A lot of people are commenting how 2016 is horrible and they can't wait for it to be over. I can't argue that everything went how I hoped. But no matter all the shitty things that happened in the world, they all get washed out by my happiness at being a father for a third time.
I'm very happy with our family of five. I'm a very lucky Jim.
Friday, 30 December 2016
Thursday, 29 December 2016
Today was a good day
Today was a snowy day and we changed our plans to just stick around home.
Isaac spent his time outside climbing the walls of the snowfort and sliding down on his front or side while laughing. Alice played, shoveled, and sometimes had Big Feelings™ as Alice's do. Lucy is working her way through a cold, but seems to be better than yesterday.
I love playing with our kids out in the snow. And it's starting to help that they like doing it too.
Isaac spent his time outside climbing the walls of the snowfort and sliding down on his front or side while laughing. Alice played, shoveled, and sometimes had Big Feelings™ as Alice's do. Lucy is working her way through a cold, but seems to be better than yesterday.
I love playing with our kids out in the snow. And it's starting to help that they like doing it too.
Tuesday, 27 December 2016
Today we lost a princess
And I'm really sad. It's not hard for me to be sad on a day without exercise and all freezing rain and grayness.
To help cheer me up Laura toasted Carrie Fisher with our beers. It made me smile to think of the kind of zippy one liner Carrie would give for a toast in her honour, for someone that has struggled with addiction and mental health issues.
All my life that I can remember I've known Star Wars. I would watch it as many times in a row that I could (that's not healthy). I... feel like that character is part of my childhood and it makes me really sad at her passing.
Her legacy might not be just Star Wars but how open she was about her mental health issues. Knowing that you can be a bit broken and still go on is heartening. I think we're all a bit broken. It doesn't mean you don't go ahead and get it done. But it doesn't mean you can't take a break.
Goodbye Carrie. To me, you'll always be royalty.
May the Force be with you.
To help cheer me up Laura toasted Carrie Fisher with our beers. It made me smile to think of the kind of zippy one liner Carrie would give for a toast in her honour, for someone that has struggled with addiction and mental health issues.
All my life that I can remember I've known Star Wars. I would watch it as many times in a row that I could (that's not healthy). I... feel like that character is part of my childhood and it makes me really sad at her passing.
Her legacy might not be just Star Wars but how open she was about her mental health issues. Knowing that you can be a bit broken and still go on is heartening. I think we're all a bit broken. It doesn't mean you don't go ahead and get it done. But it doesn't mean you can't take a break.
Goodbye Carrie. To me, you'll always be royalty.
May the Force be with you.
Tuesday, 20 December 2016
The duality of parenting
This comic made me laugh and laugh, then cry. I love my little rugrats so much, but sometimes I want them to just leave me alone so I can have some time to myself. You know, so I can watch videos of them.
It doesn't make sense, but that's just how things are.
It doesn't make sense, but that's just how things are.
Saturday, 17 December 2016
I don't know how single parents do it
Things can be really challenging with little kids, especially when at least 1 is sick. It's not even as hard as I think it will be since Lucy is only 4 months old.
I used to think that little babies are hard. Hahahaha...
Maybe it's because we're home with all of them and there is no break. It can be very tiring a lot of the time. But there are good times too, many in fact. Like when holding Lucy and she flashes a huge smile. Or when Isaac climbs up into your lap and wants to read a story. Or when Alice wants a sled ride and laughs maniacally when you race forward and then spin her in a sideways slide.
It's very rewarding but it's not easy.
I used to think that little babies are hard. Hahahaha...
Maybe it's because we're home with all of them and there is no break. It can be very tiring a lot of the time. But there are good times too, many in fact. Like when holding Lucy and she flashes a huge smile. Or when Isaac climbs up into your lap and wants to read a story. Or when Alice wants a sled ride and laughs maniacally when you race forward and then spin her in a sideways slide.
It's very rewarding but it's not easy.
Tuesday, 13 December 2016
Overhead of getting a 5yo ready for the day
A couple of weeks ago Alice got up right away for school. She ate breakfast without a fuss or changing her mind, got hair and teeth brushed by herself, dressed herself quickly and didn't change outfits 8 times or complain that she doesn't have anything to wear with drawers full of clothes. She was ready to go to the bus.
It was an hour early. One hour.
So, that's how much extra buffer we've needed to get her ready for each school day. It's how much time we send negotiating, prodding, hurrying and stressing each and everyday morning.
The worst part is that it was a fluke - it's not happened since.
Kids can be exhausting.
It was an hour early. One hour.
So, that's how much extra buffer we've needed to get her ready for each school day. It's how much time we send negotiating, prodding, hurrying and stressing each and every
The worst part is that it was a fluke - it's not happened since.
Kids can be exhausting.
Monday, 5 December 2016
Fiction: A snowy trek
The man squinted into the falling snow. It was falling heavier now and he was starting to lose the trail through the trees. He'd been going for quite a while now and had long since run out of water or food to drink. He continued to walk.
He wanted to check his chrono for the time but it was too difficult to dig out from under his sleeve. There wasn't much point since he wasn't going to stop, speed up, or slow down. In other times he might have guessed at the time by the sun through the trees but the sky was just gray. Lighter gray than before even though it was after noon. The storm must be letting up a little.
As his boots crunched through the snow he thought that he voices - a choir perhaps. He paused and slowly turned around trying to find the source of the sound. It might have been the wind or a trick of his mind. He briefly played with a thought that a choir was slowly walking with him on a parallel track in order to convince him that he had lost his mind. He shook his head at the thought. It was much more likely that he simply had actually lost his mind.
Sane or no, the load on his back wasn't getting any lighter. He adjusted the straps to see if he could get them to bite into another point in his flesh. When he was satisfied he set off again.
After a few more minutes there was a quiet moan at his back. He smiled. His traveling companion was starting to wake up and would hopefully want to walk for a bit rather than be carried. Until then, it would be best to keep walking and keep warm. They still had a ways to go until they reached their transport and the light gray wouldn't hold out for long.
The man squinted into the falling snow. He continued to walk.
He wanted to check his chrono for the time but it was too difficult to dig out from under his sleeve. There wasn't much point since he wasn't going to stop, speed up, or slow down. In other times he might have guessed at the time by the sun through the trees but the sky was just gray. Lighter gray than before even though it was after noon. The storm must be letting up a little.
As his boots crunched through the snow he thought that he voices - a choir perhaps. He paused and slowly turned around trying to find the source of the sound. It might have been the wind or a trick of his mind. He briefly played with a thought that a choir was slowly walking with him on a parallel track in order to convince him that he had lost his mind. He shook his head at the thought. It was much more likely that he simply had actually lost his mind.
Sane or no, the load on his back wasn't getting any lighter. He adjusted the straps to see if he could get them to bite into another point in his flesh. When he was satisfied he set off again.
After a few more minutes there was a quiet moan at his back. He smiled. His traveling companion was starting to wake up and would hopefully want to walk for a bit rather than be carried. Until then, it would be best to keep walking and keep warm. They still had a ways to go until they reached their transport and the light gray wouldn't hold out for long.
The man squinted into the falling snow. He continued to walk.
Thursday, 1 December 2016
Fiction: Just Another Day
“Come on Brad. Get up. You’re late”
Ugg. I roll out of bed and slip into my robe. Eyes half closed I shuffle to the bathroom to take care of my morning routine. I’m still not quite awake when I make it to the kitchen and pick up the coffee that’s waiting there for me. I sip it and make a face. Before I even comment Janet says
“Don’t you complain. It was perfect 30 minutes ago when I first called you. You’re an adult, I shouldn’t have to call you 4 times to get you up.”
“Don’t you complain. It was perfect 30 minutes ago when I first called you. You’re an adult, I shouldn’t have to call you 4 times to get you up.”
I don’t say anything. There’s no point, she’s right. I grab some cereal and mindlessly eat while browsing my newsfeed. There’s nothing particularly upsetting which is always a relief.
“You’re going to have to get going if you’re going to make it there on time. A car will be here in 20 minutes to take you to the interview”
“Janet, you know that I don’t need this job. I’m doing fine. What was the consensus on my latest painting? I think that I’ve been really improving.”
“The consensus is that you need a job other than painting. Something that’s better suited to your skills and interests. Like the one for the interview you have. Stop trying to change the subject and get going.”
I nod to myself and put the dishes away. Janet knows me better than anyone and wouldn’t be sidetracked. She wouldn’t be happy until I was happy, which meant she generally was going to annoy the hell out of me until her goal was met.
