Daddyman @ Home

Making Lunch for the Dude

2009-08-25T07:45:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I'm that the Dad that puts peanut butter on both sides of the bread so the jelly doesn't soak through.

'cause that's how I roll.

But it's a fun thing to pack his lunch every day. I remember what it was like eating lunch with my friends in school every day and I can tell he does too.

Heck, we even had a good time talking about the stop light in the lunch room that goes to red if it gets too loud.

Ah memories.

Asking for help

2009-07-15T06:26:00.001-07:00

The newest generation of Tranformers toys come with a disclaimer; the toys are designed to pull apart when excessive force is used.

What this literally translates into is 'Parental units, be ready to put Megatron's arm back on several times a day.'

During J's learning phase of getting a new one, I have to put some piece or limb on once an hour or so. A day or two afterwards we nip that in the bud by offering one free fix a day. Afterwards, we fix the limbless Autobot or Decepticon and keep him for the rest of the day. It teaches him to take care of what he's got.

The new issues is getting help for that fix. He knows I'll do it, but he can't pull himself away from what he's doing to come get the help...to the point of tears. "Why Daddy?! Why won't you come fix Optimus Prime?! I want you to do it now!"

"Buddy, does the mechanic come to our house to fix my car?"

"No..." he says as he's processing it.

"Do the nice checkout people bring us our groceries from the grocery store?"

"Nope!"

"It is impolite for you to demand something when you need help...especially if you're the one that caused the problem."

"But Dad! Brawl's leg fell off all by itself."

"Do you want to go into timeout for lying to me?"

"No..."

"So when you want help, it is rude for you to make me stop what I'm doing to help you. I want qand will help you, but you've got to bring Starscream to me. Do you understand?"

Grumpily, "Yeah..."

I then proceeded to put Megatron's arm on backwards and break and fix him again.

In Orcish Grunt Jobs Done!

2009-06-26T06:01:00.000-07:00

Wake up early and go get gas in the van for the Mrs....check.
Pick up donuts on the way...check
Finish loading the dishwasher and get it going...check.
Get the kids fed...with a nibble of donuts...check.
Get a kiss for bringing the Mrs an apple fritter...check.
Put away a high chair that hasn't been used in over 6 months...check.
Throw away a vacuum that hasn't been used in 4 years...check.
Clean out the filters of the current vaccum...check.
Repair a transformer...check.
Coffee...*consumes mass quantities*

Now it's time to play with the kids. Or referee, depending on their temprement today. :)

...And Nothing But the Truth

2009-06-08T06:30:00.001-07:00

A recent conversation with my son:

"Um Dad?"

"Yeah Jonathan?"

"I uh...," he says shyly, "I saw some of my favorite baby blankets in my sisters room and I wanted to know if I could have them back."

I chuckle. "Let me get this straight bud. You want baby blankets?"

He nods eagerly.

"Why?"

"Because they're my favorite."

I think quick, and come up with an option where everyone wins and I'll get a chuckle.

"Don't you have your favorite baby blanket on your bed anyway?" (It's actually his Winnie the Pooh comforter that was his crib set...it clashes his Lightening McQueen set now, but why bother?"

"Ummm yeah."

"And did you know those baby blankets aren't for your sisters?"

I chuckle at his screwed up surprised face...gets it straight from his mother. "They're not?"

"Nope, they're for Mom."

"Why does Mom need baby blankets Dad?" he asks, chuckling.

"She doesn't need them now, but she'll need them when you're older."

"Why?"

"Because she'll want little reminders that she can hold in her hands to remind her that you were once a little baby who puked on her all the time!"

The infectious laughter begins, "No!!! That's not why!!!"

"Actually dude, it is. She wants to keep them to remind her that in the future when you're taller than either one of us, she wants those little reminders that you were once her little baby. You okay with that?"

"Yeah."

"You ready for bed now?"

"Yup."

"All right, I love you, see you in the morning."

"And um Dad?"

"Yeah bud?"

"Should I go ahead and put them back?"

I bust up with a deep belly laugh. Then quickly stifle it because the girls just went to bed too, "Yeah buddy, in the morning, go ahead and put them back."

"Love you Dad."

"Good night man, love you too.

Paternity Leave

2009-04-08T13:24:00.001-07:00

I took 4 weeks when my son was born, and I took 4 more when my girls were born. I'm all for taking leave when the new tots come to town. They're only born once, and you've got to start the corruption early. ;)

Computer Nerdage is Good Hobby to Have

2009-04-06T07:26:00.001-07:00

So, my brother gets me World of Warcraft with his tax refund. He's been wanting to get me on it for years, but I didn't have a computer beefy enough.

Just before the twins were born, I bought a video card so I could be more up to date. So the PC was good, but the time to play didn't exist. I told him no, no no. Sleep is more important than video games. But the seed was there and he knew I could run it.

So once he got it for me, and because I love my wife and want to see her, I bought it for her. As we were installing it, she didn't have enough RAM on her computer to make it go.

So this weekend I cracked open both cases, did the math, and bought her a gig of ram. I kept it in the car on Sunday while I was working so she didn't have a chance to get ahead of me too much. We ate dinner, watched a couple Star Wars Clone Wars episodes with the kids I installed it and got through more updates than I'd care to download, but we worked together and got our characters going.

All work and no play can make parents dull parents.

So we've got characters we use when we're together, and we're going to make characters we can play when we're solo.

But first...I'm going to go tackle the shower. *grabs an old toothbrush and goes to town*

--
--Chris

It's Been A LONG Time

2009-04-04T20:14:00.000-07:00

Let's see, it's been close to a month from my last post. Since then

My wife was in and out of the hospital three times for close to two weeks
Got to call 911 on one occasion
My son got to flag down the Fire Truck
My son tried to watch Transformers as 8+ emergency staff were in my living room taking care of my wife. He has excellent 'bob and weave' technique
My MIL was in town for two weeks to help take care of the wife and kids
I spent most of the hospital weeks with my wife, sleeping there all but 3 times
Changed a tire in the hospital parking lot
Got new tires for the van
Paid my Dad off with a case of Monster energy drink from Costco as thanks for being on call and watching the kids while I with my wife (he a closet addict)
Missed roughly 10 hours of work (part time work helps out here)
My son lost his first tooth
I quickly learned the way of the ninja with the previous bullet point
My daughters start saying coherent words and phrases
I realize I don't like how flirtatious Purple says "Hi"
I still continue to think and dwell too much

So it's been around here, and I'm just now getting back into the routine of things.

And then my brother had to buy me World of Warcraft as a gift.

So I had to get it for my wife.

And we laughed at the 2.7 gig update.

Now I need to go find my rabbit ears. That's right around the corner.

Surgical Birthday

2009-03-08T14:06:00.000-07:00

My wife finally catches up with me. She's finally caught up to the 30 year mark, after I beat her roughly 3 weeks ago.

I know...cradle robber, right? :)

I snuck out of the house early this morning and headed to Wal-Mart to pick her up a couple iTunes gift cards and a couple birthday cards.

Last minute...yes...but she had Gall Bladder surgery on Thursday, so she's been pretty pampered all weekend, which made it hard for me to get out of the house and gather goodies.

Currently she's whining about some RPG she's playing, trying to figure out what she wants (and can) have for dinner, while the dude and I do our best to bow to her every whim.

All hail the Queen, baby!

Dinner at the Table

2009-02-10T07:36:00.001-08:00

Last night was our first attempt at having dinner at the table. I'd worked for about 30 minutes to get the table cleaned off, put the table cloth back on, and rigged the stand up high chair and Little Blue's old strap-on high chair. Once I got everything assembled, it looked good to me. We'd have the two girls on one side with the parental unit in the middle, the other parental unit in the middle, and Little Blue on his own side.

I made and easy Mac and Cheese dinner with hot dogs, nothing fancy, but eatable by all.

Turns out Pink had to work late to make sure her timesheet was going to come out right, so I had to wolf down a bowl and she was left with the great table experiment.

Turns out the girls liked it better than Little Blue did. Apparently he had a tantrum because he wanted a spoon rather than a fork, and it got so bad he told himself he wasn't going to get a piece of candy from his candy jar. The girls enjoyed the change of environment, ate well, and finished despite Little Blue's shining example of good behavior.

I listened to Pink's play by play, and based on my experience, I agreed with her. It's hard being inbetween the two ladies. You're pivoting 180 degrees constantly, putting your ambidextrous skills to the test. Secondly, while the high chair does the job, the child inside of it is a little low, leans back a little too much, and it's difficult to get them in and out.

So this evening after festivities at work, I'm off to pick up another toddler chair to strap to a dining room chair. The little one will be at the right height, and it'll be portable so that when we go out, we can pull them off the chairs and take them with us in case wherever we're going doesn't have child friendly seats. I'm also going to shift the seating a bit to prevent the pivoting, and this might help the girls learn from each other so they'll be able to see what each of them is doing.

Still, it's damn nice to have the entire family at the table.

--
--Chris

Target Disappointments

2009-01-12T07:41:00.000-08:00

Dashed in last night to grab some things, and found some things I wasn't too happy with. Nothing major, but still a tad annoying.

1. No 100% USA orange juice. I figure if I'm going to enjoy some OJ, I'd enjoy it knowing that is all comes from the US. Every brand had oranges from USA, Guatamala, Mexico, and Brazil. So, I left without.

2. My family (or to be more exact, Pink and Little Blue) are cereal addicts, and we're a big fan of the Malt-o-Meal cereals. Target, at first glimpse, should have the best selection, as I saw at least 30 bins to hold various types of cereal, probably capable of holding at least 300 bags of cereal (figuring they're stacked 5 high, 2 deep in each bin). How many actual packages of cereal were there? 10. I grabbed two of the cheapie Cap'n Crunch, considered myself lucky because that's what Pink wanted. Sadly, this was the whole point of this journey and I almost had a failed mission.

3. Target plastic bags are not number 1 or number 2 recyclable. They're destined for bathroom trash bags now.

4. Four registers open at 5:30pm on a Sunday night. I guess there was probably 30 people in line. Nice.

On a deep thought note...I wonder if I was the only guy in the whole store who knew what kinda of HEPA filter his vacuum used.

New Routine: Daily Storytime

2009-01-06T08:30:00.001-08:00

We did it yesterday and it worked pretty good. Only trouble was we did it in the afternoon, and since the Man will be heading back to preschool tomorrow, we did it just before the girls go down for their morning nap.

Todays read was:

He loved it, the Mrs and I had read it and found it amusing, and the little guy can almost read the story and understand what's going on just by the pictures.

The girls...were half interested in Daddy's voice and half interested in their interlocking rings.

Identical Twins, Not Identical Parents

2009-01-02T07:43:00.000-08:00

When my wife and I are home on the weekends, I chuckle when she brings the kids down.

I usually tend to get my motor running a little faster, so I delegate myself to prepping the kids' breakfast. My wife on the other hand loves to go see the girls first thing in the morning.

And I can't blame her, when I get them up after she's off to work, I too enjoy the "Oh look, it's Daddy!" overjoyed look.

But when she brings them down, she likes to save herself a trip and bring them both down at the same time. I then collect one, ensure pit stops are done, then start with breakfast and finish of the rest of the day.

Myself? I usually just pick one or the other. I do my best to alternate who's first each day, but sometimes one is having more fun doing laps around the crib or rocking up a storm.

When I pick up one, the other usually starts a little cry of protest. "[Insert name of daughter here], we're just going down to have a pit stop and I'll be right back up to come get you so you can have one and then we'll sit down to breakfast."

Surprisingly, the first time I said this, they kept quiet, and it's usually the same ever since.

I do make sure to leave the room light on and the door open, so they know to expect me to return.

Plus, once I start saying their name as I ascend the stairs, the giggles I get in reply are one of the best reasons to get up in the morning.

Turning 5

2008-12-03T09:18:00.000-08:00

When you put it like that, it seems like it flew by in an instant.

