Daddy's Girl

While the boys had a playdate with another set of twin boys in their class, I spent Daddy/daughter time with Faith.


We hit the play area in Tyson's mall and then had lunch together. We had a really nice time, and there were less than half a dozen "I want Mommy" rants ;-)

Though, this picture kinds of gives me chills. She looks so old to me here, and I want to keep her small and silly!!

Diet Status Quo - A Good Thing

It's been a year since my last post on the diet I started in May 2006. In the 7 months between May and Dec of 2006 I lost about 30 lbs. Well... what's happened since then. In that last post I speculated that I thought if I kept to my diet the weight loss would start to wane and I would reach a new equilibrium. In fact I was somewhat surprised that I was still losing weight even then. Turns out I was pretty close, and by February I had bottomed out at 196. So from my peak to my low I lost about 34 pounds.

This morning, now month 19 into my diet, when I stepped on the scale I weighed 198! Since February, I've essentially bounced right around that low of 196, probably with a mean of 198 (today's weight).

The keys as I see it are:
1 - I still weigh myself twice a day. I can't emphasize how important this is as it allows you to make quick, immediate modifications before things can get too out of hand. If I see a morning when I'm at 200, it is great motivation to have a light lunch and/or dinner that day. I think it's much easier to think short term as far as eating adjustments, as long as the overall plan is long term based (not too much weight too fast).
2 - Eliminate the snacks or if you do snack, make sure you know how many calories and look for ways to deduct them later in the day. I always try to remember that my 30 lbs drop was due to cutting 200-300 calories a day; equivalent to one candy bar.
3 - Have a balanced eating budget at the end of each day. Eat a big breakfast, eat a light lunch or skip it entirely. Light breakfast, splurge on dessert, etc.

Anyway that is my yearly update and hopefully next year I can echo this year's posting or maybe even improve it. I did notice another old suit in my closet that I tried on before going to the Kennedy Center last night. It was a bit too small in the waist. I think 5 more pounds would easily do it. It is a nice suit and all...

Breakfast And A Show

We dined first class at IHOP this morning. Reuben deviated from his normal cheese omlette and pancakes to a junior Rooty Jr. Which he polished off in its entirety.

Then in the evening, for our 10 year anniversary (which was Friday), Karen and I went to the Kennedy to see My Fair Lady. This production has received rave reviews on its US tour; last week it was in Miami. And, while I'm no threatre buff, I know that the show was excellent. I mean it was really good!!
Its also always nice to visit the Kennedy Center. From 6-7pm (our show started at 7pm), they hold free concerts in the lobby (7 days a week). Tonight a band called "Last Train Home" played. Their music sounded like a bar band, but of incredible quality with a great horn section. Sounded kind of like a Southern "Chicago". I need to look them up on iTunes.

Christmas in Long Island

We had a quick but wonderful visit to Long Island, staying with Grandma and Grandpa.

We spent Christmas eve visiting with my brother Mark, his wife Jessica, and their beautiful new baby girl Lena. What a beautiful baby! And she sleeps!!!

On Christmas, my other brother Steven, his wife Tracy, and their now seven month old Nathan came over for visit. He is a solid, great looking kid. He also seems curious about everything.

In the middle of all that we also: went bowling, played in the park, celebrated Karen's and my 10 year anniversary (a complete surprise), took the kids out for Chinese food for the first time, and as always on Christmas morning we took in a movie (Alvin And The Chipmunks - two thumbs up). Pretty busy, but fun couple of days.

Things couldn't be perfect... as we drove home on the 26th we wound up spending 3.5 hours crawling through Delaware. At one point I had to run carrying Faith from the entrance of the Delaware rest stop to the bathroom to keep her from peeing in her pants. Next time somehow we are going to avoid Delaware. Overall the trip took just over 10 hours (about 3 hours longer than our normal trek with kids). Luckily we weren't rushing home to anything so we took it in decent spirits and fortunately no one got car sick ;-)


Slide show last about 3 minutes, but I've noticed it is loading pretty slow so it may take longer. There about 25 pictures in the show.

The Joke That Rings True

Bush Acknowledges Existence Of Carbon Dioxide

Successful ABBA Dinner

Busy week here. Bunko continued for Jacob; he wound up missing the whole week of school. Meanwhile our annual ABBA family shabbot dinner was last night with about 20 families in attendance. Tuesday we shopped for food, Thursday we cooked it (Lasagna), and last night we prepped; then enjoyed services; and finally feasted on what turned out to be a delicious lasagna. We had enough food for 100 people but too bad that we only had about 70 and the kids for the most part were too afraid to try the Lasagna. We topped off dinner with a grand ice cream sundae bar, featuring sprinkles and chocolate or caramel syrup, that was a big hit. All around an excellent dinner.

A deserved break during cook-fest!!!

Unfortunately, Jacob and Karen missed it! Reuben and Faith joined me for the setup yesterday and then sat beautifully through services. They sat all together with their friend Alexa, whose sister was home since we infected her earlier in the week.

Faith and Reuben had dinner at the kids table and Reuben was one of the few kids who had a big piece of lasagna; he finished it all. All 30 or so of the kids were very well behaved and I was very proud of Reuben and Faith who were especially good considering I was in and out a bunch helping to serve and cleanup. It was really a nice time.

Bunko

It's back to bunko at the old ranch. Reuben and Jacob missed school Monday and Tuesday with the hand, foot, and mouth disease (and yes this different than hoof and mouth disease). So, out comes the old toys. The Thomas tracks and trains have been a hit and as well is this scooter they got for their last birthday.

Reuben was back to school today. Jacob is iffy for tomorrow, but maybe Friday. So far so good for Faith!

