So...I'm running for charity and stuff

What better way to get back to my blog than to tell you all that I am currently training for a Half Marathon.  I have a fundraising page where I will be blogging, so I won't duplicate efforts here.  You can find the blog here: http://pages.teamintraining.org/wa/Amica11/jpankowcwg

I don't know what the cwg after my name is.  I've been trying to change it, but it ain't working.

Anyway...the run is for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  I was going to run a full marathon, but after the recommendation of many runner friends, I decided to stick to the half for my first major run.  And, after 3 weeks of training, I think I made the right choice.  Dang, this sucks. 

So...follow that other blog, too.  I'll try to post over there at least weekly.  I'm running 4 times a week.  The Saturday run is always the longest (ran 10 miles today).  Also, please take time to donate. 

What????

I haven't posted since April?  What's wrong with me?

Poker night

I don't play much poker.  In fact, the only poker I do play is via my Xbox.  But, the other night, I hosted a poker night at my place.  I invited some neighbors and the guys from my PEPS group.  I bought a keg of beer and some food.  In order to eat drink and play, everyone paid up $50.

This wasn't a "Winner take all" kinda poker match, though.  Normally, the winner walks off with the bulk of the money with a little bit of cash going to 2nd and 3rd place.  That's not how it works in my house, though.

Every penny given to me was donated to Save the Children, one of the agencies helping with disaster relief in Japan.  I have been reading and listening to numerous stories of so many children who were left orphaned after the earthquake and tsunami.  The stories break my heart and I want to pull and Angelina and adopt every one of them.  However, that's just not practical.  Instead, I decided to play poker. 

We raised $350.  Since the money was given to me, as a buy in, I am able to have the funds matched through my employer.  So, because of a Friday night poker game, Save the Children got $700.  It's not a lot in the grand scheme of things.  But, it's something. 

http://www.savethechildren.org/

Oops

Dang...it's been so long since I've posted that the URL isn't even showing in my autofill. 

Here's the "Superfood-Man-Chu" to tide you over.

Some pics

My mom's in town.  We took a trip to Victoria, BC.  Here are some pics from that and some other stuff.

Chasing Mommy

Poser Quincy



Singing for his friends. He's got soul, I tell you.

He's going to be "that guy" in college.

In Victoria...he chased this bird for 5 minutes.

Okay, maybe 10 minutes.

With Grandma

This is me trying to be a photographer

Me trying to be a photographer, part 2

Sunset on the boat ride back to Seattle

Laziness wins

From day 1, we insisted that Desi would not sleep in our bed.  I am not a fan of the "family bed."  Not because I'm all judgy, or whatever.  But, because I want some sleep!  I don't need a toddler kicking me in the ribs, all night. 

Every since we promoted Desmond from the crib to the "big-boy bed" (which is actually still a bed for little boys, only it's not a crib) it has been a challenge keeping him in the bed.

For those that haven't seen our house, Desmond's room doesn't have a door.  It's not technically a bedroom.  We used it as the office before he got here.  But, it's a great place for a nursery as it's the only room on the same floor as the master bedroom.  Eventually, when he is efficient in navigating the stairs by himself, we will move him upstairs into what is now the guest bedroom.  But, for now...he stays where he is.  In a room with no door.

We do a pretty good job of getting him to sleep in his bed at the beginning of the night.  We read stories, say prayers, tuck him in, go to our room, put him back in bed after he comes in to our room, tuck him in, go back to our room, take Desi back to his room, threaten to put up the baby gate, go back to our room, help Desi go potty, again, take him back to his room, tuck him in, maybe finally get to sleep. 

Anyway...at the start of the night, he sleeps in his bed.  Where he has outsmarted us, however, is in the middle of the night.  Shaundar and I have both been working a lot, lately.  So, when we finally crash, we our OUT.  We are beat and we've been looking forward to sleeping for as long as possible.  This is where Desi takes advantage.  Anywhere between 3 and 5, he will tiptoe into our room and come right up to one of our faces.  "I want to sleep in your bed," he will whisper multiple times until we finally wake up, or at least stop pretending we're still asleep.

