My new wallpaper

The previous post has a picture in its gallery of Noah walking across a bridge.  I love the image within the image. A little boy confident enough to take off in front of his family on his own because he just can't wait to see what's on the other side.

I had to do something with that photo because I just...love it. As most of you know my main hobby according to my wife is collecting hobbies. One such hobby is photography and photo editing. One of favorite types of images are Japanese woodblock art. 

I combined the two into an image I absolutely adore. It even made my iPad wallpaper which is no small feat since my phone wallpaper is now on its 3rd phone. 

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Natural Falls 2012

On Sunday afternoon we really needed to get out of the house.  Cam and I sat at home all day Saturday and that night we should've gotten out.  As it was we chose to have a family outing Sunday after church.  We were on a time crunch to get Noah back for choir practice so we stuck close to home.  We headed across the Oklahoma line to Natural Falls.  It's an easily accessible paved trail down to the base of the falls so it was perfect.  The kids spent some time ​on a playground afterwards while Jenna and I sat on a bench. It was Campbell's first waterfall to see and she ooooo'd and ahhhhh'd. 

I know it's slllooowww

Having multiple gallery posts on the front page of the blog at once has brought the site to a screeching halt on older systems and slower speeds.  I'm going to create a catch-all gallery collection page for everyday life type of galleries.​ Then posts will link to the galleries instead of displaying them.  Hopefully that will help alleviate the problems some of you are having.

Day of the Pumpkin-Updated

We could not decide how to spend our Saturday together.  The decision to get out early wasn't going according to plan.  At our house, we rarely have a plan and when a plan goes awry it tends to make a grumpy bunch.  Finally Jenna, told us to put on clothes and we headed to a pumpkin patch.  It turned out to be a fantastic day.​

UPDATE​

This page now links to a gallery page instead of the gallery being within the post.  Hopefully this will speed up the site a bit.​

Yellow Belt-Level 2

Noah graduated last weekend to his 2nd level of Yellow Belt. This time he was graded on form and was allowed to do his weapons freestyle and spar.  His motor memory makes the therapist in me proud.  If he can just overcome the short hamstrings he inherited from me, he'll ​be an awesome black belt.

I also updated Noah's ATA page with all his graduation pics.​

Boys night in!

Jenna has been in Conway for a conference so it's just been myself and the kid's this week.  Annie decided to stay to pitch in a helping hand as well.  I can say the kids were fed, went to bed,  made it to school on time, and thanks to Annie were picked up from their respective locations.  I'm sure my methods would make Jenna cringe though.

Last night Cam spent the night with Annie so Noah and I planned a boys night out.  I was going to take him to Shogun's but he honestly wasn't that excited. He's been obsessed lately with Beyblades (a spinning top battle game you have to be below 12 to understand) so I surprised him with a boys night in.  We ordered pizza, he was allowed to drink Mountain Dew, we battled Beyblades, we watched a few episodes of Beyblades, we ate popcorn, we battled more Beyblades, I had to keg a beer from the fermenter (thought I'd sneak that in there), and we went to bed watching football.

This morning ​I blew his mind and served him pizza for breakfast. I let him dress himself and then I sent him outside to demonstrate why he shouldn't wear shorts when it is 50 degrees and raining.  He said he was fine through clenched teeth so I had to pull the Dad card and made him put on jeans.  Once in 18 hours isn't bad though.

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Battle Up Amanda!

Cancer sucks. It doesn't care who or what you are.  It doesn't care about the color of your skin or the size of your portfolio. It also doesn't care how loved you are.​

​Tomorrow my aunt Amanda begins her battle against ovarian cancer. There are people I fret over. There are people in this world I worry about.  There are people I pray for. Amanda's never made the list before.  Funny thing cancer.

She has surgery tomorrow from 4-730​ at St. Vincent's Hospital in Portland, OR.  She has setup a website at akrportland.com to keep family and friends updated.

