Father's Day Part II

(pictures of dad and louis)

This is my dad.

Before Grandma died, she told me that he "would give the shirt off his back to someone who needed it. Even if he didn't have another."
That is my dad.
My dad has kind and gentle hands.
My children love him, because he plays their games....For as long as they want.
(He played with Benny at the pool this week. They poured buckets of water back and forth, for 40 minutes straight.)
He pulls starbursts out of my kids ears. He covers every leftover with tinfoil. He supports every 7 year old, lemonade-selling entrepreneur. He loves his mom...And frequently visited her, to play a good game of Rook. He loves his dad. And frequently visits his grave to feel closer to him. Someday, when he is gone, I will miss my "dad gifts:" Like matchboxes from the hotel he stayed at last, or sunset texts from his long, work drives.

I have a good dad.
I love him.

Father's Day Part I

While I was pregnant with Benny, Brandon took the boys to the zoo.
This monkey was B's favorite exhibit.
He described it, something like this: "We came up to this big, ratty monkey. It was alone, perched on the limb. It had a big bald spot on the top of it's head...and the rest of the hairs were sticking up all over." When he read the plaque description, he realized that the reason being, was that the male monkeys in that species, were in charge of carrying their babies on their heads. They were so diligent in their task, it wore off their fur. He felt a little sentimental about it. And I know, it is because he can relate to that kind of caring, diligent loyalty.

Happy Father's Day B.

B's first picture in fatherhood. Brandon and Lou.

Brandon and DJ.

Brandon and Benny.

And some of my favorites...

The Chicken or the Egg

Recently we cared for our neighbors chickens.
Lou wanted so badly to keep the eggs and
watch them "turn into chicks."
I explained how it works, but he seemed
determined to "take care of them." (like shuttling them around in the back of a grass-filled, toy dump truck, while chatting with the little embryos...)

A few minutes later, I spotted him making a "nest" in the sandbox.
Turn around....and SIT.

To his surprise!

First Words

My children's official
FIRST WORDS:

Louis- "light"
DJ- "pi-der" (spider)
Benny- "tee" (tree)

The Good Ol' Days

I found these old family pictures this week of my mother, older brother, and I.

little boys. little boys.

I was browsing some pictures tonight.
I am feeling rather nostalgic.
My boys are growing up.

Lou:









DJ:










Benny:

the world of disney

enjoy those pretzels.

my son is allergic to america.
or in other words...wheat, dairy, corn, peanuts, oats, cats, dogs, trees, grass.

this is only a recent discovery. and it is really not as bad as it sounds. i mean,
if you don't mind finding something tasty that does not contain flour, cheese, or corn syrup.
but there is a perk.

we went to florida this week.
while probing the airline for allergy alternatives...i found that they take it very seriously...(at least Southwest.) Anti-peanuters get to board the plane with the old and infirm. aka: before everyone else. and if you are allergic to peanuts- they will not serve a single one on board.

"it's okay. he's not anaphalactic..." i almost heard myself say.
but instead: "we'll take it!"

and when they served everyone on board a bag of dry, boring pretzels (which he still can't have)-
i felt somewhat satisfied for my baby.
(who, by the way, harbors no begrudging for the delightful world not allowed.)

Gerber President

Lou: "Mom why do we have a president? Is it so when the robots come, he can shoot them with cannons?"

Dad: "Benny you have a baby-food beard!"
DJ: "Dad. It's Gerber."

Anatomy 101

Boy or Girl?
My kids really want to know:

We invited my parents to dinner Saturday. While eating, DJ asked:
"Grandpa, you have a penis?"

This morning Lou looked at me and said: "Boobs are part of your body. Girls have them. But not boys...and not grandmas."

Alternative Hide-and-Seek

Lou: "Lets play a game. You be blinded, and follow- without me leading."

.