K-I-C-K em, Kick em, Tod, Kick em

Please add Tod to your prayer list! His first chance for a "look" from the LA Tech Bulldogs could happen sometime after November 1st! He is excited and in his words "ready."

Tod, we have complete confidence in you, and your leg! Carry all that Scott has shown you to the field and show them what your made of!


How 'bout them Dawgs!

Update

And then today happened...and nothing, right now, is feeling so good .

WARNING:

Testosterone = deafness, forgetfulness, inability to multitask, lack of motivation, defensiveness, complacency, lack of initiative, intolerant, ....

Out of control levels may lead to: selfishness, arguments, outbursts, blank stares, permanent memory loss, and a wife/daughter/sister/mother/teacher/friend thinking about driving around looking for a cliff....


Yes, I know, mom, tomorrow is a new day. Again, thank you, God.

Feels so good

∙ Listening to Run by George Strait will always make me think of Tod. It will always be HIS going to college
song. Had no idea what the words were when I asked him for one of his favorite good message songs…he
picked “Run.”
Watching the talent and potential that he has when he kicks a football
Sporting a 3.9GPA as a freshman and already preparing for the D.A.T.
Seeing him “fly” after letting him go…


∙ Seeing Craig earn Merit badges
Aspiring to an EAGLE scout
Preparation for Confirmation
Choosing a Saint Confirmation name… how perfect... St. Francis for our animal lover

∙ Watching Cole’s skill strength on the baseball and soccer field
Witnessing his comfortableness in his own skin
Being a part of his desire to SOAK life in

∙ Watching Reed develop a serious LOVE for learning and school, even “homework”
Receiving his unconditional and healing “holds”…”hug” just doesn’t do them justice!
Sleeping nose to nose with a downy smelling blanket inbetween…

∙ Your hands, Mike. Strong, thick.
Watching your gentle ways with the boys and witnessing how it brings out the best in them…it is beautiful
Being on the receiving end of your touch…sometimes feelingless…as what you are capable of touching with
your eyes moves my heart in ways that can not affectively be put in words…


It all feels so good.

Thank you, God.

A Pfaffy kind of day

Be sure to scroll down and pause our music before playing the video!





Tod was in town this weekend for Homecoming. It was good to see him. When he is home he schedules kicking sessions with his coach. We had one Sunday morning at 9:00, so I took Cole, Reed and Tod out to Grapevine.

As is always the case when we are away from home, Reed announced he had to use the bathroom. Tod’s coach, Scott, said, just go over by that tree, there are no open restrooms around here. Reed had to go, so I did that, but I went back and told Scott I was reluctant to do it. We had done that about a week before at a park and thought nothing of it… until about 3 days later. I came out of the house when Kim pulled up with the kids. They all jumped out of the van and before I could say a word, Reed walked over to the big oak tree in our front yard, pulled down his drawers and “watered” the tree. I was dumbfounded. So this morning at Tod’s kicking lesson when I walked him over to the tree I kept saying, “This does not mean we pee in our yard, right Reed, right!?!”

Part of Tod’s practice today was me simulating a snap, Scott holding and Tod kicking. Giving him a little live action practice. Cole lined up like a defensive end. I snapped a couple and he just watched. Then, I toss the ball to Scott, as he makes the catch, Cole takes off out of a 3-point stance. Straight at the hold. Tod has taken his steps and catches a glimpse of Cole out of the corner of his eye as he is starting his kick. He tries to hold up a little (so he doesn't blow Cole's head off), but connects pretty cleanly while slipping and falling on his butt. Cole’s right arm is extended and he blocks the kick! He runs around like T.O. after a touchdown doing his little dance. I was cracking up. Scott shook his head and said,” I’ve never seen anything like that.” You could tell Cole’s arm hurt by the way he was holding it, but he was beaming. As we walked back to pick up the kicked balls, I told Scott that Craig has decided he wants to try punting and if he sticks with it for a couple months on his own, we may start up lessons for him. He said that would be great, then added, “I don’t even want to start with Cole, he’s going to be a linebacker or something.” “He’ll be the one to say, ‘I don’t want to be a p@#$y little kicker’.” I had to laugh because I think he’s right.

When we got home Tod was getting ready to leave and Kim came home from Wal-Mart with new socks and underwear for everyone. She made a crack about my grandpa underwear. (Good old whitey tighties or skivvies). Cole laughed and brought them in to where I was. “Dad, look at your grandpa underwear.” (Now think about what new underwear looks like.) Cole looked at them and looked me and back at the briefs…”Your privates aren’t that big.” I didn’t have the heart to tell him about genetics.

Never a dull moment.

The Enemy

Can you even believe this? One of my friends at work, Liz, absolutely loves usc like we love the UCLA BRUINS!! She enjoys texting me scores of games and often asks about our "boys"...like, "What's up with your boys?" Silly me to think she is asking about Tod, Craig, Cole and Reed. I look puzzled in response and then glance up to just see the sparkle and twinkle in her eye...oh how she loves to rub it in! Well, she also has "kidnapped" my baby boy from his class...dressed him in her attire...and sat him in her "throne" for a picture! Well, it was so cute of Reed I couldn't resist and had to post this. Now John, sit down and take a deep breath. AND...know that when Ms. Lizz said, "Go on back to class, Reed" his response was "Not wearing this!!!!!!" That's our boy!

