White House

Tessa is here!!

2010-08-14T08:43:00.000-07:00

Sorry that this post is so late. Tessa Joy White arrived May 15th, and her brothers and her parents love having here around!!

Halloween

2009-11-05T07:22:00.001-08:00

Owen - very excited about being an astronaut!

Ian - not so excited about being a zebra.....

Is it healthy? and the math of 14.

2009-10-27T20:30:00.001-07:00

Owen's new infatuation is finding out whether something is "healthy" or not. He has gotten the concept that he can have certain foods as often or as much as he wants if it is "healthy". So we will be asked repeatedly during the day whether pizza, hot dogs, or various types of snacks are healthy....

Ian is now learning how to count. He has got 1-10 down and has now ventured into the teens. Unfortunately, he gets stuck on 14. "fohteen". He literally will count "twelve, thirteen, fohteen, fohteen, fohteen, fohteen......" until we make him stop. It is as if he thinks the rest of the numbers after 14 are all 14. Either that, or there is a screw loose inside somewhere that needs to get tightened. Keri feels like he is a record skipping and maybe if we just slap him gently on the back of the head he'll be able to keep on going.

Boogie Boarding

2009-08-08T11:36:00.000-07:00

We went out the other day to the beach. We hadn't gone in a while because Keri was studying so much for her Board recertification, so it was really nice to hang there with the family. We experimented with both boys trying to boogie board - and it went surprisingly well. I even let Owen ride one BIG 6-9 inch wave all the way to shore and even though he got dumped by it, he came up smiling!

OC Fair

2009-07-17T22:13:00.000-07:00

We went to the Orange County Fair a few nights ago. The best was seeing Ian's absolute glee at getting to ride a pony all by himself. We ate enough fried food to keep a cardiologist in business for a year....and it was really worth it. At the end, there was a brief light saber battle - several innocent bystanders were injured.

Summer School

2009-07-08T21:17:00.000-07:00

Owen and Ian both started summer school a few weeks ago. This is now Ian's first time going to school. He isn't really sure that he likes it yet. He has the same teacher that Owen had when he first started and we love her. What this means for our family is now Tuesday and Thursday mornings are kid free. Since I don't work on Thursdays, Keri and I will actually have thursday mornings free together!!

Washington DC

2009-04-01T10:54:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago Keri and I took Owen to Washington DC. Ian got to go to "camp" with Mazi and Pazi. Highlights of the trip: Bowling with Owen, going to some of the museums, Owen's fascination with the Washington Monument, and good family time. At one point, Owen was on the Mall and Keri pointed out "The Capital Building" to Owen. He then turned around and pointed at the Washington Monument and said "....and that is the Lowercase Building".

Nana and Papa come to town

2009-02-28T21:15:00.000-08:00

We had some great family time the last few days as my parents came to SD for a few days. As usual, the kids were on their best and worst behaviour. Were we ever that bad when we were young? Highlights were some time at the beach "throwing rocks", Potato Shack for lunch, Ferry ride across the bay, air and space museum and an amazing flight simulator ride with dad. Papa told Owen a bedtime story "resembling" Jack and the Magic beanstalk, which also included old mother hubbard, the three little pigs, Pinnochio, Perry Como, and lots of Fe Fi Fo Fum. Owen was hooked.

Disaster

2009-02-08T20:45:00.000-08:00

So on Saturday, I was playing referee for Owen and Ian. They could NOT play together. There was a revolving door in and out of "time out". I was about ready to put Ian down 2 hours early for his nap when they finally started to play together. They were in the study laughing and giggling. I was about 20 feet away on the couch enjoying a chance to veg out in front of the TV for a few minutes knowing that I would soon have to put my black and white striped ref suit back on. After 20 minutes I decided I should go see what was going on. For one brief moment I experienced the pit of frustration, but then I just started laughing. I took some pictures. I then politely declined Owen's offer of "assistance".

Are you Serious?

2009-01-21T21:58:00.000-08:00

A few nights ago Owen and I went to see Monster Trucks at Qualcomm stadium. We went last year with our friend Doug Small and his son Jon. It is quite an experience. That stadium is completely packed, it is incredibly loud, and the demolition derby is hilarious! My favorite experience of the night was having Owen look up at me anytime anything exciting happened and say "ARE YOU SERIOUS?".

2008-12-21T22:38:00.000-08:00

Force Field

2008-12-21T22:13:00.000-08:00

There have been a lot of challenges in raising a 3 and a half year old boy. One thing that has made it a lot easier is the force field that surrounds Owen's bed. When it is bedtime and we put him in - he never ever gets out. The only time that this force field "backfires" is when something falls out of bed. Say, for instance, a book that he was reading falls out of bed onto the floor. Owen's bed is on a box spring on the floor, so he is only about 18 inches above the floor. Despite this, he will not reach down to grab the book. It might as well be floating in a pool of lava. He will scream out for us to come get it for him. But I would rather have it this way....

It kind of reminds me of the stories I have heard about hypnotizing a chicken by drawing a line with a piece of chalk from their beak outward. They won't move....

