This dude is cute in a puppy suit. I have to admit that, upon first glance, the testosteroney Dad in me surfaced and I longed for a Superman costume or baseball player (or a hobo, even!). Little did I know how with it Henry was in this getup.
He was the center of attention everywhere he wore this thing. He killed at school. He heard a steady stream of ooohs and aaahs as we went around the neighborhood. At the height of the evening, he was in the center of no less than 8 high school girls, showing off and hamming it up. What's a puppy say? "Ruff"
Ruff, indeed.
Halloween is once again magical, by the way. Next year should be off the hook. And for all of you wondering, Henry has found his sweet tooth that has alluded him since birth. Gaga will be so proud.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Greetings from San Diego
OK, so I've only been in San Diego for 18 hours. And I'm already at the airport, ready to go home. This trip is all business, no pleasure, but I did get some whiffs of ocean air, I didn't see any fire damage (I'm sure that's just dumb luck), and I (think I) got everything accomplished that I wanted to. So, back to Columbus!
Sitting in the Cardinal Health office, I was just finishing up my day when I got a Skype "call" from one Ms. Sarah Thornburg. Back at the Homestead, Sarah and Henry were just finishing his bath. I got to say goodnight to Henry in the middle of what was otherwise a very typical office cube jungle.
It is really spooky and awe inspiring that just being able to see my family while I converse with them really lets me be close as I'm so obviously far away.
Henry was up to all of his tricks. He likes seeing his picture as he knocks over the camera. The picture goes crazy on my side, accompanied by an infectious giggle coming through the computer speakers. Priceless. He also told me how he voted for (with) Mommy. Mommy made all of her decisions in the booth, and Henry got to hit the big "Vote" button at the end. Sarah was absolutely beaming with pride ... she's such a Government/Civics junkie, and to see her 2-year-old vote was a big moment for her. I gave her a hard time about it, but it is really cool to see Henry get excited about voting (or anything else that lets us dream about him being an informed, productive citizen). Hopefully he keeps his enthusiasm in the face of a system that can easily drain all enthusiasm and hope in the voting process and government in general.
OK ... enough grandstanding.
See you all back in Columbus! (and if you're not in Columbus, I guess I won't see you!)
Sitting in the Cardinal Health office, I was just finishing up my day when I got a Skype "call" from one Ms. Sarah Thornburg. Back at the Homestead, Sarah and Henry were just finishing his bath. I got to say goodnight to Henry in the middle of what was otherwise a very typical office cube jungle.
It is really spooky and awe inspiring that just being able to see my family while I converse with them really lets me be close as I'm so obviously far away.
Henry was up to all of his tricks. He likes seeing his picture as he knocks over the camera. The picture goes crazy on my side, accompanied by an infectious giggle coming through the computer speakers. Priceless. He also told me how he voted for (with) Mommy. Mommy made all of her decisions in the booth, and Henry got to hit the big "Vote" button at the end. Sarah was absolutely beaming with pride ... she's such a Government/Civics junkie, and to see her 2-year-old vote was a big moment for her. I gave her a hard time about it, but it is really cool to see Henry get excited about voting (or anything else that lets us dream about him being an informed, productive citizen). Hopefully he keeps his enthusiasm in the face of a system that can easily drain all enthusiasm and hope in the voting process and government in general.
OK ... enough grandstanding.
See you all back in Columbus! (and if you're not in Columbus, I guess I won't see you!)
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
The highlight of the Bucks game
My bestest friend Shannon scored tickets to the Buckeyes game last weekend, so the fam got our bus fare together and trucked down to campus.
Unfortunately, the tickets didn't quite make it with us. Which freaked us out. Especially the Shannon part of us. Shanny and I split up with Henry and Sarah, who went to hear the band play (a really cool tradition before every home game). We jumped a bus to get back home.
We checked the house. No dice. We checked his car. Nada. So we walked to the bench that Shannon was sitting on before he boarded the bus to campus. As we got there, we saw what appeared to be one piece of cardboard amongst some bus stop trash and debris. It was not one, but TWO TICKETS. They were face down, and they had been there for 45 minutes. inSANE.
So we jumped back on the bus, all smiles, and met up with la familia just as the band was finishing. As we were mulling around St. John's afterward, Dr. Woods (OSU's Director of Bands) came up to Henry and gave him his baton to direct with. He decided to twirl it instead. He said "I see ... I guess he'll be a Drum Major, not a conductor."