He woke up in a good mood Tuesday, asking when his party was going to start. For the millionth time I worked it into his noggin that his party isn't until Saturday, but that doesn't mean good ol' Dad didn't have tricks up his sleeve.

I had to go to the store on my way home the night before, so I picked him up some birthday goodies.

At his boring breakfast, he found two boxes of Transformers Animated Gummies. "Cool! Can I eat them now?!"

I laughed, "No dude, they're for school. You can take these as birthday treats to share with your friends. I've also gotten you a special lunch too."

He ignored the lunch portion of my comment, as he was enamored by the boxes of gummies. He spun them around while she shoveled in a couple bowls of cereal and some orange juice.

Since it was his day and once his cartoons were over (Sid the Science Kid, Transformers Animated, and Jack's Big music show...which is all a cover to get some housework done and feed the girls), I told him he could pick a movie to watch or Mythbusters.

Adam and Jamie won. I fired up the DVR and we watched a couple before lunch.

Which was a Lunchable. The dude went crazy with excitement and gobbled it down...after I separated the cheese hunk into slices with a butter knife.

He loaded his backpack full of gummies, and even though it was cold out, we snuck in a few baskets in the driveway before the bus came.

When he got home I got ready for work, then turned the kitchen into an IHOP. He'd asked for pancakes for dinner, and I was happy to oblige. I turned on the burners five minutes before Pink walked in the door, and as soon as she stepped through she got a hug and a kiss and the game was on.

1 egg, two pancakes and a banana for the dude
1 bran muffin (made earlier in the day), 2 eggs and 3 pancakes for Pink and I

We all gobbled it down and Little Blue told us how one of his friends at school told him Happy Birthday twice and the whole glass sang to him.

"Everyone thought the gummies were awesome Dad!"

I kissed everyone on the cheek and headed into work.

GodDad status maintained. :)

Slow Cooker, I love Thee

2008-11-12T08:55:00.001-08:00

Cooking takes effort, and since I make at least 3 meals at home a week anymore, I find it hard to keep Little Blue entertained and have slivers of hope that my girls will stay asleep at least until 5pm so I don't have to keep an eye on them too.

Granted, I can put them in their saucers so they're not mobile, but when they're crawling and slowly learning to pull themselves up (we give them a week to get off their knees and they're standing), I hate to put them in their saucers for any length of time unless I have too.

So, about two weeks ago, Pink cooks some fish soup in the crock pot. It hits me like a slap in the face, why in the hell haven't I been using this thing!

So, I add to my checkout list from the library (which already contained 3 and 5 ingredient cookbooks), slow cooker cookbooks as well. I get some note cards together and am proceeding to write down recipes, my guess is I'm at the 50 or so mark now.

It all hasn't been successes mind you. Tonight the rice in the chicken curry was mush, even though the flavor was good.

But it's fire and forget cooking. Slap them all in there, let it cook for hours and stir it when you pass through the kitchen.

I'm Asleep at the Wheel

2008-11-12T08:43:00.000-08:00

I had some pictures uploaded in flickr, then I forgot to post them here.

I'm a slacker, what can I say.

Halloween - I rotoscoped the last picture so Little Blue could at least look like he had a real lightsaber (also set it as my desktop picture, he loves it!)

Purple and Teal's 1st Birthday Party

Pictures from this Fall

Pinks Sunrise Pictures - she often steals the camera to take pictures before she walks in the door at work.

Order Whole Milk

2008-11-05T08:12:00.000-08:00

So the girls had their 1 year check up last Friday. Little Blue, Purple, Teal and I met Pink at the Doctors office.

And let me say, our little Anakin was at the right place at the right time. The Pediatrician was a Clone Trooper, there was nurse Princess Leia, and rumor had it Darth Vader was also roaming the halls.

But, just as Pink and the girls got settled in the room, I had to haul Little Blue to catch the school bus. Pink wasn't happy about it, but scheduling is scheduling.

So, fast forward till Pink brought the beauties back home to me. I knew that Pink would have a horrible time at the doctor with both girls, on her own, and since they were getting shots, she'd have to redress them, in their costumes, then come home.

Needless to say, I was listening to Stephen King's Gunslinger on my MP3 player on the front steps so I'd be handy to assist.

Turns out, the girls were average for height and melon measurements, but they were underweight. So underweight that the didn't give Pink the percentile (turns out, it was right at 5%).

So, Order Whole Milk was given by the Clone Trooper.

3 Cups for the ladies, every day. So far, breakfast is a breeze. 5oz in their cereal, 3 oz in a sippy cup. Though I felt guilty feeding them all that grub, but they finished it and fussed when it was over, so that was a good sign.

Lunch they split some pureed Meat/pasta/veggie/fruit and a full sippy cup of milk. What Pink does for dinner while I'm checking out library materials to you I'm not too sure about, but I'll learn Friday when I have my only evening off during the week. ;)

And yes, I stole from my babies and already snuck a class of chocolate milk. :)

At Home Dadage is...

2008-11-03T18:39:00.000-08:00

setting the coffee pot to go off at 5:45am, so you can toss some clothes and walk over to vote at 6am so your beloved can go to work at 7am.

Halloween Pamphlet Style

2008-10-31T19:09:00.000-07:00

Pictures to come, but needless to say that Anakin Skywalker, the Strawberry Faerie, and the Sky Faerie made it to the 'brary, Pink's work, Anakin's school, and Great Grandma's House to see Uncle, Aunt, cousin, Grandma and Grandpa.

This bus is tired!

The Sopranos and Hanna Montana

2008-10-27T19:47:00.000-07:00

Chalk this up for doing routine tasks that require little brain power at work.

I'd finished the first half of the last season of the Sopranos last week and checked online and saw I was number 3 on the list for the second half at the library. No biggie, it's free, though I was bummed I was going to have to wait a little bit on it.

Turns out as I sat down at the processing station tonight at work, it was sitting in a tub, right on top. I grabbed it, scanned it, then did the happy dance as I saw it was mine.

I put the case on the receipt scanner, then grabbed the next item, a Hanna Montana DVD, and I paused.

I know that the Sopranos is the last "adult" show I'm going to be watching while my girls are doing tummy time. They're already picking new sounds every day, and the last thing that I want them to do is to start quoting Paulie or something. But seeing that Hanna Montana DVD was like looking into the future.

Am I going to be that Dad? The Dad that knows all the Disney Musicals and movies and is happy to escort his little darlings to the movies to watch stuff like that? The testosterone filled man that can change rear end gears AND whip out all the names of the Disney Princesses? With the dude it was all dinosaurs, cars, legos, and currently paper airplanes. With the ladies, it'll totally be something else, and with a little luck, I won't even know the transition, it'll be seamless, transparent, and acceptable to my ladies.

I scanned it, cracked a joke about placing quarter bets if the patron who requested Hanna Montana would come in (we know he's an addict and love him for it), and moved on.

Sippy Cup Central

2008-10-23T10:52:00.001-07:00

With the girly girls hitting a year yesterday, I'm going to be making a more stern effort in sippy cup training. They'll still down formula from a bottle till the 1 year checkup next week.

Still, this morning went well. They chowed down their 4oz of rice cereal made with formula off the spoon, then I put their 4oz of applejuice/water in the sippy up and prepared for a visit to screaminingville.

It always goes so much better when you know it's coming.

Both girls did fine however, and were quick to figure out what was going on. They'd take a couple draws, swallow, then fuss because it wasn't on demand.

I held it in front of them while they screamed at me, and as soon as they nudged their hands in the general direction of the cup, I let them grab on and helped guide it to their mouth.

Repeat x20…then x2 for both girls. J

Only issue was when Purple was quick-like-ninja and grabbed it right out of my hands. Her aim isn't perfect and she slammed it on her upper lip, so there was about 1 minute of chaos. I apologized for letting go, then kept a vice grip hold on the cup so it wouldn't happen again.

All right, time to head to lilypie and get the girls a new bar to count down for birthday number two.

RSS Feeds

2008-10-22T08:29:00.000-07:00

I had a coworker ask last night what RSS feeds were, so I dug out this video this morning and sent it to her so she'd have a better clue than my babbling.

If you're addicted to blogs and news, it's definitly a time saver. Consider it an online newspaper where you pick what information gets loaded into the pages. Check out the video too, even if you know what RSS is, it's still a good clip.

A Year Ago Today

2008-10-22T08:24:00.000-07:00

I spilled an overpriced iced coffee on the parking lot of the Johnson County Library when my wife called and told me my daughters were going to be born today.

Happy Birthday Purple and Teal.

Laughs Out Loud

2008-10-21T21:00:00.001-07:00

Ah, if books were this cruel, I don't think I'd be as addicted to them as I am now.

clipped from www.nintendowiifanboy.com

The ABC's

2008-10-20T21:21:00.000-07:00

Sure, Little Blue and I sing the song, even more so now when I admitted to him I sing it to myself quite often at work when shelving requested materials for patrons.

Then of course, we've got the LeapFrog Fridge Phonics Magnetic Alphabet Set on the front door. (Fridge is off limits in the kitchen, it's been gated off to fend off wandering twins :)

Then, there's this. It's cool. I don't want it...but that doesn't mean I don't like it.

Monitor Check

2008-10-20T21:14:00.000-07:00

I'll admit, I got this 17 inch monitor on the cheap, and when the urge hits me, I fiddle with the settings on it just right.

But, alas, I just found Screen Check. Simple, easy, and just a second to fiddle with the monitor to make it happy.

Of Coffee

2008-10-20T21:08:00.001-07:00

Anyone who empties the dishwasher, runs the vaccum, gets a load of laundry started and attacks the kitchen counters like I do before 7am like do needs a jump start in the morning.

Coffee is a good thing, with a ton of cream and sweeter in it (I have an ongoing joke that my coffee is more warm milk with sugar by the time I'm done with it).

So here's a couple tips on improving the drop coffee maker, and an awesome diagram to boot.

clipped from current.newsweek.com

But most hotel room coffee machines brew too long. What to do? Take the pot (or glass carafe) off the burner before the brewing cycle finishes. You obviously need to have a spare mug to put in place of the carafe while emptying it, or else coffee will splash out everywhere. Better to have a cup of coffee that's decent but only two-thirds full than a full cup with a harsh taste. And don't worry: A simple mug or cup can catch any excess coffee and prevent any splashing.

It's Out There, I Know It

2008-10-17T08:29:00.001-07:00

They don't say anything, but I can tell some people think it.

Then it goes a little too far.

clipped from www.angelfire.com

At-Home Dad banned from mom's playgroup due to the "security of our children"

When it came time to show up at his first event he got an email from the moderator that more then half of the group voted to ban him from the group. In a quote to Surrey Now the email went on to state: "I hate to discriminate, but hope you can understand when it comes to the security of our children and especially since you have not been able to attend a meetup." In the meantime Rick is now part of the At-Home Dad Network to help him find another playgroup that will accept him. Also the Surrey Now has started an online poll on the front page with the question: Do you think a Cloverdale mothers group was out of line when it rejected a Surrey father just because he was a man? So far the votes have been overwhelming in favor of Dad 80% to 20%.

Edjumakasun

2008-10-17T08:13:00.001-07:00

I agree, Daycare Epic-Fail.

Though, we do plan on visiting Little Blue's daycare of old on Halloween. Anakin Skywalker must make his rounds.

clipped from failblog.org

Speaking of Staff Day

2008-10-14T21:28:00.000-07:00

Why not show off our video? I'm not in it, but a lot of my buds are. It's a good video with some good laughs.

Pink and I Got Medals Today

2008-10-14T20:32:00.000-07:00

(after writing this, I came back up to the top to tell you to get something to drink, this is a long one because I babble...a LOT.)

So, Pink was at home with the kids yesterday while I participated in Staff Day. She had a conversation with the bus driver about today. Little Blue had a field trip coming today, so Pink and the bus driver said they'd be by to pick him up in the morning. They couldn't say when they'd be able to pick him up, but to have him ready between 7:50 and 8:20am.

