So... in the midst of chaos and knocking out my to do list, I saw this ( in orange)

Clarity. Sweet Clarity.

....and a tip of the hat to the next phase in the education of our beloved Dandeelyon. Veritas School.

I received the acceptance letter on Monday. Dandeelyon will be headed to Veritas School starting first week of September. It will be tough -- but I am certain she'll take this challenge on with as much tenacity as we've come to expect from this fine young lady.

She will take on latin, the literary classics, humanities, theology, rhetoric, logic, dialectic. Serious stuff.

I'll start with the first word and maybe we'll watch Dead Poet's Society just for kicks. "Oh Cap'n my Cap'n. Carpe Diem!!"

A tribute to William Fox Elementary School...

Exactly 5 years and 3 months ago... Dandeelyon was about to begin Kindergarten at William Fox Elementary School in the Fan. It's widely known as one of the two best elementary schools in the Richmond Public School system. To daddy it represented the next phase or the next step. To Dandeelyon however, it seemed so BIG and maybe even a little scary. The kids, all older, bigger, and  -- well that last about 15 minutes. Dandeelyon took it on like a champ, adapting quickly (anyone surprised?) Since then, Dandeelyon has grown in both stature and in wisdom. A very special thanks to Jessica Blumburg, Miss Ford, Miss Smith, Miss Kite, and finally, Mr Dejnozka and Mrs. Baron!! What a fantastic ride!!

The plays, science projects, back to school nights, soccer games, show and tell, after school activities, playground spats, and all the boy/girl drama -- yes, we'll miss you all.  :)

On to the next phase....

Dandeelyon meets Tchaikovsky

So a friend of ours from Area 10 Church earned a starring role in Richmond Ballet's version of the Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker".

 Dandeelyon was starstruck as she watched Laurie Lou twirl across the stage at the Richmond Landmark Theater. Truly an amazing performance!!  Perfect daddy daughter date ended with hot chocolate at the Jefferson Hotel with great friends from our small group.

It all started with a little mouse....

And boy was that Mouse onto something!!

Some highlights...

On the way down, we did Charleston SC, Savannah Ga, Jacksonville Fla and Orlando. All awesome cities...

Savannah Georgia

Downtown Jacksonville

Charleston South Carolina

Dandeelyon and Daddy took off to a whirlwind East Coast Road Trip with a 4 day pit stop in Orlando to visit Magic Kingdom, Typhoon Lagoon, Universal Island of Adventure, and Animal Kingdom.

Dandeelyon and her namesake!

Dandeeyon's Intense Avengers Face!!

Oh yes. That's Captain America all right.

Typhoon Lagoon has the best wave pool ever. The Tsunami comes crashing down about every 90 seconds and it NEVER GETS OLD! This thing takes out everyone in its path!

We had 2 great nights with the Florida Polareks -- Jay, Joanna, Kenzi and Kesley. Those girls are so darn cute I could squeeze them til their little heads popped off!

Dinner Margaritaville!

Almost Bedtime.... but not quite.

On the way back we did a 3 day stop with Matt, Lisa Lliam and Gavin in HOTLanta. Great to catch up with the Dierdorff Family!!

Movie time at the Dierdorffs.

We also dropped in for a southern layover in Charlotte NC with some amazing dinner and conversation with the Heyman Family (Thanks JR!!) JR's mom was all about spoiling Dandeelyon. JR -- you need to get married and have kids SOON!!

Then we stopped in and hung out with the NC Fam Vestals and Cooks (better known as Grammy Sue, Paw Paw Lee, Maw Maw Bert, Aunt Molly and Ava & Sawyer, and Uncle Jeremo!

Trouble 1 and Trouble 2...

Wheew... we need a Vaca to recoup from our Vaca.

worn out or now...but to be continued... :)

Dandeelyon makes her Television debut

Our church has taken on a goal to flip the statistics for who waits for foster care in Virginia. Right now, there are far greater children than parents willing to foster or adopt. We want to change that so that there are far greater parents waiting to adopt than children. It's called the change who waits campaign.

Dandeelyon played the foster child in this video which will air on ABC and NBC affiliates . I am so proud of her it makes me want to pop!

Change Who Waits TV spot from Justin Ihara on Vimeo.

Dandeelyon "get's dunked".

I am one proud daddy this weekend. Dandeelyon has trusted in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and wanted to publicly express it. She understands the amazing and life changing "Grace" which was given to her.

Club Rules ( in 3rd Grade and in Life)

I was cleaning the house and found a notebook with some writings from Dandeelyon. Turns out she has a little club of friends at her school. Here are the rules:

1st time and Dandeelyon was UP!

Down near the inlet at Chicks Beach with family/friends.

Dandeelyon and Dee Lyon! Happy Halloween 2011!

We took Dandeelyon to the Lawn at UVA last night. Much better than Hanover Avenue in the Fan primarily because the candy didn't run out in 10 minutes.

The autumn air was cool and crisp, the leaves are perfect this time of year.

Then we had some slammin dumplings and bangin mexican food to top things off for the evening!

Is "Lawyering" a word??

Dandeelyon: "Do you think I'd be good at lawyering?"

Me: laughing, "Yes. VERY good. Why?"

Dandeelyon: "cause I chose being a lawyer today when I was playing "Life."

Me: "Wow! That's huge Dandeelyon. I've never heard you say you wanted to be a lawyer."

Dandeelyon: "Well, I did choose that. AND I chose being a lawyer over being an entertainer even though the Entertainer was wearing a red sparkly dress and had boys in tuxedos all around her."

