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The Warm Lazy Days of Summer
July 28, 2014 by Adam in Family
 It was another wonderful summer day today. Emma and I were up first, chatting and hanging out. I made waffles for Joanna, who played us a rendition of Fireworks as a reward. She went off to church where she sung it again with the uke, to much fanfare. I fed Sam, Emma picked figs for me from our tree, and we partially packed our bags for the hiking trip. There were video games and D&D. Eventually Joanna returned for lunch and we headed off on a hike at Ridgeline Trail.
It was pretty steep, but quite pretty. The kids kept stopping to check out well-camouflaged spiders and little creeks. We eventually made our way to the Cascade Raptor Center where Emma convinced us to go. Joanna returned to get the minivan while the rest of us looked at the bald eagles, owls, crows, and a million other birds. Eventually we returned home and vegged out. I played a little Bookworm Adventures, got pizza, and we watched Bang Goes the Theory.
The kids are off tomorrow. I have some yardwork and more camping preparations. Hopefully Joanna and I will sneak in a date night in there too.
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D&D and Asian Celebrations
July 27, 2014 by Adam in Family
 Sam and Emma arrived Friday night. We ate a tasty curry and had a generally quiet evening. Both kids missed me, I think, and kept wanting to talk when I first appeared.
Saturday morning after a hearty breakfast Emma, Joanna, and I went off to the library and briefly to the Saturday Market. After lunch Joanna went off to a painting session. She kept sending us pictures of her progress, with the kids being increasingly impressed with the result. Eventually Emma declared that Joanna better be proud of her work or she'll take the painting from her. Meanwhile the kids and I played the next edition of D&D and generally had a good time. I'm doing it a little differently - using the big computer in the living room and using Photoshop to uncover areas as they explore. I think it's working out well.
Later that evening we went to Alton Baker Park for a Japanese festival after picking up sushi. We met up with Yayoe and chatted away. Sam defeated a yellow jacket that was terrorizing us. Everyone enjoyed the Pokemon dance the performers put on, as well as the more traditional fare. We returned home, tucked Emma in bed, Sam and I played a little Arma 3, and we finished up with one of my favorite Star Trek Next Generation episodes.
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Mocha Friday
July 25, 2014 by Adam in Family
 I'm cheerfully caffeinated today, looking forward to the weekend and hanging out with kids.
Duncan and Berry got off to the airport with their dad just fine. It's been quiet without them, though Joanna and Emma were trying to make up for it by saying goofy and inappropriate things throughout dinner. We had Sam and Emma briefly after work yesterday. I signed Emma's cast, we ate delicious curry, and wrapped up with a rousing board game session. After Jamie picked them up, Joanna and I did some gardening and listened to the heavy metal band at the Fairgrounds. We didn't actually go anywhere - the sound just rolled up the hill into our front yard.
Work is going relatively well. More departures soon - I keep amassing knowledge from each departed person, growing more powerful with each person leaving. Soon I shall become invincible.
Looking forward to the weekend. I've got to get ready for our great camping trip. Otherwise I'm hoping to have some good hang out time with the kiddos. Lots of games and haircuts and projects to do.
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Rainy Day
July 23, 2014 by Adam in Family
 It was raining this morning, a very odd experience after 90 degree weather for weeks on end. It's been quiet at home. Sam and Emma are at their mom's. Duncan and Berry leave for Rochester tomorrow morning. I can tell Joanna and the kids are all thinking about it, hoping for the best.
It's my mom's birthday - I think Joanna is cooking up a small surprise for her today.
Lots of packing today, and getting up at the crack of dawn to send the kiddos off.
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Birthday Boys and Girls
July 20, 2014 by Adam in Family
Yesterday was my birthday and today is Duncan's. My mom got in on the action, as her's is just a few days away as well.
The day started with a hearty breakfast with everyone. Joanna made pancakes, picking some blueberries from our bushes on the balcony. Duncan was at a sleepover, so I took Berry and Emma to the library, returning to have all the kids read away. I fed Sam, and then we spent forever making new D&D characters for each of the kids. That was a fun process, using the new rules, though I'm not sure when I'll be able to put a campaign together.
I had a long day of hanging out with everyone, followed by a delicious meal where my mom, Bob, Jenny, and Jordan came over for dinner. Joanna made my absolute favorite chocolate potato cake. Presents were exchange. It was all good.
Sam, Emma, and I played a little D&D after dinner, and Sam and I played a little Divinity: Original Sin after I got Emma to bed.
It was a perfect day, surrounding myself with the people I love and enjoying their company. I thanked them all for helping make it happen.
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Mocha Friday
July 18, 2014 by Adam in Family
It's been a quirky week. I had a couple co-developers down for the last two days. It was great - we hung out, took a tour of the hospital, brought in some guest speakers, and generally bonded. I'm a little sad that I'm returning to my solitude of the gray cubicle, but I suppose I'll actually get some things done.
Emma and I are sporting pinkie injuries - me with a burn from a pancake griddle, her with a spiderweb-related sprain. Fortunately it wasn't broken. Duncan and Berry are off on their last day of camp, heading to the Enchanted Forest. Sam was going to put in some work for my mom.
My mom and Yayoe came over to do art camp with the kids, which was cool. It's a weekend of birthdays and hanging out. I'm looking forward to spending some time with all the kids, the last until school starts again. I'll plan extravagant breakfasts to tide Duncan and Berry over until then.
