Jack and Cate Update -- April, 2008

Sunday, April 6, 2008

After spending the weekend celebrating our wedding anniversary, Texas law required that we pick-up our children. Meddling lawyers... Jack and Cate *loved* spending the weekend at the Ranch with Grandma and Grandpa, and Jack apparently learned some helmetless, scooter stunts (we've since corrected the helmetless part).

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Despite Jack's biking success last month, Cate is perfectly content with her four-wheeled bicycle. In fact, her decision to continue using training wheels seems bolstered by Jack's frequent tumbles to the ground when he went without. It's actually quite hard to argue with this logic.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

The kids *love* Buster, so we were all sad that Grandpa and Grandma decided that he would be given a new home when they returned to Minnesota a couple of weeks later. He's been persistently "marking" throughout their house, and they're hoping to upgrade to a dog that doesn't pee.

Friday, April 11, 2008

With a little (read: extensive) arm twisting, we convinced Jack to demonstrate his riding prowess to Grandpa Dick. With a little help getting started, Jack confidently rode from the top of our street to our house.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Once he reached our house, he'd dismount and we'd all walk the bike back to the top of the street for another go. For the first time, I managed to drop my [camera](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_30d) (with my [favorite lens](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_EF_24-70mm_f/2.8L_lens) afixed) on the pavement while shooting the action. (It was a surprisingly inexpensive -- in the grand scheme of things -- mistake since Canon was able to fix, clean and test the lens for less than $200.)

Friday, April 11, 2008

After his successful campaign on the street, Jack insisted that we go to [Lakewood Park](http://xrl.us/bksqo) to fully demonstrate his mastery of the sport. Here, I'm starting him on one end of the 100-yard trail.

Friday, April 11, 2008

And here, I'm starting him on the other end of the 100-yard trail. I'm pretty sure I got a much better workout than Jack, but the practice paid off and he quickly progressed. Just a couple of weeks later, Jack was able to bike up to the top of our street, turn around, and bike back to our driveway. He still needs a little help getting started and he still refuses to turn around at our driveway, but he's made a lot of progress.

Friday, April 11, 2008

After exhausting ourselves (read: me) on the bike trail, we returned to our car demonstrating our feats of daring-do. It's just how we roll.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Overtaking Cate in their race to gum their food, Jack lost his second tooth.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Cate and the other Pink Ladies got inked at the [Lakewood Carnival](http://lakewood-now.net/view/article/2956).

Saturday, April 12, 2008

We had actual rides this year, and (given that we had 1,400 kids and inumerable adults attending) we had actual lines this year. It was funny how the number of kids at the front of the line seems to miraculously multiply like loaves and fishes each time the ride was loaded. Here, Jack gives us the bird. Or plane. Yeah, let's call it a plane.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Cate enjoyed the ride sans bird or plane. It was a *perfect* day for the carnival. Sunny and 70 degrees. If you found a patch of shade, it was actually cool.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

While at the carnival, Cate searched frantically for the grass allergies she's probably inherited from her father.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Along with most of other Dallasites, we spent Sunday afternoon at the Dallas zoo. Despite our repeated visits to the zoo, it was the first time we'd all shared a ride on the adrenaline-fueled monorail. For a little perspective on how much they've grown, we have [a couple of photographs](/kids/2003/12) from our visit four and a half years ago. In the linked photos, the kids are standing next to the kangaroo on the left.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

During the first part of the afternoon, we let Cate lead us through the zoo. Unsure of our ultimate destination, Lisa asked where she was taking us. "I have no idea," Cate replied. Lisa responded, "Well that makes all of us!" Cate pondered that a moment before excitedly replying, "And me!" I'm glad we settled that.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Cate gives us the bird too! Doggone their upgrades to the Children's Zoo! If that hadn't installed these giant nests, I can assure you my daughter wouldn't be behaving this way...

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Despite temperatures in the low 60s, no visit to the Children's Zoo is complete without wading in the "creek." Despite the lack of photographic proof, we all visited the new [Stingray Bay](http://www.dallaszoo.com/whatsnew/stingray_bay.htm) exhibit where people with long arms fed the stingrays. Despite their best efforts, the kids' arms just weren't long enough to reach the bottom of the pool where the animals fed. Frankly, I think just seeing the stingrays was excitement enough. Having one suck some food off their little hands would've caused a bathroom emergency.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Cate insisted that I carry her on my shoulders back to the car at the end of the day. When I helped her to the ground, she managed to take off my hat and throw it underneath the car next to us. She then she explained to Lisa that: "It was all part of my evil plan."

