Deeper and Deeper...

So, over the Veterans Day weekend, some more estrogen was added to the pool. I met my sister Kim, her daughter Melina, my step-mom Debbie, and my soon to be sister-in-law Sara. These new arrivals will add even more new dimensions to my already vast array of testosterone laced goofs.

The good news is that I met Kim's boyfriend/Melina's dad Kirk, and Sara's fiance (my brother!!!) Brian as well. So, hooray for me. While the pool just got a little deeper, I also have a couple of new testosterone based life preservers!

Just A Little MORE Understanding, Please...

If you missed it, here is the first installment of my lack of understanding.
This is a continuation of the following Google+ post:

In high school, I was really good friends with my best friends sister. And not just because I was passionately in love with her (which I denied every five seconds!), but because we understood each other. I still have friends who are girls/women, and all of those friendships are purely platonic. But we're still great friends.

Of the myriad of jobs that I've had, more of my managers have been women. I have found all of them to be excellent leaders and great managers to work for!

I have always worked well alongside my female colleagues in the workplace. I have found all of them to be competent and just as dedicated as I like to think I am!

Why is it then that I just DO NOT get my wife and oldest daughter sometimes?! It's like we all speak some sort of alien gibberish at each other.

This is really troubling to me, now that Audrey is a full-fledged "tween". I don't want to be the dad who doesn't "get" my kid. At the same time, I don't want to be that husband who cannot communicate with his wife.

To Audrey...

Ten years have come and gone so fast! I remember bringing you home; you were so tiny. I can picture everything we've done together since then. Your first smile, tooth, step, fall, skinned knee, split lip, soccer goal, softball hit, report card, drawing, word, hug, and kiss are all lovingly etched in my brain. Today you are  more than a kid. Now you're a young lady, but you'll always be my little girl!!
As I think on what the next ten years will bring, I can't help but feel they will be exciting! I look forward to makeup, junior high school, driving (ok, not so much), high school, boyfriends (ok, not really at all!) and college.
I hope that you will always remember how much your mom and I love you, how proud we are of you, and how much you mean to all of us.

Ēadiġ ġebyrddæġ Sweetheart!

Look, Dad...TAN LINES!!!...

Ah, Summer. A time for pools, bikes, BBQs, and sunshine.
It sure seems as if my girls live at the pool. We have lots of friends who enjoy taking Jen and the girls to their pools, and Jen loves taking the girls to local public pools. Its a great way to keep them from staring at the idiot box, or the iPod/Kindle Fire, for countless hours.
Jen is extremely careful to slather sunscreen all over our kids. But when you're at the pool as much as they are, you're going to get some color. For those of you not aware, I am as pasty pale white as they come. I burn, peel, and turn white again. My arms are only slightly less white that the rest of me due to 40+ years of exposure, not because I tan well.
Last week, Claire came racing up the stairs from their latest trip to a watery paradise with exciting news for me. She and Audrey yanked down their swimsuits and said, "Look at us dad, we have tan lines again! Aren't they great?!?". I said yes, and went to go start the bath. Claire then came in and said, "Dad, you should get a tan too. Then you'd be pretty, just like us!".

Tempting, but I think I'll pass!

A Trip To The Attic...

Recently, Jen decided that Claire and Bridget needed an update to their wardrobes. With "Sprimmer" here, each will need clothes that are a little more comfortable for the warmer temperatures. The fact that it snowed and rained and was 20 or so degrees colder than the previous days when we started this adventure is irrelevant.
So while I'm up in the attic, my feet dangling from the in-ceiling access hatch, Claire decided she wanted to come up with me. She climbed the ladder like the little trooper she is and got to the top step...and FROZE! After 10 or 15 minutes (ok, probably not THAT long, but it sure seemed like it!) of coaxing her to reach up with both hands for me to grab her, she chose to skip the fun in the attic and concentrate on the new batch of jeans, shorts, and T-shirts being plucked from the bins. Bridget had already pulled out a myriad of items that were, seemingly, very fun to play with (and chew on, in the case of the shoes!).

Poor Audrey however found out the hard way that she was exempt from all this apparent fun. In the middle of the event she asked Jen if she were getting some new outfits from the attic as well. Jen's reply was, "No. These are all YOUR old clothes!" A dejected Audrey sulked away, embittered by the fact that she's the oldest and can only "get new clothes". HUMPH!

There's a Monster in our House...

There has to be. That's the only thing that can explain what's been going on.

It all started about a year ago (actually, about six years ago!). Someone started taking a very interesting item from hour house; TOILET PAPER! I can buy a 12 roll pack on Monday, and be back at the store on Friday buying more. I've never seen this TP monster, but I'm sure he exists.

The only other explanation I can come up with is this:

Girls use a LOT of TP!

I prefer the monster theory. I mean after all, if I eliminate the impossible, whatever remains - however improbable - must be the truth, right? So, since three girls CAN'T possibly use this much TP in such a short amount of time, there just HAS to be a TP monster loose, right? If they do, what will happen when Bridget is potty trained?

Maybe a call to the TV show Monster Quest is in order.

To Bridget...

Exactly one year ago today, you came into our lives with little fanfare, but greatly anticipated. For the past 365 days, I have cherished every moment I've spent with you. Although I whine and complain when you wake up at 2:30 in the morning, I secretly rejoice because I get to spend four or five hours with you all alone, just you and me! I have loved every cry, laugh, snort, sneeze, spit up, bath, diaper (well ok, maybe not love the diapers), and mess. I look forward to whatever you have in store for me in the future.

As of today, you are no longer an infant, or even a baby. Today you're a little girl. But, you'll always be my baby! I hope that today brings you much happiness, many joys, and a lifetime of memories. I hope you never forget how much your mom, Audrey, Claire, and I all love you!

Breithlá shona duit Baby Girl!

STILL Halftime At Our House

For those of you who don't know or aren't aware, my wife rocks. Evidence for this is the fact that we all watched the Super (DUD) Bowl on Sunday. We had a great spread and lots of fun. Even Bridget had a good time (I am of course making a HUGE assumption there, since she can't tell me either way!). However, the main reason for our Super Party was the halftime show.
Now, as a teenager, I had the requisite Madonna poster in my room. I liked (secretly) some songs back then, and I continue to like (a little less secretly) some of her songs now.
When the halftime show started, I was watching just as eagerly as Audrey and Jen were. However, I was not prepared to watch the whole thing 5 times. The best part was watching Audrey and Claire dance the whole time to every song!
Sadly though, it is still halftime for us. Audrey watches the halftime show on youtube at least 10 times a night. She and Claire sing "Give Me All Your Luvin'" and "Vogue" constantly while Bridget sits on the floor and "dances" and claps.

Ironically, they are more entertaining than the actual game was.

Corporate America, part 2...

For those of you who missed part 1, click here.
One of the myriad of things Claire wanted for Christmas was a new laptop. The one she had before (and gave to Bridget) only played songs and flashed lights. Jen found one that will help her learn things while being a little more grown up (it came with a mouse!).
Last Tuesday, while enjoying a four-day weekend, er I mean; while I was working from home, Claire was playing with the laptop. While sitting down watching Bridget do something nine-month oldish, I called over to Claire to have her come watch. Claire's reply? "Hold on dad, I need to send this email first"!

SOBERING, isn't it Rick????
Why, yes conscience, it is!