I got a rock

Kaylee chose her gift from GG to open on Christmas Eve.

For months, ever since she saw one at school, she's been talking about geodes and how cool these "rocks with crystals inside" are. Well, GG heard about this and decided to share part of Grandpa Rice's rock collection with her.

As you can see, she was thrilled to receive it – and I was thrilled that something that meant so much to GG is going to be a gift she cherishes for years to come.

Or at least until she sees that doll house Santa is dropping off tonight.

More to come tomorrow I am sure. But for now – Merry Christmas to all.

Can't put anything past a five-year-old

"Dad, what color was Michael Jackson when he was a kid?"

Happy Holidays

From the backs of Kaylee and Sara's heads. (And a mule butt or two.)

It's cold

Dad, look at my arms. I have moose bumps.

Goose bumps, Kaylee. They're called goose bumps.

No dad, these are bigger than gooses.

Quote of the day

"Dad, could you please not put this in your newspaper? I would be so embarrassed."

Best. Quote. Ever.

I only wish I could give you context.

Five

She got a bike. She got a Batgirl. She got a Barbie.

And a crown.

Gotta love the crown.

The big show

Watch the kid in the middle. She's cute.

Pecan Festival

Look at all the cool stuff going on this weekend. Kinda makes you wish you were here, doesn't it?

Yeah, I thought so.

Maggie came to visit

I can totally see right up her nose from here.

All Souls

Nothing is more Tucson than the All Souls Procession. It's a little bit of tradition, a little bit of hippie and a whole lot of soul. We've been bringing Kaylee to this event since she was almost a year old.

Both she and the event have grown so much since then. This was the first year she really grasped the meaning behind it all. More than once she told us how much she missed Eddie. And Grandma Susie.

She never ceases to surprise me.

And I promise she had a much better time than it appears.

Football with the dads

UA's homecoming game was horrible. So bad that we left before the end of the first half.

But this shot from when the team took the field (complete with ominous music and fireworks) made the trip more than worth it.

Shock and awe.

If only the Wildcats could have had the same effect on Utah.

Happy Halloween!

Astrid and Wonder Woman hope you had a "Boo-tiful" night!

God, that was lame.

Skate night

So while I'm off having a nice dinner, my little girl is learning to roller skate.
As long as she's not kissing boys in the arcade ...

Old. So very old.

"Dad, what's this?"

Training regimin

Daughter is rolling around on my bed – with a sword and shield – grunting and yelling.

Hey K – whatcha doing?

Hi Dad. I'm pretending this is a boat.

A boat?

A viking boat.

Oh yeah?

Yes. We are going to fight a dragon.

A dragon?

Yes, a big dragon. It is so big that three of us are going. Hiccup, Tuffnut and Astrid.

Oh.

And I'm Astrid.

I see that.

(Continues grunting, rolling and miming throwing) We have to do exercises to get ready.

Ok, you should do some push ups.

Dad.

What?

I can't do those.

But it's exercise.

(Rolls eyes) Dad – we only do dangerous exercises.

A visit from the Godfather

Daddy, who are we going to see today?

Well, my godparents are coming to visit and we're going to go to dinner with them.

What are their names?

Their names are Uncle Melhi and Aunt Bahktu.

*snicker*

What's so funny?

*laughing* Bahktu is a silly name.

It's not a silly name. It's just a different kind of name than you are used to hearing. And it's not very polite to laugh at someone's name. You wouldn't like it if someone laughed at your name, would you?

No, Daddy.

Now, what are their names?

Uncle Melhi and Aunt *snickering* Bahktu.

Kaylee …

Don't worry Daddy. I won't laugh at her name when she is here. But I will laugh when it's just you and me because it's still kind of funny.

And, just for the record, she didn't laugh. Not once.

Skate or Die

Dad, when do they tell you all the rules in this town?

The rules?

Yeah. For driving and stuff.

Well, when you are older, there is a special class you can take where they teach you all the rules you need to know to drive.

Did you and Mommy take that class?

Yes we did.

Well, I don't think I want to take that class.