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Another Weekend in Paradise
July 14, 2014 by Adam in Family
 I had another really nice weekend, full of events, lots of play time with kids, and everyone generally in good spirits.
Friday was the Country Fair, with all that entails. Even though it was a little exhausting wandering around the windy forest trails, we took in a hysterical vaudeville act which everyone really enjoyed.
Saturday was Duncan's birthday party with friends. Emma and I had a great time being ridiculously silly in the pool. Berry and Flynn played together fabulously. Duncan hung out with friends and got way too many Pokemon cards. That night was pizza and Mythbusters, the first in a long while.
Sunday I tried to get in some quality Sam time. In the morning he and I played in the basement, occasionally with Emma - sword fights, dart guns, and yo-yos. In the afternoon, there was D&D and Divinity: Original Sin. Emma went off to a friend's birthday party. Joanna fixed the pool. Sam planned his Alaska cruise. Laundry was done. Tasty food was eaten. Sadie sent cute baby pictures. Life is good.
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Beach Trip Video
July 13, 2014 by Adam in Family
I finally got around to posting a video from last weekend's beach trip. There's rowing, climbing, and smore making. It's all good.
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Country Fair
July 12, 2014 by Adam in Family
  We went to the Country Fair today. That's pretty much the whole thing. We rallied the troops after breakfast, made our way down to the downtown bus, and wandered around. There were the expected wild costumes, interesting if expensive food, music everywhere, and quirky performances.
Though Joanna and the kids were worn out by the end, we hit all the things I wanted to see. The best part was the vaudeville performance by avian clown acrobats. Unfortunately one of Joanna's irrational fears is balloons, which played prominently in the show.
We wandered home where everyone collapsed. I whipped up dinner, stuffed the kids with good food, played some Divinity with Sam, read to Emma, and am currently watching comedic police shows with Sam and Joanna.
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Mocha Thursday
July 10, 2014 by Adam in Family
It's been a pretty quiet week. I code away at work, run at lunch, and return to whatever the evening has in store for me. Monday night Joanna went off to her mediumship thing while I watched the kids and got them in bed. Tuesday was quiet. Wednesday we went out on a date to Off the Waffle and chatted about a little of everything. It was all very nice.
Duncan and Berry are generally doing well. Berry went in for a checkup and is a little more normal in the height/weight range - tall and thin, but we already knew that. She's really gotten into math and learning lately. I had to pry the pen and paper from her hands at bedtime when she was creating square root tables. Duncan continues to learn about computers through Minecraft. He was asking me about config files and showing off his server mods the other day.
I haven't heard much from Sam and Emma. I occasionally see Sam pop up on Steam, and I've sent him a couple videos relevant to his interests. Fortunately I get to see both of them after work. Tomorrow should be a fun day of the Country Fair and hanging out. Supposedly Sam has more D&D for Emma and I.
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Beach Weekend
July 07, 2014 by Adam in Family
We had a wonderful weekend at the beach, so much so that it was difficult to return to work.
Friday morning we set off after breakfast, stopping in Corvallis to load up on lunch before pushing on to the coast. There we met up with my dad and we settled in. After unpacking we set up the raft and got the kids paddling around the little area off my dad's docks. The day wound down and we broke out pizza and the last Cosmos to finish it up. There was some excitement relighting the gas water heater, but with Sam's help I managed. We all went to bed before the fireworks started going off, exhausted but happy.
 Saturday was equally low-key. We played Space Alert and Pandemic with my dad. There was a long trip to the beach where I managed to get a sunburn on my knee. The kids dug holes in the sand, ran across the bay during low-tide, and climbed up big rocks. Joanna felt a little under the weather and mostly took it easy. Ana came over and brought dinner, which was greatly appreciated. The evening wrapped up with smores over the gas fire pit.
Sunday we packed up and left early after breakfast. We stopped again in Corvallis for a snack, then collapsed at home when we arrived. Sam, Emma, and I played D&D and had a good time. Sam and I played Divinity together and had a great time. Kids played. Life is good.
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Mocha Thursday
July 03, 2014 by Adam in Family
This week seems to have just barreled along. Tomorrow is the 4th of July and we're heading to the coast for a little getaway. I'm starting to realize we may not be able to bring everything I wanted - either we strap one of the kids to the roof or the raft stays behind.
Joanna and I had a nice date last night. We drove downtown to drink cider and eat pizza at Sizzle Pie. It's such a funky Eugene spot. I think we had as much fun people watching as enjoying the meal.
I'm mostly on the mend. My coworker Keith is coming down from Vancouver for the day. I don't think he's ever been to the Eugene/Springfield area, so I'll show him around and spend some quality time with him.
Looking forward to seeing Sam and Emma tonight.
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Happy Canada Day
July 02, 2014 by Adam in Family
As I newly rediscovered my Canadianism, a grand Happy Canada Day to all. I should have spent the day eating maple syrup and playing hockey, but instead I got deathly ill at 4 a.m. and spent the day sleeping, throwing up, and staying in bed.
Joanna took the little kids to the coast and had a great time. I slowly recovered and ate the most delicious burrito for dinner. For dessert, it was cereal and fresh blueberries picked from our balcony. I weighed myself right before and had lost almost ten pounds. Hopefully it's back again.
I figure tomorrow I'll be back to normal tomorrow.
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