Car Show

This morning we took it easy.  I went for a run.

There was a car show going on at the community center to Evan and Papa went there together.  It sounded like they had a good time.

I took Noah and Jude to a birthday party at 1pm.

From 3-5pm I had a FORCE meeting, for women with gene mutations for breast and ovarian cancers.

Jude's mom picked up Jude and Noah from the party and then they went back to Jude's house for a little bit

I got home a little before 6pm.

At 6pm we picked up Grandma and Papa and went to dinner at Tarbouch.

Now the boys are getting ready for bed.

Full Day

This morning Noah had a football game at 11.  We needed to get there at 10:30.  About halfway there we realized we left his football bag at home that included is flag belt and mouthguard.  He cannot play without those.  We decided to keep going to the field to drop Noah off and then either go home or somewhere to purchase the needed items.

Morry dropped Noah and me off at the field.  I was able to get a belt for him for free from the organization's booth. They normally sell mouthguards but were all sold out.  I guess we weren't the only ones that needed a new one today.  

Meanwhile, Morry and Evan stopped at CVS, but were unsuccessful.  Though they did think they saw Vince Young there.  They went over to Academy, bought a mouth guard, and headed back to the field.

Evan ran through the field to give Noah his mouthguard and got it to him just as the game was starting.

Noah played well and his team actually won their first game of the season.

From there, we ate lunch at Denny's.  I had a free gift card from a review I had done.

Then, we dropped Evan off at Altitude (indoor trampoline park) for a baseball team building event.

We were home for about an hour and then Morry went back out to pick up Evan.

They got home and then we left for a party of a friend of mine.   They had a family friendly party at her house for her 50th birthday.

We had a nice time.   They live in Rim Rock and have 1-2 acres or so.  There were other kids there and the boys had fun running around their yard playing various games.

Now the boys are getting ready for bed.

Here are some pictures from today.

La Barbecue

Hello everyone, this is Morry.

We had another uneventful trip to school this morning.  At this point, I definitely prefer uneventful.  The boys now have 22 days left of school in the school year.

Rachel went for a run after we got home.  I worked in the morning.

For lunch, I met Daniel and Brandon at La Barbecue.  La Barbecue is one of those super hip/hot barbecue trailers in Austin.  The line was at least an hour and a half long.  Luckily, they allow you to pre-order your food.  We ordered last Friday for today.  They had a second trailer where we picked up the pre-order.

The food was quite good.  Messy but good.  I ended up bringing home leftovers and Rachel had some of the leftovers.

We walked to get the boys.  Noah ended up going home with Jude.  Later Rachel got Noah and brought him to practice.

Evan and I went early to pick Noah up so Evan could try half court shots on the basketball court.

For dinner, we ordered Papa John's and watched Lemony Snicket.

The boys are in getting ready for bed now while Rachel is making cookies for a potluck party we are going to tomorrow.

Until next time...

That Kind of Day

Hello everyone, this is Morry.

On the way to walk the boys to school this morning, I got a text from Aaron that there was a bug in the Focus Forward stuff we needed to walk through.  I finished walking the boys to school and called Aaron.  It was clear that I was going to have to skip Camp Gladiator to work on this issue with him.

Rachel still went to Camp Gladiator and then went to tutor after that.

When she got home, I was still finishing up the bug.  About 30 minutes after she got home, we were able to go out to lunch together.  Tomorrow, I'm meeting some friends instead of going to Wholy Bagel with Rachel so we pushed today.  We figured since it was Thursday and not Friday, we'd try something new.  We went to a coffee shop called Alta which is on Lady Bird Lake.

When we got downtown, we drove around for 20 minutes or so to find parking.  We eventually gave up and parked in a garage by the Convention Center.  The garage was pretty full and we ended up on the 7th floor.

The coffee shop had an amazing view.  The service was lacking and the prices were very steep.  I guess rent is high with a view like that so they need to make it up somehow.  I didn't have a whole lot of time because I had to get back and get back working on some of the leftovers of that issue.  And we wasted time trying to park.  So, unfortunately, we were not able to stay as long as we would have liked.

