Catching up

Wow, it's been a long time since I posted to this blog or even looked at it. I wonder if anybody else has looked at it as well. I've been putting a few pictures on Facebook and Google+, but I really dislike doing so. It's not because of internet privacy or anything like that. They each do a terrible job of telling a story and presenting it as well. 

A blog like this tells a story. It tells it in both words and pictures. It only tells what you enter and I have done a poor job of posting for quite some time. A blog conveys the story so much better than Facebook or Google+ ever could or can. I should try harder to find the inspiration to continue.

And with that here are just a few photos from the first half of this year. Post a reply. It lets me know someone looks at this blog.

A trip up north allowed us to stop by Kathleen's childhood home.

Easter bounty.

Baseball brothers.

We're supposed to be breaking geodes, but I think Payton chose to pray to Thor.

Payton's pose for his school play billing.

Christmas 2012 picture

Today it started snowing. Hopefully it will snow more and more. It was great snow for a snowman. Since we hadn't taken a Christmas photo yet, we thought this would make a pretty good one.

Longwood Gardens Christmas Lights

This evening half the Dolan clan went to see the Christmas lights at Longwood Gardens. Longwood is a thousand acre botanical garden. It is quite impressive. The gardens looked really nice. It is a place we will have to go see in the spring, summer and fall.

My family is always beautiful. The tree behind them looked great, but not so much on film.

The Canopy Cathedral Treehouse.

The Christmas Dinner table in one of the conservatory rooms. That isn't green carpet beneath the table, like that of the man-made variety. That is good ol' grass.

Waiting to see Santa

Payton and Parker. Hilton Head Island's Coligny Plaza. Waiting for to Santa can be a long wait. But when the time came, Parker made Payton go it alone.

Payton's 2nd grade school picture

Payton... Payton is a second grader. We can hardly believe it. Our oldest boy is growing up to quickly for us.

Jaws! Payton first viewing.

Tonight Payton and I watched Jaws together - his first time. He handled it really well and watched the whole thing. Later that night he went to sleep and had no nightmares. Note towards the end his dry mouth and the licking of his lips.

Happy 8th birthday Payton

Payton's had a great time at his 8th birthday party. He had both friends and family attend; what could be better? As usual his Mom made him a great Ninjago cake.

Payton's party was the weekend after his birthday. We weren't going to make him wait until then to have cake and ice cream. I picked up a cake at the store and we had a little celebration at home on his birthday.

Payton's tree

I planted a tree for Payton and Parker last summer. Payton's survived, but sadly Parker's didn't. See that stick on the right in the background? Yeah, that's Parker's tree. This year I replacing 4 out of 5 trees I planted last year. I really wanted these Sugar Maples to grow for their orange fall leaves. I'm switching to Red Maples because they tolerate varying conditions better than the Sugars do.

Liberty Bell

We're out and about today. We're in Philadelphia to see a show. We came early to check another site. We decided on the Liberty Bell. We've been there done that now. We're having lunch now and afterwards we'll head for the afternoon showing of How To Train Your Dragon at the Wells Fargo Center.

New jersey and first win!

Payton's football team received their long awaited new jerseys. Payton is no. 85. The team did the town proud by wearing them in their home opener victory. The team clicked really well and won 27-12. It was pretty sweet.

Don't little kids look good in football uniforms? It is quite a transformation.