We hardly watched any football during the regular season - so as the Superbowl approached we decided to get in the spirit. Coincidently, our friends Geoff and Hector were in town for a business meeting...a party was in the making!
Will made a few calls and things started to come together.
David made a double batch of Jambalya - delicious!
KC outdid herself with a fantastic spread of party food.
Hector and Will got into the spirit by reading the Let's Go Giants book! Uncle Geoff takes advantage of the situation and goes for a second bowl of Jambalya.
Geoff and Hector pose with us for a Party Pic!
Will's football shrine - I think it helped the Giants.
Be afraid...be very afraid!
The play of the game! Go Manning!
This catch wasn't pretty but it was a beautiful thing!
Thanks to Geoff and Hector for sharing Superbowl XLII with us. Great friends sharing great food while watching great football....who could ask for anything more!
I sense that my parents are a little tense lately. Ordinarily I'd let them work through issues on their own - but I can't stand another night with the couch potatoes watching Law and Order reruns. I needed to make an intervention...and quick!
The Family...I'm the handsome one in the middle
The perfect remedy to a long, hectic week with parents is a concert at West Point. After work on Friday, we made the familiar drive with time to spare - allowing us time to tour Eisenhower Hall and visit with our neighbor, Uncle (and Master Sergeant - Trombonest) Ron Fleischman.
Daddy, me, and Uncle Ron.
The U.S. Military Academy Band Jazz Knights celebrated African American History Month by playing a medley of big band jazz. The Knights hosted legendary tenor saxophonist Benny Golson. What a treat to hear the works of a man who has played with other jazz icons like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Clifford Brown.
Benny Golson
Benny Golson’s career as a performer and composer spans over half a century. He has performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, and Tadd Dameron. His most notable association, however, is with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers from 1958-1959, helping to define the hard bop and blues-based sound which characterized the group. In the 1980’s, he co-led the Jazztet with flugelhornist Art Farmer and has since continued to compose, record, and perform throughout the world.
Mr. Golson has recorded over 30 albums and written over 300 compositions. He composed music for television programs including M*A*S*H, Mission Impossible and The Partridge Family and advertising music for Chevrolet, Chrysler, McDonald’s and Pepsi Cola.
The Jazz Knights in Full Effect
I knew my plan was working when the ol' parents started finger snapping and toe tapping. Daddy's favorite performance of the evening was a song named Strawboss - one of Mr. Golson's hits.
Just as I was getting warmed up, the concert came to an end...sans one brief finale. So we piled into the car and headed for home...with a little pit stop at some place called McDonalds. I snacked on my whole grain, organic, baked, no-salt pita chips while my parents ate something called McNuggets...I'm so glad I don't have to eat that stuff!
William and Mommy tagged along when Daddy had to go to San Diego for work... so what does a 2 year old and his Mom do while Daddy attends meetings???
Well, on Sunday, we dressed Daddy up and sent him to work. Isn't he dapper?? Then...
We headed to Balboa Park... One of the 1000 Places You Should See Before You Die
We spent the morning walking in the park... the most beautiful park anywhere...the weather was crisp and cool.
Our next stop was the Science Museum in Balboa Park. We are playing in the children's area. Cute little computer!
Considering William has spent quite a bit of time sitting in grocery carts, it is no wonder he enjoyed this play area. Seriously, he was intrigued by the conveyor system that ran the grocery checkout... the kids cranked the lever to move the items on the belt. We spent a lot of time doing this!!
Then our runner wanted to run!!!
After a snack, we headed over to the carousel in Balboa Park, near the Zoo. Look at that smile!! We rode the horses many, many times but we didn't catch the brass ring. Actually, we didn't try. Mommy couldn't watch Will, take pictures, balance the bookbag, and grab for the ring... slacker!
Near the zoo entrance is a miniature train. William saw it and took off running. We rode this many, many times... and one young man cried when our tickets ran out.
Then, William wanted to ride the airplanes. This is the first time he rode a ride alone. He was such the cool dude. Look at him just hanging out and playing with the seatbelt before the ride begins.
Waving to the crowd... this is a cell phone photo... we text Daddy to let him know all about the trouble we are getting into, I mean, adventures we are having!
After nap time, we hooked up with Daddy and went to The Oceanaire with Dr. Michael and Lynda Gordon. Toward the end of the meal, the gentlemen serenaded us.
William giggled, "Daddy singing... Daddy singing!"
On Monday, we took it easy. William napped throughout the morning. After lunch, we walked along the marina to Seaport Village. We rode another carousel. Actually, he was not impressed with these horses I guess. He elected to sit on the bench with his mom and look around. Go figure.
On Tuesday, William and Mommy took a little morning walk along the marina to a little park. This is a shot of our hotel from the park! Great shot, Mom!!
That afternoon, we drove to Coronado and visited Coronado beach. William loved the sand, the surfers (whom we talked to -- they showed him surf boards and let him touch!), and the lifeguard driving on the beach. That impressed him most... "car on beach" he said.
I love my little boy!!
Of course, Daddy had to work, but we met up with him for dinner. The boys are crossing the street in the Gaslamp Quarter. We are headed for ice cream...
...at the Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop!
The boys are cutting up while waiting for ice cream!!
Chocolate chip ice cream with sprinkles... no spoon needed!
On Wednesday, we headed to the Cabrillo National Monument and Park. Our first stop was the tide pools. During low tide, all sorts of sea creatures are visible. So, we headed down to the shore.
We did not go down to the water's edge... you can... however, these are steep cliffs and slippery. Toddlers are unpredictable so we didn't take any chances. The views are spectacular.
Just beautiful!
Then, we headed up to see the Cabrillo monument -- the first European to set foot on the est coast of what is now the United States in approximately 1520.
The view of San Diego from the Cabrillo Monument.
William loves lighthouses (ever since our Cape Cod trip this summer). This is the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, first lit in 1855. However, this light from the lighthouse was obscured in low clouds or fog. So, the light was extinguished in 1891, and a new lighthouse built at the bottom of the hill.
After looking for whales (didn't see any), we headed back to the car.
We had a wonderful time exploring San Diego; however, we were really excited for family day !!!
We hardly watched any football during the regular season - so as the Superbowl approached we decided to get in the spirit. Coincidently, our friends Geoff and Hector were in town for a business meeting...a party was in the making!
Will made a few calls and things started to come together.
David made a double batch of Jambalya - delicious!
KC outdid herself with a fantastic spread of party food.
Geoff and Hector pose with us for a Party Pic!
Be afraid...be very afraid!
The play of the game! Go Manning!
