Sophie woke up wanting to “teach the boys how to paint.” She’s not the most patient of teachers. She also dislikes mixing colors. Although the pictures depict a rather lovely experience (and for awhile, it was), it did not end well. I suppose, for a more truthful depiction, I should take pictures across the spectrum. [...]
I don’t know what’s worse. Using my legs and arms to pin Owen against myself, a nebulizer mask over his mouth and nose while he thrashes and screams, feeling him soften every few moments only to say, muffled and between sobs, “all done, Mommy, all done.” Or looking at the look James gives me at [...]
The kids decided to make a train. Clever and cute, right? They did this to the playroom in order to make it. “That’s what children are for—that their parents may not be bored.” —Ivan Turgenev
“You cannot help but learn more as you take the world into your hands. Take it up reverently, for it is an old piece of clay, with millions of thumbprints on it.” —John Updike
At dinner. Owen: “Knock knock.” Me: “Who’s there?” Owen: “Joke.” Sophie: “Did Owen just say, ‘Knock knock who’s there joke?’” Me: “Yes.” Sophie, laughing: “That’s funny.” “Family jokes, through rightly cursed by strangers, are the bond that keeps most families alive.” —Stella Benson
Andy left for Gen Con with friends Wednesday night. He’s due back in an hour or so. I’m ready for him to come back. The kids woke up at 6:30 this morning. By 10am we needed to get out of the house. The weather’s beautiful today, so we went to the park. Not yet ready [...]
Kudos to the person who came up with the idea of renting baby equipment to vacationing families. We rented two pack-n-plays and a big bin of toys from Visiting Baby and it was worth every penny. In fact, we saved money not having to check two pack-n-plays and the new-to-the-kids bin of toys was most [...]
scene: Owen and Nini, sitting on the front porch swing Nini: “I like your toes.” Owen: “I like your head.” “Conversation should touch everything, but should concentrate itself on nothing.” —Oscar Wilde
(a belated Father’s Day post) “The father who would taste the essence of his fatherhood must turn back from the plane of his experience, take with him the fruits of his journey and begin again beside his child, marching step by step over the same old road.” —Angelo Patri
his week, Sophie and I have had a tough week. Every “no” has been met with a “but.” Every request has come out as a demand. “Please” and “thank you” have all been but forgotten. One day she was whining so much I truly wondered if her whine voice was her new normal voice. I [...]
