Wades on the Web - News

What's that White Stuff

2012-01-21T12:12:00.000-08:00

It finally snowed this winter, kind of. We got maybe just a little more than an inch of snow with a nice layer of some crudy ice on top, but at this point the kids are willing to play in just about anything.

Brian, Professional Shopper

2012-01-12T12:07:00.000-08:00

Brian has taken a real liking to grocery shopping. That is as long as it's at the right store, he gets to use the little gun and push his own cart, and we only buy a few things.

Happy New Years!

2012-01-01T21:55:00.000-08:00

I never thought we'd be swimming on New Year's Eve, but we did. We drove down to Tennessee where we met up with some of Mary's family at the Wilderness Lodge Resort/Waterpark for a little get together. All the kids had a lot of fun.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T09:52:00.000-08:00

Not only did Santa bring a trampoline, but he also brought so nice, warm weather so the kids could play on it without freezing.

Christmas Lights

2011-12-24T23:13:00.000-08:00

A little Christmas Eve tradition we have around here is to put on our PJs and then drive around and look at Christmas lights, and there's no better place to see Christmas lights than Christmas Street (34th Street) in Baltimore.

Brian and Buddy

2011-12-21T11:45:00.000-08:00

Brian and Buddy are just laying around waiting for Weslie and Gabbie to get out of school and start their Christmas holiday.

He Has Crazy Eyes

2011-12-08T17:09:00.000-08:00

Weslie's gingerbread man that she made today at school. I love this. Just look at that expression on his face.

Santa Train - 2011

2011-12-04T22:35:00.000-08:00

We did the Santa Train again this year. We really like it. Probably going to make this an every year tradition.

Little Chef

2011-11-26T16:26:00.000-08:00

With all the cooking I was doing for Thanksgiving, Gabbie decided to give me a helping hand. This is her helping make some cookies.

Monster Truck Crash

2011-11-23T14:02:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we get a little bored. Plus everything looks cool in slow-mo.

You're Too Close!

2011-11-09T11:57:00.000-08:00

I guess somethings never change. Kids just like sitting really close to the TV. I did it when I was kid and my parents use to fuss at me and say something about it hurting my eyes or it was dangerous because of the radation TVs put out. I wonder if new TVs have a radiation problem too, or if old TVs every had one. Maybe my parents just made all that up.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T22:29:00.000-07:00

Weslie was a Ninja, Brian was Batman, and Gabbie was a S.W.A.T. officer. It was a really good Halloween. The weather was nice, and to my surprise the vast majority of houses were lit-up and passing out some really good candy. One house was passing out full size candy bars with a $1 bill wrapped around it.

Who is That Masked Man?

2011-10-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

Gabbie's Sixth

2011-10-08T17:12:00.000-07:00

Gabbie had her birthday party today. She got to invite all of her classmates. This year we tried a place called "Jump On It". It's basically a large room filled with all kinds of "bouncy castles". It was a lot of fun. Probably one of the best party places we've been to. Everything went great and the staff was great. However, next time I'll make sure to bring more water. An hour and a half of running and bouncing makes kids really really thirsty.

Gooooooaaaaaaaaaal!!!!

2011-09-25T11:56:00.000-07:00

Weslie and Gabbie are both doing really well in soccer this year. They both have scored multiple goals. Weslie has taken a liking to playing goalie and she's really good at that too.

He Keeps Growing and Growing

2011-09-16T23:06:00.000-07:00

Buddy has really grown in the past two months. He doesn't really look like a puppy anymore, but he sure does act like one. He's such a good little (not so little) puppy.

The Veteran and The Rookie

2011-09-02T09:29:00.000-07:00

Well, school has finally started after a late start due to the fallout of hurricane Irene. Weslie is starting third grade and this will be Gabbie's first year of school. Weslie being an old pro at this is really making it easy on Gabbie.

Come On Irene

2011-08-30T14:30:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Irene has hit Baltimore! We lost power around 3am and it stayed off for the next four days. It also blew down several trees in our yard. One took out part of our deck. All in all I think we made it out in great condition. Lots of trees down in our area and some landed on cars and houses.

Did You Feel That?

