Princess Kaylee

All royalty needs a throne.
And shoes that look like alligators.

Uncle Visit 2010

Uncle James @Windy Point

Two uncles. One weekend. One spoiled little girl.

The beginning of the bear hunt.

You can find many, many more photos from the day here.

How she sees her Daddy

This year, my Fathers Day gift included  a portrait of dear old dad as seen by my little girl. It is the best kind of portrait. It is a cookie portrait. (I also got bacon. Really. Bacon.)

It makes me look a bit like a mutant Mr Potatohead, but it tastes better. (Or at least I assume it tastes better. It smelled good and I imagine plastic doesn't taste very good.)

Features of note include:

• Seperate legs, knees and feet
  
• Seperate arms, shoulders, elbows and hands
  
• My goatee
  
• And that big blue thing on top is my brain.
  

I'm very happy that my daughter thinks enough of my brain to include it.

History lesson

Daddy, the dinosaurs all died because the King of the Dinosaurs killed them.

They did?

Yes.

The King of the Dinosaurs?

Yes.

Who's that?

The King of the Dinosaurs is the T-Rex.

And he killed all the dinosaurs?

Yes.

Where did you learn that?

At my school.

Honey, I'm pretty sure the dinosaurs were killed by a drastic climate shift caused by a meteor crashing into the earth.

That's right. The meat-eater is a carnivore. And that means sharp tooth, like T-Rex. And he's the King of the Dinosaurs. And he killed them.

Oh. OK.

Queen of the Dinosaurs

You have to imagine her paper crown flopping in the wind for the full effect.

One week ago, I was on a beach

As I sit and write this, the thermometer is slowly creeping toward 100 degrees. The air is dry and still – the only movement from the ceiling fan buzzing above me.

A far cry from our trip to Southern California last week.

We knew we had a four-day weekend coming up. That's not quite long enough for a trip home, but we didn't want to sit around Tucson either. Luckily, the Marine Corps was kind enough to station Uncle Ry just outside San Diego and give him the long, holiday weekend off.

So we packed up the car and drove west.

There was lots of good times, good people, good food, a trip to the zoo (click here for Kaylee's POV), but most importantly – this was Kaylee's first trip to the ocean. I'm pretty sure she liked it.

And I'm pretty sure we'll be going back soon.

Kaylee and her Uncle Ry. They're like chocolate and peanut butter – two great tastes that go great together. Only I don't recommend eating them – they probably taste like people, not candy.

One of these two people failed to put sunscreen on their feet and was pretty miserable for the rest of the week. The other one just got a little brown.

The two of us dug a Kaylee-sized hole – but she was smart enough not to get in. So we dug a larger hole and buried Mom instead.

Even though Uncle Ry's E-Tool was almost as big as she is, I believe we found the perfect beach toy.

At first, Kaylee wasn't interested in the water. I think it was just too big and too cold. But then the tide started to roll in and she couldn't resist playing in the big waves. Or at least running away from them.

A game which Uncle Ry was more than happy to get in on.

This is one of my favorite shots from the weekend. If you listen closely, you can hear her giggle.

A rough day

It could have been worse.

After a mad-dash-morning getting everything ready (that we thought we had done already – but apparently not because we barely left the house on time), Rae and I dropped the kid off at New School today. There was a little hesitation on Kaylee's part jumping into things – a lot of hiding behind Dad's legs and feigning shyness – but once the teachers started engaging with her she was fine.

She even picked her own name tag out (and called them out for not drawing the "y" correctly) from the pre-written sheets. Gotta say, that makes a Dad proud.

By the time Rae returned an hour later with a brand new towel (yes, they started swim lessons today and we had to make a Target run because we forgot to bring a towel – geeks may now commence with the Douglas Adams jokes) Kaylee was fully into circle time and was more perplexed than relieved at Mom's reappearance. (Mom, what are YOU doing here?)

We didn't get any emergency phone calls – so she stayed all day. Upon pickup we learned that:

• We need to pack a bigger lunch. She ate all of hers and wanted more, more, more.
• She, in no uncertain terms, did NOT like the cold water in the pool and really did not like water in her eyes.
• She told her teacher she wasn't going to nap – and proceeded to pass out minutes later.
• She really wants a blanket to snuggle with. (That, I can fix tomorrow.)
• She got along with everyone fine and seemed to enjoy her day.

