The Daddy Files | “This is not the castle you are looking for…”

One of our dear friends had a very important birthday this year, one of those ending-in-a-zero birthdays – always an occasion for a BIG birthday bash. So that’s what he did. It was hosted at his friend’s home in the Hollywood Hills. Sadly, I wasn’t able to attend the event since I was already in Huntington Beach attending a photography workshop.

But the G.I.D. took Harrison and Big Brother to the party. On the way there he told Harrison they were going to a party in a REAL castle. Harrison wasn’t buying it… until they pulled up to the house.

Shortly after arriving Harrison was ready for something to drink, being out of practice in the art of “just-in-case” snack preparedness for children, Dad had left the canteen behind. He couldn’t find a single beverage that was mom-worthy (not even bottled waters). So as he handed a plastic cup, filled with what he deemed the least unhealthy drink, to Harrison he muttered “Your mom is going to kill me.”

Harrison took one sip of the clear liquid in the cup and an expression of utter shock, bewilderment and excitement washed over his face all at once.

“ WHOA!!      WHAT?… IS?… THIS!??”

Just like that, he guzzled down his first-ever 7-Up and immediately held out his cup for more. It’s hard to say just how many more he had that evening; but he seemed to handle the sugar rush fairly well.

Later in the evening, Harrison was apparently being followed about by a smaller boy who became quite taken with him; unfortunately he quickly became annoyed by the younger, much louder boy. Being five years old, Harrison’s way of dealing with the boy was, well… uniquely, creatively… Harrison.

He finally stopped, looked seriously at the boy and waved his hand from left to right saying, “This is not the castle you are looking for… Move along…”

The little boy just stared blankly at Harrison. Speechless.
(Apparently, his dad hasn’t versed him in the finer points of Star Wars yet.)

The Daddy Files and a Dead Fish (OR When Mommy Takes a Pass)

Daddy had just sat down in Harrison's room to read a bedtime story when I walked in to fix the bed covers.

I had barely crossed the threshold when, with alarm in his voice, Harrison said, "Mommy, Speed Racer is dead!"

Sure enough, in the bottom corner of the tank, Speed Racer lay motionless. Daddy looked at me and asked, "When was the last time you fed him?"

"Oh, you're funny..." I respond. Then I looked at the fish food container hidden behind a small pile of Legos and wondered...only for a moment. "I fed him yesterday!" I added. [I think]

So I tell Harrison that "we'll take care of him tomorrow" and before I can skip a beat Harrison asks, "Can we cut him open and look at his insides like a scientist?!"

Eh...er...

Then like any [good] parent, I brushed off the request and said goodnight. I'll flush the dead fish, end of story.

Not.


Upon returning home from work the next afternoon, I open the door to immediately be greeted with, "ARE YOU READY TO CUT OPEN MY FISH NOW, MOMMY!"

Great.

After wrangling, negotiating, posting on Facebook, getting advice, watching fish dissections on YouTube, old-fashioned bribing [with a pet burial], and finally convincing Daddy to take on the task - we had a dissection of said dead fish.

Poor fish, poor dead fish.

 

Poor dead, stinky fish...

Oh, but look at that cool eyeball!

Five minutes later, he was off to do something else, "Thank you, I'm done."

With that, Ken flushed the remains as planned.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day Harrison asked, "Daddy, what did you do with Speed Racer?" Er...eh... "I flushed him".


"Oh," Harrison said, "I wanted to give him a Decent Burial."

Pause.
"Well, Navy officers and Pirates have burials at sea, that's decent."


And that was all he needed to know.

The Daddy Files - "You the Man!"

Yesterday while I was away from the house Harrison walked into his dad's office and sheepishly asked, "Can I play a video game?"

"What did your Mom say?" Daddy asked.

"She's thinking about it." he responded.

"Well I don't want to go against Mommy..."

Harrison froze in thought for a moment and then his face lit up...

"You The Man!!" he exclaimed, pointing at Daddy with both hands.

He got to play a video game.

The Daddy Files - Happy Birthday Daddy!

Today is the GID's birthday. Harrison was set on getting him a birthday gift, "I want to get daddy a DJ present... I know!! How about a DJ cord!?" With some easy coaxing, we went to the Dollar Tree store and Harrison picked out a "DJ flashlight" AND a toy because "Daddy needs a toy!"

Of course, Harrison had to get a matching "toy".

GI Joe helmets. 

This would be Harrison's "Prince Caspian" look. (complete with remnants of face painting from camp)

Speaking of Prince Caspian, we borrowed the BBC version of the Chronicles of Narnia from the library. Harrison has been talking non-stop about Prince Caspian and the "Barnicles of Yarnyia" all week.