2008-12-11T17:23:00.000-08:00

2008-11-13T12:15:00.000-08:00

Family Photo Shoot

2008-11-13T11:59:00.000-08:00

Having recently taken the kids by herself for school photos in the last few months, Keri was a bit concerned about how our formal photo session would go yesterday. As the eternal optomist, I was saying - It will be fine...we have cute kids. How hard can it be.

The photographer was terrific. Our good friend Donica came over and burned about 4000 calories trying to get our kids to look at the camera. Unfortunately, Ian decided that he very much disliked being on the white paper background that we used for ALL of the photographs. And Owen somehow LOST his ability to smile a natural cute dimple filled smile. He seemed to either leer like the Joker on Batman, or give us a half hearted grin that looked more like a squint on a sunny day.

In the end, we had a few great pics. Sometimes it is the photo that reminds you of the situation that makes you smile the most. That is at least what it was for me.

Marathon Rock Star

2008-11-13T11:48:00.001-08:00

Marathon

2008-11-07T18:20:00.000-08:00

Oct 30th we flew to NYC so that Keri could run in the NYC marathon. She has been training for months and raised money for World Vision ($4200) by being on their team. Keri ended up doing an awesome job. She got her best time and felt great doing it. For me, as with every marathon I watch, it is truly inspirational. You might think that it has got to be boring to watch person after person run by, but there is something unique and amazing about seeing it all at once. It is hard to put into words. If you ever want to know what I mean, just go to the finish line of any marathon and watch as people cross the line....

We had a lot of fun while we were there. We watched Mamma Mia and Spamalot on Broadway. We were there with our good friends Tammy and Alex Bunn and Keri's Aunt Norva and her husband Stephen. It was a pretty exhausting trip, but here are some of the other highlights: We got to meet the winner of the marathon olympic trials named Ryan Hall. He and his wife are both professional runners and are the captains of the World Vision Team. We went to the set of the today show and met Meredith Vierra. Right before I took the picture I spilled coffee all over my coat.... We went shopping with Tammy and Alex and I have never had such service. Tammy was my fashion consultant, Keri provided moral support and veto power and Alex was the runner, going all over the store and getting whatever Tammy told him to get. As much as I hate shopping, that time might have actually been one of my favorite memories of the trip!!

If you ever call our house and it goes straight to Voice Mail, this is why....

2008-10-11T08:29:00.000-07:00

A typical Saturday at The White House

2008-09-14T21:38:00.000-07:00

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Ian usually wakes up around 8 to 8:30. We have to wake Owen up at 9am. Our friend Paul say that this is "blasphemy".

8:03 - Ian awake eating breakfast

8:33 - Ian eats breakfast #2 after throwing most of breakfast #1 on the ground

9:02 - We ask Ian, "Do you want to get Owen up". His face lights up, he flaps his arms in excitement, and he high-tails it to Owen's room. Get Owen up, put him in underwear.

9:10 - Owen eats a breakfast of 5 different dry cereals, dried banana and dried strawberry.

9:11 - Ian eats breakfast #3.

9:34 - Both boys out of chairs and now roaming around the house. Owen is playing with the telephone. He likes to get it to say "You have reached a number that has been disconnected" and he knows how to put it on speaker phone.

9:35 - Ian has a blue flutaphone that he laughs into, making a sputtering flute sound that makes him laugh more.

9:36 - Ian is banging his flutaphone on Owen's head.

9:47 - Owen is playing with a large ride-on toy train.

9:47 - Ian is trying to play with a large ride-on toy train that Owen is sitting on.

9:47-10:03 - Owen stages a large protest regarding his inherent and inaliable "right" to play with the train whenever he wants (even though the toy really was given to Ian for his birthday). Keri says for the 1st of 52 times for the day -- "that toy isn't just yours, we share ALL of our toys."

10:05-10:28 - During this period of time Ian has climbed up on the sofa cushion, to the arm of the sofa and up on to the counter. He also has climbed up the chair and onto the table. He currently has climbed up his high chair and is trying to climb onto the island. There has been at least one "near miss"

10:32 - Ian into his "room" (which is our walk-in closet) for a nap. Owen is thrilled that Ian is asleep, because it means he can play with "marble run and car tracks" (toys with small parts). In fact Owen often asks if Ian can go to bed (even if he just woke up!).

12:17 - Owen is eating lunch of hummus sandwich (sammich), meatballs, grapes and half 2% milk/ half soy milk.

12:35 - Ian is awake again now eating lunch #1.

12:36 - 14% of lunch #1 is on Ian's face, 83% is on the floor, 3% went in his mouth.

12:52 - Owen has been carefully monitoring the backyard for any "crocodile" activity (see previous post). He would like to go out and play with the sprinkler. He checks to see if it's cloudy or sunny (latter = sprinkler possibility; pretty good odds in San Diego that it will be a sprinkler day).

12:59 - Ian and Owen are in the back yard playing with the sprinkler. Ian grabs one of the arms of the sprinkler and drinks continuously out of it.

