I used to make headers out of random pictures that I just found interesting–and that amazingly enough fit the extreme width/height requirements. But for the last couple of years, I’ve settled on using the first day of school photos taken on our front steps.  Someday, Emma’s head will reach everyone else’s level, I think. So here’s the 2011 edition taken this very morning.

I’m still catching my breath after the whole graduation thing. Nothing much happened that next week, but last week was pretty crazy, starting with Layla and Emma’s big dance recital on Sunday night. You can’t take photos or video because they are selling those. I’m still trying to make my way through the 2000+ photos taken during the girls’ numbers and the DVD is on the way, so you can look forward to all that.

The next day had Layla in her new glasses, which along with her height really makes her look old. Madysen and Papa took off for a three week adventure to Barcelona and Tel Aviv (where they are volunteering with the IDF), but not before Madysen got into her first accident. Just a little thing, thankfully, but she rear-ended someone while she was rushing around at the last minute.

On Tuesday, Speed got a warehouse job, which is perfect for him other than the 7 a.m. start time.  On Wednesday, Layla and Emma went down to Houston to spend a couple of days with my parents.

But this weekend is really big. Tomorrow Holly and I head to Anchorage for her first (and only?) marathon on Saturday morning. She’s done a great job training (as far as I can tell) and she surpassed her fundraising goal, so thanks to everyone who provided support. I’m sure she’ll do great.

We get back around 6 a.m. on Monday morning at which time Holly and Layla and Emma are heading out to a big surprise something. Not knowing is killing Emma. I’m sure they’ll have a great time, but I’m glad I’m not going.

And since the blog was fired up in late April 2006, we only have the first third of 2006 in need of getting up and archived. Add to that, we’ve already got posts up on Speed’s two goals scored in January, Madysen’s tournament win in February, Layla’s birthday goal and Speed’s Cub Scout graduation in March, and Madysen’s excellent 100M showing, a trip to the Dallas Arboretum, Easter festivities, and Madysen’s quasi-league championship in April.

But there’s more. I hope not too much more.

Moving on to 2005, there are already more than 30 posts up, including an April Fools Christmas letter, Emma trying to take a picture, my little girls getting married, Madysen’s Colorado tournament winner, Layla’s first soccer team, our California vacation of Disney, choppers, and beaches, and the first incarnation of the blog.

But because I have more pictures each year and my memories are somewhat better (and, frankly, because of my OCD), I have plenty more to add to 2005. Here we go.

But that’s all in the past. Here we go into 2004 with both feet. Much of 2004 is already up on the site: Madysen’s first soccer tournament, Layla’s first ballet recital, Emma’s 3rd birthday party, the first day in which all four went to school (preschool for Emma, but still), our nine-day vacation to Walt Disney World, Madysen’s 11th birthday party, another crazy Christmas week, and, among other things, though surely none better, Speed skiing.

Somehow, there is more. Much more. The good news is, I think, that after 2004, we only have 2005 and the first few months of 2006 left to complete the archives since the blog was fired up on April 25, 2006.

But before we move on to 2003, which contained so many trips, adventures, etc. I can hardly believe all of us survived, here are a few quick stories of things that have happened in the last couple weeks that I won’t otherwise get to.

First, a couple Saturdays ago, a group of kids and Emma started a lemonade stand on our front lawn–without consulting Holly or me–at $1 a taste, which is on the high side for yellow water. Because it was successful, lots of neighborhood kids tried to glom on for a share of the cash. And then it devolved further into kids standing in the street defying cars to attempt to pass without stopping, yelling–lots and lots of yelling, and tons of lemonade trash in the yard. So I told them to shut it down, clean up, and split the money. Not hard to guess that everyone disappeared as did the money and trash remained. With a lot of effort, everything got resolved (Emma came home with $5; totally worth it), but my bitterness of others increased a bit higher.

Second, when having dinner on the patio of a local taco joint with Madysen, Speed, and Layla, Madysen informed as to the Blitz/No Blitz rule in Calling Shotgun (i.e., providing or preventing a race to the car to override an initial shotgun claim). Upon finishing our meal, we moved towards the car where Layla called out: “Shotgun. No Ditz!” Actually, there is at least one.

Finally, on Saturday night, Speed went to a Sweet 16/”Gloteen” party for a group of high school girls. Since the theme was neon/glow in the dark, Speed had to get an outfit together. The result:

$8 neon green shorts he bought a hippie house in east Dallas; Layla’s “Dancer” t-shirt, and his black/electric blue/purple Nike jacket he got while in Italy. Talk of coloring his hair he quickly since it was “nearly neon already.” Agreed.

