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Netta and Bailey (at right) being all sneaky wearing each other's costumes.

You might have noticed Art having various tics over the last few years, like blinking his eyes, moving his jaw, taking extra breaths when he speaks, stuff like that. You also may have heard an exasperated me or Ben trying to figure out how to deal with him being inflexible, impulsive or even explosive. Turns out it is all related to Tourette Syndrome , which Art was recently diagnosed with. At the end of the summer we took him to a neurologist and the doctor said, without a doubt, that Art has Tourette's. That means Art's brain is firing for movements and impulses abnormally. It is diagnosed when a child has had both vocal and motor tics for more than 12 months and other tic-causing things are ruled out. The tics are aggravated by stress and fatigue, among some other things, and some Occupational Therapy things can help like chewing gum, sitting on a ball and some other random things. Likely Art will have tics from TS through adolescence, probably with the tics fading or le...

This awesome thing was taken by Jeff, the dad on of Lewis' friends who had a birthday party today. Full disclosure, one of these kids threw up later... Although apparently he'd been sick for a few days!

Art, wearing his new mittens, consoling Bailey who was sad because I would not pick her up.

I'm in New York for work (Vikings football game) and took a couple fun photos from my too much walking around yesterday.

We spent the past three days in Duluth (the boys had three day off of school this week). A totally unplanned and spur of the moment trip. Man, Duluth is beautiful and fun and close. A nice thing to learn. We stayed in a slightly overpriced but very easy hotel with 6 places to sleep, a decent breakfast, smores every night and a pool on the roof. All of which sounds nicer than it is. But still, it was easy! And we were right on Lake Superior. Seriously. This was 50-feet out the back door to our room: Lewis and especially Arthur just loved loved loved climbing on these rocks. It massaged the part of their brain that has to constantly calculate where and when to take a step and they just loved it. Couldn't get them off to rocks. They found many 'secret hideouts.' Art in his secret hideout: I've learned over time that Jessica loves really huge things or super tiny things. When she saw a massive boat (similar to this one but an even bigger) she let out a little uncontrollabl...

We gathered at Jessica's sister's house for a little cake and presents to celebrates the Netta, Bailey and their cousin Charlotte's 3rd birthday. Here are some random photos from the morning. Charlotte. Oscar. AIRBORNE MAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!

They turned a whopping three today. Here's a lovely photo taken by their preschool teacher Jen . And of course happy warrior birth day to Jessica! And Arthur, who's learning piano, wanted to play them happy birthday. "Papa, I'll play it one time and then the second time you sing it," he advised. A performance! [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tlrg_fqL84&w=640&h=480]

Got home late last night and realized I forgot the important balloons for Bailey and Netta's birthday. 24-hr Cub to the rescue! Their birthday chairs (beautifully decorated by Jessica):

Took some pretty aerial photographs of the Twin Cities. See them here . Here's one of the photos, a nursery: And, btw, also shot a series of 30 marathoners crossing the finish line, it's been crazy popular on the internets. Here's the one of the winner:

He is not alone!

Today was Kindergarten dinner at Lewis (and Arthur's) school in Minneapolis. A potluck pizza dinner and a chance to meet other families and play. Here's Lewis and other kindergartners doing the 'robot dance' for a hoard of proud parents. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gTnC_eJGkY]

Grandpa Tim and Cynthia were in town a few weeks ago to visit, a real joy to see them and for the kids to spend so much time with them. Here's Papa blowing out his birthday candles on a key lime pie, his favorite. Playing H-O-R-S-E with beer-in-hand. Papa and Cynthia generously ran a 'fun run' with the boys.

Photo by Lewis!

Jessica, the trained musician in the household, is spearheading it and practicing with him periodically. So far so good, he's learning and willing to practice and get better.