A break from work.

I am currently at work, but on a break. I don't feel like doing the usual internet surfage or going downstairs to play Golden Tee. I want to be home. I want to have just kissed the boys goodnight. I want to make fun of people on TV with my wife. I like my house. My cubicle...not so much. Cool job and all, but it ain't 24th Place.

Five minutes ago my "team" had a "huddle" and we handed a girl a birthday card and cupcakes were passed around. Earlier, we had a huddle and one of my five bosses passed out little trinkety awards with a stick attached. Some were for quality. Some were for improving UPH (units per hour). Some were for...who the hell knows? Sometimes this is all a little too "Office Space" for me. We are all adults here. The average age is around 35. Huddles? Cupcakes? Trinkety Awards? Ugh.

I always try and stay towards the outside of the huddles. That way I can be on my way back to my desk at the first sign that it is borderline appropriate to do so. Other people seem to really love these damn things. They hang out and chat and stuff themselves with whatever their Team Leader has seen fit to spend 2.99 at Fry's on. Just not my scene.

My scene is 3.5 miles away. Grading papers. Cozed up. Snoring the night away. Waiting for me.

Day at the park

We took a late afternoon trip to the park today. The dudes really needed to release their wiggles, and this did the trick. They played, rode the train, and ran in the water fountain. Good times. Good, cheap times.

PS...I challenge you to find the picture of me in here. Hint, it's not really me...but that shorter version of myself.

Head Injuries and Kindness

Tuesday Brady brought home the Kindness Award from school. His teachers are always telling us what a sweet, caring, and helpful friend Brady is in class. They tell us what a positive role model he is for the other students and how very smart he is. We are so proud of you Brady!

And then...

Yesterday Jake and the exterior brick wall of the school had a little "meeting." He was racing one of his buddies and just before the finish line, he slipped on the sidewalk, crashing head-first into the wall. Head injuries are pretty scary, so we are just glad our big guy is ok. After seeing how tough he was and how well he handled his injury, the staff at school wanted to go out and make sure the wall was ok! Jake surely hasn't lost his sense of humor either, because this morning on the way to school, Jake said, "I guess Isaiah won the race, because his hands touched the wall before my head did!"

Keeping the Tooth Fairy in Business

Jake lost his 2nd tooth today. It has been loose for a while and was definitely ready to go. With a little help from Daddy, it came right out. Jake and Brady celebrated with a milkshake at lunch, and are anticipating a visit from the Tooth Fairy tonight. Tooth #1 was lost over Winter Break, tooth #2 was lost over Spring Break...I can only imagine what our summer break will bring!

10 Years

March 13, 1999

March 13, 2009

Cowboys. Snails. Tickets

Yesterday Jake's class had a Teddy Bear picnic in honor of Teddy Roosevelt. They all got to dress up like cowboys and cowgirls. Pretty awesome.

Me and B showed up a little late, so we got to hang out with some snails. I don't know what is going on at the school right now, but there seems to be a general snail theme happening. Maybe the French are taking over. Who knows?

The boys are big fans of the crawly stuff so they had a great time playing with the little slimy suckers. Again, the teacher of the year hits a home run with our kids. Big surprise.

Back in Mommy's room, Brady got to do what has become his "thing" on Friday's. Cindy's students earn tickets during the week for being good little people. Those tickets are entered into a raffle of sorts on Fridays for which they get to choose a little treat. The kids really look forward to the whole situation, but Brady friggin' loves it. He gets to draw out the tickets and call the numbers. In other words, he runs the show. Something he rarely gets to do with big Jake around. It's one of the funniest and cutest things in the world to hear B scream out the numbers. Plus the look on the kids faces when he strolls in to the room is priceless. He is five and already a hero to a bunch of kids.

Great Grandpa Voeller

Last week, the world lost a great man. Cindy's Grandfather, the boys Great Grandfather, and my friend, went home after 95 years of adventure. We loved this man with all our hearts. This was a real man. He loved his family, he worked hard, and loved his family. Yeah I wrote it twice. He loved everyone that much. He was a proud man and rightfully so. He was braver than you, and twice as smart. He was stubborn and set in his ways, because his ways worked.

I am so thankful to God for letting him stick around long enough to have a close relationship with the boys. In this World, the boys can use all the role models they can get. He was one of the best. The man smiled for everyone, smiled big for his children, bigger for his grand children, biggest for his great grand children. He loved having little ones around him and I am glad my boys were there all the way to the end. I hope they remember their time with him the last few weeks as they grow older. He was in rare form and quite the character. Singing, dancing, telling jokes.

I know Cindy will want to say something later so I won't go any further. I will leave you with a bit of my favorite poem that has been on my mind since he passed:

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.