A few tricks, lots of treats

Caroline and Charlotte went though our neighborhood on Halloween, dressed as Silvermist and Tinker Bell, respectively.  (Silvermist is one of Tink's friends in the recent movie.  If you have to ask, you're not a fan.)

Now, the first house we went to belongs to a woman that we know that is really fun and nice.  I should have known that the 'fun' part would be more prevalent than the 'nice' part on Halloween, because she opened the door in full witch regailia and make up.  So here we are, Silvermist and Tinker Bell, all cute and innocent - and I guide them to the Wicked Witch's house first.  Great job, super dad.

They recovered quickly and started to have a great time.  It started to get dark and even with lots of bigger kids running around they did really well, holding hands from house to house.

Then we got to a house where the owner had a full graveyard and fog machine in the front yard.  Should have been a warning sign, right?  All I could think about was how intensely this house is decorated for Christmas each year, and because of that I always assumed it was a nice old man and his wife inside.

Apparently the werewolf that opened the door growling, also ate the nice old man and woman inside that I'd made up in my head.  Way to go, Super Dad.  To this date, Caroline points at that house and says, "I don't want to go to that house."

But they recovered and we shot a cute picture in the graveyard before we went home to munch on candy and talk about Caroline the Fish.

Halloween and the end of Caroline the Fish

During Halloween, we pretend things are dead, or even reborn as Zombies. We seem to celebrate the dark corners of our imagination and it is all pretend.

But sometimes, things get real. A few weeks back, Caroline won a goldfish at the fair. Caroline named the fish “Caroline”.

Two weeks ago, The Mommy found Caroline the Fish somehow in the floor, a tragic end to what must have been a brief but triumphant exploration that scientists around the world would have studied. We quickly replaced Caroline the Fish with Caroline the Fish II before Caroline the human found out.

Tonight, Caroline the Fish II did not survive All Hallows Eve. I found her floating in the bowl before we went trick-or-treating and quickly stashed it away. After a good night getting some candy and being cute in a costume, I decided to help Caroline face the reality that Caroline the Fish was gone and figured it was time to talk about heaven. She did really well, considering she’s not yet three.

Dad: Caroline, I want to talk to you about something. Caroline the Fish has gone to heaven and she is not going to come back.

Caroline: (eating candy)

Dad: See, she died, and she is going to go live with Jesus in heaven.

Caroline: (looking up, still eating candy)

Dad: Do you understand? We can be sad about it, but Caroline the Fish gets to go live with Jesus in heaven.

Caroline: Caroline the Fish is at Kevin’s house and we will go and get her.

Dad: No honey, she is gone, she died. When things die they go to heaven and they can’t come back.

Caroline: (silence)

Dad: Do you want me to help say good bye to her and flush her down the toilet?

Caroline: (softly) Ok. (louder) We’re going to flush Caroline the Fish down the toilet to Jesus.

Dad: Yes, can you help me?

Caroline: Sure. And we will get a new fish.

Dad: Okay.

[now in bathroom with Caroline the Fish placed in the toilet]

Caroline: Can I flush?

Dad: Not yet, can you pray with me? Hold my hands and close your eyes.

(With us holding both hands and looking down) Dear God, thank you for Caroline the Fish, please take good care of her and thank you for letting us spend time with her. Amen.

Caroline: Can I flush?!?

Dad: Yes. Bye, Caroline the Fish

Caroline: Bye, Caroline the Fish-

[Caroline the Fish spins out of sight]

Backyard Engineering

Last weekend, Poppy bought Caroline's birthday present early, a new swing set.  After all, a swing set in November isn't as good as one in the summer.

This weekend, I began to put it together.

I was warned.  Read, really read the instructions.  Make sure you're using the right bolt.



Turned out to be good advice.  Among the 6 types of bolts and all told there were about 30 of them, they were all very similar in length, and just enough for each specialized place you had to use them.  The directions had 64 steps, and twice, I was instructed to repeat several steps. 

Working at it off and on all day, I'd say it took about 4 hours.  It wasn't hard labor, but more thinking than my typical chores require.  And it was hot.  But every second was worth it.

The Mommy brought Caroline outside as I was moving tools back into the shed.  She ran over to me yelling, "Daddy, daddy, thank you for building my swing set! It's perfect!" and threw herself at me, hugging my legs.

I'll never forget it, and I don't care that I cried a little.



The 'Homachok'

A few weeks ago, we headed to a Braves game with Caroline for the first time this season. She was learning it last year, but has perfected the tomahawk chop, or as she calls it, the homachok.

