Griffin and I just got back from our first karate class at the YMCA. It was a class full of kids, but family members can take it with them. I was the only adult.

Griffin LOVED it. He did a great job paying attention to the sensei that was teaching us - even though it was hard not to be distracted by the non-beginner kids who were actually sparring while we were just repeating steps and blocks.

All the way home Griffin sang, "I know Karate," and then he talked about how he was going to tell Sully tomorrow about how bowing is part of karate, because it was something Sully wouldn't know. He definitely wants to keep doing it.

Last night, Berit and Bridey got on the internet and learned how to make crepes. They made crepes this morning for Rowan's birthday, and at lunch they made smoothies. We hung out at home and played games, and later on Pam's family all came over for more food and more games. Rowan had a great birthday.

Tonight, Bennett came over and Berit's friend, Bridey, and we all played games. First we played Attack Uno, which Bennett gave to Rowan for her birthday, and then we the kids played the State Geography game while Bennett, Pam, and I played Quiddler. We celebrated New York New Year with noise makers and bubbly.

Yesterday, we all went sledding - it was a blast until I let Rowan go down on the really fast inflatable thing and she ended up going backwards over a big jump, flipping over a kid, and really hurting herself - not injuring, but basically spoiling the rest of the sledding for her as she just layed there in pain. I felt pretty bad about that.

It's been almost two months since I've posted anything here. I'm going to try to do better than that, and I'll start with this video of Griffin singing "Grandma Got Runover By a Reindeer." (We had a blast with Mimi and Papa George here!)

We went to the CU - Missouri game last weekend - CU got pummeled, but we still had fun cheering for the Buffs in a packed stadium! I explained football to the kids. The best part came later though when Rowan wanted to throw the football with me.

After a Halloween party at a friend's house, Berit went trick-or-treating with friends in an adjoining neighborhood, while Pam and I walked around with Rowan and Griffin who were Speed-TrickorTreating.

Sure they said "trick or treat" and "thank you" at each house, but when the transaction was completed, they bolted as fast as they could to the next house, barrelling over any small ghosts, goblins, or spidermans that got in their way.

What can I say? Time is candy.

In Griffin's class, they're keeping track on the calendar how long until Halloween, so Griffin is giving me the daily update. First thing he says to me this morning is, "Six days until Halloween, Daddy!"

Rowan got the part of Tigger in her RMTK production of Winnie the Pooh. I took her out to pizza to celebrate. She's also been really into reading THE MAGIC TREEHOUSE books lately. Tonight she finished Book 4 (Pirates) in one sitting - I think this was a first.

Berit showed me the dance she is learning in her dance class tonight - it's fairly extensive and it blows my mind that she can remember (much less actually do) this sequence of steps.

Pam took Griffin out of school today to Chautauqua with his buddies, Sully and Alex. Evidently they were running through the woods, and Griffin messed his face up in some branches. I should get a chance to take a picture. He and I had THE BEST hike this past weekend up in Vail - 3 hours on that Tigawon Trail we went on with Mom and Dad. It was a blast - we ran down the trail together, played on the rocks in the middle of what I assume is Gore Creek, and observed all sorts of cool nature.

"Our family is special, you know why? Because Doctor Papa is a doctor, and that's special. And Magic Papa does magic, and that's cool." - Rowan