Rutabaga, Rutabaga...

The yellow turnip is a root vegetable that originated as a cross between the cabbage and the turnip. In North-East England, yellow turnips or rutabagas are colloquially called "snadgies". Next time we play the game I'll have to remember that. Sawyer has wholeheartedly caught on to the vegetable game craze. It's entered a new generation, and is "one of the new games" referred to by Hunter in his latest version of "The Schenewark Star."

My 'Honey' Head

Jarrod dejectedly announced that he'd been gone for 1/3rd of Miller's life. It's only been 1/5th, but who's counting? He's changed a lot since January 2nd, but he's still Miller. This spring break he mastered going up and down the slide by himself, and we found the perfect one for him to practice on. It didn't take long, and then we couldn't get him off. He experienced pure toddler joy. While at the park, another mother commented that his hair looked like honey.

"The Three Little Pigs"

Cooper volunteered to be the narrator in two class mini plays. Unbelievable. He's still shy about talking to me, so I'm really happy for him. I think he knows he's the best reader in his class. Moments like this make me appreciate public schooling.

Sawyer

Unbeknownst to me, my camera is often grabbed in a sneaky fashion, and used to record things important to five year old boys. Usually it is pictures of lego creations, little brother Miller, and really important things like the inside of the dishwasher, his toe nails, and the inside of his mouth. This time it was a movie from the bottom of his gut. I'm really glad he's Sawyer.

"What Goes In, Must Come Out," or "Fast Food Nation"

We visited "Kaui Ice."
They're a local slushee/icee company that has about 50 flavors to choose from. The last picture is not for the faint of heart. Sawyer picked bubblegum. They must have squirted a cup of their food dye over his ice, as I've never seen anything like this before. It was glowing, and it happened two other times. No one else seemed to have suffered such effects.

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An early spring break walk

The boys were not happy with me for getting them out of bed to go on a hike before breakfast. Especially you know who on his hands. But by the end of the walk there were smiles all around, and a visit to the local donut shop. I wanted to walk the trail one more time before we left, and spring break was the time to get it done.

The Way to a Man's Heart...

Food is the only way to a man's heart, and I am alone with six of them. What better way to make a memory than to involve food? This is a local pizza place, Carmine's, an Italian immigrant from Brooklyn, New York. He loved the boys, gave them pizza crust in powdered sugar bites for dessert, and made us want to come back. This is a 30" pizza we did not finish.

Tastes Like Licorice or Reminds me of Wheeler

I saw these pictures and wanted to share them. They are of great white sharks feeding on baby sea lions who were trying to make their way back to the shore they had left. Looks like the sharks were having a great time.

These following pictures reminded me of Wheeler, how he would playfully jump and twist in midair trying to get a piece of rope. What if you had a shark for a pet? A thousand pounds of fun. Maybe you have to get a seal sling shot, instead of a ball sling shot to shoot it out there for sharky boy to snatch out of the air. (You could use fake seals, there are fake ducks and birds at the outdoorsmen stores for dogs).

I was also thinking you may produce a new confectionery treat. Licorice sea lions, mmmm. The makers of jelly bellies alreading produce gummy alligators, taratulas, and rats. Who wants to eat a rat? When you can have a sea lion and imagine yourself as the most fearsome creature of the sea (besides the giant squid).

There are other thoughts about these pictures. One should not stray to far from home as these little seals had done. It is also good to go in groups for your safety, this will give you a better chance to make it back home.

Here are the rest of the pictures I had. When we were near Berkeley, California I would take Tanner and we would sit underneath the Golden Gate Bridge (at Fort Point) and watch the sea lions come in from the ocean. I knew there were great whites in the area and always hoped we could see an actual feeding. I found out the best place to see great whites exhibit such behavoior is off of Capetown, South Africa near a place called seal island. I think I will put that on my list of things to see.

Seeing such pictures makes you think twice about being in the ocean in a small boat. I use to go fishing in the ocean (in California) in small boats (13-17 foot) imagine something like this come flying over your head. Puts a whole new meaning to the definition and description of flying fish.

COME FLY WITH ME

P.S. My wife did not know of this blog.

Get Out and Vote!

Due to technical difficulties, this is a little late in posting, but we thoroughly enjoyed the voting atmosphere here in Texas. Lines were apparent all day long but heaven smiled on me sneaking away from the kids to vote, and I got in and out in three minutes. I voted democratic. I felt like my vote meant more. When I came home, Porter had finished attaching our new flag to the old pole, and everyone was excited to see it fly. Sunshine Sawyer is snapping the picture, and Cooper is making sure Porter doesn't fall off my back. It was a perfect ending to the patriotic day.