You Know You Love Pics Of My Kids.

We purchased a Slip'n Slide this weekend and are happily destroying portions of our lawn.

Ava giving me the 'Stink-Eye.'



Philip, Patrick, Conner and Ava.

I thought this was a pretty good portrait of Conner. He's a good kid.

Another in the long list of amazing things you think, feel and witness raising a child is their boundless potential. There is the standard talk of your kid becoming President, or perhaps making a difference in the world. Curing cancer and what not. I'm often struck by a child's, and Philip's in particular, physical potential.

Philip has always been big. Our last doctors visit measured him at the size of your average six-year-old. He's big and strong, possessing a never ending supply of energy. Now, I know common sense tells me he has no chance of being a professional athlete, but, look at him, that four-year-old is shredded.

The potential that is held inside them draws a sharp contrast to my declining physical prowess. I'm not suggesting I'm jealous of my son, but rather excited and a little nostalgic. Excited to watch him grow up and discover what he is capable of doing. Nostalgic for the good times that trip will offer. His potential will lead him somewhere, and neither he, nor I know where.

Report From Cicada Station 60126

Warning!! The following post contains pictures of cicadas.

With all the goings on around here, I haven't even mentioned the cicadas. There are alot of them. Not as many as I remember in '90, but still quite a few.

I was initially disappointed in them. Just another memory from childhood proven false, or at least diminished, I thought. Perhaps it was exaggerated in my mind, the cicadas of 1990. Or, maybe there were more 17 years ago. I didn't know, there just seemed to be less of them this time.

Those assumptions were proved an overreaction. There are plenty of cicadas here in 2007.