I quickly put on the outfit that Janet had picked out for me - the most flattering that fit with my potential new job’s dress code. I quickly slipped it on, gave my hair a quick smoothing brush to the side and walked out the door to the waiting car. I think that it was a model from a couple of years ago, but I’ve stopped paying attention to that. As long as it’s clean, comfortable, and got me there on time, I didn’t really care.
“You remember what they’re looking for?” Janet asked as soon as I had settled in and the car began to move.
“Yes, I’ve gone over it.”
She knew that I had, but she just wanted to direct my thoughts from the scene outside to the interview coming up. It had been a couple of years since I had a steady office job. I had done a couple of years working in the local community garden because my neighbour had convinced me that it was relaxing and rewarding. It was for my body, but my mind needed something more challenging than figuring out the proper seed spacing.
After a while the car pulled up to a door of a building in a campus of low buildings. Walking up to the security door it opened automatically for me. Stepping in the lobby which smelled faintly of fresh baked cookies and coffee I glanced around.
“It’s down the hall, third door on the left, room 106. I’ll wait here. Goodluck!” Janet says in her helpful upbeat way.
I nod. I hate being without Janet but that’s just how interviews are done. It’s so artificial. It’s not like I’ll be without Janet’s help while working. It has always seemed silly to me but traditions die hard.
I nod. I hate being without Janet but that’s just how interviews are done. It’s so artificial. It’s not like I’ll be without Janet’s help while working. It has always seemed silly to me but traditions die hard.
20 minutes later I emerge from the room with a smile on my face. I think that I’ll be able to work with these people. It seems to be a good fit, like Janet knew it would be.
“I’m negotiating your start date and I’ve going through the material they sent over. It looks very promising. Are you happy?” Janet inquires.
I nod and continue to the door for the car that will be waiting momentarily.
I pause.
“Wait, negotiating the start date? Why not tomorrow?”
“Ah. Well, before you get into another project I thought that it would be good to go see your mother. You’ve got a tube ticket for 30 minutes from now and I’ve arranged a nice place for you to stay and dinner reservations.”
“If I hadn’t asked, you wouldn’t have said anything until the car pulled into the tube station?”
I pause.
“Wait, negotiating the start date? Why not tomorrow?”
“Ah. Well, before you get into another project I thought that it would be good to go see your mother. You’ve got a tube ticket for 30 minutes from now and I’ve arranged a nice place for you to stay and dinner reservations.”
“If I hadn’t asked, you wouldn’t have said anything until the car pulled into the tube station?”
The silence from Janet was all the answer I figured that I’d get right now. I continued and stepped into the waiting car. It was newer, still had that “outgassing” smell. It might have been printed this morning. The window lowered to let in a breeze before I could reach for it and the car started off.
“Anything useful in the feeds?” I asked Janet.
“No. And I wanted to apologize for this morning about your painting. You are improving. It’s just that you don’t really like painting. It frustrates you and raises your blood pressure. You can get very good at it, but you’ll never be great.”
“No. And I wanted to apologize for this morning about your painting. You are improving. It’s just that you don’t really like painting. It frustrates you and raises your blood pressure. You can get very good at it, but you’ll never be great.”
I nod before Janet can go on. I know all this somewhere deep down but it still sucks to hear to. Janet has her reasons to be telling me this. Goading me into doing better? Managing expectations? Crushing my dreams? I’ll shelf painting for now and maybe come back to it later. I’ve got time. Lots and lots of time.
At the tube station I hop out and walk through the doors. Janet indicates the third waiting car. There are 3 people already there waiting. It won’t be long, but since it will be a couple of hours to get to the west coast I divert to the bathroom first. No one wants to be that person that causes a car to be rerouted and delayed for a bathroom stop.
I stare into the mirror after washing my hands. I don’t see any gray hairs, but some days I swear I can feel them.
“Come on Brad. Three minutes until departure.”
I take an empty seat in the waiting car. Another person slips inside right before the doors close and then the car starts to move to the tube. Pretty soon we’re on our way. I open my reader and see that Janet has highlighted a new story that she thinks I’ll like. The futuristic kind with space rangers, benevolent aliens, and smart dialog. The robotic dog is a nice touch.
I finish the story shortly before the car pulls into our final tube station. I hustle out of the station to a waiting car. I’d normally just borrow a bike for a short distance, but it’s raining. It’s a bit early for dinner for me, but a bit late for my mom. I try to not let her wait long.
Halfway to the restaurant a thought occurs to me.
“Janet, when is my mom’s birthday?”
“Today Brad. This is your gift, making sure you see your mom on her actual birthday.”
“Right. Okay. You’d think that I’d remember that by now.”
“Well, you’re only 258 year old. You’ve got some time to learn your mom’s birthday.”
“Janet, when is my mom’s birthday?”
“Today Brad. This is your gift, making sure you see your mom on her actual birthday.”
“Right. Okay. You’d think that I’d remember that by now.”
“Well, you’re only 258 year old. You’ve got some time to learn your mom’s birthday.”
Janet hasn’t even bothered to make her voice sound sarcastic. I wonder if that’s a bug in my splinter of the AI that I call Janet or something widespread. I’ll keep an eye on it.
I look back out the window at the rain hitting the pavement and wonder what it would be like to live in the future.
Saturday, 26 November 2016
Five Years
Where did the last 5 years go? It's a bit of a blur. Now we have 3 little humans. Alice is still my little baby girl - but she's not. She's a tall, intelligent, passionate, person. She loves her siblings, French songs, Disney princesses, clothes and shoes, and world domination. Well, maybe not that last one. Maybe...
It amazes me everyday that someone so wonderful came from me.
It amazes me everyday that someone so wonderful came from me.
Friday, 25 November 2016
Thinking about writing some fiction
I don't fancy myself a writer, but I've been thinking about putting together some short stories. Maybe only a story.
It will be a way to get some stories that have been banging around in my head out and be able to placed down for me to see later. You know, for when I've totally lost my memory and everything that I do is a surprise to me.
*sigh* I worry about that. But that's another story.
It will be a way to get some stories that have been banging around in my head out and be able to placed down for me to see later. You know, for when I've totally lost my memory and everything that I do is a surprise to me.
*sigh* I worry about that. But that's another story.
Monday, 21 November 2016
The news is extra depressing right now
I keep on checking the news out of habit and it's... horrible. I hate it. Seems that fascism is on the rise just about everywhere. People seem to be... stupid. Manipulated. Maybe just horrible people really. I don't know. It makes me sad.
So I try to play with my kids. That helps. Going down slides, reading on the floor, watching animated movies. Those all help. But then I find myself alone, during naptime or late at night and I'm just like uhhgg.
My life is super awesome. I don't know how people who have a harder time with things are dealing with it.
It probably doesn't help that it's November which is usually the grayest and least fun weather.
Time for a coffee. ☕️
So I try to play with my kids. That helps. Going down slides, reading on the floor, watching animated movies. Those all help. But then I find myself alone, during naptime or late at night and I'm just like uhhgg.
My life is super awesome. I don't know how people who have a harder time with things are dealing with it.
It probably doesn't help that it's November which is usually the grayest and least fun weather.
Time for a coffee. ☕️
Sunday, 13 November 2016
When Jim met Laura
My memory isn't what it once was (I think), but who can remember? (pause for groan)
In the distant past, way back during Canada Day 2002 I went out downtown with a bunch of friends and friends of friends. It was fun. It might have rained briefly. There was a cute girl there (friend of a friend) that was really funny. I talked to her and disappointingly found out that she was going back to school in London ON to finish. I didn't want a long distance relationship otherwise I would have asked her out.
The next spring I headed over to my friend's place to watch playoff hockey. A cute girl that was really funny asked to sit beside me and we chatted and joked about things like solo synchronized swimming and the challenges of that. I was not so suave as to ask out this funny girl at the time, so I got her email and typed out a stammering email asking her out to "coffee or something". Thankfully this girl checked her spam folder because that's where the email ended up. (spam detection wasn't very good in the distant past). We went out and saw Finding Nemo which would become part of a long tradition of watching kids movies for dates.
And now, approaching 10 years of marriage, 14 years of dating, 15 years of knowing each other, a house, 3 beautiful children and more lego than Laura would ever imagine herself owning, we are here. It's a good place to be.
In the distant past, way back during Canada Day 2002 I went out downtown with a bunch of friends and friends of friends. It was fun. It might have rained briefly. There was a cute girl there (friend of a friend) that was really funny. I talked to her and disappointingly found out that she was going back to school in London ON to finish. I didn't want a long distance relationship otherwise I would have asked her out.
