My Boy Is Growing Up

My Dad likes to call at least once a week to hear Justin's voice. My father wants to make the concerted effort to make sure his grandson knows who he is and create a bond. Justin is 3 going on 4 coming this August 21st and he still doesn't quite hold the phone right. He usually has the ear piece against his skull or partially to his ear and then puts the receiver over his nose. It's not that he doesn't get it, but I think it's more he doesn't care. So I thought I would make it easier for him by placing the hands free headset on him and let him do his thing. Hence the shot of him having his power phone call on my cell phone with his grandfather. He would just walk around the apartment with the cell phone in his hand, laughing, chatting, and responding to my Dad. It was actually a weird thing to witness. He looked like a little adult having an important business call...as if it was a glimpse into the future. I think it's something that you had to be there to understand. All you parents out there and parents to be...let's all be aware and make that concerted effort to cherish every second of our children because I don't want to look back and wish that I did...even though I know I will...because they grow so quickly.

Family Time at Kidspace

It's funny how a simple thing as a stamped hand means something totally different when you are married with kids versus being single. I'll start off this blog with a little anecdote. I went to work last Friday and a co-worker saw a hand stamp on my right hand. He asked me, "Hey, where did you go out last night?"...wondering which club a married guy like me had gone out to...I responded, "Dude, it's a hand stamp from Kidspace...a place where you take your kids to do inter-active things that are educational...I took my family there this morning." He looked at me with pity and said, "Wow, you really are married." I didn't really know how to respond to that. I just said, "Yup, I am." Back when I was single and I had a hand stamp from the night before it always meant a night of clubbing or bar hopping. Now it means Disneyland, or someplace family orientated, or Justin got crazy with his hand stamp all over me. It's funny to have those life reminders that life has really changed. We know that it happens, but until it slaps us in our face...only then do we truly comprehend the change. For example, we think we are still in tune with today's youth and that we ourselves are still a part of that elite group. Let's be honest. We are not. It's obvious when we think the 20 year olds look like they are high school kids, but in reality its only because we are in our 30's. To the 20 year olds...they look like 20 year olds. Have you tried to relate with a teenager or a young college student lately? Yes, we can relate with that common angst. We've been there, but when we talk...we begin to start sounding like our parents or the beginnings of a wise sage. The fact that I am writing about this already makes me an old fart. Hahaha. Enough! I have to admit to my status and join Adults Anonymous...Hi, my name is John and yes...I am married, have kids, and getting older. Wow...this was some diatribe. Okay...back to Kidspace. Here is a shot of the family...minus me because I am taking the picture at the front entrance of Kidspace. The good thing about Kidspace is they have an area that is infant friendly. Here is Dylan exploring the space and giving his approval. Ever since Justin had his teeth pulled he has become more camera shy. It makes me sad to think that my son might be having issues about his physical appearance. I did get some shots though. This is Justin pretending to drive a jeep.Justin and I climbed to the top of indoor stairway thing-a-muh-bobber. It reminded me of the McDonald's playground or Chuck E Cheese's. Honestly, I'm not even sure if I was supposed to climb up...Nancy convinced me it was okay...but she has a tendency of giving me bad information that gets me in awkward predicaments...she thinks it's funny.This last shot is Nancy and Dylan outside in another area that is infant friendly.Nancy bought a family annual membership to Kidspace. We are allowed to bring 5 individuals as guests per visit...it doesn't matter if it's 4 kids and 1 adult or 1 kid and 4 adults...so if anybody is interested in going with us...let us know.