Christmas 2008 Update

As hoped, some of the Wallis family heirlooms arrived later today. And they were good.

Christmas 2008

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government will be upon his shoulder,
and his name will be called
"Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom,
to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and for evermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

(Isaiah 9:6-7, RSV)

The boys awoke at a reasonable hour, and were fairly patient before opening presents.
We first had to brew some Christmas Blend coffee, and then read from the Gospel of John (and of course they totally got the message that the presents weren't what was really important this morning -- uh huh).

To the Meskuns, your intermodal shipping crane was a big hit (and that's Ian's "Cheeeeese" face, not a sad face):

Here are the boys with presents from Uncle Mark, Aunt Carrie and the Ludovico kids (and thank you Elizabeth for the very sweet note with your school picture!):

Later today we have visitors from Clan Wallis, and rumor has it some family heirlooms will be arriving to be passed on to the boys.

Matthew Alasdair is Crawling

It's official: Matthew can crawl.


He assumed the new skill three days ago, on December 4, 2008. He crawls like Andy did -- the Army crawl (with one arm and one leg only). It's been a long while since we have seen the crawling stage (since Peter went to scootching instead). We're very thankful for this big development.


(Those are pre-planted Cheerios, if you're concerned about what he's eating off our floor.)

Fellin' Christmas Trees, Episode II

Like last year, we travelled to the Snicker's Gap Tree Farm in Bluemont, Virginia to cut down our Christmas Tree.  The weather felt just right. Debbie says this was the biggest crowd she has seen there.  Remembering last year's stump-cutting event, Tom broke away from his studies to handle the fellin' himself.

The kids had a great time picking a tree.

Andy's favorite part was watching Granda cut the Wallis tree, he tells us.

The boys were a big help dragging our new tree off for purchase and the trip home.


Now we're all set for the start of Advent tomorrow.

Thanksgiving 2008

Happy Thanksgiving from the Brown Family.

(taken today at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, Dulles, Va.)

Scottish Games

Three weekends ago we went to the Anne Arundel Scottish Festival and Games.  We enjoyed watching the pipe bands march on:
Jessica's parents made an appearance too. This photo was taken while watching the Border Collies herd sheep around, just before Mom got lost:
Ian, Peter and Tom enjoyed listening to the band competitions, as well as the solo pipers in the Piobaireachd competition (results), while others looked for Debbie.The day was rounded off with eating overpriced haggis puffs, mince meat pies, and "Scottish" pies, as well as shopping for overpriced practice chanter reeds.  As always, it was a good time.

Wicked Good Teacher

Photo by Wesley Ennis. Some rights reserved.

The Plymouth, Massachusetts news outlet Wicked Local has an article about Tom's sister Amy Brown and her summer training in Washington, D.C.  It also describes her recent award:

"The Massachusetts Council for Social Studies recognized Brown for her efforts in 2007 with the John Reilly Outstanding Geography Teacher of the Year award."

Visit the article for other photos, including some from her trip.

Matthew Alasdair at Six Months

Fresh from tonight:

Old Skool: Andy Graduates Pre-School

We uploaded this old video of Andy graduating from preschool in June, 2008 to see how Blogger and our videos get along. It appears that it will work, which may bode well for the future.

Blog Polish

I'm trying to spruce things up around here...

Not that it will guarantee more regular posting.

Taekwondo

Here is Ian busting a Taekwondo move on any would-be aggressors.

Kicking,...


...and punching...


...are central to the art (I guess). Ian has been doing this for a few weeks. We're hoping it will improve his already cat-like dexterity.

Ian Turns Four!

Okay, so we're a few weeks late on updating some pictures here. Ian turned four on August 26th. It seems like just a few years ago (and children ago) that he was born via Cesarean section, performed by a woman who could not have been old enough to remember Barney Miller.

No Shirt, No Pants, No Service

Here is Peter engaged in creative artistic expression, and then learning laptop skills to be like daddy... well, sort of...

Andrews

It appears that Andrew Camden is becoming a regular mention here. The boys were thrilled to see their first cousin once removed. He came through after seeing a buddy from the Naval Academy get 'spliced', and was able to spend a few minutes here.

Future Olympians!

