Hidden Gift

Many people may wonder why Santa didn't put together our ping pong table when he delivered it.  Perhaps it was because it was going in the room attached to Amelia's bedroom?  Maybe it was because its weight was 140lbs and it was going upstairs?  It could have even been because he was tired and he didn't get here until late.  There's really no way to know.  However, if I had only one guess, I'd say it was because he didn't want to deprive me the gift of spending time with my little elves putting it together.  Santa is a pretty smart dude. 

Merry Christmas

No, today wasn't like any Christmas we've had before, but it wasn't completely different either.  First and foremost, we were still able to talk about the reason for the holiday.  We talked through Jesus's birth, why it was important, and what it means for our lives.  Secondly, we got to spend time with family.  Yes, it was over Zoom calls, but it was still a great opportunity to see loved ones.  If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth a million...and when that video includes a family member who just fought a dangerously severe case of COVID, it's priceless.  Additionally, Santa dropped off gifts at our house.  In a year where many people have been financially affected, we appreciate everything he was able to bring to us.  Lastly, we were able to feast.  I don't want to get into all the details, but let's just say I started my day off by eating chocolate peanut butter balls and I'm not proud of where it went from there.  2020 tried its best, but if you had Jesus, family, Santa, and snacks .... you had a damn good Christmas.  

Grazing in the kitchen....

Swimming in gifts...

Prep

Just in case 2021 isn't better than 2020, I've started Everett on prison style workouts in the basement.  Okay, I'm just kidding.  Everett has a certain amount of energy to burn each day or he will explode....so, I started him on prison style workouts in the basement...

Annnnnnnnd Break

 The kids and Meggan survived the Fall semester and made it to break!  Now, we can focus on relaxing, laughing, and trying to stay up late to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus.  Here's to hoping for an easy, healthy, peaceful end to 2020!

The Sound of Music

 If I have to share the couch with Amelia during her remote learning days, at least I get a free concert out of it ...

Full Circle

 Today was one of those days where you get to experience both sides of life's coin.  On one side, it was Meggan's birthday.  We had all the joys, gifts, and cake that go along with it.  On the other side, Heaven gained another furry friend today when we had to say goodbye my mom's dog, Sassy.  With my mom passing a few years ago, Sassy became a living reminder of her and held a special place in our hearts.  So, on days like today, I'm reminded that no matter how much quarantines, elections, and protests try to interrupt our lives, they still go on.  Each day comes with births, deaths, laughs, and cries....and cake....don't forget the cake.  

Master Plan

I'm not saying I'm trying to brainwash my children into following me into a lifetime love of the Florida Gators....I'm just saying when Everett shows up wearing a Gator sweatshirt and requests his sister make him an orange and blue balloon helmet, a little piece of my heart feels like all is right with the World...

Big

My babies are getting too big.  They have braces and phones. They legitimately feel they can beat me at sports.  They are experts in almost everything.  They have their own opinions and ideas on topics from politics to college savings.  They can make their own food and stay home without us. That said, on some occasions, you still go to check on them and find that one of them (and likely both) decided having separate bedrooms has always been overrated....

Santa's Helpers

 With the help of these two elves, we have our tree ... now, I just have to figure out how to fit the $47,000 worth of gifts Everett wants underneath it...

That Tracks

 We ask the kids to circle some items from the sale ads each year to give us some ideas for Christmas.  I came across this beauty today which perfectly exemplifies my kids...

Here is something Amelia circled ... a small TV for her room for $99.

Here is what Everett circled... my choice between a 75" or 82" TV for up to $1,300. You know...for his room.

...and before any of you say he doesn't understand size and price .... these were on the same page as the TV Amelia circled.  

Test

 I put Ev to a test yesterday and he passed .... sort of. We went to the recycling center to recycle boxes.  This is free to do, but I told Everett we were supposed to pay $25.  There are plenty of things you do have to pay for, so it was an easy enough story.  I also told him I had forgotten my wallet (which was true), so we were just going to sneak in and drop them off.  I just wanted to see what he would do when faced with a moral dilemma from a loved one...

I'm going to give him an A+ on the way to the "crime"...

    He kept telling me "you need to go get your wallet", "you need to ask if you can come back and pay them later", and "I'm not going to be a part of this. No way"

I'm going to give him a B- during the "crime"...

    He eventually helped me load the boxes into the bins. That's not great, but what kid is going to tell his dad no in that situation?? However, as he was helping, he kept guilting me by saying "Is this what you think Jesus would want you to do?".  So, he gets credit for that. 

I'm going back and forth between a D- and an A on leaving the scene of the "crime"...

    After we finished, he got in the truck, hid in the back floorboard, and yelled "Get us out of here, Butthole!" ...

