From the House of Paradise

2011-07-21T21:07:00.000-06:00

After nearly 6 years of pictures and stories, we're moving our blog to wordpress. This site will remain up until blogger kicks us out for being squatters. Thanks.

2011-07-14T19:24:00.000-06:00

At the Art Institute.

2011-07-14T19:19:00.000-06:00

Iron Man, chillin'

2011-07-14T19:16:00.000-06:00

At the Nature Museum.

2011-07-14T19:06:00.002-06:00

Jack and Riley at the park.

2011-07-14T19:05:00.000-06:00

Our Riley-Roo, in all her moods.

2011-07-14T18:55:00.000-06:00

Kite flying with Jack.

2011-07-14T18:46:00.000-06:00

After the game we stopped at the playground, and a tired boy made his way home. (A big thanks to Uncle Eddie for taking the pics.)

2011-07-14T18:40:00.000-06:00

Running the bases (with Daddy as first-base coach).

2011-07-14T18:31:00.000-06:00

Jack shows his hustle and intensity in the field.

2011-07-14T18:27:00.000-06:00

Jack's first at bat of the game.

2011-07-14T18:22:00.000-06:00

Coach Dennis (who Jack likes and respects) coaches our little slugger through an at bat as Jack assesses the game situation, keeps his eye on the ball (and a level swing) and finishes with a nice backswing. (I'm trying not to turn into Grantland Rice about Jack's tee ball.)

2011-07-14T18:13:00.000-06:00

Daddy helps Jack get ready for the field, while the boy gets his game face on.

2011-07-14T18:10:00.000-06:00

There are certain types of ballplayers you need for a team to succeed. You need talent and hustle, but they come in different forms. There are the ones who are born with all the physical tools in the world; the ones who make it look easy. There are those with lesser gifts, but a work ethic that would put oxen to shame. Then there are the scrappers; they may not have as much talent, but their enthusiasm is infectious.

There are, of course, combinations of these archetypes. Ideally, you want someone who embodies all three to their fullest degree. Jack has already shown his enthusiastic side. During his last tee ball game, only his third, he regularly encouraged his teammates, yelling from the bench ("Go yellow team!"), and from the field ("Ready positions, everyone.)

2011-07-12T15:13:00.000-06:00

Jack leading me into the light.

2011-07-12T15:12:00.000-06:00

A couple weeks ago Jack and I went out for what was supposed to be a short walk to the park. What we ended up doing was strolling for just over two miles, starting at our house, moving along to the park, then the lake, where we meandered at a leisurely pace, skipping rocks on Lake Michigan, watching fisherman pull tiny (and allegedly edible) perch, and chatting, talking about whatever a man and his four year-old son talk about when they have time and nothing to distract them.

We called it The Long Walk, a trek we've since completed twice, sometimes taking as long as three hours to get home.

2011-07-12T15:02:00.000-06:00

The Long Walk, continued.

2011-07-12T14:52:00.000-06:00

Penny and Jack.

2011-07-12T14:44:00.000-06:00

Lunchtime.

2011-07-12T14:39:00.000-06:00

Last month Jack got to celebrate his birthday with his classmates. Penny made cupcakes (probably vegan) and a good time was had by all, including Gramma Deedee and Grampa Eric.

2011-07-12T14:32:00.000-06:00

Longing.

2011-07-08T18:06:00.000-06:00

At Millennium Park.

2011-07-08T17:59:00.000-06:00

Cloud Gate.

2011-07-07T22:53:00.000-06:00

Jack and Riley play in the fountain at Millennium Park.

2011-07-07T22:46:00.000-06:00

Tee-ball.

2011-07-07T22:39:00.000-06:00

Jack Rajczyk steps to the plate...

...he heads to first...

...he rounds second and heads toward third...

...and he scores without a throw home!

2011-07-07T22:32:00.000-06:00

Yes, this is a series of pictures of my daughter stuffing a grilled cheese sandwich into her face. You got a problem with that?

2011-07-07T22:29:00.000-06:00

Riley goes for a ride, and Jack takes in a ballgame (sort of).

2011-07-07T22:27:00.000-06:00

This is why.

2011-07-07T22:23:00.000-06:00

My pretty Penny.

2011-07-07T22:17:00.002-06:00

Daddy and his baby girl.

2011-07-07T22:16:00.000-06:00

Mommy and Daddy (formerly known as Penny and Pablo) at the kitchen table.

2011-07-07T15:52:00.000-06:00

Peek-a-boo.

2011-07-07T15:50:00.002-06:00

Jack prepares Riley for the ride of her life.

2011-07-07T15:47:00.000-06:00

At the zoo.

2011-07-07T15:43:00.002-06:00

This is my lineage?

2011-07-07T15:42:00.002-06:00

This looks like trouble.

