Skeletons and Spider-Men

Spooky Halloween is here!! Katie and the boys just headed out over to their friend Catherine's house on the next block to start the rounds -- I'm holding down the fort, handing out candy and taking photos of the kids that come calling.

Porter wanted to be Spider-Man again this year -- and he's wonderful at it! He knows just how to 'shoot his webs' and even decided that he didn't need a mask or makeup, just going natural in his Spidy clothes! Jackson decided he's the best, scariest skeleton there is -- Last night he went in just regular skeleton makeup and his costume, but tonight he added scary fangs and asked me to drip some blood down his lips!

They look great and I know they've been looking forward to it all day. We got up this morning and headed to church for the 9AM mass -- and when we got back, they helped me make the traditional Halloween Chili (Cowboy Chili, they call it, since they always put on their cowboy hats to make it and eat it). We killed time the rest of the day at lunch (Texadelphia) and playing around the house.

Now it's time for fun, though -- I'll hang around here, have a few beers (Pumpkin Ale of course) and treat the tricksters, then when we get the kids to bed, Katie and I will have our bowls of chili, and we'll be well into thinking about the fall and winter holidays!

Happy haunting!!

Soccer Night

I can tell it's getting dark early now -- Tonight was soccer for Jackson (and Porter), and by the time 7 PM rolled around, it was hard to see where the kids were running and kicking. Practice / make-up game started at 6:30 and how quickly the sun went down...

Big full moon tonight, or just short of it. Halloween will be nice, if it is clear. With the time change on Saturday night, it should get dark around 6, so trick-or-treating will be at a nice time.

Kids went to the Children's Museum this afternoon for the Halloween party -- Porter went as Spider-Man and Jackson was a skeleton. They brought back a nice stash of goodies in their goodie bags.

I'm off to Dallas for a few days in the morning, but I'll be back on Thursday. Lots of work between now and then, though --

Rainy Day

Rainy days always make me want to hang out around the house with the lights down, watch TV, and just veg-out. That's kinda what today is all about.

The boys got up around 7 this morning and headed to the TV for some Saturday morning cartoons while Katie worked out and I lazed around in bed. Jackson's soccer game was scheduled for 11, but by the time he was dressed and we were ready to head out the door, it was pouring down rain. Coach called at about 10:40 and said that the game was off -- we'd make it up at practice Monday night.

We did make it out to lunch at Goode Co. Taqueria, though -- during the dry spell in the middle of the day. After lunch we played games with the boys, and I took them for a walk to splash in the puddles.

Right now they're all at the Children's Museum with Carolyn, Kyle and Spencer. Carolyn is watching all the boys this evening -- why, I don't know -- but it gives Katie and I a chance to do whatever we want. It will be something low-key, whatever we do.

Other than that, I'm just hanging around jacking with the computer (I updated the photos on the site) and playing guitar. Very relaxing day -- let it rain...

Putting away the groceries

Well, I was worried about Pid last night -- he didn't eat anything all day yesterday. I knew he was congested, and said he had a tummy ache, but he's never gone all day without eating a meal. I told Katie that if he didn't feel well this morning, then we needed to get him to the doctor -- when that boy doesn't eat, something's wrong...

What a difference a day makes! I'm out of town, so I've got to take it second hand, but here's the email from Katie:

"Just wanted to say Hi and I love you. Porter made up for not eating yesterday. So far he had a hashbrown,pancake,half a hamburger,french fries,squezzie yogurt,smoothie,beans and rice chips and queso,some pear and the day is still young."

Seems like he's OK -- back to the Porter that I know and love --

Fall on the Coast

After Labor Day, things get much slower at the beach -- We spent the weekend down at the beach and the time was well-spent. I took Friday off since the kids were out of school and we headed out right after breakfast. There were hardly any people there on Friday during the day, and the beach traffic barely picked up the rest of the weekend.

The tide was way out low when we got there, and the beach was incredibly clean. I think the storm surges from TS Matthew a few weeks ago cleared everything out -- it certainly raised the dune sand level. Tide was so low that there was almost 100 yards of beach between the condos and the surf. There were even tide pools filled with hermit crabs! We spent a couple of hours playing with the hermies and hanging out on the sand-bar, looking for shells and sand-dollars.

Friday night we had a camp fire -- the boys have been asking for one lately, and I figured it was about time. We stopped at Buckees on the way down and got some firewood, just in case there wasn't much to be found on the beach. I got the fire going with help from Jackson and Porter, then they headed up for dinner. By the time they were finished, we were ready to roast marshmellows and make 'smores. Later that night, I cooked a steak and Katie a salmon fillet. Nice way to start the weekend.

Saturday was nice and clear, but a bit warmer. We spent most of the day hanging out walking the beach, looking for firewood, shells, and playing on washed-up logs. I took the boys for a drive all the way down the beach, towards Treasure Island, and we found enough wood for the evening. The drive was great -- just cruising the beach, nice and empty, waving at fishermen and people just trying to get away from it all, just like us.