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Just as they were [last](http://nelsongang.com/kids/2007/04/html/cate-is-a-super-stallion.jpg.html) [year](http://nelsongang.com/kids/2006/12/html/img_5821.jpg.html), Jack and Cate were each named a Super Stallion for this quarter.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

This is the kind of academic excellence we demand at our house. No more spankings after school!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

By sheer coincidence, Cole was also named a Super Stallion for the quarter. Since it was the middle of the school day, the kids were endearingly reluctant to step outside for a celebratory photograph. After a little negotiating, everyone agreed it was alright to leave the school for just one shot.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Lisa volunteered to help Linda organize a get-together after her mother's funeral. At the last moment, Lisa and Linda asked that the kids and I join them as well. On the way there, Jack said we were "going to a party," but Cate took exception to the term. "Jack," she said very seriously, "it is not a party. Miss Linda's Mom died, so everyone will be very sad." She went on to make other very serious pronouncements, but my memory just isn't what it used to be...

Friday, April 18, 2008

Tyler was there, Josh was there, and little snakes were there too.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Turtles were there too. Cate was in animal-lover paradise.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Look, Mom! No pee! What a bonus!

Friday, April 18, 2008

Like [Moe Szyslak](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moe_Szyslak), Cate is a [snake handler](video/moe-szyslak-snake-handler.mov).

Friday, April 18, 2008

One of Linda's brothers has several pet snakes, and one of his friends was there with two [Green Tree Pythons](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morelia_viridis). Cate was happy to hold them. Jack was happy to busy himself elsewhere. Believe it or not, this still isn't the last of this month's episode of Wild Kingdom...

Sunday, April 20, 2008

After four weeks of classes, the kids were officially declared ready for their First Communion. They seemed remarkably chipper/agreeable for an early morning in church clothes...

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Jack clearly remembers the modeling instructions he received in Jamaica.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Apprently, Cate remembers them too.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

After the service, Cate was happy to stand in the receiving line and accept people's congratulations. Jack wasn't quite so sure.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

To celebrate their achievement, Olivia and Jim Cook (that's Dr. Jim Cook to you) joined us for the kids' First Communion as well as a little impromptu gathering at our house. I'm surprised there isn't a bare spot in the grass where we take all these photographs...

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Cate, meet Olivia's neck. Olivia, meet the top of Cate's head.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

No, these two photos are not identical. In the photo on the right, Cate's about ready to roll her eyes at me and bust out laughing. Women do that a lot around me.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Jim is Cate's Godfather, and he's the only Godparent who lives in Dallas. Heidi Weaver is Cate's Godmother, and she's in Bettendorf, Iowa. Jack's Godparents are Dan Finnane (Moraga, California) and Lauri Lopp (Springfield, Illinois). While we can all bicker about who didn't tell who about the upcoming First Communion, it's clear they're all slackers for not traveling cross-country for the occasion.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Grandpa Dick and Grandma Irene had long been planning to travel back to Minnesota earlier in the week, but they changed their plans at the last moment. We were all thrilled they could share in the celebration, and we're also thrilled not to accuse them of being slackers. If you look carefully, you can steal a glimpse of Grandpa Dick looking at the camera. Amazing!

Sunday, April 20, 2008

And then the moment is gone...

Sunday, April 20, 2008

I found Jack watching television and sucking his thumb (did I mention he's almost seven?) all while curled-up in a chair with his best friend, Cole. I'm at a bit of a loss here -- just where is a father to start?

Sunday, April 20, 2008

I'm not at all sure what's happening here, but I still don't think I approve.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Seriously. At. A. Loss. Seriously.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Although she waited until the next day (while I was in Richmond) to lose her second tooth, Cate enjoyed "freakin' me out" by displacing it with her tongue. All together now: ewwwwwww. Cate received two dollar bills and another dollar in loose change. Times must be tough for the Tooth Fairy.

Monday, April 28, 2008

And Back to Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom with Marlin and Jim... I happened to look out our bathroom window and spot these two climbing the side of the Seller's house. Like anyone with way too much time on his hands, I (of course) grabbed my camera and went outside.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Since I'm almost positive this is a previously undiscovered species, I've named it Sellers Wallius Need More Hobbius. These two shots are of the same animal, but you really need to click on the images to see them in all their nerdy, high-resolution glory.