The month of July 2016 in Review

It's been a long, crazy, hectic month.  I wish I had more time to write in my blog than I did.  I did it to myself in some cases.  Sometimes I legitimately didn't have enough time to get my thoughts down on paper or in this case, on a computer screen.  I had some good highs like my son Blake's first birthday to some lows like not getting a job or a promotion.  What I wanted to do was be a good husband, a good parent, a good writer, and a good editor.  I did good on some of those things while I failed and fell short in those exact same areas.

Something made Blake really really mad (July 5, 2016)

Blake falls asleep at lunch; Ben loves daddy small hat day at home (July 6, 2016)

                   


The rest of the week of July 4th was unremarkable so far.  The highlights of my day were feeding my boys breakfast and lunch.  I take great pride in making their meals.  O.K., so most of the time I bake chicken nuggets and fish sticks in the mini-oven in the kitchen.  I'm pretty good inside the kitchen from time to time.  On this day, Blake got some yogurt for breakfast and Ben got some pizza for lunch.  I know for sure that I fed them more than just what was on those pictures.  I just don't remember at the moment, and I probably never will.  Oh well.  See the looks on my son's faces as they're eating their meals.

This weekend was pretty good.   I will be the first to admit that Ben's first session of soccer tots got off to a very rocky start.  He screamed so much from beginning to end.  Ben was in a brand new place for the very first time.  He was in a difficult spot as he had to get adjusted to something brand new.  I do not have any pictures for Ben's first soccer session.  I probably should have gotten him involved in kicking a ball around the house and outside more often that I did.  The hard part for me was to get Ben to buy into all the drills the coaches wanted him (and me) to do.  I think his favorite things were finding balloons, stacking cones, and going through a tunnel.  After he completed his first session, we went home for lunch and Ben got some celebratory pizza.  Ben and Blake got some chicken, green beans, and some form of grits for dinner.  See how happy they were during mealtime.  They were some very hungry buddies.

The next week would be fun and challenging at the same time.

For the week of July 11, 2016, I had some fun.  I got to see Blake dress up in a nice shawl.  He looks so cute in that.  Awwwww....Blake!!!  I think Ben had fun during lunch on this Monday.  Blake looked like he conked out on me during his meal.  When I got to work, I edited some video, and all I remember after the 6PM show was that I got to watch the Home Run Derby on TV on ESPN.  The exhibition of long balls happened in San Diego's Petco Park.  In my mind, that was the last place I ever expected home run balls to be hit with high regularity.

Part of my day at work was me spending time watching the Major League Baseball All-Star Game on FOX.  The game was played in San Diego, and I was not there.  How sad for me.  I got paid to watch a game on TV while I was working.  I still wished to be in San Diego that night.

PHOTOS ABOVE:  Ben is having so much fun playing outside.

PHOTO BELOW:  Me wishing I could play with Ben more.

PHOTOS BELOW:  Ben and Blake playing at the Acworth, GA Chick-Fil-A playground.  

NOT PICURED:  Daddy (me)

Satuday, July 16th was a big day for me.  It was my 'day off' as I went to Turner Field for the first time this season for an Atlanta Braves game.  I went to see the Colorado Rockies vs. the Atlanta Braves in my first, and so far, my only game of 2016.  I had some good food at a Coors Light Tailgate, a University of Denver Tailgate, and at the concession stand with a footlong hot dog.  From the pictures you will see below, I took in the sights and sounds of the game.  The ballpark was once again inviting.  The game was promising as the home team had the lead.  However, the Braves' bullpen let them down and the Rockies came back to win.  I think that the last time I saw a Braves' home victory was in 2013 (maybe 2012).

Ben killed his lunch and dessert on Sunday, July 17, 2016

Tuesday, July 19, 2016 was a special McDonald's day for our family.  See more photos below

Ben is getting used to playing on the playground.  Blake is still learning how to eat Chicken McNuggets.  Ben got to play two now games at the local McDonald's:  Go potty and run away from the playground.  Ben did good playing on some of the playground equipment, but he mentioned that he had to go potty a few times.  I don't think he 'went'.  Where he did go was sort of interesting:  He ran out of the playground a few times.  I don't remember what number it was, but it was the last straw.  The last time he ran away from us was when our time at Mickey D's ended for the day.  Ben will learn not to run away from us again.

On Thursday, July 21, 2016, Blake the climber adds to his legend.  Off camera, his daddy fears for his safety.

Saturday, July 23, 2016 was the time where we celebrated Blake's 1st birthday with our family in Sandersville, Georgia.  Blake and Ben were pretty pooped at first, but after a while, the boys had a good time and got in to the spirit of the party.  Of course before we get the party started, I had to show you some of the new pictures of ballpark construction at the new home of the Atlanta Braves, SunTrust Park.

Finally, Blake celebrated his first official birthday with us at home.  I got him a new water table for the backyard and I'm working on getting him some home phone, internet, and satellite TV from one company.  After Blake's birthday, there was not a whole lot to remember for the rest of July (except for one more thing).

I got a much needed wakeup call from my boss at work:  I have to give up my love of Candy Crush and get my butt in gear here at work.  I've got to learn how to do craft edited packages by watching some of the high-end stories that we've aired on CBS46, and I have to come back to the newsroom to write stories for the 11pm news.  If I don't do those things, I will not be able to take my career to the next level and buy my family a bigger house.  I have to do better for the sole purpose of taking care of my family.  My time starts soon on August first.

Journal Entry for the Week in Review for June 27, 2016 - July 4, 2016

Not much happened for me on Monday of this week.  I woke up, took care of my boys at home, and went to work.  Tuesday, I had some fun playing with the boys at home.  Blake was looking up at the TV and Ben was watching TV with his thumb and his doggy.  I played peek-a-boo and sang songs with my boys when they were paying attention to me.  I can't get over how adorable they are and how happy they are.  Sometimes, Ben gives me a little attitude when he really wants something or if I had to say no to him.  NO is one of least favorite, but most frequent, work that I say to him.  Ben is the word I want to say to him the most, Ben.

See below where Blake was getting and giving some lovins to Gandalf.  Blake is still learning how to pet the family cat.  I'm going to do much better in teaching him how to take care of him.  I hope Gandalf continues to be patient with my baby boy.  After Nap time was over, I became bold in taking out Ben and Blake to McDonald's for lunch.  I felt good in giving Blake some of Ben's happy meal of Chicken McNuggets, Fries, and yogurt.  I tried to eat healthy.  I really did.  Soon, Ben and Blake had a ball playing on the playground inside.  Blake is a climber just like Ben.  I think Ben make a new friend too.  All the pretty girls love Blake too.

On Saturday, my wife went down to Savannah to do a great thing for a worth while cause.  I stayed home with Ben and Blake.  That's not all we did throughout the day.  I was on duty at home while my wife got some much needed time away from home.  I felt a little bit good about myself in thinking I can take my boys out for a good time by myself.

See a few of the pictures below.  I took them to Swift Cantrell Park in Kennesaw, GA for some swings and slides.  Ben did the swinging and sliding while Blake remained on the swing.  I was worried about both my boys getting sunburn.  I thought I put enough sunscreen on them.  I don't know if it mattered.  As the day got later and the sun was beating down on us, I saw all of us got a little more red.  I battled and fought amongst myself to decide whether or not to keep the boys out at play.  The more I wanted to take Ben out of there for his safety, the more Ben screamed.  The other parents felt sorry for me for having both my little boys all by myself.  One of them even helped me as I was holding Ben's hand and pushing Blake's stroller back to our Nissan Rogue.  I at least made Ben happy with my Padres hat.  Our next stop (Not pictured here) is Ben, Blake, and I going out to Chick-Fil-A in Kennesaw/Acworth.

Ben, Blake, and I arrived at Chick-Fil-A for dinner.  One of the first things I see is that the playground is closed for repairs.  I was disappointed for Ben and Blake.  He went on to tell me that he wanted to go play over and over again.  Ben even tried to run off to go play.  I told him no and I pulled him back into the dining area.  A nice couple told me that I am a patient father.  I try most of the time, I really do.  I love my boys so much that I will allow just about anything from them.  I use those moments to try to become a better father in the future.  I enjoyed my Chick-Fil-A, fries, and Coke Zero.  Ben and Blake enjoyed some of their chicken nuggets meal.  Blake enjoyed throwing his food on the high chair.

After I put both Ben and Blake down for their bedtimes, I took advantage of my 'daddy time' by watching "Ted 2" for the first time.  I liked the movie, but I don't think it was as good as the first one.  "Ted" was much funnier.  I liked that Amanda Seyfried's character went to law school at Arizona State.  'Ted' makes fun on ASU too much.  I liked the baby diaper scene (Not exactly shown on screen) where 'Ted' sees a poopy diaper and is horrified by it.  Poopy diapers don't scare me.

Ben and Blake love to play with toys and make a mess with them afterward (July 3, 2016)

Normally I would end my week in review blogs on a Sunday, but I figured that it would be right to end it on a holiday (Monday, July 4, 2016).  I got to have a lot of fun with my family before I had to go to work here at CBS46.   Work would go on to be a pretty good day, but my time with my family was much, much better.  I got a chance to take everyone out to the park and play around.   I got to run around and get my exercise in on the playground.  Blake is going to master the playground equipment before I know it.

After playtime, we make a quick and early stop for lunch at La Bamba in Acworth, Georgia.  We needed our mexican food fix before we really got the day going.  I had a sudden craving for some beef tacos.  Before I eat lunch, I have to dive into the tortilla chips and salsa.  Queso is a bonus too.  Normally I would go for a cheesy burrito with chicken or steak, or even a taco salad with steak in there.  For some reason, I really wanted to have some tacos.  I got them, and they were good.

After lunch, I had to get ready for work.  Work was most memorable for me editing some fireworks shows around the Metro Area and I got to watch a CBS Fourth of July Special from Boston.  I don't remember anything else about my work day.  I'll be back for more again this month, so have fun and have a great summer.  See some of my final pictures from the 4th.

Blake the climber (July 4, 2016)

Ben is still not ready to graduate from the baby swing (July 4, 2016)

"Cheeeeesseeeee" (July 4, 2016)

"Chips" (July 4, 2016)

'I'm learning how to eat' (July 4, 2016)

Ben loves his cheese (Queso Dip) (July 4, 2016)

"More Queso Please" (July 4, 2016)

I had a couple of dreams about Phoenix over the weekend

I had a dream where I was once again back on the Arizona State University Main Campus in Tempe, Arizona.  I was out at night near the Student Recreation Complex.  I was getting set to meet someone there at a party.  He was an old friend of mine whom I haven't seen in decades.  We going to a rooftop party at the SRC.  Low and Behold, my friend ditched me and hung out with some other dude I've never seen before.  It was almost as if his friend influenced him to treat me bad.

Later on in the dream, I was at an indoor bar at the SRC where I met up with a co-worker from CBS46.  I don't know what we were doing or if she was paying any attention to me.  I guess we had a good time together, but I don't know.  Later on in the dream, I was crossing the street at Mill Avenue in search of my yellow Jeep Wrangler.  Sometime after that, I was back on the old job board in search of a new TV job.  It was a weird feeling.  After that, I was back in school for my Master's Degree in Broadcast Journalism.  I still hadn't decided what I wanted to be when I grew up.

In the end, I woke up and realize I have a good job, a good family, and a good place to grow in my job.  I'm going to reach out to my friends better from now on.  This time, I mean it.