No problem. We're up between 6:30 and 7 anyway, so he and I would be fed and I'd feed the girls after he was off to school.

So we're up and he's pumped about school and ready to go. Looks like it might be rain, so he's got his fireman rain jacket on and backpack is ready. I know they'd be out and about at the Louisburg Cider Mill, so staying dry would be a priority.

7:50 rolls around and we decide to wait outside, and I periodically check to hear any stirrings from the baby monitor. I'm in my super sexy sweats, pull over hoodie and crocs. We see a short bus come, but it wasn't for my dude, so the driver went on.

I check the clock and it gets to be 8:10 or so. I dash inside to grab the cordless phone in case I get a call from the bus or school. I watch the neighbor walk her kid to school, then we come back and chat some.

8:20.

8:30 and Little Blue's teacher, Miss R calls. "Is Little Blue coming on the trip?"

"Yes, but we've been waiting on the bus."

"I was told the bus service wasn't running this morning."

"My wife talked to them yesterday and they said they were."

"You might want to give them a call."

"Miss R, what time do you leave?"

"8:45."

"All right, it'll take too long to call them, Little Blue and I will scoot up to the school. See you in a few."

My head starts flying a mile a minute. 1 preschooler, 2 infants, in carriers, into a van without bases, and the school is a mile away.

"All right dude," I tell my son, "inside real quick while we strap the girls in."

"Where's the bus?"

"I'm the bus."

"Cool!"

We keep the carriers by the front door, stacked up, so I hauled them both to the couch. The girls were fussing at this point, but boy did they perk up when I came into the room. I grabbed Teal because she was more red faced than her sister and we flew down the stairs to get her buckled in. No time for diaper changes. I had 15 minutes and the clock was ticking, I'd wash the carrier pads if I had too. I then realized I'd put her in the wrong car seat.

A four letter word followed by a two letter word went off in my head, I won't tell you what it was, but you could probably guess.

I flew back upstairs, grabbed Purple and put her into Teal's seat. The dude was already giving a toy to each girl (as is our custom when we go out).

"Now what Daddy?"

I didn't have my wallet, all I had was my keys and the cordless phone, but there wasn't time to retrieve it. "Out to the car man, out to the car. Follow me!"

I grabbed on of the girls and the three of us headed out to the van. I unlocked it, got the dude in the back so he could struggle with his seat belt while I tightened the seat belt on the carrier. I'd done this once or twice before, and I got that sucker in that seat like a vice.

Little Blue was struggling with his seat belt, which was still fine, so I dashed inside and got sister and locked her down tight as well. By this time the Man finally asked for some help, so I got him locked down in the chair with his seat belt and I put my sexy self (sweatpants and crocks and all) into the drivers' seat and we were off.

"Daddy, why didn't the bus come for me? Did it forget?"

"Doesn't matter buddy, there isn't anything we can do about it now. Let's just get you to school so you can go to the Cider Mill."

"Okay!"

Time from phone call to getting everyone in the van: 4 minutes.
Time from home to school: 2 minutes

We pulled right up behind the bus. I got out and got the dude out, then we waited next to the van. I wasn't about to walk him into school and leave the girls in the car, and I wasn't about about to get them out of the car when the army of kids would be coming out. We waited about 2 minutes, then a teachers aide came off the bus and walked Little Blue into school.

"Nice drivin' Dad!"

Both girls were happy once they were out of the cribs, they didn't mind the late breakfast, and I had diapers changed within minutes of coming back home. All my kids were troopers this morning.

In the end, the three of us went to go pick him up from school. I got to catch up with some of the Preschool Moms, we jibberjabbed quite a bit before the girls were born last year, and they'd even made me some burp clothes (which are still my favorites!) and show off my daughters.

We survived, and once I got online later this afternoon, Pink earned her medal. I told her with all the craziness this morning, I didn't have anything thawing for dinner. She IM'd me instructions for the crock pot and I did as I was told and we had dinner ready just as she walked in the door.

I saved the field trip, she saved dinner, and we can both laugh about it.

Onward to more adventures.

You wanna know my advice?

2008-10-10T09:49:00.000-07:00

I hate that question.

It's the same for every parenting question I ever get asked. Do what You feel is right for Your family.

Breast or Bottle? Daycare or At Home Parent? Disposable or Reusable? Use what works for you.

If you don't know what to do, then solicit for advice or do some research. Ask your partner for their opinion, especially if you have a worry. Ask friends, with or without kids. Ask your parents (in-laws optional), read message boards, blogs, or even crack open a book (and visit the 'brary to save a buck or tw0).

I know I got annoyed as hell when everyone came to me suggesting this or that, or how to properly do X or Y. I did my best only to offer advice when asked, and I'm sure I broke my own rule a time or two.

My point is, it doesn't matter what I think. It doesn't matter what the old bitty across the street who gives you the evil eye when you wait for the school bus with an infant daughter in your arms thinks. It doesn't matter what your boss, co workers, or the women who look at the guy longingly when he plays with his son on the playground rather than getting intimate with his blackberry thinks.

What matters is what is right to you and how it makes you feel.

If your happy, who am I to tell you different?

I'm a Winner! Care of Parenthacks.com that is.

2008-10-09T21:12:00.000-07:00

This was a nice little surprise in my Google Reader this evening.

Parenthacks.com had a post about Parenting Superpowers, and readers just had to submit what they felt was their superpower. So I submitted my comment at the time and had some fun reading everyone's replies.

Then surprise! I'm a winner by random selection! Nice little surprise if I do say so myself.

I immediately had an OMG moment, then invited Pink over to my computer to share in the news.

Oh Fiddlestix

2008-10-09T08:35:00.001-07:00

Little Blue got them for a present when he turned 4, but didn't quite have the muscle to get all the pieces together. When we played with them nearly a year ago, it was more Daddy building and the dood fetching pieces.

This morning we built a jumbo jet together, and now he's working on a robot, complete with sound effects.

I'm not even going to say anything.

2008-10-08T20:00:00.001-07:00

clipped from momdadchat.com

That Makes Me Mad Daddy!

2008-10-08T08:16:00.000-07:00

I meet Little Blue at the bus stop yesterday, greeting the driver and passenger assistant. "We've had a route change, so Little Blue is going to be the second one dropped off, not the first."

"No problem," I confess.

"But...ugh...That makes me mad!" says Little Blue. I look at the bus driver, we share a chuckle, and I tell them to have a good day as the dude hops off the bus.

We get home and Little Blue stops at the porch and takes his shoes off, and I always chuckle when I see how many playground rocks he's got in there. "Daddy, I don't like being second off the bus, it makes me mad!"

"Why dude?"

"Because it does!"

"Well maybe they'll be saving gas by dropping you off second, or a new friend will be riding the bus with you. Let's get inside and get back to work on your construction set."

"All right..."

So we go about our day, the girls didn't want to nap, so they hung out in the living room with us in their playpens as I cooked some chicken and slapped it together with some Prego and rotini noodles, Pink comes home and we enjoy dinner.

The dude slammed his down, I was impressed!

So I dash upstairs and get ready for work and when I come down, I remember to mention to Pink that he's getting dropped off a little later than normal.

"And you know what Mommy?! That makes me mad!"

I sigh, because we're going over this again. "Buddy, c'mere."

"Yeah Dad?"

"Can you change when the bus drops you off?"

"No..."

"Can I change when the bus drops you off?"

"No..." he starts swinging back and forth, in this cute little "i'm fussing for a silly reason" way.

"So what can we do?"

"Awww...c'mon Dad, we don't worry about it!"

Mission accomplished.

For the Last Time

2008-10-07T08:43:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to do it for a week, but it's hard to get around to doing it, so I enlisted some toddler help to get it done.

I zapped on Lazy Town so the dude would enjoy some Sporticus, had the girls in their play saucers so they were immobile. I armed myself with a phillips-head screwdriver and an adjustable end wrench.

10 minutes later both cribs were notched down to the lowest setting. The girls hadn't pulled themselves up yet, but both their heads were above the crib line when they'd sit up in bed.

*looks around for his medal*

I Missed the VP Debate

2008-10-03T18:57:00.000-07:00

Because duty called that I come in and check out books to you, however, after reading over some of the debate, I'm sad that I missed this from Biden:

"Look, I understand what it's like to be a single parent. When my wife and daughter died and my two sons were gravely injured, I understand what it's like as a parent to wonder what it's like if your kid's going to make it.

I understand what it's like to sit around the kitchen table with a father who says, "I've got to leave, champ, because there's no jobs here. I got to head down to Wilmington. And when we get enough money, honey, we'll bring you down."

I understand what it's like. I'm much better off than almost all Americans now. I get a good salary with the United States Senate. I live in a beautiful house that's my total investment that I have. So I -- I am much better off now.

But the notion that somehow, because I'm a man, I don't know what it's like to raise two kids alone, I don't know what it's like to have a child you're not sure is going to -- is going to make it -- I understand.

I understand, as well as, with all due respect, the governor or anybody else, what it's like for those people sitting around that kitchen table. And guess what? They're looking for help. They're looking for help."

And, like I said, I missed the debate so I missed the context and the energy that was going on, but reading that, the At Home Dad in my cheered a little.

How to Drive My Wife Insane

2008-10-03T08:59:00.000-07:00

Fact: DaddyMan is a musician.

Fact: DaddyMan was in the drumline.

Fact: DaddyMan has drumline cadences on his MP3 player.

Fact: Phrases such as oomgakbombigidigacklaktakphomigidamac makes perfect sense to DaddyMan.

Fact: DaddyMan taps on everything once higher brain function start to cease. Commercials, cooking shows where I'm doing more watching that eating, waiting for mac n cheese noodles to boil...all fall victim to the tapping.

Fact: The tapping occasionally gets Teal and Purple to stop fussing. This pleases DaddyMan.

Fact: DaddyMan often taps on his chest.

Fact: When shown the webpage, Pink said, and I quote, "Have you lost all will to live?!"

Warning, the video does have some violent stuffed teddybear action. If you love your teddybears, you may not want to watch this.

Of Stargazing and Police Cars

2008-10-02T08:08:00.000-07:00

Stargazer's Alphabet - Night-sky Wonders from A to Z

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Little Blue and I just read this for the second time through. It's a little above his concept of space and time, but we still enjoyed it. It's got the usual in A to Z books (B is for the Big Dipper), but also goes into some of the details of the constellations, galaxies, and planets. We went for the alphabet only approach, and picked and chose what more he wanted to read on by the pictures. The constellations were hard to grasp though, light pollution in the city does have it's disadvantages.

We enjoyed it, and I let him into the librarian's secret when he was getting frustraited trying to come up with the right letter. "Bub...listen...I say my alphebet to myself all the time at work when I'm shelving books."

"Really?"

"Yup, every time you can't think of the right letter, sing it till you get to the one we're looking at."

"That's a great idea daddy!"

Mighty Machines - Police Cars

This was a nice quick book for Little Blue and I to enjoy. He knew most of the information because he's a curious little tot, but he enjoyed seeing the pictures and the police officers. Because he asks about driving and other cars, he knew about tickets and going too fast, and seeing police cars leading a parade, but I had fun telling him about radar and two way radios.

Course, I think he enjoyed it more because he had a couple police hotwheels in his hands too.

Who Let the Secrets Out?

2008-10-01T20:56:00.000-07:00

Shame on you!

50 reasons to date a geek

My favs:

Geeks can make your electronic life easier
They have the patience of a saint
Geeks pay attention to details
Your geek will introduce you into new things

Twitter me this, Twitter me that

2008-09-30T10:18:00.000-07:00

Edh got me mini-blogging using twitter.

Then I quickly added a gadget which would let me twitter right from the Firefox browser.

I put it over on the right, so feel free to track me down if you like.

