tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24993032764149335752024-02-18T20:06:50.209-06:00The Everyday DadThe Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-30337776523381930182010-10-30T16:24:00.001-05:002010-10-30T16:25:54.474-05:00Gerard for Mayor<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ccvh918SiNE?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ccvh918SiNE?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-39743344920837378792010-10-27T06:13:00.008-05:002010-10-27T09:46:33.757-05:00The Neighborhood Changes<meta equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"> <title></title> <meta name="Generator" content="Cocoa HTML Writer"> <meta name="CocoaVersion" content="1038.32"> <style type="text/css"> p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia; min-height: 19.0px} </style> <p class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Our neighbor died yesterday. She was in her 70s, a widow. She was there when we moved in as newlyweds eight years ago. She watched as we had three kids and are awaiting the birth of a fourth.</span></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">She always brought over extra treats and gifts for the kids on Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween, Christmas, and birthdays.</span></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And those times when we thought we stunk at parenting she always seemed to come around stating what great parents we were because our kids seemed so happy.</span></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">As she became more homebound she would often comment on what delight she got out of watching from her sun room as our kids raced up and down the sidewalk on their Big Wheels; ran down to the lake to throw rocks; and zoomed around in their pretend play.</span></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We were there to help her shovel her driveway. Assist in a garden project. Or just to talk in the yard on a slow summer night. </span></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">
<br /></span></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">She was one of the first to move into this neighborhood when it was new 18 years ago. She and her husband had built the house and were settling in to semi-retirement when he suddenly died.</span></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">She soldiered on in life--making the best of the situation. When my wife asked if she wanted to meet a man again someday, she looked at her and with all seriousness said, "There isn't anything that a 70 year old man has that I want!"</span></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">She was an accomplished organist and played everyday. And on a few occasions we were able to coax our oldest to play his violin for her. It was screechy and raw but she would always comment how wonderful he sounded.</span></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Neighborhoods change. Families move in. Families move out. Kids that once ruled the sidewalks on their trikes and bikes grow and are only seen leaving the house. Their lives having put away childhood.</span></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Yesterday our neighborhood changed. We will dearly miss you Marilyn.</span></span></p>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-76021934037778358492009-07-10T22:00:00.004-05:002009-07-10T22:03:06.811-05:00United Breaks Guitar<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here's the latest viral video based on a </span></span><a href="http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/United-Breaks-Guitars-a-Smash-Hit-on-YouTube.html?yhp=1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">true story</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. Enjoy!</span></span><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10px;"><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5YGc4zOqozo&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5YGc4zOqozo&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></span></div>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-84069700709664521422009-07-06T21:06:00.002-05:002009-07-06T21:12:04.564-05:00A 5th of July Miracle!