Family Saturday

I have been traveling both the last two weeks and hit the road again on Monday so Carrie has been a single parent for the majority of 2011 while juggling a new job and going back to work full time.  Yes, she is super mom.  Thus, we dubbed Saturday Family Day.  We would do it all as a fam.  Her younger brother turned 18 this week so we needed to shower him with our best birthday wishes and headed up to the 'Loo on Saturday.  Becoming an adult is not always easy and Uncle Andrew found out some of the cons of adulthood yesterday.  He was running some errands around town and something sounded funny in the engine.  Do you remember the Beast of Bellingham oaks?  It turns out it was living under the hood of Andrew's car.  Fortuitously the car came to a squealing halt (I do mean squealing) in a Dairy Queen parking lot.  It's the middle of winter, but still, if you're going to get stranded I suppose a DQ is as good of a place as any to get stranded.  After taking a peek under the hood and seeing a paw with sizable claws it was ultimately determined that this wasn't the horse power looking back at him.  A tow truck was summoned. 

Q putting his shoes on Gavin

Calling for a tow truck is like calling the cable guy.  Sure they provide you a four hour window that they'll be at your house, but we both know they won't actually make that window. They will be at a minimum 90 minutes outside that arbitrary time slot. (Seriously, how is that the only "customer service" business that doesn't have any service yet still manages to have a thriving business)?  Brett, the eldest brother, went to help our newly minted adult.  Three dilly bars, two peanut buster parfaits and one strawberry shake later, the patriarch heads out to see where our now three companions are stranded in that DQ desert seemingly with no way out.  What's that you say?  The tow truck just called and said they'll be there within 30 minutes.  Ha!  Good one!  One of the errands our just turned 18 brother-in-law was running was picking up the grub for his own party.  One wouldn't want to sound selfish in the moment of another's birthday party, but we're turning ravenous for the food at this point.  It's nearly 3pm.  Alas someone, our beloved Poppa, finds his way out of the DQ parking lot without indulging in all the blizzard treats, although, he did return with an ice cream cake, with dinner in hand.  The rest of the search party was still patiently waiting for the two truck.  Within the hour all had returned in good spirits, all things considering.  And with that I wish Andrew a welcome to adulthood and a Happy Birthday!  Your present will be coming in the form of the bill on Monday.  You just can't catch a break and no time to find that out than the minute one turns 18.  In all seriousness, that's covered by insurance right?  Take your beast to the taxidermist and place it above the mantle as human revenge.

That was the beginning of family day.  After indulging in tons of food, cake and the first half of the Steelers game it was time to venture, as a family, to a restaurant to join some companions to watch the Packers explode onto the playoff scene.  We are off the bah and Quinny has done an amazing job.  It hasn't been easy per se but it's been easier than I expected.  He has the toughest time in the twilight hours when he's in between dinner but not quite ready for bed yet.  He was a little crabby in the car ride home, but Carrie calmed him down into a short nap before arriving back in the CR.  I think we surprised our friends when we walked in with the brood but it was family day. They had just forgotten to read the memo.  We got through dinner pretty admirably and were nearly through the first half of the Packer game when Quinny started to lose it.  To be fair we were there for about two hours and it was a good hour past his bed time.  He showed off is unbelievable eating skills, which impressed our friends. To put things in perspective let me give you his breakfast yesterday; 4 pancakes, bowl of cereal with raisins, applesauce, banana and blueberries.  At dinner he polished of mac n' cheese, another soup cup of applesauce and started going after our plates including our friends'.  Professional eater within our mix?

Q breaking into to Daddy's toolbox

Gavin, well that kid has been great.  He slept all the way home, through the whole dinner and didn't wake up until after we got Q tucked into bed.  We've been sleeping pretty well around here.  Q, I think is officially over the hump.  He no longer cries in the morning when he wants up.  He tosses and turns and just sort of hangs out in his crib until someone gets him.  Get this - it's not until 7:30. 7:30 am!  Upon waking up at 7:30 Saturday morning Carrie and I looked at each other and remarked it had been years, roughly 2 1/2 years since we had slept in that late.  It was a great feeling.  Gavin has been hitting the sack around 10pm and has been sleeping until about 5 for a feeding and then back down until after we get up so it hasn't been too bad for Care either. 

By 9pm family day had come to a close.  It was the first time we all went out in public together.  We survived and had a really good day.  Here are a few pics on some of the adventures I've been missing out on with my recent travels.  

Update on the Bowl for Kid's Sake.  I'm making some progress.  Thanks for those that have generously donated thus far.  You can see my updated thermometer progress here.  Only a few weeks left!

