Stokes in Peru

Greetings All, When we disembarked from the airplane on our return flight to Beijing from Minnesota in early January, I exclaimed that we would not be flying the friendly skies again until necessary, which would be our return flight home in June.  After spending 18+ hours in transit with four month old twins, I would have chosen the padded cell of a sanitarium over the cramped cabin with the impatient countenance of our fellow travelers. Chillin' at the Hotel: As time distanced itself from that flight and the hazy skies of Beijing kept repeating themselves daily, Marianella and I began toying with the idea of a short trip during spring break, both to escape the bleak landscape and to refresh our memories for the longer trip that awaits in June.  Flights to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Seoul were considered, but in the end, we tabled them all.  After putting the boys to sleep at the end of each day, the prospect of planning a vacation, no matter how brief, was too much...

Bryce is in red, Raymond in blue: Greetings Peeps, Did you experience in your childhood, after the excitement and candy rush of Halloween, gazing at the calendar to see the imminent approach of Christmas and how the march of the days would slow to a glacial pace?  I haven't had that experience for nearly 40 years and certainly adulthood with each passing year has most often moved as regularly and swiftly as a Swiss train (or how I would imagine trains to run in Switzerland). I admire Bryce's choice of apparel: Raymond evidently has begun working on his portrait pose: However, since departing Lima on August 24, the unpleasant experience of childhood has rushed back not only in memory but in execution.  Adult logic told me that September 30 was a handful of weeks and then days away-but the time away from Marianella and the boys has been rather challenging, particularly once the work day ended. I'm coming Mama, hang in there!: But the calendar has continue...

Alright Everyone, Well, the boys decided they didn't want to hang out inside Marianella's belly any longer (we guess there was no more room in the inn), so the delivery date got bumped up a week to Friday, August 4 when Bryce Alexander (5.37 lbs; 2.44 kilograms) and Raymond David (3.88 lbs; 1.76 kilograms) arrived at 12:58 and 12:59 in the afternoon, respectively. Bryce: Ray: The boys are doing very well-Raymond will be having a bit of an extended stay in the clinic until he gains some more weight, but both boys are strong and healthy.  They were breathing on their own from the start and while we haven't been able to yet take them into our arms, we are able to caress their soft little bodies. Marianella meeting Bryce on the other side: Mama is doing well too-she continues to glow with happiness and is recovering well from the delivery. Before: After: I'll share a few photos now-as we get to spend more time with the boys, we will...

Greetings Loyal Readers, I am going to take this entry in a different direction than what you've expected in the approximately nine years I've been doing this blog.  Recently, one of my favorite sports writers did a post entitled "50 Things That Make Me Happy", as an antidote to the wave of negativity that seems to permeate any visit to the Internet these days.  After reading through the list (you can see it here ), I found myself alternately smiling and thinking it was a great idea for both my sake and hopefully, those of my family and friends too. There is no particular order to the list, except for #1-that item is perfectly placed.  Keep in mind that the focus is upon things, otherwise the list would be dominated by you all. So, here you are-50 Things That Make Me Happy.  Ohh, and if you are pressed for time, I do encourage you to skip right ahead to #1 on the list. Enjoy! 50.  A Walk Around The Block At My Mom's To be accurate, we are talking a...