Rob's family

I'm not too worried about the what the fat man does. In Chicago, he brings either one big thing for two girls - last year - play station 2 - several years back our best present ever - jumbo tumbos, 8 velcoing gym mat shapes that make a plane or a house, or a mountain. They were $200, but they still get used today. or he brings about three things per kid (which is where we are this year). Tracey and I were off to our second round of gift buying last week (Santa was done) and we were having a difficult time finding anything we wanted to buy. We wound up frustrated, but basically rationalizing that we weren't going to buy just to buy. We bought nothing. Two days later, she found the last gift for Melinda (the game Stratego (perhaps my siblings recall not playing that with me (I'm certain Susan does ("PLEASE play Stratego with me!"))). We purchased our final gift yesterday - 40 new born diapers that we're going to stock in a diaper bag and give to Gretchen f

Gretchen Soccer Picture Originally uploaded by robert_h_coleman . Gretchen had a pretty good soccer season. From knowing nothing and having a ball playing to knowing a little bit about the game - and having a ball playing. She definitely wants to play again next year!

Sisters forever Originally uploaded by robert_h_coleman . We're just wrapping up from a great driving vacation to Charlotte via Cincinnati OH, Lexington KY and West Virginia -- returning through South Carolina, Stone Mountain GA, Chattanooga TN and Nashville TN. The attached picture is of Tracey and Sondra (sorrority sister). We visited her family while in North Carolina last week. Click this link to see many more pictures from the trip.

The big girls Originally uploaded by robert_h_coleman . Melinda and Meghan bonded right away. For the most part, we didn't see the girls for much of our time in Carolina. While Melinda and Meghan we're playing together, Gretchen, Lauren and Kaitlyn played together. The two groups were very independent.

fairitt-Gretchen05152006 Originally uploaded by robert_h_coleman . This is a picture Gretchen drew. She made up a song to go with it - the "foa foa Fairit" song

By Melinda Coleman Out of all the people in the world I could have as a sister, I want Gretchen. Gretchen pretends with me in many ways. Sometimes we pretend to be Sonic Heroes people. We like to pretend to be our made-up characters, Cousin Melinda and Cousin Gretchen. We made up more characters that we call: Super Angel Cake and Super Ginger Snap. When Gretchen and I pretend sometimes we pretend to be our pretend dogs. Gretchen likes to ride bikes with me. Sometimes we ride bikes with our friend Hope and pretend to be spies. We also like to ride bikes with Caroline. Occasionally we ride around the block. When we ride around the block we make sure no one gets lost. Gretchen and I play many things together. Sometimes we play with our build-a-bear. We do that a lot. When we play, we sometimes play with our Sky Dancers. We also like to play video games. Our favorite is Sonic Heroes. Sometimes we play against each other in two-player. Gretchen shows her love for me in many ways. Gre

Lately I've been nostalgic for music from my formative years (mostly highschool). I mentioned my passion for finding this music to Tracey ~six months ago. In passing I mentioned an old Neil Diamond tape that I had made when we lived in Hongkong. "I would love to have this on CD." If you're a Coleman, you might recall the record I copied Neil from - there's a skip on Sweet Caroline . My tape has the added benefit of having several songs from when Neil traveled to Africa (I assume) in the 70s. I assumed that my desire for the second series of songs was a lost cause. I found my Valentine's card on my dresser when I came home from work tonight. Behind it was a freshly minted CD Tracey made from iTunes. She had taken my tape - listened to the songs - and found them each on iTunes. :-) Love in the 21st Century.

DSCN2986 Originally uploaded by robert_h_coleman . "Dad! Can we make something?" "Dad, can we use my soda kit?" Saturday afternoon. Nothing going on. Boredom creeps in. "I have a recipe for an icecream float. All I need is a banana, icecream and a blender." "Melinda, we don't have any icecream." "I'll use yogurt!" Prep gets underway "Can I use my soda pop kit?" "OK Gretch, a scoop of this (baking soda) and a scoop of that (citric acid), then water." FIZZ "Cool!" [add flavor] "yum" "Now can we make play doh?" Read, read, read. "What in the world is alum? We'd better find a different recipe. Melinda - you add the flour, Gretchen you add the salt, I'll add the oil and boiling water. Now pour in coolaid. Now stir."

Friends Originally uploaded by robert_h_coleman . Thanksgiving weekend 2003 was cold - I took the girls out for a walk in a park. Everyone bundled up in their winter wear.

6am Saturday - I wake and stumble downstairs. Chappie gleefully follows. It's Saturday - she doesn't have to wait for showers before breakfast. 6:02 - Chappie's done with her morning activities and I can settle down to read the newspaper. The dog is in a vocal mood this morning - she lays in her dog bed and moans. 8:00 - Sonic and Tails (aka Melinda and Gretchen) saunter downstairs. Prof McGonagall (Tracey) soon to follow. Melinda and Gretchen are in the mood to make their own breakfasts. Gretchen decides on "Gretchen-style-french-toast." For the uninitiated - this means toast with maple syrup on it. Today, she supplemented with peanuts. As she poured the syrup - Tracey called out "No molasses hand" Aside on the term "molasses hand" When Melinda was in pre-K and she stayed for past the morning session, she needed a sack lunch. Occasionally I won the preparation lottery. Frequently, Melinda wanted to participate in food selecti

Christmas Picture '05 Originally uploaded by robert_h_coleman . This was our Christmas picture for 2005.