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?!?!

Watching

Don't look now, but it seems like our elf, Naybe has made his way back into our house.  To be honest, I'm happy to see the little guy.  Let's just hope he stays out of trouble this year.  He's already been found trying to eat our last cookie.   I'll try to snag a picture of him soon.