That afternoon I watched the Astros game -- a win to bring the NLCS standings to Cards 2 / Astros 1. After the game, we got the fire started, but the wind made it a tough night for a campfire. Once it got started, we had enough flame and heat to do 'smores, but the wind really kicked up smoke and made it hard to just hang out.

Katie fried some chicken for us that night, which was great, along with the nice garlicy mashed potatoes and some greenbeans. The boys even stopped watching their movie to catch some fireworks being shot off over by the bay.

Today, we got up and Porter had a cold -- he had a hard time sleeping, and I kept getting up to give him medicine, prop him on his pillow and try to comfort him. We took a ride down to the fishing pier (they've really done a good job rebuilding -- more to go, though) and looked for sand-dollars. When we got back, it was clear that Pid was about done; we ate lunch, then packed up. Both boys were asleep by the time we were to Surfside.

Now Katie's making some crab cakes with some crab we had stashed at the beach. I'm already packed and ready to head out in the morning -- not really ready, but packed. We won't be able to head to the beach probably until Thanksgiving. Lots of stuff the weekends between now and then.

I love fall at the beach, especially with my family.

Mmmm, Meatloaf

Back home from the road, and what do I smell when I hit the door? Warm meatloaf, simmering green beans / mushrooms, and fresh cornbread! Very much a treat -- Seems Katie and the boys worked as a team on it. And I'm not the only one that loved it -- Jackson's a fan, too! Porter seemed very tired tonight, and Katie says he didn't really want to eat early, but right before bed, he dug into a nice plate of dinner. Seemed to fit his taste just fine, too --

I read the boys The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss this evening, and it is so appropriate in so many ways right now. Election time, Iraq, project issues. Great book. It's a library book, but I think it's one I'm going to buy for the house. I may even get one of my own to keep on my desk... Puts things in perspective.

And speaking of perspective, nothing brings it all home regarding what's important than sitting down with Katie for a plate of great food, reading some books that the boys picked out to them, hugging and kissing good-night, and checking in on them once they're good and asleep.

Today was a good day.

Lemons or Lemonade

Lemonade for the boys!! Jackson decided that he wanted to set up a lemonade stand today. So he, Porter and Kaite made lemonade and set up a stand during drive-time this evening. The boys' first taste of business! All told, it was 2 batches of lemonade and revenue of $10, cold-hard cash. Jackson said that he wants to buy candy with it; and comic books; and maybe some pizza.

I missed it. I'm in Dallas at work. Lemons for Dad.

Fun Fest Weekend

If it's the first week in October, it must be Family Fun Fest Weekend at St. Vincent -- and we did it all! Friday night was the perfect start to the weekend. I declared it Family Date Night, and we all went to the taqueria for dinner. The boys got their usual (Porter: taco, rice/beans; Jackson: enchilada, rice/beans) and we all shared yummy queso and chips. Katie and I got the parlliada tapitita (mixed grill of beef/chix fajitas, sausage, grilled shrimp, quail, queso fresco, onions, quac -- tons of food) and I had a couple of very nice margaritas. We all needed a good night out. By the time dinner was over, though, we were all a bit exhausted. Jackson laid his head down on my lap while I finished my last fajita, and I knew it was time to take the boys outside while Katie wrapped up.

Saturday we hung out around the house for most of the day until our nephew Kyle came to visit for the night. Tim and Christina had a party to go to, so we let him spend the night with the boys. Saturday night was bingo night at church, and we all loaded up the truck for a little numbers action. Katie and the kids spent most of the time running around outside and playing on the playground, though. I probably should have done the same, since I didn't win any games. But it was fun just keeping up. Saturday night after we got home, we let the kids stay up late, and finally got them in bed around 9:30. Porter, of course, couldn't get to sleep, so he was up a bit later. I spent the rest of the evening polishing off some Sam Adams Oktoberfest and watching Sat.Night Live -- season premiere. Given the fact that the debates were this week, there was ample jokes -- good ones all around!

Today the kids got up way too early (about 6, then finally out of the room at 7). Katie took them to breakfast and to the park so I could sleep. Kyle went home about 10:30, and Katie went to help set up the Festival games at 11:30. She worked a double shift at the 'duck pond' game, and we got there about 12:15. By the time we hit the festival, things were in full swing! It was a hot day overall, but we did all the games, the jumpers, the cake walk, and did it all again. I had a bbq sandwich from the K of C booth, which hit the spot.

Around 2:30, I was hot and tired, so Katie let me call it an afternoon -- I came home to watch the rest of the Astros win (clinching the wild card spot). I think this is the year they go to the World Series. I just have a feeling...

This evening, we played with the boys, Katie made shrimp creole, I packed for the week in Dallas, and after the boys went to bed, Katie and I watched Starskey and Hutch -- great light-hearted movie. Now it's time to get some rest so I can get up way too early and head to Big D. I think I'm going to make it a short week this week. I'm getting a little breathing room in terms of not having to directly deal with the client's developers/contract staff any more, so I ought to be able to ratchet back a bit. We'll see. All I know is that every time I head out, I know I'm going to miss my boys and wife dearly --