Okay, so I was going to write about my Thanksgiving....but to be honest, it was not all that interesting. I would love to tell you that the marshmallows on the sweet potatoes started on fire, but that was last year. I would love to tell you that our turkey's were still frozen....but that was two years ago.
This year went off, dare I say it, without a hitch. Thanks to some helpful family, and a good bunch of kids we had a good meal, and enjoyed some good company. I am great at preparing meals where the most ingredients that one dish has is three. We had two turkeys this year. For those of you who turn to this blog for cooking advice, please note that 40 pounds of turkey is too much for 16.5 adults and 4 kids under the age of 5.
So, instead of all the gory details...let me tell you about today. My wife woke up sick as a dog. I am not sure where that saying comes from, but whatever dog she was as sick as should have been put down to forgo its misery.
This meant that I took over the parenting duties for today. It is not that my wife did not want to help, but between napping and visiting "the office" every 8 minutes...not sure she would have had time.
The girls and I started the day by eating cereal for breakfast. Dry cereal, no milk. Milk was too hard....I am only one man. Then we watched some SpongeBob, as there was a marathon on television. Yes, I let my three year old watch SpongeBob. If pushed, I could come up with 19 arguments that it is actually educational.
Then we went to the paint store. I needed some paint to touch up some touch ups. I have now tried to match the color independently of my wife three times. Each time I hoped that it would match the color "when it dried" When I told my wife that I was going to do my best to try again, she told me "oh...that is balanced beige" Sure enough, they had it. Even in her dazed state she is smarter than me....although I wish she could have shared this little nugget of information three quarts ago.
I want to warn parents of all ages about a CD called 948 silly songs or something like that. Really I think there are 11, but when it is the only thing your daughter will listen to in the car...it seems like more. Here is my warning. If you buy this CD, there is a song about a ladybug. The words, and I QUOTE are "Ladybug, ladybug fly away home. Your house is on fire and your children will burn." Look it up, I swear it is the truth....and you thought SpongeBob was bad.
Anyhow, got the paint...ate some pizza...got home, watched some more marathon, ate some dinner...my prized peanut butter and jelly....put the kids to bed, checked in on my bride, and got a blanket as there is no way I am sleeping next to the quarantine candidate.
Even when one is sick.....I love my girls :)
Friday, November 28, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Special Night
My wife and I cashed in on a rain check last night. The rain check was that my parents would watch the kids any night we asked. Well....last night...we asked.
My wife and I are just like any other parents of a 3 and 1 year old. No time for us, eat meals as fast as you can, and when you shop you are shopping for necessities, as quick as you can, before one or both of them have a meltdown.
But last night was different. We asked my mom and dad to come over at 3 PM, not because we needed tot be somewhere, but rather because we wanted to do some shopping without the kids, have a nice dinner and then get home before midnight.
First, just let me say thanks to Mom and Dad.
Second, let me tell you about our night. First, we went to Ridgedale. I got a couple of pairs of pants. We bought Katelyn a carebear video, we looked at the Coach store, and for something called "evening pants" but had no luck. So, unfortunately my wife was not able to purchase anything on a shopping trip that didn't involve kids.
Next we went to Bennihanna's. I am not sure if there is one of these in every state, but to describe, it involves a chef cooking your food on a grill right in front of you. It was after the fried rice made fresh in front of me that I made the executive decision to put one of these grills in our basement when we finished it. That is when my wife reminded me that the little Japanese chef does not automatically come with the grill.
The show does not change from time to time when you are there. There is the fried rice heartbeat, the onion volcano and some tosses of shrimp tails into pockets, etc.... That is not the reason I go. I go because they have this shrimp sauce that I think is a taste of heaven. I seriously would drink it by the gallon if I thought I could buy it in that quantity. My wife and I had a great time talking, and trying to use chopsticks.
We thought we would end our night by going to ToysRUs. We scanned the isles up and down for something that would light our 16 month old eye's up Christmas morning. After 30 minutes, and three times up and down every aisle, we were finally able to find.........nothing.
So, instead, we ended our night by going to Target. The exact same toys were cheaper, although we still did not like them. Finally we found something to buy. I can't write what it is in case my 16 month old reads this...but it is cool. Regardless, I made the distinctive point that it should not be called toysRus but instead toysRexpensive. At this point my wife told me that this would not necessarily increase traffic to the store. I told you she was a brilliant marketing mind.