And Lizz...let's not EVER forget.....13-9!

Go Bruins!

Brother Stuff

Two of my brothers and I are pretty goofy. (My other brother is the oldest and has successfully transitioned into adulthood, leaving us behind. My sister is still on the fence.) We see each other at least every 2 weeks, and during UCLA football season almost every week. We live within about 15 miles of each other, yet our main mode of communication is Facebook. Yes, the social networking site designed for people half our age. And, the saddest part about our communication is that it consists almost entirely of movie quotes. Often times one of us can write one word from a movie and the others know exactly what he’s talking about.

“Cheater”
“FOR-EV-ER”
“Automobiiiiiiile”
“FRA-GIL-E”

It really is fun. But the most fun we have together is our yearly trip to a UCLA football game. This year we'll be joined by my dad and my son, Tod in Seattle. 3 generations of Pfaff's. In the past, the four brothers have gone to Alabama, Texas, OU, Notre Dame, Michigan, usc, and the Rose Bowl among others. Some of the best venues in college football. About half the time we take our clubs and play a round of golf. I have noticed though, that every one is getting better. We drink Canadian Club and smoke cigars. We talk about politics, religion and ethics, business, family, sports and life. We slip back into the conversations from the previous year as if it was later in the same evening, not a year later. We support each other, challenge each other and make each other laugh. We celebrate the fact that we have almost 80 years of marriage between the 5 siblings (with our original spouses!). We thank our wives for letting us steal away for a weekend every year. We raise a toast to our parents for teaching us about God and family. We reminisce about growing up in Los Alamitos. We talk about MCI Tooling. We regale each other with the latest feats of our sons and daughters (just sons for me) and marvel that we are all so lucky.

I think what makes each one better is that we truly appreciate the time we get to spend with each other. We don’t worry about the little stuff any more, we just enjoy the time together. We see our kids growing up and ourselves going gray. We realize that we are truly blessed to have loving wives, beautiful, healthy children and brothers we love. I love you guys. (And you too Katy!)

Vegas Baby

I just got back from two days in Las Vegas. Gotta say, I’m not a fan of Sin City. I went to a glass show, which was great. Relevant information in the seminars, useful products in the exhibit hall, networking with industry peers, dinner with great business partners, all in all a very productive 48 hours. Plus, I came home a hero because I had a little foam football for Reed, 32 pens for Craig and 3 coozies for Cole. Yep, our 6-year-old LOVES coozies. Luckily, he’s still using them for Sprite and Dr. Pepper, but if you know him, you can understand my apprehension about his appreciation for them. I can almost hear him thinking, “I’ll have the coldest beer in middle school!”

As I wandered around before the show the first day I stopped by a Sports Book. (A room with about 50 big screen TV’s and odds on every sporting event in the country.) This is pretty much the only part of the typical Vegas stuff that appeals to me. If I could have found a meaningful game that was taking place while I was in town, I would have bet on it. (The Cowboys are still the favorite to win the Super Bowl. I guess they realize the loss to the Skins was a fluke.) I didn’t want to bet on something, win thousands of dollars and have to back to Vegas to collect it, what a hassle.

I think one of the reasons I don’t like Vegas is because I was there on 9/11/01. That alone is not enough to make me not like it, but it gave me an understanding of the city. I was in my hotel room getting ready for a trade show when Kim called. I turned on the TV and watched in horror with the rest of the nation as the towers fell. When it was time to go to the show, I walked through the casino and it was business as usual. Slots, poker, whatever. People watching a little on the TV’s, then going back to their gambling. I stared and thought, “Do you people not realize that our world just changed forever?” I was disappointed, disillusioned, disgusted. (Think Jackie Childs from Seinfeld.) It left a lasting negative impression on me.

The other reason I don’t really care for Vegas is that just about everything there is to do can get you in big trouble. Sure they have good food and lots of shows, but the trinity of Vegas is gambling, booze and scantily-clad women. Not that I have anything against those things, it’s just that when you add them up, BIG TROUBLE. So, I retired to my room early in the evening after a very small amount of two out of the three vices. I’ll let you figure out which two…

