Guam will capsize if we increase troop levels...

I saw this on youtube. A real US congressman, expressing his reservations on increasing troop levels in Guam:



It reminded me when I was about 8 years old, playing Risk against my big brother Mark, who was about 14 or 15 at the time. I had finished conquering the Americas, and was looking to invade Europe. Those familiar with the game will of course recognize they way you do that is to invade Iceland from Greenland. I turned in my cards for about 40 new armies, and added it to an already stacked Greenland for about 70 armies, looking to deliver the knockout round. But after I obliterated his garrison, and was trying to move about 35 pieces of plastic over tiny Iceland, Mark stopped me: "Um, like, you can't do that. You've got too many armies. Look at the board Craig, your armies can't fit on Iceland."

This is way Mark used to win his games. Of course, he's very clever, and can often win games without resorting to such tactics, but if you're playing, say, Monopoly with him, beware when he generously offers to be the banker.

A Whole Bunch of Pics

Events include: Legoland trip with cousins (July), Spencer's blessing (August), the kids' favorite mind-melting activity (could be almost any day of the year), the kids' favorite outdoor activity, Stan and Virginia's visit (August-September), and Bryce's pirate pumpkin (October), Becky's birthday (with Spencer thinking, "that's a LOT of candles"), and some nice professional pics. More to come, hopefully.

Our busy past 9 months?!!

Our poor neglected, abandoned blog. I have had the best of intentions to make an update, but somehow have not found the time to actually do it. So now while the baby is actually sleeping some place other than in my arms, I thought I would try to write something and to post some pictures.

The biggest change in our lives has been the birth of our third child. Spencer is now a month and a half old. Emma and Bryce have been wonderful with him. Much better than I could have imagined. Emma is often giving me suggestions on how best to help Spencer and she is very often right. She was the one who discovered that classical music is surprisingly soothing to him. She also tricks him out of fussing sometimes by saying "waa, waa!" right back to him. Bryce too helps take care of the baby. He will sit next to him in the car and perform the duties of "pass patrol" (i.e. putting the pacifier back in the baby's mouth if he starts to cry). Spencer is smiling quite a bit now and the smiles, along with the cute cooing sounds he makes bring me a surprising amount of joy.

Emma and Bryce have also changed and accomplished much since our last posting. They both tear around the block on their bikes, much to my dismay, as I try unsuccessfully to keep up with them. Emma finished her first year of Kindergarten. She loves to both read and write. She is endlessly writing and illustrating new stories. I love to hear her read to me and she often helps by reading to Bryce when I am busy. Bryce finished his first year of preschool. He now proudly writes his name. He is such a social kid. I have no clue where he got that from, definitely not from me. When we go to the park he always seems to make new friends, going up to other kids (even big kids). I hope he will always be so friendly. Even on my grumpiest days he never fails to give me a hug and tell me he loves me and that I'm his best friend.