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0FYkRrbQGOJkFUrCVZdCIEJxO3F1jbLxXfSH7EViYcV_Ao4fGUX4mI_7B4UwwBXwY42SYbJ4suCU7Q0N8FzOf24-i-2RhRlYi7MP0rA89AN3HopAJsr8f_IMyUUzL6ikQC_Z9NcaxnA/s1600-h/Fireworks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0FYkRrbQGOJkFUrCVZdCIEJxO3F1jbLxXfSH7EViYcV_Ao4fGUX4mI_7B4UwwBXwY42SYbJ4suCU7Q0N8FzOf24-i-2RhRlYi7MP0rA89AN3HopAJsr8f_IMyUUzL6ikQC_Z9NcaxnA/s320/Fireworks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355535182411352162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Champaign–Urbana's fireworks were postponed until July 5th due to a rainy 4th. Since they moved the fireworks out by Parkland we are able to view them from just past our yard.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I think this is the third year for the relocated fireworks and for the previous two, though they were just feet away from me viewing them--I always seemed to be inside with a youngin' who got freaked out by the booms. Or by someone who really wanted to watch Dora instead of the fireworks.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Miraculously this year the entire brood stayed out and watched the entire display!</span></span>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-9565637900278833832009-07-03T21:34:00.004-05:002009-07-03T21:48:25.382-05:00Our One Year Old Daisy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhpWYSGAje4GtdMtrSxlW1VX7kbUFYDkwqIb1LIqH0y8MvKu5HkKv3aMBkSpY09GBTWiN8AjlltVzmj9qbN18S0hqYY_5kOV_dfdJJwfTL1gupcmWlk_pxIBvHdC-uTZt0_flpwuMZZc/s1600-h/daisy2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhpWYSGAje4GtdMtrSxlW1VX7kbUFYDkwqIb1LIqH0y8MvKu5HkKv3aMBkSpY09GBTWiN8AjlltVzmj9qbN18S0hqYY_5kOV_dfdJJwfTL1gupcmWlk_pxIBvHdC-uTZt0_flpwuMZZc/s320/daisy2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354431255571377106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHAtIcsZL695vtbIC1zY4_excLphJkwdCtycxdhH6P_weO-QZbgKLNv30Mb31O5oPQGrxadltBvYH5klXMebMZRFlzqQDI4MSNjWQMpX9thZhbGBWDvl4ELfsEtgAA9_Gk89LXEppvXs/s1600-h/daisy1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHAtIcsZL695vtbIC1zY4_excLphJkwdCtycxdhH6P_weO-QZbgKLNv30Mb31O5oPQGrxadltBvYH5klXMebMZRFlzqQDI4MSNjWQMpX9thZhbGBWDvl4ELfsEtgAA9_Gk89LXEppvXs/s320/daisy1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354431169881986130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dewdrop turned one on Thursday. We brought her home on July 4 2008 and watched the fireworks as she lay inert in her mother's arms.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dewdrop is our third child and this year for us has simply zipped by.</span></span>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-18068943312367446622009-06-02T05:59:00.004-05:002009-06-02T06:47:52.788-05:00Happy Anniversary Sugarpop!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBM3hHV6zuMhokZTi-OZOyKz1SasWZ1VonjRxbjabgHW4w60DYBzab-Lz6u-nke3iIuCTkpfrRL0-oKxt-VYI33klgdc5BlCUHR_Rg9YF7C82cMyQvvAndGt_31Dmzzk2XS0W0cp17clw/s1600-h/7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBM3hHV6zuMhokZTi-OZOyKz1SasWZ1VonjRxbjabgHW4w60DYBzab-Lz6u-nke3iIuCTkpfrRL0-oKxt-VYI33klgdc5BlCUHR_Rg9YF7C82cMyQvvAndGt_31Dmzzk2XS0W0cp17clw/s320/7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342694688841119970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Today marks seven years since Sugarpop and I were married. The place was the Sunken Garden at Allerton Park. It was a Sunday morning. The iris and peonies were in bloom. The day started off cloudy and sprinkly, but during the wedding, as Sugarpop appeared on the steps of the garden I swear the sun came out and shone just on her.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />We married that day and moved into our house the next. Seven years later so much has changed. The house has become our home. We've brought three children into it. The dishes sometimes pile up in the sink, toys are strewn across the living room, laundry haystacks grow and shrink and shrink and grow. Our "Things to Do Around the House" list lengthens and I really need to get the car in for an oil change.