PART II

Marylou, or as my boys say Aunt Marylou, and as the public says Dr. Pfaffenberger, is only half way through the process of my very first root canal. You know it will be bad when the dentist says, "You can expect EXTREME pain for up to three days after the procedure." I was thinking...how bad can it be? I've had four children??? Well, let me say that at 2AM (after having taken ONE vicodin at 11:30pm because I had to be up at 5am to get ready for work) I sat straight up in bed in excrusiating pain...for me, IT WAS THAT BAD!! And I can now add an item on my HATE list that I posted about long ago.....I hate root canals. In fact, I hate teeth problems period. I absolutely dread going back...to do the above pictured part of my root canal! That is correct friends...she will shove that "filing" tool up and down that nerve space...Lord, help me! Next Friday. Just before Tod comes home for Jesuit's homecoming. He'll probably like me better on vicodin anyway, right? Why can I not have an experience like Mike...who fell asleep during the procedure and had no pain....or Karen...who said it is no worse than a bad filling...huh??? And why do I have to be the one who won't respond to numbing...took six shots the first time (when we put on the temp. crown) and 3 for the PART I of root canal!! No doubt it is my fear and inability to RELAX during this...instead I sit white knuckled and heart skipping all kinds of beats!!! Anyone want to go for PART II for me? I know Marylou would appreciate it! I am no doubt on her "high maintenance" patient list!

No Sense

Reed loves school. He loves the idea of homework and consequently works on his coloring homework for Ms. Amy everyday. He wants a binder to keep his work in, a folder like Craig, a laptop like Tod (incidently, so do Tod’s parents), a backpack like Cole’s, and a lunch box or bag (depending on who he is being like that day) like Cole or Craig. Ms. Amy shares often about how serious he is about his work, how he takes special care and time on most of his work. He has many friends both boys and as he calls them “girl friends.” Like most kiddos, there are those friends he truly enjoys being around and those he would rather not have any contact with. Point is coming, I promise. There is one little guy in Reed’s class that he would rather NOT be in his class and unfortunately (we ARE working on this) Reed shows him almost everyday how intolerant he is of him. Well, while waiting in line for the restroom at school Reed was hit by this particular little guy, which I might add happens almost everyday. THIS time, Reed decides to smack this child right back. Ms. Amy, God bless her, is tenderly taking care of the other children in the restroom, making sure hands are washed, underwear is put back on correctly, paper towels are in the trash can, etc. and she does not witness the exchange between Reed and this little guy. Well, thankfully another teacher does and alerts Ms. Amy. Here is how it all went:

Ms. Amy: Reed, did you hit your friend?

Reed: Yes, I did. But he hit me first.

(Ms. Amy not surprised because this happens so frequently)

Ms. Amy: Little friend, did you hit Reed?

Friend: Yes.

(Ms. Amy disciplines Reed’s little friend and then turns to Reed)

Ms. Amy: Reed, what should we do when our friends hit us?

Reed: No answer

Ms. Amy: Should we hit our friends back or tell Ms. Amy?

Reed: (in a very resigned voice)
Tell Ms. Amy….but that makes no sense!

Yes, friends that is correct!! Our three year old is telling the teacher that the rules make no sense! He hit the snot out of the little guy…took care of that in one blow! Makes perfect sense, right? Mike says, “Thanks Mom!” I did take care of a little guy in 5th grade once for trying to kiss me…got me sent to the principal! I hit him too! So…they don’t LOOK like me…just ACT like me. We’re in trouble. And I am so proud.

Update

Reed has slept without a binky for 2 nights in a row. That may not seem like a big deal since he’s 3 ½, but it is. The only problem is he grinds his teeth when he sleeps. They’ll be nubs by the time he’s 5, but the binky is gone…

Cole’s soccer team is as good as advertised. 2-0, scored 11 allowed 1 (we scored on ourselves). I think my concerns about the small field were warranted. Only 6 more games, hoping to pitch a shutout for the rest of the year…

Craig is really working hard on his school projects. I’ve been impressed that he is doing a little each night. He is also doing a good job with scouts. Looking forward to the campout next weekend…

Tod watched the Dodgers/Cubs last night instead of the La Tech game. He loves to watch baseball. A man after my own heart. He’s going on the annual Pfaff UCLA trip this year. I can’t wait for that…

Kim is back in the swing of school. Good thing she loves her co-workers and her kids. I talked to a parent of one of her kids and he told me she was the best teacher he had ever known. Counting all his teachers, all his sons teachers, all the teachers he has ever come in contact with. Her passion for teaching and her love for her students is evident to anyone who has ever been blessed to have a child in her class. Kim was honored by a local high school a couple years ago as an influential teacher based on a nomination from a graduating senior. Kim had taught her 7th grade math and was the best teacher she ever had. She has had students tell her that they learned to love math from her. Others come back every year at open house to give “Mrs. Pfaff” a hug and the parents tell her how much they miss her. I envy her passion…

Nothing much going on with me. Tons of stuff on the to-do list, not near enough “passion” to get it done. Maybe tomorrow…

Lady is in the doghouse. Kim decided we should leave her out of her kennel during the day. It worked fine the first day. The next day we had a partially chewed shin guard and a baseball glove that was missing the entire webbing. It was there when we left for work, but in Lady’s stomach when we returned. (And it was back on the floor that evening…NICE). Well, that was nothing compared to today. Kim came home to a nasty smell and found that there was dog #$%^ on the rug in the family room. No, wait, two piles! The rug was quickly thrown away and Lady was out back for the evening. Would this be a bad time to ask anyone if they want a dog?