BackYard BlueJay

I love the birds in our backyard. We regularly see cardinals, redwing blackbirds, robins, eastern bluebirds, turkey vultures (overhead), and more. I know there's a coopers hawk somewhere close by, can't wait to catch em all with the lens.

New Camera Fun

I've been on a forced 'stay-cation' while Lynn is in New Orleans. I decided to use the two hours Luke was in preschool on Tuesday to get used to my new camera. Ellettsville has some interesting stuff if you're looking through a camera.

Camping

We survived, though it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. Lynn made two trips back the house last night between 9pm-12am, once to get the kids ready for bed, the next time to get herself ready. Between Midnight and 5:30am the boys were up three times to go to the bathroom and once because, somehow, they had gotten all turned around in the tent. It took em about 20minutes to sort that out. The boys and I tore down camp while Lynn traveled home again to get herself ready for the day. Home by 10:30, set up tents in the back to dry. Now I'm ready for a nap.

It was fun. Probably will be more fun in memories than actually being there, if you know what I mean.

Pics from our Ellettsville Tournament

It was a long hot weekend at the Ellettsville ballfields. We won our first game, then lost the next two (we ended up playing the same team twice due to how pool play worked out). Jake was rock solid in the field - turning a couple sweet double plays.

Indianapolis Indians Game

We had a good time at the Indians game last night. Early inning were a little rough with the sun directly in your eyes, and that seem to make some little ones a little grumpy. But, a little food and the sun setting turned it all around and we had fun. Caleb got a few autographs - though you can't make them out and I don't knew who signed the yearbook. We left after the 9th with the game tied 5-5. Eventually the Indians won 7-6 in the 12th. Jury is still out on whether the boys like good seats at a Indianapolis game or the cheap seats at a Major League game.

From Baseball game in Indy

From Baseball game in Indy

My Homemade Desk

We couldn't find a good, small, cheap desk for the boy's room. Nor could we find good plans. So...I designed and made this very simple desk. I probably have $30 and 10hrs into it. It came out reasonably good given the tools I had. I learned a few things, especially about glues and stains, but I'm happy with it. Next up, a bookcase for our bedroom. (It is square and level, thought the pictures make it look cattywampus).

McCormick's Creek

What an awesome day! The boys and I headed out to McCormick's Creek State Park at 9:30 this morning. We hiked, watched dragonflies, played in the creek, saw a whitetail deer, a few small fish and scores of minnows, had a picnic lunch, played on the playground and made it home in time for naps. That's my kind of day!

Family Pictures

I haven't posted any family pics in a while...so for grandma's and grandpa's, here's a few:

Easter Sunday.

Luke being, well, Luke.

Caleb being goofy. That doesn't happen too often.

Jake lost another tooth.

Caleb had to dress as a favorite character from a book. Guesses?

Jake went on a field trip to Peden Farms.

Our house has gone to the birds

Birds tend to build nests in weird places around our house. Last year, it was on the kids playset, right at the top of the slide. We moved it, the bird rebuild it. This year the bird built it in the wreath on our front door. Every morning, I walk out the door and the bird flies away, scaring the crap out of me. Three little eggs, which will mean three chirping baby birds soon!

summer pics, so far

Ellettsville Fireworks!

Smores in the backyard.

First year of tball is in the books.

Swimming with great gramdma Hulick...
and with Grandma Waugh...and with Grandpa Waugh...

all the cousins together

Luke and his cousin Aaron.

Touch a Truck

This morning, despite the light rain, we took the boys to 'Touch a Truck'. It's a really cool event for boys - not too many girls present though. They loved the motorcylce and the army trucks.

lovin the power!

what do you mean I can't take it home with me?!

the speedometer goes to 140mph. I wonder, could a cop catch me if I was going that fast?

this may be mom's worst nightmare - her boys in an army troop transport!

Indians vs. Reds

The family took the day and headed to Cincinnati for a ball game yesterday. I had never been to Great American Ball Park - it's awesome. It was a great game - a real pitchers duel with drama. Lee pitched well, allowing 3 runs in 7 innings. Sizemore, the boys favorite player, had a couple of hits including a triple and a close play at home in which he was called out but the call was reversed due to interference by the 3rd baseman. The boys favorite part was when "Redlegs", the mascot squirted me with his water cannon, stole my Indians hat and filled it with water before putting it back on my head. Great times. Luke was surprisingly good, as long as we kept feeding him stuff! The game was tied in the bottom of the 10th when we took off. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, the Reds won in the bottom of the 11th.

Fourth of July picture in the paper

We have not done a good job about taking pictures this summer. On vacation, we took 6 pictures and they are all blury (the lens was steamed up in the pool area). I even forgot to take the camera to the Indians game with Caleb and Jacob. All I got were these pictures from my phone.





They are not great pictures, but it does give you sense of how high up we were. Better seats next year boys!

A photographer for the Ellettsville journal took this picture and someone clipped it out from the paper for us. Thanks.

Missio Dei Wordle

This is a wordle I made using a paper I wrote on the Missio Dei. Cool.

Cool Lizard

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originally uploaded by danwaugh.

This is one of the coolest pictures I've ever taken! It was taken at the Wonder Lab last week. The Lizard was striking a pose, making sure I got his good side.

Caleb's Last TBall Game

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originally uploaded by danwaugh.

Last night was the last tball game of Caleb's career. He'll be moving on to the bigs next year, or making a lateral move to soccer (he's keeping his options open).

It was awesome this year to see him have a better, growing experience. He stuck with it after a dissapointed and frustrating year last year, and made a ton of progress this year. I love watching my boys grow. Obviously he grew physically - check out the high waters on #2. More importantly, he's growing strong in character.