After further reflection, Kaylee now tells us:

• She didn't like her new school because it is different and wants to go back to her old school.
• She didn't like any of the kids or teachers.
• She REALLY didn't like getting water in her eyes.
• Also, she wants to go back to her old school. (Added again for emphasis.)

So I know the move is for the best, and I know she's just being dramatic – but when you add into all of this that I got called into work and wasn't there to pick her up today like I promised, I just feel like #1 Deadbeat Dad.

Tomorrow is another day.

Tomorrow we'll bring a blanket and a bigger lunch.

Tomorrow will be better.

One last look at the green

Can you tell Kaylee likes grass?

We had to make one last stop at the park near Uncle Ry's beach to check it out.

Didn't even have to use my AK

Several hours spent at the beach. Mostly in the sand.

But Kaylee did get brave enough to get in the water - right around the time the tide started rolling in.

Big waves. Little girl. Lotta fun.

Art appreciation

I love coloring with the kid.
Can you tell which ones she did?

"I'm writing a note ...

... about Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Charlie and how much I love them
but they are always so far away."

"When I grow up...

... I want to be a soldier and a ballerina."

Well, with the help of Uncle Ry we've got the soldier part down. Now we just need a tutu.

Spider-Man part deux

We stopped in Toys R Us last night and Kaylee asked to ride in the car with her "best friend Spider-Man."

The same one seen in this post.

My how they have grown.

Budding artist

Kaylee drew this picture of me tonight, unassisted. Looks pretty darn
good – especially when you consider I haven't shaved all week.

And she gave me a little hair on top.

She's so generous.

Taking Care of Her Friends

So for about a week now we've been talking to Kaylee about how she's going to start a new school soon. We've talked about what she's going to do there, and somehow she's decided that learning about dinosaurs means she'll be hunting for them as if they were alive. That puts this new school at the top of her cool-but-a-little-bit-scary list, which is an apt description of how I'm feeling about the whole situation.

Today Kaylee told me something that made me want to cry and smile at the same time (I opted for smiling a big grin). We're on our way home from daycare and she's telling me about her day. Some days she wants to talk, other days she doesn't. Today was somewhere in between. Sort of out of the blue she asks if she can visit her friend Cleia after she goes to her new school. (Cleia and she have become quite attached to each other.) Then she tells me that Cleia is going to miss her soo soo much when she goes to her new school. She tells me that she asked Dominic if he would be Cleia's friend while she was gone and he said "Yes!" Her eyes were a little sad (or maybe it was the allergies) but her smile was so big.

I told her I was so happy she was making sure her friend had someone to play with after she was at her new school. My baby's growing up... (I get the feeling I'm going to be saying that a lot.)

"Dad ..."

"... my poop is brown like my eyes and my hair."

You know what's awesome?

Fresh chocolate-covered stawberries.

Especially when you're allowed to double-dip.

This week (so far) in Kaylee-isms

"When I grow up, I'm going to be a soldier. And a ballerina."

"Momma, will you call my teachers at home and ask if it's OK if I bring my brain to school?"

"I'm sorry I dropped Cinderella in the toilet."

Upon picking her up from school: "Yay! Daddy! You didn't died!"

Homadadita

I have no idea what the hell she is singing about.

But it's cute, no?

Happy Mother's Day

Kaylee and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Racheal (Grammys, Grandma Cindys and GGs too) for everything she does. The big things, the little things and the things that are so small that no one even notices – but would miss if the were gone. The meals. The cleaning. The play time. The hugs. Especially the hugs.

Go hug your Mom guys. Seriously, she deserves it.

Super giant bouncy fun

My knee still hurts.

Let's go fly a kite ...

After subjecting my daughter to Free Comic Book Day – complete with Stormtroopers (and no, they weren't asking for papers, the law doesn't go into effect for a while still) – I suggested a trip to the park to help balance out her geek levels for the day.

Rae suggested and picked up a kite. Glad she did. We kept that thing in the air for a good 45 minutes.

Pictures below. No captions required.

A one sided conversation

Overheard (and paraphrased) while Kaylee was chatting on the phone with Rae (who is currently on a business trip):

Tomorrow I will go to school and take a nap.

And then my daddy will pick me up and we will eat dinner.

And then I will go to sleep and my daddy will take me to the airport in my slippers and we will pick you up because we love you and you love me and you love my daddy.

And we will live happily ever after.

OK. Love you. Bye.

