Another Delco Guy In South Jersey

Christmas Wore Her Out!

 

Happily Trashed!

It took about 30 minutes, but all the presents are unwrapped and the stockings are down and we're pawing through the piles of loot. Santa did a good job here according to the kids!

Visions of Sugarplums Dance in Their Heads

 

All is prepared.  There is still some wrapping to do, but for the most part, it's all waiting now.  And trying to behave!

The Stockings Were Hung By the Chimney With Care

Well, we don't have a chimney, but we did it old school on the railing like when I was a kid! We've just about wrapped up the decorating here in Medford.  There's some wrapping to do today and a quick run out for 2 small gifts, but otherwise, everything's set!

How are your preparations going?

Special Time With My Princess!

My Christmas vacation has started and one of the best parts is a little extra time every morning with Emma. Today it's a little breakfast at Dunkin Donuts!

We had a great weekend with so many family and friends and this is a wonderful way to start our week!

Friday Fantastic Four - Christmas Vacation

Today is my last day of work for 2011.  One of the benefits of working in higher education is the 2 week vacation around Christmas and New Year's. 

It's a great two weeks and gives me a lot of time off when most of the rest of the world is running hither and yon, trying to grab up last minute gifts and bottles of wine to take to holiday get together.  I get a week before Christmas to do all that I need to get done and then the next week to wind down.  There isn't any money to go somewhere warm this year, so I will be hanging close to my base.  I know you all don't get two weeks off, but if you did ...

What Four Things Are You Going To Do On Christmas Vacation?

1. Finish up shopping.  Yep.  Despite my earlier forays out into the shopping venues of Pennsylvania and South Jersey, I have procrastinated.  I have to make sure the piles are about the same and get a few more gifts and stocking stuffers.

2. Family Events.  While we won't have family visitors from afar this year, the locals will still gather.  My sister is the go-to person this year I guess.  I will be Swarthmore bound for Christmas Eve.  The Medford house is nice and cozy, but not really set up for large-scale family gatherings like the Mount Laurel and Moorestown houses were.

3. Lazy Days.  I have the kids a lot over Christmas Vacation, so there will be a lot of time spent just watching them play with their new stuff from Santa. 

4. Something for me.  If it stays nice, maybe some hiking.  If it's not so nice, I will have to find another way to stay out of trouble.  In the past I would always tackle some home improvement project.  I don't need to do that this year, but the days without the kids around can be tough, so I need to take some time for 'me' things!

So what are your Christmas (winter) Vacation plans? 

Have a great time this weekend!

Emma and Her Little Tree

Emma has been dying to put her tree up, so today I made sure we had a few minutes in between running all over Burlington County to get her little pink tree set up in her room.  Last Christmas it didn't come down until July!

John hasn't found the time to put his tree up yet, but he always makes sure the first thing he does when he comes home is to turn on the
lights for the big tree in the living room.  My guess is he will get around to putting his up tomorrow.  He was too busy texting his buddies today after returning to the land of cell phone service.

I can only imagine what the Chinese prison laborers think as they are stuffing these little trees in boxes so we can buy them for $5 and cover them with little glitter covered foam balls!

Wordless Wednesday

Weird Kids

Somewhere along the line my kids started eating their pasta piled on top of their garlic bread. They also always require mac and cheese to be served with ham so they can dip the ham in the cheese sauce.

Weird kids! But no weirder than I am I guess, given that I like my red wine chilled way cooler than standard and my beer far warmer than is generally served here in the states.

Got any food oddnesses of your own?

Holiday Lessons

We just had a great weekend preparing for Christmas.  The tree is up, Santa came to Swarthmore, the decorations are complete in Brookhaven and Emma wrote her letter to Santa.  Even battling a cold, it was a really nice weekend!

The preparation, shopping, cooking and parties make December a hectic, but happy time of year. Remembering past holidays with fondness is a huge part of why we all look forward to the season every year. Snow on Christmas Eve, caroling in the neighborhood, spiked egg nog, opening presents by the fire and seeing folks from far and wide are all great memories that will last a lifetime.

Still, the holidays can be hard sometimes. People who are missing from are lives feel all the more missing at this time of year.  Old wounds open afresh when you look around the table and notice the faces who aren't there as well as the family and friends who are.  Old traditions can be a little bit hard when the people who made them important are no longer in your life.

The kids and I were reflecting a bit on people who are no longer with us anymore as we unpacked our holiday items this weekend.  Emma especially had a hard time.  She missed the chance to say goodbye to some people who left us this year and it's hard for her to close out those feelings. 

With my heart in my throat and biting back tears, I had to tell my little princess, "Sometimes we don't get to say goodbye.  That's why we need to make sure the people we love know it every single day."

Emma Does Some Writing

Emma has managed to find a quiet moment after the happy chaos of last night to begin writing her letter to Santa.  It's a really sweet moment for me as a dad so be sitting her happily sipping my coffee and watching her.

It's in the noises and movements of children that there is peace.  I hope that you are all enjoying your time with family and friends as we go through the annual parties, gatherings and rituals leading up to the holidays. 

While the kids play in Swarthmore, Uncle Kevin and I are headed over to Brookhaven to put up the lights at my parents.  Then it's back to Medford for some snuggling time on the couch in front of the tree.

Have a great day!

A Dose of Perspective

I took my son to his friend's father's funeral tonight.  As tough as it was, I'm glad I did, because it was the kind of night that forced me to pull my head out of my ass and realize that my petty little problems today (and generally really) were nothing in the face of what some others have been going through.

Yeah, it was a bad day.  I'm sick, there were some kid issues, it was a struggle most of the day.

