Training Wheels

 

How cool is this?  Jaden’s movie poster where he got the credit as the director of photography.  They are submitting it to film festivals, but regardless of how much recognition they get for it, it was fun to watch and I was really impressed with his work.

Jaden's First Band Concert



Jaden is dressed up WITH someplace to go :)



Really enjoyed tonight as Jaden was in both Chorus and Band performances for the first time in middle school.  He has done very well with his saxophone despite not ever practicing at home.  He definitely seems to have a natural ability that we will try to encourage.  Ultimately, if he enjoys it, I am sure he will start to practice at home too.

Here is one of the pieces that the band played.  I think they did a very nice job.  A vast majority of the kids had never played an instrument before the beginning of the year...so, this is their first concert. 

And this is one of the songs that the chorus performed.  Jaden is tough to see in the video, but if you zoom in just to the right of the director on the second row, you will be able to see him.

Jaden's Room

We spent a bunch of time re-doing Jaden's room last week.  We got a whole bunch of stuff out of the closet that had been leftover from it being my office and made it organized so that he could use it effectively.  I think it really looks great now.  The real question is will it stay like this for very long ;) ?

Busy Week

So, another busy week and weekend.  I am worn out.  We got to ring out (I hope) winter with a 2nd and final sled run at our friend's house...check out it below:  The lighting wasn't great due to lights going out...but it at least gives a glimpse :)

I probably should have cut this down, but oh well...there is another one I will post to FaceBook or to YouTube that gives a little better idea of how long the track was.

Of course, we also had basketball this week and I am posting some of that video on YouTube as well...so, you all can check out Jaden and Jacob there.

On to next week, Kristen's test at school, work, more Men's Ministry stuff at the church and all the other things a week brings.

Watch what you say

So Joy suggested yesterday morning that I stream Jaden's basketball game over the web so that they could watch it. I used www.qik.com to do it, though my phone was not one of the options on the website. So, I kept downloading versions until one worked....kind of...and I was able to start streaming. Well, what I didn't realizes was that it captures audio as well as the video...so, throughout the time I am streaming, I am talking with a friend, yelling encouragement and so on...
Well, I had set up Kristen's computer to watch as well...and she was, when I happened to comment to my friend that Kristen had been taking a nap right before I left for basketball.
Immediately I get a phone call and Kristen says..."Excuse me? Why are you talking about my napping?"!
Yikes!
Totally started laughing, though the guys around me said I should turn it off...making sure nothing else was capture for posterity :)
I was busted, but it was a minor infraction. You really should know technology before you use it...

Jaden's Soccer

Initially, we were not thinking of putting Jaden in soccer this fall since we were going to try to find a piano teacher and let him do that. We haven't succeeded in finding a piano teacher at a price we are willing to pay, so at the last second, Kristen got him into soccer. As it is on Saturday's and Tuesday nights, it is all Dad, all the time...as it conflicts with Mom's class or Mom's time to study :)

Here are a couple of photos from Jaden's game on Saturday...he even got to play goalie for awhile (when he was in the yellow jersey).

Goal Kick and Jaden sends it down the field!

The boys lounging in the sun while Jaden plays his game...they did not sit for very long, so I am glad I got the shot when I did...

Jaden warming up for the game...he also ran a lap around the field like he does at school. He is so much like his dad. He takes the game and the practice very seriously :)

Jaden, the Paul Bunyan of our family

Jaden had an interesting week of school this week. Each day was a theme and we rushed around each day to try to fulfill his ability to participate in the theme...
Thursday was Fairy Tale day. As we scrambled to figure out something other than a standard "prince", we thought that he could be Paul Bunyan...
Kristen will post the pictures, but...boy did we have fun trying to get that done real quickly that morning :)
I think it turned out well, but the ax was an interesting challenge...I did not really think about the whole "weapons in school" angle and went about using a bat as the handle of the ax. Kristen quickly discouraged that idea... :)
well, I was able to change it over to a construction paper handle and I really think that it did turn out well.
I think God gave me Kristen specifically for us to balance each other out that way...I was able to make the ax, she was able to keep me in line, and meanwhile, she made Jaden into one awesome looking lumberjack :)

Devotionals with the boys

I was watching YouTube clips...which I think is just kind of interesting all by itself...but, one of the things that a pastor talked about was that his daughter was 10 months old and he said "she wins....I get home for dinner....that is a year that if I wasn't there...I don't get it back, she wins....I can find another church, I can't find another wife or daughter." This was quoted paraphrase, but anyway, do my kids "WIN"? I hope so. I know that I have, at times, been a workaholic...driven to success...and I say I want it, for my kids...I certainly want to provide, but, is that just an excuse? I have to be honest and say that it is not always...for my kids...they want me to play...Kristen wants me to go on walks...I am not always thinking about them. Now, I have to do the work, keep my job and give to Caesar what is Caesar's...but, what about the rest? I don't want to look back on Jaden, Jacob and Jude's childhood and say...I can't get that back. I wish I would have....
I don't want to look back on my marriage and say, "I wish I would have...."
And to that end, it has been really neat to spend time with the boys in devotionals over the last week. Kristen and I bought the boys their own devotionals that we are doing with them at night on our date night. The boys have done incredibly well! They are attentive and insightful and it really is enjoyable to spend those precious minutes with them in study and in prayer.
I know that I will hold on to these times and hopefully, I will remember that I don't get these times back and therefore allot my time and energy appropriately.