The next spring I headed over to my friend's place to watch playoff hockey. A cute girl that was really funny asked to sit beside me and we chatted and joked about things like solo synchronized swimming and the challenges of that. I was not so suave as to ask out this funny girl at the time, so I got her email and typed out a stammering email asking her out to "coffee or something". Thankfully this girl checked her spam folder because that's where the email ended up. (spam detection wasn't very good in the distant past). We went out and saw Finding Nemo which would become part of a long tradition of watching kids movies for dates.
And now, approaching 10 years of marriage, 14 years of dating, 15 years of knowing each other, a house, 3 beautiful children and more lego than Laura would ever imagine herself owning, we are here. It's a good place to be.
Wednesday, 9 November 2016
I can't help but feel sad today
I just don't get how people think. I don't understand their reasoning and I don't understand their choices. It makes me sad. I'm sure that I'm not the only one feeling that way today. Maybe a couple of nights of sleep will make things better, or just seem less mad.
It's a crazy mixed up world we live in.
We can make it better. We have to. For us, for our kids, for everyone. But I think that it's okay if we take a couple of days off first.
It's a crazy mixed up world we live in.
We can make it better. We have to. For us, for our kids, for everyone. But I think that it's okay if we take a couple of days off first.
Tuesday, 8 November 2016
The kids are awesome, except when they're not
The kids are a lot of fun. They make me laugh, and occasionally I can make them laugh too. At least when I don't have a headache. Or if they're hangry, sleepy, ill, etc.
I'm enjoying being a dad. I'm enjoying this time in their life, maybe because I know that it's such a fleeting time. So fragile, beautiful, and gone so soon. So much like a bubble. And then they'll be a new person, a new bubble that we can enjoy.
I'm enjoying being a dad. I'm enjoying this time in their life, maybe because I know that it's such a fleeting time. So fragile, beautiful, and gone so soon. So much like a bubble. And then they'll be a new person, a new bubble that we can enjoy.
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| A perfect bubble... |
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| ... is best shared with... |
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| ... the ones that we love. |
The world's gone mad
While half watching the election results going on in the US, I can only assume that the world has gone mad with the results being so close. The person that I think should win should clearly be the winner - why would anyone vote for the other one?
The world makes no sense. It gives me a headache.
Let's see how things are tomorrow. Maybe it's better than I fear.
Maybe.
The world makes no sense. It gives me a headache.
Let's see how things are tomorrow. Maybe it's better than I fear.
Maybe.
Saturday, 29 October 2016
Holy crap, 3 kids are a lot of work
Who would have guessed that 3 kids are a lot of work? 2.5 months, 2.5 years, and almost 5. I'm tired a lot of the time, but it's getting better. I'm trying to figure out the whole being a parent thing, but it's hard. I feel that Laura is a couple of steps ahead of me all the time. I guess it's those parenting books she reads. I find them so dry. Maybe if they added in a spaceship or mysterious artifact or something I'd be able to read it.
What helps? Coffee obviously. The occasional beer. And the fact that our kids are super cute (except when they are not). It's hard not to love such cute and intelligent little humans.
What helps? Coffee obviously. The occasional beer. And the fact that our kids are super cute (except when they are not). It's hard not to love such cute and intelligent little humans.
Sunday, 23 October 2016
What I'd do if I was super rich
Don't get me wrong, but I'm happy as is. Things are fine, but not like "having a private jet to fly to our 3rd summer home" kind of fine.
But what would I do if we had more money? Other than not going back to my desk job?
I'd have a staff. Someone would do a lot of the cooking / food shopping. Someone would clean. Someone would manage the house and cars and do things like renewal of licenses, book trips, get things fixed by contractors, etc. I described this to Laura and she said "so, it would be like living in a hotel?". I guess that it would. I'd have all day and night just to do the fun stuff. You would literally be buying fun and good health.
Now I just have to figure out how to get this done without having to resort to using a magic monkey paw.
But what would I do if we had more money? Other than not going back to my desk job?
I'd have a staff. Someone would do a lot of the cooking / food shopping. Someone would clean. Someone would manage the house and cars and do things like renewal of licenses, book trips, get things fixed by contractors, etc. I described this to Laura and she said "so, it would be like living in a hotel?". I guess that it would. I'd have all day and night just to do the fun stuff. You would literally be buying fun and good health.
Now I just have to figure out how to get this done without having to resort to using a magic monkey paw.
Saturday, 22 October 2016
Looking forward to it, but going to be sad at the same time
At some point we're going to start getting rid of this kid stuff. It will be the last time we use it. The last time for a baby swing, a high chair, etc. The last time for a book, a toy.
I'm going to be sad. I'm sad right now thinking about it.
But we'll have to get rid of it. It takes up space, and we only have so much space and we'll need it to for the next round of Stuff™ that we will buy.
Of course there are things that I won't want to get rid of. But what will I do with them? When will they be used again? I doubt that Ben and Nina will have a kid at this point. I don't really know anyone at work that could us this stuff. At least not yet. Maybe Laura will know someone at work? I don't know.
It will be a difficult purge, that I know.
I'm going to be sad. I'm sad right now thinking about it.
But we'll have to get rid of it. It takes up space, and we only have so much space and we'll need it to for the next round of Stuff™ that we will buy.
Of course there are things that I won't want to get rid of. But what will I do with them? When will they be used again? I doubt that Ben and Nina will have a kid at this point. I don't really know anyone at work that could us this stuff. At least not yet. Maybe Laura will know someone at work? I don't know.
It will be a difficult purge, that I know.
Tuesday, 18 October 2016
My daddy!
Isaac has this awesome thing that he does right now. He runs over, wraps you in a crushing hug and then says "MY DADDY!" (or mommy, or whatever). Then he gives a hug smile, leans back, then leans in for another crushing hug and then repeats. It's awesome.
Of course when I'm hugging him back I'm saying "MY ISAAC!".
I love my kids. It's nice to know that they love me back.
Of course when I'm hugging him back I'm saying "MY ISAAC!".
I love my kids. It's nice to know that they love me back.
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| He wants to ride his bike He wants to ride his bicycle He wants to ride it where he likes |
Friday, 14 October 2016
Blogging is dead
It's dead Jim.
People aren't blogging like they used to. People have relented their control for ease of use. Almost no one blogs anymore, not when there is social media. Not when you don't have to pay for hosting, admin your own software, pay for a host name, etc. A while ago I moved to blogger, but it seems like a product that google doesn't care about. Features aren't being created. They've remove their iOS app from the store and it no longer works on the latest OS.
It may be something that makes a comeback, but I think that it's done for. Doesn't mean that I won't continue to blog while I sit on my front porch and complain about the neighborhood kids not staying off my lawn. It's just that people have moved to writing rants etc in Facebook or Twitter (storified of course).
I'm now trying a new app for my phone that I paid for since it's supposed to be the best one. The funny part? Uploading images is, and has been for a while, broken. And it's still my best option for blogging from my phone.
Long term I don't know if I'll be able to stay with blogger or if google will suddenly kill it. I just know that since I've been blogging it has helped me and I enjoy it. I like the record of who I was in The Past, not just what I looked / sounded like. What brought worry, joy, sadness, and reflection.
It's dead Jim, just not to me.
People aren't blogging like they used to. People have relented their control for ease of use. Almost no one blogs anymore, not when there is social media. Not when you don't have to pay for hosting, admin your own software, pay for a host name, etc. A while ago I moved to blogger, but it seems like a product that google doesn't care about. Features aren't being created. They've remove their iOS app from the store and it no longer works on the latest OS.
It may be something that makes a comeback, but I think that it's done for. Doesn't mean that I won't continue to blog while I sit on my front porch and complain about the neighborhood kids not staying off my lawn. It's just that people have moved to writing rants etc in Facebook or Twitter (storified of course).
I'm now trying a new app for my phone that I paid for since it's supposed to be the best one. The funny part? Uploading images is, and has been for a while, broken. And it's still my best option for blogging from my phone.
Long term I don't know if I'll be able to stay with blogger or if google will suddenly kill it. I just know that since I've been blogging it has helped me and I enjoy it. I like the record of who I was in The Past, not just what I looked / sounded like. What brought worry, joy, sadness, and reflection.
It's dead Jim, just not to me.
Thursday, 6 October 2016
I love my family
Well, I guess the title says it all. I can stop writing.
But I won't.
