Waterpark weekend

First waterpark of 2010. An indoor waterpark: Sahara Sam's, in southern New Jersey. We made a weekend out of it: rented a car, stayed at a hotel, ate at Taco Bell and Dairy Queen, visited a cave in Pennsylvania, and bought $300 worth of stuff at a Target, all as precursors to the main event.

(Target is to Jennifer what waterparks are to me and the boys: the embodiment of all things good in the universe.)

The consensus: there is no such thing as a bad waterpark, but Sahara Sam's does not have a hot tub. They have something called a "warming tub," which looks like it used to be a hot tub until they decided to cut costs by turning off the heat and re-naming it a "warming tub."

Well, we weren't fooled by their pathetic little ruse, and we've added Sahara Sam's to our list of "okay to do once" attractions. On to the next waterpark.

You had me at hello

When Frankie's big sister Lucy starred with Ethan in our remake of "Officer and Gentleman" last summer, I promised Frankie that he could be in a movie too. I told him I had the perfect scene in mind, if I could just find the perfect co-star. Behold.

Ethanism

"In Tae Kwon Do they teach you self control. So I have to fake that."

Winter is over

What a great weekend to be alive.

Summer is coming. I went for a run in my new running shoes, which Bailey hasn't chewed up yet. I had a sushi date with Jennifer, followed by my first Mister Softee Banana Boat of 2010. We made reservations for next weekend at an indoor waterpark. And the Hawkeyes are NCAA wrestling champs.

I am a simple man.

Back to the Future poster

I got on the mailing list of some auction house that sells historical memorabilia. So I decided to browse through the catalog of their vintage movie posters online. Lo and behold, there was a "Back to the Future II" movie poster from 1989. In pristine condition.

What are ya gonna do? NOT bid on it?

Dog Run!

Eureka! Winter is actually almost over. What better way to celebrate the coming of summer than by taking two boys and two dogs to the dog run.

Bailey is a dog dog, so he ran and jumped and barked and sniffed butts and engaged in all the other social activities of dogdom.



Kahlua is a people dog, and kind of prissy, so she was more, "I don't like the feel of the gravel on my feet, and I'll bet that tennis ball is teeming with bacteria, and the sun's kind of starting to go down, so can we go home now?"

"I don't understand Aaron."

Todd: "Why not?"

Ethan: "Because he said he gave up candy--for lint."

Happy Birthday, Ethan

My sweet, exhausted little boy.



You were up past midnight getting ready for your party, and you were up early this morning in anticipation, and you burned off all your remaining energy today.

When I look at you sleeping I see a 9-year-old, and an 8-year-old, and a 5-year-old, and a 3-year-old, all rolled into one.

Realistically, this was probably the last "Club Penguin" party you'll have, and I'm glad it was a good one--from the birthday donuts with no holes to the penguin figures you made.



You are silly and crazy and sweet and loving and inappropriate and a terrific artist and a wonderful boy to wrestle with and laugh with and listen to and hold hands with.



You're a great kid, and I love you so very much. I will always be here for you.

Goodnight, my sweetheart.