Class of 08'

This year is the 100th graduating class at Kelso High school so we invited a class member from each class to represent each year at graduation. Of course we didn't have someone from every class, but we did have 76 classes represented - which was cool. The oldest was a 100 year old lady from the class of 1927. Mom represented 1973 and I, 1995. We got to talking and we figured that our family (including those who married in like Elten and Amber) of Nordstrom's, Groce's, and Lemiere's could represent about 25 years or so by ourselves. Not bad.
During any graduation ceremony, optimism is at an all-time high. You should hear the laundry list of projected majors these kids think they're going to do. I'll bet very few of them go "pre-med" and actually go into "pre-heat the grill cuz the fries are about up". Ahh youth. So innocent and naieve. . . As I sat next to the representatives from the classes of 1992-1997 and looked at the class of 2008, I couldn't help but think, "Yes, you too can gain 30 lbs."

Dash is about 50-50 walk/crawl now and it's pretty cute. (see video) Kaed gave me a Father's Day card he made at school. It is totally sweet. He's been getting good feedback on his shaved head too. Which is nice. For Father's Day, Dash and I ate a sleeve of Saltine crackers while watching the US Open. He also napped in my lap while I napped on my chair. It was great. Tiger Woods is great.

Wanna see a 1 year old stuff a cracker down his throat in one bite?

Still . . . um, bald . . .

What do you get when you cross a dad? A bald kid. Kaed's really been acting up lately. Time-outs, spankings, no t.v. just haven't been working. So since he's pretty self-concious about his appearance, I shaved his head. Good idea huh?! He hates it. You should have heard him cry. He'll get over it though....

I'M JUST KIDDING!

Kaed really wanted me to shave his head so all of you just calm down. That would be pretty harsh to do that to a kid. But I wil say this - Leah isn't wild about it. Dash has more hair than Kaed now. No lie. I took my face shaver and did the sides of his head so there is nothing there. Which really brings out his skinniness. Here's where I would normally make my Holocaust survivor joke, but I think I've been insensitive enough for one post. He loves it though. And so do I. Eric thinks he looks older.

And just like that . . .

. . . the digging stopped. We broke ground on Monday (see pic) and on Tuesday, we stopped. It rained for one, and the footings at one corner of our basement need to be re-engineered because they'll have to be bigger than originally thought. (*sigh*)

Leah and I had our 3rd anniversary this week. Let me tell you how this young couple painted the city of Longview red: we got our friends (Brad and Tiffany Phillips) to watch the boys, ans we went and saw the new Indian Jones movie(it was ok). No dinner, no gifts, no making out in the theatre. If any of these 3 things would have happened in our first year, we just wouldn't have made it. My how things have changed... It was almost 10pm when we picked up the boys and Dash was still going strong, Kaed was sleeping. Dash loves Brad. He just does. Allegedly, they just sat and head-butted each other for most of the evening. He hangs with guys so much better than with girls. A real "man's man". And no, he's never seen a gladiator movie (Airplane anyone . . .).

Kaed's rookie season ended last weekend and alas, I rejoice. He had a great season, the team was fun, coaching was good, but he and I (and Leah and Jon) were ready for it to be done. Central Baseball was a great experience, I guess, and am looking forward him to play in Kelso next year - where every kid's dad thinks he's going pro. (we did just have a kid get drafted in the 4th round this week) I'm sure it will be even more ridiculous. Can't wait.

So Leah and I rented "P.S. I love you" last week - because we always watch movies that I like... And let me save you a few dollars and a box of tissues when I say, "DON'T WATCH IT!" Holy moly. Hillary Swank's husband dies young from a tumor, but sets up a way for her to receive letters from him for up to a year after he dies. As good as this movie is at times, his death hangs over every moment of the movie so you almost feel bad when something is funny. Anyway, I was a mess. And it wasn't even that good. Oh, and Leah didn't watch it.