Incredible Pizza Train last summer

Here is an old video from my mobile phone of Christopher riding the little train at Incredible Pizza. We love that place.

Christopher and Tractors

Christopher loves to ride on any kind of vehicle. It could be a wagon, car, train, or even this riding lawnmower. He goes crazy if you don't let him try one out at the local home improvement store when we are there occassionally on the weekends. I guess I'll have to dig deep some day and get a nice machine to get him to cut the grass.

My Boys' Love for Riding Lawnmowers

Three videos of the boys

Both boys down the slide

Noah down the slide

Schoolhouse Rock!

Rear Breaks. OUCH!

Yes, I had the breaks inspected today. The cylinders WERE leaking and needed to be replaced. The drums needed to be resurfaced because they were glazed over. I am inept at rear breaks, and lack the tools, so I just had to have it done. However, I still don't notice a difference in the pedal. But for safety's sake, and peace of mind it had to be done. I guess $191 is worth avoiding the worry. But it hurts the bottom line nevertheless. I wonder what my plasma is worth. I might have to sell it.

Sir Sagramore-That's Me!

Yes, I was actually a high school student once (see me center). Someone uploaded this photo of me to Facebook. I thought I would share it on my blog. Above me (left) is my friend Jeff Johnson, and to right is Brad Johnson. We were in the 1984 Joliet West High School production of Camelot!

McDonald's Play Area

This picture is from a few weeks ago. The new McDonalds just north of Owasso has such a nice play area. The boys loved it.

Toy Tractor

Tulsa Zoo Train in August 2009

Creepy Bedtime Stories-The Swiss Family Robinson

Okay, so being the dedicated father that I am I like to read bedtime stories to the boys. They drift off to sleep better that way sometimes. I was reading this version of The Swiss Family Robinson only to find out that it is nothing like the Disney move from the 1960s that most of us remember seeing over the years. In fact, Disney did a lot to sanitize this story full of gore and bloodshed. No kidding! It seems like these people KILL every beautiful exotic animal that they come across on this deserted island (e.g. pink flamingos, a tortoise, a kangaroo, etc). On top of that, a boa constrictor kills their mule and swallows it. And there are wonderful illustrations showing this stuff too. So I found myself telling Elisabeth the other night. "We are not reading this book to the kids until they are older." I didn't realize that Disney softened the blow so much. By the way, there were no pirates in this story like in the movie. I think they put the pirates in to replace the horrible story about the boa constrictor. I think I'll read David Copperfield to them in the Great Illustrated Classic version. That shouldn't be too bad.

Pumpkin Town