Rain

It's raining. A lot.
Brady is beside himself with joy.
Jake is slightly less amused.
There are balls floating on the field.

Against all odds

I spent last weekend in Shreveport. I didn't go for the beautiful 40 degrees and rainstorms. I went to be a part of something once thought improbable, if not downright impossible. GW got married. What's more...he married someone of the opposite sex. I kid, I kid. He married a wonderful and beautiful woman named Rachel. For the past couple of years, she has stirred a change in him that has been just awesome to watch. Where there used to be dark clouds, there is now abundant sunshine. When he was in Iraq, we used to chat on Yahoo all the time. Between talking about guns, knives, scouting techniques, and accusing each other of being blatant homosexuals...all he wanted to talk about was her. Likewise, all she would ever talk about was him. So yeah, I knew this day would come...but still, it amazes me.

GW, I am not ashamed to say that I love you like a brother, and my heart is filled with pride for you. It is my sincere hope that you will always remember how you felt on your wedding day and carry that feeling with you the rest of your life. That's how I feel about Cindy, and let me tell you it is some motivating stuff. You have been given the gift of a woman's heart, take care of it and it will take care of you.

One Tough Cookie

This time of year is always a little rough on Brady's asthma. This past weekend made it very clear that "asthma" season is here for him. Daddy was out of town and the boys and I had so much fun each day, just enjoying each other's company and hanging out. In fact, Brady didn't have too much trouble with his breathing during the day. But every night Daddy was away, my poor little B had coughing episodes that lasted 1 1/2 - 2 hours each time. The inhaler, humidifier, warm beverages, and sleeping propped up weren't helping much at all. Now most kids at the age of 4 would get very upset at being so uncomfortable, and rightfully so....but not Brady. He just goes with the flow, taking his meds, sleeping in odd positions, and being moved from his bed to the couch, to Mommy's bed, and back to his own bed. I had to take this picture of my little man. He had been coughing so hard for quite a while and nothing was relieving him, so I brought him down to the couch to prop him up better. I layed him down, turned to get a blanket, and when I turned back around, he was out...sleeping like an angel. He is one tough cookie. Thankfully, his episodes seems to be improving a little bit. I am so proud of you and amazed by your strength, Brady. I love you!

Happy Thanksgiving

We ate, we visited, we laughed, we played two different kinds of baseball. Brady got a bloody lip, but didn't let him keep him down. Jake took a basketball to the noggin and pulled out of it OK. I managed to eat only protein. Mommy let the boys make a huge mess while decorating the tree, without getting upset. We had as near to perfect a day as you can have. Thank you to everyone I love, and everyone who loves me. I lead a pretty charmed life, and without everyone of you...well, just thank you.

Zoo Lights

You had hot chocolate with Mommy.
Touched some stingrays at Stingray Bay.

Told Jengo the talking giraffe what you want for Christmas.

You saw our favorite tree. Yep, still blue.

And...that's about it for the pictures. The camera didn't come out of my pocket very often. Sorry dudes. Nothing you haven't seen before or won't see again. It's the same every year, but it's still pretty awesome. I hope to be dragging you there when you are unruly teenagers just to watch you squirm as me and your mom get all misty eyed seeing it all again for the umpteenth time.

End of the season

Well, this was it big man. You had your last game today. We got up, ate a little energy food, got geared up and headed to the diamond. All the way we listened to the CD of baseball songs we made. As always you sang along to every word. You were pumped up and ready to get after it as soon as I parked the truck. You warmed up and took the field. You got to make some really great plays today. The coolest thing though is that you have developed an awesome little uppercut in your swing that makes the ball sail so high and far out into the field. Every time you got up to bat, there was such an anticipation in the air to see what you were gonna do. Great hitters have that effect on people, and it was just too cool to see you get that attention.

Yes, I am bragging on my boy...so what?

After the game was over you huddled up with your team one last time, gave the 2-4-6-8 cheer and then slapped some skin with the other team. Then Coach Flanagan gave you your first trophy. Actually it's not only a trophy but also a bank. Not sure the logic in that, but hey...baseball equipment ain't cheap so maybe a savings plan is a good idea.

Anyway big man, your first season of baseball flew by. You made some great friends, learned more about the game, and most importantly had fun. Watching you play was one of the highlights of my life. Not just because I love them game so much, but because you actually want to play and love to play. Seeing you in your element is just awesome. Thank you for all the special memories I will keep in my heart forever.

Jake's new word

Temelicate \Tuh-mel-e-kate\, noun, verb

1. The game or process of playing football.

"We are watching temelicate on TV"

Jake you are one funny dude.

Uncle Rich

Boys, today we lost your Great Uncle Rich. He was a very special man. He lost his battle with cancer and was called up to Heaven this morning. We will miss him very much. It has been a difficult few months for us, but we know how blessed we are to have had these special people in our lives. Uncle Rich loved you very much and I know how much you loved him too. We will never let you forget how wonderful he was. He will always have a special place in our hearts.

Better than 4th Place

Jimmy came in town this weekend for a rugby tournament. Unfortunately he plays for UT, but hey...the Army is paying for his degree so we went ahead and pretended to be Longhorns for a few days. This was our first time watching a rugby match in person and I have to say it was pretty awesome. Jimmy got the crap beat out of him, and smiled the whole time. Awesome. The boys had a great time watching the match and running around on the field afterwards. They heard some exciting language, but didn't repeat any of it. Nice job dudes.

To Jimmy and all the rest of our Veteran friends and family, Thank You. We get days like this because of guys like you.

Hey B! Draw me a picture.

Brady

Baseball games can be boring sometimes when you're 4. That didn't stop B from finding something to do.

I Promise

You know, it sucks being fat. I can't think of one good thing about being fat, except that it's pretty easy to do. You basically eat what you want and then....that's it. You get to be fat. Pretty awesomely lame.

If I was single and had no children, I wouldn't care so much. The fact is I am married to a beautiful woman, I have two awesome kids, and I do care. I have eaten my way into leaving them at a young age with no husband or father. Don't get me wrong, I haven't received any bad medical news...but it's pretty obvious I'm headed down a slippery slope. I get winded too easily, most of my clothes don't fit, and I feel generally crappy.

Being heavy is not the way I want the boys to see me. I am the boys body model, and if they think this is OK, then I am failing them. That thought rips me up. I want them to grow up healthy and strong. It's a good thing they have Cindy's skinny genes thrown in. They are both strong healthy kids. No worries yet. If they see me being so unhealthy though, sooner or later they are going to start thinking that is how they should be. Oh hell no.

As of two days ago I am doing something about it. I started back on the ol' Atkins plan. Four years ago I lost what I needed to through Atkins and a good amount of exercise. The motivation then was the Army, now it is my family. It is the only thing that will work for me. I have tried cutting back on sugar and carbs in general...but I am an addict. If I have a little, I will always have more. Always. I have gained all that I had lost, just because I let myself backslide for a while, and then turned that into a full on belly flop into the pool of obesity.

So boys (and Cindy) I promise you I will lose it all and get in great shape, not for me...but for you. You know I don't break promises to you so this is it. Mark it in stone. I love you guys too much to let you down. I may be a Grumpasaurus Rex for a few days, but it'll get better. I promise.