2011-08-23T16:42:00.000-07:00

The East Coast was rocked by an 5.8 earthquake. The epicenter was just below D.C. and it was strong enough to send to send everyone out of their offices, shops, and houses. All asking the same question. Except for me. I didn't feel anything. I was mowing the yard at the time.

Putting the Tooth Fairy Through Her Paces

2011-08-16T22:09:00.000-07:00

Gabbie is dropping teeth left and right. She lost both of her "two front teeth" in as many days. If this pace keeps up she won't have any left and the Tooth Fairy will be bankrupt.

Super 8

2011-08-14T14:22:00.000-07:00

We just back from the beach and what does Weslie want to do for her birthday party? Swim. I swear I can't get this kid out of the water. However, watching her swim just puts the biggest smile on my face. She seems so natural and at ease in the water. It's hard to believe that she's turning eight. I miss my little Weslie, but she turning into a beautiful young lady.

Beach Time

2011-08-06T13:55:00.000-07:00

We made our now annual trip to Myrtle Beach. Traffic getting down there was terrible, but the warm water and great beaches more than make up for it. This year Brian was no longer scared of the ocean and Weslie loved it so much we had a hard time getting her out of the water. I thought she was going to turn into a Mermaid. Also, being at the beach and poolside is a lot more relaxing when everyone can swim.

Captain America

2011-07-23T18:13:00.000-07:00

We took the kids to see "Captain America". Everyone like it, but some of us more than others.

A Big High Five for Turning Three

2011-07-13T15:36:00.000-07:00

We went to Brian's favorite place for his Birthday, Chuck E. Cheese. Every time we go here I can't help but think that it's like a casino for kids, but Brian loves it. His favorite thing is winning tickets. He doesn't care so much about trading them in for prizes. He just like winning tickets. Happy Birthday Brian!

Meet "Buddy"scotch

2011-07-11T13:36:00.000-07:00

Weslie and Gabbie have wanted a puppy for two years now and this year we finial realize that they were right and we needed to get a puppy. We all had our own ideas of what kind of puppy to get. Most notably was Gabbie who wanted a Chihuahua and nothing else would do. If you even mentioned another type of dog she would start crying, but every changed when we first saw "Buddy"scotch.

Mississippi Trip

2011-07-09T23:23:00.000-07:00

We took our normal summer time trip down to Mississippi to spend time with our extended families and as usually we didn't have enough time to do everything or see everyone we wanted. We did manage to do quite a bit though. There was a new baby to see, Mr. William Wesley Wade (he was beautiful), grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins ... a whole lot of cousins.

End of Another School Year

2011-06-15T14:05:00.000-07:00

It's the end of the school year and we all went to Weslie's field day. Her class was very sweet to Gabbie and let her join in on all the activities and games. Gabbie loved it. We'll see how she feels next year when she actually starts going to school. I'm sure she'll be fine. It's Brian that I'm worried about. What's he going to do next year when his best friend and playmate gets on that bus?

It's Summer Time! (well not quite)

2011-06-11T16:20:00.000-07:00

For whatever reason Brian has Mini or Putt-Putt golf on his mind all day every day. We took him to a little local placed and he couldn't get enough. He would have stayed there all day if we would have let him. Wait until he sees the ones at the beach. He's going to faint.

Patriots

2011-05-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

Weslie finished her school's Patriot Program for this year and got to march into opening ceremony with her Girl Scout troop.

Somebody Wake-Up the Tooth Fairy!

2011-05-24T21:45:00.000-07:00

Gabbie lost her first tooth, and by lost I mean we pulled that wiggly joker with the old lasso of dental floss maneuver. She's supper excited. She's been waiting for this ever since Weslie lost her first tooth. She used to write notes to the Tooth Fairy every time Weslie got a visit, but tonight it's finally her turn.

Batman Dance

2011-05-18T11:10:00.000-07:00

Brian is a Batman nut, and every time he hears this Batman theme song he always dances the exact same way (costume optional). Gabbie likes to join in sometimes, but she prefers Robin.

Soap is Made From What?

2011-05-12T21:01:00.000-07:00

Weslie had a class trip to the Stonestep museum where she learned that people use to have to make their own soap and wash their close by hand and kids weren't allow to sit on the good furniture. That last one really blew her mind.

