2008 - So Far, So Good

The first weekend of 2008 was pretty fun. Over the holidays we traveled a lot, so just being home for this past weekend was relaxing...but that doesn't mean we sat around the house the whole time. Saturday morning we all went to the new swimming pool at Cessna's fitness center. The pool at the "recreational" area is zero-entry. That is, it gradually gets deeper as you walk into it...kind of like at the beach. At about a foot deep the slope changes dramatically as the depth increases to three feet. Jen and Desmond were playing with a basketball in the shallow area when the ball drifted into the deeper area. Desmond charged after the errant ball and fell as the slope of the ground changed under him. He sank like a stone. Of course we were right there to grab him before he hit bottom, but he was pretty startled. He didn't let that ruin his time at the pool though...there was enough splashing and yelling to dispel any concerns that he might be afraid of the water.

After the pool we hit the motorcycle shop and the library. All told, it was about as perfect an outing can be as far as Desmond was concerned, and when we made it home D took a nap. I took advantage by getting my motorcycle ready to go to the track the following day, Sunday, when it was expected to be around 60 degrees. I don't know if it hit 60, but was very nice...upper 50's and sunny. We took the dirtbike to a track where we have never been before. They prepped it so it could be open for practice, but the track was still pretty muddy, and by the time we got there it was very rutted. It was pretty difficult to ride fast on...Pops crashed twice. First someone tried to pass me and then crashed right in front of me. I had to go down so that I didn't ride over him and his bike. The second wreck happened because I was out of position in a long deep rut. Luckily I was riding like a pansy, so the fall wasn't at a super fast speed. I was mostly riding scared the whole time...I couldn't get the hang of the mud and the ruts, though was starting to get better towards the end. Then I wrecked and we decided to pack it in. I expect to be very sore tomorrow.

So, here's some random Desmond photos from the holiday season:

Desmond on the merry-go-round. This was at the mall in Wichita as we were shopping for X-mas gifts. Check out the weird rooster behind us...What kid would want to ride that thing?

Opening presents on X-mas morning. Those aren't all his presents, but many of them were. D raked it in this year...I didn't think he was that good. Next year he won't be the only little one running around...

Tempting fate at the Children's Museum in Chicago during our visit. Thanks for everything J-loyce. D asks to go to your house almost as much as he asks to go to Grandma's house. I guess that means that he had fun.

D in disguise. At least I think it's him.


So you can see that the holidays were good for us. Thanks everyone for the generosity and hospitality.