Kemah HeartWalk

Saturday we walked in Kemah for the American Heart Association.  Dziadziu and Auntie Jo came too.

We set out a little early to ensure we were back home by the UT-OU game.

Saturday afternoon we went with Jen, Dave and Alton to Dewberry farms in Katy.  It was a little crowded.

Elissa's Birthday Party and Visits to see Aunt Heather

Link to all October Pictures HERE:

Sunday Elissa had her 4th Birthday Party and a bounce place.  Nick did a great job with his in-laws in setting up and running the party.  After the bouncing we had pizza, ice cream and cake.  Sean was very into the eating part, not so much the bouncing part.  Not captured on "film:" Dave pushing Greg on a cart in the parking lot racing Mike and Zachary.

 

After the bounce party we went to visit Heather in the hospital.  Baby Dylan's due date has been set for next week.  Way to hang in there Heather!

 

 

Shelf Construction 10/3/09

Sean and Daddy work on a new shelf to better organize toys in line with Daddy's OCD.

Sean going for more screws - the hard way

Looking for new places to stick screws

Cubby holes for his "babies"

After a hard day of construction work it is time to settle down and read the Pottery Barn catalog with Mommy.

Trip to NY for Aunt Izia's Birthday

Last weekend the extended Pastalaniec family got together in Amsterdam, NY - All 8 of us - for Aunt Izia's 80th birthday.  Grandma and Dziadziu drove up earlier in the week and the rest of us flew up on Saturday and back on Monday. All had a great time, especially Izia and Sean (and maybe Grandma - Sean was a real Grandma's boy.)

 

 Sean helps Izia blow her candles out

 Izia forgot it was her birthday and gave Sean some gifts: a cool book about a tractor and a new Thomas train station.  Sean was in train heaven.  He played that the train station was in Amsterdam and was delivering passengers to the airport in Albany.

We took a side trip on Sunday to a craft show in Broadalbin at the Eagle Mills cider mill

Sean helps Grandma feed her favorite animal - a goat!

A family picture in front of the cider mill

A machine guarding accident waiting to happen in the cider mill

Rasing Money for the American Heart Association

On October 17th The American Heart Association will be holding the Bay Area Heart Walk in Kemah.  We have split up into four teams at ISP (by operating shift) to sign up walkers and encourage donations.

Click HERE to join my team, the "A-Team," as a walker.

Click HERE to donate to the American Heart Association

Since 1924 the American Heart Association has helped protect people from the ravages of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, the Nation's No.1 and No.3 killers, claim more than 910,000 American lives a year. The association invests more than $540 million a year for research, professional and public education, and advocacy so people across America can live stronger, longer lives.

Saturday was ISP's company picnic at Moody Garden's Palm Beach.  We had the entire park reserved for ISP - it was awesome.  Sean spent 2+ hours in the water playing with other ISP kids.

The package deal included a pass to our choice of another Moody Garden attraction.  We went to the aquarium.  Sean has been very interested in animals and animal families, especially fish and sting rays.

Early Sunday morning Elissa was a surprise visitor.  After she woke up the two cousins were inseparable the rest to the day playing pretend games.  We took a trip to the park and played a little there and then had lunch at Sonic - putting the nail in he coffin of Dave's attempt to try be  healthy for the week.

Friday Night Lights

Friday night lights at the Friendswood Mustang's stadium.  Sean's first high school game and Dave's first in 20+ years.  We explained to Sean that the Mustangs were his team, the Aggies are Mom's team, the Longhorns are Dad's team and the Buckeyes are Grandpa's team.  The Mustangs won 42-7 over the Nederland Bulldogs.

New stats and a busy weekend at home

Sean visited the doctor last week to get his flu shot - he measured 37 inches and weighed in at 29 lbs.  His verbal skills and vocabulary continue to increase. The past week he has been all about matching: "I need the bread that matches the hot dog!" (not a tortilla, as was offered.) This evening he asked me to sit "criss cross applesauce," which apparently is the modern terminology for sitting with your legs crossed.

Sean and Mommy get ready for bed

Sean and Grandma play "boat"

No more monkeys jumping on the bed....

Sean at Kemah on a rainy day

Labor Day weekend in Kerrville

Labor Day weekend, at Nana and Grandpa's house was a fun and exhausting weekend.  Barbara and her friends celebrated Beth's birthday on Saturday while Dave, Sean and the rest of the Boyces watched football.  On Sunday, after a tasty lunch and no nap the day before, it was just a matter of who would fall first, Sean or Nana.

Late August visit from Uncle Joe!

Uncle Joe came to visit in late August.  He brought Sean some great books and we tried out a vegetarian restaurant in Houston.  It was great to see him.

Insulation Weekend

After getting our latest electric bill, I was spurred to action to reduce it, even though it was not as bad as a should have been. Month over month it is about 30% higher for a house twice the size. Most of the attic had been covered in R-19 batts. In many places, about 30%, it had been pealed back. We replaced all pulled R-19 with R-30 and used loose R-19 to pack the edges. We also spread several rolls of R-30 perpendicular to the original insulation. Sean took a break to ride his horse. (and contemplate Favre playing for the Vikings.)

Rothisberger

Typical of places missing insulation

August Weekend Work and Fun

Sean and Dave spent part of Saturday replacing the kitchen sink water faucet and accessories. Sean actually was helpful, when he was not standing on my stomach while I was under the sink. On Saturday night Barb, Darlene, Heather, my sister and my mother all went to Phantom of the Opera. Sean an I watched Monster Trucks online. On Sunday we all trooped to the beach for some fun in the sun.

Ohio 2009 Part III

Monday (7/27/09) we split up. Sean, Elissa, Nana, Grandpa and Heather stayed at Lakeside while Dave and the three Boyce kids took the ferry to Kelly's Island. Both groups had a great time and got back together for dinner at Lakeside. After dinner the girls and kids went for ice cream and the boys smoked cigars on the lake in honor of Ted's birthday. All and all we all had a great time in Lakeside and plan to return as a family.

Sean and Elissa were big fans of the sandboxes in Lakeside

For Tadd: Yes we were passed by a scary guy driving a riding lawnmower (for at least 0.5 miles that we saw!)

The glacial grooves on Kelly's Island

Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plant cooling tower seen from Kelly's Island, about 20 miles to the east.

Sean practices his short game - watch out Uncle Greg!

Another, even fancier, sandbox

Nana and Grandpa pushing the grandkids

Ohio Part II

Sunday morning Dave finally made it out for a run for the first time in 6+ weeks. Half the run was on the Cleveland MetroParks trails that ring center Cleveland.

Late on Sunday morning we got all of our ducks in a row and started heading towards Lakeside. We went by Great Grandman and Greatgrandpa's graves on the way up.

We took the slow route up along highways 2 and 6 - both scenic byways because of parks, old nice homes and old industry to look at.

We stopped for lunch at Quaker's Steak and Lube: Great food and a great place for the kids to watch the boats go by while waiting for our food.

The we drove the remaining 20 minutes to Lakeside and checked into the Lakeside Hotel - built in 1857.

After that we walked around to see the sights: water, beaches, cottages, shops, etc.

From 6pm to 7pm we watched the band Pantasia from Findlay, OH - an all steel drum band. They were very good.

After dinner at Sloopy's we split up to get the kids in bed or to play minature golf. Dave was trounced by his brothers' in law.

Elissa and Sean watch boats in the harbor from Quakers'

Sean and Ellissa pose as fried food

Pantasia, a steel drum band from Findlay High School, performs - they were good

Sean drums along on a tree