You might think it's too early to put up the Christmas decorations, but this Saturday was the perfect time for me. Why? Because I was already out in the yard taking down the Halloween decorations, and I'm not crazy enough to sign up for Thanksgiving decorations. Next thing you know I'll have to put up Memorial Day decorations and Columbus Day decorations. Don't we have enough days we have to put out a specific themed tablecloth and towels for?
I am all about efficiency, and if I'm out on the ladder taking down a bunch of pumpkin shaped lights, theres no reason not to put out a few candy caned shaped ones at the same time, right? And the brilliance of that system is, it was pretty good weather this saturday. The worst part about Christmas decorations is the wet, cold, miserable weather you have to endure while doing it, always picturing the ambulance ride after you slip on the icy ladder. And picturing the 500 dollar deductable attached to it.
So we put them up. The kids helped me, and did a great job at it. The littlest only broke 4 bulbs, the new 5 year old only choked one other person with a cord of lights, and the two girls did a great job when I asked them to wrap the rope lights around the fence posts. Of course, they wrapped all the rope lights around only one fence post, but I didn't specify the quantity of posts to light up, so I think they did a great job.
It's fun for the kids to help you out with those sorts of things, and a test of your patience besides. I got a B- this weekend on my patience test, and I think that's pretty darn good.
But, they'll remember those things forever. Just think about when you're old, and they're tellilng stories about their childhood. If you don't pay in memories now, it's going to be hell in the old folks home later. Remember that.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Gardening is over
I finished pulling up the garden this past weekend. It was a long process, but I'm glad it's done. The kids helped me, mostly by picking the tomatoes off of the plants beforehand. What I love is how willing and eager they are to help! I know it won't be like that forever, but that's certainly a good thing about this age.
Every age I think has certain positives and negatives. For instance, newborn babies are WAY too fragile. Negative. But their cry is so small and cute, it doesn't make you want to hit things. Positive. Konner is still in diapers right now. Negative. But he's hilarious to watch. Even when he's just walking somewhere, he does it with a certain awkwardness and style that is just funny. Instant entertainment. Positive.
The girls are especially positive now, because they are becoming real people. They can help set the dinner table, take out the trash, do the laundry and the dishes...pretty much everything at this point. They're like actual productive members of the family. Last weekend they did all the laundry, clearned up the backyard, and helped me peel apples for freezing. They watch their brother when he's downstairs, they pick up dog poop - and they can talk and understand things that are a little above a 5 year old.
Not too long ago Keith was playing with his mashed potatoes at the dinner table, swirling and plumping them and whispering strange things to himself. All I had to do was give a glance to Kassy and we both just kindof smirked and raised our eyebrows. We didn't have to say anything - it was all understood. He's weird. And it's nice to have that connection with my kids.
I wonder what the positives and negatives at my age would be? They'd probably say "surly and tired - negative." But, "loves his kids - positive."
Every age I think has certain positives and negatives. For instance, newborn babies are WAY too fragile. Negative. But their cry is so small and cute, it doesn't make you want to hit things. Positive. Konner is still in diapers right now. Negative. But he's hilarious to watch. Even when he's just walking somewhere, he does it with a certain awkwardness and style that is just funny. Instant entertainment. Positive.
The girls are especially positive now, because they are becoming real people. They can help set the dinner table, take out the trash, do the laundry and the dishes...pretty much everything at this point. They're like actual productive members of the family. Last weekend they did all the laundry, clearned up the backyard, and helped me peel apples for freezing. They watch their brother when he's downstairs, they pick up dog poop - and they can talk and understand things that are a little above a 5 year old.
Not too long ago Keith was playing with his mashed potatoes at the dinner table, swirling and plumping them and whispering strange things to himself. All I had to do was give a glance to Kassy and we both just kindof smirked and raised our eyebrows. We didn't have to say anything - it was all understood. He's weird. And it's nice to have that connection with my kids.
I wonder what the positives and negatives at my age would be? They'd probably say "surly and tired - negative." But, "loves his kids - positive."
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Garden - the early days
Lately I’ve taken up gardening. I’m not a big “plant guy” or always had a “green thumb”, but I feel like growing your own food seems like a pretty basic and important life skill, so I want to go for it. Not only do I think it is important for me to know how to do that, but it’s important for me to know so I can teach my kids how to do it as well, not only in words but just in practice. They see me do it, they think “if dad does it, it must be important”, so later in life they feel it is important too. It’s a little daunting to think that my actions today influence their whole world view tomorrow. But that’s why I’m growing the garden!
I started the garden in April. I got some growing lights, and some seed germination tray things (more on those later) and ordered the seeds around February or March (I was determined to get a head start this year). It worked like a charm at first. The kids helped me put the seeds in, and I followed the books to see which ones I should plant inside first, and which are not so good at planting inside (carrots, for instance, they said don’t replant very well. Considering they’re all about the root, I guess that makes sense).
