Barron of Blog http://mike.shannonandmike.net Wife, Kids, and the Pursuit of Happiness Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:00:37 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Excellent Video About Why Anti-Vaxxers are Bull http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/09/01/excellent-video-about-why-anti-vaxxers-are-bull/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/09/01/excellent-video-about-why-anti-vaxxers-are-bull/#comments Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:00:37 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=5131 Penn and Teller say it best. The video is from their show "Bullshit", so I think it goes without saying that there are naughty words in the following clip:

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/09/01/excellent-video-about-why-anti-vaxxers-are-bull/feed/ 0 Hey There! http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/30/hey-there-2/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/30/hey-there-2/#comments Tue, 31 Aug 2010 03:28:22 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=5128

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/30/hey-there-2/feed/ 0 Ben Folds: I Am the Luckiest http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/24/ben-folds-i-am-the-luckiest/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/24/ben-folds-i-am-the-luckiest/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:00:25 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=5122 Libby and Cooper, two healthy and happy kids, are sleeping upstairs. Shannon, my intelligent and gorgeous wife, is sitting on the couch in the other room. And despite all the "hard" times we think we've had over the years, it's nothing compared to the vast majority of people in this world.

There is no question: I am the luckiest. Hands down. Final answer.

This song makes me cry every single time I hear it. Thanks to Shannon for reminding me.

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/24/ben-folds-i-am-the-luckiest/feed/ 0 Preach On, Brother Cooper http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/23/preach-on-brother-cooper/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/23/preach-on-brother-cooper/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 01:32:08 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=5117 Brothers and big sisters, can I get an AMEN!?

Hallelujah! Praise the bottle!

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/23/preach-on-brother-cooper/feed/ 0 Cooper Smirking http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/22/cooper-smirking/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/22/cooper-smirking/#comments Mon, 23 Aug 2010 02:38:26 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=5113 For some reason all of the pictures of him smiling are blurry - oh well, here's a pretty good one of him beginning to smirk:

Cooper is really beginning to vocalize (and not in the bad way), cooing back to us and Libby.

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/22/cooper-smirking/feed/ 0 On the Road from Maine http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/20/on-the-road-from-maine/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/20/on-the-road-from-maine/#comments Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:30:18 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=5088 About halfway on our drive between Rhode Island and Maine are the outlet stores of Freeport. We typically stop here to stretch our legs and possibly find a good bargain. We always stop at the L.L.Bean outlet store because they have live fish and stuff to do:
Libby loved this giant stuffed bear Inside the fish tank (filled with salmon) The scene at LL Bean

We lucked out on the drive back from Maine - L.L. Bean was having some sort of celebration so they were giving away free ice cream cookie sandwiches!!!

Dan, Me, and Libby enjoying our free ice cream cookie sandwiches

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/20/on-the-road-from-maine/feed/ 0 Maine: Schoodic Point http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/19/maine-scoodic-point/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/19/maine-scoodic-point/#comments Fri, 20 Aug 2010 02:07:48 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=5073 Libby and I took a trip with my older brother's family to Schoodic. You used to be able to feed the gulls on these rocks, which meant the birds would swarm around and eat from your hand. Unfortunately the park service banned the feeding of birds. Luckily the gigantic geometric rock formations make for a fun afternoon of climbing, even without the constant threat of seagulls launching an air raid.
Calvin and Libby look out to sea Amy and Libby enjoy the warm sun Jeff and Calvin exploring a crevasse Posing on the rocks Found the perfect spot for an afternoon snack (except for the mosquitoes) Reading all about the rocks and how they formed

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/19/maine-scoodic-point/feed/ 0 More Random Pics from Maine http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/18/more-random-pics-from-maine/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/18/more-random-pics-from-maine/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 01:07:50 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=5052 Some cousins climbing on cannons The kids table at the Finback Alehouse The adult's table at the Finback Alehouse Goofing off with my hat My dad and Kaia Posing after a mid-afternoon snack Wading out into the cool water of Bar Harbor Eating pizza and watching a movie - does it get better than this? SEAWEED! Libby loved "exploring" on the rocks A short hike Annual picture of all the cousins Army men on the deck during a cookout at Linda's The boys and the "boats" they built The men try to build steps into the rocky waterfront A partially finished walkway to the shore ]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/18/more-random-pics-from-maine/feed/ 0 And Now For a Little Cooper… http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/15/and-now-for-a-little-cooper/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/15/and-now-for-a-little-cooper/#comments Mon, 16 Aug 2010 03:03:27 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=5045 Maine picture overload? No problem - here's a dash of Cooper:

