Off to San Diego

Well we are heading to San Diego today to see my Sister-in-Law and her husband. Perfect time for us to go since the weather here sucks. On the trip we are driving up to Disney for a day to check it out. I've never been to Disneyland so it should interesting at least. EJ is really excited to go M can only say "mick mow" when he sees Mickey so it will be fun to see their reactions when we get there. Travelling with kids is always a challenge so I am sure there will be some stories from that alone.

On another note we got our city water meter today!!! Is it weird that I am so excited for it? The guys that installed it were in and out in no time (insert bad joke here?) and we should instantly save money on our water bill (man I sound old).

Don't worry I will be checking in from the trip so you don't miss me too much...ahem.

Music that doesn't suck

So this will be something regular on the blog.  I love listening to music and try and avoid listening to the annoying garbage catchy kids songs and most pop music.  I have made it my goal to have my kids listen to/like "normal music" at least partially for my sanity.  Right now my son loves The Black Keys and my daughter Mumford & Sons and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros...I couldn't be prouder.  

I tend to become obsessed with bands for a stretch and then move on.  This is not one of those bands.  Thanks to my sister and now brother in law for introducing me to The Avett Brothers a few years ago.  I haven't stopped listening to them and I don't know if I ever will.  I am sure this won't be the last performance from them that I will post.  This is actually a cover of a Bob Dylan song that isn't the happiest song in the world but the first :45 with his daughter is great. Oh, and the song is pretty good too.  Enjoy...

Slow Motion

So for anyone that doesn't have kids and is for some reason reading this you might want to stop.  I don't want to scare you.

Good now that we got rid of them...kids are the slowest things ever.  My daughter has mastered the art of pretending to get ready and not actually doing anything.  Here is a sample of a trip that should have taken me literally 5 minutes:

Me (to wife)- I am running to the grocery (at the end of the street, I love living in the city) to pick up a couple things.

EJ - Can I come?

Wife - (glares at me to make sure I know that saying no is out of the question)

Me - Sure, Great!  Ok EJ pick out your shoes and get your coat on.  (She is 3.5 and very independent, I can't help)  

I get my coat/shoes on.  EJ is standing right by the door looking at me, falls down.

Me - EJ what are you doing?  Do you need help?

EJ - I CAN DO IT MY SELF!

Me (thinking) - I am so glad she can do things by herself now

EJ - (Still looking at me)

Me - EJ here are your shoes and coat, please put them on

EJ - I don't want to wear those shoes Daddy

Me - Pick out your shoes then (Sighs)

EJ - Why did you make that sound Daddy?

Me - Because I could have been to the store and back by now (glared at by wife)

That is just getting ready.  Once we get to the store it is another 10 minutes of slow motion walking around the store since we can't go in the cart unless it is a car cart.  Our store has 2 of them, I think, but they are always in use or broken.  After walk home total time from statement of me going to the store to us being back in the house - 25 minutes.  

I sometimes wish my kids were like the girl from "Small Wonder"  and I could push fast forward on them.  Now that would be sweet.

Let's see where this goes

I am a 36 year old father of 2 kids EJ (girl) 3.5 and M (boy) 1.5.  We live IN Chicago and have no desire to move to the burbs.  I am not an English major/professional writer so forgive me in advance for my writing and really if you don't like it don't read.  I am thinking right now this will be mostly about the kids and me/my wife navigating this process.  If you like it, great...if you don't, why are you still here.

Kids

M not moving

EJ looking at the camera for once

Yes those are my kids...I know, they are the cutest kids you have ever seen.

My parents did a great job raising me and my 2 sisters so my only hope is I can come somewhat close to what they did for us.  If I can do that I will be successful.  I guess this is kind of the intro...let's see what happens next.