The "Bragging on my Kids" thread

“Congrats on the new addition!!”

“Congratulations LJ!

Laurel rode a horse for the first time yesterday. She did very well.”

“Mozal tov!”

“Congratulations LJ!!! You, a Granddad? You're like 27 right? Hmmmmm.... ;-)
last edited: 10/19/05 8:58:13 PM”

“Woo Hoo!!!”

“I am sooo ready for grandkids!!!....wooooooo hooooooo

Congratulations!!!!”

“Congrats! grandkids are too much fun!
My grandboy got his white belt in Tae Kwan Do last week.

Backslacker, I think you're confusing Lumberjack and Lumberzac”

“Thanks all, Grandkids are a lot more fun to raise :)

ps. Im 42”

“My daughter went camping with a friend of hers, and when she got back she said it wasn't what she expected ... they car camped on air mattresses in a tent set up on a gravel patch next to a concrete pavilion. She said she was hoping more for like how we camped before, such as in the Hunter-Frying Pan Wilderness. On that trip, everyone gave me a hard time because I told them beforehand that the hike to where we'd camp would be four miles, then it turned out to be eight miles since we went to the wrong trailhead. Still no one complained until afterwards when we figured out what we did. Never did see the turnoff for the 'right' trailhead.

I guess maybe I'm raising my kids alright after all... so tough to tell what lessons you're imparting until you hear these little comments.”

“Cool for you. It cooled off here a lot becasue of Wilma and a cold front getting sucked along with her. Laurel (3) asked if we were going back to the mountains again to go hiking, 'cause this is hiking weather. My little darling already knows!
Of course, while on our Smokies trip last week, she was accidentally knocked down by a 5 year old. She cries briefly, then said to him:" You hurt my butt! Kiss it and make it better!" That was a good laugh.”

“LOL, treebait!”

“I'm usually against horses in the Smokies, but Laurel went horseback riding with HPM around the Cove. She loved every moment of it.”

“It was a horse only trail and no backpacking trails were harmed in the course of the ride.”

“This thread reminds me that I need to brag. BowlderSon was invited by the ballet company in our city to join them as a "guest artist" for their Nutcracker performances in December. He'll be the Nutcracker Prince. Woo hoo!”

“Unfortunately my almost 15 yo daughter is too busy watching decorating shows and studying to want to hike. But I guess all A's (and 1 B last year) in school ain't too bad.

My just turned 9 yo son hiked 7 miles Sunday in <4 hours, the AT out of Damascus to Va/Tn state line. We planned to turn around at the top of the climb but it kept going and others turned back earlier. He has been on 3 backpacks this year (Cumberland Gap, Mt Rogers, and Grandfather). One child asked him hnow he was so smart. Another child answered, "Because he reads all the time."”

“Had to pass along that my son passed the Georgia Bar.

He also sent me the following email today:

Well today is my first day as a real lawyer...well, actually I'm not a real lawyer until Thursday, when I'm sworn in. Just wanted to let you all know that I have been ridiculously busy today and will probably be at work at least 10 hours, but I don't mind, as I finally don't have the uncertainty of failing the Bar hanging over my head and it is slowly setting in I now do this job for real. No longer will I watch Law and Order or lawyer movies and wonder.

Unfortunately, there were actually 6 (out of 32) of my classmates who sat for and failed the Georgia Bar this July, so it was definitely a possibility that any of us could have failed, and it is great fortune Elizabeth and I, as well as our neighbor across the hall all passed. I'm thankful to have made it unscathed, and am finally able to feel like I've accomplished something after being in school for 20 years. Not to mention I get to have real holidays (for the first time in three years) without the impending doom of law school constantly looming overhead and thoughts of some long assignment or exam waiting for me when I return.

It was a great weekend, though. Mail came for many of us by early afternoon and by the time the official list went on the internet, there were around 15 people crammed into our apartment checking names, making phone calls, and celebrating. We all went out around 7p.m. and I came home around 3 a.m. on Friday night/Saturday morning. When I woke up Saturday, my first thought was, "I can't remember if I talked about 'piercing the corporate veil' or not on the 1st essay question"...and then I realized it didn't matter at all and I was in the midst of my first morning without having to think about the Bar ever again.

I guess I'd better get back to work. Hope all is well with you. Just wanted to let you know it is with me.

So I sent him back this email:

"finally able to feel like I've accomplished something"

Surely you jest. Your life has been full of accomplishments. From your early years in junior high you have pushed the envelope, getting things done that everyone else said was impossible.

Think of where you have been.

Think of what you have done.

Think of who you have met.

I don't downplay passing the Georgia bar exam, as it is an extraordinary accomplishment, but your list of accomplishments is already longer at your mid 20's than most people can boast of in their 70's and 80's. You have accomplished much, and your talents are many. It strikes me almost as impossible that what most would consider unattainable you continue to climb over and move past with no great difficulty.