Organize Your Home: Simple Routines for Managing Your Household

2008-09-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

Another book I grabbed from the library as I was processing hold requests. When I flipped through it at a glance, I liked the layout of the book and the stencil-like chapter headings.

But, since I work in a library, I said "What the heck." I processed the hold and put myself on the list for it.

If you've ready a couple of these type of books already, you'll find that a lot of them cover the same material, they key is glancing over thing and making notes of the gems you find as you go through it.

A couple I found in this book were

23 things that help overnight guests
Marking clothes to figure out who they belong too (going to be a big issue with Purple and Teal)
Keep a home notebook for major appliance repairs and maintenance (I use Microsoft OneNote and my hipsterPDA, but I got the idea.)

The most annoying thing for me in this book has nothing to do with the author or the layout though, it was the annoying patron who marked it up with penciled in underlines and their grammar corrections.

Still a good book, and it's small, maybe 7 inches square and 3/4 inch deep, so it was easy to move around the house with. Not like Martha's bibles that are hard bound, hard to keep open and weigh a ton.

Cleaning Up House...er...Blog

2008-09-30T08:41:00.000-07:00

I cleaned up the goodies over to the right, and opened up commenting for those of you who I was slapping on the wrist for not having a google account.

Feel free to pick on my freely, at like, no cost.

The Routine Doesn't Work If They Change the Programming!

2008-09-29T08:38:00.000-07:00

Little Blue startled me this morning. He usually gets up right around 7am, sometimes to catch Pink on her way out the door, sometimes not. He's not napping anymore during the week anymore, so we've decided to let him sleep in for a little bit.

But at 6:22am, he scared the crap out of me, the silent little sneak.

"Good morning buddy" I said with a bag of trash in my hand. "You're up early!"

"I am?" he said, puzzled.

"Yup, usually I get done with most of my work before you wake up."

"You got to work today?" (Little Blue meaning the library)

"Yup, sure do?"

"Right now?"

"No, I don't go to the library till tonight."

"Then how can you be working now?"

I chuckle. "Housework buddy, I'm doing my housework. I usually do this before you wake up."

"Oh, so where's Mommie?"

"She's upstairs getting dressed."

"How come she works a lot more than you do?"

"Mommie and I decided that it was too expensive to have you and your sisters in daycare, so we decided I'd stay at home and play with you guys all day and Mom would go to work. I just work at the library to make sure we've got enough money to get buy."

Either he didn't process it, or he decided to grab some toys from the toy bucket in the living room. After all, it was quiet and the girls were still sleeping, he had the living room to himself.

After I come back in from emptying the diaper pail and trash can, I hear the question I'd been anticipating ever since he woke up.

"Cartoons?"

I thought "yes" for a split second, then decided against it. If I let him watch them now, I'd be rewarding him for getting up earlier. I do what all parents do, tell a white lie.

"No, sorry buddy, they're not on yet. Are you ready for breakfast?"

"No, not yet."

One minute later.

"I'm ready for breakfast now."

I get his bowl of Hy-Vee brand rice chex ready as I'm finishing putting away the dishes.

He's munching along quietly as I lift out the utensil basket from the dishwasher. "Hey bub, when you get done, you've got a job to do, all right?"

He nods. Good boy, didn't talk with food in his mouth.

I get some iced tea water warming on the stove and see Pink opening the front door. Everyone is being sneaky this morning!

"Morning hun, looks like it rained overnight. Seemed a little cool out there." I glance at the clock as see she's still got ten minute. "C'mon and have some cereal. No sneaking out without breakfast when you've got time to eat."

She looked at me like she wanted to talk her way out of it, but she caved and joined the dude at the dinner table.

Wasn't too long after he had the utensils put away that it was actually time for cartoons.

"Turn it to channel 250 buddy. Two - Five - Zero." He's working on numbers and had them down pretty good (6 and 9 are still trouble), but I figured he could handle it.

Then he started to grumble. "I can't do it!?"

"So what do you need to do?"

Sheepishly, "Ask for help."

"You got it."

"Daddy, can you help me?"

"I sure ca..." I look at the TV in disbelief, then grumbled under my breath. "Buddy, you did everything right, it's the TV that's not the way it usually is. Looks like they've changed the programming again."

"Awww man! Again?!"

"Yup, lemme see what else is on..."

Gone is Bigfood: Meteor and His Monster Truck Friends and The Magic School Bus. The Learning Channel apparently changed their programming and eliminated their education friendly cartoons. He settled for Little Einsteins and some Micky Mouse Clubhouse, but it's just not the same.

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

2008-09-26T13:52:00.000-07:00

A co-worked at mine showed me this book when he complained about having too much to read on his reading list (to his credit, he was expecting a baby at the time). I didn't think much of it at the time, but I was getting more into teen/young adult books more so than the adult variety (I think reading the Bourne trilogy wore me out for a bit).

Now, granted, I'm geek at heart, and this book walks you through the lives of teens as they battle with "the man" when it comes to a terrorism threat in Frisco. It goes through the reactions of Homeland Security, discusses the cultural ideals between generations, and the bonds between friends and people who are just usernames on the screen.

The book is a good romp into the not to near future, and I found the adventure enjoyable. The only downside was it occasionally goes into the "how-to" portions of how technology is manipulated and drags that portion of the story down. Anyone who's seen the Mission Impossible movies know that everything discussed in the book is very, very, very plausible, which made it intriguing and scary all at the same time.

If you've got a teen, or want to know what it can be like to be a teen in the near future (my son is 4, so some of this may not be far off), it's a good read. It does have a love interest, and does go through some heated father/son discussions (giving up personal freedoms to feel safe, etc.).

I'd reccomend it. I myself wouldn't reread it, but it's a good book to devote some time to.

Even if most of the time was read while comforting Teal and Purple through some teething at 3am.

Sad Story to Hear

2008-09-26T09:53:00.001-07:00

At first I was furious when I saw this, but if it was between this or homelessness, it would be a hard decision to make.

clipped from www.injuryboard.com

Dad Who Left 9 Kids Talks

“I hope they know I love them,” he said. “I hope their future is better without me around them.”

Staton relinquished custody to the five boys and four girls, ages 1 to 17, at Creighton University Medical Center Wednesday night when he handed a woman the birth certificates of the children and said he was there to surrender them.

Staton’s wife died early last year of a brain aneurysm shortly after giving birth to their youngest child. He then had to quit his job so couldn’t pay rent or utilities.

“I was with her for 17 years, and then she was gone. What was I going to do? We raised them together. I didn’t think I could do it alone. I fell apart. I couldn’t’ take care of them.”

He says he wanted to get them to a safe place before they were homeless.

Instant Toddler Dancing Initiated

2008-09-26T09:43:00.000-07:00

I checked this out from the library last night after I saw it come through for a hold for someone else earlier this week.

The dude loves it.

As a Percussionist

2008-09-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

I can usually get the all three of my chitlins to settle down once I start whipping our paradiddles or cadences from days gone by.

Yes, you may begin feeling sympathy for my wife now. ;)

But I'm I'm always a fan of beatboxes and remixes. Even the Toddler variety.

We Love Trains

2008-09-25T09:13:00.000-07:00

Little Blue and I just finished watching this video on maglev trains.

Pity I can't play with it. :(

3yo Star Wars

2008-09-24T12:14:00.000-07:00

Cute.

Since My Son is Anakin This Halloween

2008-09-24T12:04:00.001-07:00

This video fits :)

Of Grocery Cart Seats (and Math)

2008-09-23T11:31:00.000-07:00

Actually chat transcript between Pink and I, slightly edited to keep it PG-13 for language:

Pink: hey babe

Blue: Sup sweets?

Pink: wuz just readin yer blog. didja know lilypie makes age trackers for twins? so it could have two lil faces on it?

Blue: lol

Blue: I remember looking at them and didn't like tem.

Blue: them even

Pink: O I C

Pink: you're too picky

Blue: I might change it once it becomes their birthday.

Blue: Yes.

Blue: I married you didn't. I'm a patient little brat.

Pink: so I looked at the cushiony shopping cart thingies today. they are $40 each.

Blue: crap.

Pink: yeah.

Blue: that's a lot, but it's a one time purchase that'll last a while.

Blue: But Little Blue didn't die either.

Pink: yeah. I don't know. The carts are freakin me out. but it seems like a lot of effort to get the thing on there before you can ever sit them in it and strap them in. Maybe we should just bring clorox wipes in the car and grab one or two before we head in to the store.

Blue: Why do they freak you out now and not with Little Blue?

Pink: because I didn't think about it back then, how people sneeze and cough and touch food or diapers or trash and then walk in and grab a cart.

Pink: or about how diapers so frequently leak, especially cheap ones, and then your kid is sitting in the residue of some other kids urine

Pink: and how everything a baby touches with her hands will wind up in her mouth because they suck their fingers and thumbs.

Pink: It didn't occur to me what exactly he'd be touching and then putting his fingers into his mouth

Blue: fair enough.

Pink: I just knew I wouldn't actually let him put his mouth on it, and thought that was good enough. but his hands touch it, and that's what I didnt' consider

Blue: You're not supposed to place anything on the clorox wipes immediatly though, the label says it has to sit damp for 10 minutes to air dry to be effective.

Blue: So I'd shoot for the cart thingies

Blue: (reads labels while meditating)

Pink: I'm not looking for 99.9% germ annihilation. I just want any residues wiped off.

Pink: even a regular wet wipe would be better than nothing

Blue: Will baby wipes work then?

Blue: lemme see, if we'd have to buy two, that's 80 bucks. Each wipe is 2 cents. that's 50 per dollar, so we'd have to use 4,000 of them to offset the cost.

Pink: they certainly stink less than Clorox wipes.

Blue: lol

Blue: amen to that

Pink: If we use two wipes per cart every time we go shopping, one for the seat and one for the handle bars, and we'll mostly use 2 carts, and we mostly shop at no more than 3 stores per weekend, that's twelve wipes per week. They would last six years before costing the same as the plushy things

Blue: Math rules.

How To Make Sweet Tea

2008-09-23T11:07:00.000-07:00

Chat online with a girl in California.
Find out that you like her, but she's attached. You keep an eye on other girls, but keep in good touch with Cali girl.
Tell Cali girl you loved her first. (wins!)
Spend a lot of time chatting online in college.
Meet each other's family.
Drag her to KS.
Help her move out of your own bedroom into her own apartment
Finish college, putting up with her complaining she has to drive more because your an RA and can't leave the building most weekends
Graduate
Get married renfest style at Shawnee Mission Park
Move into a better apartment closer to work
Ask how to make huge batches of iced tea.
Listen to story about how her mom makes the best sweet tea
Put it off. Sounds like a lot of work.
Move to a different apartment.
Forgot you asked once and ask the tea question again
Nod and smile through the story, after all, you asked.
Still sounds like a lot of work
Have a son, move into a house
Curse when you go out to eat at tea costing 1.19 to buy, knowing it takes less than a time to make.
Have identical twin girls, become a stay at home dad because it's cheaper than paying for daycare (and more fun!)
Ask...yet again...the iced tea question.
Listen again to the story, but this time, as she's talking about it, get it done.

Get large pot and serving vessel
Pour water into the serving vessel
Pour water into pot
Crank the heat, getting little bubbles to appear at the bottom of the pot, but not boiling
Tie 6 tea bags together, discarding the paper and paperclip tops
Toss the teabags into the empty pot, then pour the hot water into the empty pot.
Add Splenda/Sugar to your hearts content (we use 2/3 to 3/4 cup per gallon)
Cover and steep 30 minutes.
Uncover and toss teabags out
Let cool
Pour into serving vessel
Put vessel into fridge, or serve immediately with a ton o' ice

Pink and I chug down a gallon of the stuff roughly every 2 to 3 days. Delicious, cheap, though we slowly decrease the Splenda amount till we get it right.