Visitors

After spending two weeks quarantining on the farm, Grandma and Grandpa came up for an early Thanksgiving.  They were the first visitors we've had since this whole pandemic began.  Over that time, I'm sure we forgot how to be good hosts.  This was probably most notable in the fact that we got rid of our guest room and made it an office.  They are so nice they didn't even complain about how hard the desk and computer chair were to sleep on.  It also occurred to me that another member of our home, Lucy, had literally never had guests in her life.  She was born in March and thus has social distanced since birth.  That said, she clearly doesn't know how to act around visitors.  When they got here, she was shaking, jumping, and crying like the people they used to have winning the big checks in Publisher's Clearinghouse commercials.  To her credit, she settled down and was a sweet puppy the rest of the time.  All in all it was a great, albeit too short, visit.  I wish they would have stayed longer, but apparently they want to see "other family members" as well on Thanksgiving....I still think it might have something to do with needing to use reams of printer paper as pillows in our home office guest room.

Caught

 For some reason, the wallpaper on my phone keeps changing.  It's been Gators logos, Pokemon characters, and most recently, this dragon....

I haven't gotten either kid to admit to doing it (although the dragon was a big clue).  That said, I think the culprit may have slipped up and accidentally left this grainy evidence behind on my camera roll....

Handy Woman

 Who needs a handyman when you can have a strong young lady helping you out?

Boys

Thanks to his teachers holding conferences, Everett and I got to spend the day together last week.  While Amelia and I get this treat every other day, I rarely get days alone with my man.  I had to work from home for part of the day, but we still managed to squeeze in a good time.  We shot hoops.  We played video games.  I even let him pick breakfast...he went with a McGriddle...and as you can see, Olive was very, very  interested in his choice...

Straightened Out Pt. 2

 Even though they make her look 2 years older, I think the braces look good on her...

14

 Yesterday was our 14th wedding anniversary.  Rather than get all mushy and write a long post about how much I love Meggan, I'll just put it into perspective this way -  through the 7 months of COVID social distancing (so far), a period of time which 31% of couples say has caused irreparable damage to their relationship and divorce rates have seen a 34% increase over 2019,  we are closer than ever.  We've found new shows to watch together, we've completed numerous home projects together, and we have even begun taking time to go on walks together each day.  Not bad for a couple of old timers who got married the same year Cars introduced us to Lightning McQueen, Oprah introduced many of us to a second year senator from Illinois named Barack, and Twitter was launched to introduce us to everything else. 

Straightened Out

 I remember when my little girl was still flashing a toothless grin...somehow, she is now so big that I'm taking her to get braces put on tomorrow....  Just checking one more box along the path of growing too old and too cool for her dad.

Trick or Treat

 Here are some pictures from the kids trick or treating ....

Here's one....

Here's another one....

Even the dogs got in on the act....

oh wait, that's right, we didn't trick or treat this year thanks to COVID.  Another big win for 2020.  Oh well, at least I bought the kids more candy than they could ever eat. 

Staredown

 At least once per day, Lucy has a fierce staredown followed by a multi-round barking contest with this little dog that comes to visit her.  She can't quite figure out what the dog wants outside of annoying her.  This dog shows up in the oven door, the fireplace glass, and even the back window Lucy looks out of.  Worse yet, this dog has the audacity to mimic Lucy's every move and even steal her look.  To be honest, I hope she catches her one day and sets her straight...

Look the Part

 Once this guy gets a bit dressed up, he can't help but turn into a very, very cool dude....at least in his mind...

Guy Day

 With Meggan and Amelia spending some time together tonight, my man and I had the evening to ourselves.  With no rules or limitations to govern us .....you know, except for not going anywhere, seeing anyone, or doing anything thanks to a global pandemic...the world was our oyster.  As it turns out that whole pandemic thing actually is pretty limiting, but at least we got milkshakes...

Two

 This little girl turned two years old this weekend! She's been a great addition to our family since day one.  Happy Birthday, Ms. Olivia! We love you! 

Break

 We're pretty big on wearing masks these days. Meggan wears one all day at work.  The kids wear one all day at school.  We wear them any time we're going in a store or around people.  So, tonight, we took a break.  It wasn't for long, nobody was around, and it was for ice cream.  If you're going to take a break, that's the way to do it. 

Watching

 You ever get that feeling you're being watched?  I'm not sure why, but sometimes when I'm on our screened porch watching TV, I feel like I have a peeping tom snooping around....

Shot

 All these two do is nap and wrestle all day long.  So, when I saw Olive like this, I naturally assumed an accident had happened or Lucy finally got fed up and shot her in the back... 

As luck would have it, turns out she was just the victim of dropped spaghetti sauce.

Dirty Girls

 They're adorable.  They're snuggly. They're happy. They love being outside.  They're dirty, rotten scoundrels...

Self Proclaimed

 I came across this picture of Everett from a week or two ago.  I've already publicly cleared his name of using it to destroy our cable and internet.  In fairness to me, this picture reminded me of why I thought he was so menacing .... this is a picture of him holding it in the store while telling me to call him the "Slim Reaper"... 

Smooth

 I told Everett his ice cream had left quite the debonair mustache ... he responded by showing off his "romantic look"...

Fluffy Boots

These days, it's the little things that make me happy....like Lucy's perfectly fuzzy feet that could easily be confused with a stuffed animal....

Cleared

 When the Internet went out the same afternoon we planted bushes in our yard, we all had our suspicions as to whether it was coincidence or destruction.  I'd say both my name and my little helper's good name were sullied by the speculation.  I'd like to clear one of those names now as the cable guy said our line was not cut and the issue was at the main box.  So, despite his enormous strength, it was not Everett's pick-axe skills at fault...