She gets so fascinated by all there is to see at the games that she actually sits very patiently. She's a fan!

Though maybe in the photo above, she was more interested in that cotton candy salesman walking down the aisle.

A Day Out with Thomas

This past Saturday, we took Caroline, who is a BIG fan of Thomas the Tank Engine, to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, as Thomas was making a visit and taking kids for a 20 minute ride.

First off though were some side attractions and Caroline got a temporary tattoo of Thomas, from a lady named Caroline actually.

 This photo below was taken shortly after Thomas arrived for the first time while we were there.  She was captivated.

 The Mommy, Caroline and Thomas the Tank Engine:

The museum had several other engines.  Here you see Caroline considering a career as chair of the US Deaprtment of Transportation.

On the train ride, Caroline was named a Jr. Engineer and is qualified to ride Thomas any time she chooses.  Regretfully for me and The Mommy, she wants to do this every day, which is not logistically possible.

Holy Easter Eggs!

The Easter Bunny paid a visit to Caroline's house last night and left her a sizable amount of loot and candy.  We went to church and then to Caroline's friend Ryan's house for lunch and an Easter egg hunt she's been working all week to get ready for. 

We need to talk about church.  Wow.  Our little angel apparently lost her halo in the parking lot.  We had to take her out four times.  I tried to take her to the nursery and she lost it.  Fun times.  Highlight:
Caroline (during the service in a lofty voice): "I want to go home."
The Mommy (whispering): Honey, we're in church for Easter right now."
Caroline (just shy of yelling): "I don't want to be in church now."
[Father Ween and Lady C exit aisle left.]

 We managed some controlled chaos with Ryan and the Easter egg hunt.

 We might as well announce it.  We've decided Caroline is betrothed to Ryan.

 We might be trying a little hard. (Ryan's parents below and above are on board)



We all belong in the zoo

On a warm day in late Febrary, we escaped our hibernation for a trip to the Atlanta Zoo, of which we now are 'members' so Caroline can go anytime she wants, or rather, any time we drive her there.

We went with her cousin too and of course, got cute photos along the way.  Here they are posing on a giraffe statue.  The real ones are behind them.

The hippos were not giving into their demands to "Come here, hippo!"  (And the hippos could not get that close anyway, otherwise all arms and legs would have been far away from that fence)

A lot of the day Caroline was very thoughtful, you coudl see her absorbing all the new info in her eyes.

The gorillas were really cool and we saw this mother giving her baby a ride

What a bunch of animals:





Rock Star

She's a 'sweet child of mine'...

This is really weird

I'm used to the fact that people are constantly remarking that while Caroline of course looks like both of us, she REALLY looks like me.  Then I took this picture out of a family album recently.

Get past the shirt.  It was the early 80's and I wasn't in control of my wardrobe (like that would have mattered).  Caroline REALLY resembles me in these old pictures.

For her sake, I hope this changes for her -- nothing would be worse than a boy picking her up for a date and seeing a girl that looks a lot like her dad.  Of course, she won't be dating and instead practicing math problems, but still....

Hibachi time!

Caroline and her friend Ryan are about to experience the chaos, excitement, beauty and flavor of a hibachi grill. Caroline is apprehensive. Update to follow.

UPDATE:
Good or bad, we had a tame chef.  Maybe he didn't do some cool things on purpose because there were kids at the table (lighting a mass of oil on fire, spinning utensils, etc.) but he did make an onion volcano and was generally entertaining for the kids.  When you go to a hibachi grill at 5:30, you're probably not getting the A-team.

I was worried Caroline would get scared.  After all, I think Santa Claus would seem more welcoming than a guy with knives and a steaming hibachi grill -- and she was scared of Santa.  But once food started to appear on plates, she focused on eating and was prety chill.  As you should be on a Saturday!

The Great Southeastern Arctic Adventure of 2011

Last night we got snow.  A lot of snow.  Probably 6, maybe 7 inches.  That was awesome.

Less awesome is the 4 hours of sleet that fell after that.  Now we have four inches of snow covered by an inch of ice.  Thankfully, we still have power and of course, photos of Caroline in the white stuff:

The photo below is a long way from an earlier post:

And this one is still yet a change from one a year ago:

Here's a video of Caroline in her igloo, I mean, playhouse:

Caroline, meet Santa. Santa, meet Caroline.

This past weekend, Caroline made her first official trip to tell Santa what she wants for Christmas.  It doesn't look like the conversation was a long one, but thankfully, Father Ween and The Mommy are able to fill in any gaps for the big guy's list this year.

It was a party!