I'm Still an Office Geek

2008-09-22T08:21:00.001-07:00

Edh, a former cube mate of my (back from the good ol' training days), sent me this link about Moleskine's Memo Pocket Accordion File. Instantly I drooled, then simmered down into reality that as much as I want it, I don't need it.

I keep my Hipster PDA on my person most of the time. For the curious, it's basically a stack of 10-20 notecards (remember those, from the dreaded speech class?) that's kept together with a gator clip. Grab a pen and you've got an instant PDA. Browse the web and people have all sorts of templates and ideas for you to hack your own memory saver.

Need a calendar? I usually care a moleskine calendar around, though I admit I'm slacking on that lately. I even integrated the two for a little bit (gatorclip against the cover with some notecards stashed in), but didn't have an easy place to put the more stiff moleskine and accidentally left it at work a time or two.

The hPDA has been helping around the house quite a bit. Since I'm at home till 5:30pm Monday through Wednesday, I snagged some cookbooks from the 'brary and have been writing down recapies that I can get done in 30 minutes or so with 5 or less ingredients (Sorry Rachel Ray!). I've cataloged them in according to main ingredient for easy variety. It's also reminded me to look up what spiders don't like (furnature polish), sign up for coupons at Malt-o-Meal, and jot down names of movies I need to request from the 'brary. It's excellent for capturing ideas when you know you'll forget them later.

Things You Don't Say To Your Wife

2008-09-18T10:20:00.001-07:00

Ironically, sent to me by my wife. :)

How to Get Twins to Sleep Through The Night

2008-09-18T10:20:00.000-07:00

This post below at Wired got me thinking about all the jaw dropping expressions I get when I tell everyone our girls have been sleeping through the night since they were 4mo old. I also liked the cute onesie.

It involves 4 tools.

1. White noise machine. Little Blue's was a Winnie the Pooh plush that tied to the edge of his crib. It would either play an annoying good night song (which I hear randomly in my nightmares now) or the sound of Mom's heartbeat in the womb (which, I swear, sounds like the engine of the Enterprise on The Next Generation going fast).

For the girls, Pink purchased one that has a whole bunch of fancy noises on it, but since she's a Cali girl at heart, we leave it on ocean waves. It soothes the girls just fine, and Pink get some residual soothing through the baby monitor. (though, I secretly think it's my Vader-like CPAP machine).

2. Speaking of Baby Monitors, we've got two. A video style with a blue light (purchased to check on choking fits when they first arrived home), and an audio only style with a red light. I'm sure they stare at those for a while when they're trying to sleep (and as a bonus they provide us with a monitor on every floor when they're in bed).

3. A homemade mini hot air balloon made with pillow stuffing and a wicker basket. Made by a co-worker, we give it a spin and the girls (and Little Blue before them) so they've got something else to stare at.

4. Tags, the one trait that all my children share. They each get a blanket with a tag on it, and we're sure to place it in their hot little hands before we turn off the light and leave the room. Doesn't matter initially, because they'll turn and get on all fours to look at the door or to turn and start talking to each other, but in the morning they've usually got those tags in their hands.

Lunch Thieves

2008-09-16T09:18:00.001-07:00

Sneaky punks. Might make for a good way to deter theft in the workplace, but if you let the tot in on the secret, he'll be the coolest kid in the lunch room.

"Dude! Your Dad made it look like it's moldy in the bag?! Cool!"

Little Blue is still in preschool this year, but next year might make it fun. Perhaps I'll do it on April Fools Day.

clipped from lifehacker.com

If office gremlins are making off with your daily meal, innovative designer Sherwood Forlee has a clever solution: the Anti-Theft Lunch Bag. Simply put, Anti-Theft Lunch Bags "are regular sandwich bags that have green splotches printed on both sides." With your sandwich inside, the bag simulates mold and makes the contents look disgusting. These bags aren't available for purchase, but the idea shouldn't be difficult to replicate if you need more sandwich security at your workplace. Th

Just Be Careful With The Pelvic Thrusts

2008-09-15T21:56:00.001-07:00

Little Blue has a new pastime, coined "Basement Time." When the girls are down for their nap, us parental units will accompany him down to the basement where there's more room to move around and play in.

On occasion, Pink or I will play some games on the computer while LB enjoys his Little People town and train set, or towing his cars around the room. There's been a time or two he and I sat down and made a race track for the hot wheels to cruise on.

But on occasion, Pink or I need to get some boring work done. Paying bills, checking email, watching a funny (but safe for kids!) you tube video.

For the last couple weeks, I had to work on some handouts for a class I taught tonight on Word and Excel 07. Needless to say, a whole bunch of clicking and typing isn't exciting, so Pink and I have gotten into the habit of turning on our MP3 player to help keep the room hopping.

Little Blue loves it, and loves music in general. He's starting to sing along in the car, and once, even told Pink "don't stop singing Mommy, you've got a pretty voice."

(When some guys sing, a fairy looses their wings...when I sing...elephants die. Blue does not sing.)

Putting on some really rocking music gets him all worked up and tired out for bed time, and...of course...Pink and I get up and slow dance around a room of toys to the song we danced too at our wedding, Extreme's More Than Words.

clipped from www.parenthacks.com

I've found that turning on music and having a dance party is excellent for both of us. We both get some exercise, he becomes better with coordination and learns new ways to stretch and move, and I can work in a bunch of leg-lifts and whatnot. As we're dancing, I point out different parts of the song (e.g., "Okay, the drums are coming in now!"), play air guitar with him, pick him up and twirl him around, that kind of thing. He incorporates his stuffed animals into the dancing, copies my moves, comes up with his own--heck, sometimes he just runs around the couch in circles. He's good for 4-5 songs, sometimes more; so you get 20-30 minutes' worth of workout.

Finger Nail Polish

2008-09-15T21:39:00.001-07:00

I remember when my Mom started putting my last name on my school crap, it was annoying. Even my darn Lazer Tag lunch box had my last name in all caps in an ugly glittery fingernail polish ugly color.

I hated it.

Still, I had that lunch box for three or more years, and it never faded away.

With the girls' though, since their coined Purple and Teal here, those are the colors we usually stick to for everything when it comes to keeping things separated. I'm thankful Pink didn't want our girls to be in pink all the time. There is such a thing as too much of one color.

clipped from www.parenthacks.com

Labeling supplies for preschool reminded me of when I needed to label sippy cups and bottles for daycare. Tape peels off, and while Sharpies last a while, on some plastics a while only seemed to be a couple of washings and then I was trying to figure out which of two identical cups was the one we brought. What I started doing instead was using fingernail polish. It's not the easiest thing to write with, but you can at least get initials on most things and it lasts a lot longer.

I'm Leaving On A Jet Plane

2008-09-12T18:13:00.003-07:00

Pink is singing it, and Purple is babbling along.

Too cute.

Little Blue is kicking some soccer goals.

Ah Tornado Alley, How I Tolorate Thee

2008-09-12T16:16:00.000-07:00

So, I was working on dinner. Nothing special, just some Hamburger Helper and cornbread. Little Blue was playing some bowling on the Wii. Pink walks in the door from work and we talk for about 2 minutes.

Then the siren went off.

No, not that siren, the siren that the HH is done on the stove.

So we talk some more and I turn off the burners, then THOSE sirens went off. Pink knew the rain was coming but not when or where.

Pink and I gave each other a look, we both told Little Blue to go in the basement, and we started up to get the girls down from their nap.

Pink told me to get the saucers, so I followed LB down with the saucers in hand, then met Pink at the basement stairs to take Purple.

For the next 30 minutes we scoured the web figuring out how everything was going on outside.

Once we figured we were in the clear and everyone was settled, I brought down dinner, plate by plate so we could eat in the basement. Wasn't any point hauling us all back upstairs when it was just going to keep coming at us.

So LB is playing with his toys and running around like a mad man entertaining his sisters while Pink and I keep and eye on the weather.

Costumes for the Girls

2008-09-10T12:51:00.001-07:00

Since Pink and I met online, I'm sure this isn't too far off. *chuckle*

clipped from blog.wired.com

What?!

2008-09-09T10:34:00.000-07:00

*slaps my own forehead*

Every Time I Hear a Stay Wars Question...

2008-09-09T09:26:00.001-07:00

...it reminds me of when Pink and I played Star Wars Trivial Pursuit.

The question was, "What type of shuttle does the Emperor use to board the Death Star?"

My answer, "A Lambda Class Shuttle."

Silence, then Pink's outcry, "I don't even know if that's right!"

"What do you mean? I know it's right."

"But I don't know what a Lambda Class is!"

"It's the tri-foil shuttle, usually used to transport high ranking officials. It's slow, but has front and rear cannons and high armor. I think it also has light speed capabilities, but I can't be sure since they usually only go between capital ships or on boarding parties to planets."

"But the answer just says 'shuttle!"

"Well, I win, so give me the pie piece. It's not my fault I like playing X-Wing, Tie Fighter, and X-Wing vs Tie Figher."

clipped from blog.wired.com

Credential checks can happen to anyone, at anytime. The other day my fiancée messaged me, "Do you know what AT-AT stands for?
Don't look it up!" Wondering why she would bore
me with such an easy question, I replied back "All Terrain...uh.." My mind went blank. Sweat began to
ball up on my brow. This is my son's favorite vehicle. Heck, this was
my favorite toy growing up. Brain racing, I finished the sentence "Assault Transport."
I slumped back into my chair feeling like I may have dodged a bullet.
A look of disbelief played across my face as the message "Armored Transport" appeared on the screen. I hung my head in shame, finding
solace only in the fact that this had not been a real cred check. My son would not be as forgiving
as she was.

At Hom Dad Gangster Rap

2008-09-09T09:13:00.000-07:00

Hey Vanilla, kick it one more time, boiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Stay at Home Dad Rap - Watch more free videos

I'm A Dead Beat Dad

2008-09-08T20:57:00.000-07:00

Well, not really, but if you read between the lines on an application, I just might be.

School sends home a letter that Little Blue needs some documentation for school. I give them a buzz back, remind them they should have the records already because they had them last year. They don't have them, so I confirm what they needed and start document hunting.

Birth certificate. Check. Proof of address. Check. Social Security Card.

Oops.

LB's Social Security Card is a running joke between Pink and I. We know we placed it some where so good we can't find it. We had a photocopy of it at one point, but then that disappeared. Whenever it's been needed, we go look at past tax forms and write it in.

No big deal though. We do some looking and it'll take 2 weeks to get it done if your drop off he paperwork. I tell Pink we're doing it today because she's home sick, but mobile.

Why does she have to go, while she's sick you ask? Surely the man who gets down on his hands an knees to clean the floor can't cut the Mrs a break and go do it himself?

Nope. According to the Social Security Office, when a dependent needs a new card, the Mother's information has to be on the replacement form. Dad's info doesn't cut it.

I wanted to make sure I read it right, and Pink confirmed it.

"Yup, you're a deadbeat Blue."

So we went in today to get it, and we had to have something more recent than his birth certificate that had his name and DOB on it. Pink's got a doctor invoice she can cough up and will have to go back and do it again.

Because I'm a deadbeat. And we had fun with it over our lunch conversation.

Pink: "So, what happens when the mother leaves?"

Blue: "I'll bet Dad has to show divorce paperwork and blah blah blah to show the divorce is finalized."

Pink: "Yeah, but what if they were never married and she ran off?"

Blue: "Hey! I'm supposed to be the deadbeat here."

Just the same though, the people at the local office were kind, the wait was short, and they were able to provide us something for the school that'll confirm his SSN, we'll just have to go back to the SS Office to get the paperwork in for his replacement card.

Still, it kind of ticks me off. I'm a stay at home dad, and under the "other duties as assigned" is stuff like this.

Ah well, I got a good lunch with Pink out of it. It wasn't all bad. :)

Dinner Tonight

2008-09-03T20:24:00.000-07:00

Pan Seared Chicken Breast
Canned Green Beans
Corn Bread
Triple Chocolate Brownies

Pink and I had Diet Coke, the Dude had some water. I cooked, Pink and Little Blue cleaned up, and I went to work.

