Thankful for....

My daughter brought home a sheet from nursery school yesterday that had what each child in the school was thankful for.  Kids had the mom's and dad's and brother and sisters as some of the things which they are thankful for, and Charley did too, but.......

Let me just share the list from my three year old:
I AM THANKFUL FOR MOM AND DAD, MY DOG, BRODY, MY DOLL, SAMMY, CHICKEN NUGGETS, HOTDOGS WITH KETCHUP, AND GREEN GRASS.

Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate family and good health and reflect about what is important.  Although, Hotdogs with Ketchup is not high on many of our lists, Hotdogs with Ketchup has made an impact on my child, at somepoint.  Maybe for her, it is time spent together around the pool in the middle of a hot summer night or a birthday party with balloons, friends and Barney or hugs and kisses or friends and fireworks or just a simple trip to Sheetz (yes, I've taught her to use that ordering machine at the food counter--but only one...or twice) to order a 'dog' with her father.

Hotdogs with Ketchup, yeah, I can accept that.  Because sometimes even the smallest things are cause for celebration and reflection.  Have a happy, safe, restful and reflective Thanksgiving.

Enjoy those Moments...

In every difficult time, comes something positive.  This has been a trying few weeks.  I've lost close friends and have had friends who have lost those close to them.  My wife and I witnessed our first home together torn down by the hospital two days ago and last night we 'thankfully' found our dog eating 'rat' poison which the exterminators had precautionarily put down earlier that morning in a garage at my wife's work.  

I say 'thankfully' because we were able to get him to the Vet safely ended up with Brody the Puppy at the doctor last night.  Here's some quick background. One year ago this week, my wife and I learned that our first dog, Rugby, had liver cancer from which he passed a few weeks later right before Christmas.   My daughter equates going to the Vet as a place where dogs go to die...and, that brings a tear to my eye.  At one point, Heaven (according to my daughter) was 'down by the ice cream store' (Carvel on the Golden Strip).  She explained to me once that that is where Nana and Rugby were in 'Heaven' (on the Golden Strip).  Animal and Avian Hospital was that place for Charley.  So, you can see where I am going with this...last night when we took Brody to see Dr. Winton, Charley felt we were taking Brody to Heaven...again, tears down my cheeks.

Well, we had one of those moments as we sat in the waiting room (by the way Brody is fine and he had a Huge belly full of the poison!!!).  Dr. Winton explained to us that he would be keeping Brody over night, but he had something to show Charley.  That is when he created one of those life-lasting memories.  As Charley continued to be sad, Dr. Winton brought out a small cardboard box and in that box will be a memory which my daughter, wife and I will never forget-- three 30-minute old puppies.   Immediately, Charley learned that life, not always death, blooms at the Vet.  As Charley held one of those puppies, her tears left her eyes and memories poured in.  And, as that moment continued, I felt the need to share it with you and to record it forever with these photos.

 

Enjoy moments like these... 

Not Frost on the Pumpkin, but......

a squirrel.  This little guy has been making a meal of this pumpkin which we have on our front stoop.  The pumbkin was never carved, so this liitle guy burrowed a hole in the other side and has been eating the seeds.  What a fun afternoon we had watching and checking in on our bushy-tailed friend.

The last picture??? He is inside the pumpkin...hilarious.

Mr. Greevy...a Kindergarten Teacher

I had a blast this morning teaching Kid Writing in Mrs. Kuntz's classroom. Mrs. Kuntz is Miss Schrei's mentor and was spending 1/2 hour working in that Kindergarten classroom, so I volunteered to teach the writing assignment, "I like to visit...." Students talked about Knobels, McDonalds, Hershey Park, my grammy's and other fun places. I even learned that I must use 'Space Man' in order to make sure that I have spaces between my words.

After writing, the students had snack and one student set up her fish snack in an A-B-A-B pattern. Wow! I can not wait to be invited back.

Nittany Nation.

What a rough weekend for the Nittany Nation.  Nice day to watch football, but not enought creativity in the play calling.  Very vanilla.

I'm wearing my pinstripes today!!!!

Way to go YANKEES!!!

With only 3 days rest....

Andy Pettitte versus Pedro Martinez Tonight! 


Here's hoping for a Yankee Victory.

The Lee & Utley Show

Okay, I will first admit that I didn't get to see the entire game last night as I fell asleep on the recliner and missed the last 4 innings.  I did, upon waking up at 1 a.m., look to see who won and found the Sports Center guys proclaiming a Philadelphia win.  Boy, Chase Utley had two more dingers!!!  How do we get him to come to play for the Yankees. 

I really am enjoying the baseball on TV, but the grief I am getting here at school today is rough.  Mr. Rhoads has hung Phillies posters and newspaper clippings in my office and even the school secretary couldn't wait to give me a hard time this morning.  

Come on NY, we need a win!

Go YANKS!

Yanks 3-1...let's start sizing rings....

This goes out to my sister--a Phily Phanatic.  Meg, last night's 7-4 win proved that although Philly may be the better team, they run hot and cold and November World Series is not the time to run cold.  Tonight could be it, Meggie.  Better luck next year.