But it all paled in comparison to the anguish of a sweet little 10 year old girl crying at her father's funeral.  As her father's friends reminded us what a doting father she had and my son and his best friend looked back and forth at each other and the casket, I was chastened.  These little kids had lost their dad after a long fight with cancer.  I have a cold and some parenting problems.

Tonight we honored the life of a good man and a good father.  I hope his children always remember how much he loved them. 

Sometimes She's A Handful - A Single Dad Reflects On His Daughter

Anyone who reads these pages knows I am completely devoted to my daughter Emma.  Some days are just a bit more trying than others, though and today was one of them.  Thanks to my many friends who have contacted me tonight after my exasperated Facebook post a bit earlier. You are all correct.  She's a super little girl who cares deeply about everyone she meets and loves her friends and family with all her heart.

I guess maybe the wonderful weekend we had kind of made a tough day an inevitability.  On Friday, Emma got a great report card, so we took her and her BFF out to lunch.   Then we had a wonderfully fun afternoon visiting her best friend's house.  We went to the book fair and community night at school and then out to dinner at The Pub with a bunch of our Tabernacle friends.  Emma wrapped up the evening with her first sleep over at a friend's house and she loved every minute of it.

Saturday was no less packed, as Emma hosted her friend for a few hours and then we headed over to Swarthmore for my niece Ellie's 5th birthday.  Cake, ice cream, presents and some very happy kids!  We wrapped that night up with her second sleepover.  After a communal brunch Sunday with the Ranson and Newsome clans, we headed back to Medford for an afternoon of much needed-relaxing and a wonderful pork loin dinner.

I said earlier today that I am trying to raise a young woman who is strong and self-assured.  'You're succeeding,' a friend pointed out. 'But that makes everything just a bit harder.'

So when I think back over what I am sure was one of Emma's best weekends ever, and consider all that she is as an 8 year old, I must agree with you all that she deserves a pass for today.  Thanks everyone for the attitude adjustment!

Celebrating the Little Things

Tuesday we found out that John was selected to play travel baseball again next spring.  That good news came on the heels of Emma's completion of her first season of soccer and at the end of two really long days of work for me.  On the spur of the moment, I decided a little family celebration was in order and we headed to PJ Whelihan's in Medford Lakes for an impromptu dinner out.

While it was a luxury we really can't afford right now, it ended up being a great night as PJs was filled with families doing pretty much the same thing we were.  The restaurant hires a balloon artist on Tuesdays, so everyone had brightly colored headdresses and there was a lot of laughter in the air.  Emma did her homework and chatted with classmates, John watched the big screen TVs while talking baseball and we all relaxed for an unexpected hour of fun.

I've never been a big fan of the PJ's chain, but this night may have turned the corner for me.  Emma's meal, which included a drink and dessert was only $5.99.  My fish tacos were $7.99.  John, as usual,  was the big spender with a bacon cheese burger and crab fries that topped out at $13.99.  Emma enjoyed her chicken fingers, which were nothing special, John's burger was cooked just the way he likes it and my fish tacos were good-sized and had great flavor.  I never knew the family night was a big thing there, but the balloon artist said the place is packed every week during the school year. 

We had a chance to talk about school without me running around like a crazy man trying to get dinner together, the kids had nice night out and there were no dishes to do!

Maybe we will have to make it a tradition to celebrate the little things there more often!

Wrapping Up The Youth Sports Seasons

Yesterday, Emma played the last game of her soccer season for the TAA "Green Machine."  She thoroughly enjoyed her first year of soccer, and I enjoyed coaching her and her friends.  I still say anyone must be qualified to coach soccer if I can, but it was still a great time.

Emma has begun to understand how to move to the ball and how to use her size against smaller, quicker players.  She has gotten a lot better at being able run around for the whole game without losing interest or getting tired.  She has been one of the first to volunteer to play when other kids don't want to.

I'm very proud of all that she learned and I wish we had her play soccer before this fall.  It was a far better experience for her than the T-Ball experience two years ago!  The last game was not a win, but the trophy helped the sting of the loss.  Thanks to Coach Dave and Coach Jim for really doing the real work of coaching this year.

John's fall baseball season ended a while back, the last games a casualty of the freak pre-Halloween snowstorm that hit the Mid-Atlantic.  His War Eagles squad really came together this fall, winning the last 5 games of the season. He is a big boy who is still growing into his long legs and big frame.  He's got a lot of potential and determination, but his progress this fall was incremental rather than spectacular.

John loves playing baseball and is a darn good pitcher, but his footspeed limits what he can do in the field.  His bat began to come around this fall after some coaching that found a problem with his swing.  Tryouts for the spring War Eagles teams were held last weekend and he did well, and he is on pins and needles waiting to see if he made the team.

For me, this fall season probably brings to close my 6 years of youth coaching.  The fall has been a struggle for me to balance coaching duties, work schedules and getting the kids where they need to be every day.  As John has moved up the baseball ladder, my ability to help the teams he is on has been smaller and smaller.  While Emma and I enjoyed me helping her soccer team this year, there are plenty of folks who can do what I did for the team.

Sometimes something has to give when you are a single dad, and I have known this moment was coming for some time.  Coaching my kids has given me some of the happiest moments of my life.  Seeing them grow and succeed, have fun with their friends and learn some hard lessons has been an absolute privilege.  Thankfully, there are lots of good coaches in baseball program to be able to help my son develop.  I'm still not sure how good a soccer coach I was, so I am sure someone (anyone) can fill those shoes! 

I'll still be at the games, and some of the practices, but I'll be in the stands with the other dads and moms, taking my pictures, grumbling about the coaches and enjoying every minute of it!

