Impromptu Columbus trip

Last week was winter break so Susan, anticipating cabin fever, suggested we head south for a one-day trip to see kin. The kin were very accommodating and we had a great time. 

And the timing was good: driving was fine Friday and Sunday, and on Saturday they had a snow storm, which made everything pretty without the pressure of having to go anyplace.

Though we did manage to eat at Le Chatelaine, and Sam and I joined Uncle Stu and Cousin Kevin for Saturday-morning bowling. 

A good time was had by all.

Nana and Aunt Amy reading to Josh

Uncle Stu spent quite some time outside with Sam and Josh, throwing snowballs and making David the Snowman. 

Daytona 500

Two photos from this year's Daytona 500.

This is an annual event at Cobbles where students of all grades run the track, and invite friends and relatives to join them, with the goal of beating last year's record. Hundreds of miles are logged, and the students get a chance to see their parents exercising, which is a great thing. 

Plus, it's fun. 

This year I went one morning and Susan went another. (It runs all week.) (No pun intended.) It lasts 40 minutes, and about a quarter of that time you are running laps. At first it feels good to stretch your legs, but by the end I, at least, am generally lying on the floor panting.

Maybe it's *not* such a good example for the kids!

On the right is Sam's friend Sam Weaver. They get together weekly for a "hang", and last week had two sleepovers in a row.

Weekend update

My officemate offered to sell me the bunk bed his boys used for years. They are off at grad school and it's time for it to find a new home. Looks Ikea-ish; quite nice.  The boys are wild about it. 

Last night Josh slept in the lower bunk and Sam in the upper (going in after J was asleep).

I got Sam's help putting in the nuts and bolts to put it together. After some protesting, he was good about helping. Nice to train in a new helper!

Keeps snowing, a little bit more each day, and the temps remain cold (-5 deg this morning) so it never melts. Very pretty!

I had two cans of Silly String unused from last summer, and finally let the boys play with them. Actually, Silly String weirded Josh out so it was Susan and Sam spraying one another. A good time was had by all, even if the cleanup time was longer than the play time.  

Started out the morning right on Saturday!

That's the news! Hope you are all well.

*Snow*

The usual update montage:

Josh got a haircut! Looks nice. It was a very snowy day, so all the senior citizens who usually would have packed the place were absent; Josh was the only customer

Been enjoying the Thomas trains of late.

I think this was a Saturday. Can't really say why Sam is wearing his hat during breakfast...

...but it's apparently a little boy thing, cause Josh did the same thing this morning.

Josh and I hang out at Eastman while Sam and Susan are at Sam's piano lesson. Every Friday at 5:30ish. Here we enjoying front-row seats in Kodak Hall.

And taking selfies.

Saturday I took the boys sledding. We met Sam's friend Ian. Perfect day for it! Mid 20s, light fluffy snow falling, not too crowded. Had a blast!

Here's Josh, just having slid down the slide in our back yard.

Josh loves his Sunday school class, and we couldn't ask for better teachers. They are volunteering out of the goodness of their hearts, and are genuinely filled with love for their charges. So don't blame them when you see how Josh describes Mary anointing Jesus' feet. And, for the record, NO IDEA where "Mavis" comes from!