Category Archives: Family

Books For Bowling

Today, we played hard for charity. The Junior League in Minneapolis organized great event today, Bowling For Books. It’s simple, really. You bring in your books. You trade them in so that kids who are less fortunate can have books. You eat pizza. You drink beer (well the kids didn’t). And, you bowl.

This was Cora and John’s first time bowling. I have to say, they were quite brave. There was no ramp and no bumper guards. Nope. We don’t use enablers or crutches at my house :)

I love bowling. It’s a simple activity that anyone can play regardless of age. As I was meeting all these new people and watching all these people engage with one another it reminded me of something very important. Real connections, real relationships and real conversations are way better than virtual ones on twitter, Facebook and the like. I mean think about it. You can’t share a beer virtually and have the same REAL effect. That alone makes it a more meaningful activity.

Get out from behind the computer, put the Nexus One down and start engaging in real life. You just might like it.

As you can see from the photos and video below, we had a great time.

Happy Halloween

We enjoyed the trick or treating…hope you did too.

Capturing Cora In The Moment

Kids never stop amazing you. I love capturing photos of Cora “in the moment.”  This was taken yesterday on our porch.  I love how she’s trying to hide from the camera while clutching her toy cell phone.

Welcome John

You didn’t decide to come into this world. Your mom and I made that choice for you. We also picked your name; hope you like it. We decided to some degree when you’d be born and where. It’s safe to say we made a lot of decisions for you. But, here’s the cool part. You get to decide on what you want to be in this world. That’s not a choice we can make for you. Your mom and I can only guide your decisions; you’ll be the one making many of them.

Being the second child is never easy. You’ll always have to refer to Cora as your “big sister.” Sorry, but it’s the truth. You’ll receive hand me downs. Yes, it’s possible you will be wearing Cora’s clothes, drinking from her bottle, and sleeping in her crib. People will compare you to Cora. They will use her as a reference point. As a matter of fact, you should just start getting used to the idea that everything you do, will be compared to everything Cora already did. Yeah, it’s gonna get old real quick.

However, there is one great advantage to being baby #2. You will not be subjected to the same mistakes we made with Cora. We’ll know to move the coffee table out of the room when you’re learning to walk. We’ll switch to the sensitive formula right off the bat and not wait 4 weeks. When you run a fever, we’ll know that it’s just because you’re teething. It’s kinda like having an upgrade in the parents department :)

This is an interesting time to be born. The world faces economic and environmental uncertainty. The United States is no longer a globally respected power house. Healthcare is in dire need of reform. The education system continues to fail us. Our politicians care more for themselves than they do the people of this nation; yes including you. Did I say interesting? Sorry, I meant depressing.

With so much wrong in this world, you might wonder why then are you here. Your birth, much like your sister’s, restores hope and faith that two people can truly create something wonderful. You are here because we all need to believe that the next generation will be better than the previous. You are here because someone will need to right our wrongs. You are here to make a difference. You are here because Cora deserves the type of friend that cares for her as much as they care for themselves.

Heavy stuff, I know. Don’t worry you won’t have to do it alone. You will have two parents that love you unconditionally, a sister that will become your best friend, and an extended family that wants you to succeed.

We promise you that the best that we can provide, you shall receive. We will take an interest in your interests and make them our own. Like sturdy oak trees, we won’t bristle at the first sign of a storm. Our only goal is to ensure you reach your full potential. Remember that, when we ground you for staying out past curfew.

Welcome. You are loved.

Cora Turns 2

Cora officially turns 2 on Monday, April 13th, but getting together people on a Monday night for a birthday part is a bit tough.  So we decided to celebrate Cora’s 2nd birthday on Saturday instead.  Friends and family from near and far helped Cora officially cross into the terrible twos. This is just one of the many awesome photos.

Our guests were generous and to say she has a treasure chest of presents to enjoy would be an understatement.  Cheryl and I gave her a Radio Flyer tricycle.

I was dead set on this being her big gift.  There’s just something about the idea of her riding this thing down the street.

You can see all the other photos here.

Christmas 2008 – Part II

Presents were opened.  Fun was had.  Smiles were seen.  So far so good.

Christmas 2008 – Part I

Yeah, there’s gonna be a lot of photos. These are just the tip of the iceberg. All were taken with the D700 and the 105mm VR.

Cora Puts The Star On The Tree

Boy, what a difference a year makes.  Last year, Cora really didn’t grasp the concept of Christmas.  This year, she’s putting up ornaments and getting excited when the lights on the tree turn on.

We thought it would be great to let Cora put the star on the tree this year.  With a little help from mom, it was mission accomplished.

Halloween 2008

What a blast.  Cora, at 18 months, got to get dressed up (as a monkey) and do some serious trick or treating.  We hit about 7 houses in total and Cora collected quite a booty of candy.  There were no tricks to be had this year, just treats.  You can see the full gallery here.

It was really amazing to see how much she’s grown since last year’s Halloween.  Honestly, you can’t even compare the two.  For a trip down memory lane, click here to see photos from 2007.

Pumpkin Carving Is A Lot More Fun When You’re Older

Last year, we let Cora in on the fun of pumpkin carving. It’s not that she wasn’t “good” at it, so much as she wasn’t old enough to really understand and enjoy the experience. A lot has changed in a year as these photos will attest.

We’ll have photos up from Halloween this weekend.  Check back for those.  You won’t want to miss it; Cora is going to be a monkey.

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Interactive marketer, innovator, boat rocker, continuous learner, movie lover, risk taker, dad and all around good guy. I'm always up for a spirited conversation. These are my thoughts and ramblings, not those of my employer.
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