We also went to see the movie "Up" as a family at the $3 theater yesterday. The GID and I loved it; oh my gosh it was so well done and entertaining. [And as one friend put it, the movie provides so many object lessons to talk to Harrison about from how to treat others and be a friend to how anger can hurt people.] Harrison really enjoyed it too; but Prince Caspian wound not be so easily dethroned by a flying house and talking dog. 

At one point in the movie old Carl says to young Russell "Let's play a game, it's called who can stay quiet the longest." at that moment Harrison turns to the GID and happily {albeit not so quietly} announces, "Hey! We play that game at home!"

If only that game really worked...

The Daddy Files - Hannah Montana

You know, I had a friend during my first year of college named Hannah - she WAS from Montana. We used to call her Hannah from Montana. Then it would blend into Hannah Montana. I wonder if she ever gets that from people now days.

I doubt it too.

On with the Daddy Files; Harrison and Daddy were hanging out in the "Good Morning Room" [Harrison's name for it] a.k.a. The Guest room, The Music room, The Game room. This day it was The Music Room as they were playing guitar, piano and the bongo drums. The G.I.D. suddenly felt compelled to turn on the TV.  Hannah Montana was on at that moment. [yes, the Disney Channel - don't judge me]

Harrison said, "Hey, that's Hannah Montana!"

GID responded "Is she Pretty?"

Harrison, "LOOK at her!"

Am I in trouble or what?

The Daddy Files - Taking a walk

Between flying a kite and looking at the moon through the telescope, Harrison and his Daddy took a walk this evening. At one point Harrison started running ahead - as he eften does - tripped and fell, splat, on the sidewalk.

He scrapped his knees [he promptly showed me said scrapes when I popped my head in to kiss him good night after being at church for the evening] and started crying for...who else? Me; but I wasn't readily on hand for boo-boo duty. Daddy picked him up to comfort him but he cried more, wanting mommy. He was still crying for me while Daddy was trying to console him when...

He exclaimed, "Look! A Squirrel!"


A short discussion about the squirrel ensued, [which the G.I.D. says was really just a leaf shaped like a squirrel but Harrison wouldn't believe it.] then...

"Let's run more!" 

And that was the end of that.


I don't know about you, but it made us think of Doug, the dog from the movie "Up".

The Daddy Files - Discovering E.T.

Harrison and Daddy watched E.T. today.

After coming home and making lunch, I joined them to watch the end of the movie. Needless to say, Harrison loved it.

Who doesn't?

Heck, I even became all willy-eyed at the end of the movie for the ump-teenth time during the goodbye scene when E.T. says, as he touches Elliot's forehead, "I'll... be... right... here."

What a wonderfully fun, classic movie.


Later as Harrison sat playing on the sofa he asked,

"Mommy, do all nasty aliens have flashlight hearts?"



Nasty?

Fav Phrase Friday - What's for Dinner?

"Do you have something hungry?" Harrison asks a secretary at the office. In other words, "do you have a cookie for me, I'm hungry for a cookie".

I'm not sure where he got this, but it works for him.

As I was making [a late] dinner tonight, he calls out, "Mommy, I need something hungry!" Again, the actual translation would be, "I'm hungry, I need something to eat".

I love it, I think I'll cut my words back and start using this phrase.

After all, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Let's start with words.

Last week was the GID's birthday, I asked Harrison what he wanted to do for his Daddy on Daddy's birthday. He said make cupcakes. So last Thursday, after a trip to the park, we came home and made cupcakes before nap.

They were a big hit at the dinner with our friends to celebrate the G.I.D.'s birthday.


Gotta run...

I need something hungry.

The Daddy Files - Just Like You

The Guy-I-Dig needs to have a small out-patient surgery in mid-August. Nothing super serious, but keep us in your prayers because there is recovery time needed and he runs his own business.
Harrison often complains about aching in his right leg, one pediatrician said it was "growing pains - which mainly happen at night" but this is often during the day and even more often in the car. Another pediatrician said he doesn't believe in "growing pains" and thought it might be a type of "restless leg syndrome"; apparently Harrison will most likely grow out of this. [back to the growing pain theory...] The pediatrician even did blood tests that didn't show anything Abby Normal.


So as the GID was putting Harrison to bed the other night the subject came up again...

"Daddy, you need an oferation...
I need a oferation!
You go to your doctor for a oferation.
I go to my doctor... I have a BAD leg."

What is up with this leg thing?

Happy Father's Day to the Guy I Dig - a.k.a. Daddy!

The G.I.D. has been a father for almost 18 years now. He has gleaned a lot of experience through those years. Being a father can be so incredibly rewarding and yet very humbling, as always everything is mirrored back to you. I know he wouldn't trade his experiences for the world. And I wouldn't want anyone else to raise these two boys. God had His perfect plan for this family.

For a while there were only the two of them.

Then I came along...

And the two became three again.
And then, by the grace of God, we became four...

Harrison is as different from Big Brother as night and day! Although Harrison's energy could power a city block for a week, he has reminded the G.I.D. of the Pure Joy of childhood wonder - yet again. Yes it's true, the G.I.D. is older, wiser, more tired and Blessed.

He is a father.

Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.

Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.

Psalm 127:3-5

Happy Father's Day to all you dads!

Favortie Phrase Friday (aka - Random Facts or "How I Began to Disseminate Useless Information to my Parents")

Harrison Quotes:

"Snow make you cold and chilly and make you shake." - Followed by a very intense, full-body shudder.

Checking out the dog under the table, "Oh Duke, you have so many hair! Where did you get that hair come from? Dukie, poor dog."

When it's time to race: "On your Markets! Set! Go!"

Daddy put Harrison in a jammy that was too small the other night, Harrison's response, "My Skeleton is too big for this Daddy, I need to tell mommy that my bones are growing."

But his all time distraction lately is gender and family structure. Daily conversations include, "Mommy, you a woman and I am a boy, I'm a son. Big Brother is a boy. Daddy is a man. Daddy is a father. Big Brother is a son and Daddy is a son. Dukie is a boy. You are a girl, I am a boy. We are a family."


A couple of non-information based moments:

This week when I ask him what he is doing when he is out of eye shot, he responds, "Nothing, Mom!" Gah! [Hey you're not a teenager, yet buddy.]

Yesterday, we had a little friend come over for a play date [or maybe it was a mommy play date]. He's 8 months younger than Harrison and during their time together, Harrison got hurt. When he was all finished with crying, he got down, looked Parker in the face and gently said, "Hey, you didn't say sorry to me, you pulled on me and I hurt my head on the chair. You need to say sorry to me. You didn't say sorry."
Parker sweetly answered, "[sic, sic, sic] shawry [sic] [sic] shho oh, ah, oh [sic] yeah. [sic]" Harrison was happy with the answer. Apparently he understood everything.

Happy weekend!!

The Daddy Files

The "boys" (daddy & Harrison) came in from playing outside and as they walked past I caught part of the conversation...

Harrison: "Master?...MASTER!"

Daddy: "Yes?"

Harrison: "Let's lay down and think about Yoda."

Daddy: "You want to think about Yoda?"

Harrison: "Yes, Master."

Daddy: "OK, then."

Harrison: "Master, may the force be with you."

The Daddy Files - Who Do You Love?

Harrison has been insistent that The G.I.D. take him to bed every night for a couple months now. They have their own routine which includes talking about their day and other things. As they were talking one evening, the G.I.D. asked:

"Harrison, who do you love?"
"I love Mommy!"

"And who else?"
"Big Brother...

and...

Dukey-doggie!

and...

Mommy-grandpa & Daddy-grandpa!" [Harrison's names for grandma & grandpa]

Scrunching his brow, the G.I.D. asks

"Who else do you love?"
"Mommy!"

Now Harrison is snickering as he watches daddy's face get flustered.
Game on!

"Anyone else.....?"
"Dukey-doggie!"

HUMPF!

"AN-NY-one else you love...???"

Harrison looks intently at The G.I.D. with a gream in his eye and says:

"I Love Daddy!!"

The Daddy Files - Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Last night we were winding down for bed time when Harrison said to me, "I don't want mommy to put me to bed, I want daddy to put me to bed."

This has actually been the norm for the last couple of weeks. He is in a "daddy" phase.

He goes and climbs into the GID's lap and asks, "Daddy, you take me to bed? please daddy, Come on. Pleeease."

The GID responds, "No, I don't think so. I can't tonight. I think Dukie-dog is going to put you to bed tonight. What do you think of that?"

Short pause as Harrison glances at the sleeping dog.

He lifts his arms up palms out and exclaims, "Dukie has no hands!"

The Man Behind the Boy

Funny over at Shutter Sisters Kate mentioned that our husbands are often trumped by our children in pictures, that's true here, but it also may be that neither of us jump in front of the camera often. If anything it's quite the opposite. Ironically, I was going through some pictures last night and found a picture of the G.I.D. from last year right after he went "au naturale" up top. I realized that we just don't get a lot of pictures of us with Harrison - or just pictures of us in general. So when I saw the post at Shutter Sisters, I knew I had to post this picture of the Guy I Dig.


I love this picture, he is relaxed, kicked back and happy. Without this man, I could not raise this child.