The birthday celebration/weekend/festival has come and gone. Father Ween and The Mommy have almost recuperated, and Caroline is now acutely aware that things covered in bright paper are most always very exciting toys and probably believes they are always for her.  It was a great party.  Not only did the food and drink turn out to be the right amount, and it didn't rain, but we were excited to have so many family and friends celebrate with us.

I didn't get to take too many pictures during the party, but below check out Caroline's new playhouse in the backyard.

And as mentioned above, Caroline definitely 'gets' presents now.  The photo below is when she really started to get excited plus she had just unwrapped her new basketball goal for the backyard (for which Father Ween really needs to buy some sand to weigh down the base so we can use it.) 

We can't say enough how thankful we are for so many people that are a postive effect on Caroline (and sometimes support for us!)  With all our heart(s), thank you-

Wind chill

It was pretty cold this morning so Lady Caroline had to accessorize a bit.  Actually she hated it but The Mommy and I were able to distract her enough to get this picture.

Waffles on the Mothership

This morning, Caroline's and my morning routine needed a little something new.  Breakfast is just what it is and milk and/or juice can only be so interesting.

Enter the funk.

I took my phone and  played a little Parliament ("Give Up The Funk") and you should know that this girl can dance. 

I couldn't get a video, because my phone wouldn't play the music and record at the same time, but I couldn't be more proud that my DNA for getting down will live on.

I can do it all by myself.

Caroline held her own with the other shoppers at Trader Joe's tonight:

The Brat Pack

They're not really brats, but just some really cute ladies.  Below, Hadley, Helen, Caroline and Lily.

Made me think of this movie.. though obviously, we as good parents won't let our kids act like the girls in this film..

Tickle me, Elmo

Friday night we went to see Sesame Street Live! with Cap'n Jack. 

I didn't know exactly what to expect.  Of course, I knew to expect a lot of kids and chaos, and crazy expensive souvenirs, but beyond the mysteries of Sesame Street we had never been responsible for two children at one time, and while Jack is a really awesome little dude, I just feared a meltdown if they both got scared.  But things started off great in the car, as Jack was kind enough to share his gummy snacks with Caroline on the way.

Caroline was a little scared when we walked into the main part of Phillips Arena. Its the biggest room she's ever been in, and there was a massive stage in the floor and flashing electric signs... but she acclimated and we sat down to get ready for the show.

What a show.  Okay, not really, but I'm sure kids love it.  I have a couple of random thoughts.  For one, it becomes clear that the voices, singing, etc., even by the real people in the show, are pre-recorded.  You can buy a CD of the songs at the gift stand, and I'm certain its the whole show.  They probably just pop it in the same CD backstage and start eating nachos while the furry creatures run around on stage, mouths flapping but silent.  Makes sense.  After all, it has to sound like Big Bird -- and only Big Bird.  But the kids loved it.  I think.  They sort of stared catatonic (but pleased).  We knew they were happy because at the end of the songs, they clapped wildly

Of course, we couldn't let them go home empty handed.  So at intermission, when the people came out selling the mylar Elmo balloons, we got two.  And about two songs after intermission, they got tired and we left.  But they had fun, and I learned that the letter if the day is I.  And the number of the day is 3.

Hangin' Around

We took Caroline to a nearby playground this afternoon and all she wanted to do was play on the pieces made for the big kids... 'cause she knows she's a big girl now.

Graduation Day

Today, Caroline started her first day in the Toddler class at her school.

I know, right?  Its formal, official, finito, over.  She is a toddler.  No longer a baby.  That was fast.

I didn't think this would be as big of a deal, but for some reason, it gets to me.  On the one hand, I'm excited about all of her new independence and how her mind just seems to be soaking in more each day at an exponential rate.

On the other hand, I don't want her to grow up.  This won't be the last time I feel this way.  We were at a wedding yesterday and I almost started crying when I saw the bride walk down the aisle. With this daycare transition fresh in my mind, I was just so aware Caroline can't go back to being a baby.  She shouldn't go back, and of course we want to keep helping her move forward, but this weekend I just wanted it to stop for a second.

A cliche, I know.  What dad worth his salt doesn't feel this way often? -- But when its you, its huge.

And then today.  In her school, 'toileting' starts in the toddler class.  So she went to school in underpants.  And came home with several  many pair to be washed.  She was a wreck tonight, it was clearly a hard day.  So we may be in for some hard weeks.  Pray for us and the other four families who are 'toileting' as well.  And thank God for hardwood floors.


On a completely unrelated and less scatological note, here are pictures of Caroline in her baby pool from a while back: