Keeping Up

The kids are great. We signed up as a family to do a fun run at Michigan Stadium two weeks ago. We each had our own race numbers (the kids loved that part). The race was one mile starting outside the stadium, around the parking lot, through the players tunnel, and around the field, finishing on the 50 yard line with a video shot of us finishing on the big screen! It was awesome (BTW, awesome is Robbie's favorite word right now).

We arrived in Ann Arbor. Just as we hopped out of the car they wanted their race numbers pinned to their shirts. I had the 2-kid jogging pram (oops, that's Aussie talk for stroller). I didn't think the kids would make it. There were no kids 4 or 6. The kids were older or younger. The younger were much younger and in strollers. The older were running on their own. We started in back. They were impatient while the leader was on the mega-phone going, "Blah-blah-blah...great thing for charity....blah-blah-blah." They just wanted to go. When the gun went off, they both started jogging in place with no where to go because the pack wasn't moving yet. Jogging in place...it was so damn cute. (It's OK for a guy to say cute if he say damn first!) The pack started moving and they knew the rule - don't run ahead of other people and leave mommy behind. They did an excellent job of following the rule. They did weave in and out of people to pass them but only as long as mommy could too. I was left in the back with the stroller because it was too packed to pass until after the first turn at 1/4 mile.

After that turn though, boy, watch out. I was doing all I could to keep up. They were passing many people. I was fortunate enough to be behind them because I heard so many complements that my chest almost exploded with me puffing it out so much. Most of the time I'm told that it's my head that is going to explode from me becoming big-headed from a compliment but my kids expand my chest.

The kids made it up to the water table, stopped for a quick gulp, and quickly raced away again. Robbie didn't finish his water. He was too intent on racing like Lightening McQueen. About 3/4 mile mommy made them walk a bit. But they started running again as they made their way up to the stadium and the fans were cheering for the runners. They raced down the tunnel, exploded out onto the field, and ran around then up to the 50-yard line. They got to watch themselves on the TV. They thought it was "Awesome".

They took in the sights too. There was a balloon man that made them each a sword with holster. They wanted to go running through the endless rows of seats. They played/danced in the end zone on the M in front of the band. And they complained about walking up about 92 rows to get out while mommy and daddy carried the stroller up the same stairs.


They both took their race bibs in to school on the following Monday. The kids both still tell their stories about the race. Yesterday morning Robbie took his race number back into school because one teacher wasn't there when he brought it in last week. He told his best friend's dad, "I ran the whole race, by myself, without stopping....except when mommy made me walk. But I wasn't tired. Only she was."

2

If you don't want to read a sad blog stop now and skip to the next one. The subject of 2 was chosen because our second dog passed away this weekend. Rocco was 14. Rocco has been with the kids their entire lives. In fact, Rocco has been 'our' dog for 12 years. 'Our' meaning he was the first thing that I and Stacey got together.

Rocco started out as a trick; a good trick but none the less a trick. Stacey and I were dating. I lived in my first house in Commerce with two roommates and Lucky (my brown dog). Stacey was trying to talk me into getting a playmate for Lucky. I was sticking hard that she didn't need a playmate. Stacey said it would be easy to get one because Pet Supplies Plus had an adopt-a-dog day one Saturday per month. I told her we won't go on that Saturday. Months roll by and my guard was down. One Saturday afternoon she suggested that we go up to the pet store and get Lucky a special treat. My guard was down and we went. (For the past 12 years Stacey had fully taken the blame of such trickery, only to be revealed on Sunday that my mom called Stacey and told her to get me up there because there was an absolutely beautiful dog that she connected with and that I should get).

We walked in and there was Rocco. In a kennel by the door. A gorgeous, white furrball looking at me with the sweetest eyes. I knew I had been had but I couldn't resist Rocco. We found out that he was a pure-bred American Eskimo, he was two years old, he was trained as a show dog, and his previous owner had gone away to college and couldn't keep him.

I normally slept on my bed with Lucky. When I brought Rocco home I wanted to acclimate him to the house and Lucky. The dogs were indifferent to each other. I didn't want to upset Lucky so I didn't let Rocco sleep on the bed the first night. Instead, I slept on the floor next to Rocco so he wouldn't be lonely in his new home.