A Beautiful Day

I wish I had taken more pictures yesterday.  It's a day I want to remember for the rest of my life.  There was nothing super special about it, but the sum total was one of those days that you never want to have end.  It was Election Day and the kids were off from school.  I had made a decision several months ago to take the day as well.  As it turned out, the weather was glorious, with brilliant blue skies, some orange and red leaves still hanging on, and temperatures hitting 72 degrees.

Emma and I started the day teaching each other to paint her nails.  Now I am a doting father, and I don't get too hung up on gender roles, but this was not something I have done before for her.  In between the color and glitter coats, I made her French toast and we chatted about school and Halloween and her friend's pug. She ate every bit of her breakfast and gave me a big hug, burying her buttery face in my shirt and saying, 'That was great, I love you Daddy.'

After we got things cleaned up, it was time to vote.  Emma was very interested in voting this year, and she pressed all the buttons for me.  We spent some time talking about 'important US symbols' and 'just important American stuff.' I explained what an election was, who we were voting for and why and talked about leaders and decisions. Some pretty big concepts, but she seemed to get them pretty well.

After our civics lesson, Emma begged for some time at the park, so we headed over to the swings and slides and she ran shrieking with joy from one to the other until it was time to go get her brother.

On of john's friends is having some serious family health issues right now, so John had spent the night there, but by lunch time, the air guns and Wii games were kind of boring, so Emma and I went over to pick them up.  Everyone was pretty hungry after spending most of the morning outside, so we headed over to Prospector's for lunch on their indoor/outdoor patio.  John saw a few of his former classmates from Mount Laurel, we all enjoyed our root beers and watched the Penn State debacle on ESPN.

After that we were looking for a way we could all go the same place for a few hours.  The library had books for Emma and newspapers for me, as well computers for John and his buddy.  We killed an easy two hours before heading back home. 

The boys headed off to the creek to do some exploring and Emma and I enjoyed some reading time out on the porch.  She headed off for a bit with a friend for some ice cream and I sat in the late autumn sun and was thankful for a day that had brought me so many small, but special moments. 

In the evening it was time to get ready for the next day, organizing lunches, doing neglected homework, following election returns.  The day slipped away quietly, but I wanted to make sure I wrote it all down, so that I would always have it.  Thanks for sharing it with me!

Out On The Town With Emma!

While her brother is showing off his 'Moves Like Jagger' at the school dance, Emma and I are enjoying ice cream sundaes at Leo's. I hope everyone is enjoying the start to the weekend!

My Princess is 8!

It's absolutely incredible to me that my daughter Emma turns 8 today.  It seems like just yesterday she was a tiny little thing on a respirator, stubbornly fighting her way into the world.  Today she is a sweet, sometimes sassy study of a suburban tween girl who loves her shoes, her dance, her soccer and Justin Beiber.

She's my observant child, always checking things out, noting when someone has a new haircut or a cool new pair of shoes.  She's whip-smart, an enthusiastic reader who loves to write, do her art and dreams about being a dance teacher.  She is a firm teacher when working with her babies and loves to help in the kitchen.

A close follower of all things Justin Beiber, Emma also follows pop music and fashion trends closely.  She is a girl's girl, avoiding dirt, but really getting into things that are pink.  She enjoys taking pictures and shopping, is always up for a chat on the phone and can be counted on to ask me every night to read her another book to push off bedtime just a bit longer.

Still there are days when my little angel is a bit of a mystery to me.  She is often able to entertain herself for hours and will get upset if you bother her.  Other times, she needs you to constantly pay attention to her and her pretty little face will cloud over if you don't have a moment for her right then.  Generally she is easy going ans cheerful and very tolerant of her older brother.  Occasionally (especially when she is tired) all heck will break loose over the tiniest perceived problem.

I am so grateful that she has a tough spirit and a positive outlook about everything in her life.  She's had some tough times for a child and I am ever so lucky that she has come through them so well.  I am also so thankful for all the people who have helped me along the way to understand my little girl.  A single dad with a smart, willful energetic girl is very lucky to have such a tremendous array of moms, grand mothers and other friends and family to fall back on when I have questions.  We're a happy little family with a lot of love and support.

Emma's a super little girl, one of the most perfect little people I have ever known.  It makes me so happy to see her when she comes running up to me.  I know there are tougher days coming as she gets older, but today I just want to see her as the wonderful kid she has always been. 

Happy Birthday Emma!  I love you so much!

Happy Halloween!

We hope you enjoyed trick or treating as much as we did!  Medford really put out a great spread for the kids!  There are some really spooky houses, especially our neighbor on Filbert Street and a very cool house on Branch Street that has scary speakers set up in the graveyard.

Happy Halloween!

Judging the Scarecrows in Medford

We are walking a busy Main Street in Medford today, taking a look at all of the scarecrows set up for the annual contest. It's a lot of fun for a nice Sunday!

A Full Day of Youth Sports

It's a beautiful day here in South Jersey and the Another Delco Guy clan is getting ready for a full day of soccer and baseball with a morning meal at Medport Diner.

We all have our uniforms (and our hair) adjusted just so. Our cooler is packed with between game meals. Distracting activities for Emma are all ready to go for the second baseball game.

We are looking forward to a great day in the beautiful autumn weather. Enjoy your Saturday as well!

My Little Chef

It's the unexpected, stolen moments that make having a little girl so much fun. Everyone have a good week!

Pirate Boys!

John had a great time yesterday with his buddies Stevie and Dev at La Campagnola's Octoberfest. The fun continued at the Duffs' house last night and today the hits were plentiful as John and Stevie's War Eagles team beat up on the Marlton Reds 17-7.

We are on the way to Delco to watch he Birds with the family. Everyone have a great day!

The girls and Duff had a good time yesterday too, enjoying the moonbounce, face painting, and assorted other parking lot fun.

