What's at the end of the Rainbow?

What is at the end of the Rainbow? I am afraid I may not know until late July.

You see, my wife and I bought a Rainbow play system for the kids. Many of you know that we live 39 feet away from a park.

A large park.

If you would like to take up the argument with my wife on whether or not this Rainbow "play system" is necessary....feel free. A long time ago my father taught me to "pick my battles". I have chosen to pass on this one.

But I digress. I do not know how many of my loyal readers have purchased Rainbow play systems...but let me tell you one thing. They can fit A LOT of wood in 4 boxes.

Kelly's mom and brother, and my parents came over for Easter brunch...and after a great meal and good conversation my mom came up with the idea that we should build the swing set. After spending 7 hours with Uncle Jeff, and my dad....and only getting to step nine (of 36) I came to the realization why they call it a "play system" and not a swing set.

When I grew up we had a blue metal swing set. I think there was one swing...and a crazy two person seat thing. The whole thing was rusted....when you swung high, the whole system shook out of the ground...and I am pretty sure that we had to get tetanus shots regularly due to all of the rusted metal. I WOULD NOT HAVE TRADED IT FOR A "PLAY SYSTEM".

That metal swing set probably took my dad 19 minutes to put together, and provided years of fun. I spent another two hours tonight (total of 9 so far) and all that I built was a rock wall.

I will keep you posted, and would be happy to take bets on the over under. Currently I am projecting 49 hours to build the damn...I mean awesome thing.


On a completely different note....

In an effort to separate our children from their third parent, (television) my wife took Katelyn to the library tonight.

Katelyn picked out this book:








When we were in the other room, Katelyn decided she should answer the first question the book asked:

We told her that she did a great job spelling her name... but that she should not write in library books anymore.

She asked if we could keep this one....to which their was no other response but my wife's "well we probably can now".

Because at the end of this Rainbow I know there will be hugs for daddy.....I love my girls.....

Peter Dan

So....I've been thinking.....

I know, insert all the jokes here:

Did it hurt? Do you want an award? etc.. etc.. etc....

But seriously....Captain Hook's nemesis...Peter Pan didn't have it all right. You see....Peter Pan never wanted to grow up. He had it partly right...

That's why I've decided that I am going to change the philosophy.....and call it the Peter Dan view on life.

Peter Pan didn't want to grow up. As I have been reflecting....Peter Dan just doesn't want to grow old.....

But I am thriving on "growing up".

Don't get me wrong...15 years ago my biggest concern was whether or not I left my credit card at the OP. For those UNI alums you know this was a popular bar on "the hill". I was known there. I had MANY great nights there...most of which I remember. Great times...with great friends...and multiple pitchers of beer.

Back then, I did not have a care in the world...but today I have so much more to care about. So I am thankful that I am now a "grown up".

I think I am still "young at heart"...but I would not trade my life today for then.

The joy of becoming a grown up is gettng married, and having children. Have you ever talked to an adult who has said "I wish I still could party all night, with no one to answer too......"

My girls are 4 and 2 years old. I cannot wait to get home, give Katelyn "100 hugs" and learn whether or not Maddie bit either of them at daycare. I can't wait to learn what they will create with play doh or what picutre they will "paint" of daddy with his "muscles".

You see, there is nothing wrong with growing up. It is play doh today... and it is prom and then marriage and grandkids in the future.

I am in no hurry. I will enjoy each step along the way...but seriosuly...being a grown up has too many perks to not be excited.

So, I am Peter Dan.

Growing up....but not growing old.

Because they bring countless smiles....I love my girls.....

Odd Ya See.......

Sorry....I meant Odyssey.



My garage now looks like this:







That's right....after much deliberation....the convertible dad wanted took a back seat to the Honda Odyssey. That's not to say that Kelly WANTED a mini-van...she is just more practical than I when it comes to getting kids into car seats.



MOM- WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY PREGNANT. But for those of you who don't know....my wife is a planner. The "plan" is to have a third kid...and since the lease was coming up on the Infiniti....my argument of the need for a convertible held little water.


So....I have talked to a few mini-van owners prior to joining the club and they all have said "you will not know how you ever survived without one". I have owned one for three days now...and I am pretty sure the biggest winner in this whole experience are my little girls.


They currently sit in their back seats cruising.... watching the pop down DVD, listening on their wireless headsets, in the dual zone comfort control of the back seat. Chillin' with their chocolate milk in the removable middle console cup holders.....It is like "pimp my ride" for toddlers.



Seriously....wireless headsets???? I remember catching a ride with the Gillham's one time to school and H.J. and I got to sit in the way back. That was living.....no wireless headset...no DVD...just the opportunity to sit in the "way back" of the station wagon was excitement enough for us kids...



Side note here...we were rear-ended on that ride by a Chem-Lawn truck that shattered the glass of the station wagon and we all walked away without a scratch. Therefore, I am not convinced that my kids need to be in a car seat until they are 9 years old or weigh 185 pounds ....in fact, according to the regulations...I am pretty sure my wife should still be in a booster seat... but that is a different blog.



So....we are still cruising around in the Infiniti until the end of the month as the lease is paid through then....but at that point I officially become "Mini-Van Dan".


Side not hear.....cool people give themselves nicknames before anyone else can.


Because even though the wireless headsets were designed so mommy and daddy could listen to the radio while the kids watch their DVD....they choose to sing along at the top of their lungs to whatever they are watching....I love my girls...