Look at Gabbie Go!

2011-05-03T13:56:00.000-07:00

There's just no "quit" in Gabbie.

Brian's Computer

2011-04-28T14:22:00.000-07:00

Danny just had to have one of these new tablet computers, but the joke is on him. The kids use it more than he does. Brian has taken to calling it his computer.

First Roller Coaster Ride

2011-04-15T18:25:00.000-07:00

Brian rode his first roller coaster today. It was at one of those little traveling carnivals that setup in the mall's parking lot. He cried the whole ride, but afterwards when he finally stopped crying he said that it was fun. I asked him if he wanted to ride again and he said, "No, not right now."

Fashion Show

2011-04-09T19:15:00.000-07:00

Weslie and Mary strut their stuff at the Girl Scouts' fashion show.

We Planted a Seed

2011-03-25T20:21:00.000-07:00

The start of Weslie's and Gabbie's garden. Next up, finding someplace to plant them.

The Great Smoky Mountains

2011-03-21T10:34:00.000-07:00

Took a quick little mini vacation to Gatlinburg, TN to meet up with some of Mary's family. We stayed at the Wilderness Resort which is basically a very large hotel built around an indoor water park. The kids never wanted to leave, but we did venture outside the hotel every once in a while. Sometimes that turned out to be a mistake. The traffic going into Gatlinburg is crazy.

I'm Batman

2011-03-16T14:24:00.000-07:00

Brian has become somewhat obsessed over Batman. He wants to play Batman. He wants to watch Batman. He wants to dress like Batman. He wants to be called Batman. It's Batman all day every day except for a little break now and then for monster trucks.

Hubba Bubba

2011-03-13T20:20:00.000-07:00

Look who can blow a bubble.

He's Got a Cannon for an Arm

2011-03-10T22:56:00.000-08:00

We're definitely taking advantage of it when we get a break in the weather. Brian's has got quite an arm on him.

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T20:01:00.000-08:00

Not only is it Valentine's Day but it's also super nice out too. It's sunny and warm. We've been cooped-up in the house too long by bad weather. It's time we get out and feel a little sun on our skin.

Out of Africa

2011-02-05T09:14:00.000-08:00

This year the Girl Scouts' father/daughter dance had a theme: Safari Adventure. I had a hard time trying to figure out how to incorporate a little elegance with the Safari theme and then it hit me ... "Out of Africa". Weslie looked beautiful, but I don't think I did Robert Redford's character any favors.

Snowballs and Dinosaurs

2011-01-27T22:18:00.000-08:00

Brian trying to make a snowball and then finding what he thinks are dinosaur tracks in the snow.

Snoooooowww!!!!!

2011-01-12T21:39:00.000-08:00

Finally, after a couple of dustings of light snow, we got a decent amount of accumulation. We got up first thing this morning, put on all our snow gear, and headed out to play. By the time lunch rolled around they were tired, wet, hungry, and extremely grateful that I remembered to turn on the hot tub.

Happy New Year

2011-01-03T07:36:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone happy times in this new year.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T07:55:00.000-08:00

Alllllll Abooooooard!!!

2010-12-20T07:41:00.000-08:00

For the second year we've traveled to Strasburg, PA to ride The Santa Train. It's really one of our favorite Christmas things. It just might be a new Christmas tradition.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T19:26:00.000-08:00

Just because we're not traveling anywhere for Thanksgiving or expecting guest doesn't mean we're skimping on a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

Fall Days

2010-11-19T11:18:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is coming up, the weather is turning cooler, and there's a whole lot of leaves on the ground. Brian, Gabbie, and Weslie are trying to get in just a little more play time. It won't be long until it turns cold and the only thing that will get us outside is a nice snow.

Fort McHenry

2010-11-08T12:12:00.000-08:00

Weslie's Girl Scout troop took a trip to Fort McHenry and we tagged along. The kids had a good time exploring the fort and pretending to fire the canons at enemy ships. The battle of Baltimore was a pretty pivotal moment during the War of 1812 and was probably the turning point for US troops after the British burned Washington D.C.