Rocco used his teeth a lot when he first came home. Right after he got home we noticed he wasn't neutered. He was suppose to be. The American Eskimo rescue league told me to take him to their vet to have him neutered. I obeyed and took him to a vet I knew nothing about. I got Rocco back later that day with a lamp shade on his head (protective collar attached at the neck designed to keep him from licking the stitches off). He was trying to jump up into the Camaro but kept catching his collar and falling to the ground. It was funny and sad. All he wanted to do was go home. A week or so passed and a friend came over to meet Rocco. I was in the back room when I heard him barking. I paid no attention because Rocco barked at a lot of things (totally unlike Lucky so I wondered why I got this new one). Then came the snarling rage, attack bites, and the human screaming. I rushed up to find my friend bleeding from her hand. She came in as a stranger, Rocco barked and went under the table to hide. She reached down to pet him, he thought she was trying to grab him. He bit her finger. She bled. It was not deep. It was 'but a flesh wound.' I cleaned her up and put a band-aid on it. Two days later she was convinced that she had to go to the hospital or it would turn gangrene and need to be cut off. With going to the hospital and claiming a dog bite, she had to fill out paperwork accusing my dog. A week after the bite, an agent from Oakland County Animal Control came to take Rocco away for observation. They needed to see if he had rabies within 10 days of the bite. The agent was convinced that Rocco was in the right, he didn't appear to be a mean dog (he was snuggling up to her) and she allowed me to quarantine him at home until the 10-day observation period was over. A dog was allowed three strikes (bites) and it would be put to sleep on the third. Rocco had one. Fast forward a few months and I opened a letter from a law firm stating, "as you know, your dog, Rocco, bit so-and-so which has caused her much pain and suffering and extensive medical bills". I remember this letter as if it were yesterday. I remember the words. I remember the law firm. I remember it all. Turns out Rocco bit the vet tech while she was trying to cut his nuts off. Strange, but I don't blame him. Strike two. We had a friend that would always come over in a hat. Rocco didn't like men in hats. Rocco eventually caught him on the hand. Essentially strike 2 1/2 but Luke didn't turn him in. While we were in Utah this past Holiday break we got a call from our dog sitter. She was hysterical. She didn't know what to do. Rocco bit her and she was bleeding all over the house. We told her to go to the hospital and get it fixed. We were very worried. This was strike 3. Our poor Rocco. That damn dog - why did he have to bite. We had many mixed emotions between being mad at him, mad at us, and sad for him. Turns out the emergency room cleaned it and put a small band-aid on it. And apparently didn't file any report to Oakland County. We just spent the next few months worrying about when they were going to take our dog away and that day never came. You beat them Rocco.

Turns out Stacey was right. Lucky did need a companion. Whenever I came home from work both dogs went nuts to see me. They ran around the house. They demanded my attention. They enjoyed sharing walks. Only trouble is, as my roommate Jim observed, "Those two don't give a hoot about the other one when you're not here. Lucky sleeps in one room and Rocco in another until you're here." Hmm, maybe Stacey wasn't as 'right' as she claimed.

Rocco was a very loving dog though. I was the center of his world (after I saved him from the rescue league and he forgave me for getting him fixed). He loved to lick. He could lick one spot on your body until it went numb. He could lick feet, shins, hands anything on anybody. Except the face. He would only lick my face. My brother Sean tried to get him to lick his face for years but Rocco wouldn't. He finally progressed to licking both Stacey and Sean in the face once or twice but he clearly reserved that for me. He would also follow me around everywhere. That must be where the phrase "follow like a little puppy dog" comes from. When I was out front, he would watch threw the front screen. When I say watch through the front screen I mean it. He would want to get so close that he would press his eyeball into the screen.

Rocco spent a year living with my brother Sean when Robbie was a baby. He also spent 6 months at a friends house while we were in Australia. The couple grew very fond of Rocco and hated to give him back when we returned. He grew attached too and eventually licked their faces (he must have thought he was kidnapped and he was never going to see us again).

Rocco fit in well with our family. He knew his place with Lucky. She was the queen and he was just there. He slept on the bed with Lucky and I after he got her permission. When Timber was later introduced, he used his 30 lbs size to put the 110 lbs Timber in his place. Til the end, Timber always would try to rough house with Rocco; ending in Rocco snapping and telling Timber to stop. Rocco was good with the kids too. If I were in the room and Haley or Robbie came crawling up, he would look up with those sad puppy dog eyes saying, "Please keep them away from me." He would most often move away but sometimes get caught and ask for help. He was very good on walks and always would follow our directions. If we asked him to sit and let the neighborhood kids pet him, he would as long as he could see me. Kids loved the little fluffy, white dog. They didn't care as much for the bigger brown one or the huge black one. Little did they know that it was the white one that was the most dangerous.

