Lily's first Kid's Workshop

This morning we built lawn tractors. Max (being a experienced pro) was a lot of help.

The new place

It looked especially nice today and I wanted to get a picture while the tree is still in bloom.

Saying Goodbye

8 years ago Bobbie Jo and I had only been married for 2 years. We didn't have any kids and neither did most of our friends. I think we were both still taking classes. It seems like a lifetime ago.

In late March the four of us moved from our 'starter home', to the house we hope to be in for a very long time. Due to some of the problems with the real estate market, we made the decision to rent our old house to some of Bobbie Jo's coworkers. With 75 days between moving out and the tenants moving in, we left more stuff in the old place than we should have.

Over the last few weeks Bobbie Jo and I have been clearing it out. Even though I was thrilled to move into the new house, it is just that- a house. Our new 2400 sq ft house is not yet a home. Not fully broken in and few, if any, memories at all.

Seeing the empty old place is pretty emotional. So many memories.

I was (am) so proud of the room that we made for Max. He was 5 pounds when we brought him home to it. It used to have his crib and mobile. He took naps in there. We read books that he has long since outgrown. When we packed it up it contained a bunk bed, a million legos, and books that he can read on his own! 

Yeah, Lily's room was never as great as Max's. It didn't mean I love her less, its more that Max was keeping us plenty busy in the months before she was born (and she was the child who took my 'office' from me).

Disassembling her crib, the crib that they both used, was weird. We will never again use it as a crib. Now she has big girl furniture. I don't think she's big enough for it. I'd like to see her stay in a crib.

We didn't use the living room much (prior to it becoming a bit of a playroom). Our christmas trees were always in the same corner. Bobbie Jo and I would always argue when putting them up. The simple ones of just the two of us, to the havok (and wonderment) of our christmases with the kids. Our cats (Emma, Rizzo, and Neo) loved laying on the carpet in the sun here. Only Neo is still with us.

The stuff filled a truck. If the memories and good times were packed, they would have needed more than just the one. I know we will create many more memories in the new house. I know that it will soon become our home. I can't wait to see what the future will look like for the four of us. 

The house on Woodlawn will always have a special place in my heart, but Kirkwall will be the home we were all in together from the beginning, as a family.

I'm now a man....

'cause I have a tractor.

DSAWM Annual Kentucky Derby Gala

Its ours!

Paperwork has been signed. It's officially ours.

Jan 4, 2014: 1:48 am

The baby monitor was screaming at us. We both played the usual "pretend to sleep in hopes that the other will give in game". I lost.

I stumbled downstairs and started to open Lily's door, but something was in the way. That something then walked through the door wile dragging a giant stuffed giraffe. She had climbed out of the crib for the first time. She climbed out 4 more times throughout the night.

I believe it's what I said when Max did the same thing (though it was 6 months later); "We're screwed".

Merry Christmas!

Coloring Together

They sure can trash a room, but it's worth it to see them like this.

Dropping Max off at School

I (James) drive Max to school every morning. We listen to the radio, sometimes NPR and sometimes Bohemian Rhapsody. He asks questions; "Daddy, if the brain controls everything, and the brain is made of neurons, what controls the neurons? Can you ask Google?"
He doesn't like it when I drop him off by the middle schoolers,"Daddy, they laugh at me like I'm a baby". He seems genuinely upset. I make sure we don't drop him there anymore.

I've said multiple times how he is growing up, but it's what usually happens when I drop him off that lets me hold on to my little guy. He will let himself out of the car, and sometimes give a "See you later Alligator". I respond as expected and tell him to have a good day. He says "I love you Daddy" and closes the car door. I watch him through the window as he walks the first few steps toward the school and then skips the rest of the way.

I wanted to make sure that I wrote this down. I don't ever want to forget it.