Ready For Halloween

Yes, I know it's only September, but Emma has been persistent, so the house is now fully decorated.  We got our pumpkins at Johnson's Farm again this year.  It was very crowded and not nearly the dazzling day we had last year, but it was cool and easy to do all the things we wanted to do for our visit on Saturday.

On Sunday, we hit Produce Junction for some fall mums.  Emma was very specific about which flowers she wanted.  John stayed in the CRV.  We spent Sunday afternoon eating nachos, decorating the house and hanging our Halloween lights.  Yes we have Halloween lights.

Don't you?

No Baseball Will Be Played Today

The Marlton team didn't show up, so the War Eagles are all dressed for the dance with no dance partner.

I guess we will head home and decorate for Halloween. Sigh.

Finally asleep!

Chil-fil-A Helps Everyone Feel Better!

I had everything out to make breaded chicken tonight. I had salad, garlic bread, and some veggies. We were all set to go.

But my little princess is having a bit of a bad day, so we decided that a trip to her favorite restaurant might fix things. So far it seems to be working.

There isn't much time left for the fix to be as easy as a trip to Chil-fil-A, so I will savor this while I can.

On Success

We all know what success looks like or feels like.  The effusive warmth of accomplishment.  The buoyancy of being surrounded by well-wishers.  The energy of the celebration.

We all get a few such moments in our lives. Some of us get more moments than others.  Some of the moments are more ecstatic than others.  There's always a coming down after a success, a period of quiet, of withdrawal.  And, at least for me, of wondering.  Wondering when the next success will come or if that's it for a while.

Unless you're the Philadelphia Phillies of the last 5 years.

In which case, it's just one success after another, from winning the NL East 5 consecutive times, to having a parade, to signing the best rotation in baseball. 

My baseball-crazy 11 year old son John wears #34 for his baseball team in honor of his favorite Phillie, Roy Halladay.  He got to witness in person the Phils clinching the NL East over the weekend.  It was his second time seeing it in person, the first being that magical Spetember 27th of 2008. 

I'm 41.  I've only seen them clinch in person once. 

Now thankfully the one I witnessed was with him in '08, but it led met to consider how my son thinks about the Phillies and approaches success in general.  In his memory, the Phillies have always been a winner.  There's always been Red October.  He's never known the disappointment of a baseball season that is over before the dog days of August.  I am not sure he's ever been to a Phils' game that wasn't sold out.

This run has almost ensured that John will be a Phillies fan for life.  The excitement, the passion of the city and region, the sheer joy of it all make it a certainty.  But what has it done to prepare him for the lean times that will most certainly come at some point? 

Since the stadium is packed every night and the streets of Philadelphia are flooded with red shirts and hats, it may not be for a while.  But one day this train will slow down.  A free agent will sign elsewhere.  One too many prospects will be traded away.  Reuben Amaro won't pull off the miracle trade deadline deal.  And Red October will fade.  How will this new generation of fans approach a team that is .500.  What will Citizens Bank Park feel like on a future September night when the home team is just playing out the string in front of 25,000 morose folks?

On a larger note, how has this unparalleled athletic success of the region's baseball team affected what young fans will accept as success in general.  Does it have to be straight A's, or is a C in the mix ok?  Does it have to be Ivy League, or is a state school ok?  Is rec league acceptable, or is it travel team or bust?

I'm just not sure.  But for now, it doesn't really matter.  The Phils are in the playoffs and (with the exception of the NBA season) Philly sports is in a pretty darn good place.  We can all live vicariously thought the exploits of men who make millions to play a game.  And for a few more weeks we can savor their success as our own.

BTS Night Debacle

So last night was back to school night at my son's school.  I like back to school nights.  I think they are a great way to get a feel for the school and the teachers as well as a great opportunity to get to know the other parents.  It's always interesting to meet the parents of the kids I hear so much about.  The parents seem far more normal that the texts I have read from their kids to my son about them!

Last night was my first BTS night at the school my son attends.  The last 2 BTS nights were in our old school district.  It was pretty interesting to see how two different middle schools approached the event.

Last night, our grade started by going to each of the classes on our kids' schedules.  I knew where to start, but son's mom grabbed up the paperwork so, I basically had to follow the herd from class to class since I didnt have a schedule.  No biggie.  It can't be that hard, right?

It wasn't. What was hard was the timing.  We only got 7 minutes in each class.  I was trying to figure out why we were being rushed from place to place, given that the last session was labeled as a "Meet the Related Arts Teachers" session.  Each of the 7 minute sessions was really about 5 minutes by the time we got settled.  It didn't leave much time for substantive discussions and it left NO time for personal questions.

Each teacher was great about making sure we felt comfortable with contacting them, but everything seemed pretty rushed and no one got through their entire presentation.  Once we we finished with the regular teachers, we were all herded into the gym for the "Meet the Related Arts Teachers" session.  Then it became clear why the rest of the night had been rushed. 

The school district, in its infinite wisdom, had contracted with a guest speaker to deliver a speech on all of the problems that are facing today's middle schoolers.  He got as much time for his spiel as all of the rest of the teachers combined.  It's 45 minutes of my life that I want back.  After a cursory point int the direction of the gym, art, music and Spanish teachers, John Kriger was introduced.

I've seen the standard 'The World is a Dangerous Place' talk before.  Last year, the community police officer in Mount Laurel did a great job introducing 5th grade parents to the dangers of sexting, Facebook and other issues.  He had real world examples drawn directly from our community and he was able to convey facts with authority as well as offer practical solutions. I don't live in Mount Laurel anymore, but I still have his name and number in my phone in case I have a question.

Tabernacle, though, doesn't have a home town police department, so instead went to a paid speaker.  I sure hope they didn't pay John Kriger much for his 45 minutes of fear-mongering and lecturing on 'the problems of this generation' of kids. 