Hero

They say not all heroes wear capes.  I think this is normally reserved for doctors, police officers, etc., but in my opinion, the guy who came to fix my internet yesterday qualifies.  After spending a few days with no internet connection, I can tell you it is basically the lifeblood of all things entertainment.  In my past life we could have gone to the movies, went bowling, or perhaps met up with some friends.  Now, in the days of COVID, there are no options.  After we were done enjoying the beautiful weather, we had no way to watch football, write blog posts, stream shows or movies, or submit homework.  It was also a joy explaining to Everett, who's had no concept of life without internet, that when Netflix is out we can't just watch Hulu and if Hulu is out, we can't just play video games online. 

Don't get me wrong, I'd say everyone should spend a few days living like old times without connectivity.  It feels weird to forage for food and make your own clothes at first, but you get used to it.  I just wouldn't recommend it at a time there is football, playoff basketball, and you're working and doing school from home.  Then, you need a hero to come save you. 

School Days

 One positive about having Amelia doing school virtually while I work from home is I have a partner that is willing to go get an afternoon ice cream with me. That isn't as easy to find as it sounds ... 

At Last

 It's great when your kids get to the ages where they are actual helps in the kitchen. 

Banana bread, anyone?

Consultant

 I hired a consultant to help me with my work today.  She gave me a full report on her findings... apparently, she found the keyboard to be a great place to take a nap...

New Style

Checklist for going to the pool...

Bathing suit and towels? Check

Cover-up? Check

Sunglasses? Check

Mask in going through public areas on way to pool? Check

Looking like an absolutely insane, potentially murderous person or possibly just a Muppet thanks to COVID?  Check Check Check

Recovery

This little baby had to have surgery yesterday. Despite being so tiny, she took it like a champ...by my calculations, roughly twice as well as Olive did.  In fact, I'm pretty sure she's just going to keep wearing this baby onesie as a night gown after she's healed....

Rocking her furry boot...

Loungewear...

Working From Home

 After we get this dining room molding finished, I have to hurry up and get back to going in the office before we find more projects to do around the house.  My brain is on the brink of writing checks my skill set can't cash.

Brace Yourself

 We have come upon another period of parenthood...middle school.  It's the first few weeks and Amelia is virtual half the time, so the change isn't realllly school related.  The change is just the simple fact that my little girl is growing up.  She got her first cell phone a few weeks ago and she'll be getting braces in a month or two.  Aside from noticing the fact that these things are wildly expensive, I can't help but notice how fast they came upon us.  It seems like just yesterday that she was excited to get a new doll or stuffed animal.  Now, I'm guessing I'll blink again and she'll be asking me for her own car.  

She's already been practicing...

IT Guy

 I feel like one thing this whole quarantine/shelter in place/remote learning has brought to light is the fact that i am no longer technologically savvy.  Now, at no point in my life was I on the brink of working in the IT department.  That said, I could hold my own when it came to the basics.  At this point, it is safe to say I have no idea what 50% of any given technical specs, installation instructions, or technical support staff says.  I was trying to buy a new WiFi system for our house (to go along with the new computer and new printer we've already purchased for remote learning) and looking at all the options was the equivalent of looking at a random page of a medical journal.  I just picked the one with decent reviews on the assumption those people have some idea of what they're talking about.  The system showed up at the house today and now I'm trying to figure out what is making me feel older/more out of touch .... the fact that I spent an hour today unsuccessfully trying to get HULU working so I could watch M*A*S*H or the fact that I am typing this through my phone because I lost all WiFi by unsuccessfully setting up the system....or the fact that I just saw Macaulay Culkin turned 40 years old...yep, that's the winner. 

Chillin

 In the hot days of Summer, Olive has now adopted a new cooling off position....she calls it "really, really, downward dog".  I believe this roughly translates to "putting your belly as close to the cold hardwoods as possible"...

School Daze

 Well, the kids are officially back in school.  This, coupled with some work demands, has made for quite a busy week.  Going back under current conditions is much different than any year we've had before.  We're as careful about COVID as anyone.  That said, it seemed important for the kids to get some social interaction in their lives.  I'm not sure this is what we had in mind, but it will have to do...

Lunch fun with Everett's whole class...all 6 of them.

In the Middle

 I'm happy and sad that my baby girl starts middle school tomorrow.  In some ways, she so grown.  In others, she still a little kid.  And in a third set of ways, she is so grown and yet I still think of her as a little kid.  

Sums it Up

Well, I was watching Amelia do some doodling today. I caught her pretty much summing up where we are in this summer of COVID....

Shame

 We took the dogs to the groomers as they were in desperate need of a trim.  I'll ignore the fact that Everett and I have been forced to let Meggan hack our hair for the past 5 months while the dogs still get professional attention.  For reasons unknown to me, they decided to send them home with bows in their hair this time.  To say the dogs hated them would be an understatement.  This picture below is the equivalent of having your parents post an embarrassing naked baby photo of you in the back of your yearbook...