Tonight we had family wrestling match. After getting pummeled for awhile I took matters into my own hands and gave Jacob his first real wedgie.
He said, “Why did you do that dad? (laughing) Why did you do that? (laughing) You are weird!”
Tonight Stephanie took Isabelle and Andrew on a quick errand. While they were gone I sat done to read a book but my attention was quickly drawn to the computer screen. My four year old was sitting on the chair in front of the desk with his feet hanging a foot and a half from the ground, playing computer games on pbskids.org.
I was shocked as I watched him navigate the screen and follow the prompts he was given. Amazingly he knew how to manipulate the mouse to select and move things on the screen. He also knew how to identify and utilize the back arrow so that he could return to the main game option screen. These are skills he has developed almost completely on his own by watching Stephanie and I and trough trial and error. My three year old is close behind him, watching and learning from her older brother.
Spent the evening with my four year old son Jacob. We had an awesome time wrestling, watching football, playing with his new animals, visiting a book store and eating dinner at an A&W. I can’t believe how old he is getting. I love talking with him and hearing his dreams and opinions and passions. He is in a wonderful stage where he can draw or play alone and yet he still loves to come sit on my lap when he’s tired and cuddle. Last night the two of us hit the bed early after a long turkey day. I fell asleep to Jacob paging through some books next to me in the bed. Precious moment. I love that little dude.
It is a weird feeling to have to rely on your 4 and 3 year old children for guidance. Today is my day off so I was lucky enough to get a chance to drop the kids off at preschool today; usually Stephanie gets that privilege. I didn’t have any idea what the routine was but the kids did.
They showed me where to park, what door to enter, where their coats and backpacks go, where they wash their hands, and where they find their name tags. I was just along for the ride and cherishing ever moment of it. An especially touching moment was watching my kids play and interact with others kids from my hiding spot in the periphery of the room. I can’t believe how big they are getting!
Tonight I went and visited my kids preschool; it was the first of what I am sure will be many school open houses. Kind of a surreal feeling to have two kids in preschool.
They go twice a week, which is just enough time for them, and it also frees my wife up to work on her Tupperware business in a quiet home. Stephanie posted more about their first day of school here.
Both Jacob and Izzy seem to be adjusting well, though Isabelle needs a touch more redirecting sometimes. I am proud of the way they listen and play and befriend others in their class. They are good kids and I am fortunate to be their father.
Tonight I took the kids to Target while Stephanie did a Tupperware party. Some friends and family gave Jacob cash for his birthday last Friday so he wanted to go and pick out a toy. After much deliberation he settled on a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figure; it is crazy and pretty cool that my son enjoys the same cartoon that I did when I was a boy. His favorite turtle is Michaelangelo (the orange one). My favorite, I think, was Donatello (the purple one).
Reflecting on all the birthday presents Jacob has received this year my question is this – how do all those stinking twisty ties get into the toy packaging? Does someone really sit in a chair all day long wrapping those things, or is it a machine that does it? I would like to see this man, or this machine, or this machine man, whatever the case may be.
Loved having extended, uninterrupted time to be with the kids. Working so far from home and so many hours each week wears on me sometimes. It was nice to wake up and know that I would be available to the kids each day. We did lots of fun things. A few highlights for me were…
1. Driving to South Bend and visiting the beautiful Notre Dame campus. Go Irish!
2. Taking Jacob and Izzy to watch Surf’s Up at the movie theater. (only 2 0f 5 stars though)
3. Walking around St. Joseph looking at all the painted cars and having ice cream.
4. Playing in the waves of Lake Michigan.
5. Jumping on the trampoline.
6. Going walleye fishing with Jake and catching some big ones.
7. Swimming and playing the pool.
8. Multiple wrestling matches in the bedroom. jujhj
You can see pictures of many of these events here.
This week our three year old Jacob has been having a difficult time with his daddy being gone so much. Some of the primary ways he has shown his disapproval is by having a negative attitude and being very disrespectful with his mouth. This has taken a toll on his mother.