Kriger presented in a warm, modulated voice, running though his slides and interacting in a friendly way with the audience.  He seems like a grandfatherly bank vice president when he's up there. A very competent seeming guy. It was his message that was just silly.

His basic theme was that technology has ruined kids.  He went on and on about the internet and being connected 24/7 and how it has ended family time, reduced concentration ability, endangered health and essentially made kids slobbering fools.

He also wanted to make sure we were terrified of bath salts (now banned), energy drinks (the same effect on the body as cocaine!!!!????), 4Loko (reformulated already) and of course Farmville.  

For every one of his pronouncements about technology and kids, I could imagine my parents sitting in the same gym 30 years ago hearing about the dangers of Movies glamorizing drinking and drugs, or their parents hearing about the dangers of television or my great grandparents hearing about the dangers of radio.

Humans evolve.  Technology changes.  Drugs of abuse have been part of human existence for eternity.  Growing up and parenting can have some scary moments, but the message last night was that kids can't possibly handle the evil place the world has become and parents are just not doing the job.

There were wild claims, unsupported statements, dated 'news' and questionable science.  And I was left wondering to what end this man was lecturing us.  He never really explained.  Just let us know that we needed to turn off our devices and be ever vigilant.

Never once did he mention how much more able this generation of kids is to collaborate, to sift though vast amounts of information to make decisions and to accept change.  Instead, he made blanket statements about colleges saying that kids are more unprepared than ever for the rigors of college work.  As a college enrollment officer, I can tell you that Kriger is dead wrong on that.  Students today are prepared for college in a different way than any generation before, but that's because the world is a very different place.

As the parents grumbled, Kriger pushed on, apparently oblivious to the fact that he had lost most of us.  A few brave souls, confident of their ability to parent their children, got up and left.  A hilarious moment came when several members of the audience spontaneously joined the volunteer fire company and bolted from the room when a fire call was sounded.

In the end my major issue was that this guy got way too much time for his alarmist agenda and the teachers got far too little time to talk to us.  He was a poor choice for a speaker, but the really poor choice was to maximize his time and minimize our potential to interact with the most important non-family members in their lives, their teachers.

Back To School Week Rolls On

Emma is very proud of the work she did on her "Classmate in a Box" project this week.  She took a shoebox, decorated it with colored paper (while I applied spray glue to my hands and living room) and then added decorations and items that are important to her.

It was hard for Emma to narrow down her important items.  In the end, she included Christmas ornaments from our trips this summer to Maine and Cape May, a mini snow globe from one of her favorite spots, the Seaside Heights Boardwalk, some cranberry items from her mother's farm and a Zhu-Zhu pet mini magazine.

Her photographs were: a shot of her dance friends at their recital, one from Medford of Emma and John, one from her soccer game, one from my birthday, a picture of her with her grandparent's puppy and one of she and her mom in the NICU.  The outside of the box was done one theme to a side, with stickers to match for dance, soccer, art and family things.  Emma finished the project by spelling out her name with sticky letter and adding Tinkerbell and fairy princess stickers to the top of the box.

Emma did a great job figuring out what she wanted to to and putting it all together.  I only helped show her how to measure the colored paper.  She did the rest and was very certain on how she wanted everything to be.  It's always hard to decide what to keep from school projects, but I think this project is a keeper because she can use it to store things that are important to her.

And up for tonight - John's Back to School Night!

Tabernacle Teachers

My kids go to school where their mom lives in Tabernacle Township, one town over from where we live in Medford. It's a pretty good school district, perhaps not quite as technologically savvy as the Mount Laurel schools they used to attend, and not really very diverse, but just fine as public schools go.  The teachers are good people, the kind of folks who are active in their community, approachable and well-trained.

Tabernacle is a very small town and a pretty quiet place.  Everyone pretty much knows everyone else or at least knows someone who does.  News travels pretty quickly and sometimes it can be a bit like being in a fishbowl.  So I was pretty surprised when I began seeing singes like the one above on all of the teachers' cars in the parking lots in the morning when I drop the kids off.  I read the local newspapers every day (online of course) and there had not been a word mentioned about the the Tabernacle teachers not having a contract or their decision to work though the labor issues.

I have no idea what the contract status is, where the talks stand or what the potential is for a strike.  I am a firm believer in teacher unions and in their right to collectively bargain and in some cases, to strike.  Usually though, the issues are fairly publicly debated, sometimes quite heatedly.  It's kind of odd to see this quiet job action happening and not know what the issues are.

On one hand, I'd much rather have teachers working under contract.  Everyone - teachers, parents, students and taxpayers deserve the certainty that a contract brings to a school district.  On the other had, if talks are continuing and things will be settled soon, this kind of job action is really about the best you could hope for as a parent.  My kids aren't affected, there aren't 'informational pickets' in the morning, and presumably the contract will soon be worked out.

I hope.

Getting Back In The Swing Of Things

Here in the Mid-Atlantic region, we've just finished the first weekend of the school year.  Temperatures are still warm and there is a goodly touch of humidity to remind us that the dreaded dog days of August are not too far in the past.

It always seems like the first week and weekend of school are jammed packed with forms to fill out, meetings, activities, games, homework and everything else under the sun.  We're coming off just such a week and even after the weekend, I feel exhausted.

I started with my annual fantasy football draft on Labor Day.  I was getting out this year, but my brother convinced me to come back and try to improve on my 4th place finish from last year.  The draft food, provided by Shane and Maria Zack of Rosalita's Fresh Mexican was stellar and mean I probably need to make a trip out to Malvern some day soon. I picked first this year and grabbed Adrian Peterson, who immediately underperformed in Week 1. Typical. 