I think Henry just didn't want to upstage him. We have, after all, raised Henry to be a polite young man.
The game was great (we killed 'em), I had a great time with Shannon, and getting there was indeed half the ??fun??
Unfortunately, the tickets didn't quite make it with us. Which freaked us out. Especially the Shannon part of us. Shanny and I split up with Henry and Sarah, who went to hear the band play (a really cool tradition before every home game). We jumped a bus to get back home.
We checked the house. No dice. We checked his car. Nada. So we walked to the bench that Shannon was sitting on before he boarded the bus to campus. As we got there, we saw what appeared to be one piece of cardboard amongst some bus stop trash and debris. It was not one, but TWO TICKETS. They were face down, and they had been there for 45 minutes. inSANE.
So we jumped back on the bus, all smiles, and met up with la familia just as the band was finishing. As we were mulling around St. John's afterward, Dr. Woods (OSU's Director of Bands) came up to Henry and gave him his baton to direct with. He decided to twirl it instead. He said "I see ... I guess he'll be a Drum Major, not a conductor."
I think Henry just didn't want to upstage him. We have, after all, raised Henry to be a polite young man.
The game was great (we killed 'em), I had a great time with Shannon, and getting there was indeed half the ??fun??
Monday, October 15, 2007
Alright, I'm in ... Blog Action Day
Alright James, you got me thinking about this. Blog action day is about a simple concept: what if we all (I mean all the bloggers here) blogged on the same topic on the same day? What would happen. I just found out about this, so I have 47 minutes left to officially be part of the movement.
So I'll need to type fast.
How do I fit in a plea to think about and save the environment into our blog? What grand statement can I make? I am, after all, the owner of two cars with V6 engines (although both sport high-20's MPG on the highway, it's not sayin' much), a house with less-than-efficient windows, a two-year old in disposable diapers, and live in a country (proudly, I might add) that contributes more than it's fair share to global climate change.
Here are my meager contributions to the environment. I am buying local produce and goods whenever I can. I am only buying pocket fluorescent light bulbs to replace the incandescents that burn out. We're reusing food containers instead of buying disposables. And we're paying to recycle, even though it's free to just throw out anything we want (this one burns me ... how will recycling take off it costs more, in effort and $$$, than just pitching it?)
OK, so I'm not doing as much as I can. Duly noted. Maybe this post raised a bit of awareness though.
So I'll need to type fast.
How do I fit in a plea to think about and save the environment into our blog? What grand statement can I make? I am, after all, the owner of two cars with V6 engines (although both sport high-20's MPG on the highway, it's not sayin' much), a house with less-than-efficient windows, a two-year old in disposable diapers, and live in a country (proudly, I might add) that contributes more than it's fair share to global climate change.
Here are my meager contributions to the environment. I am buying local produce and goods whenever I can. I am only buying pocket fluorescent light bulbs to replace the incandescents that burn out. We're reusing food containers instead of buying disposables. And we're paying to recycle, even though it's free to just throw out anything we want (this one burns me ... how will recycling take off it costs more, in effort and $$$, than just pitching it?)
OK, so I'm not doing as much as I can. Duly noted. Maybe this post raised a bit of awareness though.
Annalia came to town!
This is just one of the ton of pictures that was snapped of Annalia's first visit to Columbus, and the first Columbus meeting of the Rayo Cousins. Annalia, Asia, and Henry all mugged for the camera the whole weekend.
Annalia is changing so fast! People tell me that Henry is, too, but it's really crazy to see Annalia once a month and realize how much I've missed in Bryan's, Sarah's and Annalia's very new life together. And how great it is to see them when we can get together again.
Asia and Henry, as usual, were thick as thieves the whole weekend. They cackled, giggled and ran (and ran and ran) through the house endlessly.
Annalia is changing so fast! People tell me that Henry is, too, but it's really crazy to see Annalia once a month and realize how much I've missed in Bryan's, Sarah's and Annalia's very new life together. And how great it is to see them when we can get together again.