At this point, the choice is A) pick him up and let him sleep the rest of the early morning in our bed or B) take him back to his bed and fight the battle that is getting him to stay in his bed.  This late at night, the battle often includes crying.  Choice A usually wins.  Once we plop him in our bed, he is usually asleep again within a few minutes.  Within a few more minutes, he has securely established his place on my side of the bed leaving he with about a half a foot of space to try not to fall off of. 

Of course, this isn't always the case, as was demonstrated once last week when he woke at 3 and decided he wanted to play in our bed rather than go back to sleep.  It took two and a half hours and a round of trying to get him back into his bed before he finally fell asleep, again.  Just in time for Shaundar's alarm to go off.

So, we now find ourselves just giving in every time.  He shows up in our room, we plop him in the middle and try to get what sleep we can before morning.  One day, I will just bite the bullet and nip this in the bud.  I shouldn't expect much sleep as we go through that.  But, for now...laziness wins. 

Conversation pieces

This morning's conversation:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Desmond: “You’re Jason.”

Me: “Yup.”

Desmond: “I’m Desi.”

Me: “Uh-huh.”

Desmond: “We’re friends.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Nice warm fuzzy to kick off my Friday.

Thank you...Don't forget to tip your waitresses.

Piano Playing, Part 1 from Jason Pankow on Vimeo.

I stopped recording, but he kept going. So, I started up again.

Piano Playing, Part 2 from Jason Pankow on Vimeo.

Bought Desi a new hat

Here is what it looks like next to the old one.

Can you tell which one is which?

Mariners Fanfest and Desi's new Tee

This weekend was Fanfest at Safeco Field.  Fans get a chance to play on the field and meet some of the Mariners (although, to actually meet 1 Mariner, you need to get in line for over an hour...once you meet that Mariner, you get in line for over an hour to meet the next...we skipped out on meeting Mariners). 

After Fanfest, we came back and took a few swings at the ball on Desi's new Tee.

At the Glove

Picking their season ticket seats.  I told them we can't afford these.

Stealing 2nd



The 2nd Baseban drops the ball and Desi is on his way to 3rd!



This is the face of determination!




That's right...I'm fast.



Now, Duncan is stealing!



Celebrating their victory!



This kid has a great arm.  I'm not kidding.

Boogie Fever

Every time we go to Braden's, Desi needs to track down this card that sings "Boogie Fever."  It's from Braden's birthday in November.  You can hear Desi singing Boogie Fever.  I'm not sure what Duncan is saying, but it sounds like "Go away, Boogie Fever."  Although, given his dance moves, I'm not sure I'm interpreting that correctly as he also seems to have caught the Boogie Fever.


Crazy kids from Jason Pankow on Vimeo.

Might be time to sign an agent.

Been working on the left handed pitching, but he appears to be a righty, at this point. Got to work on the stamina so he can be a starter.



Let's play some ball.

Yup...the curve. 

The wind up

The arm motion really throws off the batter.

 Aiming for low and outside.

 Strike 3!

And this is an unrelated picture I took the same day that I liked and wanted to post.  

Christmas Pics

If we are Facebook friends, you've likely seen all of these already.  If not, here you go!

Duncan and Desi are excited about their new jammies. 

Santa just left and Satchmo is trying to peek.

Go Zags!

Santa Shaundar's Mangnadoodle Art

TowMader, from the movie Cars

Desi loves his gift from Santa.

New robe...with FLAMES!

Spiderman toothbrush.

Buzz and Woody pillow.

Quincy enjoy one of his presents.

Christmas photo by Uncle Brian.

 



This is what happens when someone doesn't nap

This is what happens when someone doesn't get a nap. from Jason Pankow on Vimeo.

Now that I am a dad, I promise not to...

Take my toddler swimming in 29 degree weather.

Every year, a group of people get together for the "Polar Bear Plunge" a dip into Lake Washingotn to celebrate the New Year.

I was flipping through the pictures on SeattlePI.com, mostly because there were some babes in bikinis, and I came across this pic.

According to the PI, the water was 46 degrees and the air outside was 29. 

You can see the picture and the comments people left about it here.

Let's assume that this mom isn't a total knucklehead and didn't take her kid swimming.  Maybe she just brought her out into the water to celebrate Mom's recent swim.  Still...it's 29 degrees outside and this kid is in a bathing suit. 

Really really lame. 

PS: Christmas pics coming soon.