Paint By Numbers

Apparently, we have become the final stop for second hand toys in our neighborhood. Most of the kids who live around us are in the 9-14 age range. That’s just about the time when they have to go through their closets and start to clear out their kiddie toys. And where do those toys end up? That’s right, in our living room. Kasia is getting a huge kick out of it because it means bags and bags of new things for her to play with and discover.
One of the things that she has discovered to play with is paint, apparently. Neither Kara nor myself saw the little container of face paint amidst the dolls and Disney Princess magic wands. Then that fateful moment happened while I was sitting on the couch, cleaning out a box of old receipts. Kasia was playing quietly in the corner by herself. From where I was sitting, it appeared as though she found a hand mirror and was having fun with that. A few minutes later she turned around and came walking over to me with purple and pink paint smeared on her face, from ear to ear. She looked like Braveheart about to go into battle. This stuff was everywhere. In her hair, her cheeks, everywhere. So I immediately did what any self-respecting parent would do. I ran and grabbed my camera. The result is what you see above. Enjoy.

Oh, to Be Young Again

Well, if finally happened. I finally turned 30. That momentous occasion in life where you stop being in your 20’s and start acting grown up has finally happened to me. The world has forever changed, in my eyes anyway. Music is always turned up to loud. I keep thinking how good kids have it these days. And the TV show thirty-something finally makes sense to me. The next thing you know, I’m going to be sitting around all day watching re-runs of Matlock. Old is as old does, right?
But I do have to admit, that other than the “idea” of being in my 30’s, it was really a non-event for me. Kara and I went out for pizza, and then just enjoyed a quiet evening to ourselves as the little one spent some quality time with Granny Smith (apples). There was no moment of depression. No thought that the “good ole days” are gone. I think that I’ve done quite well for being around for 30 years. I went to college (to see what they know); found and married a beautiful, fantastic woman to spend the rest of my life with; have a wonderful daughter; bought a house; and served my country in the US Navy. I’ve seen more than half of all the States. I’ve been to a dozen different countries. And now I’m a homeowner.
Not bad for an old thirty year old.

I Completely Forgot

Amongst all the hustle and bustle of getting our house ready for visitors, I completely forgot to mention how Kasia’s last doctor’s appointment went. She grew three inches and gained a pound. It seems as though she is actually getting skinnier. I wish I had her problem. The problem for us is that it becomes next to impossible for us to put pants on her that won’t fall down to her knees. But on the plus side, she is still growing, and I guess that’s a good thing.
We also recently went to the zoo, and I’ve posted some of the pictures from that up in the photo section. Kasia had a great time, though she wasn’t really into having her picture taken. Every time I was about to snap one, she’d run away. Maybe it’s my camera. Maybe there’s too much of a delay from the time I push the button to the time the picture is taken. I know that they make them now where it’s almost instantaneous, but I need something better. I need a camera that will take the picture before I push the button. I want a camera that is so smart it knows when a great photo opportunity is about to happen. Kodak? Can you hear me? Hint, hint. I’d buy one.
So while my daughter wouldn’t have her picture taken, the flowers were always willing. So I ended up with a number of really nice flower pictures, and one decent one of my daughter pouting on the bench. Or maybe she’s trying to swallow her lip? Who knows.

The Painting is Never Done

Kara and I have discovered that we have a talent. We have the ability to paint together and actually have a good time. Apparently this is a lot rarer than I thought. It seems like everyone I talk to just can’t paint with their spouse. In fact, my dad called me to ask if Kara and I were still talking to each other. Are we still talking? Of course we are. We couldn’t be happier.
But we did get two bedrooms painted and now we just have every other room in the house left. The previous owners of the house had a deep affinity to the color yellow, and we just don’t share their passion. So Kasia now has a room that is Tinker Bell Green and our room sounds like a thunder storm with the colors Downpour and Distant Thunder.
If you happen to be in the neighborhood, stop by and take a look. I’ll show you the “accent wall.”

