July 2018

Nick is driving regularly now, behind the wheel alone of the Chrysler (not on my lap, too big for that now!) We find parking lots, and he starts with brakes only and coasting, then accelerating and holding speeds, and he's getting the hang of parallel parking (a manly trait). There's been a cop hiding in our regular lot lately, so we've had to switch it up a little.   Nick also achieved the rank of green belt this month, and hangs with his friend Ali when not in karate class.

He attended an Art Camp in downtown Toledo for a week, focused on sculpture. I was expecting to end up with ten ashtrays around the house, but his creations were very impressive, from plates to cups (I suppose ashtrays aren't acceptable anymore.)  Most of the summer has been quiet and predictable: Nick shucking corn, washing the car, a good two week period of heat kept us in the pool.  We don't get far away since we can't take our eyes off of the house construction, which has slowed to a pace that suggests we could be a full year to completion.  And the Morpace merger, which fills in the rest of my free time; photo here of me on stage sharing news about the merger to the newly combined company.

We did a day trip in Cincinnati, to the beach at East Fork State Park, and the afternoon hanging with the family. Pictures are of Nick and Noah pressing quarters against the wall with their noses (anything to keep them quiet), and Miranda and Brandi in some kind of contest to balance Oreos on their head and into their mouths. It was fun evening of pizza and relaxing, made easier by my trip to Columbus for work the day before. The photo of me in the Shoe is because one of my coworkers is an OSU grad and we stopped on campus for lunch.

Pictures here from July.

Jason