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The rhythms of our lives are much different than seven years ago. Back then they sounded like two acoustic guitars playing a soft tempo. Now its crashing symbols and kettle drums, trumpet blasts and screeching violins (literally).<br /><br />But to me it is the perfect score because it is the life that Sugarpop and I have composed.</span><br /><br /> <span style="font-family:verdana;">I love you Ali. </span></span>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-22615303505576149302009-04-30T20:43:00.004-05:002009-04-30T20:53:17.058-05:00The Oh So Happy<span style="font-size:100%;">The Oh had to have a rather extensive dental procedure the other day. Basically one tooth was pretty much a bad egg and it was drilled and crowned. The Oh was a brave little guy all the way from loading into the van to walking back to the room when his name was called.<br /><br />Of course being The Oh when it came time to drink the sedation medicine it took his parents, the nurse, and the doctor to administer it. He didn't go down without a fight. But in no time he went from defiant to compliant and my cell phone was there to grab a bit of video.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxv6Ns1XeWZz_zxfqxWYXW3NmZfMIOaKRz1PEnjxMQh6MHm4_o0jkX-NGKsHH0KHcQXGWUlXyiFCD1jENHPUg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The procedure went quickly and we returned home before 11 that morning. We were warned that the sedation medicine could cause mood swings for several hours, but that was only in 1 in 10 cases. Let's just say never tell us the odds because the Oh went from crying fits to happy, happy, joy, joy in seconds. Of course the doctor said he'd come home and probably sleep 2 or 3 hours, but again our little guy defied the odds and slept not a wink until bedtime. All the while insisting, that while tipsy on his feet, he was fine and could play. I'm just glad I didn't have to take away his car keys.</span></span><br /></div></div>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-85426433135898487052009-03-07T08:10:00.010-06:002009-03-07T09:30:53.402-06:00Tour de "The Force"<div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dukPNbErCaQaRXM5VAieyrNorD41iJU_kOscyDlwZyQkwFGQxDcb7Ec43sx63-a8ChNWXWyZ0TGWvVYGSdy_a7wA5EWM6U-aFm_oU0HxX254PgdBGTskZJmeucMpwidWyluu6oGpKGo/s1600-h/im5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dukPNbErCaQaRXM5VAieyrNorD41iJU_kOscyDlwZyQkwFGQxDcb7Ec43sx63-a8ChNWXWyZ0TGWvVYGSdy_a7wA5EWM6U-aFm_oU0HxX254PgdBGTskZJmeucMpwidWyluu6oGpKGo/s320/im5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310468297068976834" border="0" /></a>Soy cinco! (I'm five!)<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlYe4EYM6-6oQZq0qPdfKEwVF4qG-98djzT5u9tCMIWLSO_tTVCrdjntdg-iGhIEK286XRfg8vWH6asy7Wv5YOaMfAc6ObpPoMgxNKDl_T5ZxzQt4O3jk0knNS9sbnPy34_xDg3GL1yk/s1600-h/star+wars.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlYe4EYM6-6oQZq0qPdfKEwVF4qG-98djzT5u9tCMIWLSO_tTVCrdjntdg-iGhIEK286XRfg8vWH6asy7Wv5YOaMfAc6ObpPoMgxNKDl_T5ZxzQt4O3jk0knNS9sbnPy34_xDg3GL1yk/s320/star+wars.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310467904318489874" border="0" /></a>Star Wars!<br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHGyYiym1EJmdlr6aSS1oZWx6paG4jNSN9NE37t4wlVvrmuIgDh236SJEtMdtN_eZ1-wDreiVkV28AmoQW3bK5znPamLW_pan115G8SXRHf9C3UvitPDzYZoYTnZoQUh4zGMkkvUs2Hc/s1600-h/force.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHGyYiym1EJmdlr6aSS1oZWx6paG4jNSN9NE37t4wlVvrmuIgDh236SJEtMdtN_eZ1-wDreiVkV28AmoQW3bK5znPamLW_pan115G8SXRHf9C3UvitPDzYZoYTnZoQUh4zGMkkvUs2Hc/s320/force.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310467382972282418" border="0" /></a>Light Saber Duel<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Oh turned five on Thursday. Five. To all those parents who said it would go fast--a tip of the hat to you.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">On Thursday we went to El Toro "The Bull Restaurant" in Oh's lingo. On Friday we had a Star Wars Birthday Playdate Party. Fourteen of his buddies from school and his ever expanding social circle arrived with siblings and parents. Some of the girls had arranged their hair in Princess Leia type fashion.