© 2011 Scott Everett
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
You spin me right 'round, baby, right 'round.
Playing in the driveway, Matthew grabbed my pants and swung me around.
© 2011 Scott Everett
© 2011 Scott Everett
Monday, December 05, 2011
Sunday, December 04, 2011
Saturday, December 03, 2011
Friday, December 02, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
I almost single-handedly canceled Christmas this year
I win Dad of the Year for this year.
A couple years ago my sister gave us the Elf on the Shelf book. Andrew totally bought into it the moment we read it. Since then, we've made a fairly big production of moving Sir Roger (that's right, he's a knighted elf). Sometimes we've forgotten, but it usually coincides with evenings when the kids have been particularly infuriating and we use it as an opportunity to make it up to Santa.
We set Sir Roger out the night we got home from VA and Matthew got totally wrapped up in it which, in turn, emphasized the excitement for Andrew. Andrew needed that little push this year. Some of his friends have started doubting Santa, but he still wants to believe with all of his heart. The Elf was just the thing to keep it going a little longer.
Probably inevitably, I forgot to move Sir Roger that first night, It wasn't a big deal, as Liz got up before the kids and noticed it right away. I'm sure you can predict what happened next. There she stood, in the middle of the dining room with Sir Roger in hand when she heard Andrew's door open. She had just enough time to place him in a new spot before Andrew made it down to the dining room, but, of course, Sir Roger fell over the moment she placed him by her kitchen computer. She had a choice to make: upright Sir Roger and risk being caught or leave him and potentially ruin the magic of Sir Roger. No matter what she did, she was bound to fail. She chose the former and was caught. Andrew stood in the doorway, mouth agape, his head swirling of the ramifications of what he had just seen: Mommy violating the Prime Directive of Elf on the Shelf mythology, "Never touch the Elf on the Shelf."
Liz quickly dismissed his fears about her moving Sir Roger. She told him that Santa gave her clearance to upright him should he ever fall over, since he can't move except at night. I don't think he completely bought it, but it's working so far.
That was just the first thing I was responsible for yesterday.
I pick Andrew up from school each day that I don't have to go to work, usually Mondays and Tuesdays. Yesterday was no exception.
We talk about his day and upcoming events as we walk back to the car and drive home. I love this time to converse with both the kids, usually with no timeline pressure. This being the Christmas season, we talked about how excited we were and how hard it is to pick the perfect present, as Liz and Andrew had claimed they had already decided for me. Here's a transcript of the conversation, to the best of my recollection.
We were just pulling into the driveway when this conversation wrapped. I quickly pulled Andrew out of the car when we stopped (leaving Matthew strapped in) and held him tightly. Poor guy was traumatized at revealing his secret.
I took full blame for the incident and told him so. I also told him how proud I was that he never even thought to keep his secret from me and quickly told me everything. Usually that's a wonderful attribute, except in the world of gifts and presents. I should have never pressed him, but I still don't think it pushed too hard and assumed we were thinking on the same lines. Andrew's just an honest soul. Lesson learned.
Father. Of. The. Year.
© 2011 Scott Everett
A couple years ago my sister gave us the Elf on the Shelf book. Andrew totally bought into it the moment we read it. Since then, we've made a fairly big production of moving Sir Roger (that's right, he's a knighted elf). Sometimes we've forgotten, but it usually coincides with evenings when the kids have been particularly infuriating and we use it as an opportunity to make it up to Santa.
We set Sir Roger out the night we got home from VA and Matthew got totally wrapped up in it which, in turn, emphasized the excitement for Andrew. Andrew needed that little push this year. Some of his friends have started doubting Santa, but he still wants to believe with all of his heart. The Elf was just the thing to keep it going a little longer.
Probably inevitably, I forgot to move Sir Roger that first night, It wasn't a big deal, as Liz got up before the kids and noticed it right away. I'm sure you can predict what happened next. There she stood, in the middle of the dining room with Sir Roger in hand when she heard Andrew's door open. She had just enough time to place him in a new spot before Andrew made it down to the dining room, but, of course, Sir Roger fell over the moment she placed him by her kitchen computer. She had a choice to make: upright Sir Roger and risk being caught or leave him and potentially ruin the magic of Sir Roger. No matter what she did, she was bound to fail. She chose the former and was caught. Andrew stood in the doorway, mouth agape, his head swirling of the ramifications of what he had just seen: Mommy violating the Prime Directive of Elf on the Shelf mythology, "Never touch the Elf on the Shelf."
Liz quickly dismissed his fears about her moving Sir Roger. She told him that Santa gave her clearance to upright him should he ever fall over, since he can't move except at night. I don't think he completely bought it, but it's working so far.
That was just the first thing I was responsible for yesterday.
I pick Andrew up from school each day that I don't have to go to work, usually Mondays and Tuesdays. Yesterday was no exception.
We talk about his day and upcoming events as we walk back to the car and drive home. I love this time to converse with both the kids, usually with no timeline pressure. This being the Christmas season, we talked about how excited we were and how hard it is to pick the perfect present, as Liz and Andrew had claimed they had already decided for me. Here's a transcript of the conversation, to the best of my recollection.
Me: Andrew, what are you getting me for Christmas?
ACE: I can't tell you, it's a surprise!
