STREET NAMES

Nicknames have been a part of my life since I could remember. I probably developed this affinity for terms of endearment while working with Grandpa Tuffy. He had nicknames for everyone we ever seemed to talk with- some good and some otherwise. We were among this list of seemingly endless names. For some unknown reason I was Little Joe.

I have taken it upon myself to give the Robinson gang their own nicknames as I know of no self-respecting gang who does not have a solid nickname. Amy is a bit upset with the publishing of these names because I don’t seem to have a nickname. She didn’t have much of defense when I pointed out it she was derelict in giving me a nickname. After all, it is a party foul to give yourself a nickname. Let me introduce the Robinson gang:

DERBY MANIA IN THROWBACK STYLE

The time honored, and church sanctioned, mania of pinewood derby has come and gone once again. For whatever reason, this event seems to find itself in our schedule at inopportune times. If it isn’t one thing it is another that seems to prevent Tyrel and I from starting this little project without having to rush.

This year was different- in a bad way. Tyrel reminded me the afternoon of the race that he needed a pinewood derby to race. Rather than go into a panicked frenzy to make a car in a couple of hours it was decided we would race on a throwback theme this year- race a car we have raced in years past. So Tyrel loaded up all of his cars and didn’t decide on what car to race until scouting out the competition.

This story has a happy ending as Tyrel had the fastest car of the day.

All derby tomfoolery aside, Amy and I were more proud of his Cub Scout awards and accomplishments. At this pack meeting, Tyrel received his Weblos patch, Arrow of Light, his final activity pin (he earned all 20 pines). Make no mistake about it; this is the end result of the hard work of good Cub Scout leaders. We owe Joan Young and Linda Russell and huge “Thank You!”

2010 Starts a Bit Rickety

We didn’t make it very far into 2010 before we had our first event of note- an earth quake. It rattled the light fixtures at work and made most of us peer into the hallway out of curiosity and amusement, but little else thank goodness. Amy and her co-workers barely broke stride and our kids were oblivious. Tyrel had several questions revealing the hidden fact he is generally enamored with the idea of an earth quake- typical 10-year-old boy. Erin was more concerned her kindergarten teacher didn’t sound an alarm so they could practice their earth quake drill. Just to find some peace, I had Erin demonstrate several times what to do during an earth quake. She demonstrated the finer points so many times that even her 6-year-old brain deduced I was having her repeat and explain for less than genuine reasons. Oh well. Here is an article on our first unplanned excitement of the year.  

FINISH IN STYLE

We finished out the 2009 year in grand style. Although there are certainly things that were absolutely wrong, we will list our favorite good things that ended 2009:

1. We celebrated Christmas as a family
2. Santa found the Robinson kids- they got things they needed and some of what they wanted
3. Nobody was sick for Christmas or New Years
4. I didn’t have to go into the work on Christmas
5. The kids witnessed their first moon dog on New Year’s Eve
6. Amy and Ryann got plenty of sleep New Years Eve

Now we’ll see where 2010 takes us.