From My Phone.

When Katy goes out of town one of the kids always gets sick. This time they didn't, they just got into bed with me to watch the Cubs game.

They don't leave me any room in our bed, but they are still so sweet to be around.

This is a statement: From tears to smiles is night and day. Whenever they are laughing and smiling seems to be the greatest thing in the world. And yes I know that is cheesy.

Nyssa getting ready to perform her dance in the big dance room. She really likes to perform, is very intent about it, and so I am looking forwards to her dance in three weeks.

We had a chance to go to a daddy daughter dance sponsored by her daycare and her dance center. She was really excited to go to the dance, although once we arrived it took her a full hour to actually begin to enjoy herself.

I wish this wasn't washed out, I have the feeling she;d be truely lovely. As I told her during her extended warm up period, "I love spending time with you." I mean what else could I do? she wouldn't talk, she wouldn't dance, she wouldn't kick balloons around. But, I mean, I meant it.

Our little sick beauty watching Dora.

Feel like making a skin suit? Put the lotion in the basket in our Rolo basement.

The great thing about being slow is that I am constantly learning. This week I learned exactly how much shit we should have insisted Bob remove from the Rolo house when we bought it. Or we should have removed anytime within the last nine years.

Photos I didn't take.

As a parent it is my obligation to point out the startling resemblance to Andre the Giant in this picture.

Better but?

Nyssa and Ruby at Ruby's going away party. Someone gave Ruby a gift and she ran over to her mother and exclaimed, "But it is not my birthday." Children are totally selfish and self absorbed but at the same time they are not.

Kathy took this action photo showing Leila jumping on the trampoline

God help me. I have no problems with dance classes. Big problems with dance costumes.

This is not the 20's, Nyssa is not dancing in Cabaret. She is not the product of a drug addled broken home (yet).  Why the unnecessary crotch reveal?

After the egg hunt. Nana did a great job utilizing the uneven terrain of our unmowed lawn to befuddle the children.

More pictures of face painting at the Kohl Children's museum.

Nyssa really wanted to be in this picture. Look how beautiful Leila Beans is.

Pictures from my phone.

This isn't a photo left over from Christmas, it is an item that still sits atop our hearth. When, mid-march, I was removing the lights from the front of our house Nyssa said chiperly, "you put up our chirstmas decorations and now you are taking them down, you are The Christmas Boy." That is the attitude--as you will see--that I take for all of my home improvements.

Maybe she is Katy's daughter wanting to remain as covered as possible from September to May, but is this really necessary for the 7th of March?

Buying mom a present, the rainbow one. Proving again you can give what you hate--even what kills.

My office, with echo's of my father and my youth. Katy wants the walls to be spare but I like the cluttered to help the room contain you. I feel a little guilty that I stole the whole room, but then, I win.

Beans diligently watching her big sister dance. She is a very joyful and serious girl.

We had a fight in the grocery store back in October over an $4.99 empty spray bottle which we later found for $.99 at Home Despot. here are the girls putting it to good use on a cold morning. Katy and I went down stairs and heard banging on the door, Shit, we thought she's locked out and is going to be all scared. But when Katy got up stairs Nyssa says, "We need more water." Wasn't that story worth $4.99?

Christmas Boy News: I built a bookcase! It sounds like a Donald Barthelme title. But I can find out I spelled it wrong now just by glancing up. I feel bad being excited about this because it was so easy. The hardest part was buying the wood (and returning the tools). 

In continuing news of embarrassment: At Buffalo Wild Wings! Which I kind of enjoy. They have chili cheese fries; give me a break.

Busy busy telephoning girls. You can note here that Leila has lovely pig-tails and Nyssa is wearing multiple headbands. And that is Elizabeth's splatter painted blanket being slept on by the dogs in the background. Katy: Should we pick that thing up before your sister gets her? Me laughing dismissively: She'll be happy it is being put to good use. Her upon seeing it: At least it is being used. Moral of the story: I win.

There is Annie although we are not sure that Leila really knows that. Also starring in this picture is Jack's Superman sweatshirt. Leila loves it which is good because each time I come across it I want her to wear it.

Christmas Boy News: I assembled this lamp and attached it to the wall. The only big deal was that the screws attaching the base plate and the lamp were 2 inches long and only needed to be like half an inch. I solved this like any good English major by drilling (With my grandfathers hand drill) two inch and a half holed in the wall and tucking the screws into them. Perfect.

In the tree at the Merle Hay Mall. For you Bill Bryson fans, I am still looking for the escalator there so that I can ride it.

Moments after a overzealous big brother wondered aloud (and with clenching fists) whether we had mad his little sister cry.

During Katie's visit we spent a day at a coffee shop in Ames, while our car was getting fixed. I kept offering to take her bowling and she kept steadfastly refusing. just as well as this last weekend I rolled a 158, destroying my sisters will.

At grandma's. How do other people travel with children? I did it with fear and intimidation. I was afraid and intimidated the whole time. This is evidence that I did try to feed them appropriate foods but in reality their diet was sugar and sugar derived substances.

I believe this is a picture of a cat.

Look at the giant Angles wing Nyssa already has. She'll have the second wing bolted on in May

Auntie Elizabeth and Nyssa waiting for the chance to wait for a Mather dinner. The food is good, but the time flows as slowly as an old mans blood pressure.

Nyssa is really doing well with her reading, and as she improves Leila pretends more and more to be able to read, "I am just saying what the words say." And interested in her letters. Happily they both love books (although I am finding very few enjoyable kids books)

Just acceptable for the intranets.

I only include this picture as evidence of

How quickly they learn behaviors.

Leila and Elizabeth about 45 minutes into dinner. Where's the beef?

This was the sight that I woke to each morning, Nyssa and Leila sleeping next to each other on the floor. We are lucky that they get along so well, and through them I understand much better my fathers insistence on family.

The morning after the first wearing of the dresses. I am a lucky lucky man.

I wanted to goto the Shed Aquarium, Nyssa wanted to go to Kohl Children's Museum so there we went. Later Nyssa said, "I have an idea, why don't we go to the Aquarium today and the Museum tomorrow.  So the idea of compromise is working inside her brain.

Elizabeth and Amanda happily came along to the Museum and learned the first rule of parenting: It is fucking hard to get kids to have fun.

Being there was great. Except for the water room where pure joy was had, Nys and Leila showed their interest and enjoyment in the true childhood form of crabbiness. They are wearing the nightgowns I bought them at Target the day before, because Elizabeth said, "They look like dresses." and even though they didn't, what do I care?

Checking out younger men. heh heh.

Nyssa, who painted her own face and wore that paint all the way back to Iowa, wrapping up an injured puppy in the vet lab.

Christmas Boy News: I took the front door off of the Roland house and refinished it. Here is the in process picture, You can see the over dark and scratched wood, with some sanding having been done.

And the after and it only took me like 4 or 5 hours. Peace and goodwill to (wo)men out!