April 2013 Updates

4/28 - We had a fun family day.  Greg actually let me sleep in some while he made breakfast - which I really needed.   We had lunch together.  Then Landon, Greg and Kasey rode their bikes up to soccer practice.   I walked with Kasey.   Kasey and I hung out at the park while the boys practiced.  Then we took up some baseball with friends at the backstop.  The girls played some and I even hit a home run (because I hit it past the girls).  The boys were hitting and fielding.  Fun times.  We then had dinner on patio at Blue Fish as the family and had some Paciugo for dessert.

4/27 -  Another crazy Saturday.   Today was the AppleCreek Preschool Picnic and Auction.  Greg and I were there at 9am to set up with everyone.  I think overall everything went smoothly.  The auction was great, and we had about 120 families there for food, fun and music.  Good times.
We had to leave about 2:30 to get Landon and Kasey to their games.  Kasey got 2 outs at 2nd base in her game.   Landon got hit by the soccer ball playing goaly, but was ok.  He played well and had few shots on goal, that didn't got in.

4/22 - 4/26
I was in San Jose for a trade show.  We did have a lot of work with demos, trainings, taking videos, and talking to partners and potential an existing customers.   We did get to play some though.  Tuesday night we decided to take the train to San Francisco.  One of my high school friends owns a wine experience place in the city.  You can do wine tasting and have small plate menu.   The wine was great, and the food was really good.  It also had a fun atmosphere so we had a fun time.  The train was interesting.  It took us about an hour to get there, and then we came back with a bunch of Giants baseball fans on the way back which stopped at every stop  so it took a while longer.

 Wednesday night we went out with one of our partners to dinner at Gordon Biersch and Irish pub.  Thursday we went to dinner at a good Greek Restaurant and then went to a really cool bar.  It was called SingleBarrel lounge.  You stand outside waiting until there is room at the bar.  We only waited 15 minutes.   We went down and had some idea what to order (most drinks were mixed drinks).   The bartenders and staff are dressed in paperboy hats and suspenders, an some jazz music playing.  The bartender made some recommendations for our drinks and then made them for us.  It was fun to watch them making them.  Mine had a orange peel that was burned to give it a different flavor.  My co worker Bill got an old fashion that had a big ball of ice in it.  Everyone loved their drinks.  After we paid we sat down on couches to enjoy the atmosphere, drinks and some jazz music.  It was a good trip, but it was good to get home Friday.

I flew home Friday morning.  Got to airport and they didn't have a seat assignment for or my boarding pass didn't print.   I waited til they started calling group 2, and asked again for the 3rd time if they had my seat.  Yes you are in seat 10, and she printed it.   I assumed by this point I wouldn't have room for my luggage, but I lucked out on that.  Nothing like a little stress to wake you up in the morning.

I got home, Greg and Kasey picked me up from the airport.  I got to sit in back with Kasey which was fun.  We went and picked up Landon from school.  AFternoon Greg and Landon worked on some baseball with a friend while Kasey and I went to the park to play with some other siblings.
Then it was time to get ready for girls night out.  We had 11 ladies going to dinner and to see Wicked the musical.  We had a great time at Paesanos for good Italian food, and then had fun watching the show as well.  It was fun to get out dressed up with friends.

Of course Greg was thrilled I came back from a week gone and went out with the girls :)
I had missed Kasey's tball game, she got her first hit from a pitch in the game.

4/21 - Cub scout pack planned a day of fishing at Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, TX.  It was little more than 1 1/2 hours away.  It was fun to see different fish, alligators, huge catfish and some other alligator fish.  We got to see one of the workers feed some of the fish.  We took a quick tour of the facility.  Then we got some fishing poles and bait and did some fishing.  Kasey didn't do it very long, but was good.  it was a really nice day so it was fun.   Landon really wanted to keep reeling it in and casting it, but that's ok.  It was a fun family day.  We had BBQ on the way home and got kids to bed.

4/20 - I went to work out in the morning because Landon's soccer game was cancelled.  Then I took Landon to fun birthday party where boys got to play video games in a big truck for an hour - they had Wii, Xbox and playstation and a bunch of different games the kids could play. They had a great time, and moms got to chat.  Then took Landon home and picked up Kasey to take her to a school friend birthday party.   The friend lives a ways north, but they have a lot of land and nice house.  They had the Creature guy come.  He brought Python, hedgehog, tarantula, legless lizzard, another lizzard, and a huge roach.   It was pretty cool.  Kids got to touch them and he taught them some stuff about the animals.   We left the party early to get to Landon's baseball game, but we were late for Landons' game.  Of course before I got there he caught a fly ball for an out, and hit a triple.   After I got there he got single and double.

