To My Valentine

I Love You.

Active Winter

This winter's weather seems to be more brutal than in years past. We have had consistent snow, several days with temps well below 10 degrees, and lots of wind. But, as the true Rochestarians that we are, we have not let a little winter stop us from filling our calendar, and enjoying activities both inside and out.

Disney On Ice

We kicked off January by joining the Hewitsons, and attending a true parental right of passage, Disney On Ice. Gavin and Isabelle were beyond excited as we headed downtown to the Blue Cross Arena, bantering back and forth in the back of the van trying to predict which of their favorite characters they would get to see. Donna and I were more reserved, both trying to figure out what we had gotten ourselves into, and if we would survive the next two hours of time. Naturally, Isabelle's favorite was the presentation of the Disney Princesses. All of whom, were in attendance with their escorts.

Gavin, coming off his recent New Years Eve performance of When You Wish Upon A Star, leaped out of his seat, all smiles, as Jimminy Cricket started signing.

And, in an attempt to torture all of the parents in the audience, they did an amazing job recreating the It's A Small World experience on the ice. Yep, song still sticks in your head each time you hear it.....


Frozen Pond

This year we decided to join the rest of the neighborhood, and enjoy the pond year round. We bought the kids their first set of ice skates, and of course, picked one of the coldest and windiest days to try them out. Wanting Gavin and Izzy to have a good first time experience, I spent part of the morning playing Zamboni out on the pond. Clearing away snow drifts, and lugging five gallon coolers of water across the street to spread out with my squeegee for a nice smooth ice surface. Needless to say, with this effort, I was not noticing the frigid temps as the sweat built up.Isabelle, as expected, took right to it, and could not get enough of being on the skates, or the ice. Gavin liked the skates, but as he is born of Donna's blood, quickly felt the chill set in, and lost interest.
Even though we did not spend a lot of time on the ice, we had some great family time, and enjoyed being out in the sun, on the pond in the middle of winter.

The Gymnast

Isabelle has continued her gymnastics career through the winter at the Little Gym. The big changes for this session were she attended class alone (well, was supposed to anyway), and she got to wear a leotard. One guess which one she was more excited about.
Isabelle's final show was attended by Donna, Mema, and Grandpa. Yep, I was on a plane. Work schedule doesn't always work out. Anyway, Isabelle did a great job performing the moves she has learned this session. He favorite continues to be the bars, where she has moved from simply swinging, to now flipping over them. She loved having Mema and Grandpa there to watch her, and she did a great job with her routines, huge smiles each time.
Just Playing

The best part about being a kid in a Rochester winter, are all the great opportunities to just play. All it takes is a little sunshine, and the winter day suddenly feels like the middle of summer, with endless possibilities. Snow Angels, sleds, snowmen, snow forts, all start to fill the yards around the neighborhood. Gavin, Isabelle, and I spent the day outside and did just that. What ever they wanted. They had a great time laughing and smiling, and I got another terrific workout. I don't remember growing up, that digging a snow fort was such a huge cardio event. Phew.....
Another terrific Rochester winter. Enjoyed by all.

The Mighty Thomas has Fallen

Those of you that have been to the house, or have received our pictures in the past, are familiar with Gavin's bedroom. Three years ago, when we were moving him out of the nursery and into his big boy room, I made him a Thomas the Tank Engine room. Okay, I admit, I may have gone a little overboard for a two year old, but it was fun. And, he loved it. But, alas, two year olds grow up. And, Thomas the Tank Engine does not stay cool forever.
Gavin has not liked Thomas for a while now, and he has on occasion asked me when I was going to make him a new room. I know, my own fault for setting the precedent. Anyway, it all came to a head as I was doing Isabelle's big girl room. Gavin wanted a new one also. So, I promised him he could have one, if he could decide on what he wanted it to be. Ha! Trickery to buy myself time. A five year old making a lasting decision. Yeah, right.

We started with a Star Wars room, which quickly changed into a Lego Star Wars room as some of the characters from the real Star Wars might be to scary to sleep with. I of course, did not buy any paint, as we then decided on a Power Rangers room, which some how quickly became Pokemon. Then, after much back and forth, Gavin and I decided on the perfect room that he loves, I LOVE, and most important, he won't grow out of in two weeks. The Boston Red Sox!

So, Thomas came down. And the transformation began. Yellow stripes turned red. Gray walls turned sky blue. Where once there were train tracks, there is now a nice green field. And finally, he's ready to play ball! Gavin loves it, and I love that we have a Red Sox room in the house. Guess it's the closest thing I am going to get to a game room for a while.

The Two P's Complete

You may have remembered from my post, The Two P's, a couple months back on Isabelle's "big girl" room, that the crib was still visible in the photos. She was still very attached to her crib, and didn't want anything to do with her big girl bed. I am happy to report, that the "big girl" room is now complete. With a big girl bed.

Yep, Isabelle is officially a big girl. Just ask her. She'll tell you. She is happily sleeping in her big bed. And she is very excited about it. The other morning I was on my way to Syracuse, and I got one of those calls that every Dad loves to get. I answered the phone expecting Donna, but instead was greeted by a very excited Isabelle. She couldn't wait to tell me that she had spent the entire night in her big girl bed. Boy, was she proud. And so was I. I smiled for most of the morning thinking about it.

Isabelle gave me permission to take down her crib a couple of days later, and she was very excited as she sat by my side watching each screw be removed, and each piece carried out. She then joyfully decided what should be put into her "new space". Sigh. Our baby is growing up. Can't wait to see what the next step is.

