I remember the first year Danny was around. I did not enjoy it. He was cute and whatever, but I would never go back to that first year. Here is how I chart kids development from the little that I know so far:
0-1: Nothing but sleep, eat, and cost me diapers
2-3: The awakening. A blob becomes a person. Makes the first two years seem really long and boring and pointless.
4-5: Learning to do cool things.
6+: Learning to do real things.
Also, here is another thought. We expected Danny to do so much so fast. He walked at 10 months, rode a bike at 4, etc. It was wrong of us- we should have been more laid back and let him be more of a baby, toddler, and kid.
Finally, a big thanks to some of our closest friends, the Slim Savvy's. Not only did they get our kids a slip n' slide and t-ball set, but our kids think of them as the aunt and uncle they never had. We appreciate the heck out of you for being our friends.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Follow Up Thank-Yous
Thank you Mom and Dad for the awesome car you bought Danny and Andrew (and eventually "The Jake.")
Thank you to Kristin for doing such a great job making the boys feel special on their birthday with the "eggie" sandwiches, the balloons, the decorations, the lunch at Wendy's, etc.
Thanks to the Boisvert's for the cards and presents and visits for each one of our kids and making them feel special on their birthday. They think of you like an extension of our family.
Thanks to everyone who sent e-cards or called to talk to the boys!!!
We're lucky to have so many people that love our boys!
Thank you to Kristin for doing such a great job making the boys feel special on their birthday with the "eggie" sandwiches, the balloons, the decorations, the lunch at Wendy's, etc.
Thanks to the Boisvert's for the cards and presents and visits for each one of our kids and making them feel special on their birthday. They think of you like an extension of our family.
Thanks to everyone who sent e-cards or called to talk to the boys!!!
We're lucky to have so many people that love our boys!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Some Thoughts, 6 Years Done
Danny turned 6 today. In the last month, he has started to do things that are real person like. For example, we went to play racquet ball twice this week. He got a "gear" bike today for his birthday that has 6 gears. I actually had to do real pedaling to keep up with him on our morning 5 mile ride. When we were riding, at one point he got out of the saddle to get up a hill and it was amazing- he looked just like one of the pros I see during the Tour de France.
Here is the perfect day for danny:
1. Up at 6 AM ready to go.
2. Presents at 6:02
3. Breakfast of Grilled Cheese with extra syrup at 6:30
4. Bike warmup at 6:45 AM.
5. 5 Mile ride on the path from 8 - 9:45.
6. Boisvert's come over at 10 to play and drive in the go-cart
7. Lunch with mom at Wendy's at 11.
8. School at 12 complete with pudding for everyone, singing happy birthday to him, getting a book from the teacher, etc.
9. Riding and driving for hours after school at 3.
10. Roast beef and "Favorite Macaroni & Cheese" for dinner at 5:30.
11. Gym to play racquet ball and swimming at 7.
12. Dunkin Donuts for a sprinkles donut at 9.
13. So tired that he falls asleep in the car at 9:45 pm.
14. Daddy carries him to bed and lays with him until he is all the way asleep at 10.
15. Last waking words "Dad, do you still want to take a bike ride tomorrow morning???"
I love you Danny- exactly the way you are. I see you turning the corner with some challenges you have and I see a bright, fun, intense, loving, and cool future for you. You are the coolest, strongest, most intense kid I know, and I wish I was more like you.
Dad
Here is the perfect day for danny:
1. Up at 6 AM ready to go.
2. Presents at 6:02
3. Breakfast of Grilled Cheese with extra syrup at 6:30
4. Bike warmup at 6:45 AM.
5. 5 Mile ride on the path from 8 - 9:45.
6. Boisvert's come over at 10 to play and drive in the go-cart
7. Lunch with mom at Wendy's at 11.
8. School at 12 complete with pudding for everyone, singing happy birthday to him, getting a book from the teacher, etc.
9. Riding and driving for hours after school at 3.
10. Roast beef and "Favorite Macaroni & Cheese" for dinner at 5:30.
11. Gym to play racquet ball and swimming at 7.
12. Dunkin Donuts for a sprinkles donut at 9.
13. So tired that he falls asleep in the car at 9:45 pm.
14. Daddy carries him to bed and lays with him until he is all the way asleep at 10.
15. Last waking words "Dad, do you still want to take a bike ride tomorrow morning???"
I love you Danny- exactly the way you are. I see you turning the corner with some challenges you have and I see a bright, fun, intense, loving, and cool future for you. You are the coolest, strongest, most intense kid I know, and I wish I was more like you.
Dad
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Devotion
Now this is devotion in my book.
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Finally, David Witthoft shunned his Brett Favre jersey for the first time in 1,581 days.
The Ridgefield, Conn., boy, 12, wore the No. 4 jersey every day since receiving it as a gift for Christmas in 2003. David's father, Chuck, said Monday that his son's last day wearing the jersey was April 23 -- his 12th birthday.
Witthoft conceded his son was starting to become more concerned about his appearance after the jersey barely came down to his belt line.
Witthoft first gained national attention three years ago and attended his first Packers game in December. He's also planning to attend the Sept. 8 game when the Packers retire Favre's No. 4.
His mother, Carolyn, had washed the jersey every other day and mended it when needed.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Finally, David Witthoft shunned his Brett Favre jersey for the first time in 1,581 days.
The Ridgefield, Conn., boy, 12, wore the No. 4 jersey every day since receiving it as a gift for Christmas in 2003. David's father, Chuck, said Monday that his son's last day wearing the jersey was April 23 -- his 12th birthday.
