One of many

We entered E into her first foot race. The "Rhino Run" at Potter Park Zoo was on a beautiful Saturday morning with close to perfect temperatures of the high 60's. before hand, my wife M pointed out that this race may not be as I expected, as E might stop to look at a bug or just plain want to sweep the sidewalk or who knows what else. I quickly dismissed this notion, as I already had the finish in sight

We arrived and went in to get her race packet. I was in full song and we were pumping her up for the event to come. We quickly got her number (1) as this was one of those non-competitive fun runs (yeah right!). I pinned the number to her behind, sooo cute to see! We then made our way to see the Artic Foxes and Otters who seemed very interested in all of the commotion of race day. E seemed mildly interested in them though maybe a bit anxious or just too many people.?? Race time came quickly so E and I went to the start line and got ready. We took a place toward the back if only to look inconspicuous with our intent.



... 5 4 3 2 1 GO!! The race started with me holding E to keep her from being trampled underfoot but she very quickly asked to get down to run. As we passed M, MHM and friends K and W she was on a dead run so I had to partially steer her toward them so M, MHM, K and W could properly cheer her on. We made it several hundred yards before she started saying that her side hurt. Wow, I really knew she was running hard but was a bit surprised by that. Adrenaline is good, but it will catch up to you sooner or later. I picked E up and began to understand where this was leading. I acknowledged M's warning and said to myself "we're going to have fun and I'm going to let E do as she will". As the crowd quickly thinned, E and I bounced from animal to animal. First the Snow leopards, then the Tigers then the Monkeys. E was still very much in the race. As we made time down the course, I would from time to time tell E that we have to run so we can "Win the race!" There were several race workers each lightly cheering us as we went. At one corner, a very nice and exuberant elderly gent really sparked E with praise and she started to run again. This lasted a short time and I think after that she was quite spent. I was surprised at the length of a 1K event.

Through it, I tried to keep E enthused but also tried to make sure she saw the animals. The Penguins, the Bear Cat the Peacocks and finally the Camels interested her. As we started nearing the finish, the crowd was cheering and the music was loud and the kids were lined up at the finish for the start of the second event. E charged up excitedly to M, MHM, K and W but didn't want to finish the race. Wearily with my help, she neared the finish line with prompts of loud cheers and yelling from throngs of excited race fans. E at this point was quite uneasy. After the big finish, we moved away from the crowd, by doing this, I really messed things up as sure enough, the "winners" medallions were all gone so my little E didn't get one for all of her hard effort. My fault????

With the race behind us, all E could think about was the "park" so we headed there where it was much quieter and more her speed. I pushed her on the swings with another E for quite some time and she seemed to enjoy that the most. With all of the fun and anticipation, I am glad we were able to break E into it in a mostly gentle fashion and for the record, I did have a very nice time and I did dream of the future when old or not Dad and E will cross yet another finish line together...

Puppies on the back porch

I had a very nice walk with E this afternoon. It has been warm lately as well as a bit breezy. E was dressed in a beautiful sun dress and looked like I hope to remember her for many years to come. As we set out, we headed off in her regular direction, down the driveway and hang a left. We got around the next sidewalk corner (left) then I had to stop and pick some weeds growing where I had brought in some dirt earlier in the spring. Well, after a couple minutes (honest) we set off up the way presumably toward aunt L's house where she loves to go. I stopped just past our neighbors house and suggested that we maybe change things up and go to the swing, she agreed.

As we walked along through the grass, we we mostly quiet then I started doing what M and I often do, sing... My singing is typically to a familiar tune E knows but I tend to change the lyrics. When I start to sing, E will often respond quickly with "SShhh! no daddy, no singing" With a short pause, I will again try to break into song and see what she will tolerate. Well, this time it took three times in order for me to get going. The tune of choice was one of M's favorites currently. "TAXI" This goes... "Taxi taxi riding in the back seat, roll the windows up, roll the windows down...." Well, after two chorus', I per typical started adding different words. I like to try sometimes relate my rambling songs to a current situation or person or what have you. This time, there were dogs barking from a distance so I added them to the song. Puppies Puppies barking on the back porch, tie the puppies up ... You get the idea.

After the songs, I pushed E on the swing for honestly 20 to 25 minutes in which time we had some quiet conversation about the breeze, birds, gardens, and more. The part I liked best was just watching her hair all afluff and seeing her smile peek out every once in a while. After a time, she fell more silent and I recognized a tired stare in her eyes. As she was a bit tired, I got to carry her part of the way home but now she wants to do all for herself... to be expected, so I put her down and we went home.

Arriving home, she was indeed tired and certainly hungry so M enticed her in for some "Brooklyn Style" pizza, which soon led to E reading fitfully for her afternoon nap.

I truly had a wonderful time, I was relaxed and more importantly enjoyed some time with E.

There baaack

Yesterday I walked near our pond and heard a very familiar sound. A frog (usually not alone) now inhabits its depths! He seems a couple weeks early this year as in years past they came later, but now I am anticipating maybe a banner year for them in our happy little back yard pond. We also have tadpoles swimming and flitting about happily which M discovered last Sunday. If you were to think that any of the tadpoles were to actually live, there would be hundreds. I think though that they may turn to energy for the current resident frog(s). I really don't know how all these frogs find this oasis but it is a fun little diversion. I am hopeful that our oasis doesn't turn to a dark chamber for our aquatic friends. We will certainly try to create with our kids a sense of oneness with them instead of domination and destruction.

We added a pergola to the back patio last year which is now taking shape. I have 1 1/2 coats of primer and stain on and it looks really nice! I also see a small river and waterfall added to the pond at some time in the future. We really love this spot and it makes me happy to see it freshly mown at dusk with my ambient lighting out in the garden. Ahhhhhh....

I hope this backyard holds some true treasures and memories for E and MHM. I think there should be some nice lessons to learn in this space and I am sure when the kids get older, M will be able to use it as a learning tool for school projects. We love it and it has come a long way from when I moved in and am sure it will go through many many changes in years to come.

Too much information

Today is HOT and WINDY! We took E and MHM to Hawk Island water park where E got her first real taste of public park madness. Surprisingly not too full but plenty of crazy zooming, squealing kids. At first, she saw all the fun kids were having and went full speed into the middle of it all asking, "I want to go to the shower". Moments after getting doused with torrents of shooting water, she decided it was not her idea of enjoyment after all. M and I took turns circling the fountain area and slowly get her more comfortable and more wet. With E in my arms, I played in the water bubbling from the three umbrellas. These were the least formidable to her I could see so I concentrated on them. By half an hour or so, she was much braver and adventuresome. M had gone to the snack bar to get some treats so we would give her a bit then make her go one more round before more treats. Soon she was all for the water and couldn't get enough.



I took some video of E and M but think it will look more like very low budget porn or at least amateur night at an outside bar with all the breasts and butts that kept coming into view. I hopefully will remember next time to really choose my scenes much more carefully, there was way too much information hanging out! I think the pictures will be much better...



MHM pretty much napped the whole time as the warm wind blew over his body, he looked very much to enjoy that. Just trying to keep track of E was much easier for the fact that he was dozing. He looked so comfortable, I was jealous of his nap in the sun!



As we started readying to go home, E clearly didn't want to leave which is nice because that tells me that we will be returning someday, hopefully soon!

Whats on the menu

My wife M enjoys cooking. We for a time before E and MHM watched cooking shows endlessly and drooled over them. With what is turning out to be a library of cook books, M with what spare time she has seems always to be whipping up something yummy. Breads, soups (one of my favorites with two home runs in the past month) main dishes and cookies, I am very fortunate to have this woman. She seems to love it and I won't try to change that.

I have to say that I don't have to worry about the same thing over and over and I have made mention that when I show true enjoyment of a dish, "it's too bad I'll probably never have that again". This is not a bad problem to have but some times I just wish I could or would write them down so as not to forget them completely. In the past month, we have had two soups which are absolutely the best soups I had ever ever eaten. Italian Wedding soup and yesterday was what I would call French Onion. The Wedding soup was in two words...AWESOME! The Onion was so on par with a nice little restaurant (now closed) in H.L. that I wanted to write about it before I told M how good it was. She sent me to work with a bowl and I took a hunk of my Zingermans yummy crusty bread. When I heated it up and chunked my bread into it, I swear that if I weren't at work, I was in a fine dining establishment. LOVE IT!

As an end to this story, I hope and pray that I get some of these meals a second time but if I don't, I do know that another phenomenal meal will soon follow.

In short, LUCKY ME!!

What words we say

This past weekend E surprised me yet again with her grasp of language. We were up north at the cottage sitting on the deck and I showed her something of which I don't recall. After I showed her the thing, she mater of factly stated "that's cool daddy". I was taken aback. This little miss, doesn't miss anything. It was cool! A very simple observation but an appropriate response for a hip little girl.

I often in my speaking with her emphasize words in order to expand her already vast vocabulary as well as her understanding of words. Wonderful, great and spectacular are some of the regulars I use, and it is fun to hear her repeat them with varying degrees of success. I will after asking for her help, say "I appreciate that you helped me E, you're really wonderful!".

E also is quite capable of sharing her feelings, desires, likes and dislikes. As we were tramping about the woods up north she proclaimed "I'm happy daddy!" From my stand point, that is about all I need to hear to make me very happy. I even hope that statement validates M and I as a successful parents. We often hear her say "I'm sad" then when prompted as to "what makes E sad?" she will return with a cheerful "I'm OK daddy!". One of my favorites is when she will hear something and proclaim "that's redicooles!" (ridicules)

I could go on and on about how E makes me happy and I feel fortunate to go through it once again as MHM will be short on her heels in a few months. He is showing some marks of brilliance himself and I will eagerly anticipating what new things he brings to the table for us to marvel at.

Getting there...

I have been anxious to go north for a little while. We have made several verbal attempts to go but it just seems that staying has been the easiest option. Well, after looking at the forcast of last week, we decided to stay home one more time. Saturday was a pretty nice day and Sunday was pretty but just down right cold. I did talk to someone who was in H.L. last w.e. and he confirmed that it was not great.

This w.e. so far looks great! I am working o.t. tonight and then have the whole w.e. so we will wake tomorrow and pack to go to the cottage. I really hope E will be excited as she will be seeing her cousins. I bought E a sleeping bag this week (ok, 3 bags) but I will return the one that doesn't work for us. Well, I remember the feeling of getting up north late after dad got out of work and crawling into a cold sleeping bag and soon feeling nice and cozy. I hope E can maybe get some nice fuzzy feelings from H.L.

I cant wait to get there!