We got back to the car and the line to leave the parking garage was past where we were parked - on the 7th floor.  All we can guess was some event let out of the convention center.  We waited about 45 minutes in the parking garage to get out.  I think the pay system at the bottom stopped working which led to the problem.  When we finally got down to the first floor, they were just letting us out for free.

We got home just in time for Rachel to leave to pick up the boys.

I stayed home to make sure things were going smoothly with Focus Forward.  Unfortunately, a bit later, more went wrong.  I ended up spending another 4 hours, almost thru dinner, to find the issue and fix it.

During that time, Rachel started dinner in the crockpot, left to tutor, and then came home and got dinner ready.  Noah helped Rachel cut up the fruit for dinner.

I was able to join everyone towards the tail end of dinner.  We ate outside on the porch.  Things seem calm now with the project.

The boys are now getting ready for bed.

Until next time...

Noah and Grandma

This morning we walked to school.

At 9:30 Morry and I had a consultation with a psychologist for Noah.  It went well.  She will meet with him starting on Wednesday to help him deal with anxiety and coping mechanisms.  She has a special system that uses biofeedback to help kids understand how their body responds to stress.  She will also use cognitive behavior therapy as well.  We will see how it goes.

We walked to pick up the boys from school.

Noah went straight to Grandma and Papa's house after school.  He had dinner with Grandma. Papa was at an event.

Evan had baseball practice.

I tutored and picked up Noah on my way home.

We at dinner outside on the porch.  I had leftovers.  Morry had a pizza.  Evan had roast beef.

Now the boys are in bed.

Kickball

Hello everyone, this is Morry.

We did Camp Gladiator after taking the boys to school.  There were no fits or problems on the way to school.

Rachel went straight from Camp Gladiator to tutor.  After that she stopped at HEB on the way home.

I worked all morning long.  At lunch time I went out and got gas and picked up a smoothie at Smoothie King.

We only picked up Noah after school.  As a fundraiser for the PTA, Evan was participating in a kickball tournament for the fifth graders.  They were able to get shaved ice too while they were there.

Rachel left to go tutor and Noah and I picked Evan up.  We stopped at Jude's on the way home and brought him home with us.

For dinner, we grilled hamburgers and ate outside on the porch.

The boys are asleep now.

Until next time...

Late night, long day

This morning we walked to school and then Morry and I went to Camp Gladiator.

I took my car to get new tires.  It took longer than I thought and Discount Tire did not have wifi as I had planned.  I brought my computer to do work.  In the same shopping center is the kid's doctor's office.  I sat outside on a bench in front of the clinic and used their wifi for the 1hr 45 minutes it took to get the new tires.

We walked to pick up the kids from school.

I was just about to leave the house and I got a text that my tutoring was canceled.  I'm glad they didn't text after I had left.

Morry took Evan to baseball practice around 4:30. It's 9:10pm now and they still aren't home.  They are on their way home.

I'm going to go ahead and give Noah dinner so that he can get to bed.

Early Morning Baseball

Hello everyone, this is Morry.

For a second straight day, Evan had an 8am baseball game.  We had to get there at 7 and in order to get there on time and get donuts, we left a little after 6am.  That meant getting up before 6.  I got up at 5:15.  I let Evan sleep until 5:40.

Evan started the game at catcher today.  He wasn't able to throw anyone out today.  He just didn't have "it" today, unfortunately.  He did crush a ball in his first at bat for a 2-RBI single.  He also played right field and first base.  He's become very valuable defensively.  Unfortunately the team lost, so our day was over early.

When we got home, Evan and I watched the Mighty Ducks.  After that, he watched Tommy Boy.

Rachel went to an even for the Pink Ribbon Cowgirls in the afternoon.

For dinner, we had leftovers.

The boys are getting ready for bed now.

Until next time...

Another Day of Sports

This morning Morry, Evan, and Reid left the house around 6am.  They stopped for donuts and had to be at the field at 7am.

Papa, Noah, and I got there for the second game.  We left before the game was over so that we could get Noah to his football game.

 Evan's team won their first game and lost the second.

I dropped off Noah and Papa at the football field to find parking.