Witthoft conceded his son was starting to become more concerned about his appearance after the jersey barely came down to his belt line.
Witthoft first gained national attention three years ago and attended his first Packers game in December. He's also planning to attend the Sept. 8 game when the Packers retire Favre's No. 4.
His mother, Carolyn, had washed the jersey every other day and mended it when needed.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
Pitching
Last March or so, I called WEEI to suggest the Red Sox might consider starting the season with a six man rotation.
At the time, Jonathan Papelbon had been moved into a potential starting pitcher role. The Red Sox had the following pitchers in place as potential starters:
1. Curt Schilling
2. Daisuke Matsuzaka
3. Josh Beckett
4. Tim Wakefield
5. Jonathan Papelbon
6. Clay Buchholz
7. Kason Gabbard
8. Kyle Snyder
The year before, the Red Sox again had in their mind one too many starting pitchers and traded Arroyo to the Reds for Wily Mo Pena. (Do not forget about Clement...)
I did not even make it on the air with WEEI as the producer told me "Dennis and Callahan will laugh you off of the air."
Then, before the start of the 2008 season, I heard Dennis and Callahan talk about how the Red Sox have an excess in starting pitching and might consider starting the season with a six man rotation including:
1. Josh Beckett
2. Daisuke Matsuzaka
3. Tim Wakefield
4. Curt Schilling
5. Clay Buchholz, and
6. Jon Lester.
I find it interesting that for three years in a row, the Red Sox have entered a spring training with seemingly an abundance of starting pitching, only to be in May in all three seasons with a shortage. In 2006, they traded away Arroyo for a bat that did not work out. They lost Clement for much of that season. In 2007, the Red Sox opted to keep the pitchers they had and move Papelbon to the bullpen in a highly successful move.
Now, in 2008, it is May. Curt Schilling can barely play toss with his kids. Buchholz broke a nail. Beckett has already had a stint on the disabled list. Despite Daisuke giving up more walks (30) than hits (28) in 47 and 2/3 innings, he is still a shaky 6-0, if it is possible to be shaky at 6-0.
The point is, pitchers are fragile. There is probably close to a 75% chance that each pitcher will not make all of their starts in a season. Bring on Colon!
Or does it matter? It is widely seen that pitching only matters in the playoffs. Take Fausto and C.C. as exhibits "A" and "B." In the playoffs, it is hard to find someone who would not take half of Schilling, all of Beckett, and a shaky Daisuke over any other rotation in the American league regardless of their regular season statistics.
So as fans, we will live with Daisuke's walks. We will accept Wakefield's near perfect nights followed by 2+ inning, 8 hit, 6 run outings. We will wait until July for Schilling to weigh in. We will watch as Beckett ramps up to his best fall stuff. Our only goal is to make the playoffs with whatever mis-match pitching rotation we have as long as the top three pitchers in the playoffs are Beckett, Schilling, and Dice-K. Maybe next time I call WEEI, I will not get screened...
At the time, Jonathan Papelbon had been moved into a potential starting pitcher role. The Red Sox had the following pitchers in place as potential starters:
1. Curt Schilling
2. Daisuke Matsuzaka
3. Josh Beckett
4. Tim Wakefield
5. Jonathan Papelbon
6. Clay Buchholz
7. Kason Gabbard
8. Kyle Snyder
The year before, the Red Sox again had in their mind one too many starting pitchers and traded Arroyo to the Reds for Wily Mo Pena. (Do not forget about Clement...)
I did not even make it on the air with WEEI as the producer told me "Dennis and Callahan will laugh you off of the air."
Then, before the start of the 2008 season, I heard Dennis and Callahan talk about how the Red Sox have an excess in starting pitching and might consider starting the season with a six man rotation including:
1. Josh Beckett
2. Daisuke Matsuzaka
3. Tim Wakefield
4. Curt Schilling
5. Clay Buchholz, and
6. Jon Lester.
I find it interesting that for three years in a row, the Red Sox have entered a spring training with seemingly an abundance of starting pitching, only to be in May in all three seasons with a shortage. In 2006, they traded away Arroyo for a bat that did not work out. They lost Clement for much of that season. In 2007, the Red Sox opted to keep the pitchers they had and move Papelbon to the bullpen in a highly successful move.
Now, in 2008, it is May. Curt Schilling can barely play toss with his kids. Buchholz broke a nail. Beckett has already had a stint on the disabled list. Despite Daisuke giving up more walks (30) than hits (28) in 47 and 2/3 innings, he is still a shaky 6-0, if it is possible to be shaky at 6-0.
The point is, pitchers are fragile. There is probably close to a 75% chance that each pitcher will not make all of their starts in a season. Bring on Colon!
Or does it matter? It is widely seen that pitching only matters in the playoffs. Take Fausto and C.C. as exhibits "A" and "B." In the playoffs, it is hard to find someone who would not take half of Schilling, all of Beckett, and a shaky Daisuke over any other rotation in the American league regardless of their regular season statistics.
So as fans, we will live with Daisuke's walks. We will accept Wakefield's near perfect nights followed by 2+ inning, 8 hit, 6 run outings. We will wait until July for Schilling to weigh in. We will watch as Beckett ramps up to his best fall stuff. Our only goal is to make the playoffs with whatever mis-match pitching rotation we have as long as the top three pitchers in the playoffs are Beckett, Schilling, and Dice-K. Maybe next time I call WEEI, I will not get screened...
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