(Baby Ben has recently bypassed his big brother with 3 new teeth to Toby's 2)Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Lip Smackin' Good
We have for several weeks been trying to get on video this weird inhale noise that Ben produces for no apparently particular reason and have been thus far unsuccessful. Then the other day he began "smacking" his lips while eating sometimes. Again, this has apparently been for no particular reason or cause. While trying to record this smacking, he all of a sudden decided to do the ol' inhale instead.
(The first clip is the little bit of smacking we were able to record and the second is the inhale. I apologize that the second clip goes so long. I was hoping to get him to do one or the other again--he didn't, so feel free to turn it off, or restart it after the inhale.)
(The first clip is the little bit of smacking we were able to record and the second is the inhale. I apologize that the second clip goes so long. I was hoping to get him to do one or the other again--he didn't, so feel free to turn it off, or restart it after the inhale.)
Monday, September 28, 2009
20 @ 20 for 40
Every (just about every) Sunday morning I bike with a group of men dubbed "Band of Brothers" (I was pulling for "Holy Rollers") a 15 mile loop at about 15-16 mph. Yesterday morning I got up with the idea of riding 20 miles at an average speed of 20 mph for my 40th birthday! (20 + 20 = 40)
Unfortunately, after 15.45 miles, my buddy Randy and I had only averaged 19.3 mph and I felt ready to die...I had forgotten to mention to him that I was thinking to do a little longer ride and therefore was hoping to take it a little easier than he was capable of. After a brief rest, I decided that I could possibly still do 40 miles for my 40th birthday. So I told Randy that I was thinking to do a little longer ride and he quickly said that he would do the loop again with me. I hadn't yet told him how far I was thinking to go and so he took off in the lead at 18+ mph again.
Panting and puffing we finished the loop (backward) a second time having dropped to an average speed of 18.3 mph after just under 32 miles. At this point I tell my "friend" that I figure I will just SLOWLY ride around the neighborhood until I reach an even 40 miles. To which he says; "The park is about 4.5 miles, how about we ride there and back?" What was I suppose to say--I would have never made it this far on my own. So, off again at a "leisurely" 17+ mph. However, when I knew I was more than 4 miles out, I asked Randy (who I think would have ridden all day) if it was OK with him if we turned around and headed back.
By the time we FINALLY hit 40 miles, our average speed had dropped to "only" 17.8 mph for the 2 hours and 15 minutes that we had been actually pedaling. I tacked on an extra 1.23 miles by the time we stopped, so I don't have to do this again next year!
Those of you that are not yet impressed, please refer to the picture in the Ignorant Americans post on this blog site and notice the extra baggage I am toting around my middle section that real cyclist don't have to carry.
Unfortunately, after 15.45 miles, my buddy Randy and I had only averaged 19.3 mph and I felt ready to die...I had forgotten to mention to him that I was thinking to do a little longer ride and therefore was hoping to take it a little easier than he was capable of. After a brief rest, I decided that I could possibly still do 40 miles for my 40th birthday. So I told Randy that I was thinking to do a little longer ride and he quickly said that he would do the loop again with me. I hadn't yet told him how far I was thinking to go and so he took off in the lead at 18+ mph again.
Panting and puffing we finished the loop (backward) a second time having dropped to an average speed of 18.3 mph after just under 32 miles. At this point I tell my "friend" that I figure I will just SLOWLY ride around the neighborhood until I reach an even 40 miles. To which he says; "The park is about 4.5 miles, how about we ride there and back?" What was I suppose to say--I would have never made it this far on my own. So, off again at a "leisurely" 17+ mph. However, when I knew I was more than 4 miles out, I asked Randy (who I think would have ridden all day) if it was OK with him if we turned around and headed back.
By the time we FINALLY hit 40 miles, our average speed had dropped to "only" 17.8 mph for the 2 hours and 15 minutes that we had been actually pedaling. I tacked on an extra 1.23 miles by the time we stopped, so I don't have to do this again next year!
Those of you that are not yet impressed, please refer to the picture in the Ignorant Americans post on this blog site and notice the extra baggage I am toting around my middle section that real cyclist don't have to carry.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
September Begins with Milestones
September 2009 began with 3 major milestones for the Pitton Family.
First, Big brother Toby, after 7 1/2 years finally lost his first tooth. It was a good thing, because the replacement was nearly all the way in and twice as big. We were visiting Gamma's house and as we pulled out of the drive way, Toby asked from the back seat, "Do you think I should pull out my tooth?" Of course we said, "Yes!" About 10 seconds late he announced that he had. Unfortunately, his second permenant tooth has also come in, just as large as the first and right next door. Every night he faithfully prays that his loose tooth will fall out and each day he refuses to pull it himself (or let my help!). Sadly, his baby teeth are vertually perfect looking, but are being replaced by adult teeth that have been pushed back into his mouth at strange angles waiting for the "loose teeth to fall out." Well, looks like braces are a family tradition that will continue!
