Sunday, August 12, 2012

A Summer Was Just Beginning

Wow, so I started writing this update a few weeks ago and apparently did not finish, nor do I RECALL not finishing it.  Please excuse any outdated references in the first couple of paragraphs.  

Heeeeey.
It seems like just yesterday we were entering our summer, now Katie and I are both beginning our summer's end.  I am not one to complain as most of my compadres continue their rigid hours over the summer.  We keep plenty busy of course and always try to take full advantage of the time we are allotted.  We are very spoiled to have such a great person/family to watch Daniel in Emily Cooper and her family, but knowing that the extended hours we spent together over the summer is essentially gone til' our next break is quite tough to swallow.  I do enjoy the time we have together as a family.  It's a great reminder to never take the shorter times for granted.  The past few weeks we spent some time at the zoo, went out to dinner with my family, started work/camp/workshops, installed a ceiling fan, and did a whole lot of lazing around (purposefully).

Ripe for puns.
He's making a recipe with lemon juice and salsa...please don't reach for the spaghetti sauce...
Being outdoors has been tough lately because of the extreme heat we've been feeling around these here parts.  I keep our place at a cool 72 degrees because...I like it cool.  100 degrees is a steep departure.  Don't worry, I'll get mine (band camp's just next week...)  Despite the heat, we decided to head to the zoo on a whim.  There's enough indoor venues there, that it would not be too unbearable...and it was not.  We got a few fun pictures and it was enjoyable.
Back with his people.

Influences include John Cage and piano movers who drop pianos.
The past couple weeks for me have been consumed by the start of band camp.  I just finished our Cass County Fair parade yesterday, so I feel as if a weight has been lifted up for this year (it is lowered on an annual basis at various weights).  Katie also finished up her intense Orff Level II workshop as well as began her teacher meetings at Millard.  Mine begin tomorrow and we first have freshmen on Thursday.  Very exciting indeed.  I would say that we felt both of our experiences were successes.  I have a wicked awesome tan line from my extensive exposure to the elements outdoors.  Although it cooled off tremendously on the last three days...too nice for band camp. 
Sitting on proper like.
Welp, we missed updating on Daniel's 11-month celebration (I gave him a swift kick in the rear and told him to get a job)

NOTE:  NO BABIES WERE HARMED IN THE WRITING OF THIS SENTENCE.  I WOULD NEVER KICK MY CHILD UNLESS IN EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE IT MIGHT SAVE HIS LIFE.

He's walking so very much though.  I need to get some video up here to show off how well he's doing.  I counted 20 steps today in just a random walking, but I know he'll go much farther than that.  He'll criss-cross the room supporting himself at different ends...any day now I know he'll be on the move more than I can bear.   
Waste management is a noble career...but you're doing it wrong.
Also, other big news was the birth of Daniel's first cousin on the Konrad side.  Zella Ann Konrad on Sunday, August 5th.  She's pretty great and we're going to visit her today.  I might even have some pictures to put up here, but don't hold your breath. 
Just taking a rest...on a LION!!!!
You'll see some pictures below of Kate with Daniel camping.  Big step for them and although I could not stay overnight, I heard he did a great job.  He's matured so much.  He even chopped down a tree and built a bench for us.  Very impressive (untrue, but impressive nonetheless). 
Real American.  No pants and hot dogs.
Just laying about.

I should elaborate more on the installation of our first ceiling fan, but this is neither the time nor the place.  Suffice to say that my father continues to do favors for me despite the fact I should begin repaying those favors.  I suppose there will come a day.  In hindsight, this very well could be the place, but the time just doesn't feel right.  What I mean by that is that I just don't feel like typing more.  I've been kind of a wimpy wimp lately because I've been feeling sicky.  It might be an intense bacterial infection or allergies.  I'm just going to wallow in my discomfort til' the diagnosis is found (no one is working on this by the way) and try to rest some. 

I swear it's water in the sippy.