Re-cap

Bocce was not a blood bath, we only had three for most of the night. Norm, The Law Talking Guy and AtHomeDaddy created a new "form" of Bocce once the Pennsylvania Ringer, a neighbor's father visiting for the weekend, went home. All of the Dads had fun. Too bad we had to introduce The Lawyer Stick. No we did not hit The Law Talking Guy, we had to measure at the end of each frame.

New House Rules were discussed. Two were officially adopted, by decree of AtHomeDaddy.

House Rules of Bocce
1. NO Lawyer Ball! You got 'em? Throw 'em!
2. If you can't set the marker ball in two tries, You LOSE!

The Boss Lady kept the Mommies and kids entertained with movies and snacks. Yum, Smoothies and Beer!

Who dares challenge AtHomeDaddy

The Bocce court is ready. Never has there been a better grass court. AtHomeDaddy ignored almost all other responsibilities this afternoon to set-up the court for tonight's massacre.

Hope the Law-Talking Guy and Norm are impressed with all the work, because I am kickin butt tonight!

Motorcycle Mania

The Talker is fully enthralled with motorcycles, once again. There was a Harley Davidson rally in town a couple of weeks ago with 30-50,000 bikes around town. We seldom walk anywhere without The Talker holding his arms out, hanging on to imaginary handlebars and roaring like a classic Softail.

Much fun in the halls at church today, watching The Talker run over old ladies on his motorcycle. They should not be strolling on a 2 year old's motorcycle track!

Watching NASCAR today and getting the Bocce court ready for heated competition this evening. Neighbors stopping in to watch Finding Nemo . The dads will have to skip the movie so I can whoop 'em on the Bocce court.

Can you say home field advantage?

Not to be outdone

The Talker has updated his photo page, too. Email AtHomeDaddy for the web address if you don't already have it.

The Princess' photo page

Has been updated. Several new pictures added. Email AtHomedaddy if you want the web address.

Dinner with the fam

This afternoon we went across town to meet Sis and her kids and Uncle Lemon and My So Called Aunt with their kids for dinner. We fought downtown traffic just to wait an hour or more for them to show up!

We were really hungry, but was waited patiently so that we could all dine together.

Afterwards, the women escaped to a movie and before I knew it, Uncle Lemon and I were left alone to keep three kids and two puppies occupied and happy. I only broke up one fight and I only cried for a little while. No curse words were uttered all night. A new record for The Talker and for AtHomeDaddy!

We want to see the sun

The Talker is completely stir crazy. Raining again this morning. AtHomeDaddy was running the electric blower when a shower came out of nowhere. Needed to work on the plants on the front porch, so no real lost time due to the rain.

The Talker went with The Boss Lady to get a haircut this morning. NO CRYING, screaming or kicking the stylist this time. Hopefully we will not have to leave a 33% tip from now on. I always feel a little guilty that the stylist needs to wear shin guards to work on The Talker.

Mower update.

Turns out that It was not the mower I repaired a couple of times this year. I had to repair the tiller several times a while back. I was halfway through tearing apart the mower engine when I realized that I did not know what in the heck I was looking at.

Never to be intimidated by a non-working appliance, I kept going. Made what I thought the right repairs and buttoned it all back up. Gave the rope a tug and mowed my yard! Now who is the man of the house?

The Honeymoon ended

About 5 minutes after the last post, the Tylenol wore off from when The Princess got her shots this morning. Nothing wrong with her lungs. The Princess screamed for more than an hour.

Afterwards, The Talker had a little playtime with the neighbors. So at the end of the afternoon, The Princess still got me out of doing housework.

Thanks for the screaming, Princess

Mexican lunch with The Boss Lady

The entire family went out to eat after The Princess was done with her Dr's appointment. The Talker packs in the food anytime we eat at this restaurant. Hopefully he will take a nice long nap with a full belly.

The Princess and I worked in the garden after The Boss Lady went back to work. This afternoon's haul - 2 pounds of cucumbers and a small bowl of beans. No tomatoes yet.

The watermelons are starting to blossom. Looks like we will be eating a lot of watermelon again this year! I was worried because of the new wooden fence that WonderLady, the neighbor, put up. Dang thing is so tall it nearly blocks out the sun!

Our pumpkins are starting to take over the back half of the garden. Hopefully it will be a bumper crop. Last year we only harvested one pumpkin. Still, we were the only house for miles with a Jack-O-Lantern that we grew ourselves.

Can you guess that both of the kids are napping again? If this keeps up, I really will have to do some housework to keep the Boss Lady happy.

Easy Morning

The Boss Lady took The Princess in for her two-month check-up and rabies shots, so The Talker and AtHomeDaddy have been cruising the neighborhood, looking for trouble.