Alice is so bright and proud of doing a good job. She constantly comes home with filled out sticker charts and items from the prize box. We asked why she's good all the time at school and she told us that they'd call her parents if she was bad. When we pointed out that we are her parents and would like her to be good at home too, she shrugged. Maybe we'll have to call Mr. Scott. The other day her teacher gave her grade 1 work and she did it and she was ever so proud. Beaming. I sent an email to her teacher thanking him for giving her the challenge.
Isaac is also bright, gifted in sports, and is a super cuddler. He doesn't just like kicking a ball - that would be too boring. He likes throwing it at the ground and kicking it at the first bounce. Today he did that with a large bouncy ball, kicked it straight up, then caught it, and then laughed and laughed. I think that he's already more gifted at soccer, and well, any team sport, than I am.
Lucy? Well, she's starting to show us who she is. Right now she's sleeping more than Isaac. She gives the best smiles, even when things are not perfect. If you just put her on the change table, even when she's still wet and uncomfortable, she beams. She's fuzzy and has her siblings talent for cuddles.
Laura is simply the best. She knows how my brain works better than I do and helps me muddle through life. I'd like to think that I help her too - finding keys, lost shoes, and where we put the kids. I could fill libraries while writing how lovely Laura is.
It's a good family. I think that I'll keep it.
:-D
But I won't.
Alice is so bright and proud of doing a good job. She constantly comes home with filled out sticker charts and items from the prize box. We asked why she's good all the time at school and she told us that they'd call her parents if she was bad. When we pointed out that we are her parents and would like her to be good at home too, she shrugged. Maybe we'll have to call Mr. Scott. The other day her teacher gave her grade 1 work and she did it and she was ever so proud. Beaming. I sent an email to her teacher thanking him for giving her the challenge.
Isaac is also bright, gifted in sports, and is a super cuddler. He doesn't just like kicking a ball - that would be too boring. He likes throwing it at the ground and kicking it at the first bounce. Today he did that with a large bouncy ball, kicked it straight up, then caught it, and then laughed and laughed. I think that he's already more gifted at soccer, and well, any team sport, than I am.
Lucy? Well, she's starting to show us who she is. Right now she's sleeping more than Isaac. She gives the best smiles, even when things are not perfect. If you just put her on the change table, even when she's still wet and uncomfortable, she beams. She's fuzzy and has her siblings talent for cuddles.
Laura is simply the best. She knows how my brain works better than I do and helps me muddle through life. I'd like to think that I help her too - finding keys, lost shoes, and where we put the kids. I could fill libraries while writing how lovely Laura is.
It's a good family. I think that I'll keep it.
:-D
Thursday, 29 September 2016
Don't wreck it, don't touch it
The other day I bought a couple of hockey sticks for Laura and myself (9$ each) so we can easily play with the kids. So they don't end up in the pile of stuff at the neighbours when the kids all play together, I've been writing our names on the outside toys.
So I took out a super-indelible-never-come-off-till-you're-dead-and-maybe-even-later marker and wrote our last name on the stick. Alice was bouncing around wanting to use it. I said no and indicated that I should be the one writing on it. Then I relented and let her do the names on the kids stick. But now she had a taste for it and wanted more. She wanted to draw a picture on my nice new stick. I told her definitely not. I didn't tell her that I didn't want my stick to have weird pictures on it, but I thought it.
Then I paused, took a breath, and thought some more.
And you know what? I'd love for my daughter to draw a picture on my stick. To be able to look at this stick and remember her how she is at this age. This bright eyed, sometimes infuriating, smart as anything, bright little girl. My little girl. Drawing a picture on it made her happy, and that makes me happy.
So I took out a super-indelible-never-come-off-till-you're-dead-and-maybe-even-later marker and wrote our last name on the stick. Alice was bouncing around wanting to use it. I said no and indicated that I should be the one writing on it. Then I relented and let her do the names on the kids stick. But now she had a taste for it and wanted more. She wanted to draw a picture on my nice new stick. I told her definitely not. I didn't tell her that I didn't want my stick to have weird pictures on it, but I thought it.
Then I paused, took a breath, and thought some more.
And you know what? I'd love for my daughter to draw a picture on my stick. To be able to look at this stick and remember her how she is at this age. This bright eyed, sometimes infuriating, smart as anything, bright little girl. My little girl. Drawing a picture on it made her happy, and that makes me happy.
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| You know that it's a good stick because it's got three flowers on it. The flowers remind me of something from a Mario game. |
Monday, 26 September 2016
Adventures outside
I love playing with the kids outside. I'd not normally make it out except for the helpful prodding by Laura. I might resist, but I (almost) always love our adventures. I definitely love parts of every adventure.
Sometimes we don't have to go far. Just to the closest green space, which may be nestled beside the queensway.
Sometimes we don't have to go far. Just to the closest green space, which may be nestled beside the queensway.
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| You can always seem to find wildflowers to pick |
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| Some are simpler than others |
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| This sums up kite flying perfectly - Alice actually chased down the kite and brought it back |
Monday, 19 September 2016
How am I going to do this?
Parts of today were great. The end with the kids didn't go so well. I struggle with them when they are 2 and 4. How am I going to be able to handle them when they are 16 and 14?
I woke up in a blue mood. Having a difficult time with the kids just adds to it. Maybe being in a crappy mood causes the kids to misbehave? Ugg.
I just feel like a total failure. I know that I'm not. I know that I'll probably feel better tomorrow. It's just... It's hard to change my brain.
The worst part. There's no more pie or cookies.
Queue Darth Vader saying: Noooooooooooooo!!!
I woke up in a blue mood. Having a difficult time with the kids just adds to it. Maybe being in a crappy mood causes the kids to misbehave? Ugg.
I just feel like a total failure. I know that I'm not. I know that I'll probably feel better tomorrow. It's just... It's hard to change my brain.
The worst part. There's no more pie or cookies.
Queue Darth Vader saying: Noooooooooooooo!!!
Friday, 2 September 2016
Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end
I have problems with change sometimes. Change like my kids growing up. It's not that I don't want them to grow up, it's just sad when some things end. Like daycare this week for the kids. Like the other two day cares that they have been with. I guess I just get a bit sad when each chapter finishes. It doesn't mean that I'm not enjoying the book.
Currently I'm a bit sad about two friends we've had for a while: Mr Bear and Mr Ducky. They aren't played with anymore. They're relegated to the basement. They used to be constant companions, but no more.
I miss playing with them.
I shouldn't be sad. It just means that we're at some new beginning. It's okay to be sad and happy at the same time, right?
Currently I'm a bit sad about two friends we've had for a while: Mr Bear and Mr Ducky. They aren't played with anymore. They're relegated to the basement. They used to be constant companions, but no more.
I miss playing with them.
I shouldn't be sad. It just means that we're at some new beginning. It's okay to be sad and happy at the same time, right?
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| Just chilling with Mr Bear |
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| Mr Ducky knows the best angle for the camera |
Thursday, 1 September 2016
Balancing the risk
Today was the last day of daycare for the kids and work for me. We're off now.
The day started off like most, but today it was tragic. When we had almost gotten to the river Laura texted me that a cyclist had died. This is at the intersection that I turn with the kids twice a day. An intersection that someone had run a red yesterday.
It's horrible.
I debated a bunch if I was going to say anything to the kids. About the time we got to the canal I told them. They don't really understand death, but I wanted to explain. I wanted them to know why we were changing our route, why the road was closed, why the police. I wanted them to know why I was upset.
My bike rides with the kids are my favourite part of the day. How often on a normal commute with people do they stop and watch a swan? Or count ducks? Or exchange waves with strangers on a tourist boat? Or talk about all the colours of the things that they can see. I love my ride with them. I feel, I hope, that I'm being safe enough.
But that woman today probably felt she was being safe too.
I'm angry. I'm upset. I'm sad.
I'm worried.
Roads shouldn't be a danger like this. This isn't right. This needs to be fixed.
The day started off like most, but today it was tragic. When we had almost gotten to the river Laura texted me that a cyclist had died. This is at the intersection that I turn with the kids twice a day. An intersection that someone had run a red yesterday.
It's horrible.
I debated a bunch if I was going to say anything to the kids. About the time we got to the canal I told them. They don't really understand death, but I wanted to explain. I wanted them to know why we were changing our route, why the road was closed, why the police. I wanted them to know why I was upset.
My bike rides with the kids are my favourite part of the day. How often on a normal commute with people do they stop and watch a swan? Or count ducks? Or exchange waves with strangers on a tourist boat? Or talk about all the colours of the things that they can see. I love my ride with them. I feel, I hope, that I'm being safe enough.
But that woman today probably felt she was being safe too.
I'm angry. I'm upset. I'm sad.
I'm worried.