Hanging up the Cleats

2010-11-06T12:05:00.000-07:00

Soccer season has come to an end, and not too soon either. Weslie's and Gabbie's last games were quite chilly, and nobody wants to play when it's cold. Overall both girls did great. Now it's time to hang up the cleats and sleep in on those cold and windy Saturday mornings.

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T22:24:00.000-07:00

This year Weslie was a ninja, Gabbie was a vampire (surprise, surprise she wasn't Robin), and Brian was a ghost (really he was a skeleton but he called it a ghost). Our neighborhood is fairly hilly so we thought a hayride would help all the kids make it around without falling apart towards the end and wanting to be carried. Then we went to a Halloween part at a neighbors house.

26.2

2010-10-16T14:51:00.000-07:00

I did it. Months of waking up early to run and train have finally paid off with a finish of 4:15:02 in the Baltimore Marathon. It was hard. It was brutal. There were moments I thought I couldn't go any further, not another inch, but I did. I did.

Big Time Rush

2010-10-11T19:52:00.000-07:00

We went and saw them preform in New York for the Today Show and we stood in line for hours to get their autographs. We've bought their album and we watch their show. I guess you could saw we're fans of Big Time Rush. Gabbie like Logan and Weslie like Carlos. Even Brian likes them, though he calls them "James".

Happy Birthday Gabbie

2010-10-07T21:35:00.000-07:00

This year Gabbie had a Halloween birthday party. She went dressed as a vampire. There was pumpkin painting, mummy wrapping, and a hay ride. Everyone had a lot of fun. Happy birthday Gabbie.

Flying Brian

2010-10-03T08:44:00.000-07:00

What can I say... Brian is your typical boy. He loves to run, climb, and epically jump.

We Spell Defense G-A-B-B-I-E

2010-09-11T20:05:00.000-07:00

Gabbie seems to have found her calling in life. She is the most awesome defensive player in the history of soccer. Nothing and nobody gets past her. She's a beast. She terrifies the other teams. The other coaches complain and she just laughs and taunts them. She my sweet little girl but a demon in the backfield.

The Charm City 20 Miler

2010-09-05T20:35:00.000-07:00

The weather was perfect, the NCR trail was beautiful, the other runners were very helpful and friendly, and I felt great. All of these things lead to a very enjoyable run for this warm-up/test race before the Baltimore Marathon next month. My time was 2:52:55. This put me several minutes ahead of my 3 hour goal. The absolutely best part of the race was seeing Mary and the kids cheering for me as I came down the home stretch. Weslie and Gabbie had even made signs for me.

Time for School

2010-08-30T11:34:00.000-07:00

Well, school has started back up and Weslie is headed off to second grade. I was worried that after a summer of sleeping in her new early morning schedule was going to be a problem, but it wasn't. She was very eager to get back to school and see her friends again. Gabbie got ready for school too, but as she told me, "This is just for practice."

Six Flags

2010-08-16T21:16:00.000-07:00

We normally always go to Dutch Wonderland towards the end of the summer, but this year we thought we'd give Six Flags a shot. We're really glad we did. There were plenty of rides for the kids, a really good water park, and Brian's favorite - Thomas Town.

Soccer

2010-08-12T22:42:00.000-07:00

Soccer season has started again and this time both Weslie and Gabbie are playing. Here is a picture of Gabbie during practice. Weslie's first practice was cancelled due to rain.

Happy Birthday Weslie

2010-08-07T18:21:00.000-07:00

Weslie had her 7th birthday party today. She had some of her friends over and they played games and jumped in the moon bounce. Oh, and of course there was cake and ice cream. It's just amazing at how fast she is growing up. It seems like she was just a baby and soon she'll be asking to borrow the car. Time is really just flying by.

Myrtle Beach Wrap-Up

2010-07-18T17:10:00.000-07:00

We're finally home. While we've been gone Baltimore has been having record breaking heat wave and an earthquake. Go figure. We're all tired, worn-out, and glad to be home. Here are some photos from our wonderful trip to Myrtle Beach.

Walking on Water

2010-07-16T18:07:00.000-07:00

I don't know if you'd exactly call it walking, but it's something. I wish they would have let me do this.

