10 years

Lisa and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary this last week. We've been looking forward to it for some time and planned a nice 5 day trip to Grand Cayman. We had all things ready to go and the Friday before we left, Lisa decided to break her ankle in her Friday night soccer game. Off to urgent care she went on Saturday... Then Sunday came and Lindsay fractured her collarbone in a backyard game of touch football -- yep off to urgent care again. We were supposed to head out of town on Wednesday afternoon. Hmm.

To make a long story short, we ended up getting Lisa in a removable cast (clean break) and Lindsay in a sling and teh Dr gave us the go ahead. Why go? you ask... Well for one thing, the change fee for the int'l flight was almost as much as the tickets alone and we thought that what better place to sit around with your leg up and stable than by the pool or watching the sunset over the Caribbean. So, go we did.

We had a great time. It was pretty much the most relaxing vacation we have ever been on. Our focus: sit on the beach, relax, catch some sun -- we did the last one a little too well. I went out diving for two of the mornings, and we rented a car and drove around the island for a change of scenery. Sunset cruise, nice food, eating by the pool, massages at the spa...it was all part of the trip and it was great.

Underwater pictures are still being developed (yep they still make film) and if there are any good ones, I'll post later. Here are a few above sea level for now. The second to last one is really how I spent at least part of each day.

Class Leader

If there's one thing Lindsay likes about Preschool, it's being class leader for the day. She really does like school. She came down sick today and her biggest concern is that she may actually miss pajama day at school.

Alex doesn't seem to mind when he gets to go help Mom volunteer when Lindsay is class leader.

Birthday Month.

Make a wish and light a candle for your birthday is here,

Let it be the beginning of a bright happy year!

Birthday Cake Time!

Lisa made Ian a Sports Cake.

Dad made Lisa a Homemade Ice Cream Log. - Easy to make and better than Baskin-Robbins (not as pretty as B-R however...)

Lindsay has already requested a Hannah Montana cake.

Let it Snow...OK, Enough Already!

We're pushing for Spring. It's been a good long winter for us here, but I think it is time for a little green.

Winter wouldn't be complete without one good snowman snow storm. You know what I mean, the kind of snow that is good enough to build the perfect snowman. This February has been one of the snowiest February's on record for Michigan. They said something like a total of 45" for the area, but we haven't had more than 10" on the ground at any given time... As soon as it snows, it warms up, thaws and rains. Not to mention, when it has been a good snow storm, the next few days have been so cold that there is absolutely no way to get the snow to pack together well enough to make even the start of a snowman.

So when it snowed overnight and the daytime high was about 34 degrees, we geared up and got outside.

Now of course, since we've lived in Michigan, I don't think we've actually built a proper snowman. You know, the kind made from three huge snow boulders and then sticks for arms and a carrot for the nose. Nope, we've opted for a different variety. I think our portfolio consists of a snowbear, snowsnake, snowturtle, and this year's addition Snow-Super Mario Galaxy. It was a difficult rendition, but in case you can't tell, that is supposed to be Mario. He's holding a star in his right hand in front of him, and no sooner had I carved the star, then Ian corrected me and let me know that the star is supposed to be in the hand above his head. Oh well. Sorry Mario... you'll just have to go out and get another star from another galaxy.

Could't not post this picture of Alex. Can you say "A Christmas Story"?

Hitting the Office Early

As part of Ian’s Tiger Cub Elective requirements, he is supposed to visit dad’s office. Well, Winter Break provides the perfect time for such an event. Ian got up at 6:45, hopped in the shower and was in his scout uniform (work clothes) and after a quick plate of scrambled eggs, we were on our way to the office.

It didn’t take long for Ian to make some friends. Within a few minutes, he was cutting out “Valentines” and passing them out along with candy hearts. He brought Lisa’s old laptop and wrote a few emails from there. Then it was a little homework, some art, and then some games on the phone. We mixed it up with a few conference calls with some family and then some with some coworkers. Thanks to a friendly colleague, Ian had business cards made especially for him. Contact information: “Dad’s Desk”.

Lunch was at Potbelly’s. Ian had what amounted to an expensive peanut butter and jelly sandwich and I had a salad with the group down in the Winter garden at the GM Renaissance Center.
…Then back to work. More Valentines…more emails… and more homework.

