tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60853451543148394192024-03-14T23:30:33.516-05:00the accidental dadJThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.comBlogger802125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-68210171317213061742024-03-14T23:30:00.001-05:002024-03-14T23:30:00.132-05:00Destination nowhere It's been ten years since the last spring break we (two or more family members) didn't go on a trip (spend at least one night away from home). Not having travel plans for spring break felt a bit odd, especially since we've always gone somewhere for a decade straight. But I (alone) got to travel during the break. Sadly though, it was for work. I had to travel to San Augustine, which I've beenJThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-82090344234107843082024-03-07T20:00:00.001-06:002024-03-07T20:00:00.136-06:00First place in UIL chessIn the district UIL competition, Elliot took first place in the category of "chess puzzle solving," representing the second grade for her school. The process began months prior when she had to compete against fellow second graders within her school for the opportunity to go to UIL. Only the top kids were selected.I'm not sure how many kids were in her division but there are twenty elementaryJThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-39652061453469852302024-02-29T23:59:00.001-06:002024-03-01T09:31:25.444-06:00Around the world (Orlando, FL)For our third and final getaway of the month, we headed to Orlando for a short weekend trip. We flew out early Saturday morning and headed straight to Disney World once we landed. I've always wanted to experience a theme park as an adult without kids and this was my chance. I chose Epcot because it seemed less kiddie (i.e. Magic Kingdom) and we could just walk around to eat and drink.We got to JThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-32932125965213661332024-02-22T22:30:00.004-06:002024-02-22T22:30:00.260-06:00Grand Canyon and Sedona (AZ)For our second getaway of the month, we headed to Arizona (a state I have yet to visit). Our first stop was to the Grand Canyon. It's never been a "must do" for me but since we were (sort of) in the area, I wanted to check it out... and to check it off the list of National Parks to visit.After landing in Phoenix (and getting brunch at First Watch), we started our 3.5 hour drive to the Grand JThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-44283960112622582062024-02-16T09:00:00.002-06:002024-02-16T09:00:00.261-06:00Year of the dragonFamily picture with grandma.Red envelope time.What's going on here? 😅My big girl.JThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-66256769893246840612024-02-12T12:00:00.001-06:002024-02-12T12:00:00.140-06:00Jacob is officially an adultThe family celebrating Jacob's 18th birthday.JThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-73303260485522816222024-02-07T23:00:00.010-06:002024-02-07T23:00:00.137-06:00Hot chicken getaway (Nashville, TN)Instead of a long trip to celebrate our 15 year anniversary, we plan on taking multiple short getaways (without any kids) throughout the month. We can finally travel further and longer since our kids are older, one of which can now play the role of chauffer. And we had additional support with my mom playing school chauffer for the two little ones and Lynn's sister Julie took them in JThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-6291405539611106652024-01-31T09:00:00.009-06:002024-01-31T09:00:00.137-06:00My super studentsElliot got Student of the Month and Tyson the Citizenship Award.JThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-21425493186221702282024-01-24T22:00:00.001-06:002024-01-24T22:11:26.752-06:0015 year anniversary
Our wedding party.Today marks our 15 year anniversary. Let's look back at that day, 15 years ago when we got married (before this blog ever existed).
I forgot that I designed the wedding program and invitations (not pictured).Andrew was only 13 months old.Here comes Jacob, who was almost 3 years old. Is that a Hot Wheel in his right hand?
A photo booth at our reception.
Me with my JThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-2766464501305093742024-01-17T09:00:00.118-06:002024-01-17T09:00:00.133-06:00Houston Half Marathon IIIWe completed our third half marathon in as many years. At this rate, we're going for the legacy status, i.e. at least 10 completed races. Hopefully my body will be able to maintain some semblance of health.Speaking of which, my right knee (once again) at about the 7-8 mile mark was hurting bad. It was my friend, iliotibial band syndrome. But it's not surprise. I trained even less than IJThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-23903513603414419192024-01-10T09:00:00.001-06:002024-01-10T09:00:00.147-06:00First college acceptance letterTexas State University.JThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-71412743336211734002024-01-03T19:30:00.001-06:002024-01-03T19:31:50.391-06:00Winter breakTop Golf.Invited some of Andrew's friends out for his birthday.He's now at the legal age to drive.Hanging out with Anh Vien's family... tennis and swimming.Then COVID hit me a couple of days before the new year.I fell asleep shortly after midnight (EST)... here's to better health in 2024.JThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-38706952166027216952023-12-27T10:00:00.001-06:002023-12-27T10:00:00.131-06:00Christmas 2023Christmas Eve
All my children after Christmas mass.Opening a few gifts before going to the family party.Tyson conducting his science experiment.It's time to eat.It's time to party.It's time to open presents.Christmas morning.Traditional Christmas Day lunch with my family.Kids and grandparents.JThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-32009464914660912842023-12-20T09:00:00.001-06:002023-12-20T09:00:00.141-06:00Santa lettersLook who got a letter from The North Pole.
