I Blinked

Oops, I blinked.  I didn't mean to.  It just sort of happened.  It seems that no matter how hard I try I still blink.  I wish I wouldn't, because I seem to miss too many moments of my kids growing up.  I blinked and my little girl who I spent evenings rocking to sleep is now reading in her bed at night.  I blinked and my little boy who used to love sleeping with us wants his own bed and own room at night.  Sometimes I think it's old age creeping in because I turn around and my little girl is now a 6 year old telling her daddy he's silly.  My boy is becoming a young man reading the nativity story out of his bible Christmas Day.  At 8 years old he has surpassed me in some things he's doing.  He kicks my butt in Mario Cart (easily I might add) and most other video games.  But most of all, he gets it.  He gets that Faith and God are the most important things.  He's learned in 8 years what took me almost 40.
As they get older I try and make sure I'm not being the workaholic I used to be.  I've learned that if I were to pursue more work, bigger paychecks, and higher positions I would be losing out on something more important and fulfilling, my family.  I have Robin to thank for that realization.  I was becoming a person who always wanted to make more, but now we just use what we have better and spend the time I used to spend working doing other stuff like playing the Wii as a family and spending time with friends.  She helps me stay focused on what is really important to us, being together as a family and making sure we have good friends to enjoy.  I still try not to blink because Connor and Sara are growing up so fast I don't want to miss anything.  But at least I know that I'm fighting to keep from blinking too much.

Wii Fit Plus

We have a Wii.  It's been a great game system for the kids but Robin and I only play it when playing with the kids.  It holds little adult entertainment value outside the occasional Guitar Hero with friends on special occasions.  Until now.  Robin got Wii Fit Plus for Christmas from her parents.  Since then we've played Wii Fit Plus several days.  Even her parents have gotten into playing.  Her Mom and Dad seem to enjoy playing almost as much as the kids.  I think some of that comes from playing with the grandkids but I also suspect they receive a good amount of fun from playing it as well.  We've had some good laughs at our own expense and have enjoyed family time more lately than we've done in a while.  And we are getting some exercise to boot!   We've all created our Mii and set up our own training account.  We've found out that it doesn't matter how athletic you are or how old you are, every game provides an opportunity for anyone to excel.  It helps keep track of how much exercise you're getting and even provides an estimate of calories burned.  All in all, it's been a home run gift!

Nobel Peace Prize

The Nobel Peace Prize just became a toy prize from a vending machine.  No longer does it hold the distinguished honor it used to be.  The committee to award this has relegated it's status to that of a political tool to be used to encourage certain political viewpoints.  I'm embarrassed for the committee as they have just made themselves irrelevant to world events and have, in one moment, decreased the stature of this award to that of toy prize at a carnival fair.  What's even worse is that all those who were awarded this prize before have just been slapped with the realization that the award that was supposed to recognize their great achievements has now been cheapened to the likes of a popularity contest.  It's a sad day for Alfred Nobel.  Five people just made a mockery of his legacy.

According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize should be awarded to the person who:

“	during the preceding year [...] shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.

 What part of "shall have done" not proposed to do, hoped to do, wished to do, do they not understand?

The award was given just because of who he is, not what he's done.  It's just sad.

Maggie the Wonder Dog

To say Maggie is our dog just doesn't do her justice.  She's more than that.  She's one of the best pets I've ever had.  We got her as a companion for my other dog Chiquita.  I thought Chiquita had taught Maggie how to go sit by the door if she needed to go out but now I realize that it was probably more Maggie learning on her own by watching Chiquita.  She's one smart dog.  Lately though, she's developed a rather strange habit.  In contrast to Chiquita who would down her food in 4 gulps as soon as you placed it in front of her, Maggie will leave her food well over several hours until she's hungry.  Now she's even gone so far as to wait until we are eating before she will eat.  We'll feed her and she'll leave it alone until someone sits down at the kitchen table to eat.  It's like she's developed manners.  She's part Beagle so sometimes her desire to run overrides her obedience and she'll bolt out the garage or front door if we're not careful.  But I also learned years ago that she comes back too.  After 15-20 minutes she'll start wandering back around the house and all we have to do is invite her back inside.  One time at our old house she escaped out of the back yard.  I search the entire yard for where she was getting out of but couldn't find anywhere she could fit through.  So I waited and watched her one day.  She had found a fence picket that wasn't nailed down on the bottom and would push it open until she was out.  The picket would then snap back into place thus she had a secret escape door!  I have no idea how she found that picket.  The neighborhood kids love her.  She's kind and gentle around them. 