Asia and Henry, as usual, were thick as thieves the whole weekend. They cackled, giggled and ran (and ran and ran) through the house endlessly.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Snoozing after the tailgate
We have been busy ... don't let our total lack of communication fool you! Henry (and Tenzin) have showed us that you're never too young to tailgate. Because of Henry's uncanny ability to always follow an "OH" with an "IO", he was invited to our friends' tailgates (before we were!). Tenzin and Henry piled into the bike trailer, and we trucked down to campus (click the picture to see some of the other pics).
They had so much fun, though, that they didn't quite make it back to the house! This is how we found them upon arriving back at home. OUT!
It was a great time. As Henry says, "Go Buckeyes!"
They had so much fun, though, that they didn't quite make it back to the house! This is how we found them upon arriving back at home. OUT!
It was a great time. As Henry says, "Go Buckeyes!"
Sunday, October 07, 2007
$220 and a big brown welcome
I just got back from Baltimore, where I had a great time hanging out with ergonomists, cognitive psychologists, and various other "-ists". I was invited to speak at the annual Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (of which I am a member) conference. I spoke on the topic of Medication Safety technology in the ICU ... sexy stuff.
I found out at the conference that I won the student paper award in the Healthcare subgroup. Since I didn't even know I entered the competition, I was both surprised and pretty excited. The exposure and the $200 check were both quite welcome.
This unexpected windfall (I'm counting it as a windfall!) came on the heels of my first paycheck as a fitness instructor at my gym. Ok, ok ... substitute fitness instructor. And the check was only $20. But it was a very cool $20.
So, I was pretty high on myself as I returned from my three days out of town. We touched down in Columbus, I got in my car, and as I was closing the garage door at home, Sarah and Henry rolled into the driveway. This cemented my transition from conquering hero to mild-mannered father. I made some dinner for the fam, and got Henry in the bath.
This is where Henry made sure that I knew the definition of humility. As the bath was winding down, I saw that he was, well, farting a lot. We started talking about how big boys go poopy in the potty, and we both agreed that the potty was the proper place to do such things. After about two minutes of this conversation, though, Henry must not have been convinced. You probably already know the punchline: more poop in the bathtub! Arrrgh!
I think that there's a parable in there somewhere. Fill in your own moral of the story.
I found out at the conference that I won the student paper award in the Healthcare subgroup. Since I didn't even know I entered the competition, I was both surprised and pretty excited. The exposure and the $200 check were both quite welcome.
This unexpected windfall (I'm counting it as a windfall!) came on the heels of my first paycheck as a fitness instructor at my gym. Ok, ok ... substitute fitness instructor. And the check was only $20. But it was a very cool $20.
So, I was pretty high on myself as I returned from my three days out of town. We touched down in Columbus, I got in my car, and as I was closing the garage door at home, Sarah and Henry rolled into the driveway. This cemented my transition from conquering hero to mild-mannered father. I made some dinner for the fam, and got Henry in the bath.
This is where Henry made sure that I knew the definition of humility. As the bath was winding down, I saw that he was, well, farting a lot. We started talking about how big boys go poopy in the potty, and we both agreed that the potty was the proper place to do such things. After about two minutes of this conversation, though, Henry must not have been convinced. You probably already know the punchline: more poop in the bathtub! Arrrgh!
I think that there's a parable in there somewhere. Fill in your own moral of the story.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
At least it wasn't poop, Bryan ...
My brother just got inducted into the club: My Baby Went to the Bathroom on Me. Check it out:
All I can say, bro, is at least it wasn't poop. Like it was for me ...
All I can say, bro, is at least it wasn't poop. Like it was for me ...
Gramma and her babies
You use your imagination about who the babies are.
Anyhoo, it was Ann Arbor time again this weekend, and this time Henry got to see Gramma Schmidt, whom his cousin Annalia was meeting for the first time (woo hoo!).
We had a great time, Sarah cooked up some great grub, and we had a life-changing experience at Ikea (have you ever been there? How do they do it?). Oh yeah, and we got back home safely.
Alas, we will not be going to see my lovely niece again this weekend (and she is lovely ... ask all of her grandparents!), so we will be scouring the blog just like everyone else to get tidbits of her loveliness.
Anyhoo, it was Ann Arbor time again this weekend, and this time Henry got to see Gramma Schmidt, whom his cousin Annalia was meeting for the first time (woo hoo!).
We had a great time, Sarah cooked up some great grub, and we had a life-changing experience at Ikea (have you ever been there? How do they do it?). Oh yeah, and we got back home safely.