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">A word about Star Wars. We didn't let the Oh watch it until he turned five. He and his preschool buddies this past fall started playing it at recess and throughout the fall semester pieced together the basic story in tidbits gleaned from parents and siblings. By the time his birthday rolled around there was little he didn't know about the story. Plus we could always count on an extending reading session if the featured book was a Star Wars book from the bookmobile. So Thursday Happy Elf and Dewdrop were bedded early and the Oh and I watched the first half of Star Wars (note: Star Wars purists recommended starting with the original Star Wars-Episode 4: A New Hope). Above is a picture of the moment that "STAR WARS" title appeared on the screen (not light saber in the background).</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Star Wars Playdate party was great. Sugarpop and I had made light sabers from swim noodles, cut in half, and then black duct tape wrapped on one end. Then the kids could decorate their light sabers. Thank the Maker that the weather Friday was perfect--72 and sunny. The previous night's conversation went something like this:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sugarpop: So where do you think they should have their light saber duels?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Me: Hopefully the weather's great and we can be outside.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sugarpop: I was thinking if it was raining they could have light saber duels in the family room and for those who didn't want to duel we could have a scavanger hunt with stuff hidden all around the house.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Me: [slow blink]</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">It turned out to be a grand party with great weather, lots of kids, and lots of fun. Oh, but the Oh. As the party was winding down he collapsed into sobs as he didn't want it to end. But that's our Emo Oh.</span><br /><br /></span>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-25343558820383998092009-02-14T09:00:00.000-06:002009-02-14T09:52:21.733-06:00Happy Valentine's Day! -from your secret admirers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NhM4h2VsjhdPC7GiDp0C4SoIUC2eEox_IXRsvMwwlqCXH-y2yh6vOTG-ygxVlfYQrjg0f_knYs2qX4ky4eX8mMGC4x4Xc2W-mZgNJLSSrnYbyR6yT0975TPLMoR8YqKzTUWEpNKitRk/s1600-h/blog+pix.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NhM4h2VsjhdPC7GiDp0C4SoIUC2eEox_IXRsvMwwlqCXH-y2yh6vOTG-ygxVlfYQrjg0f_knYs2qX4ky4eX8mMGC4x4Xc2W-mZgNJLSSrnYbyR6yT0975TPLMoR8YqKzTUWEpNKitRk/s400/blog+pix.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302483595281955778" border="0" /></a>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-43521001407849230262008-12-09T19:54:00.002-06:002008-12-09T19:55:49.762-06:001-Word Wednesday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLlH3iP0ebnioBndzTlqhvrWEAkNXM4u0W5LltAktXEfKTEb5x6luXoe7Q2bK1SIHjNvLMshgRbgxzPwDyaovtfFdzKCu1Hlw0go9UtLkSfhy5DU_LBporby69W2FCDNQHYYnqV3WXRI/s1600-h/Snuggle.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLlH3iP0ebnioBndzTlqhvrWEAkNXM4u0W5LltAktXEfKTEb5x6luXoe7Q2bK1SIHjNvLMshgRbgxzPwDyaovtfFdzKCu1Hlw0go9UtLkSfhy5DU_LBporby69W2FCDNQHYYnqV3WXRI/s400/Snuggle.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277974109549343858" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Snuggle<br /></span></div>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-86976303366753713362008-12-07T19:46:00.006-06:002008-12-07T20:42:08.850-06:00Fully Vespered<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7WYSUtRsYDSYNclu_wSGYZPzQaYA8eN6P5D3KScukbSyfu8hf7WME0axVNmFZYOUWuhM4AlhDI5-ki8pIWVJM9D884x3-cE9H8LMsKtougJNYjfV6Z_NqWH0zOAEx4IUGmvFMsjmY2I/s1600-h/vespers"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7WYSUtRsYDSYNclu_wSGYZPzQaYA8eN6P5D3KScukbSyfu8hf7WME0axVNmFZYOUWuhM4AlhDI5-ki8pIWVJM9D884x3-cE9H8LMsKtougJNYjfV6Z_NqWH0zOAEx4IUGmvFMsjmY2I/s320/vespers" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277243364871356114" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Sugarpop went to Millikin University in Decatur. She was involved in their choir and in her four years there participated in their long running annual tradition of Holiday Vespers.