Random Sunday afternoon

... with Jack wearing his biker gloves around the house.

"It remains and shall remain"

Last Friday afternoon, Shane and I drove to Lincoln, Neb., for the re-installation of UNL’s Kappa Sigma chapter — where my dad was initiated in 1951.

On the way up there, it was kinda cool (for a native) to go through Nebraska City on Arbor Day. It is a national holiday, isn’t it?

After arriving at the landmark Cornhusker Hotel, we had some time before meeting up with others for dinner, so I set out to find the old Kappa Sig house that Dad took me to once, when I was a teenager. It was a beautiful afternoon and I walked straight to it. The building’s a law office now, but the Kappa Sig crest is still above the door (photo courtesy of The Daily Nebraskan).

The Nebraska state capital is caddy-corner across the street, which I hadn’t seen in years; that's me in the white shirt, below. I felt like I was on my fourth-grade field trip!

Incidentally, here’s a photo of my great-grandfather helping place The Sower statue on the very top of the capital, circa 1932.

All day Saturday, we helped initiate more than 50 new Brothers and re-install one of Kappa Sigma’s legendary chapters. (Dormant for the past couple of years, this Alpha-Psi chapter was originally founded in 1897.)

At the cocktail reception that evening, I met several men who had known Dad for years. One was Ron Wachter, president of Alpha-Psi’s housing corp. Upon introducing myself and asking if he knew Lowell, instead of answering “yes,” he immediately launched into a litany of stories about roadtrips, Grand Conclaves, late-night hijinks, mutual friends, hometowns and other memories they shared together. I soaked it up.

After the dinner banquet was over, Shane and I drove back to Kansas City and got home at 12:30 a.m.

I then ran to the grocery store for a few things and woke up four hours later so Shane, his girlfriend and I could do the Trolley Run early Sunday morning! It's an annual four-mile road race from Waldo, through Brookside, past UMKC and ending on The Plaza. I finished in 32 minutes, 13 seconds.

First career start

Jack's first-ever T-ball game was on Saturday. Although I was out of town (more on that tomorrow), he did have his very own cheering section there — Leslie, Bob and Jason, Paul & Patti and Macie.

Here's Leslie's play-by-play:
"With his mouth full of Big League Chew, Jack was the first up to bat ...


he hit the ball, got turned around and started running to the pitchers mound! Half way there he realized he was WAY off ...

and made it to first base ... and eventually scored the first run of the game! :-)

Then on his second time at bat he stopped at first base and pulled out one of my black dish towels he had tucked in his pants — which I had no idea he had — and took off his helmet and wiped his whole face/head off. And if that wasn’t enough, he lifted up his shirt and tucked the towel back in his pants! (shown below) It was priceless."


Two other shots:
1. With his game-face on

2. With JD, his best bud from school, and their "class mascot" Shrek.

Jack's T-ball pants

Where in the world is Lesotho???

SOUTHwest Missouri Bearcats

Last Thursday, Steve Sutton, Northwest's alumni director, and I roadtripped to Springfield, Mo., for the chartering of Northwest's newest alumni chapter.

A highlight was getting to see Jarrod Smith, a fraternity brother who I hadn't seen in several years.

"Monsters vs. Aliens"

Last Wednesday evening, while Leslie hosted the neighborhood bunko group, Jack and I took Landon on his first-ever "guy night." After stopping by Noodles & Company so Jack could get some plain penne pasta (which they didn't even charge us for), the three of us went to see "Monsters vs. Aliens" — in 3-D and IMAX. It was awesome! As if animation isn't realistic enough these days, all the 3-D effects were really impressive. At one point, Jack even rose up out of his seat and started reaching toward the screen. And like usual, Landon was good as gold; he never made a peep.

The next day at school, Jack drew this picture. It's the movie theater, of course, with "AMC" at the top ... and a satellite dish off to the side.

Spring school picture

Sunday goin' to meetin' clothes

This is what Jack wanted to wear for church yesterday morning. He picked out the tie all by himself!

Leslie's Uncle Mike and his wife Cindy came to Kansas City from St. Louis this weekend, to see their daughter Lyndsey in a play that she's doing.

They came to our house yesterday afternoon to meet Landon ...

then we adults saw her show, "Galileo," last night. Here they are in the lobby afterward.

Friday night pizzeria

In an effort to slash our expenses over the past five weeks, we've stopped eating out at restaurants. So instead of going out for pizza, here are Jack and Leslie making it at home — complete with stuffed crust!

Whether using homemade dough (which Leslie did) or refrigerated pizza dough, press it to the edge of the pan, extending up and over the sides by at least an inch. Place sticks of string cheese around the inside edge of crust. Fold extended edge of dough over cheese; pinch firmly to seal.

Most important meal of the 'giorno'

So? Jack’s eating spaghetti (his favorite food) with meatballs and parmesan cheese ... what’s so unusual about that? Well, this picture was taken at 7:15 a.m. and it’s his breakfast before school. What’s more, it’s not even leftover — I made it fresh that morning!

Jack likes Daddy being off work.

"All-around" great brothers

Landon's first meal

On March 22, Landon got to experience solid food for the first time (rice cereal). He did pretty well ... much better than Jackson did five years ago.

Photography by Jack:



All done. "My belly is full!"

And a final picture by Leslie:

Andersons gone wild

Some longtime friends from college, Brad (a fraternity brother) & Lisa and their three kids, came to Kansas City last month for a spring break get-away. We figured out that we hadn't seen them since 2001! So we invited some others over to our house that Friday night, too.

Jack and Emma hit it off right away.

Andy's a spitting image of his dad.

They loved helping take care of Landon.


Chris & Heather's daughter Ruby was born on the same day, in the same hospital, on the same floor as Landon — just down the hall!




We had a blast reminiscing and looking through old pictures from college.



Then, late in the evening, out came the yearbooks!

Happy Easter!