4 McIntosh Apples

A Big Thank You!!

Dylan McIntosh — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:26:29 +0000

As the first day of school creeps closer for Ean to start kindergarten, April and I wanted to thank everyone that helped us get Ean ready for school this year. We appreciate the generosity of our family in helping us supply him with the things he needs for the upcoming school year.

Ean is very excited for school to begin more than likely because he is tired of hanging out with us all summer and he is ready to get back to his preschool friends as well as meeting new friends.

We will keep you updated how things go this year, but as parents we feel more comfortable getting ready for school knowing that everything he needs has already been taken care of and he can just concentrate on his schoolwork.

Once again, I would like to express our thanks to everyone that helped us get Ean ready for school this year!

Red’s Game

Dylan McIntosh — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:55:35 +0000

It has been a busy summer for us so far. Lot’s of activity and things that we are fortunate to have a chance to do. My work had a raffle for a new program being started and the bank that is in my warehouse donated some Cincinnati Reds tickets. One of the supervisors won the tickets was unable to go so I bought the tickets off of her for $10. Not a bad price considering that the parking alone was $15 if we would have paid.

Other than it being really hot, the day was filled with fun and enjoyment and we are glad we had a chance to go. Ean just finishing up T-ball for his first was interested for awhile and really enjoyed that peanuts. I don’t think the folks sitting around us enjoyed Ean enjoying the peanuts though.

Here are some photos of the day and a short video clip that I took on our little camera.

From Reds Games

Build a UFO at Lowes

Dylan — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:05:13 +0000

We took the kids to Lowes this morning and I forgot the camera so I had to use my phone for all of the pictures.

Ean was really into his project including putting on his apron and eye protection. Ella on the other hand didn’t want anything to do with the protection gear.

The kids project turned out very nicely and they are both enjoying playing with their new UFOs.

Next project is August 14th and it will be a bug box that Ean says he has to be there.

Mid-July McIntosh Garden Update

Dylan McIntosh — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 17:12:12 +0000

I’ve got good news and bad news.

Good news is that we are starting to have some vegetables ready and we are starting to get eat some of our hard work. I also canned my first jar of peppers and jalapeños.

Bad news is that we may have lost a good portion of our tomatoes. We had a large wind comes through and knock over all of the tomato plants. Steve came over and helped April get them back upright and put some extra large stakes in to hold them better, so most of them may be saved.

Here are some pictures of the latest updates”

From 4MA Garden

McIntosh Kids Day 2010

Dylan McIntosh — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:11:25 +0000

In case you weren’t aware of what McIntosh Kid’s Day is, it is a family holiday that we created based on a comment by Ean after Father’s day was over a few years ago. We celebrated Mother’s Day, then Father’s day and then in his sweetest voice, Ean asked “When is it Kid’s day?”

So began our family’s tradition of Kids Day. This was our 3rd one even if it was a few weeks later than normal. Vacation and other conflicting schedules pushed the date back this year.

This year we had a picnic at the Markle Park and then we went swimming at the Markle Pool (really a private lake). It took awhile, but we got Ean to finally decide to go down the water slide and he loved it.

From Kids Day 2010

Zoo Day

Dylan McIntosh — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:42:42 +0000

We’ve been pretty busy this summer with T-ball, swimming and the like that we haven’t made it to the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo as much as we would have liked. We did make it to the zoo about a month ago. This was the first time that Ella wanted to ride a pony and she had a good time.

It was also the first time that we let Ella run around without her stroller and it was the first time that truly enjoyed being at the Zoo.

From Zoo Day

To see the full set of pictures, head to the photo album below.

Zoo Day

Summer Vacation 2010

Dylan McIntosh — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 17:09:59 +0000

After a long drive home on Friday, we are back after our summer vacation in Big Canoe, Georgia. We met with the Florida family members in the resort and had several days of swimming, boating, and eating plenty of food.

The place that we stayed in was a tree topper cabin that was just right for us in size. We enjoyed the scenery, the animals (we saw plenty of wild deer and a variety of birds), and time with each other. The resort was really nice, if not a bit expensive – $6 per person per day worth of swimming and almost everything you could do you pay for.

From Summer Vacation 2010

In hindsight, I guess I should have gotten pictures of everyone, but the cameras just never came out when we were all together.

For pictures of our place and other various shots, check out the complete photo album by clicking on the album picture.

Summer Vacation 2010

Happy Birthday United States

Dylan — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 12:38:02 +0000

America is another year older today. Jeez that makes me feel old for goodness sake. I still remember the bi-centennial quarter and that came out in 76.

Anyways, we spent last night at the Gerber’s for a day of sun, food and a very enjoyable spectacle of fireworks. The fireworks were a spectatular show and much better than alot of the smaller town fireworks that I have a seen over the last few years. Thanks to Jerry and Heather for inviting us and Happy Birthday United States!

The First Tomato

Dylan — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 01:15:31 +0000

As I was checking the garden this evening, there was the first tomato sighting!

From 4MA Garden

We are so ready for our vegetables to start being ready to harvest.

For more pictures of the progress of our garden, head to the album below:

4MA Garden

What Father’s Day Means to Me

Dylan — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 13:04:29 +0000

For many years, Father’s day was just another holiday to me. An excuse for the card companies to make some cash and the dads to lay around on their day off. The kids needed to buy a new tie or some cheap gift to make their father’s groan and put the new gift in special dark place to never see the light of day again.

However, just over five years ago that all changed for me. Now that Ean and Ella are in my life, it is a whole different day. Not only is Father’s Day a holiday to share with family, it is time for me to reflect on the joys of being a father. There are days that I want to strangle my kids when they are bickering, fighting, ignoring instructions, or not behaving in public and there are days that I want to hold my kids close and tell them that everything will be alright. I have learned many things by being a father beyond the diaper duties, making bottles, and cleaning poop. I have increased my level of patience and amazed at the joy in watching simple accomplishments. My kids teach me things daily that you cannot learn in school and I enjoy learning something new every day with them.

There is no better feeling than coming home from work having both of the kids running up to me yelling “DAAADDDDYYYYY!!!!” and both of them hug my legs before I even set down my bag. I’m sorry all of you dog owners, but the feeling when my kids bum rush me tops any pooch jumping up on you as you walking in the door. The smile on Ella’s face when she goes potty in the big girl potty is worth a million bucks. Hearing Ean’s teacher praise him for how well he is doing in school is enough to make me pound my chest and say “That’s my boy!”

A blueprint has been laid out for me to follow that should guide me based on how I was raised. All I can do is take the blueprint and try to improve on the design and help my children to be more than I am. I’ve commited myself to do my best to help guide and teach them as they get older and venture out into the world when they are ready. I can relish in their successes, comfort them in their pain, and take pride that I was part of their lives and helped guide them (with the help of my lovely wife, April) in their decisions for their own lives.

So, to all of the dads in my life, I want to wish you a Happy Father’s Day and know that I definitely appreciate everything that you have done to guide me, teach me, or support me in my own path in the world.