What Did You Say...Sundays Volume II

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Today, for my second edition of What did You Say Sundays, we find Nat Nat (our soon to be 3 year old) ready and willing for the intense line of questioning I have set up for her. Surprisingly, she arrives for the interview without her normal entourage of her pon (pacifier), her blankie, or her favorite pink clogs. Which tells me right away that I had better make this quick.

Daddy - Which do you love more? Your Pon or your blankie?
Nat Nat - Mi Pon.. no mi blankie.. Mi Blankie? Mi Blankie? Mi Blankie!!!!!!????
Daddy - Don't worry I will have my lovely assistant Nicole go get it for you.
Nat Nat - K

Daddy - What color are your eyes?
Lovely Assistant Nicole - Blue
Nat Nat - Noooooooooooo - Pink Pink Pink!!!

Daddy - Who do you love more? Mommy or Daddy?
Nat Nat - Mi Chupis!! (Her other name for her pacifier)

Daddy - How much wood would a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood?
Nat Nat - Ummmmmmmmmmmmmm...Ocho (8)

The interview is interrupted as Nat Nat, and my lovely assistant Nicole fight about who's room we are in. The room was originally designed to be Nicole's , was soon set up for them to share, and has not been slept in by either in the entire two years we've lived here. They prefer the comfort of Mommy and Daddy's room, so we finally gave in and move their bed to our room. That way Mommy and Daddy can at least sleep in the same room, and on rare occasions the same bed. Today, they finally agree to share the room, when they grow up. The interview resumes.

Daddy - What do you want to be when you grow up?
Nat Nat - Mi Papi!!
Daddy - Silly Willy why do want to be Daddy?
Nat Nat - Luv Mucho!! (Love a lot)


Daddy - Who let go a Stinky?
Nat Nat - Yo !!! - then drops her pants to show me where the odor originated. She actually gets that from her older sister, who when releasing foulness, goes around pointing her backside at everyone, yelling "Want Some? Want Some?"
Daddy - Thanks

Daddy - How should we fight global warming?
Nat Nat - Asi (like this) Boom Boom Boom - moving her little hand like shes swatting away a mosquito.

Daddy - What are your plans for the day?
Nat Nat - Mimis(her word for sleep)..No!


That was the end of the interview. Her Mommy ended any hopes of a continuation when she brought in breakfast. I love it that all her answers were in Spanish. I think its very cool that our kids are going to be bilingual. I just wish that they would have inherited their accents from their Mom and not me. Can you say Gringooos?

Before she went to go eat, I did try to end the interview with a kissy.

OK.. Let's Try This Again

The Long Road Within

"The Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with One Step" - Lao Tzu

It has been a very interesting few days since my last blog. A lot has gone on since my "life altering" experience at the grocery store. It seems to me, that after the euphoria of such an event, a trial of your faith is soon to follow. Almost like there is some force of negativity trying to make you doubt your intentions to change. Or is there a positive force, trying to make sure you are ready to change? Whatever it is, my resolve has definitely been tested, but my will has not been broken.

I will not bore you with the details of why I had a couple of bad days. I will tell you that the main cause of the pain, was self doubt. As the Author Sylvia Plath wrote, “And by the way, everything in life is writable about you if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt." This is what happened to me, I started to doubt myself and my intentions and and for a moment lost the inner creativity that makes me who I am.

I have often in my life gone through stages of self doubt or self loathing. I start to think that I am inferior in some way because I do not do things as I perceive others would do them. I start to search the T.V., books, the Internet or my day to day interactions with others, for the perfect way to live. My false thinking is that if another person is so happy and content, and I live just like they do, I will likewise be content and happy. The problem with this is that my self doubt kicks in and tells me that I am not doing it correctly. I am not able to live up to this perfect image I have projected in my mind. This always leads to an overwhelming sense of failure, and ultimately I lose touch with my true self.

What I am beginning to discover is that I do not truly understand who I really am. And, because I don't understand myself I don't trust myself with my own life decisions. Thus, I search for answers from others. My first step to reaching this inner peace I mentioned in my last blog, must then be to get inside myself and figure out what makes me tick. What are the things that I truly value? What are the things that I most fear? What are the things that are inside me that I don't want anyone to know about? What are the things inside me that I want to tell the world? These are the private questions (well at least private answers) that I must search for. I know the process wont be easy or always pleasant, but will definitely be worth it. After all how can I help my children figure out who they are, if I can't tell them how I did it.

