haircut gone wrong!!!

(Click on the link to see the video and the reveal. Ugh. And I have to go to work tomorrow!)

king of the hilll

PJ has started watching 'King of the Hill' episodes on cartoon network, I had forgotten how funny they are.  Good times.

Got a call from Sam today...

Sam  just called to check in on me after a week at the beach.  I was home with Dana, working, and enjoying the peace and quiet.

"Hello Da?"
"yes Sam."
"Are you happy?"
"Well, I guess I am happy, why do you ask?"
"Umm, did you do the happy dance when we all left?"
"The what?"
"You know, the one where you say 'do do do, its my brithday, no ones' home, do do do' (we do sometimes refer to this in our family as the 'happy dance')."
"Yeah, I guess I did."
"We had a lot of fun here.  We went to the beach, we went to the boardwalk.  It was a lot of fun."
"Wow, it sounds like fun."
"I had to dial a one before your number."
"What?"
"I had to press the number one before I dialed your number."
"Sure, that would make sense, it is long distance from the beach house."
"Hey dad?'
"Yeah?"
"Bye."
And he hung up.  I guess that was all he wanted to say. 

One from the archive

I'm lazy today, so I'll just throw up an old photo.  Anna is in the blue, and PJ in the red.  Sam was not born yet.  Taken in an old cemetery in Harper's Ferry, WV

Junk Hauler

Here is my personally handcrafter junk hauling trailer, with which we will be hauling all of our camping gear around.  My mom has, for some unknown reason, been bugging me to post a picture of it.  Here you go mom!

Mid August 2011

The kids spent the last week in camp, which was fantastic. Kathleen and I got a chance to go out to a few great dinners, and to spend some quality time together. It was a foreshadowing of our future empty nest, and I loved it. PJ and Sam went to Camp Chanco, a place on the James River across from Williamsburg. They had a great time, although Sam was a little disgruntled because he didn't get to do all the fun stuff he wanted to.

Anna flew up to New York and spent some time with family and then spen ta week at Camp Chingachook, a YMCA camp on a stunningly beautiful piece of property on Lake George New York. I wen tot Chingachook when I was a kid, as did my brother, and as did my father, but I believe the legacy will end there. It has unfortunately, gotten ridiculously expensive, almost three times what other camps are charging, and we just can't afford that. Too bad.

This weekend the children are all back home and catching up on CRT time after all that fresh air, so its kind of quiet around here. Oh - hey, yesterday was my birthday for real! Not my facebook birthday, nine days earlier, which is actually Anna's birthday. But a big thank you to all those who wished me a happy birthday on both or either day, its always great to be reminded of aging another year. :)

Schroon Lake from Severn Hill

This photo was taken from Severn Hill, a one mile hike just North of Schroon Village.

Camping Anna Michener 2011.07.15

"Oh no - you guys go ahead with your hike. I'll just lay in this muddy water. Really, I'm fine." --Dana

Happy Birthday Anna!

My daughter has turned 13!  She is a teenager!  In related news, I am seeking to increase the dosage of all of my relevant medications.  Also, for those of you who wished me happy birthday on facebook, thanks!  In an effort to avoid identity theft, my actual birthday is between 7 and 12 days later, but the thoughts are all still greatly appreciated.  Also, I am not fifty yet, but a big thanks to all who asked!

Anna away - boys go to camp Saturday

Anna flew up to New York to spend some time with the cousins.  PJ and Sam go to Camp Chanco down near Williamsburg, VA on Saturday.  Which leaves Kathleen and I child free for the week.  KOWABUNGA!

Camping at Anna Michener, PA 7/15/2011

Look! My wife wearing a backpack. Also in the news - hell freezes over, pigs fly, moon turns blue, etc....
Just kidding. Way to go baby! You rock.