Congratulations Dad and Mom! This is another example of the hard work you've put in over the years. Two gold medals and a silver is an impressive showing.
Every year The Gazette produces a publication listing the "Best of The Springs" in various categories such as dining, arts, shopping and city life. Some are awarded by experts, some are based on reader's picks/votes.
This year Northwest Animal Hospital and Pet Care Center swept the competition. Considering two of three categories include competition from businesses that specialize in those areas (versus an animal hospital offering them as other service), this is a pretty big accomplishment.
Considering this, I've come up with a few possible new slogans:
Northwest Animal Hospital and Pet Care Center:
"a one "spot" shop for all your pet's needs"
"best in show"
I turned 35 years old today. OK, technically I've been this ancient for a few days now since I'm typing this entry after the fact. It's always so much easier to record events of the weekend after they happen instead of trying to predict the future.
I had a full weekend of working on my truck, getting new wheels and tires, celebratory dining, and time away at the cabin without the kids. It was a very nice way to celebrate. I certainly don't look like I'm 35 (according to everyone that I work with) but I definitely am starting to feel a little older especially in the mornings before I've had any coffee.
Thanks goes out to Stacey and my parents for making it a fun and relaxing weekend!
Still here...just plugging away. The weeks keep flying by and then I realize that it's been a while since I've last made a post. I just don't have as much time at work or at home as I used to have.
We found out that you actually had to pay for the full-day kindergarten program...meaning Julia will now be going half days next fall. Who pays for kindergarten (if you're not using it as child care)? Last week Stacey and I attended an orientation at the school for new kindergarten parents. There were a ton of other parents there too. They reviewed a typical schedule, the dos and donts of being a parent, and fielded several questions. They also reviewed what Julia should know before coming to school in the fall as well as a calendar of things to do during every day of the summer if we need ideas. I think Julia already knows most of the necessary things that she needs to know. The harder part for her is going to be adjusting to a new environment and a new teacher. She'll also be in a class of about 25 students - double what she has in her class right now. Hopefully things will go well and her shyness will be become less and less of a factor as she grows up.
Soccer is going well for Julia. She seems to really love it, however, she is behind the other girls. Since she's playing in an age group a year older, some of the other girls have 30 or more games under their belt then she does. It's not too noticeable, but since the team she's on now will go to the larger field next season, Julia will drop back to her appropriate age group next fall. We only did this so I could be there with her and introduce her to the game. The jury is still out whether or not this will be a long-term thing for her. At the end of the day she is having fun, which is really all that matters.
Jonathan is also making good progress eating and gaining weight. We're getting closer and closer to the time when he'll eat all by himself. It's just a matter of time. Right now we've substituted coconut milk for some of the formula he's been on. It's much cheaper and it allows us to back off the volume and the oil. We hope that it will cause him to eat more. As it stands right now he's eating about 10 - 15% of his daily calories. Over time we'll gradually increase this percentage.
Right now I'm pretty busy at work. We're getting close to finishing the big project of the year for our team - the annual board-approved budget. As I mentioned above, I don't have much time for things other then work at work right now.
In unrelated news, I turn 35 years old in ten short days. Some days I feel 55, but I still think I'm somewhere in my late 20s...
Julia had her first ever soccer game this morning. She did great for her first time considering she's only been to two practices before this (soccer buddies doesn't count because she was too shy). The age difference didn't seem to matter at all.
You could tell she was learning what to do on the fly, but had no problem jumping right in. She ran hard, got right back up after getting knocked down, and even connected well on a shot that went just wide of the post.
She's very glad that I'm there helping out, but genuinely seems to like playing regardless of my presence. She keeps asking when the next practice and games are. Tomorrow I'll post video highlights of her debut.
Julia is sugar and spice and everything nice. She responds to raised eyes, but with her brother, we practically have to poke his eyes. It's becoming more apparent the older she gets that she might be one of those people who won't ever be able to tell a lie.
A few days ago after showering, Stacey noticed that things were a little too quiet and went searching for the kids. At first Julia wouldn't answer, but Stacey eventually found her in the bathroom with the lights off. When Julia came out she had a really guilty look on her face and was holding something behind her back. Stacey asked what was wrong. With her hands still behind her back she said that she didn't want to tell. Stacey said that it's OK for her to tell her, she wouldn't get mad. At that point Julia broke down into tears, and while sobbing, pulled a half-eaten bag of Scooby Snacks from behind her back. She had sneaked downstairs and gotten into the pantry of goodies. Choking back the tears she said she didn't want to say anything because she didn't want Stacey to be mad at her. She cried for a while until Stacey talked her through it and gave her a few hugs...
A few days later the kids were playing together in Julia's room. At one point Jonathan started to cry and came downstairs. Something had happened. Most likely he was trying to get something of hers and she didn't want him to have it. I went upstairs and asked Julia what had happened. She started to cry and asked through the tears if she was going to get into trouble. I told her no, and that I wanted her to tell me what this situation was all about. She wouldn't. I asked if she had hit Jonathan. No. Then I asked if she had pushed Jonathan. The flood gates opened and the wailing began...
It's funny how in both of these situations simply getting her to confess (or just guessing what she did) is punishment enough.
The forecast said rain turning into snow, but I never thought we would witness something like this. The World Cup Qualifier between the United States and Costa Rica might not count if the visitors have their protest upheld, but that doesn't mean it will be forgotten.
I worked pretty hard to get tickets to this match. It had been five years since a World Cup Qualifier had been played in Colorado, and I had never seen the United States play in person. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to get a group together and head to Denver.
The kids had a slumber party at Grandpa and Grandma's house, so we were able to leave around 4:30. We stopped for dinner and made it there comfortably. The weather was cold and there were a few flurries, but nothing to be worried about. The groundskeepers were able to keep with the snow.
The weather was poor, but not bad through the first half. Tottenham Hotspur's Clint Dempsey was fortunate to have a deflected ball land directly in his path for a tap in goal. Halftime came and so did the snow. The flakes started falling big and fast. Around the 55th minute the referee considered abandoning the game. While he talked to both teams and coaches with the ball in his hands, the crowd chanted "let them play!".
The game went on and the snow kept coming. Towards the end of the game you couldn't tell where the ball was on the pitch. Guys with shovels were running on to the playing area and shoveling the lines while the game was going on. You can see them in one of my pictures. At one point they delayed a goal kick for a few seconds until they could get off the field.
I don't know what the official rules are, but the players weren't in danger and the ball seemed to roll pretty well. Only towards the very end of the game did the ball really start to slow down because of it. I think because the game was so far along it was able to finish. At the end the snow was getting a little too deep, but it made for some entertaining falls, tackles, and saves.
I'll try to find some better pictures to show what the playing conditions were really like. This was a much needed win for us considering we lost our first match in Honduras. Speaking of Honduras, they played Mexico to a draw in 103 degree heat.