"The greatest explorer on this earth never takes voyages as long as those of the man who descends to the depth of his heart". ~Julien Green

When I started to this blog, I thought that it would be a fun place to broadcast our crazy family, and put out pictures of the kids for the grandparents. I had no intention to get so deep or philosophical with it. What I have discovered though, is the great liberation I feel when I share my struggles and inner battles with the world. This blog is my first step to self discovery, because when I read it I see my true self. I hope you as my readers understand that I am holding nothing back. You are seeing the real me unfiltered. So thank you for assisting in my journey, and for being cheaper than a Shrink!

Whats With All The Anger.

This afternoon I left work for what seemed like a quick and easy trip to the grocery store. The trip was quick, but it certainly was not easy. What transpired, while not earth shattering was definitely eye opening, and may lead to a major life philosophy change for this young father.

The first incident happened while waiting at the traffic light next to my store. I was the first car waiting at the light, and in the millisecond it took my eyes to transmit the green light change to my brain, the driver of over sized SUV behind me was already laying on her horn. My first inclination was to show her that I knew how to count to one using only my most delicate finger. But I realized that I was bigger than that, besides she was too busy talking on her cellphone and slurping down a Marlboro to notice it anyway.

So this was on my mind as I braved the Wal Mart parking lot in the rain. This is a scary place anyway, the rain makes it almost like trying to find a parking space in Beirut. Inside the store was no better. Everyone goes around shopping like they are there to pick out their last meal. Accidentally cutting someone off with your cart is a capital offense. No one smiles, says excuse me, or thank you. Most are on the cellphone telling someone how much they hate their job,or their spouse, or yelling at their kids to stop running around so they can hear their B.F.F. on the phone.

At the check out line, the clerk rung up my stuff without even bothering to look up at me. She was obviously thinking about when her break was going to be, or where she was going to put her next tattoo. As I loaded my stuff trying not to trip over the kid lying on the floor screaming(apparently invisible to the Mom fighting with a clerk over the price of bananas), the same thought kept repeating over and over in my head. Why So Angry? Why So Angry?

What is it about life today that makes everyone so angry? I believe that it is our constant need for more. More money, more expensive stuff than our neighbors have, more more more. Today, very few seem to have that inner satisfaction of having what you want and wanting what you have. " My life will be so much better when I get a new car, or a new job, or a new outfit." It seems to me, that so many people are unsatisfied with their current lot in life , but unwilling to put in the work to fix it. Instead they seek the lightning in the bottle that will make everything turn into a fairyland. That in my opinion, is why the divorce rate is so high now a days. People get married or shack up and expect the subtitles to read "and they lived happily ever after." It doesn't work like that. In the words of Maroon 5 "Its not always rainbows and butterflies." The way you make it work is by committing yourself to your partner no matter what. Leaving is never an option, things might suck now, but they wont forever, right?

So my new life mission is to seek inner peace and satisfaction. To be able to be calm and happy on the inside, while the storms of the outside world beat down on my door. To be able to have what I want, with as little material possessions as possible. Am I searching for the Buddha, I don't know. But he is safer than Prozac right? Religion is fine if it brings you the peace and eliminates the hate. I don't know what the correct path is going to be. I think the point is that the process of searching for inner calm, is as important as actually finding it. I also know that the answer lies within me. It cannot be purchased on an easy payment plan, or found in the bottom of a bottle. No quick fix here. I may never fully reach the enlightenment I seek, but if I spend each day striving for it, it will not have been a wasted life.

What Did You Say...Sundays

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I think it is time that my loyal readers get to really know this crazy family. So for the next few Sundays I will take the time to interview each member of the fam. (The one with our infant, Joey will be quite in depth, I'm sure.) I will start with our oldest Nicole . It is my first time to interview a diva, so I'm a little nervous and overwhelmed with the task. I just hope she is not too hard on me. Oh well, here it goes.

Interview with Nicoly Moley 6-21-2009

Adorned in a white summer dress covered in peace signs, her mom's black high heeled boots, and the best fake pearl earrings Forever 21 produces, Nicole arrives for her interview every bit the sparkling star. She eases into her favorite pink bean bag chair, and let's me know that I better make this quick because High School musical is on.

(Note Nicole's answers are written word for word how they came out, so please forgive any grammatical inconsistencies)

Daddy - " What is it like to be a big sister?"

Nicole - " The first sister"

Daddy- " Please explain"

Nicole - " Because I like to be nice to my sister" ( She says while she holds Nat Nat captive in a pink laundry hamper)

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Daddy - "How do you respond to those who say you are a Diva?

Nicole - " I'm not a Diva, my sister is a Diva."

Daddy - " What is a Diva?"

Nicole - " A Diva is a Drama Queen... Nat Nat stop being a Drama Queen."

Daddy - " Who is your favorite, Mommy or Daddy?"