WARNING: The second Pitton milestone should not be read about will eating.
Shortly after returning home from the long trip up North, Little Ben was having quite the time it seemed trying re-adjust to not being strapped into a car seat. He just didn't like sit down at all. (This turned out to be the pre-curser to milestones #2 & #3.) One especially unpleasant day I lost the "Not-It" game and had to change a particularly stinky diaper. As I tried to save my nose by quickly perform my task, I (simi-proudly) discovered "milestone #2". Yes, Ben's first ... solid turd.
I sincerely apologize to all of you that do not have a grandmother-nurse in the family. Please try to understand that this is not only an appropriate topic of discussion on my wife's side of the family--it is appropriate dinner conversation!
(Sorry, No Picture!)
And finally, milestone #3. Have you ever seen a "sidewinder" -- a snake that can't slither in a straight line? Well, I'd like to say that milestone #3 was that Ben has learned to crawl, but I think that just may give the wrong picture of how he ... moves. He seems to not like to have both knees on the ground at one time. So, has developed a kind of "sidewinder" approach of movement that usually involves one knee step and the opposite leg, stiff kneed brought around the opposite side of the body...half crawl and half walk. His favorite places to go...the big brother's room!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Ignorant Americans
Three times in the last two weeks I have had people refer to my youngest son as "her" or "she" and then last week the checkout guy at Target ask me; "What's up with the shirt?" all while we sported our King of the Mountain "jerseys." What is with all these ignorant, fat, lazy, football couch potato Americans that they can't recognize the beauty of the oh-so studly polka dots of the Tour de France!
OK, it just hit me what I am saying and I took a look at what we look like. I think I'm going to just go watch some TV!
So Much for Memories!
Really, what are you suppose to do with cute top section of your wedding cake?
We saved it. Froze it. Thawed it. Once. Twice. Three and four times. Shared it with our dog on our first anniversary. And finally, with the failure of our current freezer we have stumbled upon the probably the best use for the wedding cake top...
We saved it. Froze it. Thawed it. Once. Twice. Three and four times. Shared it with our dog on our first anniversary. And finally, with the failure of our current freezer we have stumbled upon the probably the best use for the wedding cake top...
Compost!
We Finally Agree!
After 14 plus years of marriage, my wife and I finally agree!
I have long held that leftovers are ... well, of the Devil! I hate leftovers (with the sole exception of Aunt Nancy's Coleslaw!). I do not believe that God intend for there to be leftovers. Eat fresh or don't eat (OK, that may be a little extreme, but I feel strongly about the issue!).
The trouble for me is that my wife was raised by women that believe you should cook for millions--regardless if there are only two of you living in the house--just in case a spaceship of strangers should brake down in your front yard and need something to eat!
Well, I finally heard those golden words tonight; "NO leftovers. What we don't eat is getting thrown out!" and it didn't come out of my mouth ... this time!
Unfortunately, I am going to PAY for that simple (and undoubtedly short lived) moment of euphoric pleasure. See, a little over a week ago our ice cream began getting soft and the ice itself began to melt away behind the closed door of the freezer. The whole thing (including it appears our refrigerator) has become little more than a picnic cooler that only keeps things cool if you load and reload it with pre-frozen (elsewhere) ice packs.
I have done everything I am capable of doing to rectify the situation...I told my wife to call someone to figure out what was wrong and fix it! However, with the great frugality with which our family is so accustomed to, my wife suggested that I try to vacuum off the coils first, to see if that would help. Didn't, not one bit. Even seemed to get worse. She unpacked part of the freezer to uncover the "vent" to see if it might have frozen over as did her mother and this was the problem. It wasn't. The "Tim Taylor" in me made me think I must not have had a BIG enough vacuum for the coils. So I tried again. Got a "Coil Brush," a vacuum extension attachment and went at it again. Sure enough, a change. It DEFINITELY got worse! Then my wife gave the ultimate shot to the male ego..."why don't you just unplug it and see if it resets."
Don't you think I would have thought of that!
Now's the point in the story where you would expect that I humbly admit (and praise God) that all it needed was to unplugged. We are not there yet. I just unplugged it. So, don't hold your breath! I truly, from the bottom of my precious little heart hope that is how this story ends, but I really, REALLY don't think that is what is going to happen!