My 2009 Goals

Last year was a disappointing year for me on the bike. I set a goal for myself at the start of the season, and then I wavered. I started my training late, and tried to play catch up. Then I got injured, then sick. I tried to pick the training back up, but my head, and my heart, just wasn't in it. I ended up abandoning my goal, and doing just enough riding to keep myself fit throughout the season. A far cry from my two previous seasons. And I felt it. Not so much in my body, but in my head, and my heart. Giving up nagged me. Stayed with me. Lots of people reassured me that taking a year off was fine. Normal even. But to me, it wasn't.

I don't want that feeling again. So this year I am going public. I am sharing my goals with all of you. And, to prevent myself from being lulled into light training caused by the secure feeling of knowing I have done this before, I am going extra aggressive this year. Adding events that I have always wanted to do, but never prepared for. I am starting my training now, and I want to rely on all of you to keep me motivated (even better if you want to ride with me) and focused throughout the season.My season will start Friday May 15th, when I participate in the 100 mile Ride for Missing Children. This is a truly unique event which benefits the local Rochester Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The ride will criss cross Monroe County, making stops at local Elementary Schools, where the children will greet us, and receive a 20 program on safety.I will quickly turn around, and on Sunday June 7th will join team Mary's Gang/The Bike Zone to complete the 100 mile Tour de Cure. The Tour de Cure benefits the American Diabetes Association, and this years ride begins in beautiful Mendon Ponds Park before heading out for a 100 mile loop around the region.Finally, as in years past, I will wrap up my season the weekend of August 23 by participating in the Philadelphia LIVESTRONG Challenge. Finding a cure for Cancer, and supporting agency's like the Lance Armstrong Foundation are critical, and requires everyone's support. I will once again show my support by aggressively fundraising, and participating in the 100 mile event.

These are big goals set for a big year. I plan to do my part, and impact change for the better, the way I enjoy, on two wheels. I realize I ask this every year, but this year, with so many events on my calendar, I mean it more than ever. Riding, training, and participating in these events is all the more enjoyable when you are doing so with friends and family. So, if you have even considered getting on a bike for yourself, of to help others, make this year the year. Come out and ride with me. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Daddy, I Can Read!

I have never heard these words said with such true pride, and genuine amazed emotion as when Gavin declared this to me the other night as we were finishing his story before bedtime. The story that he had just read to me, cover to cover, by himself for the first time.

Now, he has brought books home from school to read to us before. Stories that they have read aloud in class, or practiced during his reading group. But, this book was different. This one he read cold.

Gavin, Isabelle, and I made a trip to the bookstore the other evening, and they each picked out two books to buy. Actually, they each picked out four or five, but we widdled it down to two each. One of Gavin's choices was Dr. Seuss's Cooking With the Cat. And this was the text that was driving his excitement and pride.

We cuddled into his bed, cracked the binding, and he started to read. Word by word, line by line. Sounding out the words that he was unsure of. Slowly at first, then picking up speed as his confidence built. About halfway through the book, Gavin was so excited at what he was doing he ran out of the room to get Donna so that she could come sit and listen to him read the rest of the story. We both sat there smiling as he continued working through each syllable, word, and line until the story was finished. Then it was hugs and high-5's all around as he beamed with pride at what he had accomplished.

Gavin got up the next morning and read the book to Isabelle. Then he spent the rest of the day telling everybody he saw that he read a book. True, unbridled, childhood pride. True, my baby is growing up, Parental pride.

Gavin can read.

Happy New Year

We braved the FRIGID (think Zero to 2 degrees) temperatures, and welcomed in the New Year along with a few thousand others in downtown Rochester. Of course, our whole reason for being out on such a cold and snowy night was to listen to Gavin perform with the Big Wish 175 Chorus.

We had Gavin at the Convention Center at 8pm to assemble with the Chorus and get their instructions for the night. Around 8:30 we bundled the kids up, and we all went outside to the Main Street bridge stage for a sound check. This was our first taste of what we would be in for. The operations staff was still shoveling the snow off the stage as the kids were walking on, and the wind was blowing right across it. Even the 15 min sound check turned out to be a deeply numbing affair.

Once back inside to warm up, the kids were treated to a personal visit from Mayor Bob Duffy who came by to say thank you for braving the weather, and for lending their voices to kicking off the City's 175th Anniversary. I was very impressed. He took the time to ask each child that wanted to speak to him their name, gave them a high five or fist-bump, and then posed for several pictures. He did a great job making the moment feel personal, and each child feel very special. Gavin was very excited to meet him, and both he and Isabelle introduced themselves and got their picture taken.

Around 9:15 the kids were given the orders to bundle up again (with a special request to add any extra layers they may have) and line up to head back to the stage. At this point, we said our good-byes to Gavin, and headed out to try and get a good view of the stage. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. When it is 2 degrees outside, and blowing snow. Stay inside. Getting a good view of the stage is not going to be an issue.

Anyway, even though Mayor Bob kept his comments short in recognition of the weather, the several taped congratulatory messages from our Sister City Mayors dragged on, making the frozen crowd quite restless. FINALLY, it was time to kick-off the reason we were here, and the Big Wish Chorus was set to take the stage. I'll let the video tel the rest of the story. I apologize for the quality. I was moving around in the crowd (and I think my hand was frozen), and couldn't see what I was taping.



I want to add a special thank you to Mom, Dad, and Christina for braving the weather, and throwing your support to Gavin. Donna and I are very proud of the job he did, and so happy that he had so much fun taking part in this special event.

Happy New Year, and here is to a terrific 2009.