As incredible as passing the Georgia bar is to me and everyone I've told -- you and Elizabeth have a lifetime of accomplishments already in your past, and still to come in the years to your future. May God continue to bless your efforts. Try not to get to your goals so fast that you miss out on the joy of getting there along the way. All of us love the two of you very much.
last edited: 10/31/05 12:54:37 PM”

“Congrads TD!
Free lawyering for you! ;-)”

“Congrats.”

“Congrats to your son. And what a good dad you are!”

“I have a nephew-in-law that's in his second year of Law School at Ol' Miss. Can I claim him to brag on? ;-)”

“Are you bragging since he's a student at Ole Miss or that he's in law school or both?”

“second year of Law School at Ol' Miss

He has no choice in MS, other than a little private school.”

“Congrats TD!”

“Congrats!!!! Passing any bar (exam)isn't easy. When I finish school, I'll be taking the CA bar, the hardest exam next to NY. Kudos to your wonderful son!”

“It seems like only yesterday you were telling us about him being accepted to law school.

Time flys doesn't it?

Congraualtions to him, you and mom.”

“Congrats. I had the pleasure of meeting TD jr and Elizabeth last summer. Both were great people.
Does this mean he won't want to play Dan McGuinness anytime soon?”

“Congrats TD , does this mean no more lawyer jokes?”

“Thanks everyone.

Brian -- Well Chris and Elizabeth live in Atlanta now. They bought a place over in Piedmont Park.”

“So how's this for a story:

Girl #1, we'll call her Tiffany, comes home to check the mail on Friday. She gets her Bar results and she passed. She is excited and calls her roommate (who also took the Bar), and says, "I passed--yours is here, too, and the envelope looks just like mine" (we all heard rumors a small envelope means you passed, but a large means you failed--because they have to send you an application to take it in February). Roommate, we'll call her Lisa, says, "Hey, that's great, but I want to open the letter myself. I'll check when I come home from work."

In the meantime, Girl #1 comes over to my house, to hang out and celebrate with a bunch of us. When the list of passers is posted on the Internet, her roommate is not listed. Turns out her roommate failed, and the envelopes for passes and fails looked exactly the same this year.

Girl #2 (Roommate) goes to work on Monday, already depressed and embarassed, and is then told that her firm does not have a policy in place regarding retaking the exam. So, the managing committee is meeting later this week and will let her know by Friday if she gets to 'keep' her job. If not, she's fired.

Pretty terrible week, huh?”

“Eng exams have the same rumor about failed versus passed results and envelope size. Urban myth.”

“My son found out this weekend that he has been accepted into the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech under the early decision plan! He told me that he feels his dreams are coming true now that he has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and was accepted into his first school of choice. I am very happy for him and I am proud of him.

Now both my kids and all my money will be going to Virginia Tech!”

“Congrads CD!
Make your boys pay for part of it.”

“Thanks Stovey. My kids definately will have to pay some of their college expenses. We're working on some scholarships as well.”

“It will help make them more responsible men and manage what money they do have better.

Did I say I approve of their choice of major? LOL (from a BSEE)
last edited: 12/12/05 8:24:54 AM”

“LOL. That's electrical engineering, right? Where did you go to school?

My son is interested in both acoustic engineering as well as robotics. Not sure what disciplines those would fall under.

My daughter wants to be a pharmacist.”

“Excellent CD! We know a few families who are nervously awaiting college acceptances right now - we have about 7 more years until we'll go through that....


BowlderSon had a spectacular weekend of performances. On Saturday, he had his winter piano recital. The teacher has about 25 students, and they play in order of least to most accomplished. BowlderSon played 3rd from last. The piece he played was really difficult, and he worked many hours to get it ready. We were nervous for him because of several treacherous sections, but it went beautifully! Incredibly impressive!

Then, Saturday night and Sunday, he was the Nutcracker in our city's first full length version of that ballet. They brought in a couple of professionals, so it turned out to be a few notches above what you would expect of, say, a community theater Broadway production. BowlderSon was great!! The Nutcracker has a pretty extensive swordfight scene with the Rat King, ultimately killing him (sorry if you haven't seen the show). The two of them had spent a lot of time working on their scene, and the Rat King (an adult) was able to give BowlderSon lots of good guidance. After each show, they had a little party where people (kids) could get autographs and take pics of their favorite characters. He was very popular.

Now, back to reality!”

“I think those fall somewhere between mechanical and electrical. I'm an environmental/civil engineer who i:)

Congrats to your son, its really a wonderful feeling when your dreams come true. :)”

“Congrats to BoulderSon! My son has played bassoon for about seven years, both at school and in his church. He would like to join a chamber orchestra when he gets to college.”

