what I did on my lunch hour today

One of the guys I work with has a backhoe loader at his house. Who am I to turn down the opportunity to help him move it around for a while? It beats sitting behind a desk staring at a computer monitor and eating a PB&J.

Paco... or is it a Tizza?

My talented wife found a way to combine two of the most delicious things in the world, Pizza and Tacos, into a single delectable culinary creation. Say hello to... The Paco!

Take Your Kid to Work Day

Thursday was Take Your Kid to Work Day, so I brought Joey to work with me. Since my job really isn't all that exciting, I brought a video player so Joey would have something to do at my desk. It turns out that we didn't need it because he had PLENTY of real work to do. Joey sent an email to Nana from my computer, spoke with my customers, worked in the lab and warehouse and even helped ship a box. The girls gave him papers to shred and they taught him how to stamp envelopes with the postage meter, and the guys at the loading dock let him throw stuff in the dumpster.

Michael went to work with Danielle, and he helped teach her class using the SmartBoard. They also made bird houses from old milk cartons and paper mache.

The Ohio trip!

Some visits just go by too quickly, and this was one of them. Hopefully we can come back soon to take over your house again!! :) Thanks for everything, we had a great time.

Ohio Trip - more pictures

Here are some more pictures from our Ohio trip. The kids had a good time playing with my old toys (the indian and horse, millenium falcon and star wars figures). We also went to the Museum of Natural History in Cleveland, and we went fishing with Dad. All of us had a great time.

Easter!

Battle of Route 10 Champions!!

Congratulations to the NJ Freeze, the Aspen Mite winners of the Battle of Route 10 Tournament! What a great way to finish the 2009-2010 season. We've actually got a 4 week hiatus from hockey until the spring season starts. Hopefully that's enough time to do our taxes, fix the truck, stain the windows, put a new dimmer on the porch lights, finish the moulding in the den, clean the basement...

Cake batter bliss!

This went well beyond Danielle's better judgement!

Turtle Back Zoo

After the tournament, Danielle and I took Joey and Ryan to Turtle Back Zoo since it was right next door to the hockey rink. Michael went to the goalie's house for some driveway hockey and video games.

Shamrock Tournament

Michael's team started the tournament with a big win over the Titans! The kids played some incredible hockey games.

Thursday: NJ Freeze 4, Titans 2
Friday: NJ Freeze 2, Colonials 4
Saturday: NJ Freeze 2, Kings 5
Sunday: NJ Freeze 6 Kings 5

Overall, the team took home the bronze medal this weekend. Next up - The Battle of Route 10.

More info here
http://www.devilsyouth.com/

Devils vs Bruins

The four of us went to watch the Devils play Boston last night. We also went to support Michael's friend, Kyle, as he played a five-minute game between the first and second periods as part of the Mites on Ice program. Michael's team will be playing next week.

Ryan couldn't make it but he'll be there for Michael's game next week.

"look dad.. i can spike my own hair!"

Where did the time go?

Car Show at the Ledgewood Mall

Micro Stock.. I think that's the name for this class of cars that can do 60 MPH on an asphalt track. The owner told me that it's powered by a 5 HP lawnmower engine bored out to 14 HP. The car costs about 1,200.00 and it has some of the basic safety features you'd expect to find in a regular stock car, like a roll cage. The best part is that you can fit it in the back of a pick up truck.

That's Joey sitting in the seat. To get him in, we lowered him down through a hatch in the roof.

Another snowstorm

Yep, we got more snow. I think we're pretty close to breaking the record for the most snowfall in one season, set in 1996. We took this picture in front of the Ledgewood Mall, that's our Tahoe in front.

Trip to the dentist

Danielle just sent me this picture from the dentist's office. It looks like Dr. Kitchin had to resort to sunglasses and ear phones to keep Joey calm. Joey is NOT a fan of the dentist!

Backyard sleigh riding

The inflatable snowtube definitely has it's merits. But when it comes to flat-out speed, nothing beats the old plastic Walmart sled!

Last night's dinner...Hot Dog Surprise

...the surprise is that he got any in his mouth!

Lego Star Wars fun

My Dad and I built a Lego Star Wars set called Darth Vader`s TIE Fighter. -Michael Stephen.

Fight the temptation...

I passed this exit on Route 80 in the middle of Pennsylvania, about 200 miles from the actual Jersey Shore. I'd love to know the story behind the name of that town.

Morning Announcements

Michael did the morning announcements for his school. He did a fantastic job!

My boss sent this picture around to everyone in my company last week.

Winning Weekend!

Saturday: NJ Freeze 2, Long Island Ice Cats 0
Sunday: NJ Freeze 9, Skyland Kings 2

Way to go guys!

We gotta build one of these!

Michael and I spent Sunday afternoon at the Vanderveen's skating on their backyard rink. What a blast! The kids played hockey for a couple hours, then the dads took on the kids for the rest of the afternoon (or drank beer and watched by the fire pit). They built the rink from one of those white plastic tarps that farmers use to cover hay in the winter, and they used two garden hoses to fill it with water for 15 hours. I bet there's around 5 or 10 thousand gallons of water in that rink, considering the one side is a couple feet deep.

Go Devils!

Last night was the NJ Devils first win after an upsetting losing streak. I think that we had something to do with it!

Orange Belt!

Congratulations Joey!!

Red Lobster

We went to Red Lobster to celebrate Michael's 9th birthday last night. Michael went for the lobster and devoured the whole thing (and some of my french fries too). Happy Birthday, buddy!

Happy Birthday Michael!

Michael turned 9 years old (or 3,285 days as Michael informed me) today. Danielle got up this morning to make blueberry pancakes and hang streamers and balloons around the kitchen to celebrate. People always say how fast time goes by when you have kids, but it doesn't really hit home until you realize that the little person you brought home from the hospital nine years ago is now standing as high as your chin.

Food for thought

Joey: Daddy, what are cows for?
Daddy: We eat them.
Joey: No we don't.
Daddy: Yes we do. Where do you think hamburgers come from?
Joey: McDonalds?

Bayonne 5, Freeze 1

8:15 AM Bayonne NJ: The NJ Freeze lost to the Bayonne Rangers 5 to 1. Michael played right wing and got two shots on goal plus one assist, and I got a personal tour of their electric Zamboni after the game.

Press release - Danielle Kovach named Teacher of the Year!

On Friday, January 8, 2010, the Hopatcong Borough School District announced and congratulated its Hopatcong District Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Danielle Kovach. Mrs. Kovach was surprised with a bouquet of balloons delivered by school Superintendent, Dr. Charles Maranzano, Jr. Mrs. Kovach has worked for the Hopatcong School District for 10 years. She currently teaches 2nd grade at the Tulsa Trail School. She has received several grants including her most recent, a grant from Honeywell & The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which enabled her to receive a $10,0000 classroom makeover. NJEA’s Classroom Close Up Television Program will be featuring Mrs. Kovach’s Got 2 Be Safe program which netted her the award from Honeywell. Mrs. Kovach has proven to be a leader in the utilization of technology in the classroom. She was instrumental in the Tulsa Trail School being named a SMART Showcase School by SMART Technologies. Mrs. Kovach will now compete in the Sussex County Teacher of the Year competition. Good Luck, Mrs. Kovach. Pictured above are: Tulsa Trail School Principal, Mr. Jeffrey Nesnay, Mrs. Danielle Kovach, Hopatcong’s Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Charles Maranzano, and students David Bettinger, Nicholas Milan, Jesse Huapaya, Christopher Hulsman, and Sean Eckert.

Contact: JoAnne Murray 973-770-8808 at Hopatcong Borough Public Schools

Joey lost his first tooth!

The tooth fairy left him a nice note under his pillow with some money to buy some legos.

Shootin' Gallery

Here's what my wife did with a few Wal-Mart gift certificates, a couple of Nerf guns and a vacation day.

This is proof that she must be the smart one because up to this point, the kids and I were just shooting at each other.

Future Genius

Danielle and I went to Cracker Barrel for dinner the other night. On the table, behind the salt and pepper shakers, was this game made from a triangular piece of wood with golf tees stuck in it. The object of the game is to jump the golf tees over each other until there is only one left. If you can do it, you're a genius.

Well, we played it for 45 minutes but never finished with less than 3 tees. So we bought one from the gift shop and gave it to Michael to try. Would you believe he beat the game in less than ten minutes?

We've Been Elfed!

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Happy Holidays!

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Coconut Bowling

Who says you can't play with your food?

Christmas Pictures

Aspen Tournament

The Freeze played well this weekend. They faced some pretty tough competition but they worked hard and managed to pull off a couple of wins. The last two games on Sunday were real nail biters for Danielle and I because Michael was in goal, but he played well considering it's been a while since he played that position. He stopped 83% of the shots on net for the first game and about 55% in the second game.

Santa Picture

Another carefully choreographed production. It's called "quick, put Ryan on Santa's lap and take the picture before he starts crying!" The plan almost worked.

Christmas Picture

This year's Christmas picture was a carefully choreographed production, complete with a Milk Bone on the lens and a candy cane in the baby's hands. Nine takes later and we had our final product.

First sleigh ride

Young Joe Satriani?