After one last night out, it was back to school on Wednesday for the kiddies, with John starting 6th grade and Emma going into 2nd.  John has a real 'big kid' schedule, with 11 different teachers including all the 'specials.'  I guess I need to begin saving for his teacher holiday gifts now.  Emma's teacher is actually a neighbor of ours!  In a fascinating coincidence, she used to live in the house that we moved into in August.  Emma now sleeps in the same bedroom as her teacher did a decade or two ago.

After dentist appointments and sports practices last week, the weekend heralded the real beginning of fall sports season.  John's travel baseball team had a scrimmage against the 11U NJ state champion Sacred Heart Angels.  He was our starting pitcher and worked an economical 2 innings, giving up 2 hits and no earned runs, walking no one with a K.  He struggled a bit at the plate however, getting caught looking on an outside corner pitch that is his nemesis.  His War Eagles dropped the game 5-1, but really played quite well for their first game of 'real baseball' on the 50-70 field.

Emma had her first ever soccer game on Saturday morning.  She enjoyed herself despite the mugginess.  She had one really good series bringing the ball up the field for a scoring opportunity.  While she prefers to play defense, we are still working on some basic concepts with the team.  Apparently ANYONE can coach youth soccer, as I have been tabbed as an assistant.  Prior to Emma joining soccer this year, I am pretty sure the last time I was on a soccer field was for Mr. Logue's gym class at St, James in 1987.

Saturday afternoon marked the return of the annual Pesotski Crabfest, hosted this year by my sister Carin and her husband Kevin.  Normally Crabfest is held on Father's Day, but Emma had her Dance Recital on Father's Day this year and my father was under the weather, so we re-scheduled.  It was an enjoyable afternoon, not nearly as hot as some of our previous gatherings and the food, beverages and company were excellent. 

An added benefit of waiting until late in the crab season is that prices were the lowest in memory, with my brother Matt snagging a bushel for the unheard of price of $150 at Seafood Connection in Linwood.  I found a nice selection of fall beers at Medford Wine and Spirits, including Seirra Nevada's amazing Tumbler.

We wrapped the weekend up yesterday with baseball practice, some football on TV, John's late summer reading essays and Emma's forthcoming 'Classmate in a Box' project.

Things don't slow down at all this week with dance class starting up tonight, 2 practices, back to school night and a baseball tournament looming for the weekend.  How are the other daddy an mommy bloggers handling what Jennifer terms 'the layering on of activities' that begins the school year?

Last Night Out Before School!

School starts tomorrow for my kids and we are out for a last special night together before it's time to tote the backpacks!

What A day

I've not posted much lately and I thank you all who have checked in.  It's the usual. Work is worky.  Home is busy. 

So I've been waiting for a good reason to post again and spending a bit of time with my son yesterday.  John's a good kid, smart and funny.  He's ten and has had to put up with a lot of changes this year, so I try to keep my eye on him.

When he got a text message and said, "Oh, that's not good!" I was naturally a bit concerned.

I asked what was up and John readily told me that a fellow 5th grader had just texted him that he was going to kill himself. 

We turned the car around and headed back to the school for a talk with the principal.

John was pretty level-headed and texted his friend not to do anything.  He let the  other boy know that it was not going to help anything and that he wanted him as a friend.

The principal got through to the boy's mom and established that the boy was fine and had not actually done anything.  Everyone gave a sigh of relief.

I'm darn lucky to have two great kids.  It's just amazing how fast they grow up!

So if you're a parent, give the kids a hug.  They have so much more pressure on them at much younger ages.  If you're not a parent, I'm not asking for sympathy.  It'a a great job, no matter how hard it can be.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's cold and gray outside.  There is a hint of woodsmoke in the air. Geese honk softly above.  It's Thanksgiving in America.  While this has not been an easy year For Another Delco Guy, there is still much to be thankful for.

The recession finally directly visited our doorstep this year as Char lost her job in July in the wake of Gov. Chris "Chainsaw" Christie's budget cuts to schools across our state.  Through a ton of work and perseverance on her part, she has found new work since then, but it's been a struggle in a lot of ways.

We had to take the kids out of the schools they love a few weeks back, but they are adjusting to their "new normal" and have really been an inspiration to me as I have been rolling with this year's punches.  There is nothing in my life I am as thankful for as the love that John and Emma bring to our home.  Wether it's dancing with joy on stage or triumphantly striking out the side, they are really amazing children who have brought us so much laughter and happiness.

I'm a pretty lucky guy.  I've got a solid job at a great place.  I was able to get an education that has given me virtually everything I could have hoped for in life.  I am able to write, travel and live pretty much as I please.  My freedoms are protected by the service of men and women who I have never met and who place themselves in harm's way for my family and our country.  I thank them today for their service to our nation.  I also thank all the teachers and mentors who have helped me at every stop in my life.  I may not be where I thought I would be, but where I am is a pretty darn good spot!

The men and women who, in 1620, came to what would become the United States left everything they knew, persevered though horrible weather and hardships that make my life look regal.  After the harvest of 1621, the remaining colonists gathered with the local native Americans and shared a simple meal.  From that first peaceful meal, grew the Thanksgiving tradition we have today.  The values that they set forth then, of shared sacrifice, hard work, freedom of choice and providing for a community's education and defense are the foundations of our great country today.

A small tradition here at Another Delco Guy is Norman Rockwell's Freedom from Want, which always graces our page on Thanksgiving.  It reminds me of the great Thanksgivings of my childhood in my grandparent's house back in Delaware County.  This is our fifth Thanksgiving day post and Norman has been here since the beginning.  I am thankful for a childhood that taught me to not take anything for granted.  My parents and grandparents worked hard to make sure that we had all that we needed and then some.  I hope I can do as well for my children.