<br /><br />On Saturday she took me to the 50th Anniversary of Millikin's Holiday Vespers. To say I was a not looking forward to it was an understatement. This weekend was a busy one with the Oh having three birthday parties to go to, the Santa Train at Monticello, Church, and then Sugarpop and I were to go to </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Ain't Misbehavin</span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" > at Assembly Hall.<br /><br />It was just too busy a weekend for me so to kick it off with a trip to Decatur, leaving Dewdrop with a new babysitter, just didn't light my fire.<br /><br />Of course I moaned about going for two weeks, but when the sitter was settled and we were on the road to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decatur,_Illinois">Soybean Capital of the World</a> I knew I'd enjoy some alone time with Sugarpop.<br /><br />We arrived in time for the reception and enjoyed the deli tray as well as the cookie tray. Sugarpop ran into several fellow alumni who graduated with her so she had fun catching up with them.<br /><br />Soon we were off to vespers held at the Kirkland Fine Arts Center on the Millikin campus. Our seats were decent, about midway up and towards the middle. Soon the lights dimmed and the "show" began.<br /><br />Long story short, Sugarpop wondered if I would be bored with the whole thing when in fact I was enthralled. The staging was magnificent and choir members appeared and disappeared throughout the theater. Up in the balcony, in the aisles, on stage. It was truly a beautiful site and a beautiful evening with my wife. It was an unexpected delight and one I shall want to continue as a holiday tradition.</span>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-56363207356770551372008-12-01T19:07:00.007-06:002008-12-01T20:07:52.467-06:00It's A Beautiful Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHGXnVUSDAp97QmoFkfblpBMnTgFnGhWx8o7zB2-cn5EkHW7Elz9f5urMbDcAvngM99NKY6MLFCA_Cc1yh9nWmo7xE220rLyM_Fn3cRZkU3B6RPvxTMSRMZQ-r-z3BVz5KwLvlniZh6Y/s1600-h/shovel.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHGXnVUSDAp97QmoFkfblpBMnTgFnGhWx8o7zB2-cn5EkHW7Elz9f5urMbDcAvngM99NKY6MLFCA_Cc1yh9nWmo7xE220rLyM_Fn3cRZkU3B6RPvxTMSRMZQ-r-z3BVz5KwLvlniZh6Y/s320/shovel.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274995092868964594" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The last few days the Happy Elf has greeted me each morning by saying, "Daddy! Daddy! It's a beautiful day!"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">None more true than Sunday when we awoke to a snow covered C-U. I immediately went into "storm warning" mode and was planning out how I was going to shovel the drive and walks, should I use salt?, and I needed to get over to my parents to shovel their drive.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Kudos to Sugarpop, who, with 90 minutes until she and the kids needed to be off to church, had the boys winterized and outside with me. Instead of shoveling the drive Happy Elf, the Oh, and I used our new snow shovels to shovel "roads" in the yard. We built snowmen, tromped around, and knocked snow off the branches of trees.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Did the driveway get shoveled? Eventually, but our time spent in the first snow of the season, true to Happy Elf's statement, made it a beautiful day.</span></span>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-8473770350016052752008-11-27T19:51:00.001-06:002008-11-27T19:51:57.152-06:00Macy's Thanksgiving Parade Rick Rolls the World!<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xWw46X-83xs&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xWw46X-83xs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-75331432749415450252008-11-25T21:47:00.002-06:002008-11-25T21:48:21.483-06:001-Word Wednesday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMH2rjlspwTmmsMPkAgYf1gSG7pjHXPcakivjrUQrJTkEZYKmh8nLq2icS6rj-lZi8DrVlSZ1FAMgWApgZWOTJeSmRt01J8a6_TzeBDyloAzf-0W4UTbmEQ-BnwcMVADoukAAR-OjdWo/s1600-h/bro_sis.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMH2rjlspwTmmsMPkAgYf1gSG7pjHXPcakivjrUQrJTkEZYKmh8nLq2icS6rj-lZi8DrVlSZ1FAMgWApgZWOTJeSmRt01J8a6_TzeBDyloAzf-0W4UTbmEQ-BnwcMVADoukAAR-OjdWo/s400/bro_sis.