Bowling for Kids Sake

As we assimilate into our local community we decided to hook up with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Cedar Rapids to help raise funds for the children in our community.  I am donating my athletic prowess (dripping with sarcasm) for an afternoon of bowling with fellow teammates to raise funds.  Overall the Bowl for Kids Sake hopes to raise in excess of $350,000 this year.  My team, Split Happens, hopes to be just a small part of this important goal.  To date I have been ferociously practicing on the Wii where interestingly enough I am the proud record holder of most splits in a game with 11.  (I picked up the split spare in the tenth frame only to bowl the "extra" ball into yet another split.  It's a talent people).


SteeeeRIKE!



Since my network of Iowans is small I have set my personal goal to raise $250.  I hope to exceed that goal or even double it but I since I haven't participated before I didn't really know where to begin.  I am confident I can roll better than a 125 and will not embarrass myself, for my own kids sake.  If you are interested in donating or simply monitoring me or my team's progress you can visit my personal web page here.  The page provides an honor roll of donors, a place to make a donation online or a form to print out if you wish to donate in another manner.  It costs $1,000 a year to match one little boy or girl with a big brother or sister and it provides children with important role models.  I hope the event and cause interests you or if you just think watching me attempt a "strike pose" is hilarious feel free to kick in a few bucks.  All donations make a difference!  Thanks in advance for your moral support!  The event takes place February 15th so please visit our page before then.  I now leave you with a picture of me practicing.  Clearly, you would be backing a winner!

As we move through the fundraising process I'll send out periodic updates.  And if you want a piece of me on the Wii while I continue to practice let me know and I'll find you online.  I'll see you at ten pin alley. And yes that's my dog's booty, or as I like to call him, Coach, in the picture.

Where have I been?



That speck middle left is our mailbox - Xmas Eve snow storm



O Mr. Blog where have you been hiding? With all the holidays - 7 Christmases, count em' seven! And the travel that goes along with them plus the hosting of my own conference this week I haven't been very good at updating the blog, obviously.  Well, there was that and the 5 days of mourning required for losing a Rose Bowl.  The first such loss since 1953. So let me post the family's New Year's Eve Resolutions.

Chicago December 2010



Carrie -  According to my wife (not sure how I missed this over the last 7 years we've been together) but apparently she doesn't make NYE resolutions.  So, allow me.  She is using 2011 to dedicate more time to cooking and cleaning.  These are two of her favorite things to do and she just didn't spend enough time doing them in 2010.  Of course I'm kidding.  She wants to shovel more, lots more.  Alright, alright I mean she's going to spend more time pampering herself.  She has a goal to get to the Cedar Rapids' Ritz Carlton spa once a month for all of 2011.  They serve the best and I mean the best caviar while getting a stone massage.

Gavin - He cooed he to me that he would begin to sleep through the night.  He promised.  He's currently trending the other way.  We think this might swing into Quentin territory but are holding out hope he figures out that nighttime is meant for dreaming.  That is one serious resolution we hope comes blissfully true.

Dad - Dear old dad hopes he gets to spend more time at home.  Ironically moving to corporate HQ has actually taken family time away.  I don't travel to CR anymore but I'm gone before the kids get up and return only to see them for about 90 minutes before they hit the sack.  I still have numerous travel obligations but since I'm flying out of a small airport travel times have increased as direct flights have decreased.  Well, there's that and the deicing.  So I am hoping to be much more efficient with my trips and to limit them to overnights if possible so the boys and that wonderful wife of mine can spend more quality time together.  I also promise to never allow Bucky to lose to a non-AQ school in any bowl game again.

Making cookies (and then eating them)

Quinny - Quinny had a serious lengthy list so we had to explain to him it was unlikely he would be able to accomplish all feats.  Instead he should choose a couple and focus on those.  Ultimately he decided to give up his bah (pacifier) and use it only for sleeping for now.  He did later promise to give it up completely before turning 2 1/2.  He also decided he's ready to transition to a big boy bed.  The first night he promptly fell onto the floor.  At that point dad promised to buy him a child railing thingy to keep him firmly in the bed.  Kids, you have to love them and their courage.

Best gift ever! Vacuum!!

We actually caught Quinny slamming three cookies for breakfast one morning.  I have mixed emotions about buying him that stool that now allows him to get into everything! Quinny loves vacuum cleaners and is constantly getting ours out of the closet at 6 am as in the first thing he does when he gets up.  We were happy to have a smaller one for him to play with.  There is also a photo of the 9+ inches that we received on Christmas Eve.  It snowed for about 30 straight hours.  Shoveling is so awesome.  And Carrie and Gavin posing in front of the tree in our Michigan Ave. Chicago hotel lobby.  We shopped until we dropped.  Enjoy!