Alas, we will not be going to see my lovely niece again this weekend (and she is lovely ... ask all of her grandparents!), so we will be scouring the blog just like everyone else to get tidbits of her loveliness.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Just in the nick of time
The carpet went in last night, and it is lovely! There was one problem, and that had to do with a really boneheaded mistake I had made the night before on the floor ... instead of having a nice level floor, I ended up with an unsightly mound of concrete right in the middle of my floor!
I had planned to rectify this tonight, but five minutes after I walked in the door, the power went out! There goes my night of productivity!
Luckily, the carpet made the basement a great place to camp out while we waited for the power to come back on. The rest of the house was pretty much unbearable in the near-100 degree heat.
And we got to camp out in our new basement! Which was much more enjoyable than the work I had planned to do.
I had planned to rectify this tonight, but five minutes after I walked in the door, the power went out! There goes my night of productivity!
Luckily, the carpet made the basement a great place to camp out while we waited for the power to come back on. The rest of the house was pretty much unbearable in the near-100 degree heat.
And we got to camp out in our new basement! Which was much more enjoyable than the work I had planned to do.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Annalia Kathleen Rayo!
She has arrived, she has arrived! In what is indeed Rayo Family News, Bryan and Sarah have had their child, and she is beautiful.Her name is Annalia Kathleen Rayo, and she was born on August 19th, 2007, at 10:51 in the morning (or somewheres about there). If memory serves, then she was born at 7 lbs. 6 oz and measured 19 1/2 inches (and if I'm wrong, correct me).
Bryan and Sarah are doing quite well, although they're just getting used to The Tired. You know The Tired, right? I'm just getting used to it myself.
I'll let them tell the gory details themselves. Check them out at http://littlerayo.blogspot.com/. It won't be updated for at least a couple of days ... they're not even home yet!
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Henry's Pooptacular
While Mommy has been on her Ohio Historical Society "World" Tour in Athens, Chillicothe, Marietta, and finally Columbus, Ohio, we've been keeping busy getting drywall installed the basement, going to a baseball game, and, unfortunately, working late (Henry got to skip that part and play with Gaga.
When we finally got a chance to catch up with our Rockstar Family Member and stake out our place in the moshpit (Henry likes to be up front and near the action when he's a groupie) at the Ohio Statehouse, Henry made it count. The venue was the Rotunda, seen below. (It's a virtual tour ... click and drag to see the whole thing!)
Henry stepped right up to the middle of the rotunda, looked up, and unleashed his bowels on the place. Pooptacular! The good news for us is that he, indeed, was in his diaper and there was no mess. Just memories...
We weren't so lucky this morning. Henry is trying to decide where big boys go to the bathroom. We'll let you take the quiz, too:
So Mommy drained the tub, explaining how peeing in the tub made the water "dirty". Henry seemed to understand. With brand new bath water, the bath was ready to resume. I went in the other room to do some very official parenting stuff, and wasn't out of the room 30 seconds before hearing "Daddy ... we have a problem!" Poop in the tub. I repeat, poop in the tub. We hauled him out again, got a a diaper on him, and again started explaining how poop is dirty and how big boys poop in the potty. So we asked him where big boys poop. First answer: "In the bathtub". Second answer: "In the shower". Third answer (after coaching): "In the potty."
We'll take that as a victory.
That's it for now. Thank God.
When we finally got a chance to catch up with our Rockstar Family Member and stake out our place in the moshpit (Henry likes to be up front and near the action when he's a groupie) at the Ohio Statehouse, Henry made it count. The venue was the Rotunda, seen below. (It's a virtual tour ... click and drag to see the whole thing!)
Henry stepped right up to the middle of the rotunda, looked up, and unleashed his bowels on the place. Pooptacular! The good news for us is that he, indeed, was in his diaper and there was no mess. Just memories...
We weren't so lucky this morning. Henry is trying to decide where big boys go to the bathroom. We'll let you take the quiz, too:
- In our diaper
- On the floor
- In the bathtub
- In the potty
- A, B, and C
So Mommy drained the tub, explaining how peeing in the tub made the water "dirty". Henry seemed to understand. With brand new bath water, the bath was ready to resume. I went in the other room to do some very official parenting stuff, and wasn't out of the room 30 seconds before hearing "Daddy ... we have a problem!" Poop in the tub. I repeat, poop in the tub. We hauled him out again, got a a diaper on him, and again started explaining how poop is dirty and how big boys poop in the potty. So we asked him where big boys poop. First answer: "In the bathtub". Second answer: "In the shower". Third answer (after coaching): "In the potty."