Thanks mom and dad for watching the kids. Thanks Kel for watching me stuff my face with shrimp sauce and as always.....
I love my girls :)
My wife and I are just like any other parents of a 3 and 1 year old. No time for us, eat meals as fast as you can, and when you shop you are shopping for necessities, as quick as you can, before one or both of them have a meltdown.
But last night was different. We asked my mom and dad to come over at 3 PM, not because we needed tot be somewhere, but rather because we wanted to do some shopping without the kids, have a nice dinner and then get home before midnight.
First, just let me say thanks to Mom and Dad.
Second, let me tell you about our night. First, we went to Ridgedale. I got a couple of pairs of pants. We bought Katelyn a carebear video, we looked at the Coach store, and for something called "evening pants" but had no luck. So, unfortunately my wife was not able to purchase anything on a shopping trip that didn't involve kids.
Next we went to Bennihanna's. I am not sure if there is one of these in every state, but to describe, it involves a chef cooking your food on a grill right in front of you. It was after the fried rice made fresh in front of me that I made the executive decision to put one of these grills in our basement when we finished it. That is when my wife reminded me that the little Japanese chef does not automatically come with the grill.
The show does not change from time to time when you are there. There is the fried rice heartbeat, the onion volcano and some tosses of shrimp tails into pockets, etc.... That is not the reason I go. I go because they have this shrimp sauce that I think is a taste of heaven. I seriously would drink it by the gallon if I thought I could buy it in that quantity. My wife and I had a great time talking, and trying to use chopsticks.
We thought we would end our night by going to ToysRUs. We scanned the isles up and down for something that would light our 16 month old eye's up Christmas morning. After 30 minutes, and three times up and down every aisle, we were finally able to find.........nothing.
So, instead, we ended our night by going to Target. The exact same toys were cheaper, although we still did not like them. Finally we found something to buy. I can't write what it is in case my 16 month old reads this...but it is cool. Regardless, I made the distinctive point that it should not be called toysRus but instead toysRexpensive. At this point my wife told me that this would not necessarily increase traffic to the store. I told you she was a brilliant marketing mind.
Thanks mom and dad for watching the kids. Thanks Kel for watching me stuff my face with shrimp sauce and as always.....
I love my girls :)
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tonight We Danced
My sisters married great guys. They are intelligent, loving and have some pretty neat skills.
Rob, well, he can build things....and I am not talking about the bookshelf you buy at Target that with a little wood glue and the ability to read you can build. I am talking about a full size mirror fashioned out of one solid piece of wood that rivals the expensive things you see in department stores. I think it involves a router, and other tools I do not own. I am pretty sure there is a chance he widdled it with an old knife and some elbow grease. Amazing.
Mike, well, he connects things. He does something called Small Voltage and he is darn good at it. Small Voltage to me means a battery. To him, well, he hard wired my entire house with speakers and wall plates and some pretty neat technology that I still don't comprehend how it works.
I am thankful for both of them, because although God granted my father the ability to build a Sherman Tank with three toothpicks and some dental floss....he was less forthcoming with 'natural ability' when he designed me.
Tonight though, I am most thankful for Mike. Because tonight....we danced.
For those of you who are not aware, KOOL 108 has started playing Christmas music. For those of you less aware, Christmas music is one of the greatest pleasures in the world to my wife. I am pretty sure we would play it 365 days a year if the radio stations allowed.
So, Mike hooked up my entire house with radio and speakers, and when I got home from work we were already "Jingle Bell Rocking' the night away. This meant that all of the speakers in the house were on, and my wife was taking turns dancing with each of the girls. They were laughing and smiling, and trying to sing along...so I joined in.
Now, we just had our windows cleaned, so all of our blinds were up. I believe the window guy wanted us to see how great a job he did. The only reason I tell you this is because I am pretty sure the neighbors could see every dance move we were pulling off.
30 minutes of dancing around our house to Jingle Bells and Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree had us all laughing and giggling, and singing along and dancing. If my neighbors happened to be watching, they for sure were questioning our sanity.
But, in a time when I could have come home and worried about little things like cleaning the house, or other projects around the house... to bigger things like the economy, and work, and my family's happiness...well........instead....I got to dance.
So, thank you Mike.
Oh, and...if anyone besides my family ever reads this you should look up Advanced Residential Systems if you feel like dancing.
