kids had a good first day at school

September 07, 2006 by Adam in Family

The kids had a good first day at school. Yesterday morning I kissed them all goodbye as they slowly woke up, not used to getting out of bed so early. Sam reported that his first day was "weird", going over things he already knew, mostly for the benefit of the new kids. Emma scraped her knee playing hopscotch, and complained that her class of six kids was "crowded", but I think she's getting used to it. She was pretty tired when she returned.

In the evening, Jamie and I had a hot date, putting together Sam's new bed and bookshelves that arrived. My mom watched the kids and took pity on us, promising to watch them again on the weekend, letting us have a real date. Little did she know that I had a grand time having Jamie hand me bolts and cursing over the the assembly instructions.

I queried Jamie on what she did with her new free time. She spent a long time chatting with Victoria, post-wedding, and hit the bank. She hasn't started popping valium and watching soaps yet, but I've got my eye on her.



What a weekend! Sam went off to Portland, wh...

September 04, 2006 by Adam in Family

What a weekend! Sam went off to Portland, where he hung out with the grandparents and generally had a good time. They went to the state fair, where Sam enjoyed the chair ride. Other than that, all we know is that he went to eat Chinese food somewhere.

As for us, we enjoyed the guilty pleasure of just having one kid for the weekend. It was pretty quiet, overall. I made apple pie and had my mom and Bob over to partake in its yummy goodness. We did a major project in the kids' room, putting in a new bed for Sam and hanging curtains around Emma's bed. It looks pretty nice.

I took Emma to the park and as we walked back up the hill, she spotted Sam in the front yard. She started smiling and yelling and ran as fast as she could to a waving Sam. They hugged and were very happy to see each other.

Tomorrow I head back to work, sadly enough. Wednesday the kids both start school and Summer is over for good.



Mocha Friday, though I'm waiting patiently fo...

September 01, 2006 by Adam in Family

Mocha Friday, though I'm waiting patiently for my coffee-buddy to arrive at work. Ten minutes to go!

Last night I took the kids to Sam's soccer practice. Sam ran about, exhausing himself but seeming to have a good time. Emma and I picked blackberries for a little, heading back to the car for a band-aid after she got a thorn prick. The rest of the time was simple playing, just the two of us. She kept demanding I use my pirate voice as we climbed around the play structure.

The advantage of these evenings is that both kids go to sleep so easily. Eight o'clock rolled around and they were willingly crawling into bed.



Older Posts