“Yep, CD.
Electrical/Electronic Engineer from MS State U.
I went into the major because I loved music and wanted to build and design audio equipment. Went into digital my senior year and never did design audio gear as a job. LOL”

“Creek Dancer, congratulations to your son and to you, too. You both deserve to be proud. I'm sure you both worked hard. I remember that time of waiting for the college to accept or deny....... Whew, nice to have that behind you.

Smiley girl, our son is at Cal Poly studying Environmental Engineering. Any words of wisdom for him?


Bowlderman, congrats to BowlderSon. I hope Grandma is still visiting and got to see the shows.”

“BowlderMan - I can't imagine just how proud you were.

Hey wannabp, we called the Environmental Engineering guys, the poops & pipes, LOL.”

“Hokie Hokie Hokie High! Tech Tech VPI! heeheehee.

ohhh the Nutcracker is so fun!! i never get tired of it. sounds like a full weekend, Bowlder!”

“That's good news CD...thanks for sharing.”

“Wanna, considering I'm changing careers, I shouldn't offer much advice! Just tell him to get to know his professors, choose his groups wisely, work hard, and employ the "environmental engineering fudge factor" often. Seemed that almost every env. class I had did a lot of "rounding" of numbers in the calculations. Apparently that'll get you close enough to the answer. :)”

“Yes, WBP, BowlderGrandma came for that specific purpose!


I have the few pics I took posted now. The first one is here:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/474533548/522054880pXERiU

Then the next ten or so after that (all dated 12/11/05) are from the Nutcracker extravaganza....”

“I truly dislike that bumper sticker people put on their cars saying, "My ....(fill in the breed of dog) is smarter than you honor student or whatever they put in". Although, my Chihuahua is indeed very intelligent. She clunked heads with my husband by accident, then turned and came over to me with her ears back because she was upset and wanted comfort from me. She's my baby.”

“We just realized tonite that its pretty cool that two of daughters fav toys are cardboard boxes and paper airplanes. Makes me happy in these days of nintendo and TV.”

“8-Year-Old Conquers World's High Peaks
By Associated Press
5 hours ago

BOTHELL, Wash. - He's only 4 feet tall and 8 years old. But Aidan Gold is already a veteran mountaineer who's left tracks on peaks in the Cascades, the Alps and the Himalayas.

"This glacier here is higher than Mount Rainier, even though there are plants," Gold told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer at the family home in north suburban Bothell, pointing out a dark line in a photo of the Himalayas' Island Peak. "The top of this is way higher than that."

Aidan climbed 20,300-foot mountain with his father and several guides in November. His father, Warren Gold, said members of the Nepal Mountaineering Association told him Aidan is likely the youngest person to make the summit.

That was the high point of the family's four-month climbing and hiking adventure, which took them from Switzerland to Katmandu. Aidan and his dad also reached the peak of 10,400-foot Haustock and 13,400-foot Monch in the Alps, and 17,200-foot Awi Peak near Everest. The whole family, including 5-year-old Janick, made it to the 17,700-foot Everest base camp.

Aidan said the toughest stretch for him was a 45-degree face of rock and ice on Haustock.

"It's the worse 3,000 feet I've ever done," he said.

Gold said he wanted to give his sons an appreciation of a world less touched by humans.

"A mix of wonder and adventure, that's what you get in the mountains," said the associate professor of ecology and environmental science at the University of Washington-Bothell campus. His wife, Julia, accompanied him and their sons on the sabbatical trip, and Gold conducted high-altitude ecology research.

Aidan says he likes climbing for the challenge and the view.

"I got cold two times in Nepal. No times in Switzerland," Aidan said, adding, "Boy, a morning at 17,000 feet is cold."

Aidan's first climb was Mount Si, near North Bend, at age 3. His parents say Aidan has an uncanny focus, and is undaunted by the effort and the monotony of climbing for hours at a stretch.

Part of that focus is due to Asperger Syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism diagnosed when Aidan was 3 years old. Such people tend to have an intensity of focus, and typically don't do so well in social settings.

Aidan is an accomplished storyteller, though. He writes stories and reads them aloud, and last winter won a story slam at Seattle's Paramount Theatre.

He also has a passion for complicated origami, the Japanese art of paper folding. The family Christmas tree is loaded with origami figures, some based on diagrams in a book and some designed by Aidan's original designs.

His other love, the mountains, can be risky business, his father concedes.

"I really think the most dangerous thing we did the whole trip was crossing the street in Katmandu," Warren Gold said.”

“Well, I don't have any kids of my own, but 18 7th and 8th graders I've been working with since September went to the Future City Compeition today. They took 4th place (out of 57 teams!) and won a special award for Best Electrotechnology something-or-other. I'm EXTREMELY proud of them!

I'd post a picture, but webshots is down! Is there another method I can use???”

“make a new pic album on here and put em there then copy the image location and paste it in a post...
last edited: 1/18/06 7:14:13 PM”