I write at this point because there is still a slight "silver...even golden lining." After 14 plus years of marriage, my wife FINALLY agrees with me on something...if only for today!
I have long held that leftovers are ... well, of the Devil! I hate leftovers (with the sole exception of Aunt Nancy's Coleslaw!). I do not believe that God intend for there to be leftovers. Eat fresh or don't eat (OK, that may be a little extreme, but I feel strongly about the issue!).
The trouble for me is that my wife was raised by women that believe you should cook for millions--regardless if there are only two of you living in the house--just in case a spaceship of strangers should brake down in your front yard and need something to eat!
Well, I finally heard those golden words tonight; "NO leftovers. What we don't eat is getting thrown out!" and it didn't come out of my mouth ... this time!
Unfortunately, I am going to PAY for that simple (and undoubtedly short lived) moment of euphoric pleasure. See, a little over a week ago our ice cream began getting soft and the ice itself began to melt away behind the closed door of the freezer. The whole thing (including it appears our refrigerator) has become little more than a picnic cooler that only keeps things cool if you load and reload it with pre-frozen (elsewhere) ice packs.
I have done everything I am capable of doing to rectify the situation...I told my wife to call someone to figure out what was wrong and fix it! However, with the great frugality with which our family is so accustomed to, my wife suggested that I try to vacuum off the coils first, to see if that would help. Didn't, not one bit. Even seemed to get worse. She unpacked part of the freezer to uncover the "vent" to see if it might have frozen over as did her mother and this was the problem. It wasn't. The "Tim Taylor" in me made me think I must not have had a BIG enough vacuum for the coils. So I tried again. Got a "Coil Brush," a vacuum extension attachment and went at it again. Sure enough, a change. It DEFINITELY got worse! Then my wife gave the ultimate shot to the male ego..."why don't you just unplug it and see if it resets."
Don't you think I would have thought of that!
Now's the point in the story where you would expect that I humbly admit (and praise God) that all it needed was to unplugged. We are not there yet. I just unplugged it. So, don't hold your breath! I truly, from the bottom of my precious little heart hope that is how this story ends, but I really, REALLY don't think that is what is going to happen!
I write at this point because there is still a slight "silver...even golden lining." After 14 plus years of marriage, my wife FINALLY agrees with me on something...if only for today!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
The Blob!
I don't know you have ever been "Blobbed," but if you have, you know the exhilaration and fear that it causes! If not, the Blob is an aprox. 30 ft. X 8 ft. X 6 ft. inflated rubber pillow that floats in the water under a high dive. One person jumps from the high dive onto the Blob, and crawls to about four feet from the opposite side. Then another person jumps off the high dive and lands with as much force as they can create on the end under the high dive, forcing the first person up into the air and plunged into the water!
Camp Kulaqua has one floating in there constantly 72 degree water. We were at Camp Kulaqua last weekend.
Generally, it is a good idea to be able to swim and well, if you are going to venture on the Blob experience. Additionally, you should be Blobbed by someone aprox. your own size. Occassionally, some studly young man will coerce a petite young lady onto the Blob and send her shotting into the stratusphere to the grunting amusement of all his buddies...the young lady rarely gets talked in to a second ... flight!
Having set this all up, I must ask if you remember when you were seven years old and liked to hang out with the "big kids"?
Toby heard someone say something about going down to the Blob. Mind you, he doesn't not know what the Blob is or what it can do. His mother tried to explain it to him, which of course sounds like a LOT of fun, and it is...if you are watching! She then sent him to ask me--what had just finished packing the car for our drive home after a four-day weekend at Family Camp--about going Blobbing. I really wanted to get home, and I really didn't want to dig through the magnificantly pack car (van is about to blow it's transmission, so we--all 5 of us--loaded everthing into the car, including 3 bikes and made the 3 hour drive to Orlando before continuing the 2.5 hours onto Kulaqua) for his swimming suit, much less the idea of having to take wet clothes back in my car. But to be honest, I have really kind of been looking forward to the day my boys got to experience the Blob. So, I told him he had 5 minutes, if he didn't do it by then we were leaving and I dug out his bathing suit.
He stood and watched for a good while, there were only BIG kids there blobbing. I was sure he would see the insane stupidity of doing it himself and just vicariously enjoy the experience through the others there. I knew I could be in trouble when he decided to take a test run off the high dive adjacent to the Blob...then began running back to the do it again. Finally, kid closer to his size (within 20 lbs. probably) came and we asked if he would Blob Toby....
As you may guess, he wanted to do it again. This time however, he blobbed the kid who was close to his own size, which left a bigger kid (at least 80 lbs. larger) to Blob him. You can hear the life guard asking if I was the father and if "this was OK." What is a father suppose to say? It was his last Blob for the day!