It's a Beach Birthday

2010-07-13T14:15:00.000-07:00

Brian turned two here at the beach. Nothing like playing on the beach, then a little swimming at the pool, followed by some birthday cake, and finally settling down for a nap while clutching your new toy truck as a way to spend the first part of your birthday.

At the Beach

2010-07-10T11:38:00.000-07:00

Myrtle Beach is the second stop of our whirlwind summer tour. We were here last year but I can already tell this year is going to be better; mainly because Brian likes the beach this time.

Brian Loves the Pool

2010-07-08T13:33:00.000-07:00

Just a little video of Brian at the pool. He loves it. He can't get enough of it. I think he would live in the water if he could.

Happy 4th from Mississippi

2010-07-05T19:53:00.000-07:00

While Baltimore is experiencing a record breaking heat wave we are enjoying the 4th with friends and family in an unseasonably cool Mississippi. Don't get me wrong it's still hot and we're enjoying Steven and Brandi's pool every chance we can. Danny is still planning to run the Baltimore marathon this fall got some training in with a run from the Dabbs house in Nettleton to the Wade house in Amory, 16.5 miles.

First Day of Summer

2010-06-21T18:40:00.000-07:00

There's nothing like officially starting the summer with 90+ degree weather and a Slip-N-Slide.

Gabbie's Ballet Recital 2010

2010-06-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

Our tiny dancer hit the big stage for her ballet recital.

Becoming a Brownie

2010-06-09T22:46:00.000-07:00

Weslie's Girl Scout Daisy troop had their bridging ceremony where they official moved up and became Brownies.

School is Coming to an End

2010-05-21T17:13:00.000-07:00

Weslie doesn't officially get out of school until about mid-June, but as that date draws ever closer the school seems to have more and more special activities. This week's activity was field day. Where the kids got to spend most of the day outside playing games and family members could come and cheer them on. Weslie's not a shy little girl at all. She is very competitive.

Weslie's Field Trip

2010-05-10T20:38:00.000-07:00

Weslie's class went on a field trip to the Baltimore Zoo this past Friday, and today her teacher sent home a CD full of pictures. That's "above and beyond" if you ask me. So thanks to Weslie's teacher I'm able to share these picture with you. Enjoy.

Go! Gabbie! Go!

2010-05-02T14:51:00.000-07:00

Gabbie is doing very well in T-Ball. She's a good fielder and an excellent hitter but where she really shines is in running the bases. She is by far one of the fastest players on the field at any given game. What really makes her running so fun to watch is the big smile she on her face.

3 in 1

2010-04-25T10:11:00.000-07:00

Danny's parents drove up to Baltimore for a visit, and as always we forget to take a lot of pictures. Here is one of the few pictures that we did take. It's Danny chewing on a Fimble while his Dad hold Brian somewhat cautiously while Brian eyes his drink. Three generations of "Wade boys" in one photo.

Gabbie's a Yankee

2010-04-18T22:33:00.000-07:00

This weekend was Gabbie's T-ball opening day and first game. Her team is the Yankees and she absolutely loves her uniform. She wears it all the time. Well, that is when she is not wearing her Spider-Man suit. She did very well in her first game and even got a really good hit on her very first swing.

Annie's Playground

2010-04-08T13:22:00.000-07:00

I thought that Gabbie and Brian would enjoy going to Annie's Playground this morning, so after getting Weslie off to school we headed out bright and early hoping to beat the heat and the crowds. It turned out to be a good plan. It was nice and cool with plenty of sunshine and for the first 20 minutes or so we had the whole park all to ourselves.

Hooray for Luray

2010-04-05T19:57:00.000-07:00

We just got back from our little Spring Break trip to Luray, Va. Luray is a beautiful little historic town in the Shenandoah Valley and framed by the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is the home of the famous Luray Caverns and is also the cabin capital of Virginia. So, I guess it is only fitting that we rented a cabin and enjoyed all the natural beauty that the surrounding area had to offer. Well, Weslie and Gabbie didn't like the natural beauty of the wasp there were in the immediate surrounding area of our cabin.