Daddy, can I play the letters game on your phone now?

I still can't believe Rae let her do this

I don't know who was more terrified going into this, Kaylee or Racheal.

But after it was all over – one of them was ready to do it again.

While we were waiting

Kaylee taught me how to hopscotch.

PIMA COUNTY FAIR!!

It's the final weekend of the fair, so we had to head out to get our annual dose of dust, sun, fried foods and carnies. There were ponies to be ridden, baby goats to be mauled and Rae even let Kay go down the giant slide by herself. (Though she - she being Rae - panicked the entire time.)

I'll see if I can't get the video up later. It's a lot of fun to watch her bony butt go flying when she hits the bumps.

At only $1, making rope is easily the best buy at the fair.

Kaylee loves llamas.

REALLY loves llamas.

Kids go in tha cage. Cage goes tha watah. Shahks ah in tha watah.

From our other visitor

Apparently, whenever we have house guests we never take photos. Good thing for you, they do.

The following shots courtesy of the B.D.G.

Sun's bright light. Canyon's scenic views. Dad's big gut.

Look at that face. I look at this photo and can just imagine the crap I'm going to get from her in just a few years.

Kaylee and her prince

Photo by Erinnnnnnn

And this is where the infatuation with a man in uniform begins.

She walked up to me and she asked me if I wanted to dance

We've rearranged the house a bit in anticipation of additional moves, necessitated by tearing up our kitchen floor and replacing it with tile. Kaylee discovered that it created the perfect dance studio — complete with wood floor, mirror and radio within the reach of three-year-olds.

This is a big deal. She can now make music whenever she wants. And the girl loves her music.

Rae and I had already split up for our post-dinner duties. So while she headed off to scrub the bathtub, I proceeded to pick up the dinner dishes.

And the music came on.

And she started to twirl.

And I stopped to watch.

When ABBA came on I smiled a bit because she immediately fled the room. I was already forming stories about how I learned about her great taste in music at a young age. Stories that I would tell family and friends and would-be suitors should the need to brag about my little girl arise.

Then I heard the familiar CLAK CLAK CLAK CLAK of the high shoes as she ran back into the dining room — and I immediately gave up on my dreams of the perfect story and did what any dad would do. I grabbed the phone and started recording as she resumed her twirls and pirouettes.

And then she surprised me.

She asked me to dance.

Now if you're reading this, you probably know me pretty well, so it should come as no surprise to you that I don't dance. I just don't. Even in the privacy of my own home, when I'm all alone, I just don't.

But I've always said that if anything could get me to dance, it would be a request from my daughter. And up until now, she has had zero interest in dancing with dad. Even at weddings she'd dance with Mom and brides and grandpas and total strangers — but not Dad. It's always been a little relieving and a little heart-breaking at the same time.

But this time I got my invitation. And I jumped at the offer. It was just a couple of quick spins around the room, no more than a minute at most, but it's one of those moments that I'll always remember.

Even if she lost interest shortly after I turned off the camera.

Even if I got in trouble for not cleaning up the table.

Even if ABBA was the soundtrack.

I guess I got my perfect story after all.

Easter Egging

Easter brunch

Tucson Style.

Breakfast of champions

Thank you Easter Bunny! Bock,bock!

Interview with a new mother

I cringed a little bit when Kaylee announced that she had a baby in her tummmy. (Actually a doll stuffed up in her shirt.) But I have to admit, she makes a damn cute new mom.

Who knew I'd be a grandfather at 34?

Friday morning ...

Looking at my tshirt: Daddy? What's wrong with his feet?

What do you mean?

He has one cow foot and one chicken foot.

He does?

Yes. He needs his own feet.

I Wanna Be...

As Rae was putting Kaylee to bed tonight they got to talking about space and astronauts.

Would you like to be an astronaut?

Yes, but I don't know how to fly in space.

I imagine you could learn.

That's a great idea! I'll dream that.

Teaching her early ...

... that ice cream is meant to be eaten directly from the carton.

Water? What's that?

Being from Arizona, Kaylee isn't used to seeing running water in the wild. So she does what any inquisitive kid would do …

… poke it with a stick.

Click here for the video.

My princess loves her Queen

BEWARE

Lest The Grimace eat your young.

You've got mail

Hey Kaylee - who's it from?

I don't know. I haven't read it yet.

First Ink

I went to the Ren Fair this weekend and all I got was this awesome mermaid tat* with my best friend.