Today is my favorite holiday.  We will be surrounded by family and friends who will come from far and wide to our little house with their offerings of food and friendship.  All of those who will be here and the family and friends who are celebrating elsewhere but have been so incredible to me over the years are the reason that my life is great and Thanksgiving is the best holiday of the year.  We will celebrate each others company, watch football, remember those who can't be here, become thoughtful about all that we have to give thanks for and finally fall asleep against each other in front of the fire. 

And that's the way it should be.  Happy Thanksgiving America!

Happy Birthday Emma!

Emma Reads Her Card
Originally uploaded by Cavalier92

Emma is Seven! The days of me having to read Emma her birthday cards are gone and she is no longer a tiny little thing. She is a big first grader now and can read her cards all on her own!

Far from the tiny thing she was when she was born, Emma is now a poised, mature seven year old who enjoys her dance classes, drawing and coloring, cooking and taking care of her babies.

She likes all of her gifts this morning, from a new dress and some things for her Zhu Zhu pet to do as well as the new Tinkerbell DVD from her brother.

Emma is a sweet girl who makes us all happy with her smiles and her great hugs. Happy birthday Princess!

The First Day of School

I've long thought the first day of school should be a national holiday. Given the number of posts from Mommy bloggers today, it seems that many folks either took the day off (me), or were a bit late making it into the office.

After I was informed that it was 'geeky' to wait for the bus with my newly-minted middle-schooler John, I retreated to telephoto lens distance to document his wait for the bus. Not wanting to completely mortify him, I skipped shots of him actually getting on the bus, and settled for a few during his 20 plus minute wait for Mount Laurel Schools Bus #1. He's the last kid to board and apparently some of the other parents did not show my restraint in capturing the morning's activities. Thus the delay.

As our bus (both kids ride the same bus, just about an hour apart) sped off, Emma finished up her breakfast and got herself ready for her first day of first grade by reading "Twas the Night Before First Grade." I was actually permitted to wait out front for the bus with Emma. Apparently the cutoff is Middle School. We got some nice photos of my little angel in her first day dress smiling in the long shadows of September. She was a bit less than patient during the wait. When it was time, Emma practically ran up the steps to the bus and was off!

And then there was quiet.

Now though, they are back with piles of homework for me to read and to sign, lists of more things that we need to get from Target and the Jackson Outlets. The first day went well it seems, for both the first grader and the middle schooler. John thought his homeroom teahcer, Mr. gaddy was 'cool, real cool,' and enjoyed gym the most.  (We've got a guys trip to target for deodorant on tap for tonight).  Emma said her teacher Mrs. Basham was 'super nice,' and lso got a hug from her Kindergarten teacher from last year, Mrs. Kinkler.  Emma brought greetings home for John from his teachers last year Mrs. Siweic and Mrs. Cohen.

Both prefer the bus to being picked up and dropped off. Neither wants to pack tomorrow, both preferring to chance the 'chicken patty' over the potential of being teased for brown bagging it.  Special thanks to Mount Laurel Schhols PR chief Marie Reyonlds for helping me though how to log into the cafeteria system!

Tomorrow the first full school day of the year, with lockers and changing classes as the new things for John and the cafeteria and lunch line for  Emma. It's only a 2 ½ day week with the secular and Jewish holidays making for a light first week, so we will be easing back into to the school year before reality sets with 5 full days next week!

My Buddy is 10!!!

John The Snowboy
Originally uploaded by Cavalier92

Its hard to believe that it's been 10 years. On a hot, steamy June Monday, John burst into the world. Thunderstorms had rolled though over the night and the day was very much like today.

In ten years, John as become everything I could have ever hoped for in a son. He's great in school, has a wonderful sense of humor and deeply cares about his family and friends. John loves baseball above all things, but also is an avid reader and a wonderful writer.

It's been an eventful 10 years for him, moving from Media, PA to the Pinelands to Moorestown and finally here in Mount Laurel. He's found friends at each stop, from our first neighbor Joe Burns to the flocks of kids at Fleetwood School yelling "John!!!!!!" when I pick him up from school.

Last week his family surrounded him for a great pool party and i have not see him happier. Except maybe for when the Phils clinched the pennant.

Buddy - this is your day and I want you to know how proud I am of you and how much I love you!

Tiny Dancers

Emma and Natalie were wonderful tonight. A really great way to get the weekend started!

Congratulations John!

John Brings it Home!
Originally uploaded by Cavalier92

John has had a great few weeks, from walking on the field with his MLB buddies at Citizens Bank Park to portraying Bruce Springsteen in Jersey Day to today's Fleetwood Awards, where he brought home two awards.

The highlight was his Presidential Academic Achievement Award, symbolic of his all-around excellent 4th grade year. Only 3 kids in his class got one.

You can see from his smile just how proud he is of his achievement. What you can't see is how proudly I am smiling!

On Old Friends, Being a Parent and the Space-Time Continuum

Today I saw a friend of mine - a great dad - who I have seen only a few times since college.  While talking about our children, the years melted away and we were 18 again.  It was a good conversation.  Full of memories and laughter, sadness and moments of quiet.  One we have to have again far sooner than we have had in the past.

Our children are our link to all that is good in our past and a guarantee that the future will be bright.

While James Earl Jones in "Field of Dreams" who said that it was baseball that reminds us of all that once was good and it could be again, he was wrong.

It is our children. They are our link to the past and future.

The Kids Are Ready For Santa!!

Ponytails and Reindeer Antlers!

Emma is Six!

Today is a very special day here at Another Delco Guy because our little princess turns six today. She came into the world six weeks early, and it's been one surprise after another since then.

