We're legal...We're Iowans...

It's not suppose to take this long but as off today we (Sara Beth and I) are official Iowans. Proof is we both have our driver's licenses and license plates. The move is finally over (I think).

The only thing I don't care for is my picture looks more like a mug shot than anything else. I feel like a criminal just looking at the picture.

Skate Date

Last Friday Joseph went skating with some friends at the local skateland. During the 'snowball' skate, where young ladies are suppose to ask a guy to skate with them, a seventh grade girl (one of the two girls that came by the house a few weeks ago) asked Joseph to skate with her. Afterward she gave Joseph her phone number and asked him to call her.

I think it's great that a girl has taken an interest in my son but she's a seventh grader and he's in fifth. While an age difference doesn't mean as much when you're older (I'm 9 years, 2 months older than my wife) when you're still in grade school, two years is a BIG difference.

Dawn seems like a nice girl and Sara and I met her Dad this past Sunday.

My boy is growing up!

AJ

Welcome to the World...

My friend Matt and his wife Carrie welcomed their first born son into the world last night at a 11:52. Please enjoy Matt and Carrie's musings about their son...

Swim Test

If you're under the age of 18 and want to swim in the deep end of the pool at our local Regional Wellness Center you have to pass a swiming test. Joseph passed the test yesterday afternoon. He said, "This is the BEST DAY of my LIFE!"

Needless to say Joseph then spent the rest of his time at the pool going off the diving board and down the slide into the deep end of the pool.

Way to Go Joseph!

Dad

Cat's in the Cradle

Matt...pay attention to this...

Tonight during the show Rock Star Supernova Dilana sang Cats in the Cradle. And she did a awesome job. And I must admit I haven't heard that song in a long time. And I must admit it got to me. I think tonight was the first time I listened (really listened) to that song since becoming a fulltime Dad almost six years ago. And having a 10 year-old right now made the song mean even more.

My guess is I would be moved right now if I heard Father and Son, Cat's in the Cradle or any other song about Dads and their kids.

In closing a favorite picture of each of my boys...





And I can't say anymore without giving credit to my wife Sara Beth. It's her strength that allows me to be a good Daddy to these boys.

AJ

Thank You Daddy

Tonight we were eating dinner and I can't remember exactly what was going on but I helped Kallsen with something and he replied, "Thank You Daddy."

I love my boys.

AJ

Wiser Non The Less

I turned 37 Saturday. Had a great day. Perfect gifts from my three sons and my wife. Another day older...

AJ

Parker's ER trip

Parker smashed his finger in a cabinet on Monday morning and earned his first trip to the ER. It ended up looking a lot worse than what it was. He cut his finger 3/4 of the way around and the finger swelled to about three or four times its normal size. But no broken bones and the cut was bandaged with skin glue. He should be fine in a couple of days.

10 Years Old

Joseph turned 10 on Monday. We did a family night of his choice. He wanted sandwiches from Subway and to watch Madagascar as a family. We then let him stay up for an hour past his bedtime to play his game cube.

He seemed to enjoy the night.

10 years old. Double digits. Three years until he's a teenager.

AJ

Disc Golf tournament

I played in my first Disc Golf tournament since 1993 this afternoon. It was the 2nd Annual Sweet Corn Daze Disc Golf tournament. There was no entry fee and no prizes awarded. Despite the lack of pre-tournament publicity, they had 21 disc golfers play. There were no divisions, they broke the players into four groups and sent us out on the course.

Joseph played well and I played better than expected. I started with a birdie (2) on the first hole we played (#3) with a 25 foot putt. I took a par on the next hole after missing the 10 foot putt wide right and parred the next hole after a nice drive and approach.

Hole 6 was not kind to me after pulling my drive way right and having a poor approach and finishing that hole with a bogey 4. I was able to easily par hole 7 and birdie hole 8 after freely basing the 241' hole with a 150 class scorpion. I parred the 9th hole and the 1st hole (remember we started on hole #3) and going in to the final hole (#2) I was in position to finish strong. Needless to say, my final hole didn't help my cause. I pulled the drive too far right and bit high and got knocked down by a tree limb and was sitting one on the slant of a hill with the basket about 50' away. A poor approach and two low putts later, I finished with a double bogey.

The final count for my first tournament was a 28 (one over par) and second place out of 21 disc golfers. Not bad considering I haven't play regular disc golf in 12 years until this summer and I had only played a half dozen times this year. The winner shot a 27 and he was from Welcome, Minnesota.

My Score Card...

1. (#3) Birdie (with a 25 foot putt)
2. (#4) Par (missed birdie putt from 10 feet)
3. (#5) Par
4. (#6) bogey (Way right on the drive, no chance of recovery)
5. (#7) Par
6. (#8) Birdie (Freely based the hole from 241')
7. (#9) Par
8. (#1) Par
9. (#2) Double bogey (Bad drive, two low putts)

Grand Total: 28 (+1)

I think I got the fire back for disc golf. While I wasn't disappointed with how I played or how I finished, I just keep replaying the missed put on #5 and the poor play on hole #2. Only if...

On another disc golf note, I was asked by the tournament organizer if I would be interested in helping promote or run the tournament next year. I said he could ask but I can't promise I'll say yes. I did suggest we get a week night league going. Maybe playing the course twice for a full 18 effect.

AJ

PS-Joseph shot a 45 for his first tournament and finished 19th. Not bad considering everyone at the tournament had a lot more time playing than he did. I wouldn't be surprised if Joseph went out next year and won this tournament.

When Girls Come Knocking

This morning at 10:15 two girls knocked on the door. They wanted Joseph and his friend Andrew to go to the parade with them this morning. The first Saturday in August is Sweet Corn Daze in Estherville and there is a parade, games, crafts and free sweet corn for anyone and everyone.

Joseph will be 10 on Monday. One of these girls is 11 and one is 12. I'm not sure if they're sisters but I know they do live in our neighborhood.

Oh, and by the way, the girls like to call Joseph 'Bob'. We're not sure why but last night we went for a walk (pushing Parker in the stroller, Kallsen on his trike and Joseph on his bike) and when we got downtown these same girls rode past us on their bikes and said, "Hey, Joseph!" and when Joseph looked at them they said in unison, "Hi Bob" and all Joseph could do is blush.

AJ

Back Home...Finally

Pumpkinhead arrived home this afternoon after a two month trip across the country. Okay...maybe not across the country...but he did go from Rabun County to Atlanta to Houston to Minnesota to Iowa. That's a good amount of travel for a cat.

Anyway...he is home.

Spending an Extra Day Away

Pumpkinhead's flight from Atlanta to Houston arrived an hour late and Pumpkinhead missed his connection. So we drove to Minneapolis last night only to drive home without the cat. And when we got home, the kids (Parker and Kallsen) were fussy and fought sleep with the best of them.

Because Parker was fussier of the two, I ended up with Parker on the couch in the living room and shortly there after Sara joined us because Kallsen was tossing and turning to much in our bed. Shortly after she joined me and Parker in the living room, Kallsen wandered into the living room as well. I then was able to get parker down for the night (at 3:00 am.) Kallsen then crawled into my lap. So here we are, three in the morning, Sara on the couch, me sitting at the other end of the couch with Kallsen when all of a sudden Kallsen gets sick and throws up on me, all over the couch and on the coffee table.

Needless to say, it was a long night. Sara is now on her way back to the airport to get the cat. Hopefully all will be okay.

AJ

In the Air

Pumpkinhead should be in the air and on his way home. Sara and I along with the kids will be leaving between 6-7pm tonight to drive to Minneapolis to pick him up. Pumpkinhead is coming home!

Pumpkinhead at the Vet

I found out this morning that Pumpkinhead is now at the Vet's office in Clayton. He'll be checked over and cleaned up today and tomorrow afternoon he'll be taken to Atlanta for his flight home.

Sara will leave Estherville Thursday evening and drive to the Minneapolis airport and will pick him up and bring him home.

AJ