Don't Wash Your Crocs

At least not in the washer and dryer. If you do they'll shrink up like a thing that shrinks up really bad when it shrinks. I really didn't know it went in with the load of clothes. Some how I missed the transition from the washer to dryer too. Maybe if it wasn't dried in the dryer it would still be okay. Now it is smaller and looks even more duck-footy. We already got Kaori a new pair.

National Night Out

Isn't national night out some thing that is supposed to get people out and chat with their neighbors? I don't know. That's what we did anyway. Our party was further enhanced by someone in our neighborhood winning some drawing that brought KDWB (local radio station), Timberwolves and Crunch (local basketball team) and 100 Subway subs (national sandwich shop) in attendance. I didn't get to meet the winner but her last name is Keebler. I'm almost positive she isn't an elf.

The other picture is just because I like it of Cole and Kaori taken at the lakehome.

July

Another 5k for Cole and Robyn last week and they both reached their goals. Both of them ran the whole way without stopping and beat their last time. I paced Cole to a 28:26 time. He really wanted to walk towards the end, he was working really hard. He did great though. Robyn came in about 10 minutes later.

Last week Cole was in golf camp while Kaori was in girl scout camp. She rode a bus with friends to the camp that lasted all of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. She was excited that she got to pet horses, sheep, chickens and other farm animals. They also did crafts, sang songs and cooked things. This week they are having fun in rock climbing camp.

Over the weekend we camped with our neighbors from our Savage neighborhood. At least we didn't get rained on but it was a bit chilly. We spent a lot of time driving back home because Cole also wanted to play in his baseball tournament. In the future I think we'll have to choose one or the other and stick with that. By the way Cole's team won their first two games but lost the next two and were out of the tournament.

Coming up this month: soccer camp, packing food for hungry children, getting together with friends from grad school, vacation at Wisconsin Dells and more...

Here it is...

...my big screen debut. The first video is the full screen as seen in the theaters. Can you play "Where's Anthony?" The second video draws more attention to my positioning on the screen. Can you see me now? You might need to push pause and search the background.

Well, there it is. Long awaited I know but it was worth the wait for me, I hope for you too. Autographs upon request. Let the comments begin. Also, in the courtroom I was not smoking. They put a cigarette in front of me to make it look like I was though.

A 5k And I Didn't Even Get To Run!

Robyn and Cole ran a 5k a couple weeks ago as I'm sure many of you already know (Robyn was so excited that she rushed home and sent out an email!). They did very well and were very proud of their performances. Cole was going to stick with Robyn the whole way but after a half mile into the race Robyn could tell she was holding him back. She told him he could go on ahead if he wanted and off he went. He ended up finishing about 10 minutes ahead of her. Robyn beat her time goal by about 5 minutes. Of course they were so happy with how they did that they have the running bug and can't wait to do another and we're all signed up for another one in a couple weeks. Yes, I'm running too because Cole wants to try and go even faster so I'm going to be his pacer. Results to follow.

And while we were waiting for them to finish Kaori and I hung out and played some of the games that they had set up for the kids. Then they brought out the hoola-hoops and that's all she wrote. Kaori picked one up and after she got started she didn't stop. People picked some more up and tried their best but just couldn't get the hang of it. They came and went and came back again and couldn't believe she was still going. They took pictures of the little hoola girl. She ended up going for 26 minutes!

Summer, summer, summertime!

Summer is fully underway now. Camps, playdates, sports, swimming, races etc. have been going on for the last couple of weeks. Right now Kaori is going to Kamp Kermit twice a week with several of her friends. She also has been busy almost every day with playdates.

Cole has been keeping busy with tennis camp, chess camp and baseball. He's recently discovered golf but not how expensive it is. He has golf camp later this year.

Robyn is still working out like a fiend (more hours per week than me!). Is there a race in her future? She has added job searching to that and helps me play chauffeur with the kids.

Me? I recently added to my shirt collection by doing another triathlon and am currently resting and recovering. I too have rediscovered golf. It's way easier than marathons and triathlons.

A couple things...

This is an article about my running club in Tokyo. You might not find the story so interesting but you should look at the pictures. Hint, hint.

This is a picture of Hiroo, Kaori and me tubing at the lakehome in Wisconsin. It was fun.

Watashi Wa Kai Ni Naritai

Okay, if you look real close and maybe get a little squinty, you can see a torso in the middle of this picture that could more or less resemble my general shape. The guy on the far left in the first row of people sitting behind the table of lawyers. No, not him, the other guy; right behind the box of charts and papers.

This picture is from a publicity brochure for the movie I'm in. My friend Chiba-san brought it to me. We think the DVD is coming out next month. Stay tuned.

Everything but Valleyfair

Chiba-san has come and gone and we did everything on the poll except for Valleyfair. When we went to the Mall of America though we did go to the Nickelodeon amusement park there. Turns out Chiba-san doesn't like to go on rides. That's okay, the kids had fun going on their rides. Cole and I rode the rollercoaster.

I'm not sure what Chiba-san's favorite thing was though. I'm tempted to say it was eating American cheeseburgers and drinking American beer. That's exactly what he had for four out of five of his meals here. Can't say I blame him though, that's good eatin'! (as Abe Simpson would say it.)

Mikata

Did I mention that we were able to visit Mikata and her owners a week or so ago? Well, we were. It was fun to see her and she still looks like a puppy. When we gave her away she was 52 pounds. Now she is 42 pounds. I guess she was taken for more walks by the couple with no children. They do have a baby now though but hopefully she won't be putting on those few extra pounds.

She's still very healthy despite being 15 years old. She's losing her hearing a little bit though and got a little overwhelmed by two kids and one puppy.

Sleepovers and April showers

Easter has come and gone and with it Spring break. Count at least one lesson learned as we approach the end of the school year and summer vacation. Sleepovers on two consecutive nights is too much for our kids to handle without surpassing the crabby threshold. One night is fine, no problem; but it is a good idea to get a full night's sleep the next night.

Right now my wife and daughter are out spraying off the driveway; cleaning the canvas for more chalk art. I guess they couldn't wait for the April showers.

Spring Break

Spring break time here in Lakeville and after hitting Sydney, Hawaii and Southern Japan (the Ocean Dome at Seagaia) the last three years we are visiting (wait for it) Lakeville! this year. Yes we are staying home and doing some swimming, exercising and playing with friends. We have sleepovers and birthday parties lined up and a dinner with family set for Easter Sunday.

Robyn continues to be a workout warrior since her vacation/retirement started last week. She is diligent (almost violent) about getting to her water aerobics class and follows that up with walking/weight lifting/elliptical/swimming. I think she is enjoying her new life. Maybe too much?

And now to the exploits of Hiroo. Last night he tried to bring in a chewed rabbit foot, Ewwww! This morning I had to go pick up the rest of the leg and it was big. What happened to the rest of it? Did he turn into a hunter or was he just a scavenger? Should I call the vet?