Thursday, March 29
Cuddle Bunny
Well, Addy has changed, but it looks like Dad is still wearing the same shirt around the house.
Tuesday, March 27
The Best Weekend of the Year
For those who cant wait a whole week until next Monday night, here is a little something for the Ipods this week when you are working out.
One Shining Moment
One Shining Moment
Friday, March 23
Go Heels!
Addy donned her Carolina Blue today in anticipation of UNC's big game tonight vs. Southern Cal at 10 PM. Gonna be a late night.
It's Getting Hot in Here...
85 degrees plus today here in Williamsburg, so Addy took it upon herself to take her shirt off in the middle of the night. Bet you didn't know she could do that, yeah neither did we. It was quite a shock for Mom.
Saturday, March 17
March Madness: Part Two
Brett and I went to Winston-Salem on Thursday for the first round NCAA games thanks to a gift from my UNC hookup at the Chapel who has thrown me some tickets in the past. Here are the day's highlights and some pictures from the day. Go Heels!
5. Best Famous Fan Sightings of the Day. Former 49ers Head Coach, Steve Mariucci. He and Michigan State Coach, Tom Izzo are reportedly best friends.
Here is where Mariucci was sitting. Better seats than former Michigan State coach, Jud Heathcoat. Now thats some serious juice.
Runner Up: Former Georgetown Head Coach, John Thompson, who does radio for CBS. His son is the current Georgetown Coach. I was a huge G'town fan as a kid when Ewing, Mutombo and Mourning were playing there, so it was a thrill to see him in person.
4. Best Reason to Be a #1 Seed in the NCAAs: Can you say "home court advantage?" Check out all the Carolina blue in the stadium. Winston-Salem is an hour from Chapel Hill.
3. Best Fan Costume: This little guy went to far as to wear a mask like his favorite player, Tyler Hansbrough, who has a broken nose from a foul in the ACC tournament.
Here is Tyler with his mask at the free throw line.
2. Best Reason to Attend the First Round: The majority of tickets are sold to locals who have these things called "jobs" that seem to prevent them from attending basketball games at Noon on a Thursday. Hence the entire lower section is available if you are upper deck ticket holders like us. This is the view from where we sat for the afternoon games. We sat in the Michigan State section for the UNC game at 10 PM after they all went home to bed.
5. Best Famous Fan Sightings of the Day. Former 49ers Head Coach, Steve Mariucci. He and Michigan State Coach, Tom Izzo are reportedly best friends.
Here is where Mariucci was sitting. Better seats than former Michigan State coach, Jud Heathcoat. Now thats some serious juice.
Runner Up: Former Georgetown Head Coach, John Thompson, who does radio for CBS. His son is the current Georgetown Coach. I was a huge G'town fan as a kid when Ewing, Mutombo and Mourning were playing there, so it was a thrill to see him in person.
4. Best Reason to Be a #1 Seed in the NCAAs: Can you say "home court advantage?" Check out all the Carolina blue in the stadium. Winston-Salem is an hour from Chapel Hill.
3. Best Fan Costume: This little guy went to far as to wear a mask like his favorite player, Tyler Hansbrough, who has a broken nose from a foul in the ACC tournament.
Here is Tyler with his mask at the free throw line.
2. Best Reason to Attend the First Round: The majority of tickets are sold to locals who have these things called "jobs" that seem to prevent them from attending basketball games at Noon on a Thursday. Hence the entire lower section is available if you are upper deck ticket holders like us. This is the view from where we sat for the afternoon games. We sat in the Michigan State section for the UNC game at 10 PM after they all went home to bed.
1. Best Moment of the Day: The largest cheer of the day was not when UNC was blowing out Eastern Kentucky, but when they announced the final score of the Duke game...VCU 79, Duke 77. Now THAT is something to cheer about.
Friday, March 16
Glamour Shots
Here is a slide show of some pictures that were taken of Addy recently by a woman who is trying to build a portfolio as a personal photographer. She is hosting a cutest baby contest to build up a client base.
