Big Game

Patrick and Coach Daddy

Patrick's first basketball game was one to remember: he got the tip-off, friend Ben scored the first basket, Patrick played amazing defense, and the team won 16-4.

Patrick makes a basket during warm-ups.

Patrick gets the tip-off!

That's him guarding the kid with the ball. We don't know where he learned this.

Snow Days

We're on our third morning of two-hour delays, and our third morning of snowball fights with Patrick.

Adventures with Indy

The kids discovered Indiana Jones when we were in Disney World and we've had a really fun time watching the four movies with them. Patrick got a set of Raiders of the Lost Ark action figures and several books for Christmas, and he did extra chores in order to be able to buy his own Indiana Jones hat. He's wearing it here while watching The Temple of Doom.

His reading report on an Indiana Jones book below, "my favorite movie."

Sick Days

We spent the week since we've been back from the Greenbrier taking turns being really sick with a stomach bug and battling lice. The upside of all this downtime was abandoning all of my usual plans to try to schedule engaging and productive activities. 

We watched a lot of movies and turned the kids into Steve Martin fans with both Cheaper by the Dozen movies and the Pink Panther. Patrick built a great blanket fort in his room. The kids had an epic Mr. Bubble battle in the tub. I ended up with everything in the house getting washed and disinfected. Subtract the throwing up and uninvited tiny guests and it was a pretty good winter vacation.

Spider-Man's sign says "please do not wreck my fort"

Patrick in his fort

Secret Fort

Greenbrier Getaway

We spent the last days of 2014 at the Greenbrier in West Va. We had a great time swimming in the pool, bowling, and getting room service cheeseburgers.

Donald and Patrick did the Jeep Off-Road driving experience.

Breakfast at the delightfully pink  restaurant.

Madeline reads Daddy a story

Woodrow and Gus took us on a lovely ride. Madeline kept hanging her head out of the side of the carriage to watch them.