Blue Grass State

I am in Horse Cave, Kentucky this week. Obviously, there are tons of caves around here, but more importantly the Maker's Mark Distillery is close as well. I had a chance today to visit and take the tour. It is really incredible how that stuff is made. I am a confessed Crown Royal kind of guy, but it was cool to see the bottling and making of a fine bourbon. I will try to post some photos later.

I was able to secure a couple of bottles before leaving and already have plans for them. Pat Greenwood is a big fan, so I got him a personalized bottle and Jeremy Cushing gave me some Jack Daniels once so I hope to repay some of that.

PARTY!!!

Since the last post, we have had a run of parties. Matthew's second was basically a family gathering but it got us started on the right track. Thanksgiving was a feast at Ann and Randy's house. Even if they are still wasting blackberries on outmeal. Then we had the Christmas marathon with decorating and celebrating. Katie Ann had her 6th birthday party in January. It was a sleep over with a few friends. With all the little girls running around; I needed therapy and Annette was the one on the front line. Whatever the cost though, Katie Ann had a great time and that's what really counts. This past weekend, Christopher had his 9th birthday party. We made marshmellow guns with pvc pipe. If you want the plans let me know, but I think the squirrels at cottage hill park will be calling Michelle Obama for an obesity rally after the feast. Of course, mixed in with all this is Margi Gras. We went to the Polka Dots and the Fifty Funny Fellows. Both were excellent. Now it's time to pay the piper, I see lots of yard work and home stuff over the next couple of months to get ready for summer.

Flying away....

This is the coolest thing in the world. Currently, I am 33,000 feet in the air. Delta now has that Go Go thing and it is awesome. I ain't sure it's worth $12 but for free you can't beat it.

I am headed to Hartford, CT today, Boston on Tuesday, Bishop, California on Wednesday, Reno, Nevada on Thursday, and then home Friday... now that's a lot of miles. And defying all logic my clothes all fit in one carry-on.

This past weekend Christopher and Katie Ann had a Tae Kwon Do tournament in Orange Beach. I used hotel points to get us a room and after a rocky first night with Matthew, we had a great time. I was so proud of Katie Ann getting out there and rocking her form. She had the highest score out of 7 kids. Unfortunately, she then got knocked out of the sparring portion pretty quick... the judges like to spread the awards around a little bit. Christopher got second in forms and sparring for the junior red belts. He will test for his black belt in a couple of weeks. He is awesome. Even Matthew has the kicks and punches down, and it you don't believe me-- ask Katie Ann.

Matthew turned 2 years old last Thursday. He is getting so big. Potty training is coming along (thanks to Annette) and he is so smart. He is able to communicate so well it is scary sometimes. This coming weekend, Mom is coming down from Birmingham for Matthew's party. And then we got the Cubscout Thanksgiving dinner that evening. I am frying 45 pounds of turkey on Saturday as well... GOBBLE GOBBLE!

Update

It has been a while so let me catch up. I am back in Minneapolis today (and it is blustery to say the least). Actually, I am physically in Wisconsin (so count another state for me). I am doing well at CPSI and the travel is not bad but can get a little rough at times. So far, the family is doing remarkably well with me being gone some and the perks are nice.

Annette continues to amaze me almost everyday. She is the most creative person I have ever met. Just as a little example, she made the kids Halloween costume (which saved me a bunch of cash), but she also has been saving milk jugs for months it seems and then used them as the center piece (that's the things in the middle of a table for the guys that may read this) at the cub scout Halloween party. She is the best MOM in the world. We are blessed to be in a situation where she can be at the school with the kids almost as much as they are. She has an incredible group of friends that give her an opportunity to be connected outside of just the kids. It all combines to make her very special and makes me one of the luckiest guys on earth.

Matthew is growing so fast. He is like a weed. He is starting to work on potty training. He is the most out-going of the bunch. He loves to make all the animal sounds; says "CHEESE" for the camera; gives hi-fives with a gusto; has the patented "gun and a wink" down; and has already scored his first date with a college chick (at 18months).

Katie Ann is starting the involvement circus. She is in Kindergarten at St. Dominic. She is doing dance, Daisy scouts and karate as well. She has her first tournament in a couple of weeks in Orange Beach. She is a delicate flower, I really have to check my temper with her... she will cry at the drop of a hat... and that's hard for a daddy to take. She is quite the artist though. She did a pumpkin craft yesterday (thanks Cherie) and it looked great. She did this all by herself. I was very impressed.

Christopher is growing up. He is playing football again this year and his team is doing well. He loves it. (He even takes the football to bed every night) He is in 3rd grade at St. Dominic's. I am proud of him for lots of reasons but I see him do things for others out of the kindness of his heart and he is a hard worker even when no one is watching; and that will make any parent feel good.

 

Annette at Rockefeller Center... the ice rink at Christmas becomes a patio for lunch in the Summer.

 

One of the skyline shots from the Empire State Building. Man a lot of people live here.

 

They even have supper heros that live in NYC.

 

Annette and I are here for her birthday. The big 35!!!! This is a city that truly never sleeps.

Mourning the loss of a loved one

I got a couple of pics from the Mall of the Americas coming but I have a few minutes to post something. My great uncle, Ken Howd died today. Ken was married to Lonnie Faye and helped her raise 3 children. They were my "country cousins" growing up. We would go up there to see Chuck, Tammy and Larry on weekends. Chuck had "cancer" which I now understand was AML. He fought a valiant battle but ultimately lost. It was devastating to everyone, but without Ken, Lonnie Faye would not have made it. I was young but I remember Chuck had the coolest Atari and got all the games free. He could master most of them within a couple of days. He would take the thermometer outside and set it in the sun because he could not go outside to play unless it was at least 75 degrees. Chuck showed everyone how to look death and misery in the face and love everyone and everything anyway. I believe he got that from Ken. Ken embraced life for others. He would decorate a 20' tall Christmas tree so that the kids "on the mountain" could see it, he put out enough Christmas decorations to cover most of High Rock Mountain too, and he was the first in line to help a neighbor anytime day or night. Ken and Lonnie Fay would go to different casinos and whatever they won was given to charity. What an incredible spirit he had. I can remember going to see them when Ken first started to get ill, he asked me about 100 times in a couple of hours if "I needed anything?". He always sought to serve others before himself. He is in a better place and the suffering has stopped. I pray for all of us who knew and loved him to aspire to love each other and embrace life as Ken did. I also pray for Lonnie Faye to begin to heal herself and her spirit knowing that her family and friends are here to help her.