We'll take that as a victory.
That's it for now. Thank God.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
We got online!
It is with great pleasure that I inform you of the smashing success of our plans get Sarah, my wife, onto the Ohio University (OU) network, and, subsequently, onto the internet. This enabled us to have a videophone session last night. We enjoyed a very lovely conversation in which Henry told her about the baseball game we went to, showed her his boo boo, and, well, pooped his pants (which Mommy was still present to see the changing ceremony).
For those not up on this latest happening, Sarah's spending the week at OU chatting with history/anthropology/archeology types, and is just about to get her $2500 check to do some research and reporting on the project of her choice in one of those fields. Pretty cool, huh?
Anyhoo, one would think that getting Sarah onto the internet on the campus of an American University would be a snap, but to say that it was difficult is an enormous overstatement. Some of the highlights:
For those not up on this latest happening, Sarah's spending the week at OU chatting with history/anthropology/archeology types, and is just about to get her $2500 check to do some research and reporting on the project of her choice in one of those fields. Pretty cool, huh?
Anyhoo, one would think that getting Sarah onto the internet on the campus of an American University would be a snap, but to say that it was difficult is an enormous overstatement. Some of the highlights:
- At Sarah's orientation, one of her instructors made it very clear that no one was to venture on to the OU network. No way, no how.
- I called a friend of mine, a professor at OU, to hook a brother up. He was more than happy to help, but was stuck in an airport on his way back from Ecuador. Slacker. He advised to go to a coffee shop on campus. Bingo!
- Sarah went to the coffee shop. It closed at 9:00 PM. Her scheduled sessions end at 9:00 PM each night. She arrived at the coffee shop at 9:30 PM. Rats!
- I enlisted the help of some OU students that I know. She found a double-secret way to hook her up. One offered up the drive-by use of the wireless connection in her apartment! (she was in Columbus, but was pretty sure the wireless was still turned on, functioning, and available from the street).
- Sarah tested out the triple-secret method, and SUCCESS!
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Work hard play hard
We're going to try a new styley for showing pictures ... give us a shout if you are excited or morosely depressed by this.
Henry has been a real trooper about the basement. He's been pitching in with his Pat (hammer), Turner (flat head screwdriver), Felipe (Philips-head), and Stretch (tape measure).
After we're done working, he hangs out in the pool. What a life!
Henry has been a real trooper about the basement. He's been pitching in with his Pat (hammer), Turner (flat head screwdriver), Felipe (Philips-head), and Stretch (tape measure).
After we're done working, he hangs out in the pool. What a life!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
All Frickin' Day!
We've been through 3 and a half days without Mommy, and have witnessed the following:
- Daddy commenting to Mommy on the webcam that Simon (the cat) was crying "All Fricking Day" to then hear Henry start cackling "All Fricking Day" over and over and over again
- one more crushed finger, this time cracking the nail in two, at the hands of the basement renovation
- the last Amoxicillin dose from the accursed Strep Throat Incident of 2007 (that was terrible ... when babies can't sleep, it's just like being a newborn again)
- a four-hour stretch in which there was multitasking between framing walls and doing laundry
- a lot of really adorable phrases from Henry, including 'mommy airplane a ca-GA-go' and talking about the hospital that Henry and Daddy were born at (how does he remember this stuff?)
Monday, July 23, 2007
Where's Mommy?
... in Chicago (Henry's pronunciation: ca-KAH-go!). Mommy is off saving the planet in Chicago, at a conference for a week. I know, a week! Of course the toilet broke yesterday, I cut myself shaving this morning, we're out of bread, the sink was filled with dirty dishes, Henry has what might be poison ivy, he didn't go to bed until 10:30 last night and we're just getting started on Day 1!
The blogs this week may be a bit more detailed, as I chronicle for Mommy all the comings and goings on the day.