Roads shouldn't be a danger like this. This isn't right. This needs to be fixed.
Sunday, 28 August 2016
Super Big Sister
That's the title that you can give yourself when you've got two younger siblings, apparently. Alice and Isaac still fight, but they also have these sweet moments where they are playing together.
I think that they both love their new sister. They love to sing to her and hold her. Isaac says things like "good night baby youcee". I think some of the jealousy is dying down.
Things are good.
I think that they both love their new sister. They love to sing to her and hold her. Isaac says things like "good night baby youcee". I think some of the jealousy is dying down.
Things are good.
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| The Super Big Sister helping |
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| The family that builds together, plays together. |
Sunday, 21 August 2016
The right example
I guess we've done well with our examples we have set. I'm listening to the kids "play house" and it's so sweet. Alice says lovingly on the way to the "store": "Bye! Love yooooou!" To which Isaac responds "Wove you toooo!".
The kids get along so well. When they are fed. And rested. And have gone to the bathroom.
Sunday, 14 August 2016
An actual conversation I had today (more or less)
Alice: I don't want my name anymore. I want my name to be Elsa, middle name Anna, and last name Hello Kitty.
Me chuckling: You might change your mind. You might not always like Frozen.
Alice: Why?
Me: Well, do you think I still like the things I liked when I was 4 years old? What things do you think I liked when I was 4?
Alice: Lego? Star Wars?
Me: uhh... but not everyone is like a daddy.
Clever girl.
Saturday, 13 August 2016
Welcome little one
Well, Lucy is almost 4 hours old and asleep in my arms. She's super cute in a new baby alien kind of way. I barely know her and she's already precious to me. I hope that she's good to us and we can be the parents that she needs us to be.
And now we are five.
Friday, 12 August 2016
Movie time
Watching a movie for Alice is something that she can't do alone. At least not for new movies. She needs someone there to cuddle, to laugh with, to hold tight at the scary parts. She uses me as a couch. She refuses to use one of the other chairs. It's not the most comfortable way to sit.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
Monday, 8 August 2016
The waiting game
Well, someone is late. I expected thought that we'd have a new arrival by now. Nope. Maybe it'll be like her brother being 7 days late. Maybe our dates were wrong (originally we were expecting around the 12th, no the 6th). Maybe, and this is the leading theory, the baby is just lazy.
Or maybe the baby hears her siblings and is a bit fearful. I would be.
It's a bit of a waiting game. There's not much for me to do - just photographer when the time is right and try not to pass out. After that I expect some cuddles, running interference with the other two, and doing even more cuddles when the first two feel neglected by mom. It's bound to happen, emotions can run high.
Who are you baby? Will to be good to us? We'll try to be good to you. Can you do me a personal favour? Can you start sleep through the night in first six months?
I'm excited to meet you.
Or maybe the baby hears her siblings and is a bit fearful. I would be.
It's a bit of a waiting game. There's not much for me to do - just photographer when the time is right and try not to pass out. After that I expect some cuddles, running interference with the other two, and doing even more cuddles when the first two feel neglected by mom. It's bound to happen, emotions can run high.
Who are you baby? Will to be good to us? We'll try to be good to you. Can you do me a personal favour? Can you start sleep through the night in first six months?
I'm excited to meet you.
Tuesday, 2 August 2016
Big feelings
Sometimes dealing with Alice is difficult. She seems to have big feelings. She can feel super sad when watching a movie, have a huge laugh when something funny happens, and every emotion in between. She's super rewarding when you make her laugh. She can be terrifyingly loud when she's upset. It's just the way she is.
Isaac is different. An example: today we were at the park. At one point climbing up a ladder he slipped, held on briefly with one hand while swinging, then fell to the ground (like 30 cm up). He didn't hit. Because he had held on the second, it gave me the time to step closer and catch him. He was scared. He called and looked around for mommy. I told him that mommy was off helping Alice in the bathroom. He essentially shrugged then went back to where he fell off and started to play again. Later when Laura came back he ran over and explained what happened, got the hug that he refused from me, then went back playing.
Very different kids.
But in the end, they all want a rocket ship ride, so who am I to complain?
Isaac is different. An example: today we were at the park. At one point climbing up a ladder he slipped, held on briefly with one hand while swinging, then fell to the ground (like 30 cm up). He didn't hit. Because he had held on the second, it gave me the time to step closer and catch him. He was scared. He called and looked around for mommy. I told him that mommy was off helping Alice in the bathroom. He essentially shrugged then went back to where he fell off and started to play again. Later when Laura came back he ran over and explained what happened, got the hug that he refused from me, then went back playing.
Very different kids.
But in the end, they all want a rocket ship ride, so who am I to complain?
Sunday, 24 July 2016
Baby names
It's hard to decide on a name for a baby. Sometimes I think that we've settled it. We haven't.
I look at just two names and it's so hard to decide. I know that I'll love the little one whatever we call her, but I want to pick the best name for her. How can we make her happy? And us, and family? We've thought hard about all the kids names. Alice sometimes tells us that she hates her name and would rather be called Elsa (from Frozen). It hurts a bit. But we get the last laugh because we named her and any changes will require legal action on her part. Ha ha, take that!
How should you decide on a name? The sound of 3 names together? The first and surname? The sound of the 3 kids names together? The sound of you yelling the kids name to put her shoes on for the 17th time that morning?
I wish that things clear to me.
Or that I had some pie and tea to be able to ponder the choice of names. Pondering usually is easier with pie and tea.
I look at just two names and it's so hard to decide. I know that I'll love the little one whatever we call her, but I want to pick the best name for her. How can we make her happy? And us, and family? We've thought hard about all the kids names. Alice sometimes tells us that she hates her name and would rather be called Elsa (from Frozen). It hurts a bit. But we get the last laugh because we named her and any changes will require legal action on her part. Ha ha, take that!
How should you decide on a name? The sound of 3 names together? The first and surname? The sound of the 3 kids names together? The sound of you yelling the kids name to put her shoes on for the 17th time that morning?
I wish that things clear to me.
Or that I had some pie and tea to be able to ponder the choice of names. Pondering usually is easier with pie and tea.
Finding My True Love
Well, I've fallen in love (again), and not with my wife. I never knew that lightening could strike like this. This is awkward since we've been together for like 13 years, married for 9. It's especially awkward because it happened on a Date Day™.
Needless to say, I'm having a hard time bringing this up with Laura. Laura has also met my love, so she might be forgiving, maybe even understanding.
It was five strips of bacon, dunked in buttermilk pancake batter, deep fried and served with maple syrup. It was like what I imagine heaven to be. You know, if heaven is bacon deep fried in pancake batter with maple syrup.
For the record, I've never fallen out of love with my wife. If anything, it's little trips every day.
Needless to say, I'm having a hard time bringing this up with Laura. Laura has also met my love, so she might be forgiving, maybe even understanding.
It was five strips of bacon, dunked in buttermilk pancake batter, deep fried and served with maple syrup. It was like what I imagine heaven to be. You know, if heaven is bacon deep fried in pancake batter with maple syrup.
For the record, I've never fallen out of love with my wife. If anything, it's little trips every day.
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| Notice the crazy eyes. Happy, happy crazy eyes. |
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| Laura won't even sit up for the picture because it would take farther from the bacon. |
Saturday, 16 July 2016
Date days
With young kids, a lot of time it's difficult to have a "real" date. Scheduling, having someone else look after the kids, just being too tired. So what we've done a couple of times is out kids into daycare and then going out for breakfast / lunch. Lunfast if you will.
The other day we did that. We dropped the kids off, watched the start of the changing of the guard (as one does), and then headed to our favourite pancake / Canadian fare food truck. Alas it had moved. So we were forced to eat somewhere else delicious. Then as we often do when we find ourselves away from the kids, we ended up in a toys store.
Lots of bike riding around. Good time had by all. A pretty fun date, and not that different than our first dates together.
Did I mention that I love my wife? No? Well I do.
Sunday, 10 July 2016
Not dead yet
Another week, another cold. This one I blamed on the children of course. It had a weird fever where it was like I was soaked from a swim. Kids are gross. Infectious too.
One of the disadvantages of being a mouth breather and having an awesome commute to work / daycare is that, perhaps, when the kids are insisting on blowing raspberries, or sneezing, or, well, anything other gross thing that they can think about, I'm a bit too close to the germ cloud they produce. Yum.
But I'm not dead. Not yet. Despite their best efforts.
