Nothing like a little Father-Son bonding time. 

The Great Quake Adventure...sort of.

Here is the basic story of our day. Shortly after 7 AM Katie and I were awoken by a fairly substantial shaking of the house. We both went in to Liam’s room to make sure he was safe. He was still sleeping soundly even though the house was still shaking and his crib was banging against the wall. He did not actually wake up until the shaking stopped. We later found out through various friends and family back on the mainland that the quake was a 6.5 magnitude. Since Liam was not likely to go back to sleep, I told Katie to go back to bed and I would take Liam downstairs for a little father-son football watching. I had not made it very far before the power went out, ending any chance at watching T.V. After checking the house over and making sure that everything was okay (we have no gas hook-ups, so no worries there) we spent our day just being together. It was raining really hard most of the day, but Katie and Liam played on the covered carport while I cleared out and reorganized my tool shed. Then we went inside and played cards and board games while Liam sat in his highchair and played with toys. The power came back on around 7 PM, but we kept on playing our games since we were having so much fun. At first it seemed as though the power going out would make for a bad day. Nothing to do inside and too rainy to go to the beach, but I was able get around to a chore I had been avoiding and then spend a great day with my wife and son. Not a bad way to spend a day.

Dinner by lamp light. 

Lots of new pictures

Katie's parents came to visit this past weekend and as usual we had a great time. We wish everyone could come out here as often as they are able to, but in lieu of that I will continue to post here and keep everyone as up to date as possible. We recently got some new photo software and two new digital cameras. That means more pictures at a higher quality. We had Liam's nine month pictures taken this weekend as well, so watch your mailboxes for more pictures for your desks/walls/mantels/wallets.

Liam uses his up-turned toy box in an unsuccessful attempt to go over the wall.

Liam loves climbing and he loves puppets; Here he gets two of his favorite things at once. 

Three generations. 

Airport goodbyes. 

Walking practice. 

Our handsome baby boy. 

Liam, Tutu, and Papaw. 

We could not resist putting Liam in his Halloween costume a little early. 

What better way to spend an hour? 

More sleepy time with Papaw.

Ko Olina Beach. 

The leeward side of Oahu. 

Attack of the 50 ft. baby!! 

This is the pre "I am about to climb you" smile 

More toy box fun.

The view from the top of the Pali Lookout. 

It is really hard being us.

Liam is understandably a little hesitant about standing on the beach with the waves coming in. The waves are bigger than he is after all. 

Learning to read the waves. 

This pair is the life of any party. 

Hugs for Dad at Logan's 1st Birthday Party. 

Just a swingin'. 

The proper use for a toy box.

Hard on my heart

My work schedule for the past three months has had me going to in from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. When we did this schedule during Jan-Mar, I did not mind because Liam was not as active as he is now and leaving for work was not that big of a deal. Now that he is bigger, more interactive, and full of personality it makes going to work a very hard thing to do. On any given day I have to stop playing with him or holding him or just watching him to go to a place that is not nearly as fun to do a job that is not nearly as interesting. Today he made it extra tough on me. Apparently he has learned that when I put on my uniform it means that I am going to leave. After I gave him his usual good bye hug and kiss he cried and held on to me tightly when I tried to put him down. I hugged him tightly again and gave him to Katie. Leaving for work after that was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. Sometimes being a Dad is hard.