Pumpkin Patch

We took Braydon to the Pumpkin Patch today, although, it ended up being much more than a pumpkin patch.

We went to a place that was a full blown horse riding stable/petting zoo/pumpkin patch. Bryadon of course loved all the animals and had a chance to feed the horses and goats.

It was a quick hayride to the pumpkin patch though another field of llamas, rams, and zorses. Yes I said zorses. Imagine what were to happen if a zebra and a horse got together. This is what you would get...

A Zorse

Adventure Race

My first Adventure Race was a long time waiting, and in the end well worth the wait.

There is no use in trying to drag out the suspense, so here it is...

Our team, The Dirty Thirties, finished second out of 42 teams. Not bad for a bunch of first timers (especially when one of us put on the bike helmet backwards at the beginning of the race.)

Before arriving at the race we had no idea how long each leg of the race would take or in what order. Once we got our map of the course we had about an hour to plan our route. We started the race on bike and attacked the course hard. We cleared all five check points on the bike leg way under our projected time and quickly transitioned into the trekking.

There were a few tough ones to find on the trek, but we again cleared all five with time to spare. The canoe was the last, and hardest leg. With one eye and the map and one eye on the clock, we had to skip the last check point on the canoe leg.

We finished the course in under the three hour mark which was the deadline to get in without a penalty. We waited around and tried to recover from the 13 km bike, 6 km trek, and 6 km canoe until the awards ceremony. We all felt pretty good about the way we raced, but had n idea how we did in comparison to the rest of the field.

When the third place team was announced, and we realized that our time was better then theirs, and for the first time started to think we might have placed. Those thoughts were confirmed a short time later when they announced The Dirty Thirties as the second place team. A mixture of shock and excitement simultaneously hit us all.

It was an awesome race and I owe it all to my teammates. They really carried the weight (figuratively) and kept pushing the pace. I only hope that I didn't hold them back too much.

A very special thanks also goes our to Melissa and Alyson who stayed back at condo and spent their day watching Braydon and relaxing by the beach and pool.

Munkle Came Around for the Ride

Planning Our Route Before the Race

On the Trail

Munkle after the Race. The Dirty Thirties lived up to their name.

Our second place team with our Trophy.

On the Road Again

Once again, the car is pack up for another road trip. This time with a few extra accessories (and people) and have a new destination.

Melissa and Braydon have not even gotten home from Cleveland yet, but as soon as they do we will be heading to St Augustine for the weekend. Myself, along with 3 of our friends have entered an Adventure Race.

What is an Adventure Race you ask?

We will be racing as a team of four in three different elements; hiking, biking and canoeing. The adventure is that it takes place in a state park and we do not know which order the events go in or the length of any of them until we get there. The real adventure is the fact that there is no defined route to get from the start to the finish. We are given a map at the beginning of the event with check points laid out. We have to hit each check point along the way using just a map and compass to make our own route.

Meanwhile, Melissa will be relaxing poolside back at the condo we have rented for the weekend with Braydon and our other friend who was sensible enough to enjoy a relaxing weekend in St Augustine rather than sweating and swatting away mosquitos in the forrest.

In case you are interested, and I doubt you are, but just in case you can track our progress during the race here at their website. Our team name is The Dirty Thirties (I lost the vote on the name.)

Empty House

Less than 24 hours after getting home from Chicago, Melissa and Braydon hopped on another flight to go to Cleveland for the week. Today marks day two for me of being home alone.

Over the last week, Melissa has commented several times about how she hardly even remembers what life was like without Braydon. That same feeling has rung true for me in these two short days.

There is a framed piece of art that my mom gave us shortly after Braydon was born. Within the piece lies a simple, yet profound statement;

There are lives I can imagine without children, but none have the same laughter and joy.

I do remember life before Braydon, but this empty house definitely does not have the same laughter or joy.

Thank goodness for iChat!

Who Would Have Thought?

I had one of those experiences today that was so simple, and yet so mind blowing, that it was border line incomprehensible.

For almost my entire childhood, I lived in a house that was less than two blocks from a large park. I spent summers at camp in the park, dozens of baseball games on the two fields, an occasional tennis game, ice skating during the winter, countless football games and of course the playground.

Today, Melissa, Braydon, my mom and I all took a walk down to that same park. A few of my friends that I have known since high school came to meet us at the park as well.

I am getting to the mind blowing part. I know the suspense if killing you.

Two of the guys I have know since high school also have kids. So there we were. Three guys that had spent many days and nights at that same park, doing many other different things at the same park going back 15 years. Only now, we were pushing our three kids on the same tire swing.

We all agreed that the situation was beyond strange.

Not to worry. A few short hours later, after putting the kids to bed, we meet back at the park to play the same 2 on 2 football game that we have been playing since high school.

Somethings never change.

Chi-town

Later today, we will be heading up to Chicago for a quick in and out weekend. I am sure most of the weekend will be spent visiting with my parents as they go gaga over their grandson. Hopefully we will find some time to meet up with some of my friends from high school and if we are really lucky, get over to Sarkis for a loretta.