2011-07-07T15:40:00.001-06:00

...and then I was like...

2011-07-07T15:38:00.000-06:00

When the park gets boring, run around the parking lot.

2011-07-07T15:28:00.000-06:00

Around the house with some books.

2011-07-07T15:24:00.000-06:00

At the dog park, sans Finley.

2011-07-07T15:19:00.001-06:00

Patrolling the neighborhood.

2011-07-07T12:59:00.000-06:00

Jack helps Grampa around the house.

2011-07-07T12:56:00.000-06:00

We love our new neighborhood.

2011-07-07T12:46:00.001-06:00

Jack rides his motorcycle to the beach.

2011-07-07T12:43:00.002-06:00

Riley at the park, then a little snack afterwards.

2011-07-07T12:37:00.000-06:00

Jack's dance recital at school, plus a change in careers.

2011-07-07T12:31:00.000-06:00

Jack plays police officer at school and sings with his friends.

2011-06-29T15:08:00.000-06:00

Birthday cake and presents.

2011-06-29T15:04:00.002-06:00

2011-06-29T14:50:00.000-06:00

The birthday boy in his birthday suit with his birthday balloons.

2011-06-29T14:45:00.000-06:00

Huge thanks to Grampa Eric and Gramma Deedee for making Jack's 4th birthday so much fun.

2011-06-29T12:00:00.000-06:00

I know that Lady Gaga wore a meat dress as a form of protest, but I don't think that's what Riley has in mind when she covers herself in yogurt and blueberries.

2011-06-29T11:57:00.000-06:00

The writer's daughter has lunch.

2011-06-29T10:23:00.002-06:00

Jack can't wait to go swimming at our new neighborhood park, Gill Park.

2011-06-28T19:56:00.000-06:00

"Daddy?"
"Yes Jack?"
"Will the world last forever?"
...
"No. Not forever."
"Why not?"
"Nothing lasts forever. But the world will last so long that it practically seems like forever."
...
"Like...100 years?"
"Longer than that. Much longer than that."
"200 years?"
"No buddy, much longer than that. 5 billion years."
...
"Woah. (Long pause.) Can I talk to Mommy about this?"

2011-06-27T17:28:00.000-06:00

Jack and Sylvia on the last day of preschool. Is it me, or do they both look much older than preschool-aged? (They grow up so fast.)

2011-06-03T21:42:00.000-06:00

"Hey, dere. Long time no see. Dis is my buddy, Shawty from da old neighborhood."*

*Commentary courtesy of my hilarious Penny.

2011-05-22T20:38:00.001-06:00

2011-05-22T20:35:00.002-06:00

Riley at the park.

2011-05-22T20:32:00.001-06:00

2011-05-22T20:27:00.002-06:00

Jack on the way to the playlot.

2011-05-22T20:23:00.002-06:00

2011-05-22T20:20:00.000-06:00

Riley around the house.

2011-05-08T09:10:00.002-06:00

2011-05-08T08:59:00.000-06:00

Jack helps Riley blow out her birthday candle.

2011-05-08T08:54:00.002-06:00

2011-05-08T08:51:00.000-06:00

Coloring Easter eggs.

2011-05-08T08:43:00.002-06:00

2011-05-08T08:40:00.000-06:00

Riley's first birthday. Angel food: cake.

2011-04-30T08:05:00.000-06:00

"Daddy!"
"There's no need to yell."
"I'm hungry!"
"OK, what do you want for breakfast?"
"Cereal, with raisins."
"OK."
"No milk."
"I think it's better with the milk."
"But I don't want any milk."
"It's pretty dry without the milk."
"I. Don't. Want it."
"OK."

Ten minutes later...

"Daddy!"
"There's no need to yell."
...
...
"You were right.
...
It's dry without the milk."

2011-04-24T10:29:00.001-06:00

Happy birthday, my sweet girl.

Riley's personality, in a nutshell:

2011-04-24T10:26:00.000-06:00

Jack enjoys an afternoon at Pump It Up, then the train ride home.

2011-04-24T10:19:00.000-06:00

Jack breaks into the blueberry stash.

2011-04-24T10:16:00.001-06:00

2011-04-24T09:50:00.000-06:00

Fog at the lake.

Jack and Riley are so earnest and industrious...each in their own ways.

2011-04-23T09:29:00.001-06:00

Riley helps Eddie open his present.

2011-04-23T09:27:00.002-06:00

Playing around the house.

2011-04-23T09:25:00.001-06:00

Blowing out the candles at Eddie's 50th. First at Sola, then at home.

2011-04-02T13:26:00.000-06:00

Jack does a little homework...

...then plays a little hide and seek.

2011-04-02T13:22:00.001-06:00

Finley says hello.

2011-04-02T13:19:00.002-06:00

Time with the kids.

2011-04-02T13:16:00.000-06:00

Riley in the playroom.

