OK, so it isn't allergies

The one thing you learn when you have kids is that you are going to be sick. A lot. More than you thought possible.

Of course the old time moms (better known as grandmas and aunts) know this and don't tell you, until it's too late and you have two offspring running around.

Violet's favorite saying when she is sick is: "I have crunchies in my nose."

Which, besides being nasally, is also very cute.

Here is the illness scorecard for those of you keeping track at home.

Cindy: Level 2 sick (sore throat, nasal, grumpy... but she is always grumping being married to me and all...)
Violet: Level 1 sick (stuffed nose)
***THURSDAY UPDATE ****
Pat: Level 2 sick (sour throat, nasal, grumply... and canceled as much as I could today to stay in bed. I still have a debate tonight with congressional candidates, so that should be fun)
****END THURSDAY UPDATE****
Lilly: Not sick
Karen Marsh: Level 2,450,456 sick (been ill three weeks)
Tom Johnson: Death. (at least that's what he says every time he gets a cold)

Now I am off to bed, after I eat a Cold-EZE.

Did I mention I have crunchies in my nose?

I'm going to miss Silverton

Ok, for the family, here is a new picture of Lilly, I have to be careful and get a picture of Violet up or she is going to think I am playing favorites! I have to keep doing this or "The Aunts" send me e-mails about how I never update the site.

Today this post is for me.

I am just growing increasingly frustrated with the fact that I am good at my job, but I have to stay home to watch the girls. Don't get me wrong, I am not upset at the prospect of staying home and parenting my daughters, I am going to love that.

What is frustrating is that I really like what I do, well most of it. I could do without the ambulance chasing and hyper-competitive nature of the news biz, but I enjoy going to city council meetings an writing about public policy in a way I think is easy to understand. I also think I am fairly good at it.

I have no dreams of working for the New York Times or Oregonian, I like small town politics and the issues they face. It's something I probably won't get to write about as a freelance writer, I will be assigned the different festivals and weekend faire that I written about for the last five years and am bored of.

So that's why I am frustrated. I suppose I could start a local Canby blog about the doings at the city council meetings and whatnot, but it isn't newspaper and who knows if there is an audience for that.

Anyway, my last day at the Silverton Appeal Tribune and Statesman Journal is June 2. Then I guess it's off to the weekend festival beat. I will miss public policy discussion and reporting. Maybe when the girls get into school, in a couple of years, I can get back into it.

Well, Lilly is waking up...

Pat

Handind wid Lilly

So you know that yard work I did yesterday -- yeah, allergies today.

My nose is plugged and really can't breathe at all.

But at least I get some quality time with Lilly while I do laundry.

Cindy and Violet got all dressed up and went to church, I am sporting "puke" shoulder and shorts.

Ut Oh, laundry needs to be changed.

See ya Tuesday -- maybe Monday night if I feel up to it. :)

CHOMP!

I visited the planet Dagobah today.

You know, our backyard.

Violet is an evil little cuss. She watched me through the window take down our lawn with a machete and weed eater and wouldn't wave back. When I frowned she laughed.

Nice.

OK, so I didn't have to Indiana Jones the back lawn, I just had to mow it twice. After the neighbor helped me get the lawn mower started -- we didn't have the right tool to get the spark plug out of the mower.

So the lawn is mowed and I did some limited pruning and filled the yard debris bin. My work is done here, for now.

I think when I start staying home, my focus is going to be on getting in shape (other than a small moon -- that's no moon, it's a space station!) and making sure the yard is at least on par with the neighbors.

Well, off to get a haircut, wash the car and then take the tribe to the store.

Oh and we might try painting Lilly with solid food again tomorrow.

Pat

Stressful evenings

Ok, someone call Ghosthunters. I don't watch that show, but I should because every night about 8 p.m. there is something haunting our house.
I walk in to tuck Violet into bed, and there is a purple or quilted ghost in her bed! I was able to get a picture of it tonight.
I usually scream (like a girl according to Cindy) and then out pops Violet, who says, "Daddy! It's just Violet!"

Tonight I went in before the ghost transformation took place and was told in no uncertain terms that I was to leave her room so she could be a scary ghost. So there.

It's 8:21 p.m. both girls are sleeping. I don't have a meeting, and Cindy is doing something in the kitchen. I think it's Madden Football time!

I want to say HI!

This is a transcription of what Violet said while watching me think of something to write tonight:

I want to say Hi.

Can I say Hi to her?

Can I say Hi to her?

I love you Daddy.

I love you Daddy.

Um, a princess.

Um, a cherry.

Um, Bella.

Um, ah, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella.

Hug and a kiss Cinderella.

She is very nice.

I know Fireworks love me. (Fireworks is a My Little Pony -- pat)

I'm Violet.

Buh bye.

Hi, I'm retired again

C'mon, you know Lilly is thinking:

"Please God don't let this 3-year-old pop my head off -- there is a reason she has the evil grin..."

I'm not supposed to say anything for a bit, but I figure who sees this anyway, right?

Today I quit my job. June 2 is my last day and I am going to take care of the kids. Couple of reasons we did this again.
1. The taxes were killing us. Two-thirds of my pay was going to taxes, which is stupid. When I free-lanced I brought home more and worked less and had tax deductions.
2. The burden on our family and friends to watch the kids was just crazy. Each week there was something, people getting sick, having to work more than they expected and I hate putting other people out. Now we won't, as much. :)
3. With Cindy's job taking off, she needs to be at work, not staying at home watching kids when people can't babysit. Too often I would run off to chase a story and we would keep Cindy home (whose job we NEED).
4. I miss the kids. :)
5. Did I mention I miss the kids?
6. I would have gone part time, but both my boss and I didn't think that would happen. So I offered to do some freelance when he wanted.

Anyway, so the blog should get updated a bit more. This summer I want to have weekly adventures with the kids, so we will update the blog with photos and whatnot.

Well, I am off to find something for dinner.

Pat

Lilly went to the doctor, but is still smiling!

Today Lilly went to the doctor and got another round of shots.
She also got some vital statistics we thought we would share.
This is the big news of the day -- not that I covered an officer-involved shooting in Silverton, which you can read about here.

Anyway, Lilly is 4 months old yesterday and she is 14.3 pounds (about the weight of my pinkie toe), 25 inches tall (I was going to make some gross joke here, but Cindy slapped me) and her head is in the 81-percentile for circumference (she has a fat head like her father too!).

Anyway, to the right you can see a photo taken at 9 p.m. Monday evening.

If you ever want to hear a story, ask me about how I almost got arrested twice today. Fun times!

Pat

Violet is a fish!

Every Tuesday and Thursday Violet swims. She loves it, even though it's after her preschool and makes for a long day. Wednesdays and Fridays she is tuckered out after going to school, then going swimming.

She is done with school this year at the end of May and then we are in summer break. Lilly continues to sleep well and she is now in the jumping thing and loves it.

I will try to update this more with photos, because I know a few of you check this site regularly!