Amanda's most visible trait has always been her most beautiful; her strength. I've never met anyone as strong as her.  She's never even bothered to knock the dust off after being knocked down.  She just gets up and walks on. I think cancer picked the wrong fight.​

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Jordan's in ElDorado

Holly came home from Arizona this past weekend.  It was the first time we got to meet Malia.  When they came to visit right ​after she was born, Campbell was sick so we weren't able to make it down.  This time they came during the weekend of Arkansas/Alabama.  She apologized they coincided but I assured her this wasn't a big deal.  It was like I was prophetic because it couldn't have been less of deal and I'm glad I missed the game.

The kids played well.  Campbell and Jon Isaac were able to interact much more than the last time they were together.  Even then they mainly chased the bigger kids or played by themselves. Noah and Jana were...Noah and Jana. It's like there were no other people existing in the world.  They remind me of twins finishing each others thoughts.  When you ask one of them what they are doing, they look at each other and I swear there is a silent dialogue between them getting their story together. ​

We tried to take a picture of all the kids in their Razorback garb.  I took 70+ photos and not a single 1 has all 5 kids looking at the camera or with their eyes open.  Go figure.  

I know it's exhausting to tote 2 small kiddos across the country to see people they don't honestly know very well but it's awesome Holly is able to come as much as she does.  She almost comes as often as we go to ElDorado​.  Over the past 2 years it's more since she comes for 1-2 weeks at a time and I have a 3 day limit going anywhere away from my house.

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John Mayer-Musician or Criminal Mastermind

I beat Jenna and the kids home tonight and was picking up the house.  I finally got to listen to John Mayer's new album.  I'd been waiting for a time I could listen at volumes I deem necessary to take in any anticipated music.​

Halfway through, I was enjoying the music quite a bit.  Then all of I sudden I heard...."Love is Verb..."  What?!?!?!?! I had to go to check iTunes and sure enough the title of the song is "Love is a Verb"​

Seriously?!?!?!​

Granted I stole the line from A Weekend to Remember but I'm 99% sure John Mayer is a regular reader of The Sullivan Adventure.  Possibly he heard a speech I gave to a cancer support group 3 years ago.  The title? Love is a Verb.​ Either way the evidence s pretty damning  

At least have the shame to include me as co-songwriter. ​

(Love the steel guitar on the album Mr. Mayer.  You truly are gifted. In more bad news, my buddy Kyle wants to talk to you about "Whisky Whisky Whisky Water Water Water Sleep.)​

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/love-is-a-verb/id516701586?i=516701814

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ATA Demonstration

Yesterday Noah's Taekwondo instructor spoke at his school.  The topic was responsibility.  I'm always amazed at Mr. O'Connor's ability to keep kid's engaged and correct behaviors without raising his voice.  Yesterday though, it wasn't 20 kids it was over 300.​ It didn't seem to be any different. After he spoke, Noah and 3 other boy's in leadership from his school were asked to put on a demonstration for the school.  

Noah did great.  He demonstrated a self-defense move that got the crowd excited.  He was a little rockstar. Afterwards a bigger kid stopped us in the hallway to say "You  were awesome!"  ​

When Noah is proud he loses his big smile and gets a little grin on his face with his lips together.  Yesterday his lips were so tight I thought he'd burst from pride.  The kid was right. ​He was awesome.

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Father and son and a whole lot of questions

So Jenna and I were going through a lot of stuff when we moved our furniture onto our new floors. We came across a roll of film...undeveloped.

​She thought we should develop it right away.  I wasn't so sure.  Who knows how old the roll was? It could have been of anybody or anything.  To this point in my life I haven't been lacking without the contents of this roll. So I was...we'll say apprehensive.

Yesterday, common sense was overruled by curiousity. I dropped the roll off at Bedford.  The guy said it was really old and a type that hasn't been used in "forever."  He was scared the film wouldn't have survived but they'd give it a shot.

​It developed. The roll in itself isn't that interesting.  it was shot in black and white (?). It was a weekend Melissa, Dad, and Rosalyn were visiting.  I was (thankfully) dating Jenna.  It was at my old house on Oleander.  Dad and I were obviously on our way to play golf. I was drinking Michelob Light in a can.

Then it takes a turn for the surreal.  He and I are....signing golf balls?!?!?!? ​We are then posing in front of our golfbags...that are empty.  Then we strike poses...like superheroes.  

Truth is stranger than fiction.​

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