Then it got to around 3:00 and I offered to take off early to get Ian home. Of course he didn’t want to leave – he wanted to “stay the whole time.” So we did.

Surprisingly enough, I got a fair amount accomplished and am ready for tonight’s 8pm conference call. Don’t know how much of an impact the day had on Ian, but when asked what he wants to be when he grows up….. an Animal Rescuer.

Pinewood Derby Time

With Ian in the Tiger Cubs, he's starting scouting about a year and a half ahead of when Dad started. What that really means is -- 18 MORE MONTHS OF PINEWOOD DERBY ACTION!!!

Ian named his car "Super Fast". Once the official BSA Pinewood Derby kit was in his hands, we picked up a book of pinewood derby tips. One tip focused on weight placement indicated that placing the weight in a certain area of the car could give it an "extra boost" on certain tracks -- turns out our Troop's track design doesn't lend to providing an "extra boost". Nevertheless, Ian was determined that the "extra boost" was the key and element of the car from there on out was designed around providing the "extra boost".

Dad and Ian set out with pencil, coping saw, sandpaper and other misc. devices in an effort to make sure that Ian's first car was a success. Several carving, sanding, filing, and painting sessions later, Ian and Dad emerged from the basement with a Tiger Cub Masterpiece -- Super Fast.

Weigh in came...0.125 oz too heavy. A few quick turns of the drill later and Super Fast weighed in right at 5.0 oz. Early indications on the test track showed the car was quick, but we weren't sure what the official outcome would be.

The night before race day the car was checked, weighed and lubed one last time, the off to the staging grounds. We were all set to race on February 1st. That morning, all schools in the area had been cancelled due to what was a less than impressive winter storm. Yep all of about 3 inches. This was certainly a case of media hype. Earlier the day before, all of the forecasters were reporting up to 11 inches in areas. This was supposed to be a monster. Wouldn't you know it, schools were closing before the storm even hit the state! Sure enough, Ian's school follows suit and is cancelled in the morning. Since the pack meets in the school, the derby was likewise postponed.

Now rescheduled for February 4th, Super Fast is more than ready.

-- Race Day --

1. Car - Check
2. Graphite - Check
3. Extra weight (just in case) - Check
4. Drill (again, just in case) - Check
5. Tool Box - Check
6. Cameras - Check (of course)

We're off!

Now at the races, Ian checks in - 5.000 oz (yep they use scales that are accurate to the 1/1000). Car is taken to the staging areas and from here on out, it is all about cheering your car on -- no intermediate graphite allowed.

Ian's Tiger Cub Den ran second after the Bears. Super Fast was in the first heat. From the first race, it was apparent that we had a winner on our hands. Ian never lost and in most cases beat out the other cars in the den by at least a good length or two. The car clocked in at about 6.1 seconds for the 30 foot track. To make a long story short, Ian's Super Fast took first in his Den.

Then came the grueling 1.5 hour wait until the "Leader of the Pack" Race where the top two finishers in each of 5 dens would compete for the fastest car.

Once again, Ian's car was up first -- running on track two. The gates opened and it was clear the competition was much different. A tight race all the way down the track. Ian's Super Fast had about a 1/4 length lead until he hit a bump 5 feet from the finish line and his car hopped off the track, putting him about a length behind.

Well, he won all of the remaining races (some of by just an inch or two). Average time was about 6.0-6.1 seconds. Now the way this pack runs the race is each car gets to run on each of the four track, with the time for each being recorded and the sum total of all four runs being added together for a total time. After four runs, Ian's Super Fast had a combined time of 24.298. This is where jumping the track really hurt him. The winning car came in at a time of 24.238. AND there was another car that came in at a time of 24.268. That's just 6/100 of a second between first and third place. Ian was happy, but at the same time disapointed that first was just out of reach.

Here's a little Video of the highlights. (see if this works)

Two tropies for the night -- one big one small. As you can see from the pictures, he's a pretty happy camper.

Now, back to the checklist. Cameras? Yep we had them. Batteries? Almost dead. It wasn't too far into the race that we had to start conserving batteries and of course the digital camera died just after the first race. Never fear, our good friends Becky and Mike were there with camera (and extra batteries) in hand. Thanks to Becky and Mike for saving the day.

What's that motto about "Be Prepared" again?

Now, off to District Pinewood Derby Competition where Ian and Super Fast will compete for the Tiger Cub Den District Championship.