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Theodore's Memorial Video

Monday, September 29, 2008

Photo Montage of Skyline Drive

Here are a few pictures I took while driving on Skyline Drive. We were in Front Royal, VA, visiting our oldest son who is in college.

First, we couldn't have made this trip without our little GPS direction finder. We set it for our hotel, and then drove off in the opposite direction. It kept telling us to turn around at the 'next' scenic overlook.


This a view looking west at about 2,000 feet. Those little bits of cloud below us were cool. A while later we drove through them - after they drifted over the road.
Here is another shot, about 2655 feet, looking east toward Washington, D.C. If you look closely, you can see Congress in session:
Meanwhile, back on the west side, clouds were still hanging low....
More little bits of clouds:

Again:
We have looked at clouds from both sides now, from up and down. Still, somehow, it's clouds illusions we recall. We really don't know clouds at all. Send in a clown to explain it. Don't bother, they're here.

On the way down, we saw deer. I specialize in photographing the tails of deer.
Here is a picture of our college student. Note the facial hair. I was feeling a bit of 'beard envy,' since I can't grow enough facial hair. I tried several years ago, and after 6 weeks a nurse took me aside and told me(respectfully) that it looked "really bad" and "not professional." I took her advice, and shall remain clean-shaven for the rest of my life. Not so for my sons:



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Saturday, September 27, 2008

Deer Moons Dadwithnoisykids!

Note the hind end of the deer to the left. Moments later another deer almost ran into my side of the car.

2655 ft. looking East

We drove through mist and clouds and took this picture at one of the many lookout stops along the way.

Skyline Drive

Join me on a drive on part of Skyline Drive, starting in Front Royal, VA.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Holy Orange Juice!

Subduing the wild orange juice jug sometimes takes a fair bit of shooting. This jug was shot with .177 caliber pellets from a CO2 pistol at 30 feet.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Let Us Break Plastic

A few videos of our afternoon adventures. One of Yours Truly, one of Noisykid #5.

This is a .20 caliber pellet air rifle. The target is about 10 paces, or 30 feet from the shooting site.

This air rifle is made by RWS Diana, and is powered by compressed air. The mechanism for compressing the air is called a side lever. By pulling the lever all the way back, and placing a pellet into the chamber, air is ready for release when the trigger is pulled.

Let us watch Noisykid #5 first:



Note the safe handling of the weapon, with no finger on the trigger until ready to shoot.

Now join me after I loaded the weapon:



My shot is rather unimpressive after watching Noisykid #5 blow his target away.

This is one of the things I enjoy doing with the boys and girls(the younger ones, at least). I shall post more videos after I upload them to Youtube.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Monday, September 15, 2008

Public Service Announcement

In lieu of blogging, I present this short film for the children who are looking at this blog:

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Prayer Request, Birthday, The Empty Sky Revisited, and Noisykid #15 Pictures

Prayers

First, pray for the repose of the soul of this man who died trying to save the life of his son. I never met him, but I knew several of his sons, one of whom is a priest in the Arlington, VA diocese(that is where my brother, Father Uncleofnoisykids has his parish). This is what he sent me:


"Dadwithnoisykids, you also may have met Mr. Vander Woude when you were in college. 
He was a model of Christian manhood - a Navy and airline pilot; then,
when he had to retire from that because of age, he became athletic
director and coach. I could tell you much, much more.
Suffice it to say he died the way he lived - truly a man for others.
May he rest in peace, and may God have mercy on his family who are now grieving his loss.




Please take some time to say a Rosary today for the Vander Woude family. If
you don't know them - they are Holy Trinity parishioners with seven sons,
one a priest, one a teacher at Seton School, another a coach at Seton, and
the youngest Joseph(in his teens) has down syndrome. Today he fell into a
well on their property and his dad heroically jumped in to save him.

He treaded water holding his son up until rescue workers could get there. It
only took 17 min to arrive from the phone call but Mr Vander Woude senior
did not survive. Please take a minute to pray for the repose of his soul and
give all your children a big hug. Thank you."

May his soul, and all the souls of the Faithful Departed, rest in peace.

Birthday

Yesterday was the 7th birthday of Noisykid #10, sometimes referred to as the 'Ritalin poster child' and one of those who inspired the concept of the 'Ritalin dart.' We are blessed to have such an enthusiastic child living in our midst, for he is always making us laugh with his antics. He was named after a pope and a priest, both of whom we think will intercede for him in Heaven.




We brought Noisykid #10 home on September 11, 2001, which brings me to the next part of this post:

The Empty Sky

Two years ago on September 11, I wrote this post about 9/11. I think it is worth bringing up again because it is good for us to remember what happened on that fateful day in 2001. I render my own opinion as to why 9/11 happened....here is a picture of a priest I know praying for those outside of the Pentagon:





Noisykid #15 Captured on Film!


Alright, enough melancholia and navel-gazing! Let's look at ultrasound pictures of the 2009 Model Noisykid!!!!


Noisykid #15 kept waving his arms in front of his face, so the pictures are not the best quality. Still, it was great for me to see a moving body - and a four-chambered heart beating merrily away.
Here is a foot.
Another shot of the face gives a little better view of the eye sockets.
Here Noisykid #15 shows off his fingers. But here below is the MONEY SHOT, the one we were waiting for. The sonographer asked us if we saw what we saw, and sure enough, it looks like outdoor plumbing.

By nightfall, Noisykid #13's old crib was stripped of any evidence of pink, and large crates of 'boy' baby clothes were opened. The baby dresser was emptied of all girl stuff, and every shade of blue material was put in its stead. Of course, deficiencies in the inventory were duly noted, and shopping expeditions were planned.

Meanwhile, a little baby danced in his mother's womb, waiting for the day that he would join the ranks of the Noisykids.

Deo Gratias!

Thank you, Theodore, for interceding for us!

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Sunday, September 07, 2008

Hamburger or Hot Dog?

More on that question later.

Now you can see some of my favorite pictures from my blog on Facebook!

For those of you outside the loop, I started a Facebook page so I could spy on my children and their friends. All was well until yesterday when a friend of mine sent me a flair, which is a little button shape like the one above. I couldn't resist, and I started making some Dadwithnoisykids exclusive Flairs.

As an aside, I am shocked and disappointed by some of the things I have seen on Facebook pages. Some of the word, phrases, and pictures that are associated with my kinfolk sadden me. I don't think they realize that what goes on the Internet STAYS on the Internet. Roman Sacristan said it well,when he said that things on the Internet are like nuclear waste; it doesn't go away....



Facebook does have some redeeming qualities, as Rhett and Link point out in this little song:



HAMBURGER

OR

HOT DOG?


Tuesday we get an ultrasound which should show all four chambers of the heart(hopefully), kidneys, a brain, and the outdoor plumbing. On ultrasound, gender resembles either a hot dog or a hamburger. If you need me to explain which one is which, you are too young to be reading this blog. Get off now before I tell your parents!

So check back on Tuesday. It may just be one word; maybe it will be a picture of an ultrasound. Either way there will be news on Tuesday.

Catch you later!

Our Lady of the Mysterious Decapitation

Our Lady of the Mysterious Decapitation
Now restored with the help of some cement!

Prayer to Our Lady of the Mysterious Decapitation

Mary my mother, take my hand today, and all days.
Lead me away from all occasions of sin.
Guide me in fulfilling your last words in the Gospel,
"Do whatever He tells you."
Amen.

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