You need to take it if you want to learn to drive a car.

That's OK. I think I'll just skateboard.

Worn out

A long weekend with Uncle Ry is a lot for a little girl. But she doesn't need a nap. No sir. Just ask her.

Illinois trip – Photo dump

There are a severe lack of photos from the second half of our trip – because I was too lazy to take out my camera at that point. Besides, Becky took a bunch of pictures. I'm sure she will update her blog any day now.

Yep. Any. Day. Now.

Apple picking and pumpkin patching with the Grammy and the Evrley girls. I think she's excited.

Nothing special, still waiting in line. I just liked this one.

In the cart and on our way to the orchard. I included this one because Roberta did a really good job of avoiding my camera. And in most of the other shots I have of her she either has her mouth full of apples or her eyes closed. Or both.

I don't think anyone picked apples off the trees. We were content with those on the ground.

Because they were delicious. (And make great pies. Even if the crust isn't home-made.)

I caught mom without her smile on.

All smiles on the wagon.

But here's how they normally look.

Kaylee takes a ride on my favorite swing. Duncan Park is one of my favorite places in the world. Close enough to home that Mom let me walk there by myself. Far enough away that it still felt like an adventure.

Nothing says Duncan Park quite like the cannon.

I'm pretty sure this slide is solid enough that she'll be able to let her kids sit up there.

More silly faces with my girls – and I try out "Blue Steel." (Izzy's not included because she was napping – and because she wouldn't come near me all week. I think she's scared of the beard.)

Racheal caught my superior parenting style on camera. Being Dad of the Year is a lot of hard work.

This trip marked both Kaylee's and my first visit to the cemetery since Mom died. It took Kaylee asking to visit to get me to go back out there.

Hammerhang Lincoln.

I found this on the stairs going into the basement. I remember "Mark 1968" etching his place in history in the brick wall opposite this. Sometime around high school I decided to do the same. Not sure who left the annotation though.

Zoinks!!

This counts as reading … right?

Shhhhh ...

"But I'm not tired!"

Big questions little girl

Mom: So what other question do you want to ask tonight?

Kaylee: Mom, is heaven in the clouds?

Some people describe it as being in the clouds.

Sara says it's in the clouds.

It's not some place you can see or go visit on an airplane. It's where God lives but kind of an imaginary place too.

Then how do you get there?

Well, some people think you go there when you die.

Why do they think that?

They like the idea of going someplace special where they can be with all the people they love after they die.

When I die I think I'd like to visit God and see what it's like there.

So, yeah ...

It turned out pretty good. Just don't look at her back. We got a little sloppy with the red - and she looks like a crime scene.

Hey ...

Remember that time we painted a ceramic Snow White at the mall and we almost managed to not do it all sloppy and we talked about how Grandma Susie used to do this and you said you wanted to do it with her next time she visited? Well, Snow White turned out nice. Or at least I think she did. We'll find out in a week or so.

Go, Voltron Force!

My daughter drew Voltron. I am obviously doing something right.

Zombies!!!

One, two, three … quit

What you're supposed to be looking at here is a bunch of awesome photos (maybe even some video) from Kaylee's Hip Hop dance class. But you won't get any.

Her ninja training is almost complete

Next, we move up to real fruit.

Then, the world.

Self portrait

This is me with a red face because I was playing outside for a long time.

The best part of brunch ...

... is chocolate covered strawberries.

All she needs is a hook

Eye injury + drug store patch = pirate jokes

Happy birthday, Mom

I made you a cake.

Bliss

Yep. This is what the whole weekend was like. I swear.

Sigh

Daddy! Look at my Jesus, dead on the cross! I drew it myself. Isn't he beautiful?

Nine to five

I wish I could get paid for eight hours under my desk playing with Iron Man and Disney Princesses.

Also, my editors would bring me candy. (They loaded her up with sugar all day.)

My daughter is going to think my office is the best place ever.

Single parent

Rae just left for California - which means it's just me and the kid for the weekend.

Guess who's going to Dairy Queen for dinner?!

It's hereditary

Nose crinkles are the dominant gene.