Halloween

Here are a few pics of us boys and the pumpkins we carve. When I say we carve I mean Shayla and I carve while the boys run around the garage playing with toys. It was fun none the less. Scott's came down with a rare cleft lip that caused some extra space formed between his mouth and nose. We are not experienced enough for Scott because neither of us know how to make the eyebrows and the eyes without it looking like the pumpkin just saw a pie crust, whip cream and a knife. Adam didn't really have much to say about how his turned out. The forth pumpkin must have gotten into some pumpkin schnapps because it would not stand up by itself. That one found the trash can. I wonder if you can guess which one is mine? All I know is if they lose to Penn State Saturday there will be a video of me playing Babe Ruth to the pumpkin.

Still no luck with the video camera yet. It will come.

Back in the saddle!

Just a few bullets of the activities of the past couple months.

• Opened new office (very time consuming)
• Boys started school
• Shayla teaching science to preschoolers this year.
• Scott is up to a red stripe belt in TKD
• Adam has become a little Scott in way too many ways.
• Roof leak
• Vacation to the islands (for someone other than us!)
• Got a new camera and camcorder (don't know how to put it on computer yet)
• Tommy Bowden left (fired) Clemson
• I started reading a book. I don't know who Sam is but Sam I am!
• You notice I didn't say I finished a book
• We just passed the 1 year mark from putting Farley Down
• Adam is riding a big bike with training wheels

That is just a few things. So far the new office is going very well. It took a lot of work, patience and time but it is coming together. Once I get the camcorder online I will be rolling out the new videos of the boys doing their thing. Be on the lookout because they are in rare form these days.

Adam behind the pedals

Adam has finally decided to learn how to pedal. For the longest time he would not even try. The big wheel is a hit with him. Unfortunately when we tell him a car is coming he usually jumps off the bike and runs to the side of the road, completely abandoning the bike. I guess he figures it can take care of itself. That is a better reaction than riding more to the middle of the road though!

Update on Scott: He has learned to count to 10 in Korean and is ready for the next belt. I am trying to capture on video Scott and Adam counting in Korean. If I get it I should win something because that is the cutest thing ever and the most elusive thing ever. As soon as Adam knows we are listening he clams up and just smiles. All three start school in a couple weeks. I think Adam is ready and Scott already thinks he knows it all so this year should be a breeze for him. I worry more about Shayla! Let's say she puts a LITTLE pressure on herself at times like this. She thinks she is going to learn a lot this year (about science).

Adam singing

We have a song around here that I sang to the boys when they were little to get them asleep. Lately Adam likes to sing it while pretending to sleep. Here is his version of the song (you have to listen closely).
Lyrics: Nighty night, sleep tight, go to sleep little Adam. In the morning, when you wake up, everything will be alright.

New bike

Scott sporting his new bike! He loves it. We got it a couple of weeks ago. Thanks G and Papa. Shayla and I were talking about how much the boys have changed lately. Scott is riding a bike, going underwater at the pool with no problems. Adam is talking more than just 1 or 2 words at a time, he is staying in the nursery at church and willing to be away from mommy and daddy, he is counting to 13 and loosely saying his ABC's. What a great time to be a parent. They are both going to school in 3 weeks, Shayla to. Now if we can find them a job, they can help out around here. I almost forgot, Scott tested for his yellow stripe belt on Tuesday and passed. That is one proud boy. I am prouder though! Adam is soaking a lot of it in just watching them. How fun!

WAX ON, WAX OFF

Run! That is all I can say. We have entered the martial arts field. Scott has started taking Tae Kwon Do classes. What a hoot! Have you ever seen 15 4-5 year old have a seizure all at once? I thought I did but it was Scott's first class. And the yelling, to funny. When Adam goes with us he yells back at them. Almost like he knows what they are saying. He has been going for a week now and has 2 tips on his belt. Mean anything to you? Me either, but he is close to getting a yellow stripe belt. we practice at home and the entire family is involved. The yelling is the same but now it is positive yelling. I think Adam will be a black belt before his first class. Scott's school is having a group come here from Korea to do a demo. He and I are going to go. It should be fun. If anyone has any good martial art stories, we would love to hear them. Very good Danielson!

Wheels!

My latest funny conversation with Scott: As we were eating I asked him if he could spell "Banana". After sounding it out and a little help he made it. Then I asked him if he could spell "Nana" and he said "No but I can spell Mississippi".

Well, we got the great idea to take Scott down to the field in our park and let him try to ride his bike without training wheels! We tried one other time about 1 year ago. That was not good. Anyway he wanted to try so lets see what he can do. Him and I got there, I took off the training wheels, put every piece of safety equipment on him we could (I couldn't find safety glasses that fit him) got him sitting on the bike and push....gone like the wind! My first thought was we waited too long to do this. My second thought was I didn't teach him how to stop. It didn't matter, he just rode and rode and rode. By the time Shayla and Adam got to the park, Scott was on lap three. He got so excited, I mean I got so excited, I couldn't stand it. Adam and Shayla was cheering for him and his face was priceless. He looked like someone shoved a lemon in his mouth at 100 mph. These are videos of two days later. We are headed to a little cookout at Michael and Kay's for the 4th of July. In Scott's second video listen to the sound effects of the brakes at the end. Adam wanted to get in the mix so he decided to start riding a big boy scooter. He usually just carries it around. They both have grown up a lot lately. Adam got another hair cut. This time it only sounded like we were cutting an arm off, not killing him.

As for the other pic. I am proud to see my son practicing a trade I have put a lot of effort into perfecting. Man that looks like a good day! I wonder what he was watching before he went out? Probably Barney or Boz. The bad part was he had a stinky diaper and Shayla had to change him and lay him back down without waking him. She's good, of course he didn't wake up. Well it is time for me to assume the position, let me get the remote!

BTW If you think the pics are small, you can click on them to make them bigger!