Rally Boys! There's Paul, standing like a stone wall!

Get behind the Virginians! Ah yes, the great state of Virginia. I would never turn my back on the state that I love so much. Ok, that wouldn't be Virginia. In fact, I try to stay out of Virginia if I can, for the simple fact that if you change lanes without signalling on one of their highways, they lethally inject you. They're serious about their traffic laws over there in the south. Which is another funny thing. Today we had to drive north to get to the South. Crazy. We took the short drive over to Virginia to see the battlefield at Manassas, or Bull Run, depending on whether you're a Yankee or a Rebel. Since I'm not a big fan of baseball teams that buy championships with hundreds of millions of dollars (and since I always root for the side that loses), I must be a Rebel. Anyway, here are some of the highlights:

We pretty much have a picture of Paul behind a cannon at every major battlefield in the States. So here is another one. You can see how amused he is.

Here we are, hanging out with General Jackson. This is where he earned is nickname Stonewall, for standing his ground and fighting off them dirty Yanks.

Paul took a moment to bask in the sunlight. It was a little brisk, but an otherwise beautiful Sunday afternoon to spend at the park.

Pick me up, Dad. Yeah, not as easy as it once was. The kid is getting bigger by the day.

And here he is with his mother and younger sibling, still known only as Frank Hotdog.

But it was another good day exploring the sites around the city and yet another battlefield. But we are not done yet, there are plenty more out there, so we'll have plenty more to post about! Just have to get another day off sometime...

California Dreamin'

Last week, Becky and Paul made the long flight across the country to visit her grandparents in San Diego. As can be expected, she took a few pictures during their trip. It looks like they had a great time, eating out, swimming in the pool (in November), going to Legoland and the Zoo, and otherwise just kicking back in sunny Californ-I-A. Check it out:

Gotta see the sights! Checking out the waters at Seaport Village.

Ahhh... warm water, just like Florida.

Shoo fly, don't bother me.

I really have no idea what to say about this one.

Soaring through the sky at Legoland with Grandpa Bill!

Who lives in a Pineapple under the sea? Paul's good buddy, Sponge Bob.

Gotta keep the pool clean.

Well, he had an excellent time with Great Grandpa and Grandma, and when he got off the plane he told me all about it. I'm glad they had fun, and hopefully next time I'll get to go along!

I'm Wolverine! I'm Wolverine!!

Yesterday, of course, was Halloween. So Paul, of course, had to get dressed up. Originally he was going to be Bob the Builder, but we were never able to find a hard hat for him, and he doesn't really watch Bob anymore anyway. So we pretty much just went to Walmart and grabbed whatever costume would fit and that didn't upset him when we asked if that's what he wanted to be. I wanted him to be Michael Jackson, but that was definitely too scary. So here's Paul, as Wolverine!


He didn't, however, like the mask all that well. As you can see, he wasn't fond of it being pulled down over his eyes the way it was supposed to fit. These are also the pumpkins he helped his mother carve. She worked on cutting them up, while he drew all over them (and Uncle Ted's tile floor) with a black marker.


It's not easy being a Super Hero. The troubles of the world weigh heavy on a boy's shoulders. But he must fight on! At least for the candy.

But he never actually went Trick or Treating. He got dressed up, and played in the yard, and then it was rainy and cold. I didn't get home until after 8PM, and there were no kids out walking around. So maybe Halloween just isn't as big here as it was when we grew up. We finally did get a few people ringing our doorbell, but it was just a handful of high school kids (not even in costume) just out getting free candy. I gave them all we had, in hopes that they would leave and not steal my car again. Yeah, Happy Halloween.