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!

Well I ended up working most of the day Saturday, with a Bobbie "The Wonder Dog" Day in Silverton, a Swing Fling in Mount Angel to raise money for the band program in Mount Angel and trying to find information on a plane crash.

Three of the guys in the plane were from my coverage areas, which always makes it fun Monday morning. Tonight I called the sister of the man from Silverton and did a telephone interview. The funeral is on Wednesday and I am waiting to see if my editor thinks that's something we should cover.

Sunday also was a day where Violet made a huge mess in her bed. All I will say is that we ended up washing sheets, toys and even the comforter, which exploded in the dryer -- so there are feathers everywhere in our garage.

Speaking of feathers, I was working on the computer when I noticed something out the window. A hawk! I think it's a hawk anyway. I went outside to take some pictures and the darn thing wouldn't leave. It just sat there like it was saying, "What are you gonna do? Try something."

Cindy goes back to work in a week, so we are both pretty uptight about that.

Oh and my dad (Tom) turns 70 tomorrow... Happy Birthday DAD!

OK, I have stories to write...

Busy week

Here we are on Wednesday, and I have already worked 30 hours this week -- and I took half of today off.

I came home this afternoon and Cindy raced off to have a massage and chiro appointment. While she was gone, Lilly started fussing. I was rocking Lilly while Violet was playing with her dolls. Lilly wouldn't stop fussing and so Violet walks up to me and very matter of factly says:

"Daddy, you need give Lilly your boob."

Um, wow.

I explained that I was Daddy and that wouldn't help Lilly, only Mommys can do that.

She thought about that for awhile and walked away. At that point Cindy came home and I was safe.

Never a dull moment around here. The pipes under the kitchen sink started leaking, so Cindy went to work. Every time I try to do plumping I end up with Old Faithful, so Cindy doesn't let me touch pipes anymore. She is going to Ace Hardware tomorrow to find out if we need a new part or something.

As far as I am concerned, with the garbage disposal down there and everything, it looks like a device in a nuclear power plant -- I will not touch it.

I say call a plumber.

But that's me.

Pat

Ok, Ok!

Can you tell I went back to work? See now if you want this blog to continue, you can just send donations so I can stay home from work and take pictures and write on here all day.

Anyway, Violet likes kissing her little sister and rubbing her like a cat.

Violet quotes about her sister so far:

"Lilly is crying, I will step on her head."

"Does Lilly want back in Mommy's tummy?"

"We both go to time out?"

"Can I color Lilly?"

So, we are having fun, Lilly still won't sleep in her crib, which is making things interesting around here. Good thing I am used to sleeping on the couch. Cindy goes back to work on Feb. 19 and at that point we will see how things are going to work.

Well, I have to go read Violet a book -- Bears and Chairs for the 56,000,000 time. :)

Pat