Then we waited. And waited a little more. The little seed leaves came up first, and then some true leaves. I showed the kids and it was a great little learning experience. But then something happened. Nothing else happened. They stopped with the first or second set of true leaves, and wouldn’t really do much more.
My theory on what went wrong goes a little something like this: natural is always better. Just like genetically modified foods and factory made things, even “studio” made carbon copy movies – anything made without any heart and soul, not using the earth and natural materials, anything made in a “factory” is destined to not be as great. I want homegrown – like I want my kids to turn out. Not sickly fluorescent light pale city kids. I want tanned and lean country kids. Kids who grow up in the sunshine by the creek skipping rocks and catching toads.
My plants did all right. Some of them died, but some of them lived. The point was they were just a little weak. Just a little pale. Just a fluorescent light copy of what would grow in the sunshine. And if I had to do that again I would be okay, but now I see that sometimes you can’t put a price – or a timeline – on nature.
If I had it to do again I would have used the sunlight near the windows more, or utilized a greenhouse after the true leaves sprouted. That might have been the solar power those plants really needed! :)
I started the garden in April. I got some growing lights, and some seed germination tray things (more on those later) and ordered the seeds around February or March (I was determined to get a head start this year). It worked like a charm at first. The kids helped me put the seeds in, and I followed the books to see which ones I should plant inside first, and which are not so good at planting inside (carrots, for instance, they said don’t replant very well. Considering they’re all about the root, I guess that makes sense).
Then we waited. And waited a little more. The little seed leaves came up first, and then some true leaves. I showed the kids and it was a great little learning experience. But then something happened. Nothing else happened. They stopped with the first or second set of true leaves, and wouldn’t really do much more.
My theory on what went wrong goes a little something like this: natural is always better. Just like genetically modified foods and factory made things, even “studio” made carbon copy movies – anything made without any heart and soul, not using the earth and natural materials, anything made in a “factory” is destined to not be as great. I want homegrown – like I want my kids to turn out. Not sickly fluorescent light pale city kids. I want tanned and lean country kids. Kids who grow up in the sunshine by the creek skipping rocks and catching toads.
My plants did all right. Some of them died, but some of them lived. The point was they were just a little weak. Just a little pale. Just a fluorescent light copy of what would grow in the sunshine. And if I had to do that again I would be okay, but now I see that sometimes you can’t put a price – or a timeline – on nature.
If I had it to do again I would have used the sunlight near the windows more, or utilized a greenhouse after the true leaves sprouted. That might have been the solar power those plants really needed! :)
Saturday, May 1, 2010
MTV got me feeling SAD
Doing what I know I shouldn't – surfing the web looking at random stuff that doesn't help me culturally or intellectually – it occurs to me how far we've fallen from where we started. I'm looking around for music on itunes or videos on MTV or CMT and it's amazing how little I can share with my 8 year old daughters.
My daughters – one in particular – love music. I love to share music with them. There's great music out there. Good dance music. But I watch the videos and it's a little shocking. Most of you probably say "yea, that's a no brainer", but these are so far gone beyond even the Madonna and Salt-n-Peppa videos that were so racy back when I was in High School. First it was the Doors saying "Light my Fire" and Elvis' hips, then it was Madonna in a bra. It's kept traveling downhill and I don't know how much farther it can go.
In the end, what this means to me is that I feel like a small pebble trying to stem the tide of a huge river. I'm spending my days reminding them to be honest, to be polite, to be nice to others, to be modest…and then they are getting bombarded with a completely opposite message. "It's cool to brag, fight, step on others to get to the top…money is the most important thing there is…it's okay to use people and be rude, to use inappropriate language…" – those aren't the lyrics to a song but they might as well be.
And who are they going to listen to? The guy in the glasses and sweater-vest who is soooo lame, or Beyonce? I'd probably listen to Beyonce if I were them.
But, that is all frustration. The reality is, and I know it is, that even a lonely pebble can turn the mighty river. I know I'm paraphrasing the actual saying, but it's something like that. I just have to hold firm to propriety. Let the waters of incivility wash over me. But I bet Socrates never had to deal with this kind of thing…
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Avatar - the Last Airbender
My family and I are hotly anticipating the REAL Avatar movie coming out soon - "The Last Airbender". We've recently got hooked on the cartoon, and my 8 year olds and 4 year old love it. To be honest, my wife loves it too, and I think it's really great. It's a perfect allegory tale about right and wrong, good and evil, protecting whats right - it's great. And it's not your typical Manga style, like Yu Gi Oh or something that looks ridiculous. Its a good story, funny and exciting.
Don't get my little quip wrong, though. I like the James Cameren "Avatar" movie a lot - it just stole the name. I recommend renting "Avatar - The last Airbender Book 1 - Water" at your local videostore or Netflix. Even without kids I would have enjoyed it. But the kids sure make it a whole lot funner.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
First season plantings
I never thought I'd be a gardener (not much adrenaline involved) but the kids love it. I'm still cool, right? Just kidding. If you have to ask that, you're probably Not. So, yea. Greenthumb Edie. Greedie. Uber cool.
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