Henry went to Gaga's today to play, and will go again on Wednesday. Then it's Grammy and Grandpa on Friday. This morning, Henry asked me about a zillion times on the trip over where we were going. I turned it back on him: "Where are we going, Henry?" He'd get a big smile and say "Gaga's House!" I think he just liked to hear himself say it. We made sure to bring his "Cars" board book (he's addicted to that movie), and he carried them very matter-of-factly like a briefcase ("... and we're running a special on these wonderful children's books ... would you like to take a look?").
That's about it for now ... more later.
The blogs this week may be a bit more detailed, as I chronicle for Mommy all the comings and goings on the day.
Henry went to Gaga's today to play, and will go again on Wednesday. Then it's Grammy and Grandpa on Friday. This morning, Henry asked me about a zillion times on the trip over where we were going. I turned it back on him: "Where are we going, Henry?" He'd get a big smile and say "Gaga's House!" I think he just liked to hear himself say it. We made sure to bring his "Cars" board book (he's addicted to that movie), and he carried them very matter-of-factly like a briefcase ("... and we're running a special on these wonderful children's books ... would you like to take a look?").
That's about it for now ... more later.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Happy Fourth of July!
OK, OK, it's the 22nd of July, but I'm just trying to catch up! Sheesh!
Henry followed up his gigundous birthday bash with some well-deserved rest on the 3rd. Then we took a big breath and plunged into the Fourth! We got up early to go to Grammy and Grandpa Rayo's for UA's parade, which seemed much longer than it has in the past. It was great except that now mid-80's cars are now technically "vintage" -- but still ugly -- and they were featured more prominently than ever in the parade.
We collected Henry, Mom (Gramma), and Tom to take them back to our house and wish Gramma safe travels back to Florida. Then we were off to the Doo Dah parade! We found a great place on High St. (which we later found out was the end of the parade route) and settled in for what we thought was the 20 minute wait until the parade got to us.
An hour and a half later, still nothing. I need to remember that, of all the wonderful thing that Doo Dah is, it is not punctual.
Or reverential. We saw the dancing Fidels, the Popemobile, the Columbus Gay Color Guard, more fishnet and facepaint (think Rocky Horror) than I care to think about, and other reverie. (EDITOR'S NOTE: why is it always the folks that are "pleasantly plump" that decide to wear their lingerie out in public? Maybe it's the fattening of America that I'm witnessing ...)
We took our second quick breather, nixed our picnic plans because of a torrential downpour, then went to dinner with some friends (I know ... dinner out on the Fourth? No BBQ? Sacrilege!!!). The irony was that it was bright in Sunny as we walked into Hunan House to commemorate the birth of our country.
We booked it back home to stroller over to the Clintonville fireworks. Henry loved the "twinkles", but really didn't like the "loud loud loud." I cupped his ears throughout, and he fell asleep midway through. He didn't even blink through the finale!!!!
Then we went home and slept. And he woke up early the next morning. Drats!!!!
Henry followed up his gigundous birthday bash with some well-deserved rest on the 3rd. Then we took a big breath and plunged into the Fourth! We got up early to go to Grammy and Grandpa Rayo's for UA's parade, which seemed much longer than it has in the past. It was great except that now mid-80's cars are now technically "vintage" -- but still ugly -- and they were featured more prominently than ever in the parade.
We collected Henry, Mom (Gramma), and Tom to take them back to our house and wish Gramma safe travels back to Florida. Then we were off to the Doo Dah parade! We found a great place on High St. (which we later found out was the end of the parade route) and settled in for what we thought was the 20 minute wait until the parade got to us.
An hour and a half later, still nothing. I need to remember that, of all the wonderful thing that Doo Dah is, it is not punctual.
Or reverential. We saw the dancing Fidels, the Popemobile, the Columbus Gay Color Guard, more fishnet and facepaint (think Rocky Horror) than I care to think about, and other reverie. (EDITOR'S NOTE: why is it always the folks that are "pleasantly plump" that decide to wear their lingerie out in public? Maybe it's the fattening of America that I'm witnessing ...)
We took our second quick breather, nixed our picnic plans because of a torrential downpour, then went to dinner with some friends (I know ... dinner out on the Fourth? No BBQ? Sacrilege!!!). The irony was that it was bright in Sunny as we walked into Hunan House to commemorate the birth of our country.
We booked it back home to stroller over to the Clintonville fireworks. Henry loved the "twinkles", but really didn't like the "loud loud loud." I cupped his ears throughout, and he fell asleep midway through. He didn't even blink through the finale!!!!