Then Pink fed Teal and Purple:
Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
Garden Mixed Vegetables with Rice Cereal(as a thickener)
Banana Puffs

Delicious.

Voting, How it All Works on Paper

2008-09-03T19:54:00.000-07:00

More complicated than majority! I remember going over this in high school and didn't get it, and it wasn't in college until I got interested in what the heck is going on in the world did I figure out it.

Cancel Phone Book Delivery

2008-09-03T08:41:00.001-07:00

I checked with Pink before signing us up to have ours stopped, and it's a good thing, because I apparently toss them out (or make them really really really hard to find) when she needs one.

So we won't be doing it, but if your tired of receiving them, Yellowpagesgoesgreen.org can help stop them from being delivered.

clipped from www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org

Yellowpagesgoesgreen.org is an organization working to educate consumers and promote the green movement to eliminate the unsolicited delivery of Yellow and White Pages books. This site is aimed at starting a national movement to solicit the White/Yellow Pages industry to proactively stop the delivery of books or to begin moving legislation to mandate the stoppage of this activity. This movement should be similar to the National No-Call Registry that have stopped and/or decreased the number of unwanted solicitations telephone calls to consumers.

Yellowpagesgoesgreen.com was started because we are continually bombarded with Yellow and White Page directories at both home and office. The movement is not intended to stop the use of such directories, but to eliminate the unsolicited delivery of the books. If we want a book we will call and order one.

Wall mounted Laptop Station

2008-09-02T09:02:00.001-07:00

I'd mentioned to Pink some time back about setting up a small computer workstation in the livingroom/entryway since we spend a lot of our time there with the family and we need to hop online for a little satiating of the curiosity.

Now, we usually use the Wii browser for that, but I still find this little beauty attractive. I don't have the wall space for it (hence the reason why the workstation never came to light), but I can see this being useful.

Thankfully, the girls nap pretty consistently, so I've got time to hope on the desktop and gab with Pink for a couple minutes.

When you met your wife online, staying connected is a moral imperative.

clipped from unclutterer.com

It’s very similar to the eNook Workstation we discussed in January, and a lot less expensive at $69.99. The front of the Laptop Workstation folds down and has cubbies for small-item storage.

Making Sure I'm Getting My Monies Worth

2008-09-01T20:13:00.000-07:00

I've been kinda curious about Costco, so I wanted to start making sure the bulk purchases are paying off. At our last visit, I calculated how much I'm paying per unit (ounce, gallon, or quantity) to make sure it's all working out.

Here's what I've found so far. And sure, you can go cheaper by not buying some of this stuff, but since Pink's favorite snack is Cheezits and a Diet Coke, sometimes its just worth it.

Drinks
Diet Coke per can = $0.22
CranGrape per gallon = $3.40
Apple Juice per gallon = $3.38
Gallon of milk = $2.99

Crackers
Graham Crackers per box = $1.85
Cheezits per ounce = $0.13

Baby Requirements
Wipes per wipe = $0.02
Formula per ounce = $0.39
Diapers per diaper = $0.12

I'm thinking I might be able to do better for the juices and the graham crackers. The apple juice and graham crackers are name brand, so I'll probably get more nosey at the grocery store and see how they compare.

I know the gallon of milk is a steal, at one point it was a dollar cheaper than the grocery store. The Cheezits were 2 cents cheaper per ounce when compared to our Target trip.

The baby stuff, is all Costco/Kirkland brand. We've found that while they're the cheapest of the lot, the diapers hold vast quantity of 'surprises' overnight, the wipes don't irritate their skin, and the formula has all the goodies as the name brands and their tummy's can handle it. Plus, the diapers come in packs of 300, which means we only have to buy them roughly once a month.

After having a spreadsheet to crunch the numbers, I wrote these on a note card in my Hipster PDA. If I need to do some calculations on the fly, I pull out my cell phone and do the math.

And trust me, you should. Sometimes those slices of cheese look like their cheaper if you buy 24, but you'd be surprised when the 16 pack is cheaper than the 24 or the 'I'm having a cookout and half the county is invited' packs.

A Penny Saved is Worth the Principal of the Thing

2008-09-01T20:01:00.001-07:00

Would I have done this? Probably not, but if it was the person in front of me at the register, I would have stayed there and cheered them on.

After all, you get tired of seeing 'FREE' flashed all over town with that cursed little asterisk next to it.

clipped from www.getrichslowly.org

Why I Fought to Save Three Bucks (and Why You Should Too)

clipped from www.getrichslowly.org

On Friday I visited Office Depot for school backpacks at the killer price of $2.99. Along with other loss-leader school supplies, they’ll be donated to a local social services agency. At the checkout, I handed over a “20% off all backpacks” coupon from an Office Depot mailer. The cash register wouldn’t accept the coupon. “These are already on sale so the coupon won’t work,” the salesclerk said.

The manager, whom I’ll call Nancy, tried several other tacks. She pored over the fine print in the store’s weekly ad — complaining it was hard to read because the doctor had dilated her eyes that morning — but nothing in the ad excluded coupons. She said that “corporate” never intended for coupons to be used with sale items, and that’s why the computer wouldn’t allow it — the computer is programmed by “corporate.”

If that’s the case, I suggested, then “not valid with sale items” ought to be written on the coupon.

Lego Olympics

2008-08-31T20:57:00.001-07:00

Little Blue and I enjoyed them, but the little boy in me would have loved to have done these.

clipped from visualfunhouse.com

Worst Night in a Long Time

2008-08-25T07:01:00.000-07:00

The girls had me earning my At Home Dad paycheck last night, but my wife wouldn't let me earn it. :)

Little Blue woke up with a stuffed up nose Saturday night, which we just attributed to allergies. He came knocking about 10:30pm. "Daddy!!!!! My noses is blockandican'tbreathebecauseit'sblocked!!!" I got him some toilet paper to blow his nose with, and told him if it happened again, not to freak out, just to get out of bed and blow his nose again.

Sunday night it was the girls turn, though I only know this Monday morning on my second cup of coffee.

Pink and I headed up to bed around 11:30pm (well, I was ready at 11:10, but she had to finish a side quest in Morrowind). At 12:38am the crying began, or we were made aware of it. Pink nudged me and I got up to make sure whomever was awake that their limbs were inside the crib and they had a tag to nuzzle.

(They've both picked up the affinity of tags that Little Blue had as a tyke. Purple more than Teal, but they both love the texture. It helps sooth them.)

Purple was crying a fit, so I gave her the necessities, and promptly left the room. I went back to bed, making sure I was laying uncomfortably and kept a timer for 10 minutes. If she didn't go back to sleep by then, I'd go get her and sooth her in the living room, away from the baby monitor's so Pink could get some sleep.

10 minutes came and went, so I grabbed her, turned on the TV to keep myself awake, and started doing everything I could to get her calmed down. Pink came down 3 minutes later, suggesting I make a bottle because they both didn't have anything to drink with dinner.

She headed into make it, but found a huge bug on the floor of the kitchen. She turned into the soother, I turned into the great hunter, then the provider, and in a couple minutes Purple was sucking down a bottle like she hadn't eaten in a week.

I found some Samurai Jack on the DVR and we watched it, and when it was over, we headed back up to bed.

Apparently Purple told Teal what happened, so 3 minutes later it was her turn. Knowing what needed to be done, I got up, made the bottle and got Teal fed. No Jack this time though, I was hoping to make this one short and sweet.

It was, till Teal now woke up Purple again.

*deep sigh*

It wasn't a full onslaught cry through, you could hear the sleepy in it. I resigned myself to my fate, then went into our bedroom and turned off the baby monitor so Pink could sleep, then came down into the living room and listened to the girls hopefully put themselves to bed.

Right at the 10 minute limit, Pink poked her head down from the top of the stairs.

"I can't sleep."

"I turned the monitor off so you could sleep."

"I know, but I hear my babies crying and I'm sad. Can I come snuggle you?"

So then we're snuggling to another episode of Samurai Jack. We had to sit up or something, and she gave me a puppy dog look.

I gave her a brief lecture of "tell me if you want something, just don't give me a look. I'll go get your daughter if you want me to, just tell me."

"Yes DaddyMan, please go get Purple."

So they snuggled while we found bad television for a little bit, and finally got back to bed at 3am.

So Pink and I are running on empty today. :) Love is grand.

Not this crude matter...

2008-08-20T08:59:00.000-07:00

I'm a firm believer in energy, that it does flow through us. What is actually is or what you call it is up to interpretation, call it what you will, each has or own definition of it.

Plants take energy from the soil, and through some kinky interaction with some insects, pollination, water, and sunlight, they turn that energy into growth and they go about their daily business. What doesn't get consumed by animals, insects, and us being human returns back to earth so that it can become energy again for plants of the next generation.

What does get consumed, well, is energy passing on from one entity to another. All the work that the plants did gives us carbon based life forms energy to go about our daily business. If an insect gets consumed by an animal, that energy is passed on so that animal can live another day. That animal can then eventually arrive at my dinner table, with a side of plant, and I to consume that energy so I can continue on to do the DaddyMan thing. Eventually, I too will cease to function, and what energy I have will return deep into the earth in some form or fashion, and over time, and no matter how thick the box, the earth will have it's way with me and my energy will return back to the earth so it can have it's way with me.

Like it or not, I, like all of us, are from the earth, and as good buddy Carl would agree, we're all stardust.

But that doesn't mean I don't miss my kitty.

Immortality isn't measured in years, it's measures in memories.

Back To School and new Routines.

2008-08-20T08:38:00.000-07:00

Ah, tis the season for listening to the diesel bus as it comes down the street to pick up The Dude.

School started Friday, but we rustled up the girls and took him in for his first day, then I got the girls together again and picked him up from school. Now, we shoot baskets waiting for the bus in the afternoon while the girls are napping.

Little Blue loves going back to school, and we were glad to find out 5 of his classmates were returning. Pink and I chuckled his first day when we walked him into class...he immediately went over to hang up his backpack, was a little confused when he didn't see his name on a hook (they hadn't gotten them up yet), then headed right on over to the circle and sat on his spot he had last year.

Yeah, he was ready. :)

So it's adjusting to the new routine week, and we're doing all right. Here's the crazy DaddyMan schedule for those who're curious how I remain sane.

6am: Pink and I wake up and get ready for the day
6:50ish: The three of us sit down for breakfast
7: Pink heads to work, I start getting breakfast for the girls ready, Little Blue watches Meteor and his Monster Truck friends and The Magic School Bus.
7-8am: The girls down 4oz of cereal and 3oz of water/apple juice
8am: We all watch some Transformers Animated (I'm a kid too!)
8:30am: Olympics or some sort of educational TV while the girls let their food settle in the saucers. I'm impressed that Little Blue is learning the names of several countries by their flags.
9:30/10am: Girls go down for their nap. The Dude and I head into the basement for some play time.
11:30: Lunch and getting ready for school
12:10: Little Blue and I head out and shoot baskets
12:15: Bus arrives and takes him to school
12:16: Girls get up from their nap, have a pit stop, then head down for tummy time
1:15: Girls get an 8oz bottle of formula.
1:45: Ladies are back down for a nap.
1:45-3:30pm: Dad relaxes in a zen state, usually by taking care of the trash, dishes, laundry, and watching a movie...or just napping.
3:30: I head outside and wait for the bus to drop LB off from school.
3:30-4: Little Blue debriefs from school, usually by me asking several questions to get the information I need. And we unload the backpack to see any goodies he's got (daily sheets, parent information, this week it was yearbook and t-shirt order forms)
M-W 4pm: I start cooking dinner. It'll be on the table at 5 so we can all eat when Pink comes home from work. I leave at 5:30pm for work.
TH 4pm: I'll get dinner for the dude and myself ready. I'll kiss Pink and head for work at 5pm.
F 4pm: I might cook dinner, we might go out, or I might wait for Pink to come home and I'll go grab some carry out. Usually we do Papa Murphy Fridays though because we're a sucker for pizza.