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272807913143847602" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">comfort<br /></span></div>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-13399343858563426882008-11-18T19:41:00.005-06:002008-11-18T19:50:13.214-06:001-Word Wednesday<div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mETvm9eO9bXZu90IJ5sl6zRCYLQmRZidSF1nNDJHiU8jhvognSDmq-K3mSUXEv5EeFjdjZn0KZQ5D8KC49jfmEoJ-2Wfl-9p29lL8E6oj7b13q0wTIxxD5KIkdPqGmMjSgzppclsp40/s1600-h/shots.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mETvm9eO9bXZu90IJ5sl6zRCYLQmRZidSF1nNDJHiU8jhvognSDmq-K3mSUXEv5EeFjdjZn0KZQ5D8KC49jfmEoJ-2Wfl-9p29lL8E6oj7b13q0wTIxxD5KIkdPqGmMjSgzppclsp40/s400/shots.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270179495363325106" border="0" /></a>immunizations<br /></span></div>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-82960080841729287392008-11-12T05:53:00.003-06:002008-11-12T05:55:26.012-06:001-Word Wednesday<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZptr1kuuoZcoyfDfcSlwG8hzy7_hoELXO167r4XK9VFJ3YTMcDoLvGHyWlzXH2202Ba8igPBJDjGSdlmWMsM-QXmsx4JuPqlfoi1HcTDJ3xWBxukZse_AdsyaxB1knZKTlO1ImH0xm4/s1600-h/O_Violin_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 355px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZptr1kuuoZcoyfDfcSlwG8hzy7_hoELXO167r4XK9VFJ3YTMcDoLvGHyWlzXH2202Ba8igPBJDjGSdlmWMsM-QXmsx4JuPqlfoi1HcTDJ3xWBxukZse_AdsyaxB1knZKTlO1ImH0xm4/s400/O_Violin_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267738127838886962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Itzhak</span>?</span><br /></div>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-53398827156300517802008-11-05T00:17:00.003-06:002008-11-05T00:20:01.105-06:001-Word Wednesday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypdbA2YR3xjrjBQ_hefqwNPgj2Y0sM_wtJpQWq_nEd2k9B389QtJ3TfrLEVcCbRvQIXmHgqKwFnJ1sLuANi_BKWrPdNweczcAyv16i8gB9ps3wSw8LH_9VBUSW20arxZlaBPdJHBHdrY/s1600-h/Daisy+Obama.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypdbA2YR3xjrjBQ_hefqwNPgj2Y0sM_wtJpQWq_nEd2k9B389QtJ3TfrLEVcCbRvQIXmHgqKwFnJ1sLuANi_BKWrPdNweczcAyv16i8gB9ps3wSw8LH_9VBUSW20arxZlaBPdJHBHdrY/s400/Daisy+Obama.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265053866384036722" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Change</span><br />(You can sleep through)<br /></div>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-25487869533660699142008-10-28T12:50:00.001-05:002008-10-28T20:52:06.082-05:001-Word Wednesday<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYeza4OtTubcYjQYWGYsbBaVy3cO7g-4d5kjS5XJIGSdSWRogk59erBmDDU41V256ChFCdHl9RKQOmZhrUQ3n8XkNFh7n6nz8wEzQdOkjbss_JHSkOMdpZLyhKPi-E32e-DH179raU-vE/s1600-h/illini.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYeza4OtTubcYjQYWGYsbBaVy3cO7g-4d5kjS5XJIGSdSWRogk59erBmDDU41V256ChFCdHl9RKQOmZhrUQ3n8XkNFh7n6nz8wEzQdOkjbss_JHSkOMdpZLyhKPi-E32e-DH179raU-vE/s400/illini.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262387423205555506" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >I-L-L I-N-I</span><br /></div>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-42605350712575188262008-10-21T19:34:00.004-05:002008-10-21T19:36:00.058-05:001-Word Wednesday<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfczlQi6uFFGtpw8o8fEmPe2EGuJUzprDLq5N_dtRywL4Q4wcxAcBo3YcqH7PJPhtLhcf-6gKwz-LzZF15AcM8hjSq65Q_NIEkHz61zANCzWjZUSOCYYUyI4pqlDUsmWA53_v6n01yJE/s1600-h/pumpkin_head.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfczlQi6uFFGtpw8o8fEmPe2EGuJUzprDLq5N_dtRywL4Q4wcxAcBo3YcqH7PJPhtLhcf-6gKwz-LzZF15AcM8hjSq65Q_NIEkHz61zANCzWjZUSOCYYUyI4pqlDUsmWA53_v6n01yJE/s400/pumpkin_head.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259770174067247826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">Pumpkin-head</span><br /></div>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-74262311904003886422008-10-19T20:31:00.007-05:002008-10-20T11:08:12.762-05:00Concert in Central Poop<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">As a parents of young children: the Oh (4.7), Happy Elf (2.5), and DewDrop (3 months), Sugarpop and I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking, talking, and worrying about the evacuation factories of our kids.