Then we went home and slept. And he woke up early the next morning. Drats!!!!
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Ah, to be green!
EDITORS'S NOTE: this has nothing to do with Henry. Read accordingly.
Kermit's right ... it's not easy being green. Whether it's going without Chinese-made goods (even for a year!) or trading in your F350 for a Prius (and I know, I know ... that Prius can't haul your fifth-wheel, which I see as the only excuse to have that big truck), it's a serious sacrifice.
Uncle James (that's Thornburg, not LeBron ... sorry Henry) turned me onto a great book called WorldChanging, which turned me on to an even better blog: http://www.worldchanging.com/. He's since started a very amusing green-tech-humorous-cheesehead blog here:
http://insourceoutsource.blogspot.com/
(alright, disregard the cheesehead part)
I've also subscribed to it on this blog, so you can see his most recent over there on the right ----->
If you've read James's stuff, you know that he has a unique (and quite welcoming) sense of humor. I dig it ... check it out if you want to. And I promise, the next post WILL be about Henry.
Kermit's right ... it's not easy being green. Whether it's going without Chinese-made goods (even for a year!) or trading in your F350 for a Prius (and I know, I know ... that Prius can't haul your fifth-wheel, which I see as the only excuse to have that big truck), it's a serious sacrifice.
Uncle James (that's Thornburg, not LeBron ... sorry Henry) turned me onto a great book called WorldChanging, which turned me on to an even better blog: http://www.worldchanging.com/. He's since started a very amusing green-tech-humorous-cheesehead blog here:
http://insourceoutsource.blogspot.com/
(alright, disregard the cheesehead part)
I've also subscribed to it on this blog, so you can see his most recent over there on the right ----->
If you've read James's stuff, you know that he has a unique (and quite welcoming) sense of humor. I dig it ... check it out if you want to. And I promise, the next post WILL be about Henry.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Happy Birthday, Henry!
COLUMBUS, OH - There has been much hubbub about this anticipated event in Clintonville, OH. And then there was much procrastination in writing about it.
Here is a transcript of an interview on the day of Henry Rayo's second birthday.
Dad: So, how old are you going to be, Henry?
Henry: Two! (holding up all five fingers)
Dad: What day is today? What day do you turn two?
Henry: July second.
Dad: What do you want to do on your birthday?
Henry: Do SummerFarts (somersaults)!
We had every intention of making this birthday a smaller one (we planned for 40 last year) but once we started writing invitations, we knew that the small party was never going to happen. So we made the menu smaller: Ice Cream Social!
So it was still 40 of Henry's closest friends. We still decked out the house. But we didn't overstress our kitchen or our parents with chicken and sides for 40 ... we just bought a chest freezer and pointed everyone to the ice cream bar.
Henry practiced with Mommy all week to blow out the candles, but had a little stage fright when it came to the big moment. Asia helped.
Then Uncle Jimmy crawled in a box and fell over (see earlier post).
Fun!
Here is a transcript of an interview on the day of Henry Rayo's second birthday.
Dad: So, how old are you going to be, Henry?
Henry: Two! (holding up all five fingers)
Dad: What day is today? What day do you turn two?
Henry: July second.
Dad: What do you want to do on your birthday?
Henry: Do SummerFarts (somersaults)!
We had every intention of making this birthday a smaller one (we planned for 40 last year) but once we started writing invitations, we knew that the small party was never going to happen. So we made the menu smaller: Ice Cream Social!
So it was still 40 of Henry's closest friends. We still decked out the house. But we didn't overstress our kitchen or our parents with chicken and sides for 40 ... we just bought a chest freezer and pointed everyone to the ice cream bar.
Henry practiced with Mommy all week to blow out the candles, but had a little stage fright when it came to the big moment. Asia helped.
Then Uncle Jimmy crawled in a box and fell over (see earlier post).
Fun!
Monday, July 02, 2007
Poor Boxman!!
In true cart before horse fashion, here's a video of the end of Henry's birthday party ... we'll tell more about the actual party soon!!!
(That's uncle Jimmy in the box, and I'm the big jerk with the hippity hop ... sorry, Jim!)
(That's uncle Jimmy in the box, and I'm the big jerk with the hippity hop ... sorry, Jim!)
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