Mother's Day with Ma

We had our Mother's Day celebration with Grandma a week late. Being the ever-so-thoughtful mom that she is, she gives all of us moms our own day, and we celebrate with her on another day. The whole family went to Peter Piper Pizza at Grandma's request. She loves to watch the kids play and everyone relax and have a good time...just more evidence that she is the BEST. Thank you for spending so much time with us and always making everything fun. We love you Mom/Grandma!

Goodbye Preschool...

We attended our very last Preschool pizza party on Thursday. We've been hanging around that classroom for three years. It seems really weird to be saying goodbye. Their teachers have helped them become such great little dudes. They can read, the can sign, they have made great friends, and so much more all thanks to that program. I can't thank Mrs. Dexter, Mrs. Smithwick, Mrs. Hassel, Mrs. Miaso, Mrs. Benson, and Mrs. Hommel enough. Yeah, there are that many teachers in there. Each one of them has helped our kids become who they are and who they are, is friggin AWESOME!

Mother of my Sons

That woman in the picture above, the mother of my sons...she is the best. She deserves a two thousand word essay on the how and why, but tonight I don't have it in me. Doesn't matter. If you have met my dudes you know from whence they came. I am such a small part of who they are. All the goodness, sweetness, and kindest parts of them they get from their mother. Their ease at making new friends, the way they give affection to loved ones, the very smiles on their faces...hers.

I am thankful every day for my boys and what new parts of me they have opened up. Every gift they have brought to my life is directly connected to their Mom, and I cannot thank her enough for that. From the first time I met her I knew she would be the Mother of my children, but I could not have possibly known what that would mean for me. Hands down, best decision I have ever made is marrying her.

In summation, score for me. I win at life.

I love you Cindy. Thank you for being the Mother of my Sons.

Just an observation

The last few days I have been hanging around the boys classrooms. I make it a point to go up to school at least two days a week. Usually I just help out here and there hang out with the boys and Cindy before I have to go to work. It keeps me connected to what they are doing and their life outside of our house. Plus it's fun.

This last few days, not so much fun. The boys were fine. It was the things I noticed that made it crappy. Turns out there are a lot more shit head parents in this world than I thought. The kicker is they are all right around my age now. Which leads me to believe that my generation is chock full of failures as parents. I'm not a perfect parent by any means. I screw up probably on a daily basis. The difference between me and them is, I correct my mistakes instead of passively letting them happen over and over again. Here are a few examples of shit parenting I saw just this week.

- A five year old boy who weighs about 15lbs. He will be in Kindergarten next year. Malnourished beyond belief.

- A four year old who constantly smells like an ashtray. I mean, his clothes, hair, backpack, everything. There must be constant smoke blown at this little dude.

- A four year old who is physically abusive to other kids. Not like, he might push or slap...I mean he will punch with intent to hurt, drag kids around by the collar of their shirt, kick them in the face, throw them down...you name it. Other little kids are afraid to be around him. Four years old.

- A six year old so used to being in trouble that a part of his daily routine is to act out to the point that his Mom will have to come pick him up. When she picks him up, there is no consequence. She barely says a word to him.

- A five year old who was a sweet innocent person last year, has turned mean and hateful after her parent's divorce earlier this year. Not only did her parents divorce, they split her apart from her twin sister just when she needs her the most.

These are just a few and there are many more. There are certainly kids in Cindy's own class I could talk about, but I don't want to get her in trouble. What the hell is going on? Who are we? This kind of stuff is becoming part of the normal accepted behavior for kids and adults. The thing is, what are we to do? Can I call CPS? I could, but they are powerless to do anything unless I prove a kid is being abused. Should I get in a parents face? Maybe. Then I might cause repercussions for my wife. Having your hands tied is not a place I like to be.

Kids are an afterthought for a lot of people. Here is the thing folks. When you become a parent...it stops being about YOU. It is about THEM. You had your shot to live it up and party like a rockstar. That shit is over. Grow up. These little people are here to replace us. Pretty soon we are going to look around and be scared of what we created.

WOLVERINE!

This post is just to let the boys know when and where they went to see this movie. We have been waiting for this movie for a year or more and it did not disappoint. I got the chance to take them by myself tonight and it was one of the great memories I will take with me to wherever I am headed after this. Jake on my left. Brady on my right. Seeing them smile, their eyes light up, and answering all their whispered questions. They were totally engaged in the movie and I was all wrapped up in the experience. We ate a super late supper at Panda Express and took and even more super late bubble bath when we got home. This is going on the list of best nights ever. Thank you boys. I love you stronger than Wolverine.

My mind is mushy.

I am not very bright and/or task oriented. This week has proved that point thoroughly. My brain is trying to talk the rest of me into going on strike. Thank you baby Jesus for my boys and my wife, and the coming weekend.

Rory

Since last September I have been following the journey of Rory Fanning as he makes his way across the United Sates on foot. Hopefully you have clicked his link to the right, but if not...

Rory is a former Army Ranger. He served in the 2nd Ranger Battalion and did two tours of duty with Pat Tillman. Rory so loved and valued his friendship with Pat that he decided to walk away from his banking job in Chicago and walk from coast to coast to raise 3.6 million dollars for The Pat Tillman Foundation. 3.6 million is what Pat walked away from to go and fight for the Country he loved more than anything.

