My apologies... It has been too long.

Post-Ike and Ann being out of town is my only excuse. I am going to put a few of misc pics on hopefully with labels.

A walk with all the kids the Saturday after the storm. Colin, Shelley, Dylan, Eli, and Caroline all were without power, but we had power so they stayed with us. Who would have thought that we would have power when only 4% of the city had it. I call that hurricane karma...lose everything to Katrina, have power through Ike. By the way, I still don't consider us even with Mother Nature.



Dakota has started sleeping in the kids room at night after the storm. We slept in there too on Friday night. Here are my attempts to master our camera's different setting. First...no flash, we have confirmation it is nighttime. Second, low light photography, you really need a tripod for this to work.

Finally I just used the flash, no one else was the wiser, but you can't tell it is nighttime. Thus the other two pics.

Post-Ike Update

We have power, but no internet and TV. We were part of the lucky 4% of Houstonian's with power after the storm. Luckily the weather has cooled some, because there were a bunch of sweaty, irratated people suffereing without AC, warm meals, or cold beer.

Ann is still planning on heading to the Family Medicine conference in San Diego. She leaves tomorrow and comes back Sunday. Maria will be around as she has power and her family is fine. Alma evacuated north and doesn't know about her housing situation. She and her mom may be staying with us.

I am at work today, but the city is pretty much shut-down.

Calm before Ike...about noon Friday

It may be a little while before I update the blog. We'll likely lose power sometime tonight and who knows how long power will be off. I thought a few pictures of today's fun on the hurricane emptied backyard would be appropriate. We've moved the guest mattress into the kids room and have secured all the windows and plantation shutters in the house. If we lose a window hopefully that will keep some of the rain out. I may be heading to bed soon, so I can get up when Ann goes to sleep. Just thought someone should stay up and watch/listen to the weather.

The kids are happily asleep in their cribs, we've got the mattress and flashlights, I am drinking a bourbon and Ann is drinking a Mango Slice (Australian wonder drink from Heron Island, that was only three years ago)... On to more fun stuff!

Joe discovered the dog door today

And he promptly tried to crawl through
Then Charlie found the door too
Grace enjoying a little after lunch milk
Joe busts through the line and scores his first touchdown!


Joe and the Lion

Kids running around...notice Charlie says "ball" now.

Signing off for a bit. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Hurricane Ike

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts, prayers, e-mails and phone calls. We just finished lunch and are going outside for a little outside time. Probably not going to get much more than that for the next 24hours as the storm path is pretty much coming right at us. The next 24hours will be a hoot!

Nighttime story time

Herding three kids to all listen to a story is impossible. Here is a sampling of the normal evening...

Step 1..."Do you want to read a story?" They usually sit down when we first give them their nightime milk.


Step 2. Joe walks away....it could have been any of the kids, just happened to be Joe this time. I think Charlie has the book at this point. See lower right.
Step 3. Joe comes back, but Charlie is gone. And he has the book.

Step 4. Daddy gets the book back. Charlie is ticked off. Let's try the story with two kids.
Step 5. Joe wanted to hold the book, so we end up with the story with one kid...
Good night.

Video of the kids playing in the backyard

Growing up fast...phones and credit cards

Talking on the phone is fun for the whole family...here's Joe.
Hi Papa, I just went for a walk and thought you would like to know.
Now Grace and Charlie get on the phones.
Hi Grandma...how are you doing today? I love you.
Buen giorno, just practicing my Italian for our first trip overseas.
I discovered credit cards in Mommy's purse to pay for the trip. Do they take American Express?

Asian babies

When Paige and Jonathan went to Vietnam they bought these outfits for our kids. The pants are a little too long, but the kids had fun playing dress up for awhile.

Joe does his best Hug Hefner impersonation.

Charlie in full run. Gotta put your arms back for speed.

Trip to the zoo

On sunday we went to the zoo. Three babies in the wagon tends to attract attention, but the kids are really starting to notice and watch the animals.