Pretty boring huh?

How Many Parenting Books Did I Read?

2008-08-14T20:03:00.000-07:00

I had a coworker ask me that the other day. In truth I didn't read a single one. My wife Pink on the other hand was a baby and parenting book fiend. I know she read What to Expect When You're Expecting cover to cover, and I'm pretty sure she made a massive dent into What To Expect During the First Year.

In fact, I think she bought the Expecting book the week we found out bun number one was on the way. Once we'd gotten cozy at home and she cracked the book, we had, as some men dread...The Conversation.

Pink had this glow of "I am with child" and she was bouncing around sitting on the couch with me. Chances are I was trying to convince her to let me play on the PS2.

"So...you wanna read the book with me?" You could tell she was bursting to ask about it.

I took a deep sigh, and I knew what I was going to say ever since the bookstore. "Honey, if you think I'm going to read that thing cover to cover, you're a little out of it. I will, however, stop whatever I'm doing at any given time when you find something that I should know. I will stop, listen, and discuss."

I could tell she was a little disappointed, perhaps a little crushed, but I held my ground.

And that's how it went. We'd watch TV together and she'd read, and we'd turn off the TV and talk. I'd be playing on the PS2, I'd pause listen, and talk.

Do I remember what those conversations were about now, over 4 years later? Not a one. But I remember the fun we had during those discussions. Pink sharing tidbits of her worries, curiosities, and getting my opinions on everything infant.

But, as a stay at home Dad, I'd be a liar if I said I didn't check out parenting blogs and message boards. I'm a geek like that.

Nation of Wimps

2008-08-14T19:51:00.000-07:00

As my job as a Circulation Clerk, I come across at least 200 books a shift. Some I just look through, others I check out the flaps, a lot I put on request (fine exempt status has its perks!), and some catch my eye.

Granted, I don't read parenting books as a hobby, but I saw this cover and chuckled. I know little about the book, but the title hints at a grain of truth, I think.

12 Tips From My Work

2008-08-11T10:37:00.000-07:00

My favorite service is using the library as my Netflix, or bringing a new book home nearly every day to the dude and ladies. :)

We Burnt the Dude Once

2008-08-05T08:22:00.001-07:00

Metal Buckle on a car seat, it's one of those moments where you curse at yourself because you should have known better, your children expect you to make sure they don't get hurt, and they don't know better.

It happened once, but it didn't happen again.

This might be a cool idea though, I just wonder how much wear and tear the blankets might put up with. Ideas?

clipped from www.parenthacks.com

Keep car seats cool with reflective emergency blankets

A friend of ours has a great hack to keep their kids' car seats cooler in hot Las Vegas -- they cover up the seats with an inexpensive reflective emergency blanket (the silver ones). The seats stay noticeably cooler, even when it's 110 degrees in the shade!

Sterotypes Dictate I Shouldn't Like This

2008-08-05T07:46:00.001-07:00

But considering I cross stitch on occasion to relax, I like the nine hole buttons that'll allow you to put stuff on kid's clothing. I'd shy away from names though for safety though.

Or just to create a button alphabet to play with. Pocketsized and fun.

clipped from www.babygadget.net

ABC buttons

A nine-hole button: it's a simple idea, which allows you to configure your stitches cunningly, and spell out any letter of the alphabet. How about your child's name on a cardi or coat, or simply a line of buttons on a hat or hem, spelling out the message of your choice... Ok, there's a slight air of accessorised-to-the-edge-of-madness about it, but I can still see the appeal. Now when will they bring them out in brighter colours?

ABC buttons, via Charles and Maire.

The Time for Barad-Dur has Come

2008-08-05T07:28:00.001-07:00

Alas, to my three children, I shall become as the Dark Lord servant and build a gate to contain the army within.

Naw, actually, Pink and I have a meeting tonight and Aunt B and Cousin K are coming over to watch the chitlins, and I'm putting up the baby gates to keep the little ones off the stairs and out of the kitchen. And since the girls are boarderline crawling and already willing to hold on to our hands and stand up for several minutes at a time, it's time to put the gates up and leave them up.

For probably a year or two. *deep sigh* I'll help them "march" up the stairs for naptimes and bed times, and the kitchen will be off limits due to the trash cans and all harmful things kitchen.

Then I won't have to put tape over the trashcan. Not that it's a bad idea, but we've got a walk through kitchen, so we put the swinging gates up so we don't have to mess with babyproofing everything under in the kitchen.

Kudos to Pink for the LOTR terminology. I knew the Black Gates had a name, but she messaged me back so fast with the name it was unbelievable.

clipped from www.parenthacks.com

Our little munchkin, starting at about 9 or 10 months, began to scoot around furniture and the like, pulling herself up to a standing position. The garbage can posed too great a temptation, and soon she was digging around in old cans, pieces of paper and other miscellanea. A small piece of electrical tape works wonders; easy access for parents, and effective childproofing (so far - she's almost a year now).

Mom, Can We Play With Our Food

2008-08-05T06:55:00.001-07:00

Tetris was the only video game my mother ever played on the NES.

clipped from blog.wired.com

Sadly, these awesome Tetris-inspired ice trays are not available in the United States yet (they are, appropriately, Russian), but as soon as they are, I predict big sales. Indeed, I could see using a little food coloring to ensure each shape is the right color. Now, when is someone going to work on some Space Invader ice trays?

The Debate Is On

2008-08-05T06:49:00.001-07:00

Sure it's August, but we're already talking Halloween at the Pamphlet Palace. Little Blue has been on a Transformers kick, and Pink is planning on taking him to see the new Star Wars animated moving coming out.

Little Blue and I have discussed about getting some boxes together and turn him into a Transformer, but Pink feels I've corrupted my son and Star Wars should reign supreme.

Either way, the Dude picks. I tried and tried and tried to turn him into a little Yoda with bouncing ears when he was a wee tyke, but he didn't go for it. Spiderman won (considering he's seen maybe 2 cartoons of him and no movies, I find odd, but that's me. But, he is approaching Padawan size...

We'll see how it turns out. I just know I'll be disappointed since I can't turn myself into Kit Fisto.

clipped from blog.wired.com

Fighting an Addiction.

2008-08-04T08:35:00.001-07:00

So for the past 3 weeks or so, Little Blue and I have been working with Samus Aran and beating Metroid Prime 3 on the Wii. We'd wait till the girls were down for their naps and fire it up, learning about the universe and fighting off Space Pirates and Metroids.

And to defend myself from the how could you crowd, my son now knows...

What X-ray machines are. We had a visor that let us use x-rays to see certain things, including the bones within Samus' arms and legs.
Reiterating the try, try, try again approach. At one point it took me an hour to figure out how to beat a boss, and we'd spend time discussing what we learned every time and how to do it better. After that hour we turned it off for the rest of the day.
What scanning is, as in scanning the environment. Another visor fed us information about the culture and what could be done in the environment. By scanning our environment, we could see what or how something could be done. We now "scan" for items that we forgot to put away.

I think we finished it Thursday, so Friday was a no video game day. Monday rolls around, and the dude asks if I want to play Transformers the video game for the bazillionth time (not to mention my 3rd play though and it would be his 2nd).

"No bud, I don't. I've still got to put away the Costco groceries from yesterday."

He offers a mean, impatient toddler sigh.

"Is there a problem, Little Blue?"

"YOU ALWAYS WANT TO PLAY METROID PRIME!"

Quietly, "I don't want to play Metroid Prime."

"But you DO!"

"I don't."

"Well...well...THAT'S NOT BRILLIANT!"

A Top 10 At Home Dad List

2008-08-04T08:31:00.001-07:00

It's a good list, and I agree with the whole thing.

Number 2 is a little iffy because I get it both ways. Some people look at me that way, but when I actually interact with Little Blue as he's cruising around or crashes into be for a big hug, then they get the little puppy dog eyes as if to say, "oh I wish my hubby...."

Then there was the time a woman offered me her phone number while Little Blue was shaking a box of hamburger helper in the grocery store.

clipped from makeminemediocre.blogspot.com

The top 10 things I have learned as a stay-at-home dad (only a couple days a week).

Some background: Big Apple's company closed a few weeks ago. So, he watches Papple a couple days a week and job searches on the other days. These are his thoughts regarding his experience as a part-time, stay home dad.

Pop Quiz Hot Shot!

2008-08-04T08:15:00.001-07:00

Snagged this from my Google Alerts. Enjoy!

clipped from www.southtownstar.com

Think you know what it takes to be a stay-at-home dad?

As a stay-at-home dad, I've accumulated tons of otherwise useless information. I've compiled some of it into a short quiz. Here's your chance to find answer the question, "Are You Smarter Than A Stay-at-Home Dad?"

Library 2.0: Furnature Edition

2008-07-30T07:00:00.001-07:00

Do it. For the love of everything bookworthy, do it.

And no whining about cleaning. If you don't have to clean out the grease at a fast food joint, no whining.

clipped from www.babygadget.net

I love to cuddle up with a good book as often as I can. And the folks at Big Cozy Books seem to take this sentiment literally. In fact, owner Erik Olofson dreamed up this collection after being inspired by his own daughter who thought the local library's furniture was, well, boring.

Crib Quilts Update

2008-07-28T05:33:00.000-07:00

Commenter Pam left me several suggestions for using the crib quilts, and numero uno on the list that will be used is going to be used when convert their beds to toddler beds. Little Blue used his Pooh comforter forever once we got him a toddler bed, so as long as I stick to my guns and not buy them new bed sheets (everyone tells me they'll have me wrapped around their fingers, but I doubt it).

Pam also suggested hanging them on the wall, but I'm not to savvy on hanging stuff for hanging sake. As it is, their room is usually only used for sleeping, any play time or tummy time we have is done in the living room. Feedings, diaper changing, clothes changing, all done at the changing table in the living room.

Since they're sleeping nearly 10-11 hours a night, we haven't had a need to rock them to sleep in their room. Besides, they usually don't wake each other up fussing, but on the rare occasions (I can count them on one hand), I usually get up and stay with them overnight in the living room.

Sad but true though, they're still folded up in the living room. *chuckle* I'm doing the girls' laundry once a load of mine is done in the washer, so I'll have them put back up into their rooms, safe and secure until it's time to get out the toddler beds. :)

9 Month Bill o' Health Right on Track!

2008-07-25T14:36:00.000-07:00

Teal:
Weight - 17 lbs, 6oz
Height - 27 in
Head - 17 in

Purple:
Weight: 17 lbs, 13oz
Height - 27.25 in
Head - 17.75 in

In the next three months, we can look forward to:

Don't compare babies ( I chuckle when they put those on the forms)
Baby should sit alone for a couple seconds unsupported (already accomplished)
Baby should transfer a item from one hand to another (check!)
Should bear weight momentarily with feet (check!)
Eyes should follow an object (they already watch Little Blue run circles around the house, I suppose he counts)
Should self feed a cracker (haven't attempted yet)
Should be able to go from sitting to lying down ( Since they don't crash down after sitting, I suppose that counts)
Should stand, holding on to solid objects (not even close, but I'll bet they'll be crawling around the house here in the next 2 weeks or so)
Should be babbling (like all babies) and say Dada and Mama
By 11 months understand "no" (they already do, Daddy's glasses are off limits) and "Come Here"

The appointment went very well, both girls got their polio shot and a finger stick to check for anemia. No tears at all. Moments of shock, but no tears.

The right home had a 20 minute delay due to traffic, and Little Blue was more upset than I was about it. He had a pudding cup waiting for him. After I explained that I wanted it to take as long as necessary because I knew if I was in an accident I'd want people to stay safe and let the emergency people come help me, he simmered down a bit.

I'm With Pink, If This Had Come Out a Year Ago...

