Family Photos - Mads

at the lake (taken 03/25/07)

Baseball is starting again

Tonight was Mad's first baseball practice of the spring season. He is excited because coach Jim is his coach again and he has some teamates from his previous two seasons. His throwing and catching skill were a bit rusty but he demonstrated that he remembers some of the things he is supposed to be doing out there in the field. It was good to see him giving advice to some of the new kids.

Mom went to the middle school open house, so I took all four boys with me. This was a little tricky because I had to keep Can entertained, since he can't get around very well with his broken leg. Also, I had to leave in the middle to take Sul over to the cub scout pack meeting and then I had to come back and pick up Mad.

Sul's soccer coach called tonight to let us know that his team name is the Flames. His first practice is Thurs. We're headed for a busy time. Fortunately it is fun to watch them play.

Child care and bad behavior

This NY Times article reports on the findings from a recent study of children in daycare. Not surprisingly, at least to me, they found that child care had a detrimental effect on the children's behavior.

Refering to the debate over whether sending kids to daycare is harmful:

The debate reached a high pitch in the late 1980s, during the so-called day care wars, when social scientists questioned whether it was better for mothers to work or stay home. Day care workers and their clients, mostly working parents, argued that it was the quality of the care that mattered, not the setting. But the new report affirms similar results from several smaller studies in the past decade suggesting that setting does matter.

An interesting quote:

“They knew this would be disturbing news for parents, but at some point, if that’s what you’re finding, then you have to report it.”

But will parents do anything about it?

(HT to Dennis Prager)

Images - Spring Stream

Spring Stream (taken 03/25/07)

Family Photos - Much Mulch

Our town was giving away free mulch on Saturday, so I borrowed a pickup truck and got three loads. As much effort as it was to unload the truck, I was glad that I paid the $5 to have them load the truck with a backhoe. Now we just have to put it on the hill.

Images - Turtle Pile

There were dozens of turtles at the lake by where we walked today. They would pile up on logs and on top of each other. (taken 03/25/07)

The home of the future

This article talks about what homes will be like in 2037. I'm not sure if this is only meant to project homes in Minnesota but it is actually quite humorous. Actually kind of scary, if you believe any of it. Especially the family of the future. Of course, this is probably only the tip of the iceberg if the Democrats/liberals/global warmists have their way.

(HT to Lileks)

Family Photos - All of Us

We took this while we were out on a walk today at a neighborhood park. (taken 3/25/07)

Family Photos - Its Broken

As we feared, Can's leg is broken. Mom took him to the doctor's yesterday for an X-ray. One of the bones in his lower leg is cracked all of the way through. It is quite a long break as it is split diagonally across the bone. I didn't see the X-ray but Mom said that the bone is separated at the bottom part of the fracture. He has been quite a trooper through it so far, although he is whining right now because it hurts and because he cannot get himself around. He just has to sit and cry for things.

Family Photos - Cheeky Boy

Decl had a visit to the dentist's office on Wednesday to get a cavity filled. While his mouth was numb he bit the inside of his cheek pretty badly and now it is all swollen. He complained about it hurting badly on Wednesday, but I think that it wasn't as painful yesterday.

In other news, Can was playing at the park yesterday and hurt his foot/leg. It seemed pretty sensitive and he wouldn't put any weight on it last night. Our nurse friend suggested that we give him some ibuprofin and see how he is today. If he still won't stand on it, Mom is going to take him to the doctor. I update when I find out more.

Mad's autobiography

Mad had to write an autobiography for a school project. He wanted to print out some pictures of himself to illustrate his chapters but had a hard time finding any where he wasn't making a funny face.

For years now we have been telling him that he shouldn't make faces every time we take his picture but he just took that as encouragement to look goofier. Now that he has to show his classmates pictures of himself, he is concerned that he looks silly. Oh well. We managed to get a few pictures that I took when he wasn't looking.

Family Photos - Two of Four

Can and Dec on my lap (taken 03/17/2007)

Why I still like President Bush

Stories like this explain why I still stand behind President Bush. I know that he has made mistakes. Tell me a president that hasn't. But he governs based on principles that don't change based on the latest poll. He tries to do what he thinks is right and best for the country.

Images - climbing vine

We couldn't find any leprechauns but some of the vines in the forest are starting to put on their green. (taken 03/17/07).

Family Photos - leprechaun

Dec decided that he needed to make himself pinch proof yesterday, since it was Saint Patrick's day. I'm not sure where he got the idea but he wanted to go on a leprechaun hunt. I told Dec that he looked like a leprechaun himself but I couldn't get him to lead me to his pot of gold, so we decided to go tromping through the woods behind our house in hopes of locating one of the little fellows. We never saw any leprechauns but we had some fun jumping streams and knocking over dead trees.

Not my best week

Last week was not my favorite. I have to say that I'm glad it is over. After the indoor rain last week, I used a lot of silicone caulking and a new bathtub spout, but I managed to repair the bathtub. Now I just have a hole in the bathroom wall and some water stains on the sunroom ceiling to fix.

We finally decided to try and buy tickets for our trip to Utah and found that prices had gone up substantially. This left me feeling pretty down, and I was dreading telling my kids that we couldn't afford to visit grandparents this summer. Then on Thursday we found a really good deal. We decided that this was an answer to prayers and we decided to buy the tickets before it was too late. Whew. That is a relief.

Two weeks ago I was asked if I would present my research at a seminar on March 19th. I agreed to do this and spent all last week getting the slides ready for the presentation. Yesterday I got a flier for the seminar and my name was not on it. I emailed the administrator to ask if I was supposed to present and she told me that she forgot that I had accepted, so she scheduled someone else. I can't say that I'm completely disappointed not to have to present in front of a bunch of other people, but it was a little frustrating to waste all of that time getting ready for a seminar that I don't have to give.

Images - Tongue Wagging

Can (2) took this picture of Dec acting silly at the American Tobacco trail. (taken 03/10/07)

Images - Green Creek

From the woods near the American Tobacco Trail (taken 03/10/07).

Images - Spring Blossoms

More blossoms from the Bradford Pear tree. Lighting adjusted for effect (taken 03/14/07)

Images - My brother the pillow

The other day Dec and Can were watching TV when I came home from work.
Can had obviously not had a nap and Dec thought he looked like a soft
and cuddly pillow. I thought it was cute.