There is the bruise. Of course, the tint was much deeper and the wound much more dangerous looking to anyone who would dare step-up to my daughter, but she wears it with pride.

The crackers are a wonderful display on how Ellz Bellz likes to eat Ritz crackers.

And finally, a new one of Fats III, or POD II. Redhead. Nice. Now, as soon as I get a DNA sample from my red-headed friends and neighbors some questions will be answered, but I will love him madly nonetheless.

Max and Lizzi have taken to slow dancing, and without mine nor Nikki's input or help Max has learned to twirl his sister. It is freakin awesome, and he pulls it off "in time" to the music. Already Max has shown great aptitude in musical rhythm, and he can clap, stomp or drum furniture to just about anything I throw at him. Last night he received multiple verbal lashings and warnings about beating the furniture and dining room table. When Nikki was not looking I exchanged beats with him, slapping our hands on the table during dinner. He immediately aped my rhythm, and he stymied me with his phat beats...I think he was listening to Meshuggah earlier...

As You Well May Know

There is something pretty unique and altogether special about having three children. And our layout is pretty sweet as well: BGB. Or Boy Girl Boy. Now, Max is the oldest, and thereby protector of sister by virtue of birth placement, but he is also sensitive and attuned to how others feel. So hopefully he will have no problem being attuned to the boys and their intentions with his little sister as she enters her 30's and starts dating. But know this, little Eliza James has been walking around...more like strutting around with a bruise on her face noticeable from Mt. Lemmon. (The pic was taken at Todd's last CORR race in Chula Vista CA last July) As she stood in line for the jumping gym at Max's soccer leagues Fun Day, the soccer dad who was manning the gate replied "I'd let her in with the big kids, but I don't want them to have their legs broken. She looks tough". Tough she is my friend. Tough she is. And try to tell her no. I can't do it. Much to Nikki's shagrin...but I am working on it babe. Really, I am. I working very hard on telling my Princess "Ummm...maybe not right now...". Now Jack. Number Three with a bullet, and quite the entrance he made. He will be tough, but not due to some rough handling by his big brother and sister, the two of them actually dote on him. Lizzi still calls him "baby", but often declares "oooohhh! He's so cute!". His toughness will rest in trying to be heard over the din that is Max and Lizzi at play. If it weren't for the baby monitor that Nikki puts near his bed, he may have to forage on his own throughout our bedroom
Yeah, it is pretty sweet being a dad. Stressful. Sometimes you want to choke the stuffing out of a couple of midgets, but you never do. And oh when they start dancing! Now that is the s@#t.

Recently...

Here are a few pics taken over the last month or so. Sue and Dan came down in early September, and the kids had a blast and the Nikster and I appreciated the time they were able to spend here. Max started soccer that month as well, and the circle of life has come full-freakin' circle as I still remember my first year of soccer playing for the Firecrackers. A year later I started with AYSO, the same league Max is in. Last night I tied him to a small soccer goal and pummeled him with shots thereby teaching him proper heading and trapping techniques. Seriously though, he gets totally amped for the games and practice, loves donning his shin guards and uniform, and the excitement begins to fizzle as soon as he starts the practice or the game. He would rather be at Grandma's house these days than doing just about anything else. As you can see from the pic he is not quite grasping the game's concept, but that is quite all right - I love to see him get so excited. He always stands by his coach at practice and the games, awaiting instruction and runs as fast as his duck legs will take him when told to go somewhere, but during the game he enjoys the scenery and looking for butterflies more than anything. His coach is great, he does not overwhelm the little guys and gals with instruction or directions, and just lets them play (i.e. stand and look at clouds). Go Sting!!

Jack!

Much to the joy and elation of familia de Fisher, we have expanded our number with Jack Silverton Fisher falling out of his cozy slumber into the world on August 16th, Ccrying and pissed off, of course. He is symmetrical, devilishly handsome and has quite the voracious appetite. Max has been calling him "Jackamo", and Lizzi refers to him as "that creepy baby making bug eyes at me", but more commonly "Jackie". Now for the gory details:
Nikki just missed out on the epideral. The little man was ready...she was actually sitting on his crowning head as the anasthesiologist made one last-ditch effort to stab her in the back with the drugs. It happened so fast, the nurses (who absolutely kicked ass...kudos to the labor ward nursing staff at Banner Thunderbird) delivered the little man. The doctor came in just in time to crack her neck, look around and say "good job, that will be $8,000,000". Everyone is good...obviously. I am writing this nearly 5-weeks after the alien...er...arrival of Jackamo. Things are quite hectice and jovial at the small house on Columbine. Passers-by may hear screaming at times, but most likely dancing, laughter and drunken heckles. I will post some pics later...

Jack Silver Fisher

One more...Jack will be here in the dog days of August (although the due date is Sept 1), a little spark of something to get us through the waning "monsoon" season. The torrential monsoons are currently permanent fixtures in our house, they go by the names Lizzi and Max. Max has taken to speaking with JackJack, very adorable, though at times it appears he is talking to Nikki's boob rather than Jack. Our minions expand!

This pic was taken at the ever-scenic and picturesque Columbia Gorge Hotel (employer of one Kyle Fisher) against the backdrop of said gorge and Columbia River. Perhaps I should not have had the family face the sun, eh?