* And a turkey leg. And a parasol. And a ride on a giant wooden swan from a man with horrible teeth. And chocolate. And a llama ride. And an elephant ride. And ...

Dessert

The most important meal of the day.
This single cupcake ensures that she will be up for the rest of the
night.

Monkey + monkeys @ Monkey Burger

It was just a monkey kind of night.

I know a young lady, who swallowed a fly ...

Kaylee, close your mouth.

Why?

Because if you don't, a fly will get in there and you'll eat it.

A fly?

Uh huh.

In my mouth?

Yep.

Gross. They taste like elephant poop.

Case of the Mondays

Mommy, I don't want to go to school.

Well, no amount of sadness or whining will change the fact that Mommy and Daddy have to go to work and you have to go to school.

Well, not all mommies work.

OK, name one mommy you know that doesn't work.

Aunt Becky doesn't work – and she doesn't know how to drive either.

Touché, Pussycat.

You remind me of the babe.

My daddy showed me David Bowie.

He did? What did you think of him?

He's not that great.

He's not? Why?

Because he doesn't play a banjo.

When hiking in Tucson ...

... it is always best to bring carrots.

You never know who you will meet.

From the mouth of babes

Hey Dadda?

Yes Kaylee?

I love my mommy. And I love you. And I love my friend Sara. And I love my friend Alice.

That's great Kay. What about Grandpa Charlie, Grandma Cindy, Grammy and Papa Allen?

Yeah. And GG is not my grandma. She is your grandma. But I love her.

She wants us to go visit her in her hotel, because she is sad. We should go.

Storytime!

Kaylee "reading" one of her mom's favorite books.

If you strain your eyes enough, you can see that she almost has it down.

Catching up

I've been holding onto this image since I returned from Syracuse. (I'm not lazy - I just kept forgetting that it was on my phone.)

Rain is to the desert what that first snowfall is to those in the Midwest. It's exciting and new and you've had a LONG time to forget how inconvinient it can be.

But mostly, it's for playing in.

Now, we can't exacly make snow angels or snow forts - but we can play in the giant puddles that form in the street in front of the house.

And we did.

And I couldn't think of a better way to spend my first day back after a week away from my girls.

Big night

The party ran late, so we didn't get to try that new orange dress on the dance floor - but Kaylee did "drink all her toast."

That's my girl.

Fancy dinner

Ready to wish Miss Zine well, eat sone dinners and boogie. Or at least
two out of three.

I've been lazy

Because my sister is making me look bad (what with her blog post a day and all) I decided to break out the editing software and put a little something together. It's not much, but the source material is cute.

Rae shot it, so you can't blame me for the orientation. Maybe if you rotate your monitor on it's side?

In other news

• Kaylee's class was visited by a special teacher who taught them all about their hearts. Kaylee even got to "listen to her heart beeping in her skeleton cage."
• Kaylee had her first Valentines Day party at school. She hand-made cards for the entire class. Every other parent took the easy way out and bought valentines. LAME.
• Kaylee is VERY interested in her valentines. Especially those from the boys. I try to tell myself that it is because they have Wolverine, Spider-Man and the like on them – but I know better.
• The kid is going through a bit of a regression in her verbal skills. Instead of speaking in the complete sentences we're used to, she has reverted to grunts, squeals and general "baby talk." I know it's just a phase (and probably something she picked up from the kids at school) but it is annoying the hell out of me.
• Kaylee is also regressing when it comes to going accident-free all night. But apparently she's decided that she'd prefer to share the love – and climb in bed with us to do the deed. Makes for an interesting 4 am wake-up-call.
• We're off to an engagement party tomorrow night. One of Kay's favorite teachers is getting married in a traditional Muslim ceremony and invited a couple of her favorite kids to the celebration that evening. Kay is very excited (especially since her BFF Sara is coming too) and I'm sure there will be plenty of pictures to follow.

How Will Daddy Get Home?

Tonight on the drive home from daycare Kaylee asks how Daddy will get home from New York. So I tell her he'll be coming home on an airplane. She says, "We'll pick him up?" with a little bit of excitement ticking her voice up at the end. Then she imitates my whispered waking her up to do just that, "Kaylee, time to pick up Daddy at the airport." The grin is enough to tell me that no matter how late it is when Mike gets back, Kaylee and I need to be at the airport to meet him. Some things are just more important.