One of the disadvantages of being a mouth breather and having an awesome commute to work / daycare is that, perhaps, when the kids are insisting on blowing raspberries, or sneezing, or, well, anything other gross thing that they can think about, I'm a bit too close to the germ cloud they produce. Yum.
But I'm not dead. Not yet. Despite their best efforts.
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| This is how we roll. |
Sunday, 3 July 2016
On being a father
The other day I was at a BBQ with family. It was shortly after Father's Day so it was being talked about. My brother that has 2 kids and 2 step-kids says to be "When you think about it, it doesn't take much to be a father". I think that he was talking about the act of conception.
I totally disagreed. That's not how I see being a father at all. I see "being a father" being all the times you wipe noses, rock them back to sleep, hug them after a skinned knee. It's a lot of time. Decades. Lifelong.
I totally disagreed. That's not how I see being a father at all. I see "being a father" being all the times you wipe noses, rock them back to sleep, hug them after a skinned knee. It's a lot of time. Decades. Lifelong.
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| My favourite people |
Monday, 13 June 2016
Go. Swim. Ca-nal.
Isaac is such a joker. Every day he says goodbye to the daycare workers Sorna (bye Sor-na!) and Samantha / Sam (Bye Steve! [giggle / sly smile] Bye Sam!" Funny man.
Then on the days we are lucky enough to be biking home, as we approach the 417 bridge / Pretoria bridge we will have an exchange like this, almost word for word, each and every time.
Isaac: Go. Swim. Ca-nal. Alice. Go. Swim. Ca-nal.
Me: No!
I (sadly): Why?
M: Why not?
I (big grin): Not. SAFE!
M: That's right.
I: Too. Dirty. Yuck!
M (laughing): That's right. Yuck!
I: Yuck!
Tonight while I had him sitting on the toilet trying to fill that instead of his pants, I thought that I'd tell him a story to help him relax. So I decided to start stories the way that I do when I'm making it up and go with "There once was a boy and the boy loved (insert something here, tonight it was dragons) very much". He yelled "NO! READ WHAT IS SAYS!". I was quite taken aback. Mostly because that's how I start every story for Alice to tease her and because it's the opening to one of my favoute books. What he said tonight is her usual response. It's so funny: I tease one child and the other one learned from example. I've got to be careful.
Then on the days we are lucky enough to be biking home, as we approach the 417 bridge / Pretoria bridge we will have an exchange like this, almost word for word, each and every time.
Isaac: Go. Swim. Ca-nal. Alice. Go. Swim. Ca-nal.
Me: No!
I (sadly): Why?
M: Why not?
I (big grin): Not. SAFE!
M: That's right.
I: Too. Dirty. Yuck!
M (laughing): That's right. Yuck!
I: Yuck!
Tonight while I had him sitting on the toilet trying to fill that instead of his pants, I thought that I'd tell him a story to help him relax. So I decided to start stories the way that I do when I'm making it up and go with "There once was a boy and the boy loved (insert something here, tonight it was dragons) very much". He yelled "NO! READ WHAT IS SAYS!". I was quite taken aback. Mostly because that's how I start every story for Alice to tease her and because it's the opening to one of my favoute books. What he said tonight is her usual response. It's so funny: I tease one child and the other one learned from example. I've got to be careful.
Friday, 10 June 2016
I want to hang onto those moments
It's funny. The kids right now are so cute. Well, not right now because they are asleep, but when they are awake and not fighting or running away or anything they are cute.
They play well together. Alice says funny things with how she sees things. Isaac talks in his toddler voice with pleading to "go to air-port. Go wreally high. Go wreally fast. Higher. Higher! HIGHER!". Then he moves in for the really great hug.
I want a time capsule of specific moments so I can go back to them. Maybe a pensieve would be good enough. Moments to cherish.
Don't get me wrong. I'm pretty sure my brain could do with actually sleeping all night for a while to undo 2 years of damage. of damage. of damage.
Who am I? How did I get here?
Oh ya. Yes, I'll enjoy when my kids are older and can do more for themselves. I just know that I'll miss some of these moments while my brain damage has blotted out all the bad things.
They play well together. Alice says funny things with how she sees things. Isaac talks in his toddler voice with pleading to "go to air-port. Go wreally high. Go wreally fast. Higher. Higher! HIGHER!". Then he moves in for the really great hug.
I want a time capsule of specific moments so I can go back to them. Maybe a pensieve would be good enough. Moments to cherish.
Don't get me wrong. I'm pretty sure my brain could do with actually sleeping all night for a while to undo 2 years of damage. of damage. of damage.
Who am I? How did I get here?
Oh ya. Yes, I'll enjoy when my kids are older and can do more for themselves. I just know that I'll miss some of these moments while my brain damage has blotted out all the bad things.
Wednesday, 1 June 2016
Tuesday, 24 May 2016
There's a storm a'brewin
Having kids is funny. Taking care of people leads to you knowing their patterns very well, and when there is a deviation from the normal, you know that something's up. Alice not having much of an appetite or having a nap, that's trouble.
I feel like an old sea captain staring out a clouds nearing the horizon and warning others about the approaching storm. Not really anything that you can do about it when it gets here, but there's a certain level of smugness knowing that you can predict a rough time.
I feel like an old sea captain staring out a clouds nearing the horizon and warning others about the approaching storm. Not really anything that you can do about it when it gets here, but there's a certain level of smugness knowing that you can predict a rough time.
Friday, 20 May 2016
Minor surgery
Well, they just took Isaac in to get tubes in his ears. I look calm. I was trying to calm him in his not-quite-awake state, but I'm so nervous.
I don't know how people get their kids through more complicated things other than they just don't have any choice.
It seems pretty low risk, but I'm so nervous anyways.
Time to binge drink some coffee.
Monday, 16 May 2016
Our little flyer and zombie
Well, we made it there (British Columbia) and back again. No one died. No child caused made me wonder if police were going to come take us off the flight. It went well.
Alice is an experienced flyer. What her favourite thing about flying is being able to sit and watch tv shows while turning off her brain. Seriously I thought that she somehow shutdown brain function.
Now Isaac on the other hand was different. He loves the idea of flying. While we are not actually on a plane, that's all he can talk about. Our conversations today have gone like this:
Isaac: Go air port. Plane go high. Up sky. Weally wloud. Weally fast. Up up! Sky!
Me: No, we just went on a plane. Maybe for our next trip
Isaac: Pweeeeeeease!
He loved it. Well, the idea of it. Actually on the plane not so much. Especially not on the way there. He held my hand, and took it back when I was able to get him to release it, in a death grip for like the first 1.5 hours. On the way back he was a bit better. Good trip.
Alice is an experienced flyer. What her favourite thing about flying is being able to sit and watch tv shows while turning off her brain. Seriously I thought that she somehow shutdown brain function.
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| Braaiiiins... uhh, I mean tee veeeeeee.... |
Isaac: Go air port. Plane go high. Up sky. Weally wloud. Weally fast. Up up! Sky!
Me: No, we just went on a plane. Maybe for our next trip
Isaac: Pweeeeeeease!
He loved it. Well, the idea of it. Actually on the plane not so much. Especially not on the way there. He held my hand, and took it back when I was able to get him to release it, in a death grip for like the first 1.5 hours. On the way back he was a bit better. Good trip.
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| Smiles are easier if you use your finger to help |
Saturday, 30 April 2016
They are working together
The kids are now actually working together. Playing. Today was another day like that.
I've got hope for the future.
I've got hope for the future.
Wednesday, 27 April 2016
90% good
I think that I might be giving my friends an inaccurate impression of our kids. Sure, they might sometimes try to kill each other, climb furniture, or smear glaxal base moisturizing cream all over the walls. But what people miss is that they are doing this together. My kids do love each other very much (90-95% of the time). They love playing with each other (as long as no one is hungry or sleepy). They are expert sharers (as long as there are snacks for each person). It is an ideal family (with only mild bouts of screaming, kicking, and punching).
I only tell people those "OH MY GOD WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!?!" stories because, well, those are the funnier ones. Do I tell people how they were quietly reading together, laughing while playing princess dress up, or playing well outside together? No. No one (other than us) wants to hear the nice stories.
With that, I think that my kids are typical siblings. Maybe even taking their example from The Good Book - specifically Genesis 4:1–8
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| One child opens the glaxal base and points, the other smears it on the things pointed to. Teamwork. |
I only tell people those "OH MY GOD WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!?!" stories because, well, those are the funnier ones. Do I tell people how they were quietly reading together, laughing while playing princess dress up, or playing well outside together? No. No one (other than us) wants to hear the nice stories.