Here are some proofs from the shoot, please do not print copies of them, since they are under copyright. The final one is the one we are entering the contest.
Wednesday, March 14
March Madness
Jon is off to Winston-Salem, NC today to watch the first round of the NCAA Men's Tournament, including Georgetown, Michigan State, Boston College, and the real reason I am excited, the North Carolina Tar Heels.
In honor of the tourney, here is Addy in her Aunt's Caroline's Clemson outfit showing her outrage that they did not make the big dance! (To be honest, the purple velour pants were not part of the outfit Caroline gave her, those were a "Daddy Dressing Addy" special.
Backyard Addy
Well, the professional photographer's daughter got a hold of the camera today...pretty artistic shots of Addy, huh. It was 80 today here, so nice! Addy LOVES being outside, she clamors at the door as soon as you say "walk."
Monday, March 12
Don't Leave It On The Desk......
This is a little long to read, it will take about 4 minutes, but it is the best illustration I have read in a while of God's love for us demonstrated through Jesus Christ. As we pray regularly for Addison to one day accept the love and grace of Jesus for herself, I thought we would include this story for you to read as well.
There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States. Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his or her freshman year, regardless of his or her major.
Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to tak e Christianity seriously.
This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was w ell liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.
One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. "How many push-ups can you do?"
Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."
"200? That's pretty good, Steve," Dr Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?"
Steve replied, "I don't know... I've never done 300 at a time."
"Do you think you could?" again asked Dr. Christianson.
"Well, I can try," said Steve.
"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I n eed you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.
Steve said, "Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it."
Dr. Christianson said, "Good. I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind."
Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to
get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.
Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?"
Cynthia said, "Yes."
Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"
"Sure." Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and ask e d, "Joe, do you want a donut?"
Joe said, "Yes." Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?"
Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got their donut. Walking down the second aisle, Dr Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship. When the
professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"
Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own pushups?"
Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."
Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."
Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?" With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten pushups.
Scott said, "Hey, I said I didn't want one".
Dr. Christianson said, "Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it" And he put a donut on Scott's desk.
Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspira tion coming out around his brow. Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked
Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"
Sternly, Jenny said, "No."
Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?" Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.
By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these pushups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.
Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten pushups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely. Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row.
During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room.
He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it. Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.
Steve asked Dr. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"
Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your pushups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want." And Dr. Christianson went on.
A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO, don't come in Stay out!"
Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come."
Professor Christianson said, "You realiz e that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten pushups for him?"
Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut."
Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now Jason, do you want a donut?"
Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. "Yes," he said, "give me a donut."
"Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?" Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.
Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.
The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?"
Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."
Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?" Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda.
Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?"
Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?"
Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it alone, I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked my grade book. Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade.
Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that n one of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes."
"Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?" As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.
Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said. "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was requir ed of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten."
Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.
"Well done, good and faithful servant," said the professor, adding, "Not all sermons are preached in words."
Turning to his class, the professor said, "My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not only His Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose
to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid."
"Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?"
There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States. Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his or her freshman year, regardless of his or her major.
Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to tak e Christianity seriously.
This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was w ell liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.
One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. "How many push-ups can you do?"
Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."
"200? That's pretty good, Steve," Dr Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?"
Steve replied, "I don't know... I've never done 300 at a time."
"Do you think you could?" again asked Dr. Christianson.
"Well, I can try," said Steve.
"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I n eed you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.
Steve said, "Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it."
Dr. Christianson said, "Good. I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind."
Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to
get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.
Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?"
Cynthia said, "Yes."
Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"
"Sure." Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and ask e d, "Joe, do you want a donut?"
Joe said, "Yes." Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?"
Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got their donut. Walking down the second aisle, Dr Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship. When the
professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"
Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own pushups?"
Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."
Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."
Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?" With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten pushups.
Scott said, "Hey, I said I didn't want one".
Dr. Christianson said, "Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it" And he put a donut on Scott's desk.
Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspira tion coming out around his brow. Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked
Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"
Sternly, Jenny said, "No."
Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?" Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.
By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these pushups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.
Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten pushups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely. Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row.
During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room.
He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it. Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.
Steve asked Dr. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"
Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your pushups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want." And Dr. Christianson went on.
A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO, don't come in Stay out!"
Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come."
Professor Christianson said, "You realiz e that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten pushups for him?"
Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut."
Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now Jason, do you want a donut?"
Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. "Yes," he said, "give me a donut."
"Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?" Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.
Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.
The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?"
Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."
Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?" Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda.
Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?"
Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?"
Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it alone, I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked my grade book. Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade.
Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that n one of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes."
"Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?" As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.
Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said. "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was requir ed of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten."
Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.
"Well done, good and faithful servant," said the professor, adding, "Not all sermons are preached in words."
Turning to his class, the professor said, "My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not only His Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose
to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid."
"Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?"
Party Weekend
Addy and the family were on the move this weekend. Saturday we celebrated the upcoming birth of baby Grimes and Sunday we went to Joel and Julie Young's to celebrate Charlotte's dedication that morning. So a fun weekend for Addy with plenty of kids to play with. Other than a few moments of Hudson asserting his dominance over Addy (read: pushing her over), everyone got along very well. Here is Hudson showing Addy around the house and Addy playing with some of his toys.
Thursday, March 8
Family Day in Colonial Williamsburg
We took Addy out for a walk last Sunday with Max to give him the CW tour. It was the first time she has been out walking in public where she was free to explore. Man, is she adventurous! She was all over the place looking at new things and wanting to go wherever her feet took her. We did notice another oddity though...she was afraid of walking on the bricks. Pavement, dirt, grass...no problems, she toddles right along. Get her onto bricks, and she takes these tiny little tentative steps and never takes her eyes off the ground when she moves. Weird. Not any more weird than her crying every time she even sees the vacuum cleaner out in the house, but still weird.
Monday, March 5
Blast from the Past
While I was in Chicago, I spent three summers coaching Deerfield travel baseball. I had the same set of kids as 9 year olds, 10 year olds, and 11 year olds. Of the 9 or so kids who played each of those years, one of the most memorable was a lefty first baseman, named Max Sternberg. Max used to open every practice with a round of "Did You Know" from around the MLB since he was a fountain of useless baseball trivia. However, that did come in handy as he served as my unofficial bench coach from time to time when I would lose track of a rule interpretation. Having Max was better than having a copy of a rule book in the dugout and as long as he gave his insights to me and not directly to the umpire, as he did from time to time, Max was quite an asset.
Max, who is 16 and now a sophomore at Deerfield High, was in town this past weekend to play in a golf tournament at Kingsmill. He stayed with us Fri-Mon. Kristyn and I often housesat or babysat for the Sternbergs, so needless to say, she was excited to see Max as well. As you can see here, Addy took quite a liking to him too.
We took the obligatory CW stockade picture, hoping it might get him some extra credit in AP American History class back at school.
Max, who is 16 and now a sophomore at Deerfield High, was in town this past weekend to play in a golf tournament at Kingsmill. He stayed with us Fri-Mon. Kristyn and I often housesat or babysat for the Sternbergs, so needless to say, she was excited to see Max as well. As you can see here, Addy took quite a liking to him too.
We took the obligatory CW stockade picture, hoping it might get him some extra credit in AP American History class back at school.
Old Friends Reunited
Karin and Aly Warner stopped through town this weekend while Chad and his Hampden Sydney Basketball team was in Virginia Beach for post season play. Crazy to think that kids at this age, who play so well together, will grow up and have no memory of each other, sad. We read an article that said kids have computer RAM-like short term memory storage ability, but not the ability to store long term memories. So as long as they keep using the things they are learning, they will eventually be able to store them at an older age, but any one time faces, or memories, or skills, will be lost as they age. Crazy to think of our brains like a computer.
Addy even let Aly play in her tupperware cabinet while she was here.
Some pictures of the girls from last year.
Addy even let Aly play in her tupperware cabinet while she was here.
Some pictures of the girls from last year.
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