Spring has Sprung

2010-03-25T09:43:00.000-07:00

Spring time is here. The weather is warming up, plants are starting to bloom, and the animals are starting to be a lot more active; saw a fox run across the road just yesterday. We even went on a family bike ride this past weekend. This time Weslie did not want to ride in the little trailer with Gabbie she wanted to ride her bike. So, Brian got to ride with Gabbie in the trailer and Weslie got to ride her bike along side us. She did great and made it the whole way. Spring also brings Spring Break and Easter. Here's a quick preview of our little brood in their Easter attire.

Outside

2010-03-11T07:46:00.000-08:00

Even though there is still snow on the ground the weather here lately has been absolutely beautiful. All of a sudden there seems to be more people out and about. The playgrounds and parks are crowded. People seem to be in a better mood. It reminds me of the nature shows when the animals come out of hibernation. We're doing our part too. We've been enjoying the sunshine and the warm weather as much as we can. Here's to the sun.

Isn't She Lovely

2010-02-20T16:14:00.000-08:00

Friday night was the Girl Scout's Father/Daughter dance. We had been talking about it and anticipating it for weeks, but nothing could have prepared me for the beautiful young lady that was to be my date.

The Second Snowman of the Snowpocalypse

2010-02-10T17:40:00.000-08:00

We've had the most snow that Maryland has ever had this winter. So far we've gotten over 70" of snow. That's more than Buffalo, NY or Green Bay, WI. It just keeps on snowing and snowing and snowing. We've been pretty much trapped in our house for the last six days and there might be signs that cabin fever might be setting in. Thankfully we haven't lost power or run out food or anything. Maybe one day it'll stop snowing and we'll be able to leave the house, but seeing that they're forecasting more snow in the next few days I guess it won't be anytime soon.

The Big Snow

2010-02-07T11:23:00.000-08:00

We just got hit by the biggest snow storm this season, and that's saying a lot since we had a storm dump about 18" of snow on us back in December. Some are saying that this is the biggest snow that Baltimore has ever had, but during our very first winter here we got over 30" of snow from a storm. Things were a little different then. We were living in Baltimore then and now we live just outside of the city. We didn't have any kids back then and now we have three. It's because of that last reason that we're enjoying this big snow a lot more than the first, even though now there's a driveway that has to be shoveled.

Me, Mischievous?

2010-01-18T18:59:00.000-08:00

Brian just had his 18th month checkup and all is well. He's growing like a weed and healthy as he could be, and he's really starting to come into his own. Brian is hilarious. He's got quite the personality. He loves to dance, especially when Yo Gabba Gabba is on, and then clap for himself. But he's also a little troublemaker, so much so that we call him our little Viking. Another interesting thing about Brian, we think he's a lefty.

Say Hello to Princess Penelope

2010-01-10T19:12:00.000-08:00

While we were visiting our families during this past Thanksgiving Weslie and Gabbie were introduced to the magical world of kittens. Ever since then that's all they've talked about. So a week or so before Christmas we went to our local humane society and picked out a kitten. It was awful. Let's just say there were some raised tempers, some harsh words, and some feelings got hurt, but we got the kitten we came for and were lucky enough not to have been dragged into that whole mess. The girls name her Princess Penelope and she's been by their sides ever since.

P.S. If "Princess Penelope" is too much of a mouth full you can always just call her "Poe". I do.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T19:37:00.000-08:00

Whether you're a fan of Twenty-Ten or Two Thousand-Ten today marks not only the beginning of a new year but also a new decade, and ours started with some snow. We spent most of the day outside. Even though we only got a few inches, which is basically nothing compared to our last, it was perfect for snowballs and sledding, and despite Weslie and Gabbie doing their best Ethan Frome recreation everyone had a really good time. Brian even seemed to like it a little better this go around.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T16:47:00.000-08:00

Unlike the past several years there will be no traveling for us this Christmas. We're just going to stay home and relax and enjoy being a family and playing with all our presents without having to worry about going anywhere.

Blizzard of 2009

2009-12-19T17:51:00.000-08:00

This is the first year that we've decided to spend Christmas in Maryland and boy what a Christmas it's going to be. It dumped about 18" of snow on us today. The girls loved it and couldn't wait to play in it. Brian on the other hand was real excited about it while inside, but not to much when outside.