I love my girls :)
Rob, well, he can build things....and I am not talking about the bookshelf you buy at Target that with a little wood glue and the ability to read you can build. I am talking about a full size mirror fashioned out of one solid piece of wood that rivals the expensive things you see in department stores. I think it involves a router, and other tools I do not own. I am pretty sure there is a chance he widdled it with an old knife and some elbow grease. Amazing.
Mike, well, he connects things. He does something called Small Voltage and he is darn good at it. Small Voltage to me means a battery. To him, well, he hard wired my entire house with speakers and wall plates and some pretty neat technology that I still don't comprehend how it works.
I am thankful for both of them, because although God granted my father the ability to build a Sherman Tank with three toothpicks and some dental floss....he was less forthcoming with 'natural ability' when he designed me.
Tonight though, I am most thankful for Mike. Because tonight....we danced.
For those of you who are not aware, KOOL 108 has started playing Christmas music. For those of you less aware, Christmas music is one of the greatest pleasures in the world to my wife. I am pretty sure we would play it 365 days a year if the radio stations allowed.
So, Mike hooked up my entire house with radio and speakers, and when I got home from work we were already "Jingle Bell Rocking' the night away. This meant that all of the speakers in the house were on, and my wife was taking turns dancing with each of the girls. They were laughing and smiling, and trying to sing along...so I joined in.
Now, we just had our windows cleaned, so all of our blinds were up. I believe the window guy wanted us to see how great a job he did. The only reason I tell you this is because I am pretty sure the neighbors could see every dance move we were pulling off.
30 minutes of dancing around our house to Jingle Bells and Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree had us all laughing and giggling, and singing along and dancing. If my neighbors happened to be watching, they for sure were questioning our sanity.
But, in a time when I could have come home and worried about little things like cleaning the house, or other projects around the house... to bigger things like the economy, and work, and my family's happiness...well........instead....I got to dance.
So, thank you Mike.
Oh, and...if anyone besides my family ever reads this you should look up Advanced Residential Systems if you feel like dancing.
I love my girls :)
Monday, November 17, 2008
How was your day?
So, I got home from work today and there was dinner waiting. I love Mondays for this reason. My wife stays at home with the kids on Monday. I would say that she has Monday's off, but I know she still checks her e-mail and spends a lot of time on the phone managing things at work. But regardless, she still has dinner ready when I get home at 6. Today was meatloaf. I am not a fan. It is not that my wife's meatloaf is bad....I think it is simply that I don't like meatloaf.
Anyhow, my day was uneventful....took some phone calls, made some phone calls, etc...but my wife was lucky enough to take Katelyn in for her 3 year old shot today at the doctor. Suprisingly, it didn't go too bad. The doctor said that Kelly should be prepared to give her a little treat if she was good, I think my wife was ready to give her a car if she wanted as Kelly is not a fan of hearing the kids cry.
But, little Katelyn is a trooper, and Kelly said it wasn't that bad.
When I got home, Katelyn was very quick to point out her bandaid and told me in the cutest little voice that she got a shot....and that it wasn't that good. I was ready to give her a car at this point as well....then she said, "but daddy, how was your day?"
I thought for a second that I was about to have an adult conversation with my three year old. Something like, my day was good, I got a lot done at work, had some good conversations, etc.. Instead I said, 'Well, I started out in a meeting.." and before I could continue, she said "and what did you do next?" She continued to say "what did you do next" at every pause of my story....finally I said things like 'then I saw a dragon" to which she responded 'and what did you do next?"
So, needless to say, if my 3 year old asks you "how was your day" she doesn't really care what the answer is....even if you tell her you saw a dragon. True to my girls love for mostly mom, when it came time to put her to bed, I asked if I could read her a story to which she told me "Daddy, only mommy is good at reading stories, you can read one next year" (we need to work on sense of time as well)
Ashley was a little giggler tonight. Hilarious to watch her try to walk. Now, I am not making fun of her, I just find it funny that she stands up....gets ready to take a step.....then realizes that crawling is still easier so plops back down and crawls wherever she wants to go belly laughing the whole way.
I love my girls :)
Anyhow, my day was uneventful....took some phone calls, made some phone calls, etc...but my wife was lucky enough to take Katelyn in for her 3 year old shot today at the doctor. Suprisingly, it didn't go too bad. The doctor said that Kelly should be prepared to give her a little treat if she was good, I think my wife was ready to give her a car if she wanted as Kelly is not a fan of hearing the kids cry.
But, little Katelyn is a trooper, and Kelly said it wasn't that bad.