1:13 - Ian tries to climb into the fountain.
1:14 - Ian tries to climb into the fountain.
1:15 - Ian tries to climb into the fountain.
1:16 - Ian is standing in the house, soaking wet, looking out the back door window, screaming.

1:18 - Owen has sighted a "crocodile" and is cowering in the corner of the backyard, unwilling to move.

1:40 - Ian has started on Lunch #2

1:53 - Owen sitting on the potty after carefully making sure that the "blunger" is not in sight (see previous post)

2pm - Owen goes down for a nap.
2:01 - Owen screams for water
2:02 - Owen wants a different book
2:03 - Owen has poopy (he wears diapers for sleeping -- he holds it until the diapers go on)(if he can hold it and release it at will, WHY can't he do it into the toilet?!)

2:35 - Ian down for a nap

2:45 - Keri and Drew in bed reading.

2:53 - Owen has poopy again

3:00 - Owen falls asleep after "reading" every book that is on his bookshelf, and foot-dancing to at least one CD.

4:15 - Ian wakes up.

5:00 - We wake Owen up.

5:25 - Both kids are eating dinner. Ian is quite unhappy with his food choice, and only wants "whatever someone else is having".

5:55 - Whole family at the pool. Ian repeatedly jumps into the water from the steps and happily looks up at me from underwater waiting for me to come get him.

6:05 - Owen, swimming happily, but a neighbor thinks that he is drowning and sends her son in after him. Owen is confused why he is dragged to the side of the pool

6:45 - back home and dried off. Kids are having a snack of dried peas and goldfish.

7:03 - Ian getting teeth brushed, and to bed.

7:35 - Owen watching the first of two videos with popcorn "cupcorn"

7:58 - Owen has peed in his pants and onto the couch

8:35 - second video is over, and it is time for a night hike.

8:45 - Owen and Drew, armed with flashlights go for a 15 minute hike on the path behind the houses

9:35 - Owen gets vitamins, teeth brushed, and teeth flossed, which is usually accompanied by a time-out.

9:41 - prayers and bed time.

11:03 - Owen still awake, reading his books in bed.

11:35 - we get Ian up for about 15 minutes to snuggle and play with him. Although he gets riled up playing "tunnel" (crawling under the covers to the foot of the bed with Drew), peek-a-boo, crawling all over us, and giving us many "love pats" (not so gentle hits in the face), he goes RIGHT back to sleep when we put him back in bed.

AWESOME Picture

2008-09-14T19:56:00.001-07:00

Owen "foot dancing"

2008-09-02T21:06:00.000-07:00

Blungers and Crocodiles

2008-08-23T09:16:00.000-07:00

Now you may want to know what a Blunger is. It is whatever a plunger transforms into in the nightmare of a 3 year old. Owen has developed an intense phobia/fascination/infatuation with "blungers". We have no idea where this particular issue came from. That it coincides with an, as yet, unsuccessful attempt to get "poopy in the potty", could perhaps play a role. All we know is that we have now had to put the "blunger" in our bathroom out of sight of Owen. He asks to see it several times a day, but will only peer cautiously around the corner so as to catch a glimpse from perhaps 10 feet away.

Every night when we say our prayers, we ask Owen who he would like to pray for. The top three topics are always the same - Ryan, Michelle and "changing diapers". Ryan and Michelle our two good friends of ours. We aren't quite sure why they made the list...but our son must have a heart for them. "Changing Diapers" is what Owen calls the changing table that we use in his room. We are uncertain what particular issues that that poor table has had to go through to be the focal point of a years worth of prayer, but we expect that it will lead a blessed and fruitful life now that it has been the benefactor of such intense spiritual fervor.

The new addition to Owen's prayer life has been his prayer to conquer his fears. He now prays every night that he "won't be scared of the blunger, and crocodiles" That is where the crocodiles come in. We have two small geckos/lizards that live in our back yard. They are probably about 4 inches long and will scurry out of sight if you come within 5 feet of them. They love to bask in the sun on the wall during the day and often are in clear view of our back door. Owen is intensly afraid of these "crocodiles". So much so that he often refuses to go in the back yard. This is particularly unfortunate since we just paid a LOT of money to totally redo our backyard. So we REALLY hope that this particular prayer of Owen will be answered in short order.

2008-08-19T21:13:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends and Family

2008-08-19T15:03:00.000-07:00

If you are checking this out, you probably already know who we are. But maybe you have been out of touch and are afraid to ask "how many kids do you have now?" Well, here is the perfect place to figure out what is going on in our lives. We are hoping that it will also be a great place to journal (and keep for our future enjoyment) the events of our lives that make being parents of 2 young boys such an adventure.

Keri and I have been living in San Diego for almost 10 years now. It is pretty easy to start taking it for granted. It is SO beautiful here. We currently have two boys, Owen and Ian. Owen has an easy birthday to remember - 05/05/05. Ian now is almost 1 1/2 and was born April 30, 2007.

Keri is doing Family Practice part time, and I am working at Scripps Clinic as an Allergist. Life is full and busy. It is also amazingly joyful. We have been richly blessed.