Thanks...

We appreciate your thoughts and prayers for us regarding the school lottery for Levi.

Unfortunately we didn't get a placement in either the District 3 lottery, or at the Manhattan School for Children lottery.

Here's a sign of the recession, public schools have now become very popular again all over the city. True, it's not all financial. There has been a huge baby boom in Manhattan, and the first wave of that boom are all coming into kindergarten at once. And I would also say that the public schools in NYC on the whole have gotten better thanks to Mayoral control.

But money does play a huge role in what's going on right now. People who before might have been fine with paying $25,000 for kindergarten now all of a sudden think public school doesn't look so bad. A lot of other people agree.

Two years ago there were 450 lottery spots available for kindergartners in District 3 and not every spot was taken. This year there were 251 spots available for 525 applicants. Levi was the 225th name drawn and all five of our school choices were full by then.

The second lottery was specifically for the Manhattan School for Children. They had 37 spots available for 357 applicants.

Again thanks for your thoughts a prayers. We are trying not to get discouraged and we still have a few options left. Right now it's mainly just a waiting game.

Your Prayers Requested

Allison and I would greatly appreciate your prayers over the next two days as we find out about the public school lottery for Levi.

For those who don't know getting into a really good or even just decent public school in NYC can be a very arduous thing. The school we are currently zoned for is not an option for us which means we must apply to other public schools out of our zone. Most of the ten or twelve schools we put down as considerations are already full in their kindergarten classes.

What remains are four schools that we could be comfortable with if Levi is given a lottery spot. Tuesday at 6:00 pm I will be sitting in an auditorium with hundreds of other parents eagerly awaiting our lottery results.

There are a lot of things that can play out with regard to Levi's school options between now and the first day of kindergarten. But this is a major point in our efforts to find for him a good place for him to go to school. Specifically, you can pray for us to get a lottery placement in one of the district 3 schools we listed.

Thank you so much and we'll let you know how it goes.

The Sign Read....

"WE CANNOT ENSURE YOU WILL GET TO RIDE IN THE
CAR OF YOUR CHOICE WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN."

Which of course I knew to mean that we would probably not end up in a car we wanted. Little did I know that we would end up in the LAST car two boys and their father should be in on a Dad's day out trip to Toys'R'Us in Times Square.

We still had a great time, and left with our heads held high and our dignity still intact!

Shopping and Growing Up

Allison went shopping last week and was in Old Navy trying to get some pants for Levi. He desperately needed some new jeans since most of the ones he had either had holes in them or were too small. In Old Navy Allison was looking in the clothing section she had always shopped in for Levi's clothes, the baby and toddler section. This is the section with the 2T, 3T, and 4T sizes.

She was looking for a pair of size 5 jeans. After a considerable amount of time looking around she began to become frustrated because there were not any pants that she could find in his size. Then she realized that there wasn't a size 5 in the section she was in because that clothing size was in another place altogether. Levi's size 5 jeans were in the "big-kids" department at the other side of the store. Allison walked across the store with a growing ache in her heart that is both familiar and shared with mothers all over the world. Once in the right section she found the size 5 jeans she was looking for.

The jeans were folded and neatly stacked right along side numerous pairs of other jeans meant for kids twice his size and age. The tears started welling up in her eyes and the reality of how big Levi was getting came crashing home. The past four and three-quarter years flashed in her mind as a single moment and it took her breath away. She put the jeans back in the stack and as the tears began to fall she turned and walked out of the store without buying anything for Levi.

Over the years I have learned that a mother's heart is a complex thing. Full of love, joy, and hope as well as guilt, worry, and longing. Standing in Old Navy I know that Allison's heart experienced that entire range of emotions while holding that pair of 5T jeans meant for her precious first born son.

Another thing I know about Allison is that when it comes to shopping for her boys, she does not become easily deterred. With her depth of shopping experience and knowledge of Manhattan's children's clothing stores, she quickly came to a solution. Wiping away the tears, Allison walked down the street one block to H&M where she knew for sure that size 5 jeans are still kept with the 2T, 3T, and 4T sizes. The heartbreaking speed of Levi growing up was slowed down just a little bit. She got him some pants and picked some things up for Zeke since both sizes were in the same section.

We both know that sooner than either of us can possibly believe, time will not spare us from the fact that both Levi and Zeke are growing up. For this we give praise and thanks to God and we really wouldn't want it any other way. But who can blame us for trying to find ways to slow down time just a little bit.

St. Patrick's Day

Zeke got new jeans, shoes, and a shirt for St. Patrick's Day.

