Reset

I just found several photos like this on my phone .... seems like it might be time to change my password from 1111.

Toothless

Another tooth down.  Everett now officially has to gum down all of his meals....and he's really shy about showing it...or not...

Break

I'm slacking. That's really all I can say about it.  I'm not posting regularly.  I'm not sure we took any pictures at Christmas.  I haven't been to work in a week. I haven't shaved in 11 days.  I guess what I'm saying is....this is a really nice Christmas break.  I'll get back to business in the new year.  Until then, the only hard work I'm looking for is racing against Everett at MarioKart.

Camera (not) Shy

Everyone loves a good picture of Everett.  That said,  nobody loves it more than Everett does.  Here he is getting busted trying to pose for a selfie.  He probably took 15 pictures on my phone before giving up.

Last Minute

Santa, in case you're reading this, here is a last minute request.  If you're not, it's okay...Amelia will survive without a giant, fluffy panda....this year.

Anything for a Laugh

This is the face of a 9 year-old trying not to spit her TCBY everywhere after she just called the massage chair her dad was sitting in the "fat belly jiggle chair".  On a negative note, that stung a little. On a positive note, I'll take any laugh from my kids that I can get...even if it is at my expense.

What a Character

My man earned recognition for showing good character at school today.  From what I could tell, it was for spending time filling in muddy holes on the playground so nobody would step in them and get hurt.  To be honest, I don't care what it was for...anything that makes him feel good about showing good character instead of being a character is a win.  

Cool as Ice

Everett got to go ice skating for the first time yesterday.  I was a little worried about all the people zipping around him.  I didn't want him to hit his head or get his finger chopped off.  As you can see, he didn't exactly share my concern....

Check

New haircut in a side braid? Check

"Statement" necklace? Check

Grown-up cardigan? Check

Skinny jeans? Check

Teenage boots? Check

Dad who wishes his daughter still liked to dress in an Elmo shirt? CHECK

Before and After

Before Ev got his haircut, he was a wild-haired, tooth-missing pirate .....

 Afterwards, he had transitioned into a suave man who enjoys the finer things in life like cookies and massage chairs....

Turf War

Everett lost his third tooth tonight.  You'd think Meggan and I would be used to it by now, but there's something about the sight of a kid with a grotesquely wiggly tooth that makes both of us want to give up custody, pack our things, and leave that kid behind.  Luckily, I've so far been able to overcome this feeling and get out the teeth.  Now, the only question is whether Naybe and the Tooth Fairy will get along or devolve into a magical turf war.

Age Limit

Well, I've checked every page of the parenting manual and I can't seem to find the section where they give you the exact ages you're supposed to let your kids do things.  It's easy when they're really young.  Those milestones are mostly a function of physical growth. They sit up when they're strong enough.  They sleep through the night when they aren't hungry or wet.  Potty training starts once they understand the signals their bodies are sending.  However, when they get older, the struggle shifts to balancing their maturity with your anxieties as a parent.  I would say at this point, my kids' are maturing faster than I'm getting over my anxieties.  They want to watch shows I'm not ready for them to see. They want to play video games I'm not ready for them to play.  They want to listen to songs I'm not ready for them to hear.  I knew they wouldn't like Elmo and playing with Barbies forever, but do we have to jump straight to killing everything on the screen and asking for an IPhone every week??  I'm waiting on the day Everett asks if he can ride his bike to the store or Amelia wants to know if she can go on a date.  The answer, of course, to Everett is "over my dead body" and to Amelia is "over the boys dead body".  Hey, I'm trying, but that's my baby girl. 

Sooner Than Expected

After wanting one for 5 years, I finally broke down and bought a truck for myself.  While driving the kids around in it, Everett kept commenting on how cool it was. I jokingly told him he could have it when he's old enough to drive.  It wasn't until some time later that I realized that is only 9 years and 1 month away.  I might literally still have this truck when he's 16 and will almost certainly have it in 6 years when Amelia can drive.  Forget the highways, why doesn't someone put a speed limit on time?!?!