Category: Uncategorized

By far the biggest haul we’ve gotten in Austin

Sometimes we put on the White Stripes and just jump.

Dad outdid himself here, and Annie agrees.

Pig roast VI approaches! I brewed another batch of Pig Roast Pale to accompany the meat. Single hop Citra this time.

You could bottle and sell this. (They’re watching the scene in Bambi where they’re slipping on the ice)

You could bottle and sell this I swear. (They’re watching the slipping on ice scene from Bambi)

The lease ran out on the 2016 Kia Soul EV so I bought my third car today: a 2019 Chevy Bolt in “shock” yellow. I call it The Tennis Ball.

Paul and Annie can both climb out of their cribs now. Annie can climb in, but not Paul. So this morning at 5:30 when they both got out of bed and turned on their bedroom light, we knew it was the end of an era.

We’d got them an “OK to wake” clock that turns green when it’s time to get up, but they insisted they could wait two hours for it sitting in their room. I insisted they get back in bed, and we had a fun standoff in the bedroom during the time of morning I usually sip coffee and do the crossword.

After some daylight deliberation the family security council we unanimously passed a resolution to take the plunge and convert both kids to toddler beds.

We’re doomed.

Leslie was traveling yesterday during Paul’s month day, so I offered to do a guest post covering it! So, here goes…

To Paul: this is how you spent the day you turned 2 years and 3 months old.

There are no pictures of this day at all, because I didn’t remember it was your month day and I was solo dadding and usually had both hands full of childern and their supplies.

You woke up around 7 but were peaceful enough that I could ignore you in your crib while I prepared “express breakfast cups,” which is our system for getting kids out the door quickly by placing fruit, toast, and a vitamin in the cups in your car seats before you even rise. So around 7:30, I plunged myself into the kids room with the task of getting clothes on everyone and out to the car on our coldest morning of the year so far (low 40s).

Annie was unusually helpful and so took herself to the bathroom while I got your diaper on and failed to convince you that pants and a jacket would be a good idea.

I toted you both downstairs with the crooks of my arms full of clothes, whisked you to the car pantless, and there convinced you to get the rest of your clothes on while you stuffed your face with grapes.

Dropoff at school went smoothly; you insisted on two hugs each from me and Annie, and a kiss (right on the lips) from Annie as well. Then you went to play with the rice tubs.

At pickup, you claimed that you played with “da fie-tuk, and da udda fie-tuk” when I asked if you played with friends. You have been mentioning friends a bit more in these conversations, but not today.

We drove to Doug and Kalia’s house to have pizza dinner there. Pizza was a great motivator and mood lightener. Traffic was light because it was the day after Veterans day. You were intensely curious about our unusual route “why we go dat way? why we not go dat way?” and very eager to open your window “peas open mah weendo,” but I refused this request because it was chilly.

At Doug’s, you romped with Eleanor on the bed, leaping off onto a comforter and bonking your head a couple of times. You gamely ate the top off a slice of pineapple+bacon (not Canadian) pizza at the kid’s table while I chatted with Doug and Phil (in town for work).

Around 7, I rounded you up and stuck you back in the car. We fed a very patient Sous and I prepared for bed while you and your sister started to unravel. Because it had been since Saturday (and Annie still had lollipop in her hair), we really needed to do a bath, and you actually made it pretty easy on me.

Afterward, you screamed on the ground in protest of the fact that I read the book Annie selected first (A House That Once Was), but I talked you down and got you back in my lap for Peekaboo Barn, your selection. Good spirits prevailed as I put you down to sleep.