All Aboard

2009-12-12T18:22:00.000-08:00

This year instead of fighting traffic and the crowds at the mall to see Santa, we took a train. Santa's Paradise Express departing from Strasburg, PA. It was everything a visit with Santa should be: cozy, peaceful, and relaxed.

Jasper

2009-12-09T17:02:00.000-08:00

Jasper has been a faithful and constant part of our lives for the past 16 years now, and now has come the time to say goodbye. I know that this is just how it is. It's part of having a pet, but Jasper alway seem to have a somewhat mythical part to him. I really thought he would live forever.

Weslie . . . with Diamonds

2009-12-05T16:43:00.000-08:00

I guess I'm getting soft. I didn't want to cut Brian's hair, but then I relented. Then earlier this week Weslie had asked to get her ears pierced and I told her, "absolutely not". Everyday she asked and everyday I said no, but today she pleaded her case one more time and this time I just didn't have it in me to tell her no. I guess in the long run it doesn't matter whether she's 12, the arbitrary age that I had assigned to be the appropriate ear piercing age, or six. It was a decision I wanted her to make for herself and she did.

Just a Little Off the Top

2009-12-04T18:31:00.000-08:00

Brian got his first haircut today. I was reluctant but in the end I gave in. He was going to get a haircut sooner of later why fight it. Brian on the other hand had a different take on the situation and fighting it was at the top of his list. Thankfully the lady who cut his hair was very patient and did a great job. Gabbie loves his haircut and keeps saying that he's so handsome and she wants to marry him.

Traveling Man

2009-11-27T19:52:00.000-08:00

This year we traveled back to Mississippi for Thanksgiving. It's the first time we've had Thanksgiving with our families since moving to Baltimore almost seven years ago. We normally go back during Christmas, but we're mixing it up this year. This was also Brian's first time to fly. He did great. That is once we were able to get him away from the "people mover" conveyor belt thingy in the terminal.

Leaves

2009-11-07T18:34:00.000-08:00

Autumn has been especially beautiful this year and since we live in a heavily wooded area we've had a front row view. The downside to having so many beautiful trees is all those beautiful leaves have to fall somewhere and there are a lot of them. It doesn't usually take very long to rake up those leaves if everyone helps, but sometimes . . .

Hulk Mad

2009-10-31T17:07:00.000-07:00

It's Halloween and that can mean only one thing . . . lots and lots of walking, I mean candy lots and lots of candy. While this wasn't technically Brian's first Halloween it was the first he was able to really participate in. He really seemed to understand what he was supposed to do. He would walk up to the door and hold up his little pail and when they dropped candy in it he left. The one thing you did not want to do is take his candy away from him or get in his way when it was his time to get candy. That would make him mad and you don't want to make him mad.

Our Little Man

2009-10-18T17:13:00.000-07:00

We're having a little cold snap here in Maryland. Temperatures are about 20 degrees below normal, so we all broke out our cold weather clothes for church today. Weslie and Gabbie looked cute as could be, of course, but Brian looked completely different. I don't know if it was the clothes or what, but Brian is no longer a baby. He's a little man.

Happy Birthday Gabbie

2009-10-04T12:35:00.000-07:00

This year for Gabbie's birthday we decided to keep things on the simple side. We had her a small party at home no frills and no fuss . . . well we did rent a huge moon bounce, so maybe there was a little frill and a little fuss involved.

Winding Down

2009-09-29T12:20:00.000-07:00

Danny's parents had been up to visit over the past couple of weeks and now that they're heading back to Mississippi we can wind down a little and reflect on all our adventures. There was the march/rally in DC where Dan's Dad found out what it was like to be one in a million (two million actually). He also learned what can happen to your car if you leave it parked on the street overnight in New York. Danny and his mom got to experience what it feels like to take a one year old to urgent care and to find out how sharp teeth can be and what a through-and-through mouth wound looks like. In the end everyone had a good time and no one suffered any permanent damage.

This is How Brian Rolls

2009-08-30T13:01:00.000-07:00

Lately we've gotten into the very pleasurable habit of having a good old family bike ride. Weslie and Gabbie are still Riding in Style and now Brian has his own first class seat for our little tours. We were worried that his seat might not be very comfortable but our concerns were quickly laid to rest when Brian fell asleep on his very first ride.