The King

I don't really have a good caption for this one other than I wanted to post one shot of Ty in his birthday crown from the party.

We are Here to Pump You Up!

How much fun can you have with a handful of kids who get a whole room full of giant inflatable play toys? Lots! And that is how Ty spent his birthday party this year with a bunch of family and school friends. Dad got in on the action too jumping and crawling around (it can be tiring). Luckily there were no injuries and everyone had a blast. Ty is already planning his next few birthday parties. It's funny that small children have no concept of time.


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Now playing: Bebel Gilberto - Um Segundo
via FoxyTunes

Flaming Head

When I grew up there seemed to be less regard for safety. Helmets for bikes? Nah, not even if it was a motorcycle. If we crashed, we got banged up and picked ourselves right up again and rode home to get some peroxide and band aids. Or rode on the handlebars of one of our friend's bikes if ours got bent out of shape.

There's a great bit by a comedian I once heard on XM Comedy talking about how kids today maybe too "soft" because we over-protect them every time they go out of the house for some sort of activity. I used to laugh at that bit BEFORE I was a Dad. Now I am making sure those lap belts are secure in the car seat and his bike helmet (which has cool flames on it) is securely on his head before he pedals anywhere.

Ride the Dillo

Austin is so hip now. We managed to survive all of these years with cool local stores like Waterloo Records and Book People, but apparently the masses (really the new transplants) cried out for the stores they left behind in Chicago, LA and NYC. The answer from Simon (the largest mall and shopping developer in the country) was The Domain. So yes we have a Tiffany's, Barney's and a Neiman's now. I feel so complete. But when did this blog become a social commentary? I have no idea.

Here's Ty climbing on top of one of the armadillos at a children's play area inside The Domain.

Soft Corinthian Leather

Taking a short break during shopping with the grandparents. Ty and I camped out on the comfy chairs at the Ralph Lauren store.

Funny thing is when I decided to come up with the clever title of this post I Googled that phrase. Some of us remember when a certain actor ("Welcome to my Island") used this in a commercial. Turns out there is some very interesting facts behind the truth. Click here to read the article on Wikipedia.

True Happiness

We had lunch at Fuddruckers today following our morning T-Ball game (Ty played 3rd base and got an out!) With his kids meal of a hot dog, fries and a vanilla milkshake he also gets a cookie. We took the sugar cookie to go and he ate it while sitting in his car seat in the back. Here is what he said to me at 1:12pm today while enjoying that cookie:

"Daddy. You make me get happy"

Read to Me, Gram

A little grandson bonding session at the local Border's bookstore. Gram read from a Dora the Explorer book to Ty. Dad watched and tried to remember what that was like oh some 30+ years ago.


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Now playing: Steve Winwood - Back In The High Life
via FoxyTunes

New Bike!

Ty has a new bike. By the way think of this blog like live television. On TV there is about a 7 second delay, well my blog sometimes has a week or two delay. Ty's birthday was really back on 9/26 and my folks came up that weekend. Here's G-Pop standing with Ty just outside the bike shop where we picked out the bike. It was so much fun watching him ride the various bikes around the store. He seemed to have no problem making that transition from a tricycle to this bike with training wheels. I will post some more pictures from riding around the neighborhood which features his cool helmet as well.



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Now playing: Simon & Garfunkel - Still Crazy After All These Years
via FoxyTunes

He "Chutes", He Scores

One of the things I love about Ty as he gets older is our ability to interact more all the time. It used to be conversations were one sided or playtime was me watching him, or vice versa. Now we can actually play board games. One of the two games he has recently acquired is the classic Chutes and Ladders (our collection can be seen behind him if you enlarge the photo). He loves to spin the wheel and he's also great at counting. As long as I don't win somehow, he's happy. (How long do Dad's have to let their kids win at stuff?)


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Now playing: Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
via FoxyTunes

Hit & Run

Ty's batting average is currently 1.000. He has scored 2 runs in every game and has a few RBI's as well. If he keeps this up, he will be headed to the TBall HOF (if they have one?)


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Now playing: Joss Stone - L-O-V-E
via FoxyTunes

Everything you'll say to your child in 24hrs

Slight diversion. Came across this today on the net. Very funny for all of us parents.

The lady behind this is Anita Renfroe. Here's a link to her site.

Hope you enjoy

Listen to the Coach

Before the game the kids get a pep talk from the coach. This usually entails the instructions of remember to be "baseball ready" out in the field and watch for coach's instructions on where to throw the ball. How about "just have fun"?


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Now playing: Chris Isaak - Forever Blue
via FoxyTunes

Ty is 4 and Here's The Proof

This is the number they gave him on his shirt. Wasn't planned just worked out kinda great.

Other famous athletes who also wore #4 (but were not also age 4 at the time):

Lou Gehrig
Bobby Orr
Brett Favre

And interesting facts about the number can be found here on Wikipedia.


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Now playing: Billy Squier - In The Dark
via FoxyTunes