Thanks Honey for letting me take the lead on this story…Love you!!
So most of you are aware that about a year and a half ago Madison starting asking for a "baby brother and sister", not one…but BOTH. On her third birthday after asking yet again, Brad (in his infinite wisdom) told her that "when she was 4 she could have a brother OR a sister, but probably not both". Well, as we have been learning over the last couple of years, Madison has a memory like a steel trap. Once something of importance, if only to her, enters her brain – it never exits…EVER!!!
When dropping her off at the school playground this morning her teacher, Mrs. Ella, came walking over to us and said, "Did you see Madison’s comment on the board from yesterday?" Well, of course because of the fact that we know how "free" Madison can be with her statements sometimes, Brad and I immediately head to the classroom and the infamous "Kids say the Darndest things…" board. On the way, we look at each other and say, "Uh Oh – NOW what has she said!!" – mostly joking, but slightly worried none the less…
Written ever so neatly upon the board was this:
"Now that I’m 4, I get to help my Mommy and Daddy build a baby!!" -Madison, Age 4
I tell you this in all honesty – I thought that Brad and I were going to lose it right then!! I then realized that as soon as we are pregnant, and no – there is no news of this kind to report, she is going to be an endless source of funny comments and quick retorts. Therefore, be sure to keep an eye out for the next installment of "Kids really do say the Darndest things…"
Hope you all enjoy!!
Yesterday Maddy turned 4 years old and we had a party at the house with her "grown up" friends!!! She graduated to a bicycle (from her trike). Before you all start barraging me for her not wearing a helmet, she did get a princess helmet for her birthday, but it wasn’t quite opened when she found the bike. I will probably make her wear it although I don’t when I go bike riding (yes I am a hypocrite, but it is a parent’s privilege).
She is growing up so fast. I’ll let Alisha post about her "kids say the darndest things" quote board at school.
Hello All,
I know that Brad just posted info on our weekend of all weekends…but I have a small addition. Scott, our friend from Boston, was heading back to ‘real life’ on Monday and saw a news clip from News 8 Austin – the local all news station here in town, and called to tell me that they had a great shot of Madison sitting on my Mom’s lap at the Kiddie Limits Stage featuring Jack Ingram. Well, needless to say I have been searching the site for the last week trying to find this news clip. Today…the search ends!!
Due to copyright laws, I cannot copy and paste the link for a quick viewing…but I can tell you how to get there. Here goes…
Go To: www.news8austin.com
On the left hand side of the page there is a link to ACL Festival; click there.
The second banner from the top reading "2006 ACL Fest Backstage Pass…Watch our special VODcast recap of the day;s events" is a link to the VOD cast; click there.
Finally Click on "The last day of the music festival" link. Madison and Mom will show up at approximately minute 8.37 of the 18.07 minute clip.
Hope that you enjoy it and VIVA LA ACL FESTIVAL!!!
Classes started up the first day of September. I am not taking any, but am teaching again. I am teaching a new program being developed at UT where we train a group of freshman/sophomores how to do benchwork and think like scientists. I am involved in a "stream" that teaches nucleic acid evolution (selection) and we are developing nucleic acids that specifically bind a cadre of biomedically interesting proteins like hemoglobin (blood), fibrinogen (clotting), glucagon, etc.
But on to the real crux of this message. Our fourth excursion to Austin City Limits Music Festival!!!! It is that time of year when ~130 bands descend on Zilker Park and play their hearts out to 200,000 people over three days. This year was special because friends and family joined us. Lisa, Chris and Tyler came down from Indiana for all three days (including a few days on either side to visit), Scott came back from Boston for all three days and Jackie (Alisha’s Mom) came for Friday and Sunday. Sunday the rains kept us from getting there too early and chased us out mid way through Tom Petty. In order of time we saw:
Friday: Wolf Parade, Matt Nathanson, Nickle Creek, Gnarls Barkley, Cat Power & the Memphis Rhythm Band, Los Lonely Boys, Thievery Corporation, John Mayer and Van Morrison.
Saturday: I Love you but I’ve Chosen Darkness, Galactic, Joe McDermott (Maddy), Los Lobos, The Shins, Calexico, Aimee Mann, String Cheese Incident, The Raconteurs, Brazillian Girls, Iron & Wine, Willie Nelson, and Massive Attack
Sunday: Kathleen Edwards, Imagination Movers (Maddy), Damian Marley, KT Tunstall, The Biscuit Brothers (Maddy), Jack Ingram, Buckwheat Zydeco, Matisyahu, Son Volt, G. Love and Special Sauce, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.
Yellow highlights are my favorites and bold are the headliners. I enjoyed each and every band that I saw however. The only problems were the lack of volume during Willie and Tom Petty. The music was so low where we were that we could hear the crowd talking around us more than the music.
But it was a great weekend, enjoy the pictures (oh and that second chin is just because I was pulling my head back…I got to remember not to do that as it adds about 50 pounds to me).
