Happy Holidays!

I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas this year! We had a great time, and Santa brought some great toys this year. Londyn asked Santa for a boom box with a microphone, and Cal asked for a train. Mommy and Daddy asked for a new dresser and a plasma TV! All in all it was a success. Here are a few pictures to highlight the fun we had!

My Boy

Cal celebrated his one year hearing anniversary on the 5th of October. I cannot even begin to express how incredible this journey has been. Cal was born profoundly deaf – which means he heard nothing, notta, zip, zero. Two years ago we were told that our tiny little boy lived in complete and utter silence. So it was no small miracle, that on October the 5th of 2009; for the first time in his life, Cal could hear. For the first time in his little life he heard the voice of his mommy, and the sound of his big sister singing at the top of her lungs. He heard the mingling of laughter as his daddy tickled his ribs. A little boy whose world was absolute silence, could hear. So ended our journey…or so we thought.

As life has often taught me, the end of a journey is only the beginning of another. The last 365 days has been a blur of speech therapy, audiologists, doctors and homework. And slowly the little boy that could hear his mommy's voice for the first time, now cries out the word mommy. A little boy who could hear the screeching song of his big sister, now screeches right along with her. And now, one year later, our deaf little boy stumbles his chub around the house screaming out “Londyn, where are you!” whenever his adored sister is not in sight. As we walk through the refrigerated aisle at the grocery store he stops and whispers, “BRRRR it’s cold”. During his bedtime routine he lets you know, clear as day, that “I brush teeth” and “I read books!”

We are so proud of our little man. Happy anniversary buddy, I can’t wait to see what this next year brings.

Destin, FL

If I retire somewhere, I think it may be down in Destin, FL. Flour white sand, crystal clear water, great restaurants and as far as I know - not a flake of snow all year round. Yes sir, I could definitely see Brynn and I gathering seashells on the shores of Destin in our Depends.

The trip was incredible. Even with a few minor set backs (record heat and algae beaches) we still had a great time. Even Cal on the plane (the thought alone gave me night sweats and shortness of breathe) did relatively well at 30,000 ft. Londyn loved playing with her cousins and Brynn even got herself an 8th grade Raging Waters Summer Pass Tan. A rare feat for for a mother of 2.

All in all. A good vacation with even better people.

Our Quiet Summer

Yeah, yeah it’s been a while. Figure I’d give the quick Summer update. Londyn finished up dance and got a ridiculous trophy for being “Dancer of the Year”. Brynn pretended not to care, but she was beaming. I had to spend a week in St. Thomas for work, so Brynn volunteered to come along. We got stuck in Chicago for a few days, so we hit up a Cubbies game to make the best of it. Finally made it to St. Thomas where it was beautiful. If you ever have the chance to make it to St. John’s Island - GO! Best beaches in the world. (At least that I have seen.) Spent the 4th of July in Park City with our little family and are considering making into a tradition. Between all that we have managed camping and I’m not sure, but Brynn may have moved down to St George with her sister at some point. (Every free weekend she finds her way down there.)

Other than that we haven’t done a thing.

Londyn turned 4 years old!

Londyn (of course) wanted a Disney Princess Party. It was a lovely day; so lovely we decided to have her party in the backyard. We put up tables and chairs and decorated the backyard with ribbon and balloons. Cinderella herself couldn’t have been more proud. Brynn even bought Londyn a huge Princess Castle balloon that she was thrilled about. The whole family was over: cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. We were set for a glorious evening. Just as everyone was settling in the incident occurred.

The boys were running around the back yard when Londyn's cousin ran by the balloons and couldn’t help but give them a little smack as he ran by. The balloons seemed to weather the assault except for one single balloon that dislodged itself from its string. 25 people watched in horror as the beloved big castle balloon slowly drifted away. Complete silence filled the backyard as the castle floated further and further into the earth’s atmosphere. The eerie silence was finally broken by a scream of a newly minted 4-year-old little girl. Londyn was devastated. It literally took me 15 minutes to stifle the sobs coming from her little body. The rest of the night was perfect. Presents to piñata, all had a great time – but looming in the northeast quadrant of the sky a little black dot with a drawbridge seemed to be mocking us from on high.

Happy Birthday Lou!

Trying to keep up with these 2...

It's Grow Time...

Alright Gents,

Entering it's 4th consecutive year, the time is upon us. As what started as a stiff breeze of male has turned into a full-force man-soon! I foresee a torrential downpour of testosterone and hair reigning upon our manly faces.

I speak of the one and only Cinco de Mustache.

The rules are simple:

1. Growing season begins April 1st.
2. Your face is your canvas; you do with it what you wish. Whether it be a beard, a goatee or the pure mustache. You grow until May 5, Cinco de Mustache.
3. On Cinco de Mustache, for the entire day, you must wear some form of mustache: the Handlebar, the Molester, the Moustachio (affectionately known as the Selleck), the Pornstache, the Walrus. It is your nose undergrowth, you decide. But for one day, May 5, you wear a mustache.
4. And remember, a mustache is an island. By connecting, you only cheat yourself.

The time is now! Relish your flavor savor. Conquer your mouth brow. Let your lip-mane ride free. Feed your face manimal.

It’s time to shed the shackles of the naked upper lip and tell the world “I am Man”. Put on your magnificent lip warmer friend, and join Cinco de Mustache!

Toss the razors and damn the wives. This is our DESTINY!

Good luck friends. Growing season starts Thursday.



A trip down man-mory lane - Cinco de Mustache 2009

Bye Bye Dude

Quick Cal Update...

The little fat man finally figured it out. After 14 months of immobility and 5 months of raw knees, he finally is up and waddling around on his own two feet. He cracks me up when he walks. It’s like watching a balloon animal wobble around the house. Besides walking he is also talking. It’s only been 5-months since we activated his cochlear implant and he is already saying about 10 words. It has been really fun to watch him learn to use his voice.

Walking and talking. The little dude is growing up…

Work-ation

Took a little trip to Florida for work. And for those that say “Lucky, you got to go to Florida! I spent exactly 40 minutes outside of the hotel over the span 4 days. It was grueling and I am exhausted. So no. Not lucky me.

But there were some bright spots. I did get to drive an Audi R8. And for those that don’t know what that is; open another browser. No seriously, stop reading this and Google Audi R8 – I’ll wait...

How sexy is that car? Anyway, neither here nor there.

The one thing I do love about traveling though is the music. I don’t know what people did before ipods, but I pity them. What is better than cruising at 35,000 ft. rediscovering some lost gems in a random playlist somewhere. Do you remember how good Lightening Crashes (Live) is? What about some old Tom Petty? I don’t think I’ll ever reach enlightenment, but if I do it will be listening to the Eels at 6 ½ miles above the surface of the earth.

STEVE RECOMMENDS: Artists perfect for when you are at cruising speed: Anything by the Eels, Weepies, and for good measure throw in a classic like the Garden State soundtrack. You won’t be disappointed.

…and Delta? For hells sake just throw the baggage fee on my ticket price. This is getting ridiculous.

A Rather Belated Christmas...

Londyn - Christmas morning

Cal & Lou - Christmas Day

Steve & Beav - still going strong

Cal climbing...as usual

These will be the good ol' days.