Our Trip To Hoffman Estates

Whenever I told people that I had decided to drive to Chicago with Kasia, they all looked at me like I was crazy. “16 hours in the car? Straight? With Kasia?” Then they would usually chuckle under their breath and tell me I’m an idiot. Sure we could have flown, but dealing with a toddler sitting on my lap for two hours is not my idea of a good time. I’d rather just drive it.
And truth be told, it wasn’t that bad. For the first hour or so she’s a little cranky, but then she just settled into the drive and was great for most of the trip. She slept a lot and danced to the music on the radio quite a bit. It all went great.
The only problem was that after sleeping all night, by the time I got to my parents house at 4:00am, I was ready to sleep and Kasia was well rested and ready to play. So I had to stay up for another hour playing with her and hoping that eventually she would go to sleep.
Kasia was able to spend some quality time with her grandparents and once again proved that she is better well behaved around them than she is with us. I swear, she will be a perfect angel when Grandma and Grandpa are around, but the minute they leave she turns into something else entirely. She’ll start grabbing things off of shelves and making a huge mess. Then when the grandparents get home, she just sits in the middle of the floor and plays with her toys.
We were planning on going to the park quite a bit while we were up there, but it ended up raining pretty much the entire week. One day there were even tornados in the area and we sat in the house listening to the warning sirens go off. But we kept ourselves busy and Kasia was able to charm a whole new group of people.
So if you thought that we were crazy for making the drive, then we’re still crazy, and we’re doing it again. Come Christmas time we’re going to try it one more time. May the Force be with us

A Beautiful Bride and Groow

Pat and Stacy’s wedding can be summed up with the word: Miracle. It was a miracle that Pat was able to find someone as good as Stacy and convince her to marry him. It was a miracle that I was able to think of a toast at the reception. It was a miracle that my mother didn’t squint in the pictures of her at the church. And it’s a miracle that Kasia did not fuss at all during the ceremony. What a miracle in deed.
Everything went as perfect as could be. The weather was wonderful and the rain that had been plaguing Chicago all week had gone away. The bride looked stunning, and Pat was able to stop being a groomzilla long enough to enjoy his wedding.
After a night of dancing and drinking, we called it quits. We had a blast the entire weekend and it was worth driving 32 hours (there and back) with a toddler.

Happy Birthday America!

I have to say something first. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA! YOU ROCK!!
That’s right. It’s that time of the year again where we celebrate our butt whooping of the British two hundred years ago by lighting off fireworks and trying to not get our fingers blown off. Fortunately for Kara, Kasia, and myself, we all managed to come out of the holiday with all ten fingers and ten toes. My car came close to getting hit with a Roman candle, but that was about all the damage we had.
No 4th of July would be complete if it didn’t contain a cookout, and no cookout is sufficient unless it takes place at Sandy and Kenny’s. Thankfully, they decided to have a cookout/pool party and even more thankfully, they decided to invite us. Kenny had both of his portable grills fired up and we had hamburgers and hot dogs aplenty. Much like Father’s Day, we had more food than people which meant that I had to pick up the slack and eat more than my share. For Father’s Day, Shawn and Chatam were there to lend their stomachs, but they’re now in Switzerland for two weeks dining on chocolate and... ummm... whatever else they eat in Switzerland. Apparently they’re going to France to dine on escargot. We’re all awaiting the story on that one.
But I digress. We dressed Kasia up in an adorable little denim dress for the 4th because nothing is more American than denim. Sadly, she decided to wear her bathing suit for most of the day and spend her time in the pool. She has become such a little water baby. No matter what the temperature is (either outside or in the pool) that girl wants to be in the water. Luckily that also applies to her taking a bath now.
When we got home, we discovered the difference between living in the country versus living in the city. Apparently out here everyone has their own set of fireworks. It seemed like each house was trying to outdo the next. We didn’t have to go and fight the crowds to watch a good fireworks show, all we had to do was stand in our drive way and marvel at the bursts of light in the air. Kasia was all tuckered out from her time in the pool, so she missed most of it.
Kara and I had a nice time just standing under the stars and gazing in the fireworks over head. That is, until we had to start dodging the incoming Roman candles that were heading our way.