So, these past few weeks Rory and I started talking more and more as he got closer to the valley. Last Friday I invited him to come speak at Cindy's school, and he graciously accepted. What a great impression he left on the students and staff. He is one of the most generous and humble human beings I have ever met. He took his time and answered countless questions the kids had for him. I have no doubt he would have stayed into the night talking to the kids and spreading Pat's message.

After Pat's Run last Saturday, and a few days spent with the Foundation, he resumed his journey towards the West Coast. I don't know if you have ever walked over a few miles in the desert, but when the temperature gets up there...it ain't fun. Throw about 50lbs on your back and it becomes and study in pain. Rory is doing it without complaint and with a heart full of love. Just awesome.

This morning we took a drive out to the Gila Bend are to hook up with him and buy him lunch. As we were leaving he called and said he had a reporter with him. She is a freelance photojournalist for all the big names you can think of. We picked them up and drove into Gila Bend for lunch at the Space Age Lodge & Restaurant. The boys loved the decor and friendly staff and Cindy and I got lost in conversation with Rory. When you meet someone with so much passion it is easy to get wrapped up in that passion and near impossible to shake that feeling afterward. He is a man I wish you all have a chance to meet one day.

It was hard saying bye to him at the end of our time together. Seeing him put the pack on and start walking makes you really appreciate what he is has undertaken. Like Pat though, he is not doing it for himself. Every step is for someone else. Every step is a way of telling his buddy that even though his life is over, his spirit will never die.

Rory, thank you for everything. I hope that my sons grow up to be men with your character and passion. It is a blessing to call you our friend.

Proud Mommy

This is one is for you Jake...

One day when you think back and wonder what you were like and what you were doing as a child, this blog Daddy started for you and Brady will answer so many of those questions. In the last six years, you have given Daddy and me countless reasons to be proud of you. This year in Kindergarten has been no exception. I am not posting this to brag about you to anyone else...I am writing this FOR you. I want to capture this moment for you.

You have always loved books. From the moment you could hold them in your hands, you have adored them. Your Daddy and I were so proud of you when you started putting words together and reading on your own. Beginning Kindergarten already reading, is a big accomplishment in itself. No one sat down and walked you through it or expected it of you, you just got it. Mrs. W. has been telling us what a great student you are, and we have loved watching you grow into an even better reader. Ok, ok...I will get to that "moment" I mentioned earlier. I am a little long-winded sometimes, just ask your Daddy. Bear with me.

At our school, we have the Accelerated Reader program for grades 1-6. Students take a "Star" test on the computer, where they read and answer questions on their own, and it determines which level books they are able to read and comprehend independently and successfully. Once students know their level, they can check out AR books from our library that correspond to that level, read them on their own, and take quizzes on them. The program keeps track of how well they do, how many words they read, their progress, etc. Although this program doesn't usually begin for students until the middle of first grade, Mrs. W. sent you to the library last week to take a Star test. Although you don't really care what the levels mean, I wanted to make sure you know how proud your Daddy and I are of you. The results of your test showed that you should be reading books from level 2.8-3.4! Those are books the average 2nd or 3rd grader should be reading. Now the best part...you are one of the few Kindergarteners who gets to check out books from the library and take them home! Here are the first two books you chose:

"Mind Your Manners, B.B. Wolf," and "The Stinky Cheeseman and other Fairly Stupid Tales." Great choices, Buddy. We have been enjoying listening to you read them to us. Jake, I am so happy you have a love for reading (just like your Daddy), and we could not be more proud of how well you are doing. I love you so much!

Jake's First Field Trip

I got to go with the big man on his first bus ride and field trip on Friday. He was so flippin' excited the whole week. Mrs. Wolkis makes everything into a magical experience, but for this she didn't even need to try. Jake got to pick two buddies to be in his group. He made two excellent choices. The bus ride was hilarious. I'm sure all the kids on the bus have seen airplanes, big buildings, hospitals, etc...but seeing it from the vantage of a seat on a big yellow bus cracked them all up.

When we got to the zoo we had a list of animals from different continents to find and talk about. The kids were free to choose which way to go, and which animals to see first. We put stickers in their little books and talked about them for a minute and then jetted off to the next one. Of course, I played cool Dad and let them play on a lot more stuff than I should have, but that is what I do.

We went to the petting zoo. Hung out with those evil goats. Then we checked out some sheep, tractors, and desert trails. After a few more animals we stopped and had lunch. After lunch, we saw some monkeys, the elephant, and the orangutans. By this point our little group was about done with the whole walking thing, so instead of finishing our quest...we went to the tree house.

This is where the best part happened. Grandma took Brady to the zoo as well, and we just happened to show up in the same place at the same time. Too cool. Jake's smile was priceless. Brady's smile, well, he just loves that big guy more than the sun loves the sky. The hugged each other and ran off to play. They had a blast together as always.

So yeah, I am not the best tour guide/dad. We didn't quite make all the animals on the list, but the kids never stopped laughing so I figured it was ok. It was so cool to see Jake in that element with his friends. I see him in the classroom all the time being a cool dude, so this was just another indication that he doing a great job. I can't wait until next year when I get to do this with B. Wait...yes I can, because that will mean that I will have a first grader. Holy Crap. I am old.

Easter 09 in pictures