Rozey Thorn Trees

No joke, since I bought Band-Aids imprinted with cute and colorful rainbow unicorns and Peppa Pigs, ouchies and boo-boos have increased exponentially in this home. Coincidence?

4yr: I don't want to nap! Me: I'll nap with you. Let's race to see who sleeps first. On your mark, get set, go! 4yr: I'm winning! (If she wins, I win more. Best race ever.)

Tech innovation, automation, and AI are fascinating to learn about. I'm hoping society adjusts effectively as jobs continue to be displaced at an ever-increasing rate. This is a bipartisan issue worth taking seriously in the next election cycle.

8yr: Daddy, how do I floss my back teeth? Me: I'll show you. Watch me. 8yr: Ewww!...I should not have come here.

In the car trying to casually prepare our 4-year-old for a trauma-free doctor's appointment in another week. Laura: Thalia is going to have preschool shots. 4yr: I know! Because I'm starting preschool. I'm going to have preschool shots! 8yr: Do you actually know what that means? Laura: (hissing) Sophia, stop! Stop it!... 8yr: Well, a shot is when... Laura: For the love of...just stop talking! Getting the shots will be bad enough without big sister putting thoughts in her head! We're hoping that watching Daniel Tiger's doctor visit episode will help prepare her for the worst of it.

My 8-year-old charged my 4-year-old money to play house with her today. Laura put a stop to the two-dollar birthday cash transaction. We don't pay to play here.

It's better to be late and alive than to be a no-show and in the hospital!  Stay safe in traffic everybody!

When I picked up my daughters from the KidZone at the Y today, a little boy stood at the doorway, smiled at me, and said, "Hi, Daddy." Me: Uhh. Kid: Hi, Daddy. Me: Hi. I'm not your daddy, but hi. Kid: (looks at KidZone worker, points at me, and whispers with conviction) Daddy. Me: 😮 I think the Y is running a Twilight Zone. 🙃

Inviting Mommy to roleplay... 2yr: You're the bad guy. Laura: I want to be the mommy who loves everyone. 2yr: You're the bad guy! Laura: What does the bad guy do? 2yr: (whack,whack!) Laura: Oh, the bad guy gets hit...

Someone randomly asked me what I do for a living. Of course, it's a legitimate question to ask in our culture, but sometimes I just want to respond politely with "I stay busy minding my own business..." 😁 #introvertday

7yr: Daddy, who do you want to win? Me: Oh, whoever Mommy wants to win. Laura: Such a smart man.

I introduced Sophia to The Accidentals to inspire her violin playing. Later in the car she told Laura that we were listening to The Mistakens, haha! #theaccidentals

At dinner tonight, my 4-year-old demanded to know who stole her ice cubes from her cup. She glared at each of us ready for a fight until I explained how ice water works...😅