For those who doubt that television affects children's behavior, you have to see this (note what's on TV):

Gram's Tomato Box

Done! I finally finished Gram's new tomato box today. For good or for bad, I (Tom) designed it myself. It was also my first experience with doweling. Doweling jigs are not all they're cracked up to be (but drill presses are), and I now see why the woodworking hobby has moved on to the biscuit joint.

Here's a look:

Pajama Party

Tonight we had a pajama party between bathtime and betime. The boys were in good spirits.



Matthew Alasdair is getting quite big these days! He's as long as Peter is from knee to head.

2008 Air Show

Here are some photos from last month's Air Show at Andrews Air Force base just south of Washington, D.C. (in Maryland). The air show itself was very loud, and the boys took note.


But they had a great time going on board a helicopter, a CH-53E, I believe.


They especially liked seeing "Andrew Camden's airplane", a U.S. Navy P-3 Orion. Andy was disappointed to learn that Andrew Camden wasn't there.


We spent most of the airshow at the picnic pavilion where Tom's friend from ONI, Tim Nelick, was running a great BBQ operation. The pavilion was right at the end of the runway, so the Blue Angels flew immediately overhead. We had a great view, and a great day.



(Click to see a good shot of Andy and Ian holding their ears from the nose of the Blue Angels.)

Going Green

Today in Sunday School, Andy's group was invited to draw Joseph's Coat of Many Colors. As further evidence that Andy's love for the color green is approaching an obsession, I present the following:


But as he explained, there are different shades of green! (A coat of many shades of one color does not a coat of many colors make.)

Opening Day

Ian took his first swing (pun intended) at little league baseball yesterday. He is playing a very basic version of t-ball called Blast Ball, which is designed for 3 and 4 year olds. It involves one base, and a gang of preschoolers in the field who run and tackle each other for the ball. It's very entertaining. Ian has actually proved to be quite the hitter, and is enjoying being part of his team, the Bears.

Andy has now graduated from Blast Ball and is now playing full fledged t-ball with the kindergarten set. His team, the Legends, is learning to play positions in the field and run all the bases.

Ludovicos Visit, Meet Matthew Alasdair

Carrie and her family were able to come up for a quick trip this weekend to meet Matthew Alasdair Brown. They brought supper with them for everyone, so we enjoyed a good meal around the table. After supper Dad and Tom played some bagpipes, and Andy demonstrated his [usual routine] on the piano.

The children played for an impressively long time on the porch without any, um, disturbances or need for supervision. After that we tuned in for some baseball and Star Wars, while Dad called out the Red Sox play-by-play off his computer.


Carrie and Mom enjoyed conversation in the living room:


Elizabeth seemed especially taken with her newest cousin, and did an excellent job holding him:

Week One

One week ago this evening, Jessica was admitted to the hospital to deliver Matthew Alasdair. Here he is one week on.


And while I'm at it, here's a cute close-up of Ian and the world's most heavily colonized blanket (colonized, that is, with microscopic organisms):

Prunes

[Scene: Jessica is having a prune from a bag of Del Monte prunes.]

Andy: Mommy, don't eat too many of those, because they make you go potty a lot.

Matthew Alasdair Comes Home

Jessica and Matthew were discharged from the hospital this morning. We are all very happy to have them home, and the older boys are especially glad to have life head back to normalcy.

When we set Matthew down, his novelty kept their attention for at least 60 seconds.


Here are my four sons.


Each time we bring a new one home, we are struck with a sudden realization of how much older the others have gotten to be. They all seem happy to have a new brother.

Meeting Matthew Alasdair

Here are some photos of Matthew being met by some "folks" (as Grandfather Barker would say). This will be it for hospital photos.

Andy meets his new brother:


Ian meets his new brother:


Peter meets his new brother:


Ian and Andy pretend to sleep on Mommy's neat electric hospital bed:


Gram (Tom's mom) meets Matthew Alasdair:


Grania (Jessica's mom) meets Matthew Alasdair:

Matthew Alasdair Brown

I'll post a few photos now, and then get some sleep!

Matthew Alasdair Brown was born this morning, April 2nd, 2008 at 2:06 am. He and his mother are doing very well. He weighed 7 lbs, 6.8 ozs, and was 21.5 inches long.

Matthew certainly is a "gift of God" (which is his name's meaning).