Sometimes parents know what they are talking about

As we are in the middle of "why storm" with the Triplets, I try to take the time to answer them. I really do want them to ask and or think "why" or "why not" as they get older. I know this is a HUGE pain sometimes and will pester people along the way but I always think back to my time working "outside the home." I really do not like yes people. Keep in mind there is a very fine line that is constantly moving between not being a yes man/woman and being an inflexible selfish pest that just needs to learn to cierre la boca and tow the line sometimes. Sorry about that, I had a flash back to being a manager:)

I know it is a tall order but I want my kids to learn to find that line and dance on it. So when they pepper me with whys I try to get to the "oh" that comes once they are satisfied. Or they are least tired of asking:) Either way, I win! But sometimes my answer is predictive. Like when I say "be careful sitting there" and the answer to "why" is "because you may fall down." Their usual answer as they are starting to sit or right after they sit down is usually "I won't/didn't fall down." But every once in a while natural consequences, as a good friend calls them, takes care of confirming that Daddy and/or Mommy was/were right.

Be careful Jackson

Natural consequences.

Nobody ever did, or ever will, escape the consequences of his choices.
Alfred A. Montapert

You can only be young once. But you can always be immature.
Dave Barry (1947 - )

Al

Misjudged the wave

Rule #4

I am constantly adding to my list of "House Rules." My latest is "I will never make you eat anything that tastes good." I have told the Triplets this many times over the past two years so I figure it is time to put it in the rules:)

I was reminded of our "House Rules" at VBS yesterday, yep - it is that time of year again, several kids did not want to "play" the games I had for them. In the first game I would ask everyone to close their eyes then I would put a sheet over one of the kids. I then asked them, who sees an angel? They would have to guess who the angel is. I do not make kids be the angel and several opted out by saying over and over and over "I don't want to be an angel!" I would then tell them a version of our rule #2: I will never make you have fun. They seemed perplexed by this, as perplexed as a three or four year old can get, but they accepted my answer.

The Internet is like alcohol in some sense. It accentuates what you would do anyway. If you want to be a loner, you can be more alone. If you want to connect, it makes it easier to connect.

Esther Dyson, Interview in Time Magazine, October 2005

Do something everyday that you don't want to do; this is the golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain.

Mark Twain

Al

The funniest thing ever said....

The CFO and I try to get out every once and a while without the Triplets. Not that we don't love them but we need a little adult time now and then. A couple of weeks ago we went to dinner with some good friends who are expecting their second child soon. We were talking a bit about politics when she said I love Cheney (she used his first name) but I hate George (she used his last name). To which I said "obviously, you are pregnant." It took her a second to realize what she had said. She quickly turned a bit red as we all laughed.

In her defense I had recently mentioned how funny it was when a lady, who was going to see Cheney speak at a graduation ceremony, said "I just love Cheney (she used his first name)". See, I have this tendency to view comments in a well... let's just say I see over-tones in most everything. Yes, I use to be the guy that said "that's what she said." I try to distance myself from that but it is well... difficult.

Don't ever become a pessimist... a pessimist is correct oftener than an optimist, but an optimist has more fun, and neither can stop the march of events.
Robert A. Heinlein

I don't know if I'm very complicated at all. I wish I was. I wish I was one of these deep, intricate people. But I just love having fun really.
Channing Tatum

Al

You want to what?

Thanks to Mr. Ken from Church, the Triplets and I were able to go to the Rickwood Classic game Wednesday. Turns out that Birmingham has the oldest professional ballpark still in use today! It reminded me of my trip to Fenway Park. Much smaller of course but similar in feel. The Triplets and I made our way to some seats down the first base line. It was general seating so we headed for an open section. You guessed it, we were there for two minutes when I heard "I want some popcorn... I want some peanuts." So off we went. Luckily the section did not fill up while we were gone.

Right after we got back a big group of kids from New Orleans joined us near by. One of the people with the group was a 2o something young lady that was taking pictures. Yes, she was cute, not that I notice that sort of thing:) A guy (also 20 something) across from me made a lame pass at her saying "I don't want to break your camera." I could not decide if she was playing dumb or if she did not get that he was flirting with her. I missed their exchange but I heard him soon say "no, it is just a saying" and he sounded a little embarrassed. I chuckled, I wanted to tell him a better choice would be to offer to take a picture of her with the group. The Triplets and I continued to eat our peanuts and pop corn.

A few minutes later she came up to me and said "sir..." SERIOUSLY, SIR? OMG, I am now officially a dinosaur. That's it, I am shopping for tennis balls to go on my walker next week, I think I will go with orange just to be different:) Back to the story.... she said "sir, I have a strange question to ask you, do you mind if I take a picture of your peanuts?" She then said something about it being for their blog or website. I had to stifle my humorous side and I just said "sure, no problem." But who can really ask if they can take a picture of a guy's peanuts and keep a straight face?

After one look at this planet any visitor from outer space would say "I want to see the manager."

William S. Burroughs (1914 - 1997)

Al

Life's a beach

Our "normal" schedule at the beach consists of:

• 7-8am - wake up; we sleep in the same room with the kids
• 8-9am - breakfast; bacon, eggs, pop-tarts, whatever
• 9-10am - get ready for the beach; it is a process to say the least
• 10-11am - on the beach/in the ocean
• 11-1pm - at the pool/hot tub; snacks/capri suns/flavor ice abound
• 1-2pm - baths/showers
• 2-3pm - lunch
• 3-5 or 6pm - naps; for everyone:)
• 6-8pm - dinner and playtime
• 8-9pm or so - time to catch crabs on the beach

We of course had audibles with the weather and lack of crabs on the beach (global warming?) but we generally stuck to the schedule. As with many things we do with the Triplets, the CFO and I now have a greater appreciation for our parents. Vacation has a whole new meaning. Instead of SSDD it is DSDD:)

More pics ....
BTW I edit them at Picnik.com. You can use it for free or pay about $2 per month for their premium features.

Reality is nothing but a collective hunch.
Jane Wagner, Lily Tomlin in "The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe"

Al

The Beach!!!

We went to the beach with the Nuke Doc's family a couple of weeks ago. I FINALLY got around to editing a few of the photos. I know, I am a slacker:) The real truth is that after a hiatus from MW2 I recently got back into it with a "renewed vigor and enthusiasm not seen by many" :) But, alas, my to-dos got the better of me and I recently succumbed to the pressure of continued procrastination.

Here are a few of the photos. I will post more tomorrow.

I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're going and hook up with them later.

Mitch Hedberg (1968 - 2005), Mitch All Together

Play in the sand; splash in the water; get dirty; get wet. The beach is the only place my mom doesn’t get mad about me doing that stuff. Of course I love the beach!

Dixie Dykens (age 5)

Al