iPad apps

Just testing out the new iPad app for blogger. Maybe now I will actually keep this updated. Probably not.

It is all about the kids!

I can't believe what a bad parent I have been. It has been weeks since I updated and it was even our little kiddos fourth birthday. So it is official, I kind of suck. of course I do saturate the web with pictures via Instagram. I just love that app and I probably check it twice as much or more than facebook. I just like pictures more than someones opinion of WTHR's weather predicting skills or whether the Pacers should draft a small forward. I really just don't care. But with pictures, you have to work and put a little thought in to a picture. No body wants a bad picture up of their kids or themselves. You want to show them having fun and a smile from the kiddo is so much more interesting to look at than reading that I gave a thumbs up to the Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise divorce. On to the kids. Our boy Oscar is now four years old and he celebrated with his family in typical Oscar fashion. He was very excited this year as he completely understood that the day was all about him. Which Oscar LOVES! Anyone who knows me knows that I love to take pictures and so I take a ton of them. One day, I hope to actually be good at it. In the meantime, there are quite a few that revolve around Oscar and his affection for superheroes. He thinks he is one and does not play favorites. Although he chose Batman as the theme of the party, Spider-Man was a close second. I think 90% of his gifts were comic book related. This kid is going to have a windfall of reading material as soon as I deem that he won't destroy them and take proper care of my comics. As per usual, here is a slideshow of Oscar and HIS day! You will have to excuse the video as Picasa web albums has changed since my last use.

I was also fortunate enough to celebrate fathers day with the family. Oscar suprised us all by deciding that he would start doing everything himself in the pool. This included jumping in from the side, off the diving board, etc... He seemed to think he could swim without his life jacket, which he can't. Hopefully he will consent to some swim lessons soon because he does not take orders from us very well and I don't think he appreciates our coaching. I like fathers day for quite a few reasons. First, I have a great father who has trained me well. Plus he and my mom make great deviled eggs and I eat about 20 of them. Second, I am a father, and that is just amazing. I still can't believe that I have this little kiddo who is so amusing and frustrating at the same time. Add to that the new little girl that has entered our lives and you have a very happy father. I am so happy that Jen has a little girl now. I feared that she would spend the rest of her life dealing with superheros and frankly she doesn't deserve that. Not that my little girl won't love her some superheroes, but we needed the balance.

Oz takes a leap

Oz in motion

Oz and his buddy Eli

Oz on the field

little kicker

Of course some pics of Vivian are needed.

Facebook, twitter and Instagram

Between those three tools, I have not had much need to write on this thing. In fact, I have barely written about our new little bug, Vivian. She is our adorable little bundle of joy. I had forgotten how much work a new born was and then add a three year old on and that pretty much triples the fun. She actually slept for about five hours last night which was amazing! She is so beautiful and I am so happy that Jen has a little girl now. Oscar is so happy to have a little sister as well. He is very protective already and loves to hold her hand or give her a hug. Sure, sometimes he is a bit rough, but she will get stronger and he is learning.

A couple weeks with four in the family and why I would fail as a Ninja!

We have had Vivian home for a little over two weeks now and it has been a learning experience.  A friend of mine made the comment, you aren't a parent until you have two.  Now, having only had one kiddo for over 3 and a half years, I can't agree with that.  Oz is a handful and definitely takes some parenting skills that I may not have.  He seems to be turning out OK so far.  Back to the comment, I do agree that a second kid is a GAME CHANGER.  Like losing Manning last season game changer.  Like the Broncos getting Manning.  HUGE change. 

Forget the fact that neither Jen or I remembered the complete lack of sleep that accompanies an infant, we did not expect the magnitude of the energy we, mostly Jen, would expend integrating the family.  The baby is easy in comparison to dealing with the baby and Oz.




Don't get me wrong, Oz loves his little sister and is already an amazing big brother.  He puts her pacifier in when she is crying, fetches and throws diapers away, rubs her hair to calm her down.  He is adorable with her.  The issue pops up when you can't pay attention to him.  He does not like that.  So for those brief times when Jen has to feed Viv or I am trying to entertain her, Oz wants that attention and when he doesn't get it he gets unhappy and hard to deal with.  He is still ridiculously cute and fun and so whip smart that I sometimes forget how old he is.  We will figure it out, until then, probably about 18 years from now, we will manager and have a grand ole time.
Now as to why I would not be a good ninja.  I am getting old.  This is not a flexibility or speed issue though. Not that I am that fast or flexible, but it is a noise thing.  My body makes too many noises.  I could not sneak up on anyone.  I walk up the stairs and it sounds like I'm stepping on packing bubbles.  Practically every joint in my body makes some sort of grinding or popping noise.  I won't even go in to the other noises my body makes.

Enjoy some pics of the family.

Baby girl gets her feet printed

Yeah kiddos!

Barely awake, unshaven and unshowered

Out for a walk

Muscles

Oh yeah, Oz went to a School birthday party basically the Saturday after Viv was born.  He went to Fundamentals, a little gymnastics place with a ball pit, zip line and tons of other fun things for him to play on.  He actually did the zip line, the little daredevil and he was practically swimming in the ball pit.  He seemed to get out of there without pink eye or the flu.  Plus he was exhausted when we got home.  It was  Justin Bieber themed party and one of the gift bags treats was a set of tattoos.  So yes, Oz now has a Bieber tattoo on his body.  The worst part is the darn thing won't come off.  It is like is it merging with his skin.  This deformed, shredded Bieber image on our poor kid.

ball pit

pre zip line

Oz and Viv's feet

Mommy and Viv on St. Pats

Darn phone camera

Chilling with Viv

I don't think Jen thought this day would ever get here, but we welcomed Vivian Jane Sahm to the world this morning.  Oscar is now a big brother and I know that he will excel at his duties.  I will have to compile a list of what a big brother is responsible for so that Oz can have that handy throughout his life.  I know my life has changed so much in the last seven years. Jen, Oz and now Viv.  I could not ask for a better family and I can't wait for all of the everything that is coming our way.
By the way, how awesome is it that I can post this from my phone?

Great Crescent and Hinkle

I recently made another trip down to south east Indiana.  I get to travel around this state on a pretty regular basis and I try to take a look at some of the more unique sites on my travels.  By unique, I mean breweries, restaurants and other such things. 

The Great Crescent Brewery is located in Aurora Indiana.  I had decided to take a quick turn and try the drive along the river as opposed to heading up in to Versailles and down in to Madison.  I thought it might be nice and just happened to see the Great Crescent sign as I drove past.  A friend had mentioned the brewery during lunch just a couple weeks ago.  I stopped in to grab a few beers to take home but they were not open yet.  But as I was walking away the manager popped open the door and let me in. A very kind thing to do as they still had a couple hours before opening.  The interior was very nice, refinished warehouse style.  No food, no kitchen, but plenty of beer and places to sit.  They offered a tour if we give them a heads up next time I am in town.  I had a quick sample of some of their beers.  They are all very tasty I am sure but a few stood out and I had to buy some.  The seasonal Cherry Ale was great, not too sweet and had some tartness to it.  The Brewmaster Release Brown Ale is awesome.  A great finish and smooth taste.  I could drink it all day.  The Coconut Porter was also very good and I had to buy a four pack of these.  You can't really taste the coconut until the end and it doesn't overpower at all.  The final purchase was the Bourbon Barrel Stout.  So good!  They actually brew it in the barrels from Makers Mark.  There is no bourbon added as the beer just absorbs the flavor and aroma from the just recently emptied barrels.  It has a strong bourbon smell and taste but misses the kick that bourbon beers have.  I don't particularly like the bourbon kick, if I wanted it in the beer I would drop a shot in.  I do like the smell and bit of flavor though. 

The next stop was Rising Sun.  Not really a stop, more just a pass by.  I had to get to Madison for another meeting and did not really have time to stop.  I am sure it is a beautiful town in the summer and it looks like they have plenty to do, but in the winter, I just had to drive by.  Though I do think this fountain is pretty cool.

This time of year does not really lend itself to scenic shots but Madison is always a beautiful town and even in this chilly weather with no leaves on a tree, still a nice place to visit.  They have a nice river front and are also home to Hinkle Hamburgers.  Tasty little sliders that are much better than White Castle and you can get them with hash browns, fries or onion rings.  They have a variety of other items but it is hard to say no to the double cheeseburger.  Pickles and onions are a must.

I have not really had the pleasure to stop in here in the summer, I usually hit it in the winter.  I need to make sure I make a visit when the weather is a bit nicer and there is some green on the trees.  Take the wife and kids and stop by the winery they have in town. 

Not long now

Not long now. Soon there will be another baby Sahm in the house. Jen would prefer earlier rather than later. The due date is March 8th and it can't get here soon enough.

The little guy, Oz, is more and more aware of what is coming. Of course he is not fully aware of what is REALLY coming. He will no longer be the only child.

Jen is dealing with her "bed rest" in her own way. It isn't full bed rest, so she is in no way endangering the baby or herself. It is more of a comfort thing and if you know Jen, doing nothing is not comfortable for her. But she is taking it easy.

So one final shot of Oz enjoying the unseasonal weather and hopefully in about a month I will be posting pics of a new little Sahm.