Nicole - " Both"

Daddy - "Smart Girl"

Nicole - "I know"

Daddy - " What is your favorite food?"

Nicole - "Apple Sauce"

Daddy - "I thought you would have said pizza."

Nicole - " Only cause I like it do I love it."

Daddy - " What do you think about Barrack Obama?"

Nicole - "My favorite President."

Daddy - " Do you think he is a good President?"

Nicole - " Yes because he is the President I like."

Daddy - " Do you know of any other Presidents?"

Nicole - " Just that one."

Daddy -" What do you like about Nat Nat, and Joey?"

Nicole - " Their my best sister and brother"

Daddy - " Is there anything you don't like about them."

Nicole - " Nat Nat is like kinda mean. You need to have a serious talk with Nat Nat!"

Daddy - "Do you think we should drill for oil in the Anwr?"

Nicole - "No cause its not good."

Daddy - "How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?"

Nicole - " I don't know that word, please don't tell me that."

Daddy - "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

Nicole - "Um, a Mommy taking care of my children."

Daddy - "Do you want to work?

Nicole - " I wanna work at 7-11, with my Papi, Anthony."

Daddy - "I thought you wanted to be a Teacher or a Doctor."

Nicole - "I wanna be with my Daddy, Mommy can take care of my child."

Daddy - " So do you ever plan to leave the house?"

Nicole - "No, that's silly"

Nicole - "I need to go down stairs now to be with my soda."

With that the interview was over. But later, when I went down stairs she was already busy interviewing her Mommy. Let me just say that her line of questioning was not as polite as mine was. Anyway, I hope that this short interview helped you to see how smart, witty, and funny our beautiful girl is!

Past Post Update

To be honest I've been battling with writer's block today. Well actually with idea block, because once I get a decent idea for a blog the words usually flow easily. The spelling and proper grammatical use of said words are a whole other problem. (as I'm sure you've noticed if you have read my previous posts.) So because of this idea embargo, I will use today to update you on the progress of the things I've spoken about in previous posts.

Terrible Twosday
My little Nat Nat is still in the midst of this wonderful stage. As I write this, she is screaming (her preferred mode of getting her way), about something her Mom did or didn't do. But thanks to her Grammy, this stage is no longer terrible. She is from now on experiencing her "Tender Twos".

Immediate Job Opening
Adriana, did not get to go on her vacation, and continues to carry on diligently with her duties. Her dedication to the kids still awes me, and I still appreciate all that she does. Though, I wish that the death ray looks she can send my way, would ease up just a bit. (I think she's reading this over my back as I type, because I'm getting the death stare as we speak.)

The Truth About Where We Come From
I am still unashamedly a Neil Diamond Fan! He still however has not answered any of my texts, calls, or emails, and all my kosher gift baskets keep coming back Return to Sender style. I did receive a very nice letter from his lawyer, thanking me for being such a big fan, and asking me not to come within 100 yards of Neil at anytime!

Going Green
Well, my five point plan "Project Green Go", was a complete failure. The professor declined to help with the project for "personal reasons." Between you and me, I think he was offended by the boat fixing comment. Without him on board, the whole project was doomed. Seriously though, Adriana and I have renewed our dedication to going green. Today, we committed ourselves to a small monthly donation to Greenpeace. If you have any inclination to go green, I highly recommend going to their website. I do warn you that you may never be the same after reading about this stuff. I for one, will never wear a pair of Nike's, or use a Kleenex ever again... Go Green By Picking Your Nose!?

That's all the updates I have for now. I would like to thank my loyal readers (all 4 of you) for reading my stuff. I hope that you are finding it some what entertaining. I would also like to thank my sister with the big head and her husband, for their encouragement and kind words about my blog. They both inspire me to keep it going.

Early for Fathers Day

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Father's Day is not until this Sunday, but it is heavily on my mind today. Not so much the day itself, but the significance of fatherhood as a whole. This is possibly because even though I am a father of three now, the day makes me think primarily of my father, and what he taught me, gave me, and how much I miss him. He has been gone for almost ten years now, yet Father's Day is the one day that has not gotten easier for me. It is even more difficult to handle then his birthday, christmas, and the aniversary of his death. So, today I will honor my Father with this blog, and maybe it will help me to discover why Father's Day is so hard for me.

In the first few years after his death, I was filled with regrets. I regreted not spending more time with him, not listening more to him, and for some of the things that I said or did to him. I regreted not appreciating him like I should of when he was here. I regretted not telling him that I loved him everytime we spoke. With time, regrets like this begin to disapear. The bad memories go away, and it is easier to see the escense of a great man, and a great life. Was he perfect? No absolutly not, nobody is. Did he make mistakes? Of course he did, as everybody does. Did he love his family with everything he had? No Question.