I know he's growing bigger every day, but when I hold him he still feel so small. Overall he's a good baby - if we could just get rid of his consistent crying around dinner time life would be grand :)

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/15/and-now-for-a-little-cooper/feed/ 0 Random Pics from Maine http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/11/random-pics-from-maine/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/11/random-pics-from-maine/#comments Thu, 12 Aug 2010 03:22:00 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=5020 A few random pictures of what we do during the days in Maine (besides eat):
Walking on the gravel roads is a popular activity The cousins discover internet porn (or maybe they're just watching Monster's Inc) My favorite part of Maine: talking with family and just relaxing My mom and Asher Chess is a popular activity when the kids are napping or otherwise quiet Libby on the lookout Micah, Libby, Emma, and Sam pose for a picture after a race for the prized buoy (Emma won) Dan, Micah, and Sam look out from the deck Libby reads to Asher Watching the kayakers paddle around A hummingbird who ran into my back as I was sitting outside. Don't worry - as soon as I righted it the bird flew away unharmed. Sam, Micah, Emma, and Libby giving their "crazy" faces

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/11/random-pics-from-maine/feed/ 0 East Coast Food http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/10/east-coast-food/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/10/east-coast-food/#comments Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:13:44 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=5005 Whenever I travel I try to take pictures of memorable meals; I do this not only because I love food, but also because it helps me to remember to finer details of an otherwise busy day. Here are a few food snapshots I grabbed while on our east coast trip:
Strawberry filled birthday cake Grilled east coast hot dog buns are the best Fresh fruit salad The obligatory lobster (it was close to a sheller) Carmelized onions that were later mixed into hash browns The omlette, pre beating Delicious crab cake burger at the Finback Alehouse in Bar Harbor Nothing beats ice cream and a beer on a warm summer day You can see the real blueberries in my blueberry beer at the Finback Alehouse Homemade blueberry pancakes

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/10/east-coast-food/feed/ 0 Maine, Golf http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/09/maine-golf-2/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/09/maine-golf-2/#comments Mon, 09 Aug 2010 09:00:54 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=4988 On the very first morning I awoke at 5:30am to play golf with a few other bleary-eyed men in my family. We only did nine holes, but it is a good tradition that I hope continues.
Heading out to our first tee Dan mugging for the camera Tim the man, myth, and legend We leave footprints in the morning dew Contemplating the putt Gorgeous view My dad and me, enjoying the sun on our backs The group We're all on the green!

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/09/maine-golf-2/feed/ 0 Maine, Day One http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/08/maine-day-one/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/08/maine-day-one/#comments Sun, 08 Aug 2010 20:06:12 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=4981 Libby was ecstatic to arrive at Maine and see her cousins. After 31 years of going to this one little piece of the Maine coastline myself, I was equally excited to be back at our Maine "home" again:
Our house, as viewed from the coast Emma, Libby, and Micah looking at tidal pools Libby and some cousins exploring the rocky shore

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/08/maine-day-one/feed/ 0 On the Road http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/05/on-the-road/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/05/on-the-road/#comments Fri, 06 Aug 2010 02:43:54 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=4973 The drive up to Maine usually takes 6-8 hours (depending on traffic and how many stops we have to take). Libby was a champ - we only stopped once at Freeport to go potty and stretch our legs.
Sleeping indian style Posing in front of the giant L. L. Bean boot Watching a movie on our iTouch (a life saver on long journeys)

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/05/on-the-road/feed/ 0 Visit with Great Grandpa http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/04/visit-with-great-grandpa/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/08/04/visit-with-great-grandpa/#comments Thu, 05 Aug 2010 03:44:04 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=4963 Libby and I made a quick day trip down to visit with my grandpa "Bud". It was nice to spend a little bit of time with him, and to let him visit with his great granddaughter:

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