Emma is a super sweet little girl who loves her brother more than anyone. She is always ready with a big smile and hug to cheer you up. Emma has overcome her tendency to take it easy and has grown to love her dance class this year.

Taking care of her babies and cooking are her favorite things to do at home and she loves to snuggle up and read before bed. A trip the Chick-fil-A makes her day, but Emma also love to eat vegetables of all kinds.

Emma makes us proud every day and we are so happy when she brings us new artwork or reads to us from Olivia.

Happy Birthday to the best little girl in the world! Daddy loves you very much!!!  

Baseball Night In America

John and I just got home from his game, where the Kelly Green team came from behind to beat the Red Team 10-7.  John was 1-1 with an RBI, 2 walks and was hit by a pitch.

Just before the game got underway, I got a message from Enrico of The700Level.com offering me an extra ticket.  I had to decline.  There aren't any other places I would rather be than a Phillies potential clincher.  But I made the tough choice and stayed with my boy.

Let's go Phils!!!

Back To School Night

I have to admit I love going to Back to School Night.  There is something special about sitting in their tiny chairs with the other parents.  Hearing about your children from people who are today total strangers, but will be among the most important people in their lives for the next year is also fascinating.

Add in that this is the first year in a new school and there is so much to think about.  Emma's teacher has both a business degree as well as a master in early childhood education.  I can see her reading her Blackberry with one hand and finger painting with the other. John's teacher is energetic and engaging, and a big sports fan.  Her co-teacher clearly loves John already.  The teachers seem to be perfect matches for my children.

Fleetwood Elementary School is small and homey.  Built as the 60s came to a close, it's in remarkable shape for the 360 or so neighborhood kids who will spend much of their waking moments there until June.  

I hope you all take the time to go to your own Back to School Nights.  I always learn somehting and I always leave smiling.

John Is Famous!

There are benefits to having a significant other who is in public relations.  One is that the kids get in the paper with startling regularity.  Emma has been a front page girl three times in the last year and today it's John's turn. 

He had a great time last week as the Coco Key Honorary Bat Boy at the Camden Riversharks game.  And now he's even more excited to be the focus of media attention for even a few days.

Special thanks to Brian Burgamy (#7) for spending some one on one time in the dugout with John and also to Dom Principato, of Deptford, who helped John get comfortable in the dugout before the game.

It was a thrill to be on a beautiful field playing catch with my son as the guys got ready to play last Monday.  Thanks again to everyone who made it happen, especially Char.

Happy Father's Day!

There is no doubt that the most fulfilling part of my life is being a father.  I won't say it's always the easiest thing in the world to do, but it offers the most reward of anything I have ever done.  John and Emma do it all for me.  They wake me in the morning, they make me watch the clock at work, they thrill me with their accomplishments and they wrench my heart with their struggles.

To say that being a dad has its ups and downs understates things to a laughable point.  Everything about it is a balancing act.  Whether it's juggling the calendar around 8U games or keeping up with the ever-changing roster of best friends for a precocious little girl, putting them above me isn't that hard. 

Maybe it's odd to say, but these two kids have helped me grow.  I'm still a kid inside in a lot of ways, but they force me to make the tough choices, to teach, to correct, to develop and indeed to learn.  I assume it is this way with all dads, but who knows.  I'm too busy with my own to do much asking around!

We've had a lot of changes in the last year.  As a dad, it's been a time of growth and fun.  We've had some great times like celebrating the Phillies World Series, John's First Communion and Emma learning to read, and some tough moments as well.  Through everything, they fulfill me in a way that I never could have imagined in the days before they came into my lives.

While it's mostly my kids I am talking about today, it is being a father that I am thinking about.  I've got my new Wii Fit here and some beautiful school art projects from John and Emma.  Later today we'll head over to Delco for the Annual Father's Day Crab Fest.  We'll watch the Phillies try to break the streak against the Orioles and some of the action at Bethpage Black.

I'll be thinking about my dad and his dad as well as my mom's dad.  They were great examples to me.  I will also be thinking about all the kids who have lost dads though their service to our country, either here at home or abroad.  I can't imagine missing out on being a dad.  It's an experience I treasure.

Thanks Dad!  I appreciate all the sacrifices you have made and continue to make for me.  And I know John and Emma do as well.

Happy Father's Day!

Finally Friday

Today was one of those days that make all the hard moments of being a dad worth it.

Emma graduated from Pre-K wearing a pretty pink dress covered with a white graduation gown and mortarboard.  She enjoyed the party afterward and the fact that she drew lots of guests, but looked supremely bored during the ceremony.  Her teacher named her the hardest working student. I can't think of a better compliment!

John and his Tabernacle 8U team opened play in the Pinelands Classic Tournament with a 6-0 win over Northern Burlington.  NB won the Pinelands Classic last year, so this is a big win.  John was 1-2 with and RBI but didn't have a play in the field.

We wrapped up the evening with ice cream cake to celebrate a great day!

Now we're watching the third straight Phils extra innings game as they look to know off the Red Sox at CBP.

Have a great weekend!

Wiffle Ball Party!

John's teammates Marcus and Kevin turn 9 today, so we're at the brand-new Big League Dreams for a Wiffle Ball Birthday Party. John and his buddies are having a great time. The place has three different 'fields' of varying sizes where the kids can play. Plus there are party rooms and snack stand.

It's a converted ice rink that just opened as a 3 field facility with 1" long artificial grass and a great stereo system. If you're looking for a place for a boy's party in Burlington County, check out Big League Dreams on Fostertown Road in Medford!  The fields rent for $75 an hour, party packages start at $350 for 20 kids, they have open gym on Saturday nights for $10 per kid and they're even planning a summer camp for $200 a week.

In case you couldn't tell I think this place has a great concept.  I just hope that enough people hear about it!