Thing 4’s favorite items: sunglasses and hand bags.
Month: May 2011
A Decade Since I Do
Ten years ago today, SuburbanMommy said “I Do”.
Ten years seems like it was an eternity ago, but I can also remember like it was yesterday.
10 years. 4 kids. 912 bottles of wine. 106,719 diapers. 17 weddings attended. A few funerals. A little less, but more grey, hair. Dozens of trips, vacations, and shared adventures.
Here’s to many more decades of adventures. Happy 10th Anniversary, SuburbanMommy!
I Am A Joke
I am a father of four, educated, with a respectable job and nice home. I should command respect and authority from my kids.
Apparently, that is not the case. SuburbanDaddy has become a source of laughter and joking at the expense of Things 1-3. Thing 4 is too young, but give her time, I’m sure she’ll join her brothers.
How do I get ridiculed by a seven, six, and especially four year old?
They make fun of my clothes: “Look at daddy’s socks! Ha ha. ” So what, I keep my dark socks on that I wore to work, when I come home and change into shorts. Changing socks would only create more laundry.
They make fun when I forget things, which is a lot these days. Lately, I can’t get their names straight. I often rattle through all three before getting the right one. “Get off your brother, Thing 2! I mean Thing 3! I mean Thing 1!” Instead of getting off, they just start laughing at me.
By far the worst abuse comes from Thing 3. He can completely crack himself up, hysterical laughter, just by saying something that is hilarious to an almost four year old.
“Daddy, you stink” will cause Thing 3 to laugh for ten minutes.
Then there is “Daddy, let me bop your coconut” which means he wants to hit me on the head with a soccer ball or golf club. Once he does, it’s very funny. Well, it is funny to him.
And there’s the latest one. We’ll be driving in the car, talking about ducks or clouds or firetrucks or whatever random thought catches his mind. Out of nowhere, Thing 3 will say:
“Hey Daddy! Daddy! ”
“Yes”
“You’re a joke”
It’s Nature Not Nurture
There is much debate about whether gender specific behavior is innate or learned. Well, I think we can now put this debate to rest. At least when it comes this one behavior.
Thing 1 and Thing 2 take my iPhone every chance they get. They are adept at playing games like Angry Birds. And this weekend they found another activity for the phone which is definitely, no question, a male behavior that I assure you was not taught.
It’s a behavior that dates back to the first guy (yes, I’m sure it was a guy and not a woman) who made a photocopy of their butt.
Take a look at these two pictures I found on my phone. Now I know what all the giggling was about yesterday. They call them “booty shots”.
At least they are wearing pants. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before they “learn” that part.
A Star Is Born
Sure it’s only T-Ball, but even at an early age the talent shows. Thing 2 accomplished an amazing feat in a game today. Playing first base, he single handedly retired the first three batters. He caught two put outs from the pitcher, and fielded one solo.
What’s the big deal? You need to understand how T-ball usually works. Outs are very rare. Especially outs that involve both a throw and a catch. Three outs in an *inning*? Almost never happens. Three outs in a *ROW*? Unheard of.
His coach, who has been coaching Little League for 10 years, called this the greatest defensive inning in the history of T-Ball.
The parents who were lucky enough to witness it will be telling their grandchildren about Thing 2’s performance today.
What I will remember is how he sprinted off the field at the end of the inning, all the way to where I was sitting with his sister, and exclaimed: “Daddy! I got 3 outs in a row!”. Priceless.
The Best Investment Ever
I just made a $17 investment that will pay returns many times over. A third Wii controller. No more refereeing fights, or separating because of fighting. In about a year we’ll be getting a fourth controller for Thing 4.