Zeke reading the latest issue of "Mental Floss."

Levi on St. Patrick's day doing his best Bono impersination.

Levi Learns to Ski

Merry Christmas

Levi and Zeke with Santa on the corner of 47th and 5th Ave

Caught in a Vulnerable Position

As I have said before we have had a little bit of a mouse problem the past few months. When I am up late, it's not uncommon to see them (yes more than one) running to and fro in the kitchen. Usually they come out when it's late so Allison and the kids don't have to interact with them...until last night.

Here's the scene, Levi is stalling big time about going to bed. He has already been put in his bed and tucked in twice. Allison and I are in the living room happily on our computers and we can hear him "sneaking out" of his room to go into the bathroom (convenient excuse to get out of bed). We both look at each other and roll our eyes and Allison (her turn) starts to get up to put him back in bed for the third time.

All of a sudden we hear the following:

(clap...clap....clap)
(screaming....clap....crying....clap)
D A D D Y!

I jump out of my chair and run down the hall, to discover Levi standing at the toilet with his PJ's around is knees screaming "THERE'S A MOUSE!" Which then I turn to see a little brown mouse run out of the bathroom and into the hall.

Tearing down the hall a few steps behind me was Allison, who upon practically running into the mouse, had her "Momfiercness" kick in and she grabbed the closest thing she could think of to capture the mouse (a mixing bowl). For Allison this is no small feat, because she has been known to stay awake all night at Camp Shiloh feeling "phantom mice" running accross the bed due to being traumatized at the thought of a mouse in our cabin.

The mouse escaped, but the ensuing processing discussion we had with Levi is something I will never forget. It was hilarious, precious, and unforgetable. In some ways I am thankful that the mouse created the opportunity for Allison and I to have this lasting memory.

However, mouse is still dead come 9:30 am when the exterminator gets here!

Kisses

From The Holidays So Far

How is it possible that my four year old is already making these faces when we kiss him!

400th Post!

I'm back!

After being fairly consumed with this past election and frequently using this blog as a vehicle for expressing my thoughts, I decided to take a step back for a little bit. I enjoy politics and discussing current events and I view this blog as a way of engaging in the topics and stories I find interesting. But in stepping back for a bit I took some time to think about the usefulness and "contribution" blogging in this manner actually makes. It's not that I hope to achieve any sort of blog notoriety via my "jackassian" punditry or even looking to garner more comments for that matter. Rather I questioned whether adding my two-cents to topics that are already hyper analyzed and commented on is beneficial for me or society in general.

With all this reflecting I have come to the conclusion that thinking about myself or this blog in such a way might just be taking things a bit too seriously. So it's time to start blogging and stopping reflecting.

However I do have a little video whose subject matter I do take very seriously.

I find teaching your children to love Rock and Roll is absolutely critical if you wish to be considered a good parent. I have learned from Radio Lab that studying right before you go to bed aids in memory recall and neurological imprinting. So I figured 30 minutes before bed is the perfect time to get out the guitar and turn up the music (especially while Allison is in class).

Ah, it's tough being a good parent!

FCBarcelona

He chose the FCBarcelona Soccer Club jersey. He had such a great time and stayed for both the 2-4 year class and the 5 and up class. He managed to score a goal in the 5 and up class during a scrimmage. When the scrimmage was over he promptly stomped off the field and fell on the ground crying. I asked what was wrong and he said he didn't score enough goals. He got in big trouble for that, and will be happy with one or no goals scored from here on out.

Levi's most natural soccer skill? Taking a dive on the tackle, shot, dribble, throw-in, and just plain running. If a European club saw him they would sign him up right away. You can't teach a person to fake a good fall in soccer you have to be born with it!

Levi's Four

Levi,
We can't believe you are four years old (6/12). Your mother and I love you beyond words or comprehension. You bring so much light into the world, I know that God has tremendous plans for you. And no matter how far you go or what you accomplish you will always be our growly bear.

Click to play

Let's Go Dodgers...

Wow time flies by so fast it's unbelievable. The top picture was taken in September of 2006 and the bottom one was taken in June of 2008. Both pics were at Shea Stadium on the way into a Mets vs. Dodgers game.

The Henegar boys are Dodger devotee's and whenever they come to play the Mets and they have an extra ticket they bring me and Levi along. This generous method of indoctrination has caused us to be both Yankee and Dodger fans. It's not as random an allegiance as you might think. I can remember summers going to Dodger Stadium to watch them play as a kid and one summer going on the field for a fireworks show.