Morry and Evan came towards the end of Noah's game.  Noah's team lost, but Noah seemed to have a good time.

We took it easy this afternoon.

We went with Papa to dinner at Dong Nai.

I made frozen yogurt yesterday and the kids had it for dessert.

Now the boys are getting ready for bed.

Evan has a game at 8am tomorrow and will have to be there at 7:15.


Here are pictures from today and yesterday.

Giant Pizza

Hello everyone, this is Morry.

It was a fairly uneventful walk to school this morning which was a good thing.  Noah was normal.  There wasn't any fighting or complaining.

I worked all morning until I met Rachel at Wholy Bagel.  Rachel ran to Wholy Bagel today.  It was a really nice day.  It was almost hot by the time Rachel arrived.

We walked to get the boys from school.  Both boys were in a good mood on the way home.

I took Noah to football practice, then I came home and picked Evan up.  We met up with Reid and his dad and Evan rode with them to baseball practice.  I came home for a bit, then I went back to pick Noah up, dropped him off at home, and then drove out to pick Evan and Reid up from practice.  Reid is staying over tonight and I'll take both of them to their games tomorrow.

For dinner, we picked up pizza from Jersey Giant Pizza.  We got a 22" pizza for Evan, Noah, Reid and me.  We got a 12" for Papa and Rachel.  It was hard to get the pizza into the car.  I tried to put it on the front passenger sit but it was too big for me to close the door.  I was going to put it in the way back, but we had baseball stuff.  I was going to try to reorganize but we were able to get it into the back set and the boys shared holding the pizza.

Evan and Reid put on the show Timeless while we ate.  Reid had never seen it.

They are in bed now.  We have to get up early in the morning.

Until next time...

Running Late

Hello everyone, this is Morry.

This morning started off very late as Noah gave us a hard time going to school.  While the kids were not late for school, it threw off our timing.  By the time we got home, we had to rush to make Camp Gladiator.  Just as we were about to leave, Aaron messaged me and needed my help with something so I didn't end up going.  Rachel went on her own, though she got there late.

After Camp Gladiator, Rachel tutored and then stopped at Costco on the way home to return/exchange our Roomba.  Unfortunately, she forgot one thing in the box so they wouldn't take it back.  They told her to just find that piece and come back in.

When we left to get the boys from school, Lizzy needed to go out and it took awhile to get her back in so we ended up being a little late to get to school.

I took Evan in to his hitting right after we got back.  Rachel left for tutoring and Noah stayed home by himself for a bit.

Rachel stopped at home on the way from tutoring she stopped back at Costco and was able to exchange the Roomba.

For dinner we had leftovers.  Papa came over and joined us.

The boys are getting ready for bed now.

Until next time...

Lots of Food

This morning it was drizzling a little bit, but we walked to school anyway.

Around noon, I went over to Mom and Dad's house to meet up with Maureen, Lanie, and David.  Maureen is in town for a few days for the girls trip with Mom, Aunt Susan, and Aunt Diane.  Lanie and David came in for the day from San Antonio.

We ate lunch at Snooze.  It was very good.

I dropped them off at Mom and Dad's house and then Mom, Maureen, Lanie and I walked to pick up the boys from school.  We had to walk back to their house to get my car.  Evan wanted to stay there until his baseball practice.  I took Noah home with me.

I tutored and got home around 5:30.

Evan and Morry got home around 7pm and then we met Mom, Dad, and Maureen at Maudie's for dinner.  The boys ate well. Evan ate a ton of tortillas.

Now the boys are supposed to be getting ready for bed, but it sounds like they are playing.

Not a Usual Tuesday

This morning we walked the kids to school and then went to Camp Gladiator.

From there, I went to tutor.

On my way home I stopped at Costco.

I picked up Noah from school around 1:15.  I made a doctor's appointment for him since he is still complaining about not feeling well.

The doctor thinks Noah might have a sinus infection so he prescribed some antibiotics.

Noah and I stopped at HEB on the way home to get a few groceries and pick up his medicine.

Morry picked up Evan from school.

Evan did not have baseball today and I didn't have to tutor.  That hardly ever happens.

