Hammered

Sometimes as a parent you feel like you are in a game of Clue. You are confronted with a situation and you have to figure how out how it was done and who did it with what weapon (or toy). This "who-dunnit" game to find out what happened can really be difficult sometimes because everyone wants to blame everyone else. You have to go to the crime scene and investigate and look for clues to help you solve the mystery. And...then there is my son Logan (4). Logan is a great kid (and my only boy), but he also tends to be a boy and thinks that he can push the limits with his sisters. He tends to see how hard he can hit them before they will cry? How much can he tease and chase them before the girls will come tell mom or dad? All of that good stuff about childhood. He is close to getting his P.H.D. in this subject.

This afternoon, Miranda (6) and Hannah (2) came to me holding their foreheads. Miranda told me that Logan had hit them in their foreheads with his toy hammer. Oh boy, time to go talk to Logan and have him put the hammer away and sit on his bed for awhile. I started back to his bedroom which was the scene of the crime and wondered how many pieces of the mystery would I have to find on my own, how many times Logan would deny the offense before he cracked, and the usual parent detective stuff. All of the sudden I hear Logan yell from his bedroom, "Dad! I put the hammer away and I am getting on my bed!" Am I that predictable? I am not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. Anyway, mystery solved without any investigation - Logan - Hammer - Bedroom - Case closed (or, at least mostly closed).

Here is my favorite part. I went into Logan's room to talk to him about what he did and find out why he did it. This also is a common practice of mine. Logan has this habit of forgetting why he is in trouble, so I just want to make sure he remembers. The conversation went like this:

Me: Logan? Do you know why you are on your bed?

Logan: Yes, Daddy. I hit Miranda, Hannah, and Haylie (she was in a different room at the time, but I think he was covering all his bases) in the head with my hammer.

Me: That is correct. Why would you hit them with your hammer, Logan?

Logan: Ummmmm.....

Me: Logan, why?

Logan: Because I thought they were nails.

It took all of my inner strength to not laugh my head off at this point and I was not sure I could keep it in. I struggled through the next minute or so before I told him I would have to come back in a minute. Wow! That was a good laugh. I am not totally convinced he did not see them as nails in his mind. I think he has one of those minds like the lion in Madagascar that looks at the other animals and sees big steaks. I would love to walk around in his mind for a few miutes (just a few). He keeps us on our toes.

Summer Movies

I love summer for its horrid heat and scorching afternoons while my PG and E bill hits the roof.....wait that is why I don't like summer. I DO like summer because of all the awesome movies that I have been waiting all year to come out are released!! Here is my take on some of the year's blockbusters (keep in mind that I am partial to movies based on comic books and I don't watch anything rated R or looks like I would regret having watched). Now that you know that I don't see many movies during the year - here is my report. One more note, I will rate the movie by how much of my ten dollars it was worth to go and see:

TMNT - I took my oldest two kids to this movie and my wife. I loved it. I am glad the turtles are back in animation (computer animation is a nice and needed upgrade) because it opens them up to a lot more creative story lines and ninja moves. I loved the stone warriors and a lot of the new characters they introduced (Max Winters, Shredder's daughter). I think the turtle storylines of other movies have played enough on the Rafael is a rebel storyline and they should move on from there, but otherwise very good. This movie was worth nine of my dollars.

Next - I went to this one with a group of guy friends (Umm - I think it had something to do with Jessica Biel and our wives not wanting to see us drool). This movie was very entertaining and had a good pace. Jessica Biel's role was a little weak and I kept waiting for her to take on some of the action. It did not happen. I liked the premise of the story but some of the plot threads were weakened by Nicholas Cage's narrow ability to see the future. Julianne Moore was pretty unconvincing as a tough FBI agent but likeable in her role. It was definitely a unique story line. This movie was worth about six of my dollars.

Spiderman 3 - I went to this one with my wife on a date and it was opening night. I loved it! I am a huge Spiderman fan and I liked what was presented. I have heard the movie catch a lot of flack from people but I think it is undeserved. A lot of changes are made in comic book movies and that is just the way it goes to make years of comics solid for the movies. I thought S3 did a great job of introducing Sandman and Venom and giving us another Goblin with a twist. I kept expecting Gwen Stacey to die but she did not, but that was my only surprise. I think Tobey Maguire is a clever Peter Parker and pulls off his character well. Remember - Peter Parker is a geek. He is the kid you picked on in school and did not do well in social situations. Add to that super powers and you have a confused and torn kid. This movie was worth all ten of my bucks.

Shrek 3 - I took my two oldest to see this movie. This is a good old fashioned Shrek movie with lots of laughs for everyone and a good message. I loved the idea of the plot and the anticpation of seeing Shrek and Fiona's kids. This movie is about being comfortable being you and stepping up to do things you didn't think you could do. All of the great people from the past stories are back including some new great ones like Merlin and Artie. In classic Shrek fashion, the last half of the movie is packed with action and tight situations the characters must escape from. This movie was worth all ten of my bucks.

POTC At World's End - I went to see this one with my brother since finding a sitter is a little hard right now with a newborn (don't worry my wife has now seen it also). I loved this movie. It wraps up the trilogy nicely and again adds some new characters that make it interesting. The most interesting ones are Sao Feng who is one of the pirate lords and Jack Sparrow's father played by Keith Richards. The movie is funny and intense as are the previous two movies. I would have changed one small detail at the end but other than that I thought it was great. The plot is a little complicated and keeping track of who is betraying who can be a little overwhelming. Make sure you stay all the way through the end of the credits for an extra scene. This movie was definitely worth all of my ten dollars.

I am drooling about what is around the corner. Expect reviews from FF2, Transformers, and HP Order of the Phoenix in the near future. Yoda says "See all of these movies you will, but skip "next" - you may want to."

Girls,girls,girls.....

I never thought I would be surrounded by so much pink in my life. Pink clothes, purses, high heels, and the pretend make up - that is what my world has become! My first daughter came and I was sooo excited. Then we had a boy and I was totally thrilled. Someone to throw the ball with, get into trouble with, and collect action figures with. Then - we had two more girls, at the same time. I can handle that. I have one girl and I am sure it is not too much different. Also, I was almost sure that the next one would be a boy. We decided to not find out the gender on the next baby and let it be a surprise. Oh - it was! I was so convinced that the baby was a boy. I was in shock when the doctor told us it was a girl!!!! Four daughters and one son. A curve ball from life.

I am really excited though. I really don't care which we had I was just in a lot of shock. Truth is that I love my daughters. I love being their father and having them look to me to save the day. I also look forward to having to purchase some dead stuffed animal heads to hang on the wall and a big shotgun for when they start dating. I also look forward to all of the practical jokes that my son and I can play on the girls and their mother. It is hard to always be the one catching all of the blame so I am thankful that my son will be there.

Here is the latest update on names and ages of the kids:

Miranda, 6 years old
Logan, 4.5 years old
Haylie, 2 years old
Hannah, 5 minutes younger than Haylie's two years old
Lauren, 1 week old

By the way, my wife is the BOMB!! Lauren Grace weighed in at 10 pounds 5 ounces and my wife had no pain medication. I couldn't have done it. I think I would have taken the pain meds and watched a good movie (maybe the whole LOTR trilogy if labor was that long). Anyway, my life is now a center for the female powers. I have many years ahead of dresses, clothes shopping, being called goofy, and I will be loving every minute of it!