Here he is as the new dad. (again.)


Raising a teenager and a toddler at the same time definitely has it's challenges - and sacrifices. There are those days when we both feel it. We loved just going out to dinner or a movie at the drop of a hat. That is on hold - for a time. It's even harder when one doesn't have family near by to come over and hang out while we get a little "us" time. We have to carve it out. We make the effort because it's worth it, we have two beautiful boys prove that.

I wouldn't want it any other way, I love the man behind the boy. I love the little things he does for me and the jokes he makes, the sound of his voice when I talk to him on the phone, the feel of his arms around me at night, the incredible smile he has and the patience of Job to put up with me through all of the trying times.

And I love watching him with Harrison, playing with him, carrying him on his shoulders, laughing with him and having their time together - father and son. I look forward to what the future brings us.

The Daddy Files - Maybe He'll Be a Biker When He Grows Up

I made a quick trip to the library the other day to return some books while Harrison was finishing off his nap. the GID is sick now too and I wanted to get back quickly. I was gone for a about half and an hour; long enough for H. to wake up, get his diaper changed and, well...

What does happen when the sick husband is left in charge of the child??

Exhibit A: Marker tattoos - the new vogue.

I was greeted at the door with, "Mommy! Look my arms colored! I love my colored arms!"

What could I do? He was SO proud at the work of his hand; I burst out laughing and got the camera! We then scrubbed down and took an early bath. Thank goodness for Washable Markers!

Exihibit B: Is he a biker at heart? Oh dear.

The G.I.D. came flying out of the office at the squeal of Harrison's delight.

"I thought it seems too quiet out here..."

Ya think?

The Daddy Files

Daddy put Harrison to bed the other night and as he was leaving Harrison called out

"Daddy WAIT!"

"Yeah pumpkin?"

"I NEED a drink of water."

A few minutes later daddy reappeared with a spill-proof cup.

Harrison took a drink.

"Tank-you daddy. Mmmm, it's dee-wishes!"

I think Harrison is de-licious.

Move Over Donald Trump!

We took a family picture in front of the tree the other night for the Christmas newsletter. Almost everybody had to brush their hair first. The GID helped brush Harrison's hair while I set up the camera.

I looked up and said, "Honey, you need to fix his hair.

He looked at it as only a guy would do, and said, "What??"

"Look at it!"

"I brushed it!"

"I see that..."

I snapped a picture. Then I fluffed the hair and took another picture.
Here's the out take I showed the GID.



His comment...

"DOH!"

Nice comb-over, eh? I cut Harrison's hair today.

Time with Daddy

I have had a few deadlines that have kept me busy over the last week, and when that happens sometimes the GID is able to step in for a while - or the day - or how about a week, honey, while I go on a short vacation, no?

Today was (exhaustively) no exception.

Harrison headed out for a walk down to the pier with daddy, they played in the park, saw an octopus in the water (alive and FREE!), ate ice cream and shared an apple Snapple. Harrison also gave daddy a run (literally) for his money and chose to leave the listening ears at home as he ran away from daddy at the pier and in the park and all along the way. But they had fun. Well, at least one of them did, the other one came home and collapsed into the sofa as the first ran around the sofa yelling, "Let's do games, daddy, let's do games!"

On the way home Harrison did get tired of walking and asked to be carried.

The GID picked him up and said, "Your tired."

Harrison replied, "Yes, I'm tired. But I'm not napping today. No more naps ever again!"

There was no nap today.

Yikes!

"Awe, look, he's going to be a Car Wash Attendant"

The GID makes these predictions often, I believe it's to curtail the possibility of Harrison actually taking on one of these occupations he announces.
Harrison puts trash in the trash can and runs to the window for each passing garbage truck:
Oh, he's going to be a garbage man.

Harrison sweeps or mops the floor:
Look! He's going to be a janitor...

He's going to be a street cleaner...a maintenance man, a vacuum cleaner salesman, a window washer, a dishwasher....

the list goes on.

Last week's occupation? It all started when the GID washed Duke-the-Dog. Well Harrison helped out up until he spotted his sandbox out of the corner of his eye and found that to be so much more compelling. Done.

A day later, Harrison yells at me from outside.
Outside?
Wait. How..?
Dog Door.
So I look out the window to find Harrison wiping his car with a towel as he exclaims, "I'm washing car. Mommy. I'm washing car!" What a perfect time to step it up! I got some soapy water & a sponge and he went to town!

Later, as the GID browses through pictures of the day, he announces:
Awe look! He's going to be a Car Wash Attendant!

The truth?
Our child is a multi-talented genius.
Of course.

And yes,
he truly
was
this
TEDIOUS
about cleaning
his
car!