AJ's First Dentist Appointment

Another first for AJ this week - this time a visit to the Dentist! he was a champ. Not the least bit intimidated. In fact he loved the tools and wanted to try them all out and thought the chair that moved up and down was really cool . In the end he rummaged thru the "treasure chest" for special stickers and a new toothbrush, waved his goodbyes to the office staff and and was off to school like it was no big deal. What a kid!

Here are a few pics. For the full chronology go here.

AJ's First Day On Skis!

So today was the day that Julie and mom and the two grandmothers went to see The Nutcracker. AJ and I - cause, you know "guys stick together" - we decided to go skiing!!

AJ has rented gear for the first time this season but had never been on skis before. We drove up to thunder Ridge in Patterson NY about 15 mins away. They had been makings now all week and we got about 3 inches of fresh snow Friday night so it looked perfect for his inaugural run.

We arrived at exactly noon, suited up and trudged out. I forgot to bring the little rubber clamps that keeps the ski tips from crossing or spreading though, and so we pretty much just flailed around on the icy hill. He could barely stand up and I was sweat soaked after carrying him up and down the hill. So at 12:15pm we went in for lunch!! Whoo hoo! It's Miller time!

After some pizza and soup we re-grouped. I bought the rubber clamps inside, walked him 200 yards all the way over to the kiddie lift and we rode up determined to "do it right" this time. I tucked him between my knees and pointed the tips downhill. He whooped it up the whole way down and was grinning ear-to-ear when we got back on the chair. We did that about 10 times more and by the end he was snow-plowing (we called it a "pizza wedge") half the way down (still between my legs) and then asking me to "go fast" the rest of the way. We had a great time and I know he'll do great when we go to VT in Feb now. Pray for snow!

Hike!

AJ's favorite game to play is "hike" or "crash". It's pretty basic. It involves me yelling "hike" and him crashing into me with reckless abandon. Sometimes we play on the living room floor but really it is best played in a large open green field! Which is exactly where we played it recently.

Whoo hoo! Gotta love boys! Think he'll wanna play football?

- JPL

Parades and Recitals

Memorial Day we went back to Rodgefield to see the best damn parade around. AJ wore Dad's Marine hat and carried a Marine Corps flag. Dad would have been proud. Then last weekend Julie had her first real ballet recital in full costume and in front of an audience of several hundred people!!! Dad would have been proud of that too! You can also download a video of her performance here.

Our Weekend at Church!

As most of you know we don't go to church regularly so last weekend was a special occasion - we went twice!!

Saturday was Ryan's 1st communion so we got the kids all dressed up. I wasn't sure how AJ would behave but he was as quiet as a mouse and just as cute. We had lunch with family afterwards and then packed into the car and drove 3 hours to Montauk for my buddy Chris's son Luke's baptism. Once again AJ and Julie were awesome and well behaved - no small feat considering how little these kids set foot in a church let alone sit thru a full Mass.

- JP

Here are a few pics of AJ dressed up, doing his best to nail a GQ cover shot. The rest are located here.