I remember going through his closet when I was older, and still seeing alot of the same suits and belts and ties that he used when I was kid. They were still in great condition, because of the care he put into them, but they were the same. He didnt keep these cloths because of his affection for them. Like anyone, Im sure he craved newer threads, the latest fashions. He had the same cloths because he would rather spend the money on us. I can remember Mother Days or Christmas's where my mom would open package after package, until an entire new wardrobe appeared. He had a talent that I struggle everyday to learn, that is putting the family before the self.

As I mentioned earlier, bad regrets eventually go away, but they get replaced by new ones. Well, maybe regret is not the right word, maybe anguish fits better. I wish he would have gotten to meet my beautiful wife, they would have been fast friends. I wish he would have gotten the chance to be Grandpa Joe. I just know he would have made such a perfect Grandpa. I hate it that I cannot pick up the phone and tell him how his beautiful grandkids are doing, learning, and what they are going through. I cant ask for his advice, on how to handle tantrums, or organize finances. All I have is the memory and reflection of what he taught me while I thought I wasnt paying attention.

I think Fathers day teaches me how lucky I am. Lucky, to have been raised by such a cool dude. Lucky, to have have three beautiful kids. Lucky, to be able to use what he taught me to help me turn them into responsible happy adults. The most important factor is patience. My father never gave up on me. Even when I was going through some terrible teenage years, and we did not get along, he never gave up on me. I think that he saw me as a lump of coal that would eventually turn into a diamond. He could see beyond the present situation and realized that it is the end result and not the process that matters. I just wish he was here to see the diamond that he created, and the 4 diamonds (Eliza, my niece included) that will eventually shine brighter then the sun!

Finally, when I reflect on Father's Day I think of fatherly love that I recieved from some one who is not my father, he is my Uncle. On the day my dad died, I told my Uncle Bob that i was going to need his help, that I didnt think I was ready to take on the world without a man like my father to help me. He said of course he would, and has not once let me down since. He did not replace my father, nor would he ever want to. What he did was pick up where his brother left off, and finished the job. He has been there for me step by step, and I love him with everything i have. I am so thankful for him, and even though I lost my dad, I am so lucky to have an uncle who I know could not love me more. He and Aunt Sanny also have such a beautiful relationship with our kids. There is mutual love and admiration there.

This Father's Day I honor the great man that Joe T. was and is, the great Brother and Uncle that Bob T. is.... from the man who is constantly aspires to their greatness.

Long Overdue

Its been almost a week since Ive had a chance to sit at the computer..much less blog. I had an inspection this morning from one of the High Uppers, and have been working 16 hour days to get ready. This afternoon, after it was all over Adriana and I got to go on a much needed date!! We ate at a resteraunt that had cloth napkins, menus that we did not have to read off the wall, and our waiter was actually over the age of 16!!! It was so nice to enjoy a quite lunch at a resteraunt, and not have to chase kids around with a cup full of chucky cheese tokens.





After lunch we went to one of our favorite places on earth... THE MALL!! I have had a love affair with the mall for some time now, Adriana however is a recent convert. As we were shopping however I had a question that just wouldnt leave me alone, a question I have been afraid to answer for a long time.. A scary question.. Am .. I .. A .. Metro??!! The answer sadly is maybe..ok its Yes.. Here are my reasons for my startling finding.





Adriana is the handy man around the house always fixing everything, while I am the one that finds the floral arrangement that goes best with the coffee table.





My hair styling paste costs more than 20 bucks and has to be bought at a speciality store, where Adriana has to pretend to work for a salon just to be able to buy it.. It totally worth it though, my hair is light and natural, and stays exactly where I want it.





I have 5 different pairs of black dress shoes, each with a different kind of toe point.





OK this one is hard to confess.. Instead of watching the superbowl this year we watched an entire season of Americas Next Top Model.. In my defense they are a bunch of skinny models scantily clad, having cat fights with each other!!





My monthly magazine must reads are Details, GQ, and Mens Vogue..I also read Maxim, just to keep the testosterone active.





I have more face creams, body washes, and moisterizers than my wife does.. only by 1 though.





I have five different colognes in my medicine cabinet right now, and not one of them is old spice.. sorry Grandad.





I have my closet seperated into style of dress shirt sections.





Finally, and most sadly I tend to enjoy a good chick flick heres my top 5:


5. Bring it On... "Girl youve been saved by an angel.. girl"


4. He's just Not That into You


3. Serendipity.. It might have to do with the fact that Kate Beckensale is a HOTTIE.. atleast thats what helps me sleep at night.


