Sunday, March 30, 2014

The Daddy-Daughter Dinner


Fresh on the heels of the Daddy-Daughter dance at the school, Paige and I got to go to the daddy-daughter dinner at the church. 

In advance of the event, each of the girls drew pictures of their dads and hung them on the wall. The men had to guess which portrait was theirs. It took me a minute, but I eventually spotted myself. (See handsome devil above.)

Paige also had to use her skills to identify me

Each of the dads had to go out in the hall and take off his socks and shoes (which is always fun to do at a social event with strangers). We then came back in the room in groups of 3-4 and stood behind a big whiteboard. The girls had to look at the feet to determine which belonged to their dad. Paige had it easy. My group consisted of me, two African Americans, and a Tongan. 

We also ate some dinner, did some hula-hooping and a little bit of dancing. Paige was happy because they gave us treats after each activity--and then dessert at the end (she also managed to sneak an extra cupcake and a handful of suckers before we left). I was happy because I had such a beautiful date. 

Sutherlands in the City

Santa brought the kids a three-month pass to Discovery Gateway for Christmas. It's been nice during the winter to have somewhere to take them where they can run around. Yesterday, we braved the wind and gloom to get in one last visit before the three months were up.

It was a good day for make believe.


Like riding horses. 


And driving cars. (Curtis' aversion to photos continues.)


But the adventure didn't end there. After the Gateway, we took Trax to the downtown City Library. My kids love taking the train.



But before we made it to the library, we had to make a quick stop at the Dunkin Donuts across the street. 




There was plenty of adventure to be had at the library. 


Including a trip to the cold and windy rooftop. (Tate said, "I can see the whole city!" He then pointed toward the U. and said, "Look, I see our house!" "Yeah, buddy," I replied, "Just turn the other direction and look about 20 miles that way.") 


And lots of trips up and down the elevator. 


It was also fun to check out all the cool reading nooks in the kids' section. 



But Tate's favorite place was the tiny couch. 


Trains, elevators, donuts. Pretty much a perfect day for kids and a dad. 





Saturday, March 08, 2014

A Handy Man?

I was doing some manly stuff this afternoon, putting up a new bathroom mirror and installing a new light fixture. But does it make me less of a man if I turned PrettyHandyGirl.com for help (while listening to Katy Perry)?

I don't think so.


Saturday, March 01, 2014

Gag Me.


Kids love stickers, right? Not Tate. We live in a house full of kids and even more full of all sorts of stickers. But if one ever ends up on Tate's hand or foot, he starts freaking out...and then gagging. 

Who knew a kid could be allergic to stickers? This is problematic because everywhere you go, people want to give 'em out -- at school, at the doctor, at the grocery store. 

"That little guy is just so cute," they all say, "can he have a sticker?" 

Stickers aren't the only thing that gives Tate fits. The other night, I was unpacking a box and Curtis was tearing up the styrofoam and turning it into "snow" and chucking it at Tate. 

The next thing I heard was shouts coming from the hallway.  "Eew! Gross! Tate threw up!"

I ran out and picked Tate up. "What's the matter, buddy? Are you okay?"

In his soft little voice, he relied,"Curtis threw snow in my hair."

I got the styrofoam out of his hair, and the dirty shirt off his body, and he was just fine. 

That's my boy. The pukey kid.