Growing up

The boys are growing up right under my nose, and sometimes I don't realize it until I see them in suits.

This morning, Ryan asked me to take him to school.  I seized the moment and drove him even though it made me late for work.  The office will always be there, but there will certainly come a day when the boys will stop asking me to take them to school.

Christmas Lights

In the neighborhood Danielle grew up in, families had a tradition of placing candles in paper bags along the sidewalks on Christmas Eve.  Hopefully we can convince the people in our new neighborhood to do the same thing.

Rutgers Game

I brought Danielle and the boys to my company's annual Rutgers Football Tailgate party.  It was Michael and Joey's first football game.  Looking back, now I realize that college games are much better for kids than NFL games.

Hitchiker

Just another way to get around the hockey rink.

First snowfall

Our first significant snowfall came early this year.  As you can see, the boys were just waiting for an opportunity to nail me with freshly packed snowballs.  Lucky for me I was in the kitchen!

Hockey Picture 2012

Falling Asleep

Like any other true-blooded Kovach, Ryan can fall asleep anywhere.  I was lucky enough to snap these pictures as his eyes were starting to close.

Happy Gilmore

Michael and I went to the driving range in Flanders last night.  I showed Michael how to hold the club and how to swing, and that was all the instruction he needed.  He reached the 150 yard marker after only a few tries.

Karate Joe: Then and Now

Danielle and I are so proud of him for sticking with it.  And now that he is a brown belt, the school expects Joey to really work on his forms and technique.  They will ride him harder during class, hold him to a higher standard, and really push him to perform until he earns his black belt.  We have no doubt that Joey is up to the challenge.

Hockey Mom

Hockey Mom is a term that people use to describe a certain kind of person.  However, nobody understands the true meaning of the term better than my wife.  Who else would do this for their son?

Brown Belt!

Way to go, Joe!

Washing the bikes

Ryan probably put more miles on his big wheel than I put on my motorcycle this summer, but that's alright with me.

Ice Cream Ball

Can anyone think of a better way to tire out a kid than making him run after an ice cream ball?  His reward is ice cream, our reward is a good night's sleep.  It's a win-win!

Aeroflex Lake

 

It was another great day of fishing.  We didn't catch anything, but we had a good time motoring around the lake.  It was Joey's first time in a boat, and I don't think he took his eyes off the fish finder long enough to cast a lure.

Boat Motor

Show me a kid that doesn't love working in the basement with his dad.  This is our new project - it's a 1957 Johnson boat motor that hasn't turned over since Grandpa used it.  With any luck, we should be able to clean out the carburetor and getting it running in time for the next fishing season.

On a side note, I think it may be time to get Ryan his own set of tools!

Bigfoot

Guess who has the biggest foot?  Here is a clue:  it's not me.  Oh well, maybe I can wear his hand-me-down shoes.

First Day of School 2012

The boys are off to another year of school.  Michael is starting 6th grade, and Joey is starting 3rd.  Ryan still has a year left of nursery school before he starts kindergarten.  The fact that Ryan let me take his picture today is a landmark event in itself!

Toilet Troubles

Joey:  (reading a sign in the bathroom stall) Do not flush anything down the toilet other than toilet paper.
(Slight pause)
Joey:  (sounding panicked) MOM!!!  What do I do with my pee!

The Mulchmaster 2000

This is how Ryan mulches tree clippings...cave man style.

Fishing Trip

Michael and I went fishing at Echo Lake on Saturday, and we caught 8 fish between the two of us.  Our next trip will probably be to Oak Ridge.