She doesn't try and grab food and is happy to have her belly rubbed.  She barks when someone is at the front door but she's not a barker.  If she wants to be petted she'll gently place a paw up on your leg as you sit on the couch.  If you say down though she'll take it back down.  She's not stubborn which is unusual for a Beagle except when you want her to go outside and she doesn't want to.  Then she'll slowly crawl across the room to you as if she's in trouble.  I think she thinks being put outside is punishment.  She loves to chase (and catch) birds.  I've seen her catch 2 birds from mid-air.  Once she found a rabbit in our yard.  I was standing on the back porch and here she comes around the corner of the house with a rabbit in her mouth, plopped it down right at my feet and just walked away like it was something she'd done many times before.  I was pretty proud of her (even though I was a little sad for the rabbit).  She loves to play and will fetch when she's feeling playful.  We can leave her inside for several hours without worrying about having "surprises" when we get back.  She's been on 14 hour car rides and loves to go on trips.  All in all we couldn't have asked for a better dog family member.   She turned 11 yrs old this year.  I try not to think of a dogs life span because I know that when it's her time it'll be one of the hardest day I'll ever have to deal with.  Hopefully she'll live longer than normal.  She's in great shape at 11 yrs old.  even the vet has mentioned her excellent shape.  I can only hope we get to enjoy her love and affection for many years to come. 

Study Habits

We home school.  Well, part time that is.  We send the kids to school 2 days a week and home school the other 2 days.  Our oldest child Connor, is in 3rd grade and, of course, extremely smart.  He gets that from his Mother.  What amazes me though are his study habits.  The school sends home his homework every day for us to do the following day at home.  That provides a continuity throughout the year.  Being 8 years old he is a boy growing up with video games and other technical distractions that abound in our lives.  What surprises me isn't that he likes to play the Wii, or his Nintendo, or even the iPod, it's that he likes to do his home school work usually on his own.  He already has started to develop the study habits of a boy much older.  He likes to figure out the problems and when he needs help he will come to us and ask.  He takes breaks, gets snacks, and all in all makes our job that much easier.  Now I'm not saying he is on his own.  We are constantly monitoring his progress and making sure he is meeting the requirements set forth by his teacher.  We will even sit and watch him do his work once in a while, but usually he prefers to study on his own when possible.  Could it be his independence is beginning to exert itself?  Maturity a little beyond his years?  Perhaps.  Either way, I am very proud that he has the discipline to accomplish all he does on a daily basis.  I'm not sure if this is something shared by many other boys his age.  No matter, all I know is that I couldn't be more proud of his level of self control for being only 8 years old.   I can only hope he is able to keep this discipline throughout his years as it will serve him well as he gets older.  I wish I had been as disciplined when I was his age.

Random Musings from News Headlines

My thoughts of the latest news cycle headlines...

Obama goes to Copenhagen to lobby for the 2016 Olympics.
   Republicans need to pass on arguing this action.  Going to lobby to bring the Olympics to Chicago is not a big deal.  I say good luck to him.  He's trying to get a major event to happen in the USA instead of another country.  Why wouldn't we support that.  Do I think he would do this if it was Austin Texas?  No I don't.  But let's take a pass on making something outta nothing here.

Polanski fights extradition from Switzerland to the US.
  Get his ass!  He pleaded guilty because he knew he would get a bigger conviction if he went to trial.  Then he flew the country to avoid jail time.  He did the crime and has been living a life of luxury overseas for 31 years.  He drugged and raped a 13 year old girl in 1977.  Maybe the hollywood types think he should be spared the jail time since it's been so long, but that just shows how shallow and idiotic they are.  Just because a large amount of time has passed does not mean you get a free pass out of jail. 

Iran found to have secret Nuclear Facility for enriching uranium.
  So another example of how much trust you can place in the leadership of Iran.  My sympathies to the people of Iran who from what I read are just about as fed up with their leadership as the rest of the world should be.  Maybe Russia and China will wipe the egg off their faces and wide up to the fact that you can not trust a blithering maniacal mad man like Ahmadinejad.  If he isn't reined in he could be the start of WW III.

I wonder if our parents had the same worries about what type of world they would leave us when we were kids?  Or is this something that is indicative of the current state of affairs?

Hugs, hugs and more hugs..

Lately my son Connor has been a daddy's boy. He loves to hang with me. I of course love this. He's a good boy and easy to hang with. But the shift I work has been hard lately. I used to work mornings so I was gone before he even got out of bed and I was home all night. Now on days he goes to school I either have to drive him and his sister to school or I don't get to see him and Sara all day. Lately, when he's home (We home school 2 days a week and he attends school 2 days) and I have to leave for work, he'll hug me 4-6 times before I get out of the door. He'll hug me when I grab my stuff and head to the door. Another one when I get to the door. Yet more when the door is open, another when I step outside and sometimes he'll even walk me to the car for 1-2 more hugs. It's not the kind of "cling to you" hug, it's a "I'll miss you hug and I want to hug you more so I'm with you longer" type of hug. It sure makes me feel good for all the affection yet another part wishes I was staying home because I know it's been hard on him. Eventually he'll grow out of this, but I won't mind if he takes his time. These are the things Mommies and Daddies love to have from their kids. Hugs, hugs and more hugs.