Check the specs

Jack wearing his brand new glasses for the first time.

At the pitch

This spring is the first time Jack's played in an organized soccer league, and it's been a really good experience. (I think Leslie and I have enjoyed it as much as he has.)

Score!

Jack inbounding the ball.

Being outside, running around with your friends and treats after every game -- what's not to like?

And Papa Dana's come to watch, too!

Neighborhood watch

Our backyard, as seen through Scott & Miranda's windows.

Busted.

Tall tulips

They're almost 30 inches high!

Team Titanium

"I'm not only a player, I'm also the founder (of the team name)."

Hello allergy season

Trail of discovery

It's not just for leaves anymore

Remember when you were younger and Mom always warned you about playing with the leaf blower because your mouth...

and hair would stay like that?

She was right!

Happy St. Patrick's Night

A Mexican, an Italian and a German walk into a bar...

and I got home at 4 in the morning.

Leslie's shadow

"Fun" Craig

The boys know we have two adult friends named Craig. Guess which one came over for dinner tonight?

Finally — first flakes!

With the first snowfall of the season Monday morning, we enjoyed it while it lasted.

Fastest way to get out of the sled? Gravity.

Then back to the top to do it again!

Notice how cautious Jack is, using his hands as "brakes" so they wouldn't go too fast!

Landon was fascinated to discover his footprints made tracks in the snow. Naturally, he started walking backward so he could see them.

Of course.

Here come the smiles...






And when his cheeks were as red as his coat, it was time to go in for hot chocolate.

Love-a-saurus

From a couple of years ago at our old house, we have a picture of Leslie and Jack together on Valentine's Day when he's wearing this same shirt ... so I wanted to get one of Leslie and Landon, too.

V-Day par-tay

At Jack's classroom Valentine's Day party this afternoon.

"Minute to Win It" — candy style.

I forget — this game is to see either how many conversation hearts can you pick up with chopsticks, or how many grams of sugar second graders can consume in 15 minutes. Oh, wait a minute ... they're the same thing.

Love Potion No. 9

Best of the worst

The worship team that Leslie's on at church had a get-together last night at our friends Brian & Susan's house.

Everyone was challenged to bring the worst music they could find. And if you've ever heard of Florence Foster Jenkins, you know what I'm talking about. Yet, still, my pick to be the winner (or loser?) was a track titled "Yakety Tuba."

I think my ears finally stopped ringing ... and I finally stopped laughing.

Special forces

Having designed his Pinewood Derby car as an Army tank and having recently watched the movie "Dolphin Tale" (where one of the characters gets injured in combat), Jack was inspired to draw this picture...

...which he then wanted to give to a soldier, himself. So after few phone calls, two trips to the VA Medical Center, and some special attention from the hospital's Chief of Health Administration Management & Revenue and his staff...

...Jack presented his picture to Mr. Nelson, an Army veteran we got to meet and talk to.

On our drive back to school, I asked Jack what his favorite part of our visit was. He shrugged his shoulders but said, "One thing I do know, is everyone in there was nice."

Souper Bowl

For the second time in three months, Jack and I went with our small group from church to volunteer for the evening at Harvesters, the area's food bank. Here, he was sealing up bags for the BackSnack program, which provides backpacks of food to low-income children for the weekend.

Earlier that day, members of the Kansas City Chiefs were there doing exactly what we did, to kick off the nationwide "Souper Bowl of Caring." So, before we left, we were treated to some soup (Jack chose chicken noodle, his favorite) and a quiz on nutritional information.

For the love of Legos

I drug Jackson to another free program at the public library tonight (to a branch that's 30 miles away), except it was for a topic I thought he would really like: Legos.

Whew, I was right!

He loved learning what kind of Legos are called "S.N.O.T." — studs not on top.

Even after the speaker was done, I couldn't pry Jack away from all of the impressive models (note that the clock shows it's after 8 p.m. ... and he's the only one in sight).

Jack described it all as "Epically epic!"