We never saw this coming. We always wondered when and how soon it would come but we didn't expect it now. Lucky had gone through months of deteriorating. She was in pain. She struggled moving around. She had accidents on the floors. Rocco got just sick. On Friday we noticed he didn't eat Thursday night or Friday morning. Friday at dinner I gave him food and watched him eat while I protected his bowl from the other two vultures, Timber and Max. He reluctantly ate but the whole while he looked up at me like, "I don't want this. I'm only doing this for you." He was lethargic on Friday. On Saturday he just laid there. We called the vet and the earliest they could fit him in was in a few hours. Robbie was having his 4th birthday party with 10 four-year-olds jumping around him and running by and Rocco didn't move away. He was too weak. He was excessively panting. We tried to encourage him to get up but he wouldn't. I ended up taking him early to the vet. He would not walk for me. I carried him to the truck. He laid in the back while I drove there. I tried to coax him out but he again wouldn't move. I had to climb in and carry him again. Still I didn't think he was dying. I carried him in and laid him on the scale. He had lost 3 pounds since April but that wasn't unexpected. He hadn't been eating the last few days. He then did walk with me to the examination room. He tried to sit but his butt kept sliding out. I ended up making him lay down. The doctor looked at him, took a chest x-ray (everything looked fine), and took some blood for blood work. She didn't know what was wrong with him. He laid there and let them all poke and push on him without showing a tooth. He was very calm and weak. Without finding anything we went home to await the blood work results. He walked out of the vet and jumped out of the truck when we were at home. He acted like himself for an hour or so. Then he went back to being lethargic. He would only eat one handful of food from my hand (except for the food droppings that he vacuumed up after the kids ate). I moved him to a quieter spot away from the kids. There he stayed as long as I was there petting him. A neighbor girl was afraid of him. I coaxed her into petting him. She was very happy when she finally did pet him. He was, "so soft and nice." Her dad later told me that she is very afraid of dogs and has only pet three others in her life. Rocco helped her make strides to learn dogs are good to have around. That night Rocco went upstairs and into our room as normal at bedtime. Sunday morning he was already downstairs and laying in the living room. He again wouldn't eat. He wouldn't get up. He wouldn't pick his head up when I tried to give him medicine. This lasted a few hours. When we were eating lunch I watched him move from one spot to another and then to his final spot. Shortly after lunch his panting got worse. I didn't know what to do. I called the vet again but they were closed. While I was calling he had a BM. I thought, "Poor dog. He doesn't even have enough energy to get up to go to the bathroom." I still didn't know he was dying. Very shortly later his legs went outward, he was then just involuntarily twitching. His breathing had stopped. His eyes were glassed over. He was gone.

We were all there with him - me, Stacey, mom, Ron, Sean, Erin, Haley, and Robbie. We explained to the kids that Rocco had just died. They asked us why we were crying. It's a hard thing to explain. Even as very young kids, Haley and Robbie have both gone through two other deaths. They know that everything must die. They know of the Circle of Life. They know they will never see Papa, Lucky, and now Rocco again. They know that they are all going to live on in only our memories. Yet they are not sad. We explain to them how the memories are good memories. Those memories should keep us happy. Death itself is sad but the memories are happy. How do we, as adults, change to be so sad at death when we can explain the opposite to a child?

They asked what happens next. We didn't know. Stacey told them he may be cremated and turned to ashes. Some people bury their pets. They came over and gave a final pet and kiss before I moved him into a sheet and into the garage. Haley unexpected asked, "Now that he won't be mad, can I see his teeth." We showed them. In the garage, Robbie wanted to see Rocco's face one more time. We unwrapped it and showed him. Then for the two of them life was good again and they went off to play.

Rocco is in the back yard. The kids want to plant a tree over him. They already have at least one name for the tree:
First Name: Rocco
Middle Name: Good Dog
Last Name: Nice Dog

Rocco, always remember that Robbie is fast on his ice skates....always remember.