Rain or shine....

So, I typically drop the kids off on Wednesdays and stay at work late....but today was a little different. I had to be at work early for a meeting in which we discussed "Global Human Resources Restructuring to Prioritize and Emulate Corporate Strategy and Senior Leadership Vision"......

I learned this morning that this really meant "Let's review the new org chart...."

But since I had to be there for the meeting, my wife agreed to drop off the kids at daycare. The kids enjoy this because as dad runs them out the door to get them to daycare and off to work...mom spends time with them on their outfits, and what shoes match what .....blah blah blah...

Today, my wife had them all ready to go to daycare when she realized it was raining. We have had two umbrellas that we were going to give as Easter presents....but for some reason my wife decided that the kids should have them today. We were going to give them as a present on a holiday that celebrates Jesus...but reality is that God made it rain today....so who am I to argue. The result is as follows:

They love it. Mom loves that there outfits are so darn cute and that they have umbrellas. Dad is confused is to where all of these new things came from...

I have a feeling that this is just a glimpse into how much having two girls is going to cost me in regard to clothing and accessories...

On another note...as I was putting Katelyn to bed tonight she told me she wanted to be four forever. When I asked her why, she said "Because I always want to be your little girl.....'

Seriously....I teared up writing that...... You HAVE to agree that is one of the cutest stories you have ever heard. Not sure where it came from....not sure why she said it...but I promise you I gave her one of the biggest hugs I have ever given.

Because when today brought rain, they shrugged it off and were excited to use their umbrellas reminding all of us that every cloud has a silver lining....I love my girls....

Pigs In A Blanket

I love my girls......

The conversations make me giggle

So...life is stressful.

More stressful the older you get.

So.....my profound advice is that when you have a stressful week /day / minute.... you should have a conversation with a four year old.

You will soon realize that there is nothing more important then the innocence we so often let go of as we get older.

My week has been horrible... deadlines, deadlines, deadlines...but please let me share with you some snippets of conversations I had with my four year old when I have put her to bed that have kept me going:

Monday

Me: Goodnight Katelyn

Katelyn : Daddy, is Miss Tammy sick (Tammy is our daycare provider who got strep this week)

Me: Yes, she isn't feeling well

Katelyn : Oooohhh....Poor thing. I think she will be better in twelve days.

Tuesday

Me: Goodnight Katelyn should we say a prayer?

Katelyn: Yes..you start and then I will go and then you go and then I will go.

Me: Dear Jesus

Katelyn: Thank you for the food

Me: (not quite sure why she is thanking for the food at bedtime but none the less I went with) And thank you for our family

Katelyn : And thank you for our cousins

Me: And Jesus, please make sure mommy gets everything she ever wants

Katelyn: And daddy too

Me: And Katelyn too

Katelyn: And Ashley too......except...well.......not everything she wants because she wants to stay up past bedtime sometimes and she shouldn't get that.


Wednesday

Me: Goodnight Katelyn

Katelyn: Goodnight daddy...do you like Barbie or Hello Kitty

Me: Hello Kitty, do you like Hello Kitty or Tinkerbell

Katelyn: Hello Kitty duh...can we color?

Me: No it is time for sleep, do you like Tinkerbell or Barbie?

Katelyn: I like everything you ask about. So whatever you say, I will say I like them

Me: (because it was a challenge) Do you like Monsters?

Katelyn: NO!

Me: (not willing to let it go) Where do monsters live?

Katelyn: I don't kn.....wait....in caves.

Thursday (tonight)

Me: Goodnight Katelyn

Katelyn: Did you toot, because it smells in here


So...as you can see in the previous conversations, my four year old and I did not solve all of the world's problems this week.

But as you can also see...I laughed and smiled and hugged the cutest 4 year old I know. I realized because of her this week that whether or not I hit my deadlines, or whether or not I was praised by superiors or whether or not I move up the corporate ladder....my four year old just wants to make sure there is hello kitty, and no caves that monsters live in nearby.

Innocence is profound.

Because if I were to tell them that daddy is stressed, they would most likely tell me that Ursula is mean and Ariel is beautiful.....I love my girls.

While I'm traveling for work.....

So....I am in Florida on business this week. My wife is taking care of the kids. Good news though...tonight was "Kids Eat Free" night at Perkins.

Both my kids ate pancakes with sprinkles and whip cream. Although both had the same thing, there were two very different reactions.


First, Ashley:

Who apparently thought my wife was force feeding her liver and onions...not a plateful of sugar.

Then Katelyn:

Who apparently loved the plateful of sugar and was already feeling the effects.

On a different note, I realized tonight why I don't watch the news. In an effort to educate myself about what is going on in the world, I tuned into Larry King.


Tonight they were discussing whether or not the stimulus package is working to save the economy. Now, I would normally find this an intriguing topic. My issue is that is "expert panel of guests" included Tonya Acker, Stephanie Miller, Ben Stein, and Penn (of Penn and Teller).


I am not kidding...let me break that down for you: Someone I have never heard of. Another unknown, although apparently she hosts "The Stephanie Miller Show", a guy who is best known for saying "Bueller" repeatedly in a movie about Ferris' day off, and a magician.


This is why I don't tune in. The expert panel of guests next time will most likely be Fred, Shaggy, Velma and Daphne with special commentary by Scooby Doo.


Because they will learn of current events through conversations and schooling versus watching a TV host that looks like Skeletor....I love my girls.