Father and #1 Son

A big part of the recent NYC trip was getting some time to bond with Lukas before he starts ignoring me in a few years as a teenager..

Here are some snapshots that we took during the trip. 

Here we are outside of my college, School of Visual Arts.

We had lots of diner food- Lukas actually started getting tired of burgers!

First subway commute.

Top of the world- Central Park.

More subway riding..

At the footprint of the north tower. I left before the towers fell, and still remember going into that building all the time to deposit my checks from DC Comics.

NYC pretzels! 

It was hard to wait until they started making them after lunch.

Feeding birds.

Forbidden Planet- the favorite store of the day.

The flatiron building was fun to show him. It is still one of my favorites.

Lukas made friends with the 6 month old puppy of my friend's friend- named "Khaleesi"

Still following this?

Museum of natural History- first stop: T-Rex

Hanging with the (stuffed) lions.

Lukas loves bow and arrows- it is one of his favorite things to draw and learn about.

We talk a long walk in Central park, and visited some of my favorite spots. I used to take a lot of photographs in this section during college.

Hailing his first cab.

Parting shot from my Aunt and Uncle's house.

If he was this tired after two days, imagine what living there is like :)

Frousin Fun

The Martel kids were visiting their dad this weekend, and we stopped by for a few hours on Saturday.

Sports on TV, food, conversation, video games, and lots of silliness- just the typical frousin day.

Smash and Crash

Lennon and Fox played in a tournament against some FC Dallas players tonight, but it was on the virtual pitch rather than the physical one.

They went 0-3 playing the N64 version of Smash Bros, but were competitive despite being born many years after the game originally came out.

Here they are playing against Reggie Cannon and Arron Guillen. Jesus Ferreira looks on from behind.

They didn't get to play Tesho and Walker Zimmerman, which was probably for the best because those two were quite good.

All in all, fun times.

Lennon wants to play in more tournaments- just wait until the game is Rocket League or Halo..

Aunt Sue and Uncle Peter

Lukas and I visited New York City last week, and visited with Aunt Sue and Uncle Peter.

It involved lots of pictures, talking, shopping, and diner food. 

Nothing much has changed in the 15 years since I have been there :)

Daddy Daughter Night

Keira and I went out on one of our daddy/daughter trips last night.

That usually involves going to the the mall and eating at California Pizza Kitchen.

She is starting to transition from the toy stores to the tween stores- I think that we are growing a little mall rat :)

Sherman Sketch

Katharine sketched this drawing of Sherman last night.

I love seeing her draw from life- great stuff!

Busy Weekend

This past weekend seemed busier than most, but with Fall kicking in to full swing we should probably expect worse this coming year.

Summer has softened me up..

It started out with Fox and Lennon playing against each other at 8 AM on Saturday morning.

Then it was off to the movies with Fox, as part of his birthday celebration that day.

Then I dropped the kids off at Fox's house for the party, swinging back there again around 3 PM to catch the last two hours of the party. Lots of swimming, water balloons, and soccer.

Meanwhile, Iria had been at dance all day (8-4) with the girls. We had been planning to see a show together at the Peacock Theatre that night, but Iria felt sick so we stayed home.

But my day was not over..

At midnight Katharine and I went into Dallas to see her first production of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Katharine loved it. We got back at 3 AM..

A few hours later, Katharine was singing a German solo at the 8:45 AM Sunday church service. She sang beautifully- the girl has got lots of talent (and stamina) :)

Then I took Lennon to a matinee at the Dallas Symphony. It was a all Beethoven program (5th piano concerto and 3rd symphony), and we sat behind the orchestra so that we could look down at everybody playing.

We finally got home after afternoon choir practice, and everybody went to be pretty early.

Even me.

Easy Reader

Keira enjoying her new Kindle on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Reading "Walk Two Moons" by Sharon Creech.

Spectator Sport

We see a lot of Fox, but tonight we got a turn with Jayden at the FC Dallas game. 

He is Lennon's best friend on his new team. Both these boys will be looking to put one past Fox when they play the Texans this Saturday morning. 

Bring it on!

Good Words

Big book week for Keira- she received her first Kindle e-reader on Friday and then her 3rd grade bible at church on Sunday.

Happy Birthday, Keira

Keira turned 9 today!

She is very smart and talented, and always ready to put on a show (but you better have your ticket).

