Noviembre 2006 Archives

Every occasional Saturday or Sunday we play ultimate frisbee at Brainerd High school. Many on Chattablogs or Medium come (or know and intentionally don't come). Miriam Wolfharth asked me if we could play last Saturday since her sister was in town - and she is a big ultimate player.

Well with lots of travel and not much phone calling, only 8 folks showed up, and one was Antonio. The Foster boys and Caleb Mask challenged us to a throw down, and they ran the rest of us off the field. (Through no fault of Miriam's sister and her brother who were very good). When I wasn't failing miserably catching up to Cory Foster, I had a great time watching Antonio. At 6 he had a great day running up and down the field, getting the disc when he could, throwing it as hard as possible and trying to fake out whoever was in front of him.

My boy's catching skills are coming, but his throw is long and hard. Miriam's brother said. "Man your throw is 20 years ahead of where I was at your age" When he got the disc, he would see the options. Maybe Miriam would be relatively close by and I'd be a distance further off. He would hesitate back and forth, back and forth until he flung it with all he had. It was better when he threw long, because his short shots were really hard!

I think we'll throw some more in the yard. Does anyone know of a junior ultimate league? Good times.

I'm liveblogging the kitchen table this morning with my kids. Its Thanksgiving and so I want to write about they are thankful for. So here goes..
Elena - I'm thankful for my family
Antonio - I'm thankful for you (he's talking about me)
Elena - I'm thankful for my silly sister
Antonio - My cousins
Liliana - I'm thankful that you got me my Rolfy (her new stuffed puppy)
Elena - I'm thankful for friends
Antonio - I thankful for the trees that I can climb
Liliana - I'm thankful that our friends Kevin and Nathan came over yesterday.
Elena - I'm thankful that we have a warm house
Antonio - I'm thankful that we get to go to the Haynes' house for Thanskgiving dinnner.
Liliana - I'm thankful that Mommy loves me.
Elena - I'm thankful that Papi reads to me (we just finished The Siver Chair last night)
Antonio - I'm thankful that we get to have a fire.
Liliana- I want to say one more thing. Papi loves me...

And thats the end of the thankful blogging. See you next time...

Friday night I took the long way home to celebrate the odometer on the bike turning 1000 miles. I guess thats the first the blog has heard of this year's bike. That's what happens when you leave for almost a year...

Anyway - enlcosed is the proof!

Love the fall riding!



Chattanooga sunsets from missionary ridge.



Big smiles after flying down the other side!

Last night John Schmiph and Mary Catherine Drexler made their entry into the country of marriage and the Hatch family attended. While the wedding rightly is focussed on bride and groom, I remember each of my kids in at least one wonderful way.

Before the wedding Elena needed to go to the restroom. I waited for her in the front hall with Pastor Randy and the groomsmen. When Elena came out of the bathroom Randy asked me, "Who is this beautiful young lady? Is she the Bride?" Elena blushed and I couldn't think of exactly what to say. But later I told her that she would be walking down that aisle all too soon, and that on that day I would cry. She did look beautiful.

All the kids enjoyed the dancing at the reception (as did I). We're not a dancing family, so it is always bit curious to see our kids interpret the art of social movement. Antonio reveled in a mixture of good moves, karate kicks and breakdance floor action. I don't know where he has seen breakdance moves and he hasn't been to one karate lesson - but it seemed every time I looked out to find him, he was either kicking at his friend Oak Gast or spinning on the floor.

In a moment of quiet reflection on the ride home I asked the family what song they would like to dance to at thier weddings. Liliana piped right up and said with all confidence. "The Chicken Dance!"

A few weeks ago Antonio and Lili were getting ready for bed on a Saturday night. Antonio turned out the light and grabbed a small reading light and started swining it around and poking it in Lili's face. I said - "wait right there" and grabbed the camera.

I sat on the bed keeping the camera as still as I could while I pushed the trigger. As long as I could hear that the trigger was open I told the kids to run around witih the light. Some of the pictures were just a big blur. But Some came out really cool.

On this one Lili put on her sequined tutu and Antoinio ran all over the place with that light pen...

You might even say spectral....

I was talking to my daughter Elena last night when she said "Papi, why don't you write about us anymore? I really want you to start writing about us again."

So I'm going back to the blog.

I also read this great blog entry on maximizing creativity which encouraged all to try writing words at least once a week.

So I'm going back to the blog.

I don't know how often, or what the topical interest around this blog will become, but I'll be back - writing here.

See you soon.