After we got kids to bed, Greg went to FC Dallas game and I had 10 friends over for margaritas that Greg had made and to watch Magic Mike.  Had a friend from high school, friend from work and several ladies from the neighborhood.  We had a great time.   We had good snacks, margaritas, and conversations

4/19 - Had kind of crazy evening.   I worked all day and then went to pick up Landon from baseball practice.  Took him and Mason to the girls tball game.  We only got to stay for 30 minutes - I really think the girls were having fun.  Then I took Landon to his soccer camp.  I think he was doing pretty well with the skills and when they played game at the end

4/14 - We had a fun family day. We got up and went to breakfast at Frogg for some French Toast and Crepes. We took a walk around Watters Creek and saw 15 baby ducklings that were really cute.  We then went home to change and took bikes up to park for kids to ride around.  Greg rode up there too.   Usually I can walk behind Kasey because she goes pretty slow and talks quite a bit.  Today when she got behind the boys and decided to ride faster which means I got to run after her.  I don't like running :)   We made sandwiches at home, and kids and I watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  Kids enjoyed it and so did I.  Landon's teacher read the book to them in school and we've been reading it to him at home as well.

Then Greg and Landon rode bikes to soccer practice.  I really wanted a nap, but Kasey wanted to ride her bike to the park.  So we went. We hung out at the top of playground in shade.  It was like our own fort.  We also did some swings and Kasey played with few of the other kids
We all went to dinner at Mi Cocina which is always good.  

4/13 - Kasey had morning tball game, it was nice day.  Girls played well.  They played where outs counted for the first time.  Girls got about 6 outs.  Kasey had good hits and didn't get out - she was excited.

The boys had batting practice in the afternoon, and then I had to volunteer at softball assessment they had.  Grammy and Gramps came up to help with kids.

Landon finally played his first baseball game.  Greg pitched the game and did well.  Gramps kept score.   Landon had a few good hits & got an out at 2nd base.   It was fun watching the game.  They follow rules more like real baseball, and as boys are getting older they are throwing, catching and making good plays.

Landon also had soccer game which was tough.  The other team was much better.  Landon had a tough time in goal, but played well when he played on offense.

4/10-4/12 - I went to Boston for 3 full days for training and customer meetings.   We had busy days, but got to go to North end for dinner one night.  We had great Italian food at Strega, and then went to Modern Pastry for Canoli for dessert (It was recommended to us over Mikes by bartender at Strega).  Friday was crazy, We had 5 customer meetings, it was raining all day, we didn't have time for lunch, and then it took 2 hours to get to the airport.  Fortunately because of the rain my flight was delayed so I still made it.   I had a quick snack and beer at the airport because I got upgraded.  It was a good flight even though it was really late - I got to see House of Pi, got warm nuts, dinner with shrimp and salmon, some wine and ice cream Sunday for dessert.  

4/7 - We had birthday celebration lunch with my mom and dad.  We went to Paesanos for lunch which is great Italian food, and then we came back to house for dessert. Grammy made great chocolate, oreo and peanut butter dessert for me and red velvet cookies and Hershey bar pie for kids.  YUM!!

4/6 - We had a few games today soccer and baseball practice.  Then I took kids to Rohans birthday party at ASI.  It was fun to catch up with Jessica and kids had great time.  After party we took kids to grandparents because Greg and I were going out for celebration with Steiners, Solis' and Doug.   We were celebrating 3 birthdays and Solis' anniversary.  We went to Abacus.  Had a great dinner.  We had multiple lobster shooters, great starters and meal, and of course some good wine.  To finish off the night I got to have some scotch and a chocolate dessert.

We enjoyed having some adult time.

4/5 - I had a great birthday.   One of the first things Kasey said to me in the morning was happy Birthday and I think she said it on her own.  At work friends Marisa, Bill and Cindy took me out for Pei Wei for lunch - one of my favorites that I don't get to often.  Marisa also made me awesome chocolate and banana cupcakes with peanut butter icing.  They were great!
That afternoon Greg took Landon to soccer clinic.  Kasey and I were dancing around in the living room to music.   She kept telling me that i needed to dance in the middle of the room and not on the outsides.  She also told me I wasn't supposed to do the same moves as her.  We had a good time.