2. Center Stage.. Skinny girls, yet again.


1. You've Got Mail.. whats not to love.. They meet online fall in love..not knowing they live right next to each other and pass each other all the time. Then he puts her out of business.. but still finds a way to make her love him.. Its poetic, even after the hundtredth time youve seen it.. I would know.








So am I a little metro.. probably.. am I a man.. definitely.. am I insane.. No Doubt!

Its Easy Being Green

My wife Adriana and I feel strongly about the need to be environmentially aware. We have tried over the last couple of years to become more green. Sometimes we do a pretty good job and other times, it would give Ed Begley Jr. a heart attack if he knew what we were doing. Well today I have decided that enough is enough, it is time to get serious. Therefore here is my 5 point plan I call Operation Green Go.. It goes into effect immediately:

There will be no more diapers used in this household. They say each diaper we use will be in the landfills until the dinosaurs come back, and that a kid will use thousands in his or her "soiling themselves stage". So I have ripped out all the carpet in the house and we will now have wall to wall newspaper flooring. That way Joey can roam freely and mark his territory as he deems fit. The paper will then be picked up and sent to be recycled... Nicole might just be able to get that puppy she wants so badly, after all.

I have also set up several barrels outside that I will use to collect rain water that we will use to bath the kids. During the monsoon season we should be good to go. During the dry season however, we might have some issues. On the brightside, I wont have to worry about the girls having boyfriends anytime soon.

Thirdly, I am going to figure out a way to rig our electrical system to a giant hampster wheel . To get the strogest hampsters possible I have contacted A - Rods personal trainer to "prescribe" them something. I have also contacted the professor from Gilligans island to handle the project. I mean the man made a radio out of a coconut, he can surely handle this! After all, his only weakness appears to be boat fixing.<
Next, we will no longer need Air Conditioning. I have sent away for some organically grown loin cloths, to be used by all during the summer months. Call me Tarazan King of Green baby! Dont worry I have not forgotten about the girls, Im gonna have the professor bring along some of his famous coconuts to help them cover there girl things.

Finally, this family will no longer need the use of motorized vehicles. I have ordered side cars for the girl's wiggly bikes, so that we can get around town. I think I will have Nat Nat be my personal driver.

FLINTSTONES MEET THE FLINTSTONES

So there is my 5 point plan, pretty easy, right? If any of you want to go green, I will do consultations on a commision basis.

Brother and Two Sisters

Adriana and I both come from families with two sisters and one brother. We have always thought that was pretty cool. So when we gave birth to Joe( well when Adriana gave birth, I had very little to do with that process), we were even more excited to have a family just like the ones we grew up in. The only difference was that Joe is the youngest, and in both of our families the boy is the green kangeroo(the middle one).

We were talking the other day about how close we thought the kids would be when they get older. We are both very fond of and keep close contact with our respective siblings, and hope the same for our kids. I have seen lots of families however, where for whatever reason the kids drift apart as they get older. It makes me wonder what the factors are that affect the closeness of siblings.

For me one of the biggest factors was that we grew up in a loving family where our parents were there for the long haul. We had our share of disfunction, but there was never any doubt that our parents loved us, loved each other, and were gonna stick too it through feast and famine. The sames goes for Adriana's family. That devotion from the parents teaches the children how important family is, and that even if we are not getting along right now, we are here to face the same problems and issues and its easier to get through it together.

As a child I was closest to my younger sister Maryellen. I think this was almost purely because of or closeness in age. Jenny, was 5 years older than me, and was almost like a second Mom. I dont say that in a bad way at all, as we got older her guidance and advice became a guding light for me. Today, I consider both to be two of my best friends.

The bond between Mare and I started early on. We were close in age(she being just a year and a half behind me), so we went through the many of the early childhood stages together. Infact, many thought we were twins or that Mare was older till about puberty. She was very funny even at a young age and i remeber us laughing for hours. Being siblings we did torment each other just a little bit. To this day I still swear that she was the forbidden love child of our neighbors, and that to hide their shame they put her out by the garbage, where my parents found her and took her in. She on the other hand, used to tell me that i was going to end up marrying the neighbors kid.. who happen to be a boy.. and that he was gonna show up up with a red rose in his mouth.

Our bond really grew during high school and through college. Anyone who knew me as an adolecent and as a young man knows that it was an awkward time for me, to say the least. I had trouble learning to socialize in appropriate ways, and thus spent alot of this time alone. It wasnt till I was in my twenties that I finally started to figure out who I was, and what my place in this world was. During my time of struggles I could always count on MaryEllen. She was my best friend and at times my only true friend, and I would have never have made it without her.

My bond to my sisters was finally realized ten years ago when we lost our Grandfather and Father in one months time. The three of us helped each other get through the pain in everyway. We spoke on the phone almost everyday, a habit that is still going on today. We learned then and know today that there is nothing that we cant get through together.

So as I look at my three beautiful kids today, I hope and pray that someday they will have the pleasure of having the same kind of bond. I love them so much and want the best for them.. and their is nothing better than the forever bond of love of a Brother and two sisters!
< I Love You Guys.. Thank You
/div>

Graduation Day

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Today, our oldest Nicole graduated from Pre - K. We are super proud of the fact that she is the first member of the family to recieve her Pre - K degree!!! When I asked her what her career plans were now that she graduated, she simply said "to go to Mcdonalds everytime!" Sounds like shes on the right track to me.

They had a big ceromony for the kids with caps and gowns and everything. Sadly, I had a meeting that I could not get out of (believe me I tried), so I didnt get to go. Nicole's Mommy and her Tio and Tia got to cheer her on though. So in honor of her special day, and because President Obama couldnt make it, I wrote her a Commencement Address.. I hope you enjoy it.

Good Afternoon Toddlers, Parents, Teachers, and Lunch Ladies. I am honored to speak to you on such a wonderful day, Pre K graduation 2009!! Im so happy for you students you've worked so hard and should be so proud of yourselves!! I have no doubt that you will be the future leaders of the playground, the lunch room and someday the world!! Furthermo.. Ah.. Timmy.. please dont eat that son! Could someone get Timmy in row two a kleenex please?

As you set out for Kinder I challenge you to keep up the hard work. For the change will not be easy. Gone will be naptime, believe me you will miss it later. The days will be longer, because you will have so much to learn and do. I challenge you to reach for the sky, to eat your veggies, and to listen to your parents. Be kind to everyone, but dont talk too much in class.

Well in conclusion, I wish you Luck Love and Happiness, and am looking foward to the great things you will do. Please study hard and go as far as you can in school, because this world is gonna need you smart kids to fix us! So Learn, Grow, and try not to eat too much Glue!

Thank You

Seriously though, I so proud of my little girl!! But I am also scared to death about how fast she is growing up!

Due to technical issues , Adriana was unable to get any good pictures of the ceremony.

Houston we have a problem!!

The Secret

Yesterday afternoon I was craving man things.. Beer, red meat, baseball, and guns (Well at least a Guns and Ammo magazine.) I needed some man time, some time away from Barbies, Zach and Cody, and the Wiggles. Actually, I caught myself playing air guitar to the base line in a Wiggle's song and knew that it was time for a break! My manhood depended on it. The only problem was that Adriana a.k.a (the warden) was never going to allow said alone time on a Saturday afternoon, especially after being alone all morning with the kids while I was at work. Then suddenly the secret of life came to me, and the next thing I said to her could be the most brillant words ever spoken. " Babes dont worry about dinner I think I'll grill out tonight!"

I don't know who invented the barbecue grill, but I am pretty sure it was a dude, and Im pretty sure that he was married with children. Whoever he was, this Buds for you!! You get to do all the fun things you did before kids, without the guilt trip. Was I drinking a beer..Yes.. Was I outside getting some much need rays..Yes.. Was I listening to a baseball game.. Yes! Was I reading Guns and Ammo..No.. I guess Im not as manly as I thought, I was reading Details.. Im not ashamed.

The part that is golden is that in Adriana's eyes I was only doing one thing, cooking!! Here I was helping her out, but also able to do my own thing.. its Beautiful Baby! Now I know why you would often find my father breaking out the grill in the middle of winter.. he needed some Man Time!

Unfornately just like anything now a days, my new life philosophy has the chance to produce some adverse side effects.. Warning .. this may cause your wife to be so happy with you, and so proud that your helping out that after the tasty meal is done and your fat and happy.. She may say " Thanks for dinner babes! I need to run to the store, can you watch the kids?"

Even though my cloud 9 sank a little in the end, I had a great time, and look foward to "helping out" as often as I can !!

Fire Good ..Beer..Good..the expression on my face..Not so Good

Super Hero Saturday

This morning as I was driving to work, I was kind of bummed out because of having to work on a Saturday yet again. (Im a salary slave - no OT for me). But then out of no where I had the best idea Ive had in a while (ok only idea in a while).. Why not make this Sauturday Super? Super Hero Saturday is thus upon us! So I present to you my fam ..super hero style!



Hurricane Nat Nat (also known as Spiller the II). She can make any room go from clean to a Presidential declared disaster area, in less then 5.3 seconds!! President Obama is already looking into creating a new department to deal with the situation. Governor Richardson of New Mexico was going to head it up but had to back out at the last moment. She can also produce spills that make Brawny towels run for shelter and make the Exxon Valdez look like childsplay.

(Notice the path of destruction in the background?)







Bossy Mcbosserson - Known only as The Boss. Watch out criminals, she is ready to boss you right into submision. You will think that she wants to play an innocent game of school with you. But whatever you do DO NOT let her be the teacher!!! Fail to Comply to her wishes and she will "Punch you in the butt.

(Watch out guys she tends to aim low)

Surprise also known as the Surpriser or Moey. He got his name for two reasons.. First, were the circumstances surrounding his being brought into the world. I think the name says it all. Secondly, is that he is so cute and such a calm kid, that you would never guess that he has a darker side.. Just try to change his diaper and you'll find out what I mean. Right Jen? He is also surprisingly strong. He can pull him self into a standing position using anything solid, and he will stay there till you bring him down (bending the knees is on his things to learn list for tommorow.)

The Enforcer also known as The Accountant. Lose a baby bottle and she will be there.. Overspend at the mall and she will attack..Stay out past curfew -may the Lord have mercy on your soul. She also keeps this band of Super friends a functioning unit.

No Picture available for The Accountant - apparently there was no more picture money available in the monthly budget.

The Incredible Disappearing Man also known as Spiller I.. Need help changing a diaper? Give someone a bath? Clean up a mess? You will discover his talent to be no where to be found.. Cook dinner.. hes back!!! He also wins the bread for this troop.. or at least thats his excuse.

( Honey! Joey needs a bottle! .. MI AMOR a bottle!! Anthony Joseph!!!)

The Truth about Where we come from

The other day I watched my oldest (Nicole), putting her baby into timeout. I recognized every word she said because it was an exact inactment of what I do when I put her in time out. I mean she even got the tone of voice and finger pointing right. Though, I think she was a little bit bossier than I was.. OK so she's a bit bossy, shes gonna make a great C.E.O, or Navy Seal!

Anyway, it got me thinking about how much of our personality and interests are recieved just from the pure repetition of watching your parents do something over and over again during your entire childhood. Here are the top things that I inherited from my parents, that I wouldnt be caught dead doing in public.

• When no one else is around and M.A.S.H reruns come on the T.V...... break the remote cuz da channel aint gonna be a changin! Thanks Mom
• Also thanks to Mom, I will not turn the station when Neil Diamond is on the radio.. Ok Im not gonna lie I adore the man, I jam to Neil all the time.. Get me a sequins(sure I did'nt spell that right) jumpsuit and some fake chest hair and I am ready to hit the road!! Come on Neil just call me already!! My favorite is Song Song Blue... Cuz funny thing you can sing it with a smile in your voice..Then you start feelin good. You simply got no choice!!
• I once found myself licking my finger and rubbing a spot off Nicole's face.. I nearly passed out it was pure instict.. But my little Nicole did something I never thought to do when it happened to me.. She looks up at me and says "Daddy thats Discuusting!! Why would you do that?! I vowed to never again to do it and praised her for figuring out at such a young age, how to make it stop.. I mean my Mom cleaned my face as I was waiting for Adriana to come outside and marry me! (backyard wedding)
• Dad also had his contributions.. Six words for you - How do You Scare a Bee? Enough said.
• I cant wait for the day when I get to sit a kid down and give them the ole "Success is like a bunch of carrots, and your the rabbit, so you got to chase after those carrots down and eat them" speech.
• Dad also taught me to love and respect your wife.. and for that I am extremely thankful!

So heres hoping that my kiddos dont pick up too many of my bad habits. Duran Duran and White Snake are cool!!? Right?

P.S. Never write anything down you would not want written on the Front Page of the Newspaper!! - Good Advice Mom!

Immediate Job Opening

I have decided to give my lovely wife a well deserved belated Mothers Day gift.. One year off to do whatever she wants.. Travel ( I know shes always wanted to tour Italy)..Start her own make up line..or maybe she could just sleep for the entire year.. It doesnt matter whatever she wants. In order to make this happen I will need someone to fill her huge spot.. Here is the Job Posting..

Job Description

You will be the primary caretaker, teacher, and inspiration for 4 children. ( a 5 year old girl , a 2 and half year old girl, a 10 month old boy and a 4 year old boy traped in a 33 year old's body) watch out the oldest one he is the most demanding and will cost the most money.

This job is a 24 hour 7 day a week position, with no off time - actually no alone time either - must be able to handle all manner of personal matters with multiple spectators.. if you know what I mean and I think you do. Stage fright might be an issue at first.

A Typical Day if Hired

Many days you will be required to wake up by 5 and shower and get ready for work as quitely as possible, because waking up one of your kids early may result in a bad hair day for you. You must then be able to wake and feed all the kids (except the oldest who will have left for work be fore you wake up), and get them to the daycare by 6:30 so you can be at work at the bank by 7:oo. After working for several hours on your feet, you will either go strait to pick up the kids or if time permits maybe you can run some errands or pay some bills. (you are also going to be our chief accountant and Book keeper. Once you pick up the kids, you will head home for housekeeping duties, baths, and bedtime. Bedtime will take several hours and several trips to the kitchen to make bottles, bring juice, or make a last minute snack- your 5 year old is always mysteriously starving when bedtime is upon her. Thoughout the night you will be woken several times for feedings, or bathroom trips, or for when your oldest is leaving for work at 4:00 and cannot find his keys, his glasses, his store keys, his wallet, or sometimes even his underwear.

Job Requirements

Must possess an un dying love for these kids.

Must have superhuman hearing and telepathy to be able to stop what your doing in an instant and run across the house and up the stairs to help the baby who is about to cry.

Must be able to multi task

Must be able to put everyone elses interests above your own.

Must have Go Go Gadget arms

Must be the most beautiful girl in world.

Must be able to entertain all ages at all times

Must be able to control all manners of fits, tantrums, and bad moods - the 3 younger kids will also have these from time to time.

Salary

You will recieve no pay at home and what you make at bank will basically cover daycare and insurance.

Benefits

You will get to spend your days with the three coolest and prettiest kids in the world, and have my eternal love and admiration. Did I mention all the Disney channel you will have to uh I mean get to watch?

Ok well the good news is I have the only girl perfect enough for the job.. The bad news is its my Adriana.. So my plan is foiled.. I guess the trip to Italy will have to wait... And her belated Mothers Day Present will have to be this:

I Love You girl and I always will. I know we are high maintanence.. but you maintain us so well!! I cant wait to grow old with you! To show you how much you mean to me.. I have located and have plans to use the cloths hamper!

Love You Babes

Terrible Twosday

In honor of my second least favorite day of the week.. Tuesday.. I offer terrible Twosday. Any parent who has toddlers has heard and probably experienced the dreaded terrible twos. The lovely time when your child is walking and talking, pooping in other places besides their diapers, and exploring the new world of forcing their needs and wants on everyone and everything.

Our middle cutie Natalie - Nat Nat- is in the midst of this stage. I have never like the term terrible twos because there is nothing terrible about this kind hearted soul we are raising. Yes, she does throw fits - alot. Yes she is sharing challenged. Yes, she can destroy a room so fast that she has earned the nickname Hurricane Nat Nat. And yes, she can tend to get a bit moody, and high maintenance .(wait am I describing her or her Father?) But no, she is not terrible!

What I see is that she finally able to process and interpret the world around her, and is trying to find her own way to manage it. For the first months of her life, everything was controled for her. When she ate, slept, what she wore was all controlled by these crazy parents she inherited. Now she can have some input on the decisions we make for her, and when those decision dont match what she has in mind... the terrible twos strike.

This is also her time of discovery. She is taking in so many new things every moment of every day, that she can sometimes turn into Number 5 from Short Circuit --- MUST HAVE MORE INPUT! And when the input is too much for her little brain to process... the terrible twos strike.

Well its time to put the Terribles to bed.. I want to officially rename this stage in her little life. How bout Trobled Twos or Taxing Twos? Trying Twos? Time Consuming twos? Thuderous twos? Or maybe something from parents perspective.. Tequila Twos? OK now I need input..your input..help me pick a name that shows how special my girl is. Cause the only terrible I know is how terribly in love with this girl I happen to be.

Cast of Charectors

Dont know where to start

My two sisters and my mom inspired us to go out and buy a laptop, and get this blog started. My sisters because they both have created entertaining blogs that we love to visit, and my mom who because of these great blogs can now not only turn on the computer, but actually navigate her way to the sites, and even leave comments! I dont expect this blog to be that inspiring, I just hope its not too boring.

My wife Adriana's and my goal in creating this blog is twofold. First, we would like to introduce our beautiful and perfect children to the world(or at least to the three people who will visit this site- see above mentioned). Secondly, we need some outlet to help us make sense of this crazy world of parenting three kids 5 Years Old and younger, that does not involve heavy amounts of alcohol, or Hanna Montana.

You always hear how having kids changes your whole world.. I dont think thats true.. It destroys your world.. And then creates a completly new one that is wonderful yet complicated. All that was important before takes a place behind dirty diapers, temper tantrums and trips to every potty in town. Sleep becomes a luxury, and alone time extinct.

Anyway, this is our blog, our lives, enjoy!