sitting around a campfire

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Originally uploaded by peteshaw.

a couple fo weks ago (4/14/2007) we went camping up near Harrisburg, PA. From left to right: Dustin, Abigail, Anna, Sam, Alec, and PJ. The wee little elves devoured marshmallows, chocolate bars, and graham crackers for many hours before finally, reluctantly, going to bed.

Children playing in large earthen pile

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Originally uploaded by peteshaw.

Well, what could be more fun than playing in a big mound of dirt. Actually in this case, it was a pile of allergen ridden cement and sand, so get those inhalers ready!

Kids playing in a pipe

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Originally uploaded by peteshaw.

Well, if there's one thing kids like better than playing in a big old pile of dirt, its gathering together in a large industrial cement pipe.

Hi Kevin!

Kevin Heck, and old friend of mine from High School, recently signed my guestbook. Always good to hear from an old friend. Now, I don't know how this works, but seeing as he was asking for a 'Shout Out', which I am now providing, I think he is indebted to me in some way. I came up with the following estimate: Since I buy most of stuff on ebay now, I estimated shipping at roughly three times the purchase price.

1 Shout Out.......... $2.56

S&H..................... $7.78

Total....................$10.24

PS-Hey Kevin! Just mail me a check would ya?

PPS-Anybody else want a shout out? The store is now open!

Girl Scout dance 2007

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Originally uploaded by peteshaw.

This past year. in March, I took Anna to the Father Daughter girl scout dance. The theme was Mardi-Gra. A good time was had by all.

you little devil

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Originally uploaded by peteshaw.

Sam has been busy lately. He keeps taking things. For one thing, he keeps grabbing the trrackball out of the computer in the front office. This is really annoying. He then hides it somewhere, and forgets where it is. So I can either go looking throughout the entire house for a 1" red ball, or go buy a mouse.

He likes to push buttons. Anytime he wanders into into the computer room, he turns all of the computers off, and starts pushing buttons on the fax/copy/print/scanner until something *interesting* happens, whatever that may be.

He and PJ snuck down to the basement the other day to dneak some ice cream. Sam decided that the dial was too inviting. So he gave it a good twist. All the way from COLD to OFF. Hours later, I walk by the freezer and think to myself, "that's odd, I don't remember that large puddle of melted ice cream being there." That kid can really test your patience.

UPDATE: My wife has reminded me of something I left off. Sam has, twice, over the past few weeks, called 911, including once when the police actually showed up! He likes talking to people on the phone, and its an easy number to remember. Question: does anyone know of some way to have your phone BLOCK calling 911? (just kidding of course).

Easter Weekend Approaches, and the Circus is in town.

The kids all went to the Circus Wednesday night.  They are lucky enough to have a grandmother who feels she was deprived of Circus fun as a child, and is not determined that her grandchildren will not want when it comes to all things Circus-ey.

 

This includes overpriced spinning flashing toys, junk food, the works.  My kids are lucky.  And, to a lesser degree, I am lucky.  Lucky that I got to hang out in the Eight Ball Cafe and play in a poker tournament while my children were watching the elephants, clowns, and acrobats.

 

PJ paid the price though, as did we, when he woke us up in the middle of night, throwing up cotton candy and popcorn in his bed. 

 

I asked Kathleen how the Circus was.  "Ehh," she said and made and indifferent gesture, "it was okay."

 

A few minutes later though, Anna came running down the stairs and ran up to me and said, "Dad!  The circus was really, really awesome!"  Kids just love the circus.

Sam tells it like it is

(Sorry for the long delay in posting.  No real reason, just lazyness.  -ed)

 

Sam was eating dinner the other night.  He was slurping down a big bowl of spaghetti.

 

"Sam, are those good noodles you are eating?."  I asked, having fun with him.

 

"Yes" he said, and continued eating.

 

"But," I said, teasing him, "are you full of noodles, or are you full of beans?"

 

"I'm full of noodles."  He said, barely looking up frmo his bowl.

 

"No, I think you are full of beans." I said and smiled at him, laughing at my own joke. 

 

"NO! I AM FULL OF NOODLES,"  Sam barked at me, then added, "YOU IDIOT!"

 

Kathleened chimed in and berated Sam in a stern voice for the use of 'idiot', a word we don't let our children use, even when their parents are being particularly obtuse.  I sat there and kept my hand over my face and tried to keep from laughing.