Getting to the BOTTOM of it all

I think it is so funny how obsessed little kids are with the human private parts. Maybe it's the terminology, maybe it's that you aren't supposed to talk about it, maybe it's just that those are the parts that are covered all the time. Last night in the car my oldest daughter, "K", told my youngest, "R", that she got hit in the "nuts" while at the soccer game. "R" asked what nuts are, and "K" responded, "it's your bottom (you see in our house there is the back bottom and the front bottom...very technical). "R" replies "oh, do you mean your undercarriage?", a term they have heard the cousins use when describing these body parts - hats off to Austin Powers. I have to always make sure that "R" is no where near the shower when I exit, or I'll get a stare down like the guys in their "Balls Out Jeans!" "R" made the comment to my wife the other day that "Daddy's bottom hangs down"...classic! This is just a fraction of the entertainment value of having kids....god love 'em!

PEACE OUT DADS!!!

Well, I didn't want that job anyway!

As I mentioned in a previous post (http://whatnowdad.blogspot.com/2009/04/random-thoughts.html) I have a tremendous opportunity this summer to spend a lot of time with my family, and not have the worry of working 9-5. In an attempt to screw this up I applied and interviewed for a job a couple of weeks back and really, truly thought I had a good shot at it. I was just informed that they offered the job to someone else, but thanked me for applying. So, it looks like the summer of fun is on, so why do I feel so rejected???

On another, completely different, topic there was a metal hexagon nut in my dinner last night. The dinner in question was spinach and cheese manicotti from Frankly Fresh purchased at Costco. Yummy!!!

PEACE OUT DADS!!!

Using allowance for slave labor

My oldest "K" had discovered the power of allowance recently, and my wife and I have discovered that you can really get your child to do more with motivated by money. Another great thing we have going for us is that "K" has her eyes on a pretty expensive toy, and will do darn near anything to earn the cash to get it. I can remember back to my youth, saving every last penny so I could buy something new for myself. It will be a double bonus when we can get our youngest, "R", to feel the same way, but staying true to her form she could care less about it....but she did say she would save up for a plastic set of golf clubs you can get at Wal-Mart for about $5. It's good to have goals.

PEACE OUT DADS!!!

More fun with bikes

This weekend was really tough for "B", my wife. A few years back both of us starting getting into endurance races (running, cycling, triathlons, etc.) and now most of our free time is taken up with training for said races. Currently, I am training for my first marathon and "B" is training for her first 70.3 Ironman Triathlon. On Saturday morning she took off on her bike for a long ride (35 miles) while the kids and I were getting ready for our day. I left to take the girls to a birthday party and when I returned "B" was home and looked like she was on the verge of crying. While on her training ride she crashed (what is the deal with all my girls crashing on their bikes - http://whatnowdad.blogspot.com/2009/04/double-happiness.html).

Crashing on your bike happens sometime while training for various reasons, but for "B" the reason was not of the normal variety. A truck had parked on the trail just ahead of her and she didn't like the look of it. So, she turned around and headed the other direction. This should be the end of the story, but "B", in her over-active, paranoid way decided to look back to make sure this truck was not going to follow her.....that is when she went off road and the rest is history. I know she was hurting and the crash did shake her up...but in the back of my mind I was thinking...hmmmm, did she really need to look back??? Just asking.

PEACE OUT DADS!!!

QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS!!!

Am I the only Dad that feels like he fields more questions in one day than Alex Trebek has over his whole career on Jeopardy? My kids, especially my youngest "R", can weave a web of questions that after a while has my head spinning so much that I feel like driving my car straight into the next stop sign. I love how curious they are, and I love being able to answer their questions and fill their heads with information....but there are times I just want to say "please stop asking me questions and let me be!" But then I am reminded that in the not so far away future the questions will be asked less, and less and maybe even stop. That worries me more than anything else. So, what is your next question?

PEACE OUT DADS!!!