While the game didn't go in the Dodger's favor (they lost 6-1) we had a great time. And how could you not...great seats, popcorn, hot dogs, Italian sausage, chicken fingers, pizza, fries, beer, soda, dippin' dots, night game, and feeding off the energy of a 7, 5, and almost 4 year-old. It was really cool to see them stand up and chant "Dodgers, Dodgers" to all the Mets fans in the stadium. They showed no fear or doubt, especially to the teenagers sitting behind us.

While I wouldn't necessarily call myself a baseball fan, there is nothing like taking your kid to the ballpark. It will never get old.

Vermont

We had a great weekend spending time with friends up in Vermont. I didn't realize how much I needed to get out of the city for some fresh air and a low key environment. The farm we were at was absolutely beautiful. We stayed in a house surrounded by apple orchards, woods with hiking trails, and rolling grass fields. With the weather cooperating beautifully it was an absolutely stunning place to spend the weekend.

Levi and Zeke had a great time. There was so much space and fun to be had on the farm and they just ate it up. However, their "urban upbringing" did flare up a little. We couldn't get Zeke to crawl in the grass because he didn't like how it felt on his hands. He would just sit there and pick the daffodils, but when it came time to move it was a no go unless we held his hands so he could walk around. Levi loved the wide open spaces and the woods, but he also loved all the battery operated children's cars that were around too!

As beautiful and relaxing as the weekend was, it still felt really good to get home.

Here are a few pics from the weekend.

The Family

Zeke pumped about not crawling on the grass.

Levi grass sledding.

Hiking with Zeke.

Planting in the garden with friends.

A Day for Firsts

Click to play

This is the honest truth. As you will see in the video Levi has gotten pretty good at riding his bike in a very short period of time. The clip you see of him riding the bike was 20 minutes after we first took off the training wheels. I had to call Allison to come meet us outside because I didn't have the camera. I really thought he would be too young. He clearly isn't, although don't worry he isn't allowed to ride his bike without me or Allison running right beside him.

Wait till you see Zeke work so hard to try and walk it's pretty funny (and adorable if I do say so myself).

Let the Wrestling Begin

Happy Halloween!

Don't Take My Word For It

Click To Play

First Day of School

Today was Levi's first day of pre-school. He absolutely loved it and can't wait to go back tomorrow. There was no anxiety or fear present in him at all today, and in fact he wanted us to leave (the parents had to stay for the first day) because school was for big people not parents (according to him). The school of course was great and all the parents and kids were just wonderful. Levi will start his full schedule (3 days a week) next week. For know it's kind of like an orientation. I can almost guarantee that at 6:30 a.m. he is going to be bounding through our bedroom door completely dressed and ready to go back. I am so thankful that we have the means and opportunity to send him to a place to learn and interact with other kids in a safe place. I don't want to take that for granted.

On the new baby front Zeke is doing fantastic. He is so sweet and it is fascinating to see the similarities and differences between him and Levi. For the first three weeks Zeke had a pretty hard time. Zeke has colic, but ever since Allison cut out dairy (she's breastfeeding) his symptoms have dramatically decreased. Levi had reflux but not colic so this was a new thing for us to deal with. All things being equal he had a fairly moderate case, but it was still hard to watch him scream out in pain for three hours almost every night. Levi has been a great big brother and has had so much patience with Zeke even when he was crying a lot. He has yet to express being frustrated or jealous with Zeke. It's kisses, hugs, and love all the time. It's so beautiful.

We Have Two Kids!

Wow even though we are just three years removed from having Levi as a baby, it's still quite an adjustment getting on "baby time." So far Zeke has been a fantastic baby. He has a very sweet disposition and even sleeps about three hours at night in between feedings.

Today Grammie left (Allison's mom) and man do we miss her already. She did more than just pick up the slack, she anticipated our needs before we even knew them. Her calm reassuring presence made us actually feel like we can manage a life with a toddler and a baby.

Levi is doing well adjusting to Zeke. Although we have both noticed that people really want to talk with him about what it's like to be a big brother, and he has yet to respond to that question. Compared to Zeke Levi seems like a teenager to us, but we have to remind ourselves that he is just three years old. He had his first sleep-over on Monday night at his friend Aidan and Owen's house. It was a much needed break for him and he had a ridiculous amount of fun with his two buddies. And didn't shed a single tear about missing home or mom and dad. I guess attachment parenting really does work.

Over the last two weeks I have had moments of primal terror when I think about how much I love my two boys and how much I want to keep bad things from happening to them. But most often I lay, awakened by a 3:00 am feeding, in a state of pure wonderment and thankfulness at the amazing blessing I have been given in having a family. Praise be to God.