snide-o-blog

Kasen’s swimming progress through the years.

Super Swimmer from Brad Schneider on Vimeo.

It’s not all fun and games…

Working Trip from Brad Schneider on Vimeo.

We’re finally home and settling in with our new son, Holden Douglas Isaac Schneider. Here’s a few pics with Mom, Dad and Big Sister.

We made a special birthday trip to the aquarium to celebrate Kasen’s 3rd. As usual, she bounced around maniacally from exhibit to exhibit and generally wore us out. But, as you can see she was fascinated and, of course, that makes it all worth the effort.

We went to Six Flags recently and Kasen had a great time. We debated taking her on the roller coaster or not, but she enjoyed the other rides so much and kept asking to go, so we relented. I was worried that she would get totally traumatized after the first drop, but she just started laughing like crazy. I held on to her tight and she just enjoyed the ride all the way! Check out the pics. No fear.

Kurt does his best impression of a 14 year old Russian gymnast (female).

Kurt binds his broken body together for one more year of tennis. And, we win! Brad and Kurt take the tennis honors this year, which is the first time since… well, ever!

Launch.

Splashdown.

Trip 2k8 is now in the bag. Here is the annual group photo. More to come.

Today I turn 40. I don’t feel 40. I somehow imagined things would be much more, well, figured out, by now. Kasen helps. Since she is not even 3 yet, I can still envision our family unit as a scrappy crew just starting out. How mature can I be expected to be if I have a toddle in tow? I think I can ride that excuse almost into her teens, then what?

Anyway, here is the crew that is keeping me young, or at least not allowing me the dignity of aging gracefully.

Staying at Troy’s cabin has become more like a labor camp than a vacation. We’ve suffered in silence in that past, but the time has come to expose Troy as the petty tyrant that he is. The pictures below document the inhumane treatment to which his so called ‘guests’ are subjected.

First, we have to setup Troys dock in lake water barely above the freezing point.

Notice how Prince Troy stays high and dry while Kurt is forced to swim the dock in alone.

Darren feels Kurt’s pain, and is obviously distraught, but what can he do?

Troy assured all of us that his boat was ready to go. He absolutely refused to allow Kurt or Darren to bring their boats, which were both in fine working order. Clearly, this was all a ploy to get a free boat repair out of us.

As a final indignity, we were forced to clean the tennis courts at the community center. It is one thing to be coerced into hard labor by a ‘friend’, but when it is to the benefit of total strangers, well, that just crosses the line of civilized behavior.

Apparently, Troy cares more about looking good to his fellow Shuswap fat-cat social set than the well being of his once good friends. If any of you still doubt what I’m telling you, I think this last picture says it all.

Kasen had her first Easter Egg Hunt this year. I’m always surprise at how much she enjoys events like this, even though she really doesn’t have any preconception. She just picks up on our excitement and goes with the flow. But, next year, I’m sure she’ll be twice as worked up. She still asks if it is ‘Halloween’ every time we go outside at dusk on a cool evening, so I’m sure we’ll get asked about a return visit from the Easter Bunny more than a few times between now and next spring.

A ‘whee’ is a slide, for those of you not versed in Kasen-speak. Here is a video of the opening ceremony.

Kurt’s profile looks like he could be leading a small communist uprising.

Still don’t see it? Try one without the cap and mirrorshades. Seriously, that noggin could be on an eastern block postage stamp.

A couple of years ago, we had a little incident with the campfire. I expect this kind of fiasco with Darren and Kurt, but Troy is a fireman and I hold him to a higher standard. The whole story is in the video below, which I have titled ‘Heros’.

As we advance in years, some of us accepting of our limitations with grace and dignity. And some of us are in total denial.

Sometimes Troy gets frustrated with Kurt and just loses it.

If you are reading this, then the blog must be up. More to come, so stay tuned.