Dandeelyon random dinner quotes

Dandeelyon covering her mouth: "Many people, now that Obama is raising taxes, wish they'd voted for John McCain."

Dandeelyon again, "the Librarian says that I will make a great teacher ONE day. But not today."

When asked "What do u think the other kids say to their parents regarding you?"Dandeelyon replied "that I'm a little bossy. That I like to talk. And that my mommy works for the Governor."

Dandeelyon "I wish I had a remote control ghost. Bwahahaha."

Report Card Time...Drum roll please....

Dandeelyon has rocked all A's. In Science, Language, Math, and Social Studies. Bravo young lady Bravo!!

So proud of my baby girl. Shhhh....don't tell her that I still call her that. She would disapprove ;)

6 strings closer...

To being the best guitarist in the worrrllllddd!! So far she knows the C and G7 chord. Daddy is having her teach him so he can learn also...

Her teacher plans on having her recital be opening for him at Open Mic Night at Starbucks!

"I would have tripped him with a big root!"

Says, Dandeelyon when responding to the news of a mass shooting in Tucson Arizona last week.

The conversation happened next to a TV which was streaming the most recent headlines at a restaraunt.

"That man...he's a bad man. He's... well, grrr...I would have tripped him with a big root!!!"

A part of me was proud of her for being willing to stand up to the "bad" in this world. Another part of me wanted to shield her from it. Protect her from the thought of anything bad. Anything less than perfect. At the one hand, she needs to know in the right age appropriate context. On the other hand, I hate watching her wrestle with this new reality.

After dinner we went home and watched a fairy tale princess cartoon to regain some of the lost Innocence (daddy inlcuded)

MMmmmmmDessert!!

It has been said that children have an insatiable appetite for all things sweet. I ran across a diagram explaining the anatomy of a kid's stomach and I have say, it's spot on!

...while dreaming of a white Christmas, Dandeelyon woke up, and saw it was REAL!!!

A Bulleted list of highlights from Christmas 2010.

Snow... 16 inches of it. Record amounts in Hampton Roads.

Santa drank all of his milk...took almost all the carrots for the reindeer and dropped one in the Fireplace. Guess Prancer didn't get one.

Dandeelyon woke up with a soot print on her forehead. Santa left his very own mark on her beautiful little face.

Remote Control Helicopters.

Vet Puppy in a pink bag

Barbie Barbie Barbie stuff

and lots more!

Had a great time with family. Grandma, Dadad, Kimberly, and Matthew were a ton of FUN!

Christmastown in Williamsburg was amazing as always.

Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis ( or uhmm Merry Christmas!!)

Said the night wind to the little lamb,

"Do you see what I see?

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,

"Do you hear what I hear?

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,

"Do you know what I know?

Said the king to the people everywhere,

"Listen to what I say!

Pray for peace, people, everywhere,

Listen to what I say!

The Child, the Child sleeping in the night

He will bring us goodness and light,

He will bring us goodness and light."

Thank God for Jesus, the sacrificial lamb who made the gift of grace possible. Merry Christmas!

IPhoto fun....

Dandeelyon routinely sits in front of the laptop and snaps crazy photos of herself. Occasionally, she strikes at brilliance. I especially liked this one...

7 years, 3 months, and 4 days ago...

I received this in the mail

A few days ago, I showed Dandeelyon this letter we recieved a few days after she was born and ...well she was very impressed with herself.

Very impressive indeed. :)

Folding Old Glory

So Dandeelyon was sick and was home from school when I realized that we were short on all of the essentials ( ginger ale, salteane crackers, soup, etc) so off we went to the local grocery store.

While walking out to the parking lot we saw the manager ( or at least a dude in a tie) showing some of the bag boys how to properly fold and fly the American Flag.

Perfect teachable moment...

so Dandeelyon stood in as well, helping fold the flag into triangle "just so" and leaning to never never ever ever let the flag touch the ground lest it be destroyed by burning. She started to understand what it means to honor our nations flag? Dandeelyon started to understand that the flag means alot to alot of people for different reasons. Now she loves to stop and stare at it whenever we pass... which has turned a quick trip to the grocery store into, well..a not so quici trip to the grocery store.

What does a skinned knee and some determination equal?

Training wheels OFF!!

One of the most proud moments I have had as a parent is when I saw Dandeelyon steer through the uncertainty and fear to find that inner confidence. Once she found it, she kept going and going and going...and going.

Anyone seen Dandeelyon? :)

Dashing through the snow in a one...errh, uhm giant cardboard sled..

So we decided to head to Byrd Park to try out the giant hill with the mysterious fence at the top. Anyone know what is over that fence?? Anyhoo, I digress. Dandeelyon flew down the steep hill and did all sorts of twists, flips , and hard landings... what a tough kid!

Since everyone bought all the sleds up from Pleasant's Hardware, we decided to make do with what we had...cookie sheets from the drawer under the oven, the top of an igloo cooler, and a laundry basket. All served their purposes, but the find of the night was when we encountered a massive broken down box which 3 people could easily ride down the hill on...

check out what happened next.. ;)

Here's to wintertime...it gets such a bad rap.

Balloons anyone?

Balloons are a lot of fun initially , and then they deflate and then take over bedrooms!! :)

Chaaaa--Chinnngggg!!

Dandeelyon opened her very own savings account today with a banker friend of mine.  She'll start to deposit her "chores" money and begin watching her money work for her. According to Dandeelyon, the most exciting thing for her was

A.  The sucker....Duh!   :)

B.  The Bank Statement will come in her name each month telling her how much money she has ( or doesn't have)

When asking her how much she wanted to save, she said enough to buy herself a horse. Anyone know what a good horse goes for these days?