Music that doesn't suck

If you are new to the blog and are wondering why I keep posting with the same title start here.

I saw J Roddy Walston and the Business (one of my all time favorite names) at Lollapalooza 2 years ago at 12:30 in the afternoon.  No expectations at all and they rocked.  The lead singer has a little bit of Jerry Lee Lewis in him.  Enjoy:

Day 1 is in the books

And I survived...or should I say my kids survived.

I wrote about my New Reality a couple weeks ago and today was the first day of it.  I lost a child for a couple minutes at the Museum of Science and Industry but besides that I would have to say it went pretty well.  I know that there will be rough days but if most are like this I think it will turn out ok.

We started the morning heading to the aforementioned MSI.  The one thing I forgot is that we are in prime Spring Break time.  The museum was packed.  I try and avoid the museums on weekends and this was probably worse than that.  We were already there and the kids were excited so in we went.  We are members of the museum (highly recommend to join one you go to often, usually pays itself off in a couple visits) and sometimes I will just take EJ so she knows what she wants to see.  M loved everything especially the trains and airplanes.  EJ though was especially excited today and was running from exhibit to exhibit with me trying to keep up.  We got to an area where it was a little quieter so I let M get out of the stroller and walk around.  After a couple minutes EJ decided that she wanted to go somewhere else and took off before I could stop her.  Grabbing M and pulling the stroller I chased after but between the time she took off and me wrangling everything for my pursuit a school group started in the same direction.  No sign of EJ...damn(small panic)...keep walking...nope(getting worse)...head back...$#!%...deep breath...look around...standing in the corner is EJ...WHEW!  EJ was a little shook up when I found her so we talked about her running off and how she should stay close and she was great the rest of the day.  Just writing about it now has my heart rate going up.  To end our visit we went to the OMNIMAX for a movie about space junk (EJ picked it).  It was interesting to me.  EJ loved it. M? He fell asleep.  Tickets are part of the membership (another bonus) so it was a no risk event.

M & EJ love airplanes

Next stop home for some lunch (pb&j), naps and a little break for me to get some "adult" stuff done, or so I thought...M went down no problem.  EJ, on the other hand, is finally(?) moving on from needing naps every day and she did not want to sleep. Coloring, board games and hide and seek kept us busy until it was time to make dinner and the return home of my wife.

Overall we had a great day and I am looking forward to doing it again.

Tractors are a must see

Kids & restaurants

Since we had our first kid, EJ, 3.5 years ago we have gone out to restaurants with our kids.  Saturday I was out with M at a sports bar/restaurant having lunch and watching the NCAA Tournament (or "shoot" as M calls it) and a couple sat down next to me.  M was behaving like he usually does but the woman leaned over and said to me "I don't know how you do it".  I asked her what she was talking about since it could have been a few things and she responded "I mean isn't it tough bringing your kid to a restaurant?"  I told her I had never thought about it since we have always taken our kids to restaurants.  Now that I am home I have had time to think about it...I still don't know what the big deal is but I can try and explain the way my wife and I handle going out with our kids.

1.  Go early - There are usually only other families out when you go at 5pm.  If you want to go out later like 7 or 8...get a babysitter.

2.  Bring snacks/stuff to do - Kids are most likely to melt down between the time you sit down and when the food comes.  Snacks/stuff to do counter the boredom that can take place during that time.

3.  Order quickly - Like to look over the menu for a long time?  Make sure at least you are ordering something for your kids ASAP.  Fruit cups are great to order when you order your drinks.

4.  Be ready to go - You never know when the kids are going to act up.  If they do, leave. We have only had to do this once.  It happens, deal with it and move on.  Orders can be taken to go.

5.  Practice makes perfect - Well, not exactly but the more you take your kids to restaurants the more comfortable they are with it and the easier it gets.  I am not advocating going out every day or every week but don't avoid taking them out either.

6.  Pick the right restaurant -  Fine dining with little ones is probably not the best option but you don't have to eat fast food either.  If in doubt about a place check out their website, yelp or call.

These are just a few tips but probably the most important tip is to remain calm, your kids feed off of you.

TV's showing basketball helped here.

Day in the life in photos

It was me and EJ most of the day and I've seen other blogs do this so here's my take.

8 am - It's cold outside so we start the day with a little indoor scootering and playing board games

10:30 am - Little hipster getting ready to head to the library

11:45 am - Dad forgot to take a picture inside the library so one outside has to do

12 pm - Lunch date (mom responsible for hair)

1:45 pm - Gymnastics

4 pm - Heading to Costco with Mom & Dad

6 pm - Dinner time.  Little man would only eat yogurt .

7:30 pm - Mommy reading some books after tubby and before bed

8 pm - Someone is feeling a little left out

8:30 pm - Finally able to catch some of the tourney

Music that doesn't suck

This week's edition comes from a cool moment at Vanderbilt University.  Billy Joel was there doing a Q&A and this comes out of it.  Enjoy...

Call me Dad...Let's Leave Mr. Mom in the 80's

I am pretty ok with what people call me, either my full name or a shortened version.  I have had nicknames growing up that while not completely thrilled with them it wasn't that bad and I would go along with whatever it was at the time.  There is one name that I have been called that I do take offense to though, Mr. Mom.

I am not babysitting the kids, they are mine and I am spending time with them.  I am the primary-ish caregiver for our kids but I am not a mom, I am a DAD, DADDY or FATHER.  Mr. Mom was a movie made in 1983, its 2013.  Attitudes and opinions have changed dramatically in various ways over the past 30 years but for some reason calling someone Mr. Mom is still ok.  If the stereotype that women shouldn't be working and be home with the kids is gone then why does the stereotype of men taking care of their kids/house still exist?  I have done laundry, cleaned and cooked long before I became a stay at home dad.  Don't get me wrong, I loved the movie "Mr. Mom" growing up, I always wanted to be a part of the office olympics in the movie (besides the part where he throws it in the end, I would totally go for the win).  I chose this life because I love my kids, enjoy spending time with them and I am lucky enough to have a wife that has a great job/career.

When you see a dad out with his kids don't wonder when the mom is going to show up, in many instances they won't.  We(dads) are capable of taking care of our kids just as well as our counterparts in this crazy trip.  

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The in-laws are coming to town this weekend. I am lucky (or so I'm told) that I have a good relationship with them. Not that I can say anything different since they might read this...No really they are great and more importantly they are great with the kids.  The whole reason they are coming is because my father-in-law's birthday is this weekend and what he wanted was to see the kids.

My in-laws are not Irish but are obsessed with Ireland and everything Irish so we are taking the kids and going to the Irish Cultural Center on Saturday for a family St. Patricks day festival. It should be interesting as the cultural center was highlighted on Conan's show when he did a week run here and Conan counted all the bars in the former school building (6!).  Since my first experience with Gaelic football went so well maybe I can find a team to join while I'm there.

Since I have left out pictures on the last post here are a couple with a little holiday flavor.  Have a safe and happy St. Patrick's day!

M is obsessed with playing ball...

...and sucking his thumb