Giving Thanks

A few days ago, I sat Michael down to write a few of his endless birthday thank yous. I dread the minutes spent eeking out 3 or 4 of them. They are much like pulling teeth that are firmly rooted. The threats of returning each and every gift that has no thank you written for it is only a momentary re-focusing tool. Anyway, we sat down and got to work. We had done MAYBE two and were starting the third when he started futzing around with something (maybe the eraser on his pencil?) and I said, "Michael, don't be losing interest now!" and a look that was nothing short of revelation came over his face. He looked at me with wide eyes and said, "Well I don't have ANY interest in this!"

I think he actually thought that my belief that he was actually interested in writing thank you notes could be voided and so the need for them would also disappear.

Dad Entry #42

Michael asked me tonight, “Do Jedi have to take baths, or showers?” (We read a Star Wars book and, before lights-out, told a story with Jedi characters.) So his brain was really churning and, not surprisingly, out popped a deep question. Deep? Yes, because Michael wasn’t equating himself to a Jedi. And he wasn’t asking which they take, baths or showers. The way he asked it, I could tell Michael’s curiosity was centered around this thought, “Do beings with powers still have to do ordinary things?” Do Jedi have to clean themselves? How mundane! Do they put their pants on one leg at a time? (Maybe not since they have The Force at their disposal!). Do superheroes sleep? Do they ever make themselves a snack? What about their laundry? Do they ever reach for the toilet paper and find it down to the cardboard. Empty. Bummer. I explained that some Jedi are human. Obi Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker, for example. So I would assume they shower or bathe just like we do. And Anakin Skywalker is not only human, he’s also Padme’s boyfriend. I emphasized this as significant, although I think Michael was incredulous. Yep, after a long day of battling Separatists, it is Padme who insists Anakin wash off the dirt from foreign planets, the soot on his face from chasing enemies on speeders, the debris from evil battle droids he’s light sabered in half, or maybe oil stains from repairing his shot-up starfighter engines. Not to mention, he probably sweats a little, especially on Tatooine, his home planet, which is a desert climate. Then I anticipated Michael’s next question. What about Jedi like Yoda and Kit Fisto; they are both green and strange-looking, which is to say, distinctly not human. I admitted I’m no expert on alien hygiene. So I told Michael we can just pretend or believe whatever we want to. I braced myself for more questions like, “Yoda is really short, do you think he uses a stool at the sink like Megan?” (How demeaning for a Jedi Master!!!) Uh-oh, now I can't stop wondering… does Yoda have his own miniature facilities? He must. A low showerhead. A restroom like at Michael’s preschool outfitted for little people. So many things to think about…

Our Lebron

If Ted Williams Hit Righty....

Dad Entry #41

I had a visitor this morning. Meg-Pie hopped into bed with me at about 6:15. She jibber-jabbered a little and situated herself with blankets and ‘pets’ (her medley of stuffed animals) next to me. The thought of this simple moment makes my heart swell. Yes, her sweet voice, like an angel’s, her cute little self, well, like my own little heart-warmer. She was tranquil, rested, happy. Which, some days, is a Megan mood-set that seems more rare than a Cubs World Series. I was sleepy, and she was talking softly, so I don’t remember anything she said except, “Daddy, are we going to Minnesota today?”

I got teary-eyed at Michael’s first tee-ball game. There, I said it. Why? Maybe because if you added up all the hours I’ve spent on a diamond, well, it would be many weeks, or months. To see my son playing was, I don’t know, some kind of surreal circle-of-life experience or something. And he hit the ball well. And he looked excited to do it, to step up there and rip it. In the field he did okay, especially when he endeavored to pick and fill his glove with grass. But he’s having fun, and at this age there is nothing else. You can work with 5 and 6-year-olds on the very basics, but let’s be real. He’s a kindergartner. Signals and squeeze plays, the infield fly rule, throwing sliders with finger pressure... we’ll start all that next year. I think right now he prefers Pokemon, Bionicles, Legos, playing ‘kung-fu’ and ‘hide-and-seek’ with me and Megs. We do those things mostly.

Michael mentions his penis a lot these days. In the bath tub he’ll say, “Megan kicked my penis and that is really terrible for my penis.” Of course I agree and oversee appropriate precautionary measures like instructing him to turn around so when Megan submerges to rinse her hair, she doesn’t kick his penis. When wrestling, he'll remark, “It would really hurt if my penis got stomped.” Again, I nod agreement, but try not to make a big deal out of his comment. Of course, he’s giggling and I don’t want to throw gas on the fire. But now Megan is catching on; yesterday she told me her puppy has a penis.

Found a Slip of Paper...

that says:

September 2008: Michael
"I can't wait for the first time I kill a bad guy when I'm seven."

Down On The Farm

Today Meggie's preschool went on a field trip...

1. Her first bus ride!! She was only mildly impressed on the way. On the way home it was old news.

2. The big, and very red, barn. And a lovely clear blue sky.

3. Meg and this mama cow had a staring contest that lasted an unusually long time. The cow did eventually win.

4. This is mama's baby. Very timid and very adorable.

5. Megan, the original cowgirl. She was atop Maverick, who appeared to have been drugged.

6. Meg and her friend, Alanna, taming a concrete turtle.

7. Megan and Alanna = monkeys

8. Teeny little face.

9. A very gleeful roll in the grass. Not the hay, the grass.

10. This tree rocked. It was old and scraggly and just beautiful. I took its picture about 50 times, but I thought I'd at least show it to you with a little Meggie at it's base.

11. This is what life would look like if you lived on a few acres. Except I imagine the grass would not be quite so perfectly mowed.

The Painted Lady Sideshow

Guess who figured out how to apply tatts by herself? And THIS MANY...in only about 7 minutes!

Singing the Townhouse Blues

Sand box in a roll-away. Sad. And a dinosaur attack in the brush...set design by Megan Cox.

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

So this is Megan. Megan after a lot of outdoor play. Megan coming down with whatever Michael and I just had. Megan crying. Then Megan yelling at me to "GO AWAY!" Note tendons bulging in her neck.

Hangin' in the Fort

In case you are wondering, I think that might be carrot in Michaels mouth. Maybe cheese. They would not come out for lunch, so lunch went in.

Ode to Snakesie

Star Student

Today Michael was worried. Last Sunday, Megan left her crayon bag at church. This morning, Michael remembered that and after we dropped Megan at school (he had the day off), he asked to go over there to see if it was in the lost and found. I agreed. On the way, he was, at best, obsessed. What if we can't find it? Would someone take it? What do we do?!

Michael: What can we do if it's not there?

Me: Well, not a lot.

silence

Michael: But what if it's not there?!

Me: Well, if it's not there, it's not there. We won't see it and won't be able to bring it home and it will be gone.

Michael: BUT...

Me: Michael, look. We can't make it reappear if it's gone. I don't want you to worry. If it's gone, we'll figure it out. I will call Melissa's mom and ask her to make a new one for Megan, since she made the one that's lost. So just don't worry about it. It really isn't a big problem.

Michael: Melissa, like Bobby's mom?

Me: Yes.

silence

Michael: But I'll be dead if I lose my worry.

Easter: Post Hunt

Cute kids. Fancy pants.

The Fast and The Furious: Easter Morning

Yum

Megan's dressing up is getting pretty elaborate. This was a rockin' ensemble she created, the best part being the backwards tiara. She always wears them this way. Note the sadly and slightly grey tooth. She fell, cut her lip and a few days later the tooth went grey. Boo hoo.