Dad Vanity

I don't consider myself a vain person. I try to keep up my appearance but I don't get obsessed with the way I look, in that metro sexual kind of way. I am pretty comfortable in my own skin and if someone doesn't like it well then to bad for them. I will admit however that something about me has changed for the better and I can't help but be just a little excited about it. I have been training for a marathon coming up on Memorial Day, and with that I've been trying to watch what I eat more than I have in the past. For me it is more about health and not looks, but on a recent trip to Macy's to buy pants I have discovered that I am wearing 34 waist...WHAT? I haven't warn a 34 waist since college, but then again I have not been at the weight I am currently at since college. Now again, I am not vain...I don't scratch the waist size off my pants like Seinfeld, but this is kinda cool. Maybe I am more vain than I thought...and if you don't like it then too bad. I'm kinda skinny again!!!!

PEACE OUT DADS!!!

Opposite Kids

Sometimes it's hard to understand how my two girls are even related. They are only 2 years about in age and have had basically similar parenting from my wife and I, and yet they could not be less alike. This point was illustrated very well last night at the first micro soccer games for both of them. I help coach K's team (7 year olds) and my wife helps with R's team (5 year olds). My oldest girls is very competitive and very emotional. This can be great when things are going well, but a disaster when they are not. My youngest is so mellow and doesn't seem to have a care in the world, and along with that doesn't seem to care what the repercussions will be for bad behavior. Last night K was totally into her game, going after the ball, playing aggressive and in the process scored two goals and almost lost her voice from cheering. R on the other hand would kind of run after the ball (when we yelled at her too), kind of watched the action, chewing her fingernails the whole time. To her the best parts of soccer are putting on the uniform and the snacks at the end of the game. I know everybody is different, and I hear from parents all the time how none of their children act the same, but is seems crazy to me just how different two sisters can be. The one thing they both have in common is total cuteness, which my wife and I comment on every single day.

PEACE OUT DADS!!!

Sharing with your child

After a trip to the store this weekend my wife and I were splitting a bag of peanut butter filled pretzels in the car on the way home. This is one of our favorite guilty pleasures and I highly recommend them. We always share a few with the girls and this day was no different. It was the middle of the afternoon and in most occasions if we are out and about at this time of day on the weekend we have been known to make a stop at our local Starbucks for a little pick-me-up. And again, this day was no different. My wife will run to order up our two iced coffee drinks while I wait in the car with the girls listening to Kids Place Live on Sirius Satellite Radio. While waiting my girls asked if they could have more of the pretzels, and seeing there were only two left I suggested we offer them to their mom first and if she did not want them then they could each have one. My wife returned to the car and not a second later my girls, in their most polite and caring way, asked if she wanted the last two pretzels. My wife, with a whimsical look on her face, turned and said "why yes, I would. Thank you very much for asking." At this answer my oldest converted her smile into one of the biggest frowns the human face can make and my youngest went into her whining fetal position and cried out "but I wanted the last one mommy!" No matter how good kids have it their idea of sharing is far different than the rest of the world, at least when it comes to peanut butter filled pretzels.

PEACE OUT DADS!!!

The power of the play date

One of the best and most effective ways to get anything done at home with your children there is to bring over other children, preferably one of their friends. Using simple math one might question the logic to this statement. For a while my wife and I resisted play dates. The thought of having another kid, some other parent's kid, at our house with our kids was hard for us. There are those moments that both my wife and I would like to get something done, which does not involve playing dolls, pushing on the swing set or watching a performance. But, we don't always get to choose what we would like to do, and if we try we are treated to a "I never get my way" meltdown. So, how does having another one of these "please direct all attention to me" little people over HELP? Well nobody can entertain a kid like another kid because nobody else can match their energy level. Since we started having play dates we have gotten more done than before we even had kids (mostly because we had half the amount of laundry and dishes and probably 95% less general clean-up to worry about). So my message to you is never underestimate the power of the play date, and always try to have one with parents that will reciprocate....just imagine that hour you may get while your little ones are at their house!

PEACE OUT DADS, AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!

What the what?!?

This morning at breakfast during our normal family conversation my 7 year old "K" asked, in a very sweet way "how do I get pregnant?" WHAT THE WHAT?!?

I don't think you can ever be ready for your child to ask you this question, but it really came out of left field today. But the more I think about it the more excited I am to raise my girls and see them grow each and every day. I never want to take my family for granted and miss out on any of the "memorial" moments. I LOVE all three of my girls more than they will ever know, but I will try to show them every day of my life!

Oh, and my wife took that question this morning...thank God!

PEACE OUT DADS!!!

"Let's wrestle dad!"

Whenever my wife is out of town my girls ask if we can WRESTLE before bed. We don't do this activity when my wife is home because she thinks it gets the kids too wound up before bed, and she is probably right about that. But when it's just me,our bedroom becomes a handicapped, two-on-one, no holds barred, wrestlemania. The girls LOVE IT even when I have them piled on top of each other with no where to escape. Rough housing is something that I think only fathers and their kids can truly appreciate.

PEACE OUT DADS!!!

Random Thoughts

1. There is nothing that takes the excitement of an Easter Egg Hunt away faster than cold rain, but it does give you a good reason to hit Starbucks afterwards.

2. I don't think I have ever seen my wife more excited about something than she is about wii fit. I must film her playing because there is nothing I find more entertaining than that.

3. Going on field trips with your child's class could be one of the most enjoyable parts of being a parent.

4. While watching an infomercial for some 70's love song music collection, hosted by Tony Orlando and some lesser known female, my wife made the comment that Tony Orlando had died several years back and then wondered why Tony Basil (of 80's "Oh Micky" Fame) was hosting it. Sometimes I wonder what goes on in that woman's head.

5. Loosing your spring vacation tan is sad.

6. When you think you can't go on, or can't finish a project, or can't run say...16 miles, you need to dig deep and push forward. You can't duplicate the feeling of reaching the end.

7. When you are trying to sleep with a stuffed up nose, there is no replacement for nasal spray.

8. I think our memories get worse as we age. My 5 year old remembered a phone number she heard on the radio two weeks ago.....what?!?!?

9. The NBC show Heroes is losing me. I have loved it since my wife got me hooked on it after season one. If last night's show is any indication of what is to come I'll be looking for new entertainment on Monday nights.

10. I have the opportunity to spend a ton of time with my family this summer, go on business trips with my wife, and basically keep my part-time-stay-at-home Dad status, or get a 9-5 like everybody else. Should I even be thinking about that option?

PEACE OUT DADS!!!

The house is alive...with the sound of music

Yesterday I picked up a piano for our house. Needless to say my girls are THRough THE ROOF excited about it. My wife and I both thing our girls have music talents (to go along with their dancing, athletic, academic and pure cuteness talents) so getting this piano should provide years of entertainment and more funny stories. Already our youngest, "R", has been playing us songs she has made up. Carnegie Hall look out.

To add to the music fest we have decided to purchase our first wii game, wii music. We tried the game out and both girls loved it. Now I just need to convince my wife we need Guitar Hero so we can start up a family band.... "Come on get happy!"

PEACE OUT DADS!!!

How ya like me now baby?

This is an attempt to make my blog entries more visually interesting. It was BROUGHT to my attention that I should make my entries shorter with paragraph breaks

and different looking fonts. This advise comes from the two people in my life that probably know the most about blogs and blogging, my wife and mother. My father can't understand the appeal of blogs and why anyone would waste their time writing or reading them. This is close to the same position I held not too long ago. I did tell him the "mom blogger who makes $40k a month" story and that just made him hold he position even stronger! I am a convert (shhhhhh), and this blog will become something important in my life someday, I think...maybe. We'll just have to wait and see.

So....how's it looking?

PEACE OUT DADS!!!

Double happiness

Like most weekends for our family this past one was very busy. Not so much with planned activities but more with just general living. One of the reasons it was busy was we finally have nice weather here so instead of having a few things to do inside we have a lot of options for outside activities. One of the possible activities my daughters were interested in was riding their bikes, presents from their grandparents and only sparingly used since the holidays. One thing lead to another and by the time we thought about it we had run out of daylight on Sunday. To try to bring calm and peace back to my house I told the girls they could ride their bikes after school on Monday. The weather was perfect again and I was looking forward to sitting in the sun at our local park watching my girls ride circles on the path. My youngest daughter has a big wheel and a bike with training wheels. It was important to her that both come with us. The park is only 3-4 blocks away, but with two small children and three bikes it takes more effort and time to get there than usual. So we set off, ready for the adventures of biking for the first time this spring season. The girls were excited, as was I, not knowing what eventually would happen to us. My oldest wasted little time getting her new bike and riding the path which circles a very marshy pond. She just learned to ride without training wheels last summer but has good enough control that I don't have to worry too much about her. My youngest wanted to ride her bike with training wheels so I followed her around the path for safety. We made our first lap while my oldest was on lap 3 or 4 and gaining speed with every pass. My youngest stopped and needed a little push so I which I gave her and then looked back up to scan for my oldest. Just then I hear a crash then cry. Somehow "R", the youngest, has crashed. I don't even thing she was really moving, but there she was on the ground, bike knocked over, and her elbow bleeding pretty good. My girls do not like bleeding, and the mere sight of their own blood makes their pain increase 10 fold. So I quickly attend to her, telling her it will be alright knowing her day of biking was over. While trying to calm her down I look up for "K", the oldest only to catch the sight of her getting thrown from her bike about 50 yards away. I can tell she landing in the grass, and it didn't look too bad, so I calmly yell to make sure she is alright. She answers without the hint of injury so I think things are OK, but then the crying starts, must be blood. I pick up "R" who is almost calm and race over to "K" to see her in hysterics because her crash caused the peddle of her bike to leave a Wolverine type gash on the her inside thigh. Oh great......the sight of this gets "R" to start crying again and all I can think of is trying to get my two injured kids and their three bikes back home, which is 3-4 blocks away and slow going without two bleeders in tow. The second thought I have is thank god I decided to leave the dog at home for this trip (although that would have just added to the story I am sure). We all made it and after several band aids, some PBS show and a little snack things were back to normal. Can't wait for the next biking trip now!!!

PEACE OUT DADS!

O.K., you are right again.

So it's no surprise that my wife is right about 95% of the time. The surprise is that I fail to give her the proper credit she deserves. I bring this up because today I was watching my gal "O" (I have now watched Oprah enough as a part-time-stay-at-home dad that I can call her "O") and the subject was motherhood, stay at home moms, etc. This is a subject I can relate to at the moment so I paid a little more attention than I normally do. Part of the show featured a mom named Heather B. Armstrong who started a blog back in 2001 about motherhood and other parts of her life adventures (the website is www.dooce.com). I thought, hmmmmm, maybe I should really pay attention now, so I turned it up just in time to hear that Heather currently makes around $40k a month from this blog website......um, excuse me. Did you say $40k a month?!? Her husband quit his job and her blog is now the sole income for their family. WOW!!! You must be shitting me (old school term...only used for special occasions). This is what my lovely better half told me when she gave me her "start a blog" pitch. What did I say to her pitch...sure, whatever. I mean, 40k a month. Even a quarter of that would make life real nice for our family. So what does this mean for me, well first of all you might be seeing a whole lot more blogging coming from the part-time-stay-at-home dad in the future. Second, I again have to give it up to my wife. She is one of my loyal readers (maybe the only one right now) so I know she will get a big kick out of this. Third...that was $40,000 a month right???

PEACE OUT DADS!

Work, what work?

So business has had a small blip of activity the past couple of days. It seems so foreign to be busy again after so many months of inactivity. I welcome it gratefully and hope it continues, or do I? I mean, I do like my work and was very busy until things went south, but I am also really liking my new role of "part-time" Dad. We have a great little system in place and if my real job starts to get busy again it might mess that up. Is that what we want, what I want. My wife and I believe that things happen for a reason so I guess we will have to wait and see. I have a long ways to go before I can call myself a good stay-at-home parent, and I would not mind having the time to work on it.

PEACE OUT!!!