Family
Heartfelt updates about family milestones and everyday moments. From taking Mazie to college and annual visits to the Renaissance Festival to Swedish‑pancake breakfasts and VR outings with the kids, this category celebrates togetherness.
- Queueing to get in Ralph’s World concert. Mazie very excited!
- Bumped into Mykl Roventine at Ralph’s World. Any other parents here?
- Mazie in line to get here t-shirt signed by Ralph. Dad holding the seats and hoping there is enough time for her to get it signed.
- Mazie got a Ralph signature!
Mazie is absolutely in love with this mornings snow! Pretty morning walk with the dogs earlier.
Mazie's 2008 School Picture
Mazie’s 2008 school picture just came in. Here is Daddy’s little girl. Last years scowl seems entirely gone.
I can’t seem to convince Mazie that it’s Barack Obama day. She keeps saying “Mom said it wasn’t Barack Obama day.”
Conversation with Mazie.
Awesome!
Mazie's 3rd Halloween
Mazie greeted her 3rd Halloween with much excitement and anticipation. I think this is the first holiday that she has been really, truly excited about. She kept asking us in the weeks preceding when it was going to be Halloween. She was practicing saying “Trick or Treat” and “Thank You”. She couldn’t decide if she was going to go with her Princess outfit or the Train Conductor. In the end she decided that her love of trains would prevail.
She had an awesome night and was giddy with excitement. It was all just great.
Happy Halloween everyone! Just had our first kids stop by.
Mazie is so excited about Halloween – it is beyond adorable.
New Kitchen Toys for Applesauce
Tammy
and I have both been eating much better the last couple of weeks and
we’ve been doing a lot more cooking at home. I like to cook. I find it
relaxing and fun. We have also been trying to keep things simpler, less
processed things and make more of our own foods with the basics from
the co-op. Tammy is going to start
baking artisanal bread. I’ve started making applesauce for Mazie here at
home. (Yes, baby steps. I was inspired by my
sister-in-law who makes her own
food for my
niece!)
I
made the first batch last week and it was really easy, except for
peeling the apples which took a long time. I also couldn’t get the
applesauce as smooth as I really wanted it.
I had never seen an apple peeler. Tammy suggested that we just get one since they make peeling apples a breeze. I got the Norpro Apple Peeler at Kitchen Window and used it for the first time tonight. It is amazing, and its fun! I had 5 pounds of apples ready to boil down for applesauce in no time at all. I have no idea how my mother and grandmother never produced one of these in the kitchen when making an apple pie. I can only assume that there is some big issue where these cannot be “exported” to North Dakota. Put down the paring knife, and get one of these things.
The next challenge was making it smoother so we finally picked up a stick blender, something we’ve been thinking we need for a long time. We make a decent number of pureed soups and a stick blender makes that so much easier. We got the Bamix stick blender for its power and durability. It made short work of the boiled down apples and made a great, smooth sauce.
Chill it down with a little brown sugar, high-end cinnamon and fresh ground nutmeg. Knocks the socks off of any applesauce you can get in the store.
Too Fat, Losing Weight
I’ve struggled with my weight for a long time, my entire adult life really. In 2000 I started an intensive program working extensively with a trainer and focusing with complete obsession on my food intake. In the course of 10 months I lost 100 pounds and changed a lot. Slowly though discipline broke down and focus was lost. This chart tells the story better than words.
I’ve asserted myself and decided it was time to get back into shape before, see 2004 and 2006. Both of those attempts were quick failures.
I believe that when you are making major changes in life it is an opportune time to push some bigger changes through. If you’re disrupting things, disrupt them big. I’m at a big inflection point in my career, so I’m making it an inflection point for fitness too. On top of that I’ve noticed that my lack of fitness and excess weight has become a bigger problem than it ever was before. Perhaps showing signs of getting older, my blood pressure has crept up. In order to do fun things with Mazie and Tammy I need to be lighter on my feet.
A week ago I began to work hard on this, and I’m going to keep on working hard until I get to my goals. I’ve got a lot of work to do, and it’s going to be hard, but I’m going to hold myself accountable to it. If I pass on the appetizer or beverages at dinner you will know why. My goal is to get back below 300 by the New Year, and to reasonable fitness by next summer. If you see me attempting to be stupid, feel free to point it out. My plan to get there includes daily exercise and strictly watching food.
Wish me luck! I’m feeling great!
At a movie with Tammy and totally excited. Seeing Burn After Reading. First movie out in months! Thanks grandma for watching Mazie!
Watching Mazie’s very first dance class. Precious!
Mazie and cousin Nora in Chariot!
Wondering how many pairs of shoes Tammy has gotten for Mazie while I drink my coffee. Shopping!
Having nice espresso and croisant with Mazie.
Just put Mazie down for nap. Raining all day in Bath, but didn’t stop us from seeing the sights. Tammy is shopping this afternoon.
Mazie and Tammy left Dad to pay the bill for lunch while they shop down the street. Hmmm.z
Mazie is getting a stellar nap. Big win. She hasn’t gotten a nap for 3 days and she was starting to frazzle.
Back to the apartment from a very long Mazie day. Lot’s of fits thrown today. Had tea with Grandma Olson - they flew over on their own trip!
Watching Charlotte’s Web on train with Mazie as we travel to Cambridge for a quick day trip