2008-07-23T06:18:00.001-07:00

And to completely contradict myself from the birthday post yesterday, some things are worth it.

Little Blue doesn't just like dinosaurs, he loves them. There weren't many 3 year olds that could say Pachyceohalosaurus and identify the thick headed lizard on sight mixed in with other dinosaurs.

Granted, he'd gotten this from us for his birthday, he'd also get some dollar store coloring books.

clipped from www.toysrus.com

Playskool Kota the Triceratops Dinosaur

Our Next Project

2008-07-22T14:06:00.001-07:00

Over the weekend, Pink and I decyphered an installed a one picture installation guide to a new flush ceiling light in the kitchen. Before it was a can light, so Mr. Home Depot showed us a conversion kit and over the course of more time than should have been necessary, we got it done.

Next we want a ceiling fan in the living room. This one won't be so easy because the power source is six to eight feet away from where we want the fan, and we'll have to cut some drywall to get it done. So we're slowly saving up and looking at fans we want, and someone to do it for us.

Patience is a virtue, and so is a cool living room.

clipped from www.thesimpledollar.com

Ceiling Fan Hacks: Save Big on Energy Use
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A typical central air conditioning unit uses 3,500 watts of energy when running. A typical ceiling fan uses 60 watts of energy, even when running on high. Thus, if you ran your ceiling fan all day and it managed to decrease your home air conditioner use by just thirty minutes in a twenty four hour period, you’ll end up saving significant money over the long run with a ceiling fan.

Ah, The Pain of Birthday Parties

2008-07-22T07:31:00.001-07:00

Around here, I think the worst part is the dude's birthday is in December, which rules out all outdoor activity, so Chucky has been a safe haven for us the past couple years, and he's happy with it.

For the girls, their birthday is in October, which makes it a little bit easier.

I've been to a party like the one described here, but Trent at the Simple Dollar has a good article, and the comments are just as good.

clipped from www.thesimpledollar.com

Recently, a young child that lives nearby (age six or so) had a large birthday party at his home for all the children on the block that were approximately the same age (four year olds to eight year olds, roughly). The party was in the family’s fenced-in backyard and included a magician, two horses, and a barbecue with a folk music band for all of the adults. To top it all off, there was a giant tarp over something in the backyard, and when the tarp was lifted (after the birthday cake), it revealed a play/tree house that must have easily cost $5,000.

Remember that this party isn’t for you, it’s for the child. The party should revolve around what your child wants, not what you want. If your child wants to just have his best friend over for a sleepover and have hot dogs for supper, go for it even if it’s not what you’d envision for a birthday celebration. Let it be your child’s day, but just keep it within reason.

Motion Blur Got You Down?

2008-07-22T07:01:00.001-07:00

Could be the kids could be moving as fast as a ninja, or you just need to tuck in your elbows a bit to keep it steady.

As any parent, we've got a bazillion of pictures, but this tip might just help me take better ones rather than going back and erasing the blurry ones.

clipped from lifehacker.com

Keep Your Elbows In to Reduce Camera Shake

As often as possible pull your elbows in to your body and exhale completely before depressing the shutter. When you're working with a wide aperture or low shutter speed (or both), even a breath can introduce shake. Pulling your elbows tight to your body can really help keep you steady. I also press my elbows firmly into my chest for even greater stability.

Hit the link below for more tips and illustrated poses that reduce camera shakiness, and check out a cheap DIY string stabilizer as another option. Got your own camera-steadying tip or technique? Let's her about it in the comments.

Totebag Bed Pocket

2008-07-22T06:39:00.001-07:00

Sure, you could use this for books or your glasses if you need some extra storage in the bedroom, but why not give it real purpose?

I say use it for extra paci's to end the middle of the night "where did you put it now?!" frustraitions, and perhaps an army of burp cloths.

Or raw coffee beans?

I'm beyond those days now, but that doesn't mean this isn't a nifty idea, but beware of cool things to hid more clutter.

clipped from lifehacker.com

Turn a Totebag into a Bed Pocket

Rather than sending it off to the textile factory in the sky, DIY blogger Neale McDavitt-Van Fleet repurposed a cloth grocery tote into something he could use. With a little ingenuity, a single cut, and some stitching, you can transform a tote bag into a bed side pocket for holding books, reading glasses, and other assorted necessities that would normally clutter up a bedside table.

Weight Loss Plan Completed In One Day

2008-07-21T18:34:00.000-07:00

Yup, you heard right, I got my quarterly haircut. Course, they didn't tell me how long it had been, but the previous visit they told me it was 22 weeks ago, go figure. I estimate a one pound loss, half pound at least. ;)

So, now I'm back to my preferred haircut, just a hair shorter than my wife enjoys.

"Do you like it?" I ask.

"Nope, too short. I'll love it in a couple weeks though."

Most excellent.

And per our unwritten agreement, she still loves me because I have more grey than she does (which, to her credit, she has none that I can see).

Crib Quilts - Be Gone!

2008-07-21T11:17:00.000-07:00

One thing I always thought was sort of odballish was crib quilts. They come with most crib sets in a bag, yet every parent magazine on earth tell you NOT to use them due to SIDS because most are not breath through friendly.

Then you visit the Martha Stewarts of the world and they've got them hanging off the edge of the crib...except you know they don't keep them there because the tots will grab onto them, pull them into the crib, then you've got the SIDS argument all over again.

So, to appease the Mrs, I started using them as tummy time blankets in the living room. We didn't have to keep the carpet spotless, and they weren't too mobile, even when rolling around and giggling.

Alas, within the last week, I grew tired of scooting them back to the quilts, I decided to put another notch in my chore list and start vaccuming once a day.

Now both the girls are enjoying free reign of tummy time over most of the living room. I've got them quarenteened with a couple saucers so they can't escape. Purple is scooting around on her tummy, going toy to toy. Kinda like Pink when she's see's something new and shiny.

Teal, she's like me. She'll roll around to a toy, then roll on her back and play with for a little bit, figuring out what it can do, if it makes noise, then puts it down and rolls to the next toy.

Purple lives up to her tendencies though, she thinks Teal is a toy and wants to play with Teal's eyes outside of head. Got to watch both of them like a hawk or it'll turn into Twin Deathmatch.

They both get on all fours on occasion, just can't get them moving yet. It's fun to watch them stretch out as much as possible to reach for something, then give a light giggle of triumph or grunt of frustration.

Nerd of the Day

2008-07-11T10:16:00.000-07:00

Yup.

I reconfigured my Flickr account to work with my SBC email address, which is attached to our Att U-Verse Cable box.

Why?

Because it'll log into Flickr and I can view my photo sets. It'll help appease visitors requesting pictures, makes for nice quiet family interaction, and because I can. ;)

Little Blue is watching them now and enjoying it. The pictures are a little pixelated, but they're still fine.

And if we have pictures on the camera, we can slap that disk into the Wii and watch pictures there too.

The Family That Games Together

2008-07-11T08:03:00.001-07:00

The Family and I tend to do our fair share of gaming. Last weekend we beat the heat around the fourth by playing some Okami together (Little Blue has a nack for spotting places to dig and treasure chests) while we all learned about some Japanese Mythology.

We also pop in Wii Sports for some Golf, Bowling and Tennis. If we want a laugh, we'll slap on the Nunchuck and laugh at each other while we box. Both Pink and Little Blue go crazy over the Golf though. I think Pink has a better score than I do for 9 holes and the training games.

So this looks like it might be a purchase in the near future. I'm a sucker for miniature golf, and no doubt we'd all enjoy it.

clipped from www.nintendowiifanboy.com

We don't care who you are, where you're from, what you did, as long as you love ... mini-golf. It's slow, methodical and sometimes frustrating, but a gamer isn't a gamer until they enjoy a fun-filled round on those crazy putting courses. Real golfers are excused.

Naturally, this is why Data Design Interactive decided to go with Crazy Mini Golf as the title for their upcoming putting challenge. The press release is clearly targeting the whole "kidz" segment (golf is too violent for the tots, they need GTA), but it seems to be a pretty full-featured game. You'll be waggling your Wiimote with two control options, 74 "crazy" holes, four courses and multiple gameplay modes.

Toddler Balls (Funny Conversations You Have With Your Children)

2008-07-11T07:39:00.000-07:00

This was a discussion I missed out on last night when I was at work. We've all been talking about what to get Cousin K for her birthday party next weekend. We've also got to pick up some preschool supplies for the dude, so we're combining it all into one big trip.

So last night, Pink and Little Blue were figuring out what to get Cousin Katie for her birthday. Here's word for word what Pink messaged me minutes ago.

Pink: You know what, I totally forgot to tell you the hilarious thing your son said last night when we were talking about shopping for Katie. He was thinking of ideas what to get her for her birthday.
DaddyMan: All boy toys?

Little Blue has been on a Transformer kick, so naturally that's what I thought he'd say. "I know, lets get her Optimus Prime" or something similar.

Boy was I wrong.

Little Blue's reply: "I know! We should get Katie a ball! She's always saying Where ball, Me want ball, where ball, and every time she comes over, she's always messing with my balls!"

The house shook with my laughter. Little Blue wanted to know what I was laughing at, and the girls just looked at me with there, "What's that?!" blank expressions.

But it's still good to know, that even though I'm not here, I still have a presence...

Pink's next message: Your devoted wife didn't even crack a smile. But if you had been there, I wouldn't have been able to contain myself when our eyes met, I would have lost it.

Daddyman @ Home

Making Lunch for the Dude

Asking for help

*In Orcish Grunt* Jobs Done!

...And Nothing But the Truth

Paternity Leave

Computer Nerdage is Good Hobby to Have

It's Been A LONG Time

Surgical Birthday

Dinner at the Table

Target Disappointments

New Routine: Daily Storytime

Identical Twins, Not Identical Parents

Turning 5

Slow Cooker, I love Thee

I'm Asleep at the Wheel

Order Whole Milk

At Home Dadage is...

Halloween Pamphlet Style

The Sopranos and Hanna Montana

Sippy Cup Central

RSS Feeds

A Year Ago Today

Laughs Out Loud

The ABC's

Monitor Check

Of Coffee

It's Out There, I Know It

Edjumakasun

Speaking of Staff Day

Pink and I Got Medals Today

You wanna know my advice?

I'm a Winner! Care of Parenthacks.com that is.

Oh Fiddlestix

I'm not even going to say anything.

That Makes Me Mad Daddy!

For the Last Time

I Missed the VP Debate

How to Drive My Wife Insane

Of Stargazing and Police Cars

Who Let the Secrets Out?

Twitter me this, Twitter me that

Organize Your Home: Simple Routines for Managing Your Household

Cleaning Up House...er...Blog

The Routine Doesn't Work If They Change the Programming!

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Sad Story to Hear

Instant Toddler Dancing Initiated

As a Percussionist

We Love Trains

3yo Star Wars

Since My Son is Anakin This Halloween

Of Grocery Cart Seats (and Math)

How To Make Sweet Tea

I'm Still an Office Geek

Things You Don't Say To Your Wife

How to Get Twins to Sleep Through The Night

Lunch Thieves

Just Be Careful With The Pelvic Thrusts

Finger Nail Polish

I'm Leaving On A Jet Plane

Ah Tornado Alley, How I Tolorate Thee

Costumes for the Girls

What?!

Every Time I Hear a Stay Wars Question...

At Hom Dad Gangster Rap

I'm A Dead Beat Dad

Dinner Tonight

Voting, How it All Works on Paper

Cancel Phone Book Delivery

Wall mounted Laptop Station

Making Sure I'm Getting My Monies Worth

A Penny Saved is Worth the Principal of the Thing

Why I Fought to Save Three Bucks (and Why You Should Too)

Lego Olympics

Worst Night in a Long Time

Not this crude matter...

Back To School and new Routines.

How Many Parenting Books Did I Read?

Nation of Wimps

In Orcish Grunt Jobs Done!

Ceiling Fan Hacks: Save Big on Energy Use
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