With that, I think that my kids are typical siblings. Maybe even taking their example from The Good Book - specifically Genesis 4:1–8
Saturday, 16 April 2016
How I spent today
The house is a mess. Piles of dishes. There's so much grit on the floor I'm starting to think I live on a beach.
What did we do? We biked to a park and played. Then the library while Laura picked out kids books and I watched puppet shows put on by the kids and played toys with them. Then home, Isaac asleep. Alice and I assembled an ikea kids picnic table. Lunch on the patio. Then play (shower for me), snack, and yubaed to another park for more playtime. BBQ dinner. Stories and then kids to bed.
The house is no cleaner than before. Probably more sandy actually. More dishes piled up. Somehow even more toys spread out underfoot.
Looking at it, today was an excellent use of our time.
Thursday, 14 April 2016
Where are oooou?
The little ways that Isaac speaks are right are super cute. He'll says "Ah-yes (Alice). Where arrrrre oooouuu?". He'll go through a list of people. I think that he just likes the sound of his voice.
He's very cute. They both are. However, they are starting to work together. Together against us. There is no way that this ends well for me.
*sigh*
He's very cute. They both are. However, they are starting to work together. Together against us. There is no way that this ends well for me.
*sigh*
Friday, 1 April 2016
Who are you little one?
Who is the little girl who's going to be joining our family? What are you going to be like? Are you going to let us sleep? Will you make spaceship sounds like your brother? Squeal with delight like your sister? Enjoy a princess gown as much as both of your siblings?
Or will you be just your own person? Someone we'll get to know over time as you and your sister and brother continue to teach us?
I'm anxious to get to meet you. But not too anxious. Take your time. We'll be waiting with cuddles at the ready.
Or will you be just your own person? Someone we'll get to know over time as you and your sister and brother continue to teach us?
I'm anxious to get to meet you. But not too anxious. Take your time. We'll be waiting with cuddles at the ready.
"So.... did you mean to do that?"
Did you mean for that to happen?
Was it an accident?
What happened? Was it a mistake? Surprise?
No. The answer is no.
So far variations of this question has come up for every person we've mentioned we're having a third child. It's... tiring. I'm glad that people feel comfortable asking us this, and honestly it sort of amuses me. But I'm done with this question, even though I know we'll be asked this more.
Was it an accident?
What happened? Was it a mistake? Surprise?
No. The answer is no.
So far variations of this question has come up for every person we've mentioned we're having a third child. It's... tiring. I'm glad that people feel comfortable asking us this, and honestly it sort of amuses me. But I'm done with this question, even though I know we'll be asked this more.
Sunday, 27 March 2016
Just a few people over
It's funny how big the family is. Now to have my parents, grandma, and siblings over it's 20 people. Next year it will be more. And that's not even counting all the step kids. To have that many people over for a cool / cold weather meal is a bit of a work. But I can do it. I actually like the challenge of doing it. The cleanup... well, I'd prefer that someone else enjoyed that challenge. Ideally a house elf.
What I need is an outdoor oven. An honest to god, it regulates the temperature and has lots of space, oven. Then I could easily meals where the house temperature wasn't so effected by me cooking.
Maybe next time I'll just make salads. Ahead of time.
What I need is an outdoor oven. An honest to god, it regulates the temperature and has lots of space, oven. Then I could easily meals where the house temperature wasn't so effected by me cooking.
Maybe next time I'll just make salads. Ahead of time.
Wednesday, 23 March 2016
I'll love you forever
Those kids grew. They grew and they grew and they grew. They grew
until the girl was four years old and the boy was almost two. They got
into half a kilo of glaxal base. The girl opened the lid and encouraged
the boy to make a mess while their father was working on dinner. They
smeared it on the walls. They rubbed it on the shower curtain. They
covered every flat surface and had it running in globs until it went
splat on the floor.
Sometimes their parents would say "these kids are driving me CRAZY!"
But when those kids were acting nuts and needed to be restrained, their father would pick them up and rock them crazily back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While he rocked them he would sing off key:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
as long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
Sometimes their parents would say "these kids are driving me CRAZY!"
But when those kids were acting nuts and needed to be restrained, their father would pick them up and rock them crazily back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While he rocked them he would sing off key:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
as long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
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| The photo doesn't capture the full extent of the mess by far |
Monday, 14 March 2016
Back in the saddle again
The weather was just warm enough on the weekend to go for a bike ride with the family and not think that we'd have to ride through a patch of ice. It. Was. Glorious. Laura said I was like a puppy pulling at the leash. I was so damn excited to be riding again.
I think that it's because it's the light at the end of the tunnel. It means that I'll be able to bike to work again with Isaac. Honestly I love that. It's not a fast bike. It's a very easy 25 ish minutes where I've got my arms around my child and we're talking about what we see. The river, the birds, the dogs along the paths, the construction trucks.
It also means that I'll be cutting my commute in half I think. Sometimes the traffic can be quite bad. A couple of weeks ago it took me an hour to go about 1.3 km in the car. Let's say it took me 15 minutes to get the car, but that's still like triple the amount of time it would be to walk. I could have shuffled faster.
But now the weather is warmer, hopefully soon I will back biking. Now the question is how do I solve the Sword of Testocles problem...
 |
| Extra points for finding all of us |
It also means that I'll be cutting my commute in half I think. Sometimes the traffic can be quite bad. A couple of weeks ago it took me an hour to go about 1.3 km in the car. Let's say it took me 15 minutes to get the car, but that's still like triple the amount of time it would be to walk. I could have shuffled faster.
But now the weather is warmer, hopefully soon I will back biking. Now the question is how do I solve the Sword of Testocles problem...
Saturday, 27 February 2016
Would I even need a snowblower?
I spent a bunch of time today on our walk thinking about self driving cars. I do that a lot these days when I'm stuck in traffic, looking at the car just sitting in the driveway, paying for parking, dodging people doing dumb things with their vehicles, etc.
I started to imagine 100 years from now when self drive cars are not just the default, but the only choice for public roads. People drive cars would be relegated to private property or niche race tracks like horse racing is today.
Not only would traffic flow well, but roads wouldn't need to have capacity in both directions. If you had 6 lanes total, in the morning you could have 5 going in one direction and change it in real time as load on the "road system" increased.
Most individuals wouldn't own cars, only the super rich would bother. Everyone else would have a service that would have a pool of cars ready for our call. Businesses would have sheltered drop off / pickup areas and cars would go someplace else. Cars wouldn't need to be brushed off because they would either be on the move or parked in a sheltered setting. A garage would only be used to store "stuff" and maybe a cargo bike. You wouldn't even need a snowblower because you would only need to clear a path from the front door to the road / sidewalk. The public snow clearing equipment would of course also be automated.
The more I think about it, the more that I agree that it will be one of the biggest societal changes we have seen in recent memory.
I can't wait.
I started to imagine 100 years from now when self drive cars are not just the default, but the only choice for public roads. People drive cars would be relegated to private property or niche race tracks like horse racing is today.
Not only would traffic flow well, but roads wouldn't need to have capacity in both directions. If you had 6 lanes total, in the morning you could have 5 going in one direction and change it in real time as load on the "road system" increased.
Most individuals wouldn't own cars, only the super rich would bother. Everyone else would have a service that would have a pool of cars ready for our call. Businesses would have sheltered drop off / pickup areas and cars would go someplace else. Cars wouldn't need to be brushed off because they would either be on the move or parked in a sheltered setting. A garage would only be used to store "stuff" and maybe a cargo bike. You wouldn't even need a snowblower because you would only need to clear a path from the front door to the road / sidewalk. The public snow clearing equipment would of course also be automated.
The more I think about it, the more that I agree that it will be one of the biggest societal changes we have seen in recent memory.
I can't wait.
Monday, 22 February 2016
How to catch a star
Tonight Laura had a special treat for me: a replacement for our disintegrated copy of How to Catch a Star. Our first copy was read by me about 3-4 times daily for like 2 years. Long term it didn't hold up super well. Tonight I read it to our two kids while they cuddled close.
That's a pure happy memory.
Of course tonight it couldn't be about a girl or a boy, but it had to be about a princess. Times change, but they also stay the same.
You'd think that reading the same book for the 2738th time would annoy me. It doesn't. It makes me so happy.
I have caught a happy thought. A happy thought of my very own.
That's a pure happy memory.
Of course tonight it couldn't be about a girl or a boy, but it had to be about a princess. Times change, but they also stay the same.
You'd think that reading the same book for the 2738th time would annoy me. It doesn't. It makes me so happy.
I have caught a happy thought. A happy thought of my very own.