Camp Kulaqua has one floating in there constantly 72 degree water. We were at Camp Kulaqua last weekend.
Generally, it is a good idea to be able to swim and well, if you are going to venture on the Blob experience. Additionally, you should be Blobbed by someone aprox. your own size. Occassionally, some studly young man will coerce a petite young lady onto the Blob and send her shotting into the stratusphere to the grunting amusement of all his buddies...the young lady rarely gets talked in to a second ... flight!
Having set this all up, I must ask if you remember when you were seven years old and liked to hang out with the "big kids"?
Toby heard someone say something about going down to the Blob. Mind you, he doesn't not know what the Blob is or what it can do. His mother tried to explain it to him, which of course sounds like a LOT of fun, and it is...if you are watching! She then sent him to ask me--what had just finished packing the car for our drive home after a four-day weekend at Family Camp--about going Blobbing. I really wanted to get home, and I really didn't want to dig through the magnificantly pack car (van is about to blow it's transmission, so we--all 5 of us--loaded everthing into the car, including 3 bikes and made the 3 hour drive to Orlando before continuing the 2.5 hours onto Kulaqua) for his swimming suit, much less the idea of having to take wet clothes back in my car. But to be honest, I have really kind of been looking forward to the day my boys got to experience the Blob. So, I told him he had 5 minutes, if he didn't do it by then we were leaving and I dug out his bathing suit.
He stood and watched for a good while, there were only BIG kids there blobbing. I was sure he would see the insane stupidity of doing it himself and just vicariously enjoy the experience through the others there. I knew I could be in trouble when he decided to take a test run off the high dive adjacent to the Blob...then began running back to the do it again. Finally, kid closer to his size (within 20 lbs. probably) came and we asked if he would Blob Toby....
As you may guess, he wanted to do it again. This time however, he blobbed the kid who was close to his own size, which left a bigger kid (at least 80 lbs. larger) to Blob him. You can hear the life guard asking if I was the father and if "this was OK." What is a father suppose to say? It was his last Blob for the day!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Bang the Drum, pt. 2
My wife would like me to point out to all of you baseball fans which hand our little "drummer"/future pitcher prefers.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
I Don't Wanna Work...
Have you ever heard the song, "I Just Want To Bang On The Drum All Day"? I believe this is where the song writer most have gotten his inspiration!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
We're Moving...!
We don't know where, but we are pretty sure we will have moved from Port Charlotte before Spring Training begins next Spring, because we got the following announcement this last week....
Orioles move spring home to Sarasota
The Baltimore Orioles agreed to a 30-year lease with Sarasota County that calls for more than $31 million in funds for the renovation of Ed Smith Stadium. The move will happen immediately, starting with Spring Training 2010. Baltimore will play in Ed Smith Stadium without renovation for one spring and development will commence after the 2010 season.
Just before Charity and I moved to Florida, fourteen years ago her grandparents who had wintered in Ft. Myers for many years chose to move to Loma Linda full-time. That same year the Orioles moved their Spring Training sight across the state about five hours from where we were going to be living. A year after being in Orlando, the Chicago Cubs single A farm team moved out of town. The year we moved from Orlando, Ledo's opened a restaurant in town. This last year the Tampa Bay Rays moved their Spring Training sight to Port Charlotte and Cal Ripkin, Jr. bought and moved their farm team to Port Charlotte. Now the Orioles are moving their Spring Training within 45 minutes of our house!
It seems that everytime something good happens or is about to, we move!
Orioles move spring home to Sarasota
The Baltimore Orioles agreed to a 30-year lease with Sarasota County that calls for more than $31 million in funds for the renovation of Ed Smith Stadium. The move will happen immediately, starting with Spring Training 2010. Baltimore will play in Ed Smith Stadium without renovation for one spring and development will commence after the 2010 season.
Just before Charity and I moved to Florida, fourteen years ago her grandparents who had wintered in Ft. Myers for many years chose to move to Loma Linda full-time. That same year the Orioles moved their Spring Training sight across the state about five hours from where we were going to be living. A year after being in Orlando, the Chicago Cubs single A farm team moved out of town. The year we moved from Orlando, Ledo's opened a restaurant in town. This last year the Tampa Bay Rays moved their Spring Training sight to Port Charlotte and Cal Ripkin, Jr. bought and moved their farm team to Port Charlotte. Now the Orioles are moving their Spring Training within 45 minutes of our house!
