Took the Gs to the local high school recently to introduce them to volleyball. When we arrived we saw a soccer game going on. So we took to the stands. I explained to Gavin that the team needed to kick the ball in the net. To which Gabby and Gavin responded by making that they’re chant.

GABBY: Ready Gavin? One … two … three … (deep breath)

BOTH Gs: KICK IT IN THE NET!

By the time I thought to take some video, Gabby gave up on the yelling to go exploring. But Gavin was still into the game.

Later, after catching some volleyball (they liked it, with Gavin applauding after every point) we went back out to the soccer match. The varsity was warming up. Rap was playing on the loudspeakers. Gabby decided to dance to the music. But the soundtrack ending kinda threw her. It’s all fun and games till you hear an explosion.

At the traditional Mountaineer Walk, as the Appalachian State football team walks from the Rivers Street tunnel to the stadium three hours before kickoff. The cheerleaders and marching band line the sidewalk.

We tried out a new tailgate spot, outside the music building. Plenty of grass to run around on, and the band warmed up for us. (You can see Gavin running around in the background)

Gavin thought we were going to a football game today. That’s tomorrow, I told him. He didn’t believe.

When he got up for school, he insisted on wearing his football jersey. Before we walked out the door he insisted I bring his football. When we took the Teen to school, he was in the backseat insisting we go see football stadium. We had the time before daycare. So go see football stadium we did.

The family went out to Outback last Friday for the wife’s birthday. As we left it started to rain, though half the sky was somewhat blue. Here’s the scene we caught as we stepped out – a double rainbow. The top was is pretty faint. (Taken with my pretty handy verizon dare)

Bigger version

Continually under development – the portion of our yard quickly becoming a park. We’re trying to have all things for all little people. It’s also an effort to never have to hear the phrase, “There’s nothing to do.” Oh yes there is. Plenty. And here’s what -

A. Tire swing
B. Trees to climb
C. Chairs to rest
D. Playhouse, complete with slide
E. Mom’s garden to explore and water
F. Swings, one for each
G. Basketball goal
H. Picnic tables for snacks and coloring books
I. Baseball pitchback
J. Hammock
K. Hill perfect for riding bikes and cars down
L. Trampoline. Greatest thing evah!
M. Another swing
N. Small field for batting practice with baseball Tee
O. Badminton net, currently down until we teach them volleyball

It’s great being a kid in the mountains. Look at all the animals!

FRIDAY – Gabby gets her first pony ride, at the circus.

SATURDAY – Gavin gets up close with a donkey (Wolfgang) and horse (Reba) during a friend’s birthday party.

SUNDAY – We see a deer! No photo or video. It was next door at an abandoned house eating from an apple tree. Afterwards Gabby tells me, “Dad? Guess what’s in my head? My head is full of thoughts thinking about what deer eat! .. Do deer eat cherries?”

TUESDAY – Time to feed the ducks. And show them your baseball. Epilogue – shortly after putting my phone away, Gavin attempted to hand feed a duck. It bit him on the finger! No damage. No biggie. Just shock.

It was a dark, cloudy mourn recently when I took the Gs to school. This is a view of the Boone windmill as seen from Gabby’s classroom. To this day, she and her brother still get excited when they see it.

Not the greatest video, but so you have a better idea of how it looks.

Driving into town this morning I had 15 minutes to splurge before the Gs had to be at school. I was debating what to do with the free minutes when from the back seat my young girl did exclaim, “The windmill!! Daddy! Look! The windmill!”

Ah yeah. The windmill. We’re sooo there.

The windmill appeared late last week, up behind the Broyhill Inn. I first noticed it Monday driving through town past the ASU basketball arena. It. Looks. HUGE! I’ve since been somewhat obsessed with finding the best view. Seeing from where and how it can be seen. From my office window I can just make out he propellers spinning between the pineneedles.

When I mentioned the big spinner to the wife over dinner Tuesday, Gabby interrupted. “We saw the windmill at school! It’s cool!” And, sure enough, her classroom has an unobstructed front row seat to it. (Me thinks her school has the most entertaining window in the county.)