For dinner, we had rotisserie chicken and rice.

I tutored a student by Facetime tonight to help her get ready for a test tomorrow.  It was not a planned session.  She needed some last minute help.

Now, everyone is in bed.

Back to it

This morning Marilyn had an early flight.  Morry took her to the airport around 6am.

We walked to school.

Morry and I went to Camp Gladiator.

It rained this afternoon so we drove to pick up the kids.

I had two students to tutor.

Evan's practice was canceled because of the rain.

I got home around 7:00 and we ate dinner.

Now the kids are getting ready for bed.

The last few days

Let's see... since Wednesday...

We had a good time with the Gordons.  They were here until Friday.

Marilyn came on Thursday.

On Thursday night, Morry, Mike, Darcy, and I went downtown.  We had dinner at Moonshine and then walked around.  It was a nice evening.

Friday, Evan, Darcy, Dora, Rebecca, and I went to Mount Bonnell.  Then, everyone met at Kerbey Lane for brunch.

Friday night we met Matt's family and ate dinner together at the Cheesecake Factory.

Yesterday, Evan had baseball team event in the afternoon.

Today, we went to Top Golf in the morning.   Then, the candy store.

We spent some time at Grandma and Papa's house in the afternoon and then we all ate dinner at Texas Roadhouse.

In a few minutes, the boys will start getting ready for bed.

Here are a few pictures from the last few days.

Passover and the Next Day

Yesterday we were busy getting the house ready for visitors and getting stuff ready for Passover.

We walked the kids to school and then walked again to pick them up.

Right after getting home Morry and Evan went to baseball.  I left to tutor.

I got home around 5:30 and then Noah and I went to Grandma and Papa's house for Passover.

Everyone starting arriving around 6pm.

The Gordon's came in from Pittsburgh and came straight to Grandma and Papa's house.

We had a nice seder with family and friends.

Today, we walked the kids to school.

I went to Camp Gladiator and then tutoring.

The Gordon's spent the day exploring Austin.

Morry and I drove to pick up the kids since it was threatening to rain.

For dinner, we met the Gordon's at Hula Hut.  Then, we walked around a little bit and hung out at the Mozarts deck.

Now, the kids are playing with Nerf guns.

Birthday Party for the Boys

Hello everyone, this is Morry.

I feel like we were moving nonstop today.  We were both getting ready for the boys' birthday party as well as getting ready for our visitors this week.

We had a set of tasks that we needed to get done.  I had to replace the filters in the refrigerator as well as the air filters.  I needed to clean my office and fix a board in the fence.  Rachel got all the drinks ready in the coolers, ran out to Sam's Club and got the pie and cookie cake and pack the car to go to the party.  We also cleaned up some as well as cooked lunch for the boys.

We got to the location for the party about 10 minutes early and unloaded the car.  It wasn't long before everyone got there.  We had somewhere between 25-30 kids.  The started out playing flag football.  I joined in towards the end of that game.  Then they played kickball.

We took an intermission and had cake and pie.

Then we went back at it for a parents vs kids dodgeball.  It was like Braveheart.  The kid army was tremendous.  The parents decided not to paint our face though.

Reid came home with us after the party and the boys had a good time.

For dinner we had some leftovers and pasta.  We also watched Lemony Snicket on Netflix.

The boys are getting ready for bed now.

Until next time...

Rainey Street

Hello everyone, this is Morry.

We stayed home most of the morning after walking the boys to school.  Neither Rachel nor I had any meetings.

Later in the morning, we went to Wholy Bagel.  We had to stop at a place to ship Evan's bat back to DeMarini.  The governing body of most of the tournaments that we play in decided to make the model of Evan's bat illegal.  Apparently, it was recently tested and failed inspection.  DeMarini will be sending us a voucher to buy a new bat worth the same amount.

Evan went to Wade's house after school, so only Noah walked home with us.

Noah had football practice this afternoon, so I dropped him off there.  Rachel picked Evan up from Wade's and went to a blog event on Rainey Street which is a street full of bars and restaurants downtown.  After Noah's practice, we met Rachel and Evan there.  We ate at a food trailer park.  Rachel, Noah and I had Thai food while Evan had a cheesesteak.

We are now home and the boys are in bed now.

Until next time...

Very Full Day

Hello everyone, this is Morry.

After walking the boys to school, Rachel and I went to Camp Gladiator and worked out.  From there, Rachel left to go tutor.  I went home and got ready for a demo I was giving.

I worked all the way to the time of the demo and then gave the demo.  After that, I showered, and left for a meeting at a client.

Rachel went from tutoring to a lunch for the Pink Ribbon Cowgirls.

After my meeting, I drove to TRPD to meet Evan there for his hitting lesson.

Rachel came home after the lunch, was home for a bit, then walked to get the boys.  As soon as they got home, they left to go up to meet me at TRPD.  Noah stayed at the facility while Rachel left to tutor some more.

For dinner we just had leftovers.

The boys are getting ready for bed soon.

Until next time...

Evan's Birthday

Today was Evan's 11th birthday.

We walked to school.

Then, I went to pick up donuts.

We had the cleaning company come to clean our house this morning.

I went back out again to Sam's Club to pick up some things for the kids' party this weekend.

Then, Morry and I went to lunch at Evan's school and passed out donuts to his friends.

We were home for a little while and then it was time to pick up the kids.  We walked to pick them up.

I left the house for tutoring around 3:30.  Morry dropped off Noah at Grandma's around 4pm and then took Evan to practice.

I picked up Noah around 5:30.

Morry and Evan got home around 7pm.

Then, we picked up Grandma and all went to eat dinner at Home Slice, Evan's choice.

When we got home, Evan at the chocolate pie Morry had made for him.

Now the kids are getting ready for bed.

Here are some pictures.

Back to it

This morning we walked to school.  Morry and I went to Camp Gladiator.

After lunch I met mom/Lynn/Grandma at Starbucks.

Morry and I walked to pick up the kids from school.

My tutoring was canceled today.

Morry took the boys to Evan's baseball lesson.  Then, they got haircuts and dinner at Chicken Express.

I had a blogger event downtown tonight.

I got home a little after 8pm.

The boys are in bed now.

Long Long Week

Hello everyone, this is Morry.

I left on Monday to go to Philadelphia for business on a 5:30am flight.  I came home on Thursday night.  Rachel had a tough week with the boys all alone.  Luckily other parents from TRPD were able to help get Evan to/from practices.  Noah did give Rachel a hard time getting to school some mornings.

I was home for 13 hours before I left again.  I picked Evan up from school around 12:30 to go to Houston for a baseball tournament.  We picked up Reid on the way down.

When we got to Houston, we went to a laser tag place. The entire team was meeting there.  While the kids played laser tag, all the parents went next door to a restaurant.  They had a nice outdoor deck and we ate outside.  It was nice spending time with the parents.

During the two games on Saturday, Evan threw out three baserunners.  He came into pitch in the second inning of the first game.  He picked off a runner easily.  Later that day, he was playing first base and the pitcher picked off a runner.  The runner took off for second and Evan threw a strike to get the runner out there.  Then Evan came in to catch and he threw out the first (and only) runner who tried to steal on him.

Noah had a football game on Saturday.  Rachel and Noah stayed for that.  The team lost, but Rachel said Noah played well.  They drove down to Houston after that.

After Rachel got to Houston, all the parents got together to decide what to do for dinner.  We decided to go to Buffalo Wild Wings.  We watched basketball and all the kids played together.  The service was difficult.  But it was nice being with the families.  From there we drove to the Kemah Boardwalk.  We drove 3 of Evan's teammates.  They had a great time in the car.  Evan and two of his friends went on the tower that drops you.  Then Evan and Noah went on the ferris wheel.

This morning, Evan's team did not do well.  Evan also did not have a particularly good game.  But when Evan was catching the other team did not try to steal on him.  He had two amazing throws to second after warming up the pitcher and the other team definitely noticed.

After the game was over, we met Rachel's friend from middle school and her boyfriend at a pizza place.  It was a nice time.

We followed each other all the way back to Austin.  For dinner we had pasta.

The boys are getting ready for bed.

Until next time...