Keira facts:

Birthday presents - Kindle and earrings/necklace set (Mom and Dad), Rapunzel dolls (Aunt Sue and Uncle Peter), leotard and stuffed animal (Grandma and Grandpa)

Favorite thing to do with Kassidy - play with their American Girl dolls

Favorite thing to do with Lennon - be silly

Favorite thing to do with Lukas - listen to music

Favorite thing to do with Katharine - art lessons

Favorite thing to do with Mommy - snuggle

Favorite thing to do with Daddy - Daddy daughter dates

Favorite thing to do with Sherman - play

Favorite thing to do with Pepper - petting him

Birthday meal - breakfast sausages and waffles

Keira falls asleep the fastest and easiest of all the kids

Favorite animal - cheetah

Favorite TV show - Lab Rats

Would you rather have the power to fly or be invisible? - Fly

Keira still has a bit of a temper

What she would like to try this year - ride a horse

Keira loves to talk on the phone

Favorite color - purple (of course)

Least favorite color - brown

3 things you would take with you to a deserted island - family / Heart / food & water

What she wants to be when she grows up - professional dancer, and then a zoo keeper when she retires

What does she dream about - being in Rapunzel's world

Favorite season - Fall

Favorite Peanuts characters - Linus / Lucy / Charlie Brown / Sally

Favorite thing to do in school - reading and the "Like Fred" math books

Least favorite thing to do in school - math

Favorite foods - spicy chips / mac and cheese / cantelope

Least favorite foods - peanut butter and jelly sandwich / apricots

Best friends - Kaili, Jane

How many kids will you have when you grow up? - 2

What she wants for Christmas - a big beanbag for her room

Who is your hero? - Rapunzel

What do you like to do when driving in the car - sing along to music and draw

What are you most scared of? - thunderstorms

Who do you think is really beautiful? - Emma Watson

Keira sleeps with all of her stuffed animals tucked in her arms

Keira really really wants a mermaid fin for the pool

Favorite singer - Ben Platt

What would you buy if you had one million dollars? - food to give to the poor

Bro Cuts

Lukas got his hair cut short this week, resulting in a few double takes when I turn around and try to figure out who is who right away.

Happy Foody Face with Fur

Happy Birthday, Lennon

Lennon turned 10 today!

He is growing into a very sweet and intelligent young man, with a great right and left foot for soccer :)

Lennon Q&A

Top Lennon show (commercial improv) - the hairbrush advertisement for a back scratcher
Favorite foods  - ice cream sandwich, pretzels, carrots, blueberries
If you were stuck on an island and could bring 3 things - life supply of food, life supply of water, TV and console
Favorite friends - Fox, Nolan, Jayden
When you grow up you want to be - a soccer player
Favorite video game - Battleborn
Favorite TV shows - Glee, Africa's Deadliest
Least favorite food - cereal, peanut butter, most nuts
Favorite rides at Six Flags - bobsled and Harley
Lennon does not like any of his food to touch.
Favorite type of music - classical
Personal goals for this year - Get on DA and listen to his Mom better
Favorite part of School - science
Least favorite part of School - writing
Favorite time in history - Ancient Greece, after the Persian wars
Favorite thing to do with Kassidy - make up games
Favorite thing to do with Keira - talk with her
Favorite thing to do with L
ukas - everything
Favorite thing to do with Katharine - talk to her
Favorite thing to do with Mom - go places together by themselves
Favorite thing to do with Dad - go to FC Dallas games
Favorite thing to do with Sherman - hug him
Favorite thing to do with Pepper - play with a string
If you were an animal, what would you be - a peregrine falcon
Where would he like to live when he grows up - Germany
Favorite present of all time - Darth Vader bobble head
What he is looking forward to in the future - fold out TV's
Lennon frequently says "QUESTION.." with his finger pointed up
Birthday gifts - mp3 player (Grandma and Grandpa), panda bear pillow pet (Aunt Sue and Uncle Peter), FC Dallas trading cards and a pair of Bluetooth headphones (Mom and Dad)

Lennon and Mikey

We went to an FCD event last night and Lennon got to meet his favorite player, Michael Barrios.

He also ended up with 11 more signatures on his shirt from other players.

A good way to stat off his birthday week!

End of the Season

The kids had the big neighborhood pool to themselves today.

Goodbyes for Grandpa

At the airport going home- but already missing the grandparents.

Hello's to Home

Here are some of the text pics that I sent back to Iria during the trip.

Downtown Newburyport

Sturbridge Village

Mini-golf near Newburyport

Kayaks and Canoes

We had a lot of fun at the Schultz's lake house on the last day of our trip. 

Keira, Lennon, and Lukas all went out in a kayak for the first time.

Green Days

On the last night of our trip we saw Green Day for the 2nd time this year, but it was a first rock concert for Lennon. 

He was jumping up on his chair with his arms up, singing along the whole time. I will have to calm him down a little bit when I take him to a Beethoven Symphony next month..