Fifteen years ago, I went on a solo hike across Rocky Mountain National Park. I started at the Bear Lake trailhead, summited Flattop Mountain (only 12,000-some-odd feet altitude), and through the park on the other side. The original plan was to make a full loop to the west side, then go back along a more northerly trail,… Continue reading A hike in the Rockies – Day 1
Category: Eric
Getting outdoors with the kids
Good article on Nerd Fitness, on getting outside with the kids. I've been thinking about this a good deal lately. In short, we're doing this by cultivating our own passions, and bringing them along. Sean teaches the boys Kenpo three days a week. I have them out with me two or three days a week, training… Continue reading Getting outdoors with the kids
The Summer of Smoothies
Ben just decided that we should make smoothies. I wanted to record his recipe and Eric's recipe for posterity. Ben's Smoothie Serves 2. Ingredients: 2 large strawberries, cored 1/3 apple, chopped 8 grapes 1 cup orange juice 1/2 cup lowfat plain yogurt 1-2 teaspoons honey (we used cinnamon honey) Put everything in a blender and blend… Continue reading The Summer of Smoothies
Ikea table parenting
My philosophy of parenting includes keeping only moderately decent furnishings, because mistakes will happen. For example, one of the boys got permanent marker on our dining room table. It's the nicest table I've ever owned, but it's also an Ikea pine wood jobby, easily scratched and marked. It's not anything we're likely to turn into… Continue reading Ikea table parenting
On Learning: An open letter to my children
Hey guys, I've been thinking about learning and education pretty much my whole life. First, I was subject to it. Then I chose to continue it. Now I continue learning - on purpose! - both because it helps my job, and because it interests me. I figured out early that the downside of organized schooling is that "learning" quickly becomes a swear… Continue reading On Learning: An open letter to my children
NaNoWriMo
I'm taking part. Personal goal: 25,000 words. Hopefully I'll murder that goal and hit the actual NaNo goal of 50k.Eric is also taking part. I'm having trouble with the young writer's site, so I just wanted to note here that his personal goal for the month is 300 words.
Beanbag
The outdoor area of this restaurant has a set of games with beanbags. My boys and another boy are throwing the beanbags at each other. I have been told this is normal boy behavior. *shakes head*
The Trembling Surprise
by Eric McCown In a vampire city in japan they were all relaxing in their homes when the radio said an earthquacke is going to srike the city in ten minutes. Ten minutes came, an earthquacke that measured 8.10! Buldings collapsed, highways, pipes, and piplines are destroyed!!! Churches fell on the road. Clocks on clocktowers… Continue reading The Trembling Surprise
Science? Yeah…
Overheard while dropping the boys off at daycare this morning: Boys: Hey look at our books! [Science books] Caregiver: Wow, cool. You like science? Eric: Science? Oh yeah, I'm a big fan. Big fan.
Early riser
Eric woke early with a nightmare, and it's doughnut day anyway, so we hit Starbucks together. He still has those giant blue eyes. I see now why artists sometimes draw people with eyes half as big as their heads. That's rather what it looks like.
We Owls 