It seems that everytime something good happens or is about to, we move!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
First Concert
Last month we took Benjamin to his first and Toby & Seth's first major recording artist concert, Steven Curtis Chapman at Busch Gardens. It was about "900 degrees" and the concert was outside. It was a "Faith and Family" type of event with several contemporary Christian artist. Of course, SC2 was the last (we missed the first several while visiting some of the animals).
It was a good concert, but he did not perform Toby & Seth's favorite song, The Great Adventure (coincidently the theme for summer camp that I got asked to pastor a couple of weeks later) which includes the beloved line: "Saddle up your horses..." If you don't know the song, it can be performed upon request by either of the oldest two Pitton boys. The absense of this song was a "great disappointment" to the extremely hot, exausted and tired boys. However, when the crowd refused to leave after the last song, the band returned to do one more song...you guessed it! The day was saved, with the exception of Seth's poor feet--he had insisted on wearing his crocs (sandels) that are too small, without socks all day and had developed some pretty impressive blisters (sorry, no pictures!).
It was a good concert, but he did not perform Toby & Seth's favorite song, The Great Adventure (coincidently the theme for summer camp that I got asked to pastor a couple of weeks later) which includes the beloved line: "Saddle up your horses..." If you don't know the song, it can be performed upon request by either of the oldest two Pitton boys. The absense of this song was a "great disappointment" to the extremely hot, exausted and tired boys. However, when the crowd refused to leave after the last song, the band returned to do one more song...you guessed it! The day was saved, with the exception of Seth's poor feet--he had insisted on wearing his crocs (sandels) that are too small, without socks all day and had developed some pretty impressive blisters (sorry, no pictures!).
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Water (melon) Boy!
For Laurie
Last Sabbath, one of Toby & Seth's favorite youth ("Ollie") and I went to visit another of our local youth (Laurie) who had to have a golf ball size mass removed from the base of her brain unexpectedly just after Christmas break. The doctors were able to remove the mass, but unfortunately it was rooted into the base of the brainstem and so that part had to be left. She had been home for several weeks, but had to return this week to begin a second course of treatment that will make it impossible for her to have visitors for the next several months. So, we wanted to see her before she left again and since proper edicate says you shouldn't show up on someone's doorstep empty handed, we decided to bring something she didn't have....
Sunday, I decided that if I was going to it, it was ALL or nothing and "cleaned" it up a bit.
Don't worry, it is already starting to grow back!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Happy Mother's Day!
Happy Mother's Day to all that merit that greeting today!
We have progressed from last year's..."We put gas in her van! (why do we have to get her anything else)" but just barely.
For starters, I took much thought, due to our current economy to select one, functional and useful, even desired gift for my children's mother this year. I was so proud of my restraint and purposefulness. That was until Friday when the afore mentioned package arrived. My wife took one look at the box and said; "That's not the thing from RedEnvelope is it? We bought that already!"
So, no official Mother's Day gift and I head off to the local grocery store to by a cake mix with the hope I can get the boys to "make" a Mother's Day cake. At the grocery store I remember that my children's mother is sick--so sweets are not the best idea--head to the cake isle any way. Wife loves chocolate, but due to there being 7 different types of chocolate cake and she wouldn't be able to see her precious children's art work on a dark cake (and a little bit the sick thing), I go with carrot cake--I love cream cheese frosting!
As luck would have it, son #3 was sick as well and both mother and child took a lengthy nap the next afternoon. Which allowed the 2 older sons and me to bake the cake--boys actually did all the measuring, mixing and even put the cake in the oven. So far, so good. Now all we needed was to keep the cake a secret for the rest of the day and get it decorated before Mother's Day. Son #2 solved that problem by telling Mom; "There is a surprise on the stove, don't look at it, it's for Mother's Day!"
Sons #2 & #3 woke me bright and early Sunday morning (much earlier then necessary if you ask me) and then woke up son #1 so that we could finish the cake while Mom got to sleep in. This is by far the gift she was wanting (sleeping in, not all 3 kids up before 7AM on a Sunday making cake) more then anything for Mother's Day--or any other day for that matter!
The boys who last year thought a full gas tank was gift enough, this year felt the elaborate cake and all the sleepless efforts were not enough. So that locked themselves in the office and "made" gifts using about 1/2 a ream of printer paper to constructed paper airplanes, baseball card holders, envelopes, notes, games and of course wrapping paper. We do keep the recycling industry in business! I should not complain, because the big hearted boys didn't just make gifts for Mom on Mother's Day, but gifts for everyone!
However, my favorite memory from this Mother's Day is the quote from my #2 (of course) son, when asked by my mother-n-law; "Do you know who made me a mother?" ...
"Ye, Grampa!"
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