Getting closer!

Joey's only a few steps away from sitting on Santa's lap this year..
With the right amount of candy canes, we may be able to bribe him to
go all the way!

Hockey in the fog - Union, NJ 6:45 AM

What happens when Gravity meets Excess Flab

Ryan's eating with a fork!

Ryan actually ate three hot dogs (no buns) the other night. But even more amazing is that he ate them with a FORK! He grunted and pointed at my fork, so I gave it to him figuring he would play with it. He picked it up, held it between his fingers, and used it to eat his dinner! Way to go, buddy!

No doubt, three kids and a full time job are making my wife tired.

Joey's hidden talent

We're shocked! Joseph scored 100% for vocals on Rock Band!! None of us have ever done that before. He must get it from Danielle because I can't carry a tune to save my life.

Boba Fett and the Ninja

Ryan the Lion

Halloween

Oreos

Now that's the right way to eat an Oreo.. twist it, lick it, throw the rest to the dog :)

Kid Updates

Michael played in a ice hockey jamboree this weekend to determine where his team stands in relation to the other teams. They lost three games and won the fourth, but Michael played very well.

Ryan added a fourth word to his vocabulary. Now he can say Mama, Dada, Michael, Joey and Hamburger. I'm so proud of my little carnivore!

Joey earned his red belt in Karate on Thursday. I believe he only has one more belt to go before he starts the junior class. His punches are definitely getting harder!

No Caption Necessary

We have words... kind of!

We went to Elizabethville, Pennsylvania last weekend to see my college roomate, Eric. Danielle and I haven't seen him since our wedding 11 years ago so it was quite a reunion. His kids played with our kids and everyone had a good time. We even learned how to country line dance.

Instead of driving home that night, Danielle and I decided to spend the night at a farm down the road from Eric. The owner converted the original farmouse into a bed and breakfast. All five of us slept in one bedroom, but it wasn't too bad (except for having to share the john down the hall).

Snow in October

It's with mixed feelings that I report it's snowing in Sparta today. Cheers for the early ski season, and jeers for the Pontiac with the broken heater. It's going to be a long, cold ride home tonight.

Conch horn?

We went to the Devils game on Saturday, and this guy in front of us was blowing on a Conch shell when they scored. I had no idea a Conch shell was so loud. Michael loved the game, and Joey loved the 8 dollar foam finger we bought for him in the gift shop.

Awesome weekend

It was 80 degrees and sunny all weekend so we took advantage of the good weather. We're sharing the same cold so we cancelled everything else we had planned for this weekend and just took it easy.

Friday - dinner and a movie night (Chinese and Meet the Robinsons).

Saturday - driveway basketball, McDonalds, biked around the neighborhood.

Sunday - Hockey, backyard football, Power Wheels, watched the Jets beat New England. Brian Kilmeade summed it up pretty well this morning. "Remember when Tom Brady used to be good?"

Updates

School - The boys are doing well in school. Michael was nominated to be his class representative for a community program that develops future leaders, and Joey got to sit in the "duck chair" on Tuesday. It's a special honor in his Kindergarten class, and he was extremely proud.

Hockey - The hockey season is almost in full swing. Practices started a few weeks ago at Aspen, and we have a tentative version of the game schedule. If anyone is interested in coming to a game or practice let me know and I will send you more information. Michael's playing center and left wing for the NJ Freeze this season so at least half of the games will be in Randolph.

Soccer - Danielle is coaching in the Roxbury Mighty Mites soccer program starting on September 26th, and I believe Joey is on her team. They play at Horseshoe Lake on Saturdays at 1:15. It's good to see Danielle carrying on the tradition her dad started (he coached Danielle when she played soccer).

Karate - Joey goes to Karate twice a week (usually Tuesday and Thursday) and he loves it. He earned his Brown Belt on Saturday. His school has seating for spectators, so if anyone is interested in watching Joey work out let me know.

Ryan - He's enjoying his time with Grandma during the week. He isn't talking yet, but he is starting to copy the sounds we make so I think he will be talking soon. I have a DVD with his first crawl and his first steps, and hopefully I will get to record his first words too.

Brown Belt!

Way to go, Joey! I'm so proud of the way he sticks with it. He
listens in class, volunteers often, and he's got a lightening quick
backfist. I think it's time to finish up his dojo in the basement
because Joey is only going to get bigger and faster.

Wild West City

Yes, it's still there! Everything is the same as when we were kids, except for the part where Spiderman came barreling down Main Street on a horse.