Me: Do you think I'll like it?
ACE: Uh-huh!
Me: Why don't you tell me and I'll let you know if I'll like it.
ACE: No, Daddy, that will ruin the surprise.
Me: Don't you want to know what I got you?
ACE: Nope. I'll wait for Christmas for the surprise.
(note: At this point I was convinced we were on the same page)
Me: But if you tell me, I'll make sure it's the right present.
ACE: ...
ACE: It's a lens you can drink out of!
Me: (realizing what just transpired) ...
ACE: (crying)
We were just pulling into the driveway when this conversation wrapped. I quickly pulled Andrew out of the car when we stopped (leaving Matthew strapped in) and held him tightly. Poor guy was traumatized at revealing his secret.
I took full blame for the incident and told him so. I also told him how proud I was that he never even thought to keep his secret from me and quickly told me everything. Usually that's a wonderful attribute, except in the world of gifts and presents. I should have never pressed him, but I still don't think it pushed too hard and assumed we were thinking on the same lines. Andrew's just an honest soul. Lesson learned.
Father. Of. The. Year.
© 2011 Scott Everett
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
What a trip!
Other than my well documented dislike of NCAA football, our trip back to VA was pretty good this year. We decided that, since we couldn't go camping around here this fall (drought + campfire = death + dismay), we'd try "camping" at a KOA on our way back east. I think it would have been a wonderful idea if we weren't all completely exhausted by the time we arrived. Well that and the concrete pads that called mattresses might have added up to a less than enthusiastic response from the adults in the family. The boys had fun though. As per usual, breakfast was a marathon event, even with very little food consumed.
© 2011 Scott Everett
© 2011 Scott Everett
Monday, November 21, 2011
Travels with the boys
Whew! What a long day Saturday was. We got up and were out the door by 5am. We were pushing pretty hard, but let the boys get out every now and then to play / burn off energy. They had fun in Alabama picking up "pine corns."
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Hey, what's this?
http://www.cameronparkzoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/ZooStampede-5K-Awards.pdf
Click on it. I dare you. And while you're there, look at the results for the 1-10 year old 5K times.
© 2011 Scott Everett
Click on it. I dare you. And while you're there, look at the results for the 1-10 year old 5K times.
© 2011 Scott Everett
Monday, November 14, 2011
Whoopsie!
Liz made a serious faux pas today. You see, she "accidentally" showed Matthew a parkour video at lunch today. Guess what he's been doing this evening all over the house.
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
What to do?
I was just talking to Liz and we both have the same dilemma. As much as the grammar snob and concerned parent in me wants to correct his pronunciation, it's so incredibly cute when he says, "lellow."
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Action shots are cool.
But here's what really happens during the soccer game.
© 2011 Scott Everett
And take a bow, Andrew!
© 2011 Scott Everett
Thursday, October 27, 2011
I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Overheard this morning – first grade teacher to students
"Um, you need to stop talking. The bell has rang." (note the rang with enough twang to shoot a bull’s eye at 100 paces)
If this is the best we can do, we deserve to be where we are right now.
It was all I could do not to call her out in front of the same kids and the words “Are you kidding me” did come out of my mouth, but I was too far away to be heard. If you are teaching my kids, I am not asking too much that you should be able to speak the language you are imparting.
Liz
© 2011 Scott Everett
Brave Little Cub Scout
Andrew hiking around the legendary "Goatman" cave. Every Scout at Camp Tahuaya knows about Goatman; the ancient creature created by the trampling of a mid-19th century herder by a pack of supernatural goats. He was disturbed from his lair by a settler years later and has roamed the camp ever since, seeking revenge with a particular affinity and taste for Tiger Cubs.
© 2011 Scott Everett
© 2011 Scott Everett
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Oh, brother!
Wow, Matthew is a handful. I don't remember Andrew this ... um ... active. Just today Liz was talking to her mom when she notice, well, nothing. It was too quiet. Eerily quiet. Un-Matthew quiet. She found him in the living room changing the settings on her iPod.
Liz finished talking to her mom and went into the kitchen to cook dinner when it got awfully calm again. A bit curious, she came back into the living room and this time discovered him recalibrating my monitor.
I was at Andrew's soccer practice, so when I came home and she told me this I had to show her what I discovered. This afternoon I got a receipt from iTunes for the purchase of the Mighty Eagle in the game Angry Birds. I didn't buy it, I know Andrew didn't buy it, and Matthew was the first person I
saw using it. It probably wouldn't hold up in a court of law, but I'm convinced.
I know he's a great little boy and just acting like a 3 1/2 year old, but at times I'd just like him to slow down for a minute.
Liz finished talking to her mom and went into the kitchen to cook dinner when it got awfully calm again. A bit curious, she came back into the living room and this time discovered him recalibrating my monitor.
I was at Andrew's soccer practice, so when I came home and she told me this I had to show her what I discovered. This afternoon I got a receipt from iTunes for the purchase of the Mighty Eagle in the game Angry Birds. I didn't buy it, I know Andrew didn't buy it, and Matthew was the first person I
saw using it. It probably wouldn't hold up in a court of law, but I'm convinced.
I know he's a great little boy and just acting like a 3 1/2 year old, but at times I'd just like him to slow down for a minute.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
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