Kid Swapping...

We met up with my sister to loan our children and return theirs. The kids will be vagabonding with various friends and family for the next couple weeks. In the meantime however, the adults decided to play some cards and have some fun while the kids slept. The wife, after dealing almost single handedly with 5 children on her own the last couple weeks decided to have a few drinks prior to cards - 2 (5 shot) Long Island ice teas later she was feeling no pain.

Sis and I decided to be partners in a friendly game of Euchre and my drunk wife decied to use our initials A&D for the score sheet (couldn't use the cards in this deck). She quickly related A&D to A&D ointment, and here is where the fun really begins...we became known as the butt salve team. I quickly pointed out we weren't preparation H when my darling sweet OLDER sister proudly announces (complete with emphatic fist pumping) THAT'S RIGHT, WE'RE BUTT SALVE!!!! So much for that argument.

Shortly after that, my drunkard was making other mocking comments, which got her shoved off the bed (where we were playing cards...what were YOU thinking?!?!). While she has one hand on the floor and is trying to figure out a way to get up, begging for help, she decides to further add insult to injury and call her sweet husband "Ass Monkey" every time I began to help. After a couple of minutes she finally realized the error of her ways. Nope, she didn't apologize, she just realized she could roll off of the bed and then sit back down on it.

So, after a rousing night of beating children and truly laughing so hard it hurts, the wife and I are childless. Problem is, I no longer have any idea of what to do with all of the free time....

Calling Frankfurter and Jezzabell...

Got a strange call from my brother in law while checking on his kids visiting us for a couple of weeks:

Me: Hi, thanks for calling Price orphanage. How can I help you?
BIL: Yes, I'd like to talk to Frankfurter and Jezzabell please.
Me: Um, not sure they are here. Let me check...

'Frankfurter, Jezzabell - phone call...'

Kids: Yahhh, Dad's on the phone...

Kind of scary that he's trained his children to answer to these names...funny, but scary. Always knew he wasn't quite right.

Father's Day...

I've been doing a bit of travel for work, which is why I've been lax on posting. Somehow, it seems better to be out doing things with the family rather than writing about stuff when I've been away for so long...go figure.

Anyway, it's striking me today just how much my kids have been growing up the last few weeks and thought it appropriate to put a note up about them, life in general, and a happy Father's day note to all the Dad's reading. So, without further adieu...

When I'm travelling I'm usually working a lot, so don't often get a chance to call home and say much more than hi to the family. When I get home however, the whole family rushes to meet me, showing me how much they love and miss me when I'm gone. I get to hear all about the week and while those things are bittersweet moments, I also get to truly appreciate how great my kids truly are - something I probably don't do enough of when I'm around more.

On the weekends that I'm home, we usually spend one day just catching up and another for "Family Fun Day" where we try to find something to do as a family outing. If it's raining for example, we might all go to the library or book store - if not, we might go to the waterpark or pool to play and enjoy. One of our recent rainy day activities was to play about 10 games of Clue. I haven't done that since I was probably their age and we had FUN just playing and enjoying each others company.

What does all this mean? It means that I realize just how lucky a person, husband and father I am. My family helps make me feel special all year round, and all I can truly want for Father's day I already have. I have and get to enjoy my family whom I very biasedly view as the best in the whole world. Usually polite, sweet and caring - but no matter what, they are mine and I truly love, appreciate and enjoy them.

So, to all the Dad's out there reading this, I hope you feel the same about your family that I do mine. You may not do the same things I do, but I truly hope you have the time and opportunity to be shown and to show how much you appreciate each other. To all of the wives and children of fathers, I hope you realize how much your loved one loves and appreciates you and if you haven't already - let them know. Heck, even if you have, do it again... ;)

Happy Father's Day!!!

Thank you...

For those fighting home and abroad - yesterday, today and tomorrow - thank you. I may not always agree with why our government puts you in harms way, but I ALWAYS believe that you are heroes - whether in war or in peace. Thank you for your sacrifices, your dedication, and your abilities. Good luck, and come home safe as soon as possible.

You may not always realize it and sometimes others forget to acknowledge it, but everyone has been touched in some way by your sacrifices and dedication. We thank you, we miss you - but we understand that you have an extremely important job to do and we know that you can get it done.

Star Wars...

So, the end of the saga (or middle depending on point of view) has been finished. My youngest came out sword fighting with his invisible "light-saver" and a new found respect for Ovi-Wan - (not clear what's happening to the "b"'s, but gotta let kids be kids...). Anyway, if given the opportunity, I think the kids would've stayed in the theater for DAYS just rewatching the thing.