Musical Tastes

Today I was doing some work at the computer, and had Itunes playing random songs.  I usually just have it going for background music and don't really pay that much attention to it.

The song "Walking On The Moon" by The Police came on....and for some reason, I decided to skip it.  The next song was "We're Going To Mars" by the Backyardigans....and I left that one on.

So I skipped a song from the Greatest Hits album from one of America's classic rock bands for a song sung by a penguin, a kangaroo, and a "Uniqua."

That about sums up the state of fatherhood for me.

Math Homework and Free Fish

I was helping Allison with her math homework again tonight....and as I posted here last year, that's not always a good idea as I tend to give her the answers instead of making her work for them.  But I have actually gotten better at that...I think.

Tonight, she was working on her multiplication tables and had to do 17, 18, and 19.  I was helping her by holding a white board and writing numbers for her to add.  I would write 17+17, she would say 34.  I would write 34+17, she would say 51, etc.  Towards the end I went to write 153+17=170 and she yelled at me to stop.

"I don't want a free fish," she said.  "I want to learn how to catch fish."

I thought that was so cool.  Her teacher had given them that analogy in school today, and she really got it!

My son on the other hand is still all about getting a free fish with his homework.  I have to be very careful when I help him.  Maybe he'll get it soon too.

BoJiDaMaNaJa

The friends I had when I was a kid were awesome.  I was reminded of that fact the other day and it got me thinking (as always) about my kids.  My kids are in 5th and 4th grades.  As I recall....when I was in those grades I had great friends.  Not only did we have lots of fun (playing Star Wars at recess, having sleep overs, playing basketball on the hoop on our garage, the Saturday afternoon Dungeons and Dragons games) but they were just plain good people.  Smart, funny, and well behaved (as far as I can remember).  Of course, it's hard to tell at that age, but it turns out, my friends were awesome!  

Unfortunately, I haven't seen most of my elementary school and high school friends much since way back in the day....but through the magic of the internet, I can at least sort of keep up with them.

But what about my kids and their friends?  

I know you can't choose your kids' friends for them...but I sure hope their friends turn out to be as awesome as mine.

Minecraft

About a month ago, my son started asking me if he could get a game called Minecraft for our computer.  I had no idea what it was.  He said one of his friends had it and it was "epic."  But it was just after Christmas, so I kept telling him he didn't need any new games.  But he kept asking and kept asking and kept asking, and I eventually gave in and let him get it.

Now he plays non stop.  I'm convinced if we didn't make him stop occasionally, he would give up eating and sleeping for this game.

It seems to be a very fun, imaginative and creative game.  But we're also teetering on the line between having fun and being addicted.

Baseball Story

I found this today when I was going through my "stories" folder.  It's based on an actual night at a minor league baseball game with my kids...in real life it was Spider-man night.

My daddy loves baseball.  He loves to play it with me and my brother in the backyard.  He loves to watch it on TV.  But most of all, he loves to go and watch games at the stadium.  Sometimes he goes by himself.  My mom says that is his “Daddy time.”  Sometimes he brings my brother and me with him.

I like going to the baseball stadium with Daddy.  They have yummy ice cream and cotton candy, and Daddy lets me have a soda in a big cup with a twisty straw.  

Sometimes my brother whines about not getting enough candy.  Or about not catching a foul ball.  Or about spilling his popcorn all over the people sitting in front of us.

The last time we went to a game, it was a special night.  Ultra-man was there.  He is my brother’s favorite super hero.  I don’t think it was the real Ultra-man, but I didn’t tell that to my brother.

We got there early so that my brother could get Ultra-man’s autograph before there was a big line.  We also got to have our picture taken with him.  My brother told him we had seen all of his movies, and I got to give him a hug. 

Later, after we got some snacks and found our seats, we watched Ultra-man throw out the first pitch.  My brother yelled at him to throw the ball to us, but he just threw it to the catcher.

Then the game started, and we got more snacks.  

After about two bags of popcorn and a licorice rope and a soda (with a twisty straw) we got to sing a song about buying peanuts and Cracker Jack.  That is my favorite part about baseball games.  My dad even let us get some Cracker Jack, but my brother didn’t like it, so Daddy bought us ice cream that we got to eat out of little toy baseball helmets.

After the game, all the kids got to go on the field and run around the bases.  My brother ran faster than me because my stomach was too full for me to run my fastest.

When we got home, Mommy asked me who won...I didn’t know.

It sure is fun going to baseball games with my daddy!

My Home All Day Friend

I was looking at my bedroom walls the other day.  I have several pieces of art that my kids made years ago hanging in there.  They are all from several years ago...and they are kind of in the "what the heck is that" category.  Unless, of course, you are their dad and you know exactly what they are.  In one spot hang two drawings of pizzas.  Because I love pizza and my kids wanted me always have some around.  In another spot is a picture of a baseball field that my son drew.  He doesn't particularly care about baseball....but he knows I do, so he drew a field for me.

And then there is this guy:

My daughter made him for me back when she was in kindergarten and my son was starting pre-K so that I would have a friend and I wouldn't be home alone all day.

I've always had a problem throwing out my kids' art projects anyway...but this one in particular I think will stay on that wall for a long time.  

Stay-At-Home-Dad vs. the TV

On days when the kids are both at school, and I don't work, and I'm home all day, I try really hard not to turn on the TV.
Some how turing on the TV means I have given in.  
That I'll end up on the couch under a blanket eating swiss cake rolls until 3:00.

I do make exceptions for the occasional baseball game during the summer and of course college basketball in March....but for the most part, I view TV as the enemy while I am home alone during the day.

Why is that?

It's not like playing games on Facebook is any more productive than watching TV.  Or reading two pages of a book before dozing off is really all that much better.

And the even weirder thing is that when I do give in to the dark side and turn on the television....I find myself watching Spongebob or The Backyardigans.

Maybe that's why I try to stay away from the TV when I'm home alone....I've forgotten what grown-ups watch.