James Rocks OUT

Taken with my Treo phone camera back in September 2006. This kid's got skillz.

Defacing Wikipedia

The wonderful online journal PopMatters has just published my story about the enduring value of Wikipedia under the title "Defacing Wikipedia." It's a light-hearted look at the temptation to vandalize. I'd like to thank Rob Horning at PopMatters for his patience and support as an editor.

More Buffalo Pics

We also went to this crazy sculpture garden out in the middle of nowhere. And to the zoo, where James and Holden rode the train.

Happy Times in Buffalo

Our visit to Buffalo for the 4th of July was wonderful. James got to meet his Great Grandmother, as well as many of his Great Aunts and Uncles, and of course, the "cousins dozens." Here are some photos from the weekend.

Sandbox

See James standing in front of he new sandbox! Thanks Pa Joe for visiting and for helping with the sandbox project. More photos are available for downloading and printing at our Kodak Gallery

Second Birthday!

James turned two on April 19, an event celebrated around the world and in our own home. The cake featured "Scoop" from Bob the Builder.

James was a blur all morning, running from room to room eating pretzels, strawberries, grapes, goldfish and anything else he could get his hands on. By the time we got to the cake he was so stuffed he blew chunks all over the floor. Of course, he carried on happily as if nothing had happened. And Louis ate the vomit. Good doggie.

Making sand castles

Of course, smashing them seemed to be the big hit.

Cousin Jack's visit

We spent a lovely afternoon visiting with Andrew, Andrea and Jack, James's older cousin by 6 months. They even shared shovels and trucks!

Scooping water

Splish splash

Rain boots rock!

James shows Abby how to eat yogurt

We sneaked in a quick visit to Alexandria for Abby's naming ceremony in late January. The Abby Hofheimer Blog: Yogurt

Sunning on a rock

James learns from the animals at the zoo and warms himself on a rock.

Uh-Oh Zoo!

James went to the zoo 2 days in a row - lucky kid. Everytime Deanna would hold his hand so he wouldn't wander too far, he would get mad. He started saying "uh-oh" and sitting on the ground. Then he said "night night, seeping" and laid down on the concrete and told Deanna to go "night night," too!

Fort Boy

Enjoying the scenery at Mt. Trashmore.

The rays at the Virginia Aquarium were a big hit!

Move over, green Dig Dig

There's a purple backhoe in town. James is learning all sort of new phrases, courtesy of Bob the Builder's friend Speedy Benny. Like "unreal banana peel" whatever that means.

My dad, the "born again hippie"

http://www.vlta.org/

Shave and a Haircut

For once, James sat still and allowed the barber to cut not just some of his hair, but all of it. He's checking himself out in the mirror, too.

Have you seen this toy?

Dig-dig is missing! All units are currently searching for the missing comfort object, but so far we have not found him. We feared a meltdown, but James was content last night to sleep with his Bob the Builder action figure instead. Watch out Dig-dig! Even if we find you, it might be too late...

Christmas 2005

Mom just sent this photo of Holden (my sister Rebecca's son) and James from Christmas in Massachussetts. If you look closely at the lower right corner you'll see Dig-dig. It was originally given to Holden, but James bonded with it immediately and we were able to arrange a swap so that James could keep it. Thank you, Holden!

Comfort Object

It finally happened. After nearly two years without any kind of security blanket, James finally found something he can't live without. Here you see James asleep with his best friend "Dig-dig." For the past two days he has fallen asleep holding this thing and whispering to himself, "Dig a hole...."

Lady Killer

This girl just climbed right into the car with James. I guess the question is, who's driving?

Eating mama's "sheer-rio"

I thought it was cute that both James and Kate were wearing green and orange.

If you're in Kansas City...

Make sure to check out our B-I-L Tyson Schroeder's newest exibition at The Brick.
http://listings.pitch.com/gyrobase/Events/Results?date=2006-01-07&category=&keyword=&maxperpage=10

More Tyson art: http://members.aol.com/acetylene9/dystopia.html

AND he's in a band, too: http://www.thezone.org/reviews/20011021_killpop_1_cd.html

Thankgiving at the beach

We took family pictures over Thanksgiving weekend that Kate fully intended to use for holiday cards. But we didn't get to it. So thank you all for sending us cards with your family pictures, and here's on of ours - with Jessica, Robert, baby Abby, and us 3.

In the press...

Sort of. On Dec. 26, Kate & James made the front page of The Daily Break section of The Virginian-Pilot, in an article about the new rabbi at the temple Ohef Sholom. We 3 had attended a "Tot Shabbat" morning service for kids, which James enjoyed. What's not to like about songs, challah and a 20 minute service? Plus they had markers, paper and dreidels to decorate.