Update: Forgot to mention that I took Speed to the best meal he’s ever had last Thursday night at Hattie’s. He had Low Country shrimp & grits and fried green tomatoes, but he loved, loved, loved my bacon-wrapped, jalapeno stuffed quail with sweet potato mash. And that was just a prelude to the Band of Horses concert at Verizon Theatre where we nearly got into an altercation of a spilled beer.

Second, Most Important Update: Madysen got a real job last week (as opposed to last summer’s pool cashier job) at a local sports and casual wear boutique (she also tutors for nearly 3x the money). With just a couple of shifts under her belt, she’s pretty adept at folding t-shirts and has experienced the glories of handling customers.

I have resolved to get through the archives–up through April 2006–by the end of summer. And in less than my first month, I did pretty well getting through all of 2000. If you missed it, all 25 posts can be accessed here in reverse chron order. Not much happened other than a failed game show appearance (complete with video); a fireball; moving into my favorite house; summer in Cleveland, Norman, Erick, Colorado, and Houston; Speed started school; separate visits by both my parents and Holly’s, a Wizard of Oz Halloween; Christmas in Branson; etc.

Now begins the march through 2001. And because I’m completely fascinated by the recently released Flare app, all new 2001 posts will feature photos with a modified postcard effect (posts already exist of Madysen’s coin-bank fail, Layla singing the ABCs, Emma’s arrival, and the first ever Christmas letter, since retired).

On another note, I recently turned on swipe-enabled viewing of the blog for iPad viewing. Amazingly enough, despite the 20+ Apple products in our house, an iPad isn’t among them. So I have no idea how it looks, including the below “Launch Screen Image,” which is old (from our 2008 Caribbean cruise) but the easiest thing I could find near the right resolution. Feel free to inform me of any problems.

And related to this iPad viewing experience, I decided to create an icon for the blog.  No real reason why; I had previously been using a headshot of Nino himself. Two problems: I don’t know anything about creating an icon, and my overabundance of funny is balanced by a lack of creativity. Nevertheless, I spent five hours (low-balling) and created about 300 variations of a couple ideas. Here are my two favorite, the first being my favorite.

And of very little relevance, I’ve updated my Twitter icon to the following picture of myself catching a fish somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean on Captain Dougie’s boat some summer, I’m guessing, in 1979.

I think I hear Justin Beiber’s voice. Moving on.

But summer’s over and the school year has officially begun. Like yesterday. Which means Emma has started her final year in elementary school (still find 4th grade to be an odd breaker, but whatever); Layla is excited to be a 6th grader; and Speed, as a sophomore, is getting into the more difficult classes like, um, dance? Oh yeah, Madysen’s a freakin’ senior. No one is prepared for that.

As school starts so do all the activities: ballet, jazz, basketball, gymnastics, tennis, and piano for Emma (seriously?); at least seven dance classes (and piano) for Layla; football and possibly school soccer for Speed (did I mention he’s taking a dance class?); and a variety of social and community service projects for Madysen. Still feels weird to say no soccer for Madysen. It will be busy and hopefully fun.

So with the start of the new school year comes everyone’s favorite–first day of school pictures.

In the living room where everyone is comfortable

And on the front porch where Madysen and Speed fear being spotted by passersby

Amazing how much they change in a year.

And with the new school year, I’m updating the blog. That’s right–new theme, new background, and a new header. Woo-hoo! Of course, the header I wanted to use wouldn’t fit, but I’m okay with that.

The new header:

What I wanted to use:

Well, I’m here to tell you that the 2009 iteration isn’t coming. We have had quite a bit going on around here, and I just haven’t felt up to the whole production. Didn’t want you all to think that you’d been cut from the list. Maybe you have, but it’s immaterial this year.

Don’t know whether this is a temporary hiatus, whether we’ll start mailing it in like so many of you do with a cookie cutter photo card (I’m looking at many of you, but especially Number Three and Kirkland), or whether we’ll come back stronger than ever next year. I’m betting on none of the above.

Heck, the last two days were almost been more than I can handle as Holly and the kids spent 22 hours making the >5 hour trip back from Erick because of the snowstorm that hit north Texas. They pulled in at 8 a.m. Christmas morning. Never thought I’d see the day that my kids would wander right be the presents on Christmas morning to go take a nap. It. Happened.

Poor neglected tree

As I post this–at 4 a.m.–Madysen, Emma, Layla, and I are on our way to board a flight for Ft. Lauderdale, FL for a soccer tournament for the rest of this year. We’ll see grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins from my family. Hopefully I’ll abide.

Merry Christmas to you all.

The closest thing you'll get to a Christmas picture of the kids