Saturday, 6 February 2016
Not the reaction I was expecting
Sometimes you picture how things are going to play out. Then when it happens, it doesn't resemble what you had pictured. At all.
For instance. Today I thought that we'd see a reaction like "Wow! That's wonderful! That's the best news ever! I'm so happy for you all!". This was one reaction we got.
What we got was more like "Oh no, not again! Was it an accident? What are you going to do? Uhh... congratulations. You're a sucker for punishment, eh?". This was another reaction we got.
Not what I was expecting. Probably because people were caught off guard. Meh. It's all good.
For instance. Today I thought that we'd see a reaction like "Wow! That's wonderful! That's the best news ever! I'm so happy for you all!". This was one reaction we got.
What we got was more like "Oh no, not again! Was it an accident? What are you going to do? Uhh... congratulations. You're a sucker for punishment, eh?". This was another reaction we got.
Not what I was expecting. Probably because people were caught off guard. Meh. It's all good.
Friday, 5 February 2016
Winter biking
Every time I wait for the bus or ride it, I can't help but thinking of winter biking. Waiting 15 minutes for a 30 minute bus ride that would be 20 minute bike (in good weather) is just infuriating. However I also don't want to die under a car tire. So there's that.
Two days a week I'm taking the bus and really, I could get in other ways. I'm assuming that my frustration is just "temporary" since the light rail will open in 2018 and presumably I'll have a < 20 minute public transportation commute again. But when I'm waiting in the cold 2018 seems really far away.
What I need is someone to give me a fixie with studded tires. I also need to figure out some kind of ski goggles that would fit over my glasses.
One day maybe. We will see.
Thursday, 4 February 2016
It's all in the pronunciation
Isaac is at that really cute age where he's able to say a lot, none of it clearly, and it's changing all the time. Like "banana" - last month it sounded like "Bahrain", then "ba yan", then "ba nan", and now it's "ba na na".
Overall things are going well. The children aren't actually trying to kill each other all the time, just occasionally. Mostly Alice takes from or restricts Isaac, and he hits her on the head with fists, blocks, or rips out her hair. He's strong and she doesn't move away so she gets the worst part of the deal.
I miss going to parks and getting around on bikes with the kids. Usually in January / February I feel a bit antsy, but this year it's different. I miss exercise, but I also miss the fresh air with the kids.
Soon my pretties.
Overall things are going well. The children aren't actually trying to kill each other all the time, just occasionally. Mostly Alice takes from or restricts Isaac, and he hits her on the head with fists, blocks, or rips out her hair. He's strong and she doesn't move away so she gets the worst part of the deal.
I miss going to parks and getting around on bikes with the kids. Usually in January / February I feel a bit antsy, but this year it's different. I miss exercise, but I also miss the fresh air with the kids.
Soon my pretties.
Wednesday, 6 January 2016
The time it takes
I'm a little frustrated. Originally I had thought that 1:40 was a long time to pick up the kids. Currently that's closer to a best time for me. I'm often closer to 2 hours to do pickup. It was much faster with picking up Isaac on the bike, going home, putting things away, hoping into the car and picking up Alice. It took me 20 minutes to drive down Murray street tonight. That's not typical, but somewhere on the route their is always a surprise congestion for no visible reason. The other day is was Kent street.
At this point it just seems like the cost in time I have to pay, but it's frustrating. It shouldn't be that bad.
Even on the days where I'm not doing pickup but just taking the bus it's horrible. It used to be I could take just about any bus going by. Waiting 10 minutes was the most I've waited and it's usually because I was choosing to wait for a bus that had more room. So that was 10 minutes of walking + 10 minutes of bus. Currently it's 25-30 minutes on the bus, plus 2 minutes of walking plus a wait of 10 to 45 minutes for a bus. That doesn't count the time I go "I'm going home now. Uhh, a bus doesn't come for 20 minutes. I guess I'll stay at my desk longer...". Google maps says that it's about 1:18 minute walk. *sigh*
I can't wait until the weather is better and I can bike (or ride my new scooter!) again. *sigh*
At this point it just seems like the cost in time I have to pay, but it's frustrating. It shouldn't be that bad.
Even on the days where I'm not doing pickup but just taking the bus it's horrible. It used to be I could take just about any bus going by. Waiting 10 minutes was the most I've waited and it's usually because I was choosing to wait for a bus that had more room. So that was 10 minutes of walking + 10 minutes of bus. Currently it's 25-30 minutes on the bus, plus 2 minutes of walking plus a wait of 10 to 45 minutes for a bus. That doesn't count the time I go "I'm going home now. Uhh, a bus doesn't come for 20 minutes. I guess I'll stay at my desk longer...". Google maps says that it's about 1:18 minute walk. *sigh*
I can't wait until the weather is better and I can bike (or ride my new scooter!) again. *sigh*
Tuesday, 5 January 2016
I don't feel geeky enough
Some days I don't feel geeky enough. People at work talk about the stuff they do on "side projects", or how they are building things with a raspberry pi. But what do I want to do? Read books, watch movies, play with my kids, go for adventures with Laura.
Should I be trying to build more things for the sake of building them? I'd rather things just work with minimal involvement from me so I could go on a bike ride. Or a ski. Or build a snowman. Is that wrong? Should I be playing around with more stuff? I feel like I'm not keeping up with the Jones. But then I'm like screw the Jones's, I'm going to have some cake and fancy tea then then go look at the stars.
I guess I know my answer. I'm me, and I like building things to have a finished product. The focus for me isn't the journey, it's the destination with the fancy drink with an umbrella and some fruit in it.
Should I be trying to build more things for the sake of building them? I'd rather things just work with minimal involvement from me so I could go on a bike ride. Or a ski. Or build a snowman. Is that wrong? Should I be playing around with more stuff? I feel like I'm not keeping up with the Jones. But then I'm like screw the Jones's, I'm going to have some cake and fancy tea then then go look at the stars.
I guess I know my answer. I'm me, and I like building things to have a finished product. The focus for me isn't the journey, it's the destination with the fancy drink with an umbrella and some fruit in it.
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| Do you want to build a snowman? |
Sunday, 3 January 2016
Freezing the Musical
Today we took Alice to Freezing the Musical. It's not Frozen, but the characters pay a striking resemblance. We were front row center and it meant that we involved with the performance. The Drag Beauty Queen introduced me as her former lover. Alice played hockey on stage and won a stuffed pig (as you do).
I laughed and laughed at their silliness. It's hard not to be involved with people that are putting themselves out there and having a grand old time. I had forgotten how much fun live theater can be.
I laughed and laughed at their silliness. It's hard not to be involved with people that are putting themselves out there and having a grand old time. I had forgotten how much fun live theater can be.
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| The stars of the afternoon. |
Friday, 1 January 2016
Fortunately, the Daddy
Tonight I started to read a "big book" to Alice. It is Fortunately, the Milk which I got for Christmas as part of a set. Isaac not wanting to be left out asked to sit with us as well. It went well. I love reading to my kids, especially if I can do voices and it's a bit silly.
Today has been a good day.
Today has been a good day.
Jim's Journal 97/10/15
I found an old "journal" that I wrote on an outdoor ed school trip to the Adirondacks. Good times. Rather than trying to keep the old paper, I'm just going to transcribe it for my own interest. I'll try to be as accurate as possible and not edit it. However I've added some links that weren't in the original paper document. ;-)
It's weird. I had forgotten my teachers name and most of that trip. But reading that, especially the part about the crow (!), it brought it back. Some memories linger if you apply enough wonder when they are forming.
Hello, Hello, Hello. We I'm on my long hiking trip in Mr. Zuro class. Yesterday We went up to the top of Mount Jo. Boy I wish I had my camera. We were up so high yet still so close to the lodge were we started from. A crow was flying at the same level as up us (I think that it was a raven). It would fold it's wings up, turn a little to the left and would dive bomb 50 feet or so. This morning it is rain, lightly but still raining. We have a slightly damp area in our tent (on my side) but nothing to worry about. People are starting to get up and make breakfast so I guess I will have to too soon. I don't think we will be going to mount marcy today because we are not getting and early start (it's 8:48). Yesterday we so cool... I am so glad I was well enough to come. The mist was in the mountains. The view was breath-taking. I am glad I joined this class because I am able to do things I wouldn't be ever doing w/ my family; Which sucks. I would love to come back. Getting up now. See you later.I guess "later" is like 18 years later.
It's weird. I had forgotten my teachers name and most of that trip. But reading that, especially the part about the crow (!), it brought it back. Some memories linger if you apply enough wonder when they are forming.
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