2011-04-02T13:12:00.002-06:00

2011-04-02T10:06:00.001-06:00

Penny found a recipe for pea guacamole.

2011-04-02T09:18:00.002-06:00

Fridays with Jack

One of the best things about my job is that I get Fridays off; I work my 40+ hours Monday through Thursday. It makes for occasional exhaustingly long days, but it also makes for 52 three-day weekends (plus the rare four-day weekend and short winter and summer breaks!). These Fridays have been among my favorite days over the last year. I get to take Jack to school. Since he's only doing half days, that gives me about three much appreciated hours to myself (time alone being a rare commodity these days). I've spent much of those three-hour chunks of time reading, writing, drinking coffee. But the best parts of those days are when I get to hang out with our little man.

We start with breakfast (occasionally eaten on the bus because someone couldn't get out of bed). Once out the door we decide whether to take the bus (any of three combinations of the 36, 151, or 22 and 80) or the Red Line.

After school we'll sometimes stop for lunch, usually at the Whole Foods up the street from school, sometimes Huey's, for some foosball, a hot dog, and a shared mud-thick chocolate shake. Of course, once the Boy Child has eaten, there must be a treat. Then the food/treat combo must be burned off at The Playlot (in this case, the Lazarus Playlot on Columbia Ave.).

All of this, of course, is peppered with the most profound conversations possible. And for these I am most grateful of all.

2011-04-01T15:24:00.001-06:00

Looking up at the Willis Tower.

2011-04-01T14:01:00.005-06:00

Finley, in the sun.

2011-04-01T14:01:00.004-06:00

"I was trying to find a pen for you."

2011-04-01T14:01:00.003-06:00

Riley works her way out the back door (with a little help from Finley).

2011-04-01T14:00:00.004-06:00

Finley wants his ball back.

2011-04-01T14:00:00.002-06:00

Bath time.

2011-02-10T21:22:00.000-06:00

While snuggling with Jack the other day he very gently took his pointer finger and stuck it into my left nostril.
"Daddy?"
"Yes, Jack?"
He continued his perusal of my nose.
"You have a boogie in your nose."
"No I don't."
"What's this pokey thing?"
"It's a hair."
"You have a nose beard."

2011-02-10T21:13:00.000-06:00

Riley woke this morning about half-an-hour before me. Penny brought her into the bed (we do like our snuggle time) and as she saw me she raised her hand, and very deliberately said, "Dada."

2011-01-27T20:41:00.002-06:00

Today, Riley stood.

2011-01-26T16:53:00.000-06:00

I don't believe in "signs" or "omens" or that "everything happens for a reason." I believe in cause and effect, momentum, and that you make your own luck (and I use the word luck in only the most abstract sense). I also believe in coincidence. Yesterday Penny was talking about an old friend, someone she hadn't heard from (or, admittedly, contacted) in a while. In the mail that day there arrived a hand-written letter...from the old friend.

Penny seems to have an uncanny ability to make things manifest. Of course, we know that these moments are mere coincidence, but we can't help but want to take away some significance. One winter we were going to Michigan for the holidays, and for two months before (she'd started on Halloween) she talked incessantly about how much she wanted to have a white Christmas. She didn't want fluffy snow, or a small base of snow...she wanted S N O W snow! The day before we arrived, the Midwest was hit with a blizzard that left nearly four feet in some areas. Snow.

This year started with the usual talk of resolutions (I'm giving up soda), and goals (trying to exercise more). One of the things I want is a laptop. It doesn't have to be the newest high-tech model (do they read your mind yet?), just something that I can use to run decent word processing software and allow me to check my email (and such) while sipping coffee in public.

A new laptop was, apparently, also at least one of the goals of my brother and a co-worker. They'd been waiting for just the right time to upgrade their equipment - end of the year sales. Within the first week of the year they'd both purchased new equipment (my brother a bigger, faster, lighter Dell, and for my co-worker an iPad). Since older model laptops don't have much of a resale market they concurrently (though completely unaware of it) gave their laptops to the same chairty: me.

Of course, my wanting a laptop coinciding with my receiving said computers is nothing more than mere coincidence, but when we look for these things they carry more emotional weight than reality should dictate. Still, I've removed everything from the hard drives that wasn't essential, installed Final Draft and Google Chrome, uploaded a few songs (not too many) and now I'm portable.

2011-01-24T11:20:00.000-06:00

Riley and her dolly.

2011-01-24T11:19:00.000-06:00

Cheeks.

2011-01-24T11:16:00.000-06:00

Jack enjoys some time with Uncle Rick and Uncle Eddie at the Wolves game.

2011-01-24T11:05:00.002-06:00

Jack plays with the train set at Jane and Ed's. He certainly does love him some Thomas the Tank Engine (and friends, of course).