Zone Defense

Here are some more videos from Zachary’s second birthday.

written by DaddyFranklin

Zachary turned two today. This is the first of several entries containing videos and photos from the day.

written by DaddyFranklin

Wow, it’s been a while since I posted to this blog. Sorry for the hiatus.

Today was Emily’s first public performance on the piano. She played in a hymn festival that was held at our church. It was a community wide festival with students of all levels participating. Emily was in Category I which required her to memorize and perform two hymns. She chose “Oh, How I Love Jesus” and “Holy, Holy, Holy.” And let me just say that tonight I go to bed as a VERY VERY VERY proud father. She did such a wonderful job. She continues to amaze me. You can view the video below. Sorry for the jumpiness but it was filmed on my digital camera and I barely made it back to my seat in time to start recording. In fact, I missed the first couple of notes. Sorry about that. Also, below you will find a complete list of all the judges comments on her playing.

Judge 1: Score = 97 (Superior)

1. Oh, How I Love Jesus!
• “I was totally impressed with your ability at the keyboard”
• “You keep it up”
• “You appeared ‘happy’ when you played. I loved that.”
• “Fantastic performance!”
2. Holy, Holy, Holy
• “terrific comeback after finding that ‘darn’ F#
• “Lovely job!”
• “They should make miniature pianos for excellent players like yourself! Excellent job!”

Judge 2: Score = 98 (Superior)

1. Oh, How I Love Jesus!
• “good for you!”
• “Kept going nicely”
• “Always be sure where to play before you begin”
2. Holy, Holy, Holy
• “Nice secure playing”
• “good chorded spots”
• “You are already a fine musician”
• “Lovely, nice prepared playing. Wonderful progress this year”

written by DaddyFranklin

We found out today, after watching him favor is right arm all weekend, Zachary has a non-displaced fracture in his collar bone. We can’t even figure out for sure when it happened. We imagine it was either one of the dives he took off a chair mimicking his brother, or possibly a time when we were holding his arm while walking somewhere. He tends to fall a lot so that is possible time as well. In the end, it is easily the saddest thing ever to watch him roam around in his little clavical splint. Fortunately, it helps him a ton and he finally go some sleep today. He wears it for 4 weeks, 2 of which it is 24/7.

written by DaddyFranklin

I caught this with my camera and it cheers me up.

written by DaddyFranklin

Last weekend (June 30 - July 1), I had the wonderful opportunity to take a road trip with my father. I had purchased a few tickets to a Texas Rangers baseball game in Arlington and, as a gift for Father’s Day, took my dad and Lori’s dad to the game. We watched them play the Astro’s. One of the highlights happened prior to the game, though. Just after the National Anthem, four F-18 Hornets, buzzed the stadium in formation. I’ve never seen them fly this low and I sure wish I had taken a picture, but the sound was the most amazing part. You felt it all the way to your bones. It was deafening. I couldn’t help but say to my dad, “I’m sure glad their on our side.” As icing on the cake, Rookie Ian Kinsler hit a homerun followed by the usual fireworks at Ameriquest Stadium and the Rangers ended up winning, 3 to 1. woohoo.

For a couple videos of the “Elite Frogs” parachute team entering the stadium check these out:
Video 1
Video 2

Then the following day, my dad and I got to play a round of golf at the private club of which Lori’s dad is a member. The course is in Pecan Plantation in Granbury, TX. Lori’s dad has yet to pick up the great game of golf, but as part of his “fees” for living in the plantation, he is a member. I’ve tried to make it worth his while by playing a few times but this past weekend was actually the first time that I got to finish the full 18. The two times I had played there before, it rained me out. In fact, both times it rained me out on the same hole, #13. It is interesting to note that when my dad and I started playing there, we got to the 3rd or 4th hole and it started thundering and the clouds were building. Fortunately, the storm passed us by and it never even sprinkled. Whew, I say, whew! I was beginning to think I was cursed.

In the end, I played right at bogey golf. That is a little worse than my handicap but for a course that I have only played a couple of times, I considered that not too bad. In fact, I learned a complete new skill while playing. I had never read the “grain” of a green before and the greens at Pecan were more grain than slope. The bermuda greens grew in specific directions causing the ball to break in the most peculiar ways. Additionally, the greens were MUCH slower than anything I’ve ever been used too. But is good to get to play. I’ve only played like 2 or 3 times this summer, compared to every day last summer. I sure miss it, but that is the nature of summer research. I chose my priorities and now I have to accept them.

written by DaddyFranklin

When you’re feeling down, all you need to remember is to put on your happy feet.  Thanks to Zachary, you’ll always be able to put a smile on!

written by DaddyFranklin