Jack and Cate Update -- May, 2008 |
Saturday, March 8, 2008 |
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I discovered a few photos on my cell phone that are a couple of months old. After we spent the night in Salina, Kansas, we got an early start for the final drive to Colorado. Cate's set: a warm jacket, an extra-soft blanket, and movies on the Mac. |
Saturday, March 22, 2008 |
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It's March, but you gotta love eating outside in our short-sleeves. Also, you gotta love kids hamming for the camera. |
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 |
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Dog-lover Cate plus overly-friendly bulldog equals missing front tooth. As she bent down to pet the puppy, it jumped up to "kiss" her. Despite a thorough search of the area, the tooth was never recovered, and Cate didn't think it was appropriate to write a note (as we suggested) for the Tooth Fairy. You can also [hear Cate tell her version of the story](audio/cate-loses-a-front-tooth.mp3). |
Saturday, May 3, 2008 |
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Realizing a life-long dream (which in the grand scheme of things, really isn't that long), Cate started riding lessons this month. She's getting to be a "big kid," but she still looks tiny next to the horse. Luckily, Cate get's a leg-up from her instructor, Miss Sharon, by literally standing on her leg. |
Saturday, May 3, 2008 |
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I think it's important to encourage children to pursue their dreams, even if they might eventually bankrupt the entire family. |
Saturday, May 3, 2008 |
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Cate now rides every other Saturday, and she loves it. She's a picture of concentration and determination on the horse, but she sometimes lacks the forceful personality and sheer strength to get their unfettered attention. |
Saturday, May 3, 2008 |
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Today, Cate was riding Starbuck. I should make it clear that the horse is not affiliated with the coffee retail chain and (furthermore) I didn't name her, so please don't sue me. |
Saturday, May 3, 2008 |
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As part of each lesson, Cate helps Miss Sharon brush and saddle the horse both before and after her ride. Miss Sharon has a child in first grade with the kids, and she recently opened Rush Creek Stables at their home near White Rock Lake. |
Friday, May 9, 2008 |
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In the Lakewood Elementary Math Olympiad, Cate placed 4th in Miss Connell's class and Jack placed 5th in Miss Lamb's class. Cate seemed to be just as excited about Jett's award as her own. |
Friday, May 9, 2008 |
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Cate also received an award for her math skills across all six first grade classes, but her proudest achievement was that Miss Connell's class won first first grade class championship. This was rewarded by a class pizza party at the end of the year. I guess you could say they enjoyed a pizza pi. Ha! That's a math joke! |
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 |
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The view from the Hyatt Regency hotel in Chicago. We had our last [user conference](http://www.bea.com/participate/), and it definitely felt like a last hurrah before our acquisition by Oracle. The last evening, we had a big dinner with (amongst others) Todd Vancil, Mark Melone, Gary Buffington, Brandon Dean, Andy Romano, and Robert Ruelas. |
Friday, May 16, 2008 |
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Without question, Field Day is the most anticipated day of the school year. Jack teamed with Elliot in the three-legged race. |
Friday, May 16, 2008 |
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Jack realizes that they've done it. They are the first grade three-legged racing champions! The victory was extra sweet this year because they're now free of performance-enhancing drugs. |
Friday, May 16, 2008 |
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Cate prepares for the sack race. The calm exterior belies her burning competitive spirit -- I've taught her this to psyche-out her first grade competitors, and it's really working for us. |
Friday, May 16, 2008 |
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Cate, mid-race. |
Friday, May 16, 2008 |
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The kids train all year for the Field Day events. Jack demonstrates supreme displine by keeping one arm behind his back while carrying the egg and by not kicking the egg ten yards down the field when he drops it. |
Friday, May 16, 2008 |
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I was absolutely flabbergasted by the jump rope relay. Cate and the other girls can run at almost top speed while continuously jumping rope. What a difference a year makes. |
Friday, May 16, 2008 |
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Jack and his classmates prepare for battle in the tug-of-war. Jack and I are still working on his game-face -- it was a lot more menacing during our extensive training sessions. |
Friday, May 16, 2008 |