Weekend Ups and Downs

Weekend started off cold but nice, but we knew a storm was coming... So we made sure to get the kids out of the house Saturday morning. They had a good time playing in the backyard.




That evening they were calling for a wintry mix which didn't mode well for traveling to my company's holiday party. Turned out to be just a cold rain so party ON!!! It was really nice party with a good turnout and stiff drinks ;-) I am also now on my 16th year of Terry Collins led company holiday parties without winning a door prize. I was telling a coworker this at the party while at the urinal and as a good engineer immediately realized that I was a statistical anomaly. Who should walk during the statistical anomaly, but Dr. Collins. As another good engineer, he certainly was not one to pass that comment by, so after explaining the story, he deadpanned "try for 17." :-)

We had such a good time, that it couldn't go unpunished. We noticed this afternoon that Jacob and Reuben have Hand Foot Mouth Disease. So this should be a nice week or so until that runs its course :-(

Full House

 
What's two more...

Today I came home from work to find a full house, 5 under 5!!
The kids' good friends Lia and Alexa visited all afternoon. According to Mommy they played excellent together. The fact that Karen was still smiling when I walked in means it must have been an extraordinary day.

Hanukkah Wrap Up

Hanukkah wrap up. Thankfully Hanukkah is over. The kids get so excited but its hard on them (and us) because all the gift opening is right before bedtime. So they're all tired and then they don't want to go bed, and then the fighting, etc. We still have a few gifts to give out, but I think we will sprinkle them out over the next week or so.
Karen and I also went to the Caps game yesterday with friends Ken and Karen. The tickets were my company's seats, so they were pretty darn good. It was nice to be out with adults for a change ;-)
The hockey game photos were taken with my new cellphone (Samsung Sync). Not too bad for a phone.

Hanukkah Night 5

Quickie tonight. We had a pretty long day with an active morning and then I visit to James and Ginger's this afternoon. I finally had a chance to try his Wii. Its pretty cool. I read an engineering magazine on how it works, so I've been more than curious to try it out. Can't say I'm any good though after going through the Wii Sports training program and rating a Wii age of 69!!

The sports games were very funny. Playing tennis is the training sessions really felt like playing real tennis. I also bowled James' son Quinn. He was off his usually game and only beat me by a few pins. I bowled about 150; not too shabby considering there were many shots I had to alter in order to avoid hitting Faith with a virtual bowling ball (and a not so virtual Wii controller).

Anyway by the time we got home everyone was tired so it was a quick light the candles, open some gifts and off to bed.



Today we opened some very nice gifts from Grandma and Grandpa of New Mexico.





Reuben really loves his new comforter.

Hanukkah Nights 3 & 4

Its nice to be home again. I've gotten home late the past two nights and missed lighting the candles and seeing the kids before bed. So today I got home at reasonable time share Hanukkah with the kids... as well as a couple of our neighbors ;-)


Yesterday, we got about 2 inches of snow and obviously play time outside was needed. Here were Reuben and Faith playing in the snow while Jacob was at his afternoon school. Jacob had his own excitement as his bus skidded on ice and wound up in a ditch on his way home. Everyone was OK, but Jacob sat on the bus for an hour and half before Karen took matters into her own hands and went to get him.

After everyone settled down (mostly Karen as I'm told), they lit the candles and opened presents from Aunt Steph, Uncle Mitch, and cousin Levi.


The kids got some books they really liked (we read Ham and Pickles tonight) as well as Lego's for the boys and dolls for Faith. They were very excited to show me the loot early this morning.

Tonight, we gave them some games and Faith a new stroller. The stroller is off-limits to the boys as they broke the last one riding in it down the driveway!


We couldn't play the games, because they needed to be put together. I wound spending about an hour putting the Guess Who game together. What a pain!!

Hanukkah - Night Two

Quick post tonight. The kids opened Nana and Fred's gifts of washable coloring sets and really cool bathrobes. In fact when I came home (I worked late tonight) and checked on Jacob, he was asleep wearing it.

They also opened gifts from the Grandma & Grandpa of NY: magnets and their own pizza kits with an actual pizza stone to go in the oven. We'll have to try and make some pizza this weekend.

The kids went to bed very early and hopefully they will be recharged (and better behaved) tomorrow for night three.

Hanukkah Night One

Got home a little early tonight for the first night of Hanukkah. And we broke it open big!!

Reuben and Jacob got hot wheel cars and a garage set (I just finished building it, pretty complex which makes it unlikely to last long), and Faith got some dress up clothes.

Then the big gift tonight was from Uncle Mark and Aunt Jess... The Smart Cycle. All the kids were very excited to see it even though they had no idea what it was; they knew it was big and big is usually good. Anyway, they played it for awhile tonight and really like it. It may even help Faith learn to peddle a real bike.

New Visitor

On a pretty cold and dreary Sunday, the kids got haircuts early in the morning and then came home for an early rest time. 'Lo and behold Reuben and Jacob actually napped with Jacob out for about 3 hours.


During that nap, our friends Pam and Eric came over introducing their new (at least to us) daughter Talia; a real cutie.

We have not seen Pam and Eric in a long while so it was good to touch base with them and hopefully we'll get together a little more regularly from now on. Eric is an old friend from college who lives nearby in Rockville.

I wish I had a picture of Pam too, but things got hectic between the breast feeding (not photo appropriate) and the baby falling asleep (didn't want to accidentally wake her with the flash) that I never had a chance to take a picture. So you'll have to take my word for it that she looked great too;-)


After they left, our kids did some puzzles and played some other games. They were all pretty proud of their puzzle feats and asked me to take their pictures with the puzzles they put together.

Karen helped out on the USA map puzzle.


Reuben can do this construction site puzzle in his sleep!