I'll just summarize...
Amount of sleep I got last night: 4.5 hours total
Complete sets of bedding (sheets/blanket/comforter/pajamas) that need laundering: 3 (includes the sleeping bag)
Loads of laundry: to be determined
Special Blankets we went through: 2 (first one just came out of the dryer)
Amount of pizza Stephen ate for supper: not sayin'
A pitiful Stephen getting back in bed and saying "Thank you daddy for cleaning my bed": absolutely priceless
Yesterday was a long, tiring day at work and today promises to be the same. However, on the drive home yesterday I reflected on it and realized I still love my job. The same can be said for last night (including the long and tiring part). Sure, I'd love to get some sleep back, but being a daddy is terribly important and even cleaning up the mess can be rewarding. That doesn't change the fact that I'm going to Java City today for coffee.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
In case you haven't seen this yet, it's from Fred Thompson from this past December about our economy.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
On Lego
Giving Stephen my old Legos (yes, I say "Legos" - sue me) has been great - we've spent a good bit of time together working on them. Typically, Stephen finds one of the instruction books and asks me to make whatever it is. While I'm doing that, he proceeds to make something out of his own imagination out of various other pieces lying around. We've built probably 2/3rds of the space sets I had, though I haven't tried the Galaxy Explorer yet. We've also built a few Town sets - mostly Police vehicles.
This pattern actually leads to some consternation on my part. I've almost always been one to build a Lego set exactly as the directions say, and then leave it that way to play with it. Why? Because the instructions give the Right Way to build it. Sure, I'd occasionally try one of the alternate versions shown on the back of the box (they don't seem to do that anymore), but I always prefer the originally intended design.
Stephen is different. He does like to build according to the instructions (or rather have me do most of the building) and play with that, but then he's very content to take it apart part-way or modify the design in some way. That's just fascinating to me. He also loves to take random parts and put together his "spaceships." Some of them are very creative uses of Lego pieces. He also likes to give them silly made-up names, but they're mostly a variation the same nonsense phrase "ping fong shang" with "robot" and "PDA" usually in there somewhere. He also has made up uses for all the parts he puts on.
My consternation comes in two places. First, his spaceships contain some parts I need when building one the Right Way. He typically wants me to build the set by the instructions and so sacrifices parts from his spaceships. But I still have to find them. Second, building spaceships like that is not the Right Way. It's silly, but I have to get over it, and mostly have. It helps that many of the things he builds are quite creative. I certainly don't want to stifle his creativity, so this has encouraged me to let him go for it and enjoy the cool designs he comes up with.
Perhaps all this is just an excuse to build a bunch of my old Lego sets. It has been lots of fun and Lego time has been good "boy" time for Stephen and me. And the truly great thing about Lego is there really isn't one Right Way to play with them.
This pattern actually leads to some consternation on my part. I've almost always been one to build a Lego set exactly as the directions say, and then leave it that way to play with it. Why? Because the instructions give the Right Way to build it. Sure, I'd occasionally try one of the alternate versions shown on the back of the box (they don't seem to do that anymore), but I always prefer the originally intended design.
Stephen is different. He does like to build according to the instructions (or rather have me do most of the building) and play with that, but then he's very content to take it apart part-way or modify the design in some way. That's just fascinating to me. He also loves to take random parts and put together his "spaceships." Some of them are very creative uses of Lego pieces. He also likes to give them silly made-up names, but they're mostly a variation the same nonsense phrase "ping fong shang" with "robot" and "PDA" usually in there somewhere. He also has made up uses for all the parts he puts on.
My consternation comes in two places. First, his spaceships contain some parts I need when building one the Right Way. He typically wants me to build the set by the instructions and so sacrifices parts from his spaceships. But I still have to find them. Second, building spaceships like that is not the Right Way. It's silly, but I have to get over it, and mostly have. It helps that many of the things he builds are quite creative. I certainly don't want to stifle his creativity, so this has encouraged me to let him go for it and enjoy the cool designs he comes up with.
Perhaps all this is just an excuse to build a bunch of my old Lego sets. It has been lots of fun and Lego time has been good "boy" time for Stephen and me. And the truly great thing about Lego is there really isn't one Right Way to play with them.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Lydia Walks!
Lydia finally took two steps without holding on to anything, and it was completely by accident. She's been more interested in standing and cruzing along the couch lately, but definitely was not interested in letting go with both hands.
Here's how it happened. Yesterday evening, I was watching her for a bit while she was playing. She got her little chair and sat in it for a minute. Then, she got out, scooted over to her musical toy, stood and started playing (she prefers to stand to play it and see the lights). She then pushed it over toward her chair and moved so she could sit in her chair and play (pretty sharp, I'd say!). Of course, while she played, she pushed it away, so she would alternately stand and sit. Eventually, she pushed the toy far enough so she couldn't reach it after she sat down and stood up again. She looked at it, wiggled a little, then took two quick little steps and made it to the toy! Yay! I didn't get to see Stephen's first steps, so this was lots of fun for me.
She's also been very happy this week. I wonder if she's excited about how much more mobile she's getting. She's also able to say a few somewhat recognizable words. Thank you is "kain-koo" and she says it whenever anyone gives something to anyone else. Ma-ma and da-da are more clear now. She expresses her preference for one of us to put her to bed - very clearly I might add.
My little girl is growing up.
Here's how it happened. Yesterday evening, I was watching her for a bit while she was playing. She got her little chair and sat in it for a minute. Then, she got out, scooted over to her musical toy, stood and started playing (she prefers to stand to play it and see the lights). She then pushed it over toward her chair and moved so she could sit in her chair and play (pretty sharp, I'd say!). Of course, while she played, she pushed it away, so she would alternately stand and sit. Eventually, she pushed the toy far enough so she couldn't reach it after she sat down and stood up again. She looked at it, wiggled a little, then took two quick little steps and made it to the toy! Yay! I didn't get to see Stephen's first steps, so this was lots of fun for me.
She's also been very happy this week. I wonder if she's excited about how much more mobile she's getting. She's also able to say a few somewhat recognizable words. Thank you is "kain-koo" and she says it whenever anyone gives something to anyone else. Ma-ma and da-da are more clear now. She expresses her preference for one of us to put her to bed - very clearly I might add.
My little girl is growing up.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Papa Funny
Here's a funny on my father-in-law ("papa" to Stephen). While we were at the cabin in Myrtle Beach, papa was on the couch taking a nap and Stephen was sitting at the foot of the couch watching a cartoon. A commercial for something came on ("magic sand?" don't remember) and Stephen said "Can I have that papa?" While still asleep, papa grunted "uh-huh" and shifted a bit before continuing to snore.
I'll give him this - his reflexes are very strong.
I'll give him this - his reflexes are very strong.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
December Pictures - All
I think I'm going to give up and just post the link to Shutterfly of our December pictures. Maybe Kristy will pull out her favorites later, but this is a fun few minutes anyway.
While it was fun to see so much family and be a part of the Christmas Morning thing in Greenville, I think we're going to find a way to be at our own house starting next Christmas. It was lots of traveling and we'd like to get the kids used to having fun Christmas morning traditions at our own house.
While it was fun to see so much family and be a part of the Christmas Morning thing in Greenville, I think we're going to find a way to be at our own house starting next Christmas. It was lots of traveling and we'd like to get the kids used to having fun Christmas morning traditions at our own house.
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