Saturday Fun

Andy and I have a tradition - on the first Saturday of every month we go to Whataburger for breakfast. He gets a cinnamon roll ,and I get a taquito. Then we go to Home Depot for the building project.

Today Andy built a firehouse bank. He did a great job. The fire department was there with a couple of firetrucks for the kids to explore, and that got those kids really excited. Andy has the sun in his eyes for the picture on the firetruck - he looks upset, but he was having a blast.

I like the bank. As you can see on top of the bank, Home Depot is trying to teach the kids a good lesson - There are dividing walls inside the bank to keep the money separate, for saving, sharing, and spending. Andy emptied my loose change from the Tahoe into his bank....pennies and nickels into the saving and sharing slots, and quarters into the spending slot!! Smart little cookie.

Andy's First Day of Kindergarten

This is my big 5 year old on his first day of Kindergarten. He has been going to pre-school for a few years at the same school so it was not a scary day for him. He is doing a great job with his reading, actually reading words from a third grade reading list! It is fun looking at his school work and seeing his progression with his handwriting and math skills. After his first week of Kindergarten I asked him, "What did you learn this week, son?" - He replied, "Nothing, Daddy, I already knew all that stuff."

Summer Fun With Andy

Andy and I had a great time this summer. One day we went to the Dallas Aquarium. This place was more amazing than I expected - The animal exhibits are unbelievable, and I would highly recommend that anyone, regardless of age, visit this place.

We also went to the Great Wolf Lodge. Andy just talked and talked about the water slides and all the fun we were going to have - BUT it turns out that Andy is somewhat of a big talker when it comes to water slides. We had a blast but Andy is not quite ready to go down the big slides. We spent our time in the "kiddie" pool, but he had a blast.

Kenya Medical Mission

I just spent a week in Kenya on a medical mission trip. We had a great trip and had the opportunity to serve many people. It was a surgical trip, so as the only family physician I was asked to take on the "minor" cases, so I spent most of my time excising superficial lesions, and then scrubbed in to assist with more complicated cases.

This is Ahmed, the director of the Muslim Hospital called Tawfiq Hospital in Malindi, Kenya. That smile never left his face. I taught him the Gig 'Em sign and how to say "Howdy." I am going to take him some real cowboy boots from Texas if I ever return to Kenya.

To the right I am excising a lipoma. Below is Dr. John Bailey assisting in a mandibular resection.

At the end of the week we took a safari. This lion is the first animal we saw, and he was chilling out like he owned the place.....I guess he did. The safari was one of the most incredible experiences of my life, and I will definitely do one again someday and take my son. If you click the pic of the lion you will get a closer look at some awesome detail.

My Little Boy is 5!!

Grace.

Sam.

Lily.

Andy and Nathan.

I cannot believe that Andy is 5 - what a fast ride is life! I remember when he was a baby and drooling, sucking his fist, watching Baby Einstein, and filling his diaper! Tonight, I put him in bed and he read ME two books - cover to cover and he got every word right.

He has gone from obsessions with trains and cars, to an interest in space, rockets, and planets. He got a science kit for his birthday, and we have had fun with the volcano and the planetarium.

Happy 5th Birthday, Buddy!

Andy and his cat

Andy and his cat, Hershey. Andy's mom sent me this picture - the cat follows him everywhere. I need to get the boy a dog!!

Trip To The Fire Station

Andy and I went to a Fort Worth Fire Station this weekend, to visit my buddy Brian Taylor, one of Fort Worth's finest. Brian showed us both fire engines, and through the entire fire station.

Andy got to see where the firemen live, eat, sleep, work out, and keep their boots and hats in their lockers. As you can see, Andy got to climb all over the fire trucks, sit in the chairs, check out the hoses and controls, and see the lights and the very loud sirens, which startled him a bit. All the firemen were awesome towards Andy, and he has talked about it all weekend! Thanks, Brian!