09/04/08 | Site Update

Dear Santa

Maybe it was the Mustang rental car from 2 weeks ago, but I haven’t been able to shake the muscle-car bug out of my system. Just yesterday I read a glowing review of the new 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T on washingtonpost.com by Warren Brown. I totally want one. Not enough to give up my truck, but if I can convince Caryn that a Volkswagon Passat just isn’t as family friendly as a v8 Hemi street rod, I might have a fighting chance.

Arguing points:

• Daddy gets home from work faster each night.
• We do our part to support American automobile manufacturing.
• Big engines drown out crying kid sounds.
• Um… it screams “I’m the coolest dad on the block.”

09/02/08 | Adventures with Riley and Spencer

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend at the beach proved to be a learning experience in parenting skills. We placed Riley and Spencer next to each other in the surf for some prime video footage. Caryn and I sat with our backs to the ocean and smiled from ear to ear watching our two kids have such a great time. Take a look at the video and see if you can spot the exact second our kids stopped having fun. Watch close, cause it’s very subtle.

The kids survived. The new video camera did not.

• View Video

08/26/08 | Site Update

Illustrate Us

I was inspired today to try and capture our family is as simple an illustration style possible. Very fun exercise.

08/22/08 | Adventures with Riley and Spencer

Picture Day

Caryn took the kids to Sears this morning for Spencer’s 6 month photo shoot. Grandma Ellen must have photos of her grandbabies at 6 months or else. Not sure what the “or else” actually means, but I don’t want to be the one who ruins tradition or angers Grandma Ellen. She’s got a husband with a wicked temper and a Chevy Suburban with enough room in the back for me, a blanket, duct tape and shovels. Spencer turns 7 months old tomorrow. Whew! Just in time.

08/20/08 | General Update

KA-POW!

Caryn and I dropped our vehicles off this morning at the body shop and were given rental cars. Caryn was handed the keys to a white Toyota Camry whose interior smelled like cat urine, and I was handed the keys to a black Ford Mustang. I totally won out on that deal. While hers stunk of neglect, mine wreaked of bad-ass and horsepower. I had a blast getting into work this morning. I’m sure I look 5 years younger, because there isn’t a wrinkle on my face that wasn’t G-force tucked to the back of my scalp. Pure adrenaline. Maybe tonight I’ll take Spencer up to the local high school and show him how to lay a track of Goodyear rubber.

08/14/08 | Adventures with Riley and Spencer

Sunrise at the Zoo

Last Saturday morning at about 6:30 a.m. we headed to the National Zoo. We became members this spring. Riley absolutely loves spotting all the animals, Spencer enjoys the stroller ride and we like the fresh air and exercise. No crowds that early in the day. In fact, we can park less than 30 yards from the elephant house. Parking that close to ANYTHING in D.C. is unheard of. With nobody else there, it’s peaceful. Just us and the beasts.

I decided to only take my zoom lens, so there are a lot less photos taken than usual. Also, my camera is starting to get buggy and frustrate me. I fear its days may be numbered.

The highlight of the morning was when they opened the Ape house early and we were the first people in. Riley and one of the orangutans really hit it off. We told Riley to be very slow when approaching him and be very gentle. She was so cute. She inched her way across the floor while softly saying, “hey little buddy.” Anyways, she was eventually able to get up really close and had the time of her life. They even traded a kiss at the end.

• View Scrapbook

08/13/08 | Adventures with Riley and Spencer

Sibling Facial Comparison

Caryn sent me an old photo from one of our scrapbooks of Riley when she was 6 months. It’s kind of funny to see how similar the two kids are. While there are distinct differences in the eye shape, bottom lip size and overall head circumference, they are remarkably similar. Take a look at the photo below as I took a 6 month photo of Spencer and super-imposed it onto Riley’s and then gradiated 25% of 5 frames. Was that too technical of an explanation? Did I lose any of you?

08/12/08 | Adventures with Riley and Spencer

Olympic Boxer Takes Gold

It was a hard fight against Africa’s ‘Mosky Toe’, but American diaper-weight boxer Riley took the gold after 3 rounds of continuous pounding.

Actually, while it does look like she took a blow to the cranium, it’s actually a mosquito bite. She and her mother both have bad reactions to bites. This one happened to be near her eye. Poor kid was up all night itching it.

We’re hoping it clears up before prom photos.

08/07/08 | Quote of the Day

Dragon Tales

Riley: “Mommy, I wanna watch Dragon Tales for two days.”

08/07/08 | Quote of the Day

My Flave-o-lit

Riley: “Here ya go!” (handing me a white flower from lawn)

Caryn: “Oh Riley, that is really sweet. Thank you!”

Riley: “It’s white. You love it? It’s yo flave-o-lit.” (Riley speak for ‘favorite’)