There is a strong connection in Jacob’s mind between time together and love. Earlier this week he asked my wife, “Why is Daddy never home? Does he not love us?” It broke my heart to hear that. I can only imagine how detrimental it is to a child’s psyche when they don’t get to spend large amounts of time with their parents over an extended period of time during their adolescent lives.
Jacob doesn’t understand that I am working hard to pay bills and hopefully give us the chance to get a new house. In fact, he doesn’t really care about a new house. Spending time playing with his Dad is far more important to him than having his own room or having a fenced in backyard or having new clothes that match. He doesn’t care about anything more than he cares about being with mom and dad.
Funny that 2,000 years ago Jesus would say something like this.
I am sure many blogger will be taking the opportunity today to publicly brag up the special women in their lives. I am no different. Sometimes I wonder what my kids would say if they could fully comprehend and articulate all that Stephanie does for them. I’d bet they would say something like this:
My mom is the best because….
- she always gets up at night to help us when we’re sick
- she takes us garage sailing and buys us Toy Story and Clifford toys
- she sits in the driveway while we ride our bikes outside
- she takes us to Taco John’s for potatoes and cheese
- she brings us to the park and the play land
- she takes the time to listen to us
- she prays with us when we are scared
- she is more patient than Daddy
- she reads us books over and over again
- she makes us lunch and dinner almost everyday
- she shows us how to blow bubbles, and write letters, and color pictures, and get ourselves dressed, and how to sing the ABC’s when we wash our hands
- she brings us to church so we can hear about Jesus
- she works outside our house at night so we can have some extra money
- she cares about how we look when we leave the house
- she loves Daddy and keeps him happy
- she gets my bottle and feeds me every night, keeps my diaper clean and dry, does amazing/ disgusting things with Q-tips, lugs me around all day (from Andrew)
- she buys us treats like donuts or slushies when we run errands
- she is full of laughter and fun
- she doesn’t run the house like a dictator and is more concerned with happiness than cleanliness
- she holds me when I am hurting and kisses my bruises
- she reads her Bible and prays to Jesus for strength and guidance
- she wants to celebrate us and create memories we can have forever
- she never gives up on our family, no matter what Daddy does
- she watches movies with us
- she lets us cuddle with her in her bed
- she sings to us and dances with us
- she helps us cut out shapes in play dough
- she tries to be the best mommy that she can be
Mommy, you do so much for everyone in our family. Without you we would be a major disaster. We love you so much and we appreciate all that you are. You are the glue that holds it all in place. And we are blessed to have you in our lives. Never question the positive impact you are having on our futures. Have a wonderful Mother’s Day. With love and adoration,
Jacob, Isabelle, and Drew (with a little help from Daddy)
*All of the themes expressed by my kids are things I could say ‘Thank You’ to my own mother for as well. Happy Mother’s Day Mom!
Stephanie was in Owatonna tonight doing a Tupperware party and her mom graciously offered to watch Andrew so it was just Jacob, Isabelle and I tonight. Here’s rundown of the night with Dad.
4 pm – Jog to the park
4:45 pm – Move on to the next park
5:30 pm – Head off to the Monticello Community Center to go swimming
6:30 pm – Dry off by playing in the MCC play land
7:00 pm – Hang out at the ‘coffee station’ (Caribou Coffee)
7:30 pm – Wander the toy isles of Target eating some bread samples we found in the bakery area (Jacob is all about the animals and Izzy is all about dress up and Barbie)
8:00 pm – Eat hot dogs, chips and salsa, and apple juice for dinner
8:45 pm – Read a couple books, brush teeth, pray, sing, hugs and kisses, sleep
I wonder if I will ever stop marveling at how beautiful and precious my kids are?
It was pretty special to watch Jacob put his own Velcro shoes on tonight, though it was sad for two reasons: 1) I promised myself my kids would never wear Velcro shoes, 2) It is another milestone of independence for a kid who increasingly needs less help from his daddy. Yes, I know he needs me in many other ways, but those small tasks like getting on shoes, brushing teeth, using eating utensils, etc. are activities that I subconsciously cherish.
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