Come on Jimmy, enough with the snow!

We had a bunch of snow come through the cities over the last 48 hours and hopefully it is done. The good news was that it seemed to be pretty light and fluffly ... unless of course it's the stuff that the snowplow deposits at the end of the driveway after the snow has been in the street for eight hours or so.

The snow piles are roughly up to my chest right now, so backing out of the driveway would be an adventure in a sedan - good thing we have a minivan and a mid-sized/small SUV :)

Word is that we shouldn't expect too much more snow (thank goodness!). But it actually hasn't been too bad. At least we haven't had to travel too far. I'm thinking that Mother Nature is giving us the last winter weeks in a furry so that when spring comes early (like Jimmy the Groundhog predicted), we'll really be ready to enjoy it :)

I'd love to say I'm perfect ... but ...

I'm not. I can say this because my wife has been out of town for 10 of the last 14 days. Now, before anyone gets any ideas, I say I'm not perfect because I yell at my kids. They yell first most of the time, but hey, we all have a little Italian blood in us, so we have a little spirit :)

The kids run this house. I may act like I do, but, for the most part, they don't understand that they can't always have what they want. Mostly my daughter just asks for something from me every five minutes, or waits until I'm on the phone or in the middle of doing three things at once before she asks me a really polite question ... and then asks it again ... and again ... and again until she's basically yelling at me :) No, really.

My son, on the other hand, has a really nice case of the "poor me"s. Yes, if he doesn't get what he wants, he whines or stomps away or says, "There's nothing to do!" or "I never get what I want." Which all really makes me laugh ... most of the time. Every once in a while I lose my temper and they get yelled at to go to their rooms. Mostly because the first three times I try to get them to behave by a) talking nicely with them, b) offering GREAT options for alternatives, and c) bribing them; they do nothing but continue to whine. So, I have to ask them to go to their rooms. Then I TELL them to go to their rooms. Then I YELL and SCARE them into going to their rooms. Which always gets my son to calm down (or at leat most of the time). And usually gets my daughter to ask for some water and then ask if she can get out of her room 5 minutes later :)

No, really, they love me. Honest they do. And I don't yell that much. But at least three times in the last two weeks. Thank heavens my wife is coming home. Yes, I need the break at night when she puts them to bed. Yes, I need to not have to do dishes EVERY night after dinner. Yes, I need to be able to have time off. This stay-at-home-dad thing is a gem. I love doing it. But ... I need help. Thankfully, I have a wonderful, loving wife ... and she's coming home tonight.

Those two wonderful faces you see below. Yeah, those are my kids back when each of them was less than one year old. And I love 'em to death. I should mention that they behaved perfectly at the swim and dive meet the other night. And that they have done a great job the last three nights of going to bed without arguing. And that they are doing really well in kindergarten and pre-school. And that they swim. And that my son is doing after school chess and after school lego club. And that they really are two little blessings.

Does anyone know these two? :)

Tomorrow is Groundhog Day ...

... and most people around the US don't even know where the "Groundhog Capital of the World" is. Phil may get the most exposure, but the legitimate groundhog prognosticator resides in southern Wisconsin.

Jimmy is ready to make his prediction and I'm thinking we might just have a LONGER winter this year. (Not that that is what I want!)

Sun Prairie, Wisconsin is truly the only Groundhog Capital of the World recognized by this BadgerCub. Sun Prairie has records dating to Colonel Angell back in 1889, siting his use of "Old B" the groundhog to "take for granted that winter is not half over." Even congressional records show men of high standing arguing about the legitimacy of other "whistle pigs." In 1952, Sun Prairie proclaimed itself "Groundhog Capital of the World" and to this day, I think nothing less than that. I hope Jimmy (VIII) the Groundhog stays warm Tuesday morning and I truly hope the sun does NOT shine, but whether the sun shines or not ...

HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY, EVERYONE!

by the way, in case you're wondering, http://www.groundhogsday.com/groundhogcentral.php displays just about every groundhog in North America ... and next to Jimmy's link it says ...

"Jimmy the Groundhog (Sun Prairie, Wisconsin) Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, the true Groundhog Capital of the World."

Gap-toothed grinner!

This has been the week for teeth! My son had his "regular" dentist appointment last Thursday, but needed to have two "problems" (cavities in his already filled teeth?) taken care of, so we scheduled for Tuesday morning. The person who scheduled this should have told me, because ... wait, that was me. Anyway, I forgot and thankfully my phone "reminded" me on Tuesday morning. We were only 10 minutes late - which was okay since we called and they said that it was okay :) He did awesome.


Meanwhile, I had my "tech appointment" to get ready for braces going on in March. So, you know: x-rays; 360 degree x-rays; pictures with a digital camera from every angle - mouth closed, mouth stretched open with plastic tools; wax bite; and the most fun - molds! - one each of top and bottom. While I managed to make a complete mess of these when I first got braces in 4th grade (can you say "quick gag reflex" and involuntary vomitting?), I managed to relax, concentrate and breath through my nose this time. Voila! Manageable experience ... We'll see how the actual braces treat me. Mark March 11th on your calendars :) New smile.


Tonight! My son and I were in his bed reading about the Philadelphia Eagles in a book he brought home, when he expressed the fact that one of his teeth was REALLY loose. I wiggled it a little and realized it was ready to come out. So, I got the cold glass of water and we went into the bathroom. After several wiggle, rinse, wingle sequences, I asked HIM to wiggle it - and then I finally got it to come out. Success! Now, hopefully the permanent teeth decide to come in straight so that he doesn't have to do the molds like Daddy just did :) ... but, don't bet on it.

Only 8 weeks until baseball season!

Looking outside here in the Twin Cities, you could never tell, but it's really less than two months until the bats and balls come out for good and we get going on another high school baseball season. I'm anxious. Glad that the Vikings lost - so that I don't have to hear about the "Greatest Team on Earth" like I have been all year - or at least since #4 signed and started playing. Hope he (Brett) retires for good now - as one of the greatest QB (and football players) of all time.

My son joined me in rooting for the Saints last night. (And his purple #4 t-shirt with "FAVRE" across the top remained in his closet) He has his first after-school class (community ed class) today. Extreme Legos: Wheels and Axels. Should be cool. Chess starts next week for him.

Went and saw my cousin play softball yesterday ... yes, I said that right :) Inside a dome/bubble. It got me more anxious for spring and baseball. The kids had a blast with my aunt and uncle and cousin. Just another reason for wishing we lived closer to everybody in Wisconsin sometimes :)

I should be running on the treadmill or working out in some other fashion, but instead I sit at the computer updating the blog. Oh well. Life is too short not to be doing what you WANT to be doing first ... unless, of course, you HAVE to do something. Right now, running doesn't fit into EITHER of those categories :)

8 Days 'til Groundhog Day! Everybody ready! :)

My daughter's "new look" bedroom ... kind of :)

Put up her name in white letters about her closet, magnetic butterflies attach to tacks on her wall around her mirror, her cross back up between her windows, and a nice "art wire" (with her art already, of course) above her bed. Fun. (More importantly ... finally done!)