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While the rest of his classmates pull with all their might, Jack cunningly waits for his exact moment to strike. |
Friday, May 16, 2008 |
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Cate's class readies for tug-of-war battle, and what could be more intimidating than a dog and cat in love? I swear, we've lost this generation. |
Friday, May 16, 2008 |
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We were a little too late to capture the leaky-bucket-on-head water relay, but here is the predictable result. This is every kids' favorite competition. |
Friday, May 16, 2008 |
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Jack enjoys a post-competition energy boost and does what he does best: talk. |
Saturday, May 17, 2008 |
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For the second month in a row, I prove it's Wild (Lizard) Kingdom in our yard. |
Saturday, May 17, 2008 |
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Jack spotted this little guy in our yard, and he excitedly insisted that I come outside to examine his find. |
Sunday, May 18, 2008 |
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Before Jack and I braved the Hawaiian Falls Half Pipe (over and over and over), Kelli and Lisa took their turn. Before they exited following their ride, two teenage boys stopped to watch them go. One said to the other, "Let's wait and see what happens with those two old ladies." I wasn't sure if I should relate the story to them, but both Kelli and Lisa had good laugh. |
Sunday, May 18, 2008 |
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For the first time, neither Jack nor Cate had a nap over a weekend. After an afternoon playing in the sun at Hawaiian Falls and a big dinner at Pho Que Huong, they were both nearing exhaustion -- Cate fell asleep on the ride home and they both were in bed and asleep by 8 PM. |
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 |
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After they heard the news that Grandpa Dick's cancer had returned. Both kids sent him a get-well card. In his card, Jack relates some of the things we told him about cancer: that Grandpa Dick had overcome it before, that chemo treatments take at least three hours a day, and that he'd probably lose his hair. He also tied it to Cate's hospital stay last year when she had an IV for more than 24 hours. |
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 |
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Cate's explained to us that cloud at the top illustrates 'better' overcoming 'sick.' Both Jack and Cate were really upset about Grandpa Dick's illness, and the cards meant a lot to my Dad. |
Friday, May 23, 2008 |
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Dance recital makeup 'take one.' Jack commented: "Her lipstick looks schmooshy." Thank you for your help, please come again. |
Friday, May 23, 2008 |
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Lipstick 'take two.' |
Friday, May 23, 2008 |
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The heat and the humidity was absolutely oppressive, but Cate was still anxious to take a few photos outside before we headed to the recital. |
Friday, May 23, 2008 |
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No, I'm not shooting Cate through gauze -- it was so humid that I think water was starting to condense on the camera lens. She's a photo-shoot trooper. |
Friday, May 23, 2008 |
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The recital theme was Welcome to the Sixties, so their costumes were covered in bright flowers. As opposed to some other theme, in which case their costumes would be covered in bright flowers. |
Friday, May 23, 2008 |
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I was absolutely amazed by Cate's performance. It's incredible how much they've learned and accomplished over the past two years. |
Friday, May 23, 2008 |
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The recital was held at Woodrow Wilson where the kids will eventually attend high school. |
Friday, May 23, 2008 |
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Whether by design or sheer luck, Cate was at the front of the dance line. You have to see the video to fully appreciate it. |
Friday, May 23, 2008 |
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Cate was proud of her performance, and we were too! |
Sunday, May 25, 2008 |
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It's definitely starting to feel like summer in Dallas, and that means it's time for sprinkler-fueled kid insanity. Oh, how I've missed it... |
Sunday, May 25, 2008 |
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It may look like a curtsy, but it's not. I'm telling you, it's not. Not. |
Sunday, May 25, 2008 |
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Imagine how much fun he might have if he were actually running through the sprinkler rather than simply watching Cate and Cole! |
Sunday, May 25, 2008 |
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Laughter is indeed contagious. |
Sunday, May 25, 2008 |
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When you need a lone soldier for a daring adjust-the-sprinkler commando raid, Jack is your man. |