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A typical conversation when picking up the kids from the in-laws goes something like this:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Grandma: The Oh pooped when he got home from school. And Happy Elf had a big one this morning. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Me: What about Dewdrop?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Grandma: Nothing yet today, just a few wet diapers.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">[Later]</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Sugarpop on cellphone to me: Hey, I should be home around 4:30. Did the Oh poop today?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Me: Yep and Happy Elf did too. But nothing from Dewdrop yet, but I figure after I giver her a bottle she'll blow.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Oh, after starting him on toilet-training at 2.5, was resistant to going regularly out of both ports until this summer. The #1ing came early this summer and he's had very few accidents since. The #2ing happened later in the summer over just a few days. This is after trying </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">everything</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and nothing worked. Rewards, games, cajoling, scolding, being strict, laying back, watching movies on the laptop while sitting on the throne, even resulting to suppositories up his backside and mineral oil in his apple sauce (yes we were that desperate).</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We just thought at 4+ he </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">should</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> be doing this and it seemed like he was never going to get it and then just like that [snap] he started going. No big deal. So the advice is true; they do figure it out eventually.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;">The Happy Elf at 2.5 is just starting toilet school. Of course now he has an older brother who models the correct behavior. He'll probably get it a bit sooner than the Oh just because he's more laid back about things.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;">Which brings me to Dewdrop. Today, with Sugarpop off writing her "Special Fields Exam" for her dissertation, I was home with kids for about four hours. The Oh and Happy Elf played nicely for an hour and Dewdrop and I watched the first quarter of the Bears/Vikings game. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;">It always startles me when baby's explode in their diapers. Nothing to gusher in a second flat. We had recently gone up a size in diapers for Dewdrop, but I had just diapered her with one of the old smaller size ones trying to use them up. Feeling <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Surge</span> I knew she had probably had a blowout. The stain on my white t-shirt confirmed this immediately.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;">Stripping off her church clothes I started wiping, sitting her up to see how widespread it was, I saw that she had not only breached her diaper up her back, but the poop ran all the way up to the back of her head! Bath time! Setting her in the infant tub I began a complete wash, rinse, and repeat cycle. She didn't like it and was letting me know. She has this very effective knack of crying and looking you right in the eyes, "Why are you doing this to me?" she seems to be saying.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;">The racket we were causing upstairs attracted the boys from downstairs. Deep into the task of washing poop off of my daughter's entire body I was oblivious to what the boys were doing until I realized they were right behind me as I was bent over the tub. The Oh tooting a cheap, county fair plastic horn as loud as he could and Happy Elf banging on the cymbals keeping to his own beat.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;">I laughed and loved in that moment that with kids you never know when a concert might break out and what situation you may find yourself in.