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.