Recently in parenting Category

Barenaked Ladies have a new album out: "Snacktime." As the name implies, it's geared toward kids, and from what I've heard of it, they do a good job pulling that off. I've seen a couple of their videos - which are animated in a sort of wacky, zany style - and have no trouble imaging my kids loving the songs and their videos. If you have iTunes, you can click on the "iTunes" button and go to the page in the iTMS for the album.

Noah and I took a trip down to Bridgeport to watch the Sound Tigers take a 4-2 lead over the Philadelphia Phantoms. We went as part of our Tiger Scout program - we had to go to a sporting event as a group for one of our goals. One of the fathers in our group works for a company that co-sponsors the team, so he managed to score tickets for all of us - free.

We had a very nice view of the ice - about five rows back from the boards, and right by the visitors "dugout" (or whatever it's called - I'm clearly not a follower of hockey). Most of the action at the boards was right in front of us - violent as it can be, it's nice to be able to see what's going on.

So, lately Ethan has this habit of staying up late. Really late. Like 11:00 one night. So tonight, when I finally convinced him to try to turn in, he decided to fall asleep on me. I'm not a fan of it, but if it helps the boy, what can I do, right? So he was talking to me while I did some work, and cuddling, until finally, he stopped talking. It took a minute to really "take" (he has played possum before, only to all but jump on me when I tried to put him in his own bed.

In case you're wondering, the photo is a la my laptop, and the "flash"/glow you see is the display - when the photo is taken via the "Photo Booth" software, it flashes the screen when it takes a photo. I don't know if that's part of the countdown it gives or if it's intentional for a flash, but it's there. Anyway, there the fat guy is, sleeping.

Daylight savings sucks. First of all, why start it on Saturday night/Sunday morning? It takes a week or so to get used to it - just start it on Friday night/Saturday morning so we have a fighting chance come Monday. Seriously.

I realize that the concept of DST is quite useful - we get up earlier, so there is a bigger "useful" part of the day. Really - it's pretty clear to me. (The US Navy has a write up of some of the details here) But we are no longer an agrarian society. Well, we still farm, but it's a smaller percentage of the population that does it. Not that I mind getting up at "0 dark thirty" to get ready for my day - I'm used to that from the fall and winter months. And while having the daylight on the front end of the day is useful, I was just getting used to the idea of the sun still being up on my ride home.

There is some argument among scholars, economists, and who knows who else that the change to and from DST costs the economy money (Google search on "daylight savings time money"). I would argue that it does, but only in lost productivity - and that's mostly because of the fact that the change happens on Sunday, not Saturday. It may not seem like much, but I think that the extra day would be very useful.

My experience is always the same: I wake up one hour late on Monday morning. This year the problem was compounded by not feeling well (chest cold that makes me sound like I should be looking out for the Grim Reaper) and being up late the night before. If Jen hadn't come home early today, there's a good chance I would have been asleep until about 9:00 - possibly later. Since I was supposed to have the kids at school at 8:00, that would have been a bit of a problem. In the end, they got where they needed to be and I did what I needed to, but it seems to me that there's a solution to this problem:

Don't use Daylight Savings Time.

Emma's secret super power: The ability to be exactly where I'm trying to be. She is most effective at this when we're both in the kitchen. If I'm emptying the dishwasher or cleaning up, she's in front of the cabinet I'm trying to get into. If I'm trying to cook something, she's in front of the fridge, stove or cabinet I'm trying to use.

It's rather uncanny, really.

Abby's secret super power: the ability to stand exactly one inch further away from you at any given time. If you're trying to do her hair, she's one inch too far away. Help her with her dress? Ditto. No matter when you do, no matter how you're trying to help her, she's exactly one inch too far away.

Ethan's secret super power: the ability to always, no matter where you, the tv, or he are located, is always directly between you and the tv. If you move, you have about 5 seconds before he shifts to be in a better position to block whatever you're trying to watch. He makes a much better door than a window.

Santa brought Noah a Wii. He's logged more hours on that bad boy than he has in school so far. Boxing day (12/26) he put over 12 hours on it. He's cut back since then, but I think he's addicted to it. And keep in mind, he only plays one game: Lego Star Wars.

We had a family "bowling" night the other day - after dinner, we all went downstairs and Jen, Emma, Noah and I played a full set of frames. Noah, with his "spastic child" technique, came in first, followed by me, Jen and then Emma. I'm not sure, but I think I've finally gotten Jen at least partially "into" the Wii - she seemed to have a lot more fun doing that than she did trying to do the "Big Brain Academy" game we played. That was probably not the best first game for her - in addition to the puzzles, she was trying to figure out how to use the controls. Not easy.

In other Christmas related news, Santa brought the kids, among other things: Nintendo DS, two American Girl dolls, a tricycle, and lots of other bibs and bobs. Jen got some nice jewelry and a new set of cookware (thanks Aunt Bean!) and I got some nice new shoes and the Simpsons movie. I think everyone had a good time all around.

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The above was written on or about Jan. 2, when I had meant to post it. Clearly things got busy - when are they not? Since then some things have changed, but some haven't - Noah logged over 9 hours on the Wii during yesterdays "snow day". The boy was, of course, upset when told to turn it off and spend some time reading.

My children - and you know I really do love them - are insane. Honestly, truly insane. I mean, honestly - how else can you explain the "game" they like to play: hitting each other and then being all apologetic from across the room.

Oh wait, Douglas Adams already did:

Brockian Ultra-Cricket:

described as "a curious game which involved suddenly hitting people for no readily apparent reason and then running away"

Of particular interest is rule #5:
The players should now lay about themselves for all they are worth with whatever they find on hand. Whenever a player scores a 'hit' on another player, he should immediately run away and apologize from a safe distance.

Apologies should be concise, sincere and, for maximum clarity and points, delivered through a megaphone.

This morning, when :abby: smacked Noah and then shouted "I'm sorry!" from across the room, it suddenly came to me: it's GOT to be Brockian Ultra-Cricket. Apparently all the times that I read the "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" in high-school have somehow subliminally seeped into the kids brains. I wonder if they know what 6 x 9 really is......

Last night Ethan was cranking, so i picked him up and brought him to the kitchen - as he had been mumbling something about the kitchen.

We stepped into the kitchen and i said:
You have entered the kitchen. Cabinets abound. There is a sink and several counters. Exits are south, north and west.

He pointed at the fridge, so i turned, and said...

You are facing the fridge. Other objects available are a stove, sink and microwave. Cabinets still abound, and there are more counters. Exits are north, south and west.

He looked at me.

I said "Time passes....."

He looked at me again.

I did a little face sucker action and said "You have been eaten by a grue"

He didn't care what his final score was (5 points), but I think he might want to play again tomorrow.....

NIKE MISSLE BASE KC-SILO 60 - (eBay item 300156975741 end time Oct-31-07 05:23:14 PDT)

Sure, it's 60 acres. And sure, the Missle silos are filled with water. But there's an 800 sq. ft. fortified bunker you can live in. I'm thinking....
* 1 silo filled with water for free diving
* 1 silo with cargo netting for climbing
* 1 silo turned into a rock wall/climbing area
* paint ball in some of the land
* "agri-tainment" in other bits
* there's still room for the old homestead....

Of course, as Rudi pointed out, it's still in Kansas. Not that I have anything against Kansas - I just don't know if now is the best time to uproot the whole family and move.....