Lost...

Been a while and lots has been happening. I've been traveling for work again (finally done), and the family has been enjoying summer vacation. First, neice and nephew were down to visit. It is simply amazing to me how the kids can go for months at a time and not miss a beat. Then we shipped ours back home to visit relatives. Everyone seems to be having a good time. Worst seems to be the youngest falling out of a tree. Picked up some scratches, but all is well.

And of course, while the kids are away, the parents will play. The wife and I decided to postpone our anniversary celebration (it's been 10 years already) until the kids were away and take a short trip. We ended up picking Hilton Head, because it was close (about a 5 hour drive) and near the water. Other than poor customer service from majority of the hotel staff, we had a great trip. Excellent food, and the best was the ability to be spontaneous again (even if it was to spontaneously take a nap - we are getting sooo old). All in all, good time, great food and even better company (from my view at least). I do miss the kids however.

So, the wife left Thursday to retrieve the kids, leaving me on my own for 5 days. Problem is, after the first day, I've been as lost as the dog. Getting to the point where I think my neighbors are avoiding me. How do stay at home folks do it?

Anyway, that pretty much catches you up on us. Not as interesting as usual perhaps, but definitely more relaxed. More stories soon - once the kids get home.

Say WHAT?!?!?!

This morning, while trying to keep the youngest cheered up enough to leave us, I decided the best way was to give some responsibility in order to make up for abandoning Mom and Dad. Below is almost the exact conversation:

Youngest: I love you Dad. I'm going to miss you.
Me: I love you too and I'm going to miss you very much. Can you do me a favor though? Can you watch out for your sisters? You know, make sure they don't get in trouble and are good and all that? Remind them we love and miss them too?
Youngest: Yep, I can do that Dad.
Middle: Watch us? Watch us? You realize Dad that he is the "little brother". We should be watching out for him, not the other way around. Do you even know what you're saying Dad?

Umm, I thought I did, but since you put it that way...

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!!!