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div></div>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-21298515406963600832008-10-14T21:26:00.006-05:002008-10-15T05:22:13.611-05:001-Word Wednesday<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrgiY3nAJShLk7BNOCqlid6jK0gt7NjPruaYD8nYbfpNnnTtDpygWcMNlUUms57eK9mqOa2ar4LBdx7Tlh7lqltRXV5VvSIjMQAcs97rUQ7wLgritK8AIctjGWMiIJMSrz1Uj_SvuU8g/s1600-h/buddies.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrgiY3nAJShLk7BNOCqlid6jK0gt7NjPruaYD8nYbfpNnnTtDpygWcMNlUUms57eK9mqOa2ar4LBdx7Tlh7lqltRXV5VvSIjMQAcs97rUQ7wLgritK8AIctjGWMiIJMSrz1Uj_SvuU8g/s400/buddies.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257201495944810386" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Buddies</span></span><br /></span></div>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-92178099385770502572008-10-08T06:37:00.002-05:002008-10-08T06:39:34.583-05:001-Word Wednesday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaaXfiMjY2Hku3r46MnSRNWLX2A0Pe-Byq97dPKuKOIx1LmeEgzqGK_XJU_IlEg7VTwstzOf31-Gno9Sw6c4HyusXHd5XPpnOCb9RjZNs7BB2_aGGe5L_a7EaSfXzrfCsuyhlJkB_ETQ/s1600-h/PA040110.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaaXfiMjY2Hku3r46MnSRNWLX2A0Pe-Byq97dPKuKOIx1LmeEgzqGK_XJU_IlEg7VTwstzOf31-Gno9Sw6c4HyusXHd5XPpnOCb9RjZNs7BB2_aGGe5L_a7EaSfXzrfCsuyhlJkB_ETQ/s400/PA040110.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254745979489757250" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >Livestock</span><br /></div>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-29705140360072355752008-10-01T05:34:00.001-05:002008-10-01T05:35:50.212-05:001-Word Wednesday<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8j20l1YKz6TdxOMv6ytLaRahbhl-aAhsXXTMhoz8GePdlHD1tMOdDMfIm1qekNKVjjE4CiNR60ykakq30DqrshaJp0HS8FdKxve3SpZNiGi4IMLtrcB8F6OlcR4Q7f2biAmQlZpIu3IY/s1600-h/swimmers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8j20l1YKz6TdxOMv6ytLaRahbhl-aAhsXXTMhoz8GePdlHD1tMOdDMfIm1qekNKVjjE4CiNR60ykakq30DqrshaJp0HS8FdKxve3SpZNiGi4IMLtrcB8F6OlcR4Q7f2biAmQlZpIu3IY/s400/swimmers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252132222962935490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Swimmers</span><br /></div>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-79016108751788788292008-09-23T22:14:00.002-05:002008-09-23T22:18:12.547-05:001-Word Wednesday<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcieC3LMHOaxfRjfRg6IgjhOX2U5ME-_uP6DYh60Aanz-swygilrjaUFTQ7ddMHIZcnNfQLamdCmBM9B0rZeMUxCADOfkJsBOp9FASQD2sDjL0ZGYh87Iy8dRJXG1MJE2NESk-gJDCm8/s1600-h/bath.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcieC3LMHOaxfRjfRg6IgjhOX2U5ME-_uP6DYh60Aanz-swygilrjaUFTQ7ddMHIZcnNfQLamdCmBM9B0rZeMUxCADOfkJsBOp9FASQD2sDjL0ZGYh87Iy8dRJXG1MJE2NESk-gJDCm8/s400/bath.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249421835224026866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Bath<br /></span></div>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499303276414933575.post-14047389606081242802008-09-21T19:28:00.008-05:002008-09-21T19:45:22.678-05:00A Sunday Prayer (Apologies in Advance to Vegetarians)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Sugarpop took the Oh, Happy Elf, and Dewdrop to church as she does every Sunday. I stay home and clean house as it is the only time of the week that one of us has time alone in the house.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The Oh, and this year the Happy Elf, attend Sunday School. All youth gather for songs and prayers before breaking off into their classes. The Sunday School leader asked if anyone had any prayers they wanted to say. The Oh raised his hand and stepped forward. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Closing his eyes tight and grasping his hands he offered forth this prayer:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"Dear God,</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Thank you for all the animals.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">And please send some more animals for us to eat.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Amen"</span></span></span></div>The Every Day Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436326639138564683noreply@blogger.com0