Robbie started hockey at 3

Robbie had his first Learn to Skate practice last Tuesday. He did awesome. They give beginners a folding chair to push around the rink.

It was stressful for me on the whe there. We were trying to get to the rink around 5:10. We got stuck in horrendous traffic and we were going to be late but still before the 5:30 start time. On the whe my head is racing...
"I should have explained more about hockey and what he will be doing" - He knew, and was excited, that he was going to play hockey but he didn't really know what that meant. He saw his cousin play a year ago and Robbie doesn't remember that. He has seen me play floor hockey but that is much different. He tried on all of his equipment....a month ago.
"I should have had him walk in his skates." - Obviously.
"What am I going to do if it's hard for him to get up and he quits?"
"Why the f*^% isn't this traffic moving!"

We got there and the kids were on the ice. It was then that Stacey told me that hockey starts at 5:20 and it was 5:30. We rushed to get his gear on (he was excited at every piece, giggling and jumping and air punching and pumping). Stacey was trying to help but wasn't briefed on the order of the equipment (another thing I should have done). It was then he took his first steps on skates. He was a little wobbly but didn't fall. His skates were size 11. His shoe is 10. His skates should be 9. His grandma went and rented skates that were 8/9 with a buckle instead of laces. Robbie saw them and wanted them instead what he had on. I took them off and put on the rentals. The rentals didn't give enough support at the ankles but he insisted on wearing them.

He walked to the ice, stepped on, and hit the ice.....and sat on the ice......and wiggled his feet........but gave up because he couldn't move. I picked him up and a coach came over and he fell again.

It went better after he got the chair but he came over after 5 minutes, "I have to tell my daddy something." His feet hurt. uh-oh. We changed skates back to his 11s with laces and sent him back out. He got better and had more confidence with the new skates. When he was first out there he was draped over the back of the chair and hanging on with his armpits. The coach kept trying to get him to hold on with his hands but he refused. After the new skates he held on with his hands and really pushed the chair around. He could push the chair back and forth across the ice with a skating motion by the end. He wanted his stick like some of the other kids (who have all skated before yesterday and were buzzing around the ice). We took the chair awhe and he froze. The coach did get him to walk on the ice. We were proud.

A drill they did was to have one kid push another in a chair around the ice behind both goals then switch. Robbie got a ride from the coach. The coach flew around and gave Robbie a crazy, twisty, back and forth ride with a quick snow-spray stop. Robbie looked like he didn't breath through the whole ride. His eyes filled his helmet. But he got off and then pushed the chair around himself to catch up to the kids.

In the locker room we had a conversation while taking the equipment off.
"I was really, really fast daddy!"
"You were just like Lightening McQueen buddy!"
"Vroom! I want you to remember that I was really fast daddy."
"I will Robbie."
"...even when you're dead daddy."
"I will Robbie. Even when I'm dead."

Photo Update

Here are a few links to some photos.

Kevin's Wildlife Photos

Our trip to Soverign Hill in Ballarat - gold mine town

Uncle Sean's visit

Hair Cuts

Daddy Daycare comes complete with hair cuts. The kids have differing opinions though. Haley wants daddy to cut her hair and Robbie has his usual wavering opinion. In December daddy cut both Robbie’s and Haley’s hair with mommies help in distracting Robbie. They both did great and got nice cuts. Cutting a girls hair is trickier than you’d think. How do you make her look cute but not sexy, sweet but not sassy, adorable but not hot? Mommy was happy with the cut but daddy wasn’t sure until the hot moms from playgroup approved. A job well done!

Time rolled on and hair grew longer. Robbie needed a cut badly in February. He was getting quite a mop on top. Daddy asked Robbie if he wanted it cut by daddy or someone else. He said, “Daddy only.” We were all set up and ready to go. We had the towel wrapped around him. He was cozy and ready. Daddy got one cut in then the screaming “NOOOOO” with the twisting head and the kicking feet started. I got that to stop but I couldn’t get Robbie to stop following the scissors with his face. His head spun around like an owl. He did have the best shaped bangs in town. We ended up taking him to a salon where he sat like a statue for his cutter. He was wonderful. Haley didn’t want her hair cut there she wanted daddy to do it.

Another month rolled on and Haley still didn‘t get her hair cut. She was looking a little ratty at the ends. She was also getting wavy hair instead of her normal straight. Since I’ve had a flