Memorial Day Weekend Recap (or just an excuse to post a lot of pictures)

We had a busy Memorial Day weekend. It was one of those where you spend very little time at home.  Here is a recap of the weekends events.

While technically not part of the holiday, the spring concert at Caelyn's school was held Thursday morning.  Here is a video of her and the other kindergartner's performance.  It has been broken into two parts.

Spring Concert Part 1

Spring Concert Part 2

Friday, brought the first day off from school.  This is always tricky for me.  The kids expect this monkey to dance so I took them to Turtleback Zoo.  The place was just that, a zoo.  I had never seen so many people there before.  Fortunately, whoever organized the place did their job well so even as crowded as it was, things went smoothly.

Riding the Train

Riding the Carousel

Riding the Pony

Feeding the Parakeet at the Aviary

Saturday took us to Governors Island and their kid's festival as part of their opening day celebration.

Fun with Bubbles

More Fun with Bubbles

Roaming the Island with Maracas in Hand

Arts and Crafts

Osprey Flying by as Part of Fleet Week

Flowers

Say Cheese for Caelyn

Me and the Boy

Sunday we went to church and then a street fair on Lexington.

Three Girls, A Boy and a Piano

Monday, we met some friends and their daughter (a pre-school classmate of Caelyn's) and spent the day at Victorian Garden in Central Park. Caelyn made it onstage for two different shows. Video is at the end.

Victorian Gardens at Wollman Rink

Ready for the Ride to Start

This is More Like It

Watching Mommy as I Ride

Whack a Mole

I Could Totally Win This

Watching King Henry

Swings Are Fun

Driving the Truck

What's With All This Traffic

Finally, We're Moving

Lunch Time Antics

More Lunch Time Antics

Sit Still While We Eat, I Don't Think So

Hanging With King Henry

King Henry is Funny

Watching Sammie and Tudie

Sammie and Tudie

Tudie Reads a Story

I Need a Drink

Hanging with Sammie and Tudie

More Rides

Frogs Are Fun

I Love Rides

Video of Caelyn Onstage with King Henry
 
Video of Caelyn Onstage with Sammie and Tudie
 
It was a nice weekend, I wonder what this one will bring.

The End of the World

This was written on the evening of May 20th. The night before the predicted end of the world.  It sat for a while on my computer and while the world is obviously still around, I think it is still relevant. Particularly on Memorial day when we take time to remember so many whose lives were cut short.  -tim

As I write this, there are a large number of people around the world who believe by this time tomorrow, the world will have ended. Actually, I think the they predict the end of the world is in October but tomorrow will be judgement day.

This is all based on one man's interpretation of the Bible. Because this one man has a lot of money and a worldwide radio network, a lot of people have bought into it.

As a Christian, I believe that Jesus will return one day and that there will be a day of judgement. I also believe it when the Bible says that no man can know the day. It may in fact be tomorrow if that is what God wills or it may be May 22 or it may be hundreds of years from now. I don't know. I just believe that one day it will happen.

I have seen a lot of the media coverage about Harold Camping and those that believe his prediction. I have also taken the time to hear his words for myself. It is pretty fascinating really. Considering what he is saying is unlike anything I have ever heard or read from any theologian in the past, the man is either out of his mind or a prophet along the likes of Moses and Elijah. You can probably guess which I think he is.

But the point of this is not to debate the merits of his claims or even necessarily about Christianity in general. Though I certain would be willing to discuss that if someone wants. No the point is that being surrounded by all the end of the world coverage helps to remind me that we never know how much time we have.

Somewhere someone is walking out their front door and they will never walk though it again. Someone is driving to work and will never make it there. Someone is sitting in a doctor's office terrified by the news they have been given. We just don't know. None of us are promised tomorrow.

So what does that mean for today?

Perhaps, we should live a bit more like tomorrow is the end of the world. I don't mean in a piss away all your money and getting loaded kind of way but in a saying what has been left unsaid kind of way.

Pick up the phone and call that friend or relative you have been holding a grudge against and offer them forgiveness even if you don't think they deserve it. Tell those you love, just that, you love them. Life, however long it is, is not long enough for all the pettiness and crap that we fill it up with.

Consistency

Time. I never seem to have enough of it.

Especially since I have children. As a stay at parent, I spend most of my time either doing something for the kids or thinking about what I have to do for the kids. I get up around seven and basically, I start work.

There is breakfast to be made. A lunch to pack. Caelyn needs to get dressed and be taken to school. Caleb has Gymboree or Music Together or some such thing. There is no time for oneself.

After the kids are asleep in bed, usually around 8:30 – 9:00 then there is some down time. Problem is, I am usually too tired to do anything other than sit and watch TV until I decide to go to bed. Then the next morning I get up and do it all over again.

The trouble with that though, is once I get into a routine, it is hard to get out of it. For a while, I was pretty good about keeping this blog up to date. Then, I don't even remember what it was, something happened. I missed a few days, then a few days kept getting longer and longer until I was out of practice.

Consistency is the key. So, I am starting to write again. Hopefully, it will be good or at least passable but however it turns out, I plan to be consistent. And I hope you will continue to read and enjoy it. Let me know.