I will let you know in a couple of days if The Talker or AtHomeDaddy are allergic to Poison Ivy. At least we got some good pictures of the waterfall on the creek by our house.

Cast of Characters coming soon

When I get a chance, I'll post a listing of people that you may read about here or at ADHDaddy. I have been working on some good names for you clowns.

Here is a hint... The Mother of the Bride and The Queen Mother will both be making appearances.

ADHDaddy Blog

Check out ADHDaddy. There is no real reason for AtHomeDaddy to be running another blog site, but the title made The Boss Lady laugh, so there it is. It probably should have been the title from the start.

Don't you love family?

Sis (and her two kids) wants to drop by and spend a day or two hanging out. So she tells me the reason for a visit, she is looking for cheap entertainment because her dogs have fleas.

Wow, we are more fun than watching dogs scratch themselves...

'Nuff Said!

Rainy Wednesday

The Talker and The Princess have Wednesday playtime with the neighborhood kids. Because it is too wet to play outside, we all headed to Chucky Cheese.

If you do not know what Chucky Cheese is, you are blessed. The Talker has been asking to go for a week, so this was the perfect chance. It is nice to go with friends, so I did not have to drag both children to the restroom at the same time! (It may be a small thing, but that has been the highlight of my day!)

The Talker is scared of the costumed staff people and the anima-tronic characters, but otherwise, he had a blast. He even went chasing one of the neighbors through the tunnel playscape. That is only the second time he has gone willingly inside of one of the tubes.

Both are asleep at the same time! 3 days in a row. A guy could get spoiled, except that there is a pile of laundry waiting for some attention.

Toddlers' Property Laws

1. If I like it, it's mine.
2. If it's in my hand, it's mine.
3. If I can take it from you, it's mine.
4. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.
5. If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
6. If I'm doing or building something, all the pieces are mine.
7. If it looks like mine, it is mine.
8. If I saw it first, it's mine.
9. If you are playing with something and you put it down,it automatically becomes mine.
10 If it's broken, it's yours.

Once in a while I may post something that I get elsewhere. (Thanks KB.) I don't know who wrote it, but they must have a 2 year old. If you wrote it, let me know. I'll let you babysit.

Off Duty

The Boss Lady took the kids out tonight, so I am off to buy lawnmower parts. Of course, since I am heading out alone, there is a chance that I will just give up on my second-hand lawn mower(Thanks, Sis!) and replace it.

Actually, I'll just go buy the parts I need and hope to steal a little time tomorrow to get the old mower repaired.

Again

Naptime!

Second day in a row that AtHomeDaddy gets to experience coordinated napping. Naptime Rules!, but dual Naptime is an indescribable joy.

Maybe it is the rain. We played in the house most of the morning, though The Talker and I went outside to set-up our rain water collection system. (OK, the system is really just strategically placed 5 gallon buckets, but we will be able to collect 20 gallons for the veggie garden!)

While we were out we played in the rain with the Ninja Turtle umbrella and watched a Praying Mantis on the front porch. We picked green beans and checked on our pumpkins and watermelons. The garden looks good, but The Boss Lady is ready for some tomatoes (ready in another week) and AtHomeDaddy is gonna turn green from eating so many cucumbers.

I added a link to Rick's Obsession blog brought to you by Rick, yes THAT Rick. I also added a link to SilentVoyager. Read up on the adventures of a real man sailing around the world, solo! I am all for quiet time, but that seems a little extreme for a decent nap.

Another lesson learned

When you are a SAHD with a blog, type fast if the 2 year old is awake!

While making my prior entry, The Talker decided that the hallway linen closet should be emptied and the contents scattered all through the house.

I have intended to get that closet organized and now The Talker has given me a head start. How's that for a positive spin?

Up and at 'em

This morning is starting off quietly. My kind of morning. Except it is raining. The Talker is up and running around the house petting things. "I petting the wall, I petting daddy, I petting Big White Dog, I petting the table". Whatever makes him happy and keeps him out of the Royal Nursery this early in the morning.

The Princess is sleeping in her vibrating bassinet. Thanks Cousin C! Think coin operated motel bed for babies! It is noisy as heck, but it gets her to sleep so we love it. Even Big White Dog has quit running away from the bassinet.

We are off and running on a rainy morning. By the end of the day I predict the house will be a disaster and the clean laundry will be piled up waiting to be folded. AtHomeDaddy may not have to go to work everyday, and that is good for all of us, but I still don't fold clothes. A man has to take a stand once in a while!

By the way, I do fold the clothes
sometimes
but I gripe about it

A LOT