Snowmageddon again!

Been inside a lot this week so more time to blog and talk about kids, snow and whatever. Another 10inches on top of the 24 we had on Saturday and just finished digging out yesterday just in time for this one. Alex and Josh are loving it as they are climbing the snow drifts and piles like they are mountain climbers. I did promise Alex that we would build a tunnel and igloo so he has been reminding me hourly it seems. Careful what you promise a 5yr old as it will come back two fold and as a parent you better follow through or you will be mud. Pic of Alex on his mountain before this latest storm.

Potty Trained

At 2yrs 11 months my little Joshua has mastered the potty! It was two days of hell and leashing the boy so to speak but he is now officially doing the deed on the potty with little help from me. Still gotta wipe little butts but much better then diaper duty. To see him last week poop and pee on the potty all day with no accidents and his reaction to it was truly grand for he and I. I rewarded him with a small toy for his accomplishment that he picked out beforehand and the sheer accomplished look on his little face was worth the pain. No pull-ups and cold turkey is the key to solid success in my opinion and I am 2 for 2 at this point in my daddy carrer. I think potty training a boy before they are three is pretty good from what I have heard. Been a good weekend with the Caps still on a roll, saints winning the super bowl and me becoming a diaper-less daddy after 5+ years. Beer me somebody!

Snowpocalypse

Snow means well I think we all know the answer and Apocalypse means "An Apocalypse (Greek: Ἀποκάλυψις Apokálypsis; "lifting of the veil" or "revelation") is a disclosure to certain privileged persons of something hidden from the majority of mankind. Today the term often refers to Armageddon or the end of the world, which may be a shortening of the phrase apokalupsis eschaton, literally "revelation at the end of the æon, or age". In Christianity The Apocalypse of John is the Book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible."From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. So this term Snopocalypse seems to fit for me just fine. A bit on the scary side per the definition but this monster snow storm beats any storm I have ever been through. The last time it snowed like this in Washington was back in 1922 and not to many people alive today to remember it. My back deck has 21inches and my lower deck had more in the range of 30inches but snow tends to swirl and collect back there. My oldest asked me if he had to go outside because he was afraid he would be berried but I assured him that I would not let that happen. My youngest went out with out a hitch as no fear has set yet in his mind. Oh and on a side note he is potty trained at 2yrs 11 months old but I'll save that story for another blog post. Here are a few snow pics for you all to enjoy.

The new decade begins

Has been a busy start to the new decade for this stay at home parent. One the first day of the new year Alex and I went shopping for a new TV with our Christmas money from family. We decided to replace our little 13" box tv in our kitchen to a 32" HD TV and boy what a difference.The price was right to at just 389 so didn't blow the bank. We originally put it in our bedroom but I ended up staying up most of the night watching AMC movies and that didn't go over well with the Wify. HD is grand! Also this year I had a umbilical hernia repair that I have been meaning to do but just couldn't find the right time to get it done. My belly button was really starting to bother me so i made an appointment with the surgeon and had it fixed last Tuesday. Still a bit sore but not bad. The procedure was outpatient and have been watching lots of TV on our new screen. Wild card weekend is here and can't wait!

Christmas Greetings

Twas the week before Christmas and all through the palace not a single little boy was steering not even a wify but this old man was stirring and sipping a well made drink and contemplating another great year gone by. It has been a great year for us as Alex is in his final year at pre-K at St. Marys and moving up to kindergarten next fall. Little Joshua on the other hand my be headed for 2day Pre-k in January but he needs to get out of his diapers first as well as recruit 4 more toddlers to join him for the class to go forward. Alex has been really enjoying school this year and has many friends. Joshua is also doing well with me at home and it always surprises me how quiet and behaved he is when Alex is at school. They are lots alike in appearance but in personality they are quiet opposite. Emilynda is hard at work for us and her new position has been a big challenge for her and the Family this past year as she spends lots of late nights working to keep everything under control. I try to have a kiss and a good dinner ready for her when she arrives home in the evening. How luck am I to have such a cool wife. I have had a good year too raising two rowdy boys and watching how they grow while keeping our little home running smoothly. Lots of house projects to do and things to fix. My truck needed some major work done to it over the summer and I managed to get it all done on the weekends. Need to gut our master bath after x-mas and put a roof on our deck and the projects keep on coming.... Hope all of you have a merry Christmas and a Happy new year.

Love always from us to you!
Patrick, Emilynda, Alexander and Joshua

PS Santa comes tonight and we boys can hardly stand it!