Jack and Cate Update -- November, 2006

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Lisa applied the finishing touches on Cate's cat costume. Hey, that's alliteration!

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

By the time Halloween rolled around, Jack's previous pro-trick-or-treating declarations were non-operative. He thought it best to avoid going outside or (for good measure) anywhere near the door.

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Like last year, only Cate and I braved the Halloween night. Although we only planned to visit a few houses on our block (it was about 50 degrees, and Cate quickly got chilled), we eventually visited every house on our block and a few around the corner. After canvassing the block, I asked Cate if she was ready to return home. "No," she replied, "I'm having so much fun, I want to go to one more." I couldn't believe it, and we repeated this exchange before each of several more houses.

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

We were actually a little surprised by Jack's reluctance to join the festivities this year. He was really excited about his Clonetrooper costume (and don't make the mistake of calling him a Stormtrooper or you'll get a lengthy explanation of the subtle differences).

Friday, November 3, 2006

Sunshine streams into our living room. With plenty of time to spare, Cate is ready for school.

Saturday, November 4, 2006

Dalton expresses his feelings as only a boy can. It took Jack a moment to recover from such a display of affection.

Saturday, November 4, 2006

After their previous undefeated season, the Mustangs struggled a bit this season, winning about half their games. It was amazing how much all the teams improved in just six months. The games were lower scoring and hard fought, and a few of the kids were obviously keeping score and understood whether they had won or lost. From left to right: Alex, Elliot, Coach Mike, Juan, Dalton (behind Juan), Jack, Ace, Cate, Martin, Matthew, Robbie, Coach Jason, Kean, and Jakob.

Saturday, November 4, 2006

Toward the end of the season there were honest-to-goodness passes and a couple of goal-scoring corner kicks -- it vaguely looked like real soccer.

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Cate constantly runs whenever she's on the pitch, but she's reluctant to scrap for the ball. If it lands next to her, she'll often run in place next to it until it's struck by another player. Even still, she enjoys playing and doesn't complain when it's time to go into the game (I'm looking at you, Jack). She's proud of her play and her trophy.

Sunday, November 5, 2006

An old colleague of Lisa's hired her to decorate her new house in Pilot Point. To show off the results of their labor, Katherine threw a party complete with a good ol' boy singing country songs. Cate was in horse-heaven, and she definitely looks the part of good ol' country girl, no?

Sunday, November 19, 2006

The Finnane kids, Quinn, Toni, and Hailey, were phenomenal Thanksgiving hosts and friends to the kids. From sunrise to sunset (and beyond), they played well together. The backyard trampoline was a common place to see them all jumping simultaneously.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

A different city; a different art project. This one involved transferring designs to a sheet of paper using an impossibly long art-stick-thingy.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

In the days before our trip, Cate was nearly hacking up a lung, so she received four breathing treatments a day. It was only when I went to the cupboard to pack a new box of medicine for the trip that we discovered we were out. After getting a new prescription from Dr. Brian (God bless him) and a couple of visits to Children's Hospital, we were able to get enough to last the week.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

After a full day of play, Jack and Cate were exhausted each evening, but it was still too early for the Finnane kids to hit the hay. Cate would go to sleep in a chair each night and we would move her to Toni's room when she was ready for bed too.

Monday, November 20, 2006

While all the other kids took Brody for a walk, Jack obstinately stayed behind to ride Quinn's scooter. Given the slope of their driveway, he was lucky to retain ownership of all his teeth.

Monday, November 20, 2006

On Monday, we trekked into San Francisco for the day, and we had lunch at Joe's Crab Shack. The restaurant has a second-floor view of the marina and the "Bushman" who works the crowd. As tourists stroll along the sidewalk, he jumps out from behind his faux-bush and scares the number-two out of them (for some reason, people then give him money). It was endlessly entertaining to the kids while the adults tried to fully quantify the business model behind such enterprise.

Monday, November 20, 2006

We decided that Cate had a dangerously low stuffed animal supply, so she got a San Francisco seal.

Monday, November 20, 2006

Both Lisa and I noticed how much more mature Cate seemed while we were with the Finnane's. Toni and Hailey rubbed off on Cate in the most positive of ways.

Monday, November 20, 2006

Toni became the big-sister that Cate will never have. They were largely inseparable throughout the week.

Monday, November 20, 2006

Look out! Starfish! I thought it was ironic that I spent almost a week in the Cayman Islands and never saw one, but the Finnane kids spotted these clinging to the pier. The largest one was about a foot across.

Monday, November 20, 2006

We attempted a Finnane Christmas photo at the wharf. Will it make the grade? Only time will tell...

Monday, November 20, 2006

This looks to me like a boat-load of trouble.

Monday, November 20, 2006

Almost teenagers Pretty, outgoing, and fun Dan has his hands full

Monday, November 20, 2006

Hailey was the first to brave the cold Bay waters, and she did it with aplomb.

Monday, November 20, 2006

Lisa wanted our kids to also experience the Bay waters, and (if you really know Lisa) you already know this can only end in one way. What I find funny is that Lisa is reaching to touch the water while Jack has already decided it's time to bail (ha! that's a water joke!).

Monday, November 20, 2006

This is why we all love Lisa -- she's laughing and enjoying the moment as much as the rest of us.

Monday, November 20, 2006

What can I say? The apple doesn't fall far from the tree...

Monday, November 20, 2006

If Cate found an older sister in Toni, Jack found an older brother in Quinn. They too spent most of the week side-by-side.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

We spent part of Tuesday afternoon at a park near the reservoir. After prying Jack away from the playground, we kicked the soccer ball around the field.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Cate and Brody bonded too -- actually, Cate probably bonded a lot more with Brody than the other way around. Upon returning home, we thought Cate might demand a dog of her own, but we've so far dodged that particular bullet.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Even with Cate occasionally clambering over him, Brody is one relaxed dog.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

When he saw me taking photos of Cate and Brody, Quinn asked if I could take one of him. Suitable for framing.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

The Finnane kids kept Jack and Cate constantly occupied and entertained. It was like having full-time babysitters that the kids loved. When we returned to Dallas, it wasn't just the kids who were missing Hailey, Toni, and Quinn.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

The results of Hailey's handiwork...

Thursday, November 23, 2006

This is how Jack plays with Army men -- all guns and explosions.

Thursday, November 23, 2006

This is how Cate plays with Army men -- all smiles and a pose for the camera.

Thursday, November 23, 2006

While "the girls" decorated for Thanksgiving, Dan and I took all the kids to lunch and to see Happy Feet. Despite all the hype, neither Dan nor I really liked it.

Thursday, November 23, 2006

The fruits of their labor.

Friday, November 24, 2006

Apparently unsatisfied with the potential legal liabilities a trampoline implies, the Finnane's have also installed a zip-line that crosses the backyard. The kids weren't ready to start from the top of the platform, but they were each happy to hold on while I pulled them. Unintimidated, Hailey grabbed my camera and snapped a few photos while I ensured the kids didn't bust their noggins.

Friday, November 24, 2006

Toni taught the kids several new board games. Their favorite was Trouble -- a classic that both Lisa and I played as kids too (complete with pop-o-matic).

Friday, November 24, 2006

The kids had a blast playing the games, and I was mildly (read: very) surprised when they didn't seem to mind losing too much.

Friday, November 24, 2006

After spending a better part of a week with Hailey and Toni, Cate decided that she needed straight hair like theirs. She would periodically go to the bathroom to plaster her bangs with water. This darn-near kills her mother who loves (and slightly envies) Cate's slowly diminishing curls.