A Cold Easter Egg Hunt

The boys and I went to an Easter Egg hunt put on by a friend's church today. IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE...but, we had a good time anyway. It was really nice to see our boys exhibiting some great behaviors today as well.
The result of the egg hunt was that a bunch of older children that started out very quickly had way too many eggs and my boys and their friends were left scavenging...and with not too much luck. Jaden had maybe 8, Jacob got 3, and their friends were around 3 I think as well. Jaden decided to split his up with everyone else so that they each had a couple more and then all of them gave up some of their total take to another person who said that they got no eggs. It was really neat to watch them be selfless and share like that :)
I love my boys and it makes me especially proud in those moments where I see their wonderful character shine through.

Kristen Birthday - 2

Just wanted to add a few little notes about the rest of the day.
- I took the day off and spent it with my wife...that was great
- She got to take a nap :)
- We went to dinner to the Olive Garden, which she loves
- We ate WAY TOO MUCH
- They sang to her :)
- The boys sang several times
- The desserts were awesome

- This is a good looking group of people:

Superbowl Excitement

A quick picture of the boys on SuperBowl Sunday. They were so excited to get to stay up late and watch the SuperBowl and especially the SuperBowl commercials that were going to be 3D. As you can see...they were more than ready.

Jaden and Basketball

I am enjoying watching Jaden play basketball again this year. With the weather as it is here in New England, basketball is not as enjoyable outdoors for as much of the year as it was for me...so, while Jaden and I have not yet spent as much time on the court yet...ergo no promotional videos on YouTube or Vimeo...yet :) ... he is having a good time and I think he is picking it up quite quickly. Here are a couple pictures from two weeks ago at practice.

My Birthday

Yes, happy birthday to me.
My family called and gave me cards and brownies, my wife and kids gave me gifts (I will post pictures soon), and I enjoyed a couple hours with my boys reading, playing and hanging out. It was a good day :)

Odds and ends

A few updates:

Jaden's school is having a couple half days as we have hit parent teacher conference time...we are excited to talk with the teacher and hear her comments on how Jaden is doing. For his part, he is excited to be home earlier and hopes this will let him watch a little more TV

Jacob is still doing his school as well. He seems to do pretty well socially, we think...but he also has some time before he will be moving on to kindergarten anyway. He is quite the complex character as we are learning to deal with a child that likes to go from one extreme emotion to the other in a blink of an eye. He is keeping us on our toes.

Jude is crawling and getting close to walking. I know I need to post more pictures and do some new videos, so hopefully I will do that soon. He is getting very big and is very close to being turned around in the car. I know that he is very excited about that, since Kristen gave him a test ride this week.

Kristen has an A going in her class through the mid-point and is very excited. It is well deserved as she has worked hard thus far...time to bring it on home, babe :)

More to follow....

Jaden's Soccer

Jaden has been playing soccer every Saturday for a little over a month already and is enjoying it tremendously. He gets very animated for goals, regardless of who on his team scores them and already is pretty competitive...I have NO IDEA where he gets it from :)

Here are some pictures from a couple of the last Saturdays...yes, you can see that it is already starting to get a little chilly out here in the last picture. Their practice time starts at 8:30 so it is usually a bit brisk as things get going...which means long sleeves and sweatpants are becoming the standard uniform.

Good looking couple

This is a good looking couple:

These picture was taken this weekend while we were at the local fire department for their annual open house. The kids get to ride on the firetruck, have some treats and climb into and around the other trucks. Always fun to see them get so excited.

Jaden's first long bike ride

Taken on Saturday, at the park...He was VERY excited.

Quiet House

Jaden is spending the evening at his Aunt's house tonight and Jacob and Jude are sleeping....makes for a very quiet house which is nice. Kristen and I got to enjoy a movie together and then off to bed. Crazy thing is...it was really weird not putting Jaden to bed or dealing with him and Jacob together for bedtime. Yes, we are protective parents...and Jaden has only slept away from us a couple of times...in his life...so, I suppose this is still a learning curve for us to adapt to. I hope that he is enjoying his time with his cousins and pray for Kristen to be able to sleep tonight :)

Prayer with Jaden

I have wanted to post this for awhile and just hadn't gotten to it. This is more just for me to remember and have record of it...
When you think of prayer you tend to think of being on your knees, or having your hands clasped head bowed down, etc. I don't know exactly how Jaden decided to do this, but as we have had our prayer time at night, he stopped holding my hands and started grabbing me in basically a hug as we prayed. There is something especially awesome about praying and hugging at the same time and I have him to thank for it. It is a neat thing that I love and will always remember.

busy, busy, busy

Been so busy lately that I have not blogged at all. Not good for me, as my memory only lasts a day or tweo anymore...
So, anything I should update everyone on...? Jacob was diagnosed with chickenpox, again yesterday at the doctors...now we have to wait it out to see if they are right or not.
Jaden is in class today for his last day of Kindergarten!
Dad, Linda, Jasmine and Elizabeth went to New York and wandered around like tourists for two days. They had a great time and came back to our house with sore feet.
I have started a New Testament reading challenge with my Friday morning men's group...we will be reading the New Testament over the next 90 days. And yes, I am already behind.