Halloween Pictures

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Aidan's cousins... Mary Kate and Claire on Halloween.

Happy Halloween

We had an interesting Halloween night here in Kingwood. Pretty heavy rain threatened to wash out the trick or treaters. We got quite a few though. But, no where near the close to 100 or so that we usually get. Norma and I had planned to take Aidan out to the neighbors houses with his lion outfit on... but it was too cool and wet. He is battling a little cold and we didn't want to risk it. Plus, he hates the dark. So little.

Instead he helped pass out candy (after he finally woke up from an early evening nap). He got a kick out of seeing the kids and was picking up candy and handing it to Norma and I like we were doing to the kids. It was really cute. He got it. You take the candy out of the big plastic caldron and you give it to people. What a genius this boy is!

Norma was a little depressed. Halloween is her favorite. The rain definitely put a damper on the festivities.

One thing we did do is get caught up on Rome on hbo. We had tivo'd it last night. Man, is that a darn good show! Wow. Great stuff. I just can't wait to see what they do next week. The writing is so good. Excellent stuff. This past episode had so many twists and turns. It reminds me a lot of Six Feet Under. Anytime I think I can predict what they will do - it goes in another direction. Sweet, sweet show.

WWRD: What Would Rosa Do?

Read this question on Americablog:
"Would Rosa Parks have voted for Supreme Court nominee Judge Alito?"

Very interesting, considering he did the "photo op" at her coffin today.

On Friday, I'll move up my Rosa Parks tribute lesson that I usually do each spring during African American History month. I am really looking forward to seeing the reaction of my students to the video and discussion we'll have. Her imapact on America was so huge. Just that attitude of "this movement is bigger than me and my life." That is something you rarely see today. And it is the reason she is such a great American heroine.

Aidan: Destroying a Cake, prt 3

Baby on a sugar high.

Aidan: Destroying a Cake, prt 2

He likes...
He uses "hands on technique"...
and he EATS.

YUM.

Aidan: Destroying a Cake, prt 1

How to destroy a cake... part one.

Aidan looks...
says, "hmmmmm..."
and then "He Likey!"

Time to 'DIG IN!'

Aidan: Cake Party!

More fun pictures to come tonight when the baby finally goes to bed. We took about 80 pics of his b'day party. CAKE EVERYWHERE! It was so fun.

He is now one year old. We are so lucky to have such a beautiful son. Everyday just keeps getting better...
and better...
and better...
and better...

:)

Aidan: Happy 1st Birthday

To Aidan,

Happy first birthday son.  I am writing this letter as my birthday gift to you.  You already know some of the things we got you as toys.  You have been banging on the boxes and playing with them as much as you could.  But, your mom won’t let you open them until tomorrow.  We can’t wait to celebrate after work tomorrow.  

There has been nothing in my life that has been more important to me – than you.  You are the most important because your mother and I brought you into this world with all the love we have for each other and it resulted in the most perfect and beautiful boy we have ever seen.  

The last year has been the very best of my life.  I am 35 now and feeling a little slower, fatter and definitely older.  But, when I look at you and see myself in you… I realize that a part of me and a part of your mother will always live in inside you.  That is the most awesome feeling in the world.  

We have high hopes and dreams for you.  The biggest dream is that you are happy.  Everyone says, “That’s the happiest baby I’ve ever seen.”  You smile and smile and smile.  We can make you laugh at any time.  And we often do, just out of the blue.  Your laugh is full of an energy and spark that is unique.  I know that I don’t have that kind of spark inside me… not like that.  I’m not sure your mom does either.  But you have it.  And it is going to be my sole responsibility and job number one that you never lose that.  

Throughout my life I have overcome a lot and have gone through good and bad times, but I didn’t learn until later in life how important it is to enjoy.  Your life is going to fly by and years from now we’ll dig this up and read it and I will say – "That seems like yesterday that it was your first birthday!  

That is why every day that we spend with you is a gift.  So on a day that is your first birthday we are going to try to shower you with love and gifts… but it can never equal what you have given to us.  We are the luckiest parents in the world.  

Happy First Birthday Aidan…
I love you.
Dad    

Game 4: Backe was great... (in progress)

Brandon Backe showed tonight why he is going to be a force next season. This is a front of the rotation guy and probably will slide into Clemens spot in the big three. He was great tonight. I have never seen a more emotional pitcher. Right now they have taken him out... and he's pacing the dugout. The guy is wild. You have to love his emotion. The crowd adores him. Plus, he's a Galveston boy and everyone considers him one of us here in Houston.

This series has been just nutz. Can you even have a closer series that is so lopsided in the wins? The Astros have been in every single game to the bitter (and I do mean bitter end). Tonight's game has the exact same feel to it. Like the Astros are trudging through quicksand. It's as if someone drugged them at the plate. Absolutely nothing going offensively.

I am very excited about the future of this team and the prospect for 2006. But, the offense is going to have to improve. I think it will through maturity and this experience in the world series. The young guys like Willy Taveras, Chris Burke, and Jason Lane will start to step up and carry this load. Now that Bagwell and Biggio are in their twilight and 2006 will almost assuredly be their final seasons, it is time for the new crop to take over. And they are very talented. Just in this series they are overmatched in terms of the situation, experience and their young talent.

The Sox have done it each game. They have found a way to win. That's what Champions do. My hat is off to them. But, I still love my Astros. I will proudly wear my Astros jacket to work tomorrow. Even though as I type ... the Sox just took the lead in the 8th. Brad Lidge gives it up again... how totally strange and odd. What a wierd series. I could have never predicted the way these games have gone.

Regardless... I'm proud of this team that never quit. They were 15-30 in may and no team since 1914 has made the playoffs with a record like that at the end of May. I will proudly wear my NL Champion hat when I get one. Beating the Braves and Cards was sweet. We were so close in this series. It will be a long winter of recounting the ways we could have won. But, I am going to try to be as positive as I can be. This is my team. And you gotta love YOUR team.

Who knows... maybe things will buzz again in the hive in the 8th and 9th and we'll make a little playoff magic of our own... I can only hope.

Swoopes comes out, in her words

ESPN.com - WNBA - ESPN The Magazine: Swoopes comes out, in her words

This has to take courage. She could have easily waited until she retired, which won't be too long from now.

I salute her for being open and honest. I only hope it helps break some barriers and that people can start realizing that gay and lesbian people should no longer be discriminated against.

Here's to you Sheryl Swoopes. I hope that you get to experience that 'freedom' that you need.

Game 3: 5-5 in the 10th...

My stomach is in knots. This game is unreal. Baseball is not for cowards, that's for sure. Break out the pepto and tums.



Jason Lane has BIG HUGE BALLS. What a massively huge hit in the bottom of the 8th. Too bad this dang thing isn't over and we couldn't capitalize on a runner at 3rd with 1 out in the ninth.

Am I going to make it through this series? My body is revolting. My mind races with the tension of this up and down game... and my body says, "What the heck are you doing up there... calm down. We are deteroriating down here!"

Please... Astros... Please. Finish this thing off already!

Go Stros.

Astros: Game 3 (in progress)

It's been another really tough game to watch in the World Series. I think I've finally just relaxed and realized that tonight's game will make me happy either way. If we win... wow, of course, I am happy. If we lose... this was the best season in team history and I enjoyed it immensely but it'll be all but over. Down 3-0 is pretty insurmountable. This White Sox team is very good. Scrappy, tough and even though each game has been so, so close and could have gone either way... they have done what they had to so far.

We were feeling pretty good when it was 4-0 Astros with our #1 guy Roy O on the mound. But, boy did that change quickly...

Things unraveled for Oswalt and he threw 46 pitches in the inning. That was the most in his career in one inning and believe me... I have never seen him like that before. It really did hurt to see my favorite pitcher get creamed like that. I have a 2001 Oswalt jersey, with the very cool American Flag patch on the back, eactly like what they wore to commemrorate 911.

Roy is the man. I love this Astros team. Hopefully we can do something in the 8th and 9th and capitalize in this game on homefield and the last at bat.

Either I'm going to be happy we've won... or happy this is over. It's been exhausting to watch.