The new Boone windmill – not to be confused with the old windmill – is 121 feet tall with three blades each 34 feet long. Seen from afar it looks huge! But like a reverse rearview mirror, the closer you get to it the smaller it appears. At least, to me.

Back to the free 15. The Gs and I headed up to the Broyhill and scrambled for a good view. Coming up the hill past the Inn it does look rather gigantic. But standing somewhat closer to it, it looks big but not that big. Kinda like when you meet a pro wrestler.

As we surveyed the view, the sun was blinding from the left. And trees obstructed the view from shared spots. I couldn’t get a good photo, either of the windmill or Gabby with her eyes open. Both thought it was cool and wanted a closer look. But me thinks you have to take a brief hike to get to it, plus possibly trespass. So maybe later.

It is quiet. Closer your eyes and you wouldn’t know it’s there. I asked Gabby if she knew what windmills do. “They spin,” she said. I then explained that it made energy, kinda like her batteries. Energy makes her toys work, as well as the TV and lights. And windmills make that energy. She kinda got the jist of it. “They make energy. Like batteries,” she later told her teacher.

When we left, we of course had to drive by the baseball stadium at the bottom of the Broyhill parking lot. To which Gavin exclaimed, “Baseball!! I see baseball daddy!” He paused. “I want to see football daddy! Show me football!” So we headed over to the new look football stadium and, sure enough, you can see that spinner from there as well.

On the way to the school, Gabby kept looking for the windmill. At one point, she could make out the blades through some trees, but just the blades.

GABBY: Look dad! I can see the mills! The mills are right there!

GAVIN: Mills! Mills!

That’s right. They’re called “mills.”

My day Monday.

- Woke to a one-hour delay for the Teen’s high school, which meant I was just taking Gabby to preschool. Two words – breakfast date!

- Gabby and I hit Sunrise Grill. She had a Mickey Mouse pancake. I had biscuits and gravy. We watched SpongeBob on the flatscreen at our table, then afterwards hit the arcade for basketball and air hockey.

- I dropped Gabby off at school right on time – 8:15. I head to work.

- The wife and Teen had a doc appointment at 1. So I got to parent. Met the wife with the Gs at Chick-Fil-A. Wife left to get the Teen. We stayed in the playroom. Gabby wore out the slide and Gavin played with a balloon. At one point I actually crawl to the top of the kids maze to “rescue” Gavin, who suddenly got slide chills. After 30 minutes, we leave.

- Asked Gabby where she wanted to go. She said she was hungry. She wanted ice cream. Marble Slab here we come!

- Get to Marble Slab, a small ice cream parlor in a strip mall. Gabby wants pink ice cream, so we get “bubble gum” in a waffle cone, with sprinkles and marshmellows. We all three share a table and the goody.

- After we eat there’s still 15 minutes before the doc appointment is over. So we go to the pet store.

- Big G has yet to visit the Pet Place. Gabby hasn’t been there in years. Three huge birds, including a parakeet, are up front. (“Boud!” points Gavin). We see fish and mice and gerbils and finches and lizards. Gavin wants to see the giant parakeet again. We go and, while Gavin marvels, the so-far-so-quiet bird quawks. “AWWK!” Gavin jumps. And thus ends are trip to the zoo.

- We get to the doc office and wait for mom and big sissy. Big G plays with sun glasses in the back while Gabby and I wrestle in the front. Finally, mom’s here to pick them up. I head back to work.

- Get home from work. Have dinner and play with the Gs. Rock Gavin to sleep. At about 8ish I retire to my bed for my Fox/House/Bauer marathon. Gabby comes in and cuddles up with me. She then says.

GABBY: Daddy? Today was a fun day! I want to do it all again tomorrow!

ME: What was your favorite part of the day?

GABBY: (thinking). Ummmm. (grinning) Eating ice cream.

Within 10 minutes, she’s out. Asleep. Beside me.

I want to do it all again tomorrow!

Big G gives a big high five to the Chick-Fil-A cow during the recent Winterfest in Blowing Rock. The cow isn’t chicken, mooving around often in Boone. He’s made rare – but hot – cameos at ASU basketball games and drops fry the restaurant during school spirit nights. This is Gavin’s second hand slapper, and was very well done.