Elliot's letter to Santa.Maybe I should have corrected her spelling. 😂Mailing off her letter.Santa's letter to Elliot.JThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-79623420198369125762023-12-13T16:00:00.001-06:002023-12-13T16:00:00.130-06:00Lynn's birthdayTraditional morning birthday donuts.
Birthday lunch at Tony Thai.
Birthday dessert at Bambu.
Finished off with a birthday cake at night.
JThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-50404774040318235172023-12-06T11:00:00.001-06:002023-12-06T11:00:00.250-06:00Dear ElfieEvery year on December 1st, our Elf on the Shelf (also known as Elfie) magically appears at our house. It's been 10 years since his first arrival. And now Elliot is the one who is excited about Elfie... always looking for his new hiding spot every morning, frequently talks to him, and even wrote him a letter. 💗JThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-83503599656154561242023-11-29T09:00:00.017-06:002023-11-29T09:00:00.146-06:00Thanksgiving 2023Last minute change in "venue" since our original host got sick. Sounds like us last year.
Thanksgiving lunch.I tried to put every entree and side on my plate.Time for some family football.Followed by drinks.Then impromptu pickleball. If I had known we were playing, I wouldn't have drank.Lynn, Jacob, and Elliot got our Christmas tree since I strained my calf from pickleball. 😑 Looks JThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-29623091653857059232023-11-22T09:00:00.001-06:002023-11-22T09:00:00.137-06:00Tennis, pickleball, and glampingAnother busy weekend. Friday night, Andrew and I met up with Anh Vien's family to play pickleball (and to celebrate his birthday). It's such a fun and easy game to play. I can see why it's growing in popularity.On Saturday, Tyson's first tennis season came to an end at the district tournament. He won his first match 6-2 to advance to the next round. On his second match, it was tied 5-5 and Tyson JThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-38368751418305294032023-11-15T09:00:00.001-06:002023-11-15T09:00:00.152-06:00Thanksgiving lunch with ElliotNot her usual smile since she had a mouth full of food.
Now that's the smile I'm used to.
My plate.
We took a picture with our favorite school staff, Lynn. 💗JThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-26948995782252456602023-11-08T21:00:00.001-06:002023-11-08T21:00:00.154-06:00Dad of four kidsThat's me. And I'm not talking about my Fortnite profile. While Lynn was gone for a few days on a girls trip, I played the role of the single parent. It wasn't anything I couldn't handle but it just meant that the kids had to "step it up". For example, the big boys had to pack their own school lunch. I resorted to Chef Boyardee for the little ones' lunch. Tyson made it even easier by bringing theJThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-26105343874187858812023-11-01T09:00:00.022-05:002023-11-01T09:00:00.136-05:00Into the Spider-VerseSpider-Man ready for action candy.Who's the imposter?JThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-67350832465430444242023-10-25T09:00:00.003-05:002023-10-25T09:00:00.147-05:00Back in Cali (Los Angeles, CA)It's been 10 years since we were last in Los Angeles, CA. Back then, I was almost certain that it was going to be the last time I'd go to LA but times have changed, i.e. we had another kid, so I gave it one more chance. But the main reason for the trip was to visit the newly opened Super Nintendo World. Since the kids had a random week off of school in October, this was the perfect JThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-83254834575293471852023-10-18T09:00:00.089-05:002023-10-18T09:00:00.152-05:00Annular solar eclipse Posing for a quick photo but they couldn't see through those "glasses".
What's an annular solar eclipse? An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth while at its farthest point from Earth. Because the Moon is farther away from Earth, it does not completely block the Sun. This will create a “ring of fire” effect in the sky for those standing in the path ofJThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-15125228422018537412023-10-11T13:00:00.001-05:002023-10-11T13:00:00.148-05:00My other geniusAndrew crushed his first AP exam!JThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085345154314839419.post-23195071164210279002023-10-04T09:00:00.068-05:002023-11-21T13:14:29.418-06:00Random weekend pics (and more)Just chillin' at Levy Park.Tyson got Student of the Month for the second year in a row at NRJH.Elliot really wanted to play at the park with her friends for her birthday so here we are, albeit a week late.Family 3v3 football.My first experience with pickleball. I think I'm hooked.Jon Klassen was back in Houston promoting his latest book.A signed copy of The Skull.The First Cat in Space Live!ShawnJThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526302987354041noreply@blogger.com0