An education

I don't know if this is true of all kids or just my kids, but to Grace and Julia, their dad is the playful parent. Craig will lay on the floor and act out scenes, including sound effects, with animal figurines or army guys--an activity that would last only five minutes with me. He doesn't mind being used as a jungle gym, and he can provide horseback rides upon request. I'm not a total slouch in this area, but play with me tends to be more crafty and doesn't require a falsetto voice.

I think Craig takes the girl's education on all things play very seriously or maybe it's just that he's still a kid at heart. Over the last several years he has tried to cultivate in them an appreciation of toys from his past (which is partly why I think his efforts aren't really about Grace and Julia, but about playtime for him), so it should be no surprise that Star Wars is very, very important in our lives. Now the girls haven't actually seen much of the movies--their education centers primarily on play with figurines and storytelling. By the time they do see the movies, I imagine each of them will be able anticipate the plot-line and cite arcane details.

Why am I telling you this? Well this whole post is geared to show you some of Craig's night-time ritual with the girls. I can't remember when this started, but for some time he has been reading old Star Wars comics as bedtime stories. I wish you could actually be in the room to watch Grace and Julia pepper him with questions or hear his impersonation of C3PO. Life is made of moments, right? And I love these moments.

36 is the new 6

Ever since the girls received kickboards for Christmas, Craig has been green with envy. By New Year's, Grace was telling me, "We NEED to get one for Dad!" Three months later his wish came true: a Monster Kick Board just for him. While it would have been great to surprise him, Grace was a bit too excited (she told anyone who would listen, often with Craig in the same room). In any case, he did his part by feigning complete surprise. Not that his surprise mattered, he LOVES it.

Thirty six today, but not a minute older than six in his mind.

What is love?

[Modified on Saturday morning]

Love is changing one's flight, catching the redeye, and coming home one day early after a long week away.

Love is trying to change one's flight, catch the redeye, and come home one day early after a long week away.

The week didn't actually get long until today, which is always the case when Craig leaves town. I'm usually okay up until the last 48 hours and then the house/kids/self fall apart. Julia has infected eyes. Grace looks like she's coming down with another bug (three days into the semester), and I'm simply bone tired. It's not the end of the world (obviously), but still my smile almost broke Skype when Craig told me his plan.

And I'm still smiling despite the fact his plan didn't work. He'll be home Sunday as scheduled, and we'll make the best of our day in the meantime.

I'm spoiled, and I don't care. Also, did you notice, hmm hmm, we're back.

V day

Let's take a moment of silence to remember Craig's vas deferens.

tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock

Moment's over. The patient needs another ice pack and a beer. If only recovering from childbirth were that easy.

PS. Yes, my husband rocks. He is the best in the whole wide world, and I love him up to the sun and the moon and back one hundred million billion times (which is a lot, like Grace says).