When I got home, Katelyn was very quick to point out her bandaid and told me in the cutest little voice that she got a shot....and that it wasn't that good. I was ready to give her a car at this point as well....then she said, "but daddy, how was your day?"
I thought for a second that I was about to have an adult conversation with my three year old. Something like, my day was good, I got a lot done at work, had some good conversations, etc.. Instead I said, 'Well, I started out in a meeting.." and before I could continue, she said "and what did you do next?" She continued to say "what did you do next" at every pause of my story....finally I said things like 'then I saw a dragon" to which she responded 'and what did you do next?"
So, needless to say, if my 3 year old asks you "how was your day" she doesn't really care what the answer is....even if you tell her you saw a dragon. True to my girls love for mostly mom, when it came time to put her to bed, I asked if I could read her a story to which she told me "Daddy, only mommy is good at reading stories, you can read one next year" (we need to work on sense of time as well)
Ashley was a little giggler tonight. Hilarious to watch her try to walk. Now, I am not making fun of her, I just find it funny that she stands up....gets ready to take a step.....then realizes that crawling is still easier so plops back down and crawls wherever she wants to go belly laughing the whole way.
I love my girls :)
Saturday, November 15, 2008
The First One
So I have been keeping up with my sisters families via blog, and since mom told me I need to start one.....here goes.
I am not exactly sure what I am going to write about....mostly stories of what my family is up to, so I guess I better introduce you to my family.
The Smiths of Minnestrista is what I will refer to us as. Not because we are the only Smiths in Minnetrista, but more because my parents still claim the title the Smiths, so to differentiate, I throw in the Minnetrista as that is where we live.
I have a beautiful wife, we have been married for 5 years. Her name is Kelly, we met through mutual friends. She is the President and owner of a very succesful marketing company called Futura Marketing.
More importantly then her brilliant business mind (I know she will read this :) ) she is an unbelievable mother to my two daughters. Katelyn is 3, and Ashley is 16 months old. Katelyn is funny, cute, charming, and the greatest three year old in the world. Ashley has all those same qualities but since she is too young to have had a conversation with, and since she really only wants to hang out with her mom, I am just trusting she has the same qualities :)
We have a dog and a cat. I hate the cat, I tolerate the dog. The only reason I mention either of them is because my wife considers them a part of our "family". I think they are pets.
So, that is us. There are going to be some funny stories you are going to read, and there are going to be some boring stories. For instance, today my wife and I spent the majority of the day at Costco. We didn't need a ton of stuff, but it was fun to watch Katelyn look at the toys, and I think we bought enough bottled water to get us through the next 2 or 3 years.
I will write more, not every day but as often as I can. Sometimes, it might just be random thoughts by me as I currently live with 4 girls. The only other male in the house is the cat....and as mentioned in a previous paragraph....I hate that thing. His name is Spencer. I bought him for my wife, I named him....and I hate myself for both of those things.
More to come.....
I am not exactly sure what I am going to write about....mostly stories of what my family is up to, so I guess I better introduce you to my family.
The Smiths of Minnestrista is what I will refer to us as. Not because we are the only Smiths in Minnetrista, but more because my parents still claim the title the Smiths, so to differentiate, I throw in the Minnetrista as that is where we live.
I have a beautiful wife, we have been married for 5 years. Her name is Kelly, we met through mutual friends. She is the President and owner of a very succesful marketing company called Futura Marketing.
More importantly then her brilliant business mind (I know she will read this :) ) she is an unbelievable mother to my two daughters. Katelyn is 3, and Ashley is 16 months old. Katelyn is funny, cute, charming, and the greatest three year old in the world. Ashley has all those same qualities but since she is too young to have had a conversation with, and since she really only wants to hang out with her mom, I am just trusting she has the same qualities :)
We have a dog and a cat. I hate the cat, I tolerate the dog. The only reason I mention either of them is because my wife considers them a part of our "family". I think they are pets.
So, that is us. There are going to be some funny stories you are going to read, and there are going to be some boring stories. For instance, today my wife and I spent the majority of the day at Costco. We didn't need a ton of stuff, but it was fun to watch Katelyn look at the toys, and I think we bought enough bottled water to get us through the next 2 or 3 years.
I will write more, not every day but as often as I can. Sometimes, it might just be random thoughts by me as I currently live with 4 girls. The only other male in the house is the cat....and as mentioned in a previous paragraph....I hate that thing. His name is Spencer. I bought him for my wife, I named him....and I hate myself for both of those things.
More to come.....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)