I am deployed right now. I will be gone for awhile. Rhys misses me terribly when I am away, as i do him. For the first part of this deployment I have high speed Internet in my room. That means we can skype.
Before I left I bought two copies of Green Eggs and Ham. Rhys has one and I have one. Each morning (0200) my time, Rhys and Mama wake me up to say good morning before Rhys goes off to school.
Each evening, right before Mama takes him to bed, Rhys skypes me again. He is always sitting in Mama's chair, with a big grin on his face. As soon as he sees me he holds up his orange book so I can see that he has it. I hold mine up so he can see that I am ready to go.
As I read it I tell him to turn the page. He follows along, very earnest and serious. He wants to get it right.
The orange book is our special book.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
A B C
Owyn is two. While we were at the party this weekend he went inside, where it was cooler, to play. On the fridge there were the mandatory, (in a house with small children), alphabet magnets. Owyn saw those and made a bee line for them. He loves to play with magnets for some reason.
He knew every letter.
He knew every letter.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Tracy
Today we all went to my neice's first birthday. It was a madhouse, of course. The boys started out shy but warmed right up and were soon raising hell. There were a lot of kids, it was like a herd of cats.
The party was outside. When the sun was out it was quite hot. When the sun was hidden by clouds it was perfect. There was plenty of food and drink. The boys liked the guacamole and the cake and ice cream best. Go figure.
Due to the heat, Kate, my sister, decided to open the presents in the house. My father and cousin and I decided to skip the presents and stay outside and talk. At one point I got up to check on the boys. I looked in the house. Tracy was standing there with something in her hands.
After ten years of marriage, she still takes my breath away.
The party was outside. When the sun was out it was quite hot. When the sun was hidden by clouds it was perfect. There was plenty of food and drink. The boys liked the guacamole and the cake and ice cream best. Go figure.
Due to the heat, Kate, my sister, decided to open the presents in the house. My father and cousin and I decided to skip the presents and stay outside and talk. At one point I got up to check on the boys. I looked in the house. Tracy was standing there with something in her hands.
After ten years of marriage, she still takes my breath away.
Ein-Steins!
Owyn loves The Little Einsteins. A month or so ago we were at Barnes & Nobles. Each boy got to pick a book. Owyn picked out a Little Einsteins book. Next to his Gee and his blanket it is his favorite thing in the whole world.
We record several shows for the boys every day. One of these is Ens-Steins! as Owyn calls it. Every time a show is over and we ask them what they want to watch, Owyn's answer is Ein-Steins!
He's smart enough for it but even Rhys is getting tired of The Little Einsteins.
We record several shows for the boys every day. One of these is Ens-Steins! as Owyn calls it. Every time a show is over and we ask them what they want to watch, Owyn's answer is Ein-Steins!
He's smart enough for it but even Rhys is getting tired of The Little Einsteins.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Swimming
Rhys has been in swim classes for several months now. About six weeks ago his teacher left and he got a new one, one who is not nearly as skilled as his old one.
For the last two weeks Rhys has had his old teacher back. Yeah us! Today he got is first ribbon. For each level that they master they get a ribbon. He not only got his rainbow ribbon but he did everything he needs for his second one except for kicking.
He can now hold his breath, put his head under water by himself and get a ring from the bottom and jump off the wall without any support. Once he can kick on the kick board he will be ready to move on up.
It is really great to see him making progress. I'm very proud.
For the last two weeks Rhys has had his old teacher back. Yeah us! Today he got is first ribbon. For each level that they master they get a ribbon. He not only got his rainbow ribbon but he did everything he needs for his second one except for kicking.
He can now hold his breath, put his head under water by himself and get a ring from the bottom and jump off the wall without any support. Once he can kick on the kick board he will be ready to move on up.
It is really great to see him making progress. I'm very proud.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Black Powder
The morning of the 4th we went to a local museum called Four Mile Historic Park. It is in Denver and is, oddly, four miles from downtown. It used to be a farm and stage stop, back when people still traveled by stage. Now it is a farm and museum.
On the fourth of July every year they have a full day of events. The local Civil War reenactors have a camp there and show their stuff. The boy's grandparents are part of that unit.
When we got there the unit was about to fire off the 12 pound mountain howitzer. This is a very small canon that makes a satisfyingly big bang. Both boys were surprised and pleased by that.
Following the canon the infantry fired off several shots each, again perking the boys right up.
After the firing demonstrations we wandered through the park. We bought some home made kettle corn and root beer, which were both a big hit. We wandered through the stilts and hoops. Owyn loved the hoops. He picked them up and put them over his head. Rhys found a stick to play with. The simple toys are still the best.
Once we had seen everything we went around and got some food. From this point on the boys were pretty much turds. I spent some time talking to some of my friends in the unit there but we had to head home sooner than we would have liked.
We managed a good two hours, no rain, some food and drink and lots of boom. Oh yeah, and Rhys found a stick.
On the fourth of July every year they have a full day of events. The local Civil War reenactors have a camp there and show their stuff. The boy's grandparents are part of that unit.
When we got there the unit was about to fire off the 12 pound mountain howitzer. This is a very small canon that makes a satisfyingly big bang. Both boys were surprised and pleased by that.
Following the canon the infantry fired off several shots each, again perking the boys right up.
After the firing demonstrations we wandered through the park. We bought some home made kettle corn and root beer, which were both a big hit. We wandered through the stilts and hoops. Owyn loved the hoops. He picked them up and put them over his head. Rhys found a stick to play with. The simple toys are still the best.
Once we had seen everything we went around and got some food. From this point on the boys were pretty much turds. I spent some time talking to some of my friends in the unit there but we had to head home sooner than we would have liked.
We managed a good two hours, no rain, some food and drink and lots of boom. Oh yeah, and Rhys found a stick.
Boom! Boom! BOOM!
The boys had a good evening of the 4th. It was raining pretty hard here right before it got dark. We were over at the neighbors house. There were a bunch of kids and the boys were having a ball with them all.
The rain let down a little bit, not a whole lot. All the kids went out to start with the fire works. Sparklers and snappers. Owyn just ran around in the rain. Rhys loved the sparklers. He waited so patiently for his turn at one. Once those were gone both boys hit the rain-play hard.
Owyn finally crashed and burned just before dark. Tracy took him up and put him in bed. His room is at the front of the house, closest to the street. He slept through everything. Not a peep all night.
Rhys settled in with us as everyone in the neighborhood set up in front of our house. Why? As soon as the fun started Rhys was right in the middle of it. I kept having to jump in and pull him away when he got too close.
The older kids (some in their 40's) got to set off all the fireworks. The biggest and loudest ones scared Rhys, but as soon as they were done he was right back in the middle of things.
Rhys finally went to bed at 10Pm. He did not sleep in Sunday morning.
The rain let down a little bit, not a whole lot. All the kids went out to start with the fire works. Sparklers and snappers. Owyn just ran around in the rain. Rhys loved the sparklers. He waited so patiently for his turn at one. Once those were gone both boys hit the rain-play hard.
Owyn finally crashed and burned just before dark. Tracy took him up and put him in bed. His room is at the front of the house, closest to the street. He slept through everything. Not a peep all night.
Rhys settled in with us as everyone in the neighborhood set up in front of our house. Why? As soon as the fun started Rhys was right in the middle of it. I kept having to jump in and pull him away when he got too close.
The older kids (some in their 40's) got to set off all the fireworks. The biggest and loudest ones scared Rhys, but as soon as they were done he was right back in the middle of things.
Rhys finally went to bed at 10Pm. He did not sleep in Sunday morning.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Santa's Little Helper
Assuming that I'm Santa and it has nothing to do with Christmas. Today was a day for working outside.
I cleared out the last of the brush and crap from the garden. I should say "we" because Rhys was there the whole time, working his narrow little butt off. He pulled weeds and gathered brush and dug dirt. Everything I did, he did. It was just on a smaller scale.
After that we dug out the sod in a ten foot box around another tree. It was not nearly as hard this time. No idea why. He was there to help with some of that. He would have been out there with me the whole time, but Mama took him bye bye, and nothing competes with bye bye. As soon as he got back though, he was right back at it.
The bottom of the garden has been flooding with all the rain we have been having. We took the sod from around the tree and used it to build up the lower part of the garden. We will be putting a small pond, with a waterfall in that part. I will raise it a bit so it is above the flood line. We will have to get an outlet wired in out there for the pump. Fortunately my father can help with that.
The garden will be a nice place to hang out in the evening once we are done. It has been a long slog and a lot of work but we are close to done now.
With Rhys to help me it will at least be fun, even if it is a lot of work.
I cleared out the last of the brush and crap from the garden. I should say "we" because Rhys was there the whole time, working his narrow little butt off. He pulled weeds and gathered brush and dug dirt. Everything I did, he did. It was just on a smaller scale.
After that we dug out the sod in a ten foot box around another tree. It was not nearly as hard this time. No idea why. He was there to help with some of that. He would have been out there with me the whole time, but Mama took him bye bye, and nothing competes with bye bye. As soon as he got back though, he was right back at it.
The bottom of the garden has been flooding with all the rain we have been having. We took the sod from around the tree and used it to build up the lower part of the garden. We will be putting a small pond, with a waterfall in that part. I will raise it a bit so it is above the flood line. We will have to get an outlet wired in out there for the pump. Fortunately my father can help with that.
The garden will be a nice place to hang out in the evening once we are done. It has been a long slog and a lot of work but we are close to done now.
With Rhys to help me it will at least be fun, even if it is a lot of work.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Fangs
Rhys went to the dentist today. He was not happy to be there. It took quite a bit of effort to get him calmed down. Christie, our dental hygienist was great with him. He finally laid back and let her work.
She checked his teeth. He didn't even blink at the spikey, pokey, stabby thing she stuck in his mouth. He just let her work.
Then she polished his teeth. He liked the bubble gum flavored polish. He liked the air jet. He liked the water jet. He hated the suction thing. Strange child.
He had a clean bill of health. Twenty teeth, no cavities. He got a new car for cooperating and a gift certificate at Red Robin for a free burger for not having any cavities. Daddy took him to Target, his favorite store, and bought him a water and a new car. He loves getting water at Target.
Did I mention that he is a strange child?
She checked his teeth. He didn't even blink at the spikey, pokey, stabby thing she stuck in his mouth. He just let her work.
Then she polished his teeth. He liked the bubble gum flavored polish. He liked the air jet. He liked the water jet. He hated the suction thing. Strange child.
He had a clean bill of health. Twenty teeth, no cavities. He got a new car for cooperating and a gift certificate at Red Robin for a free burger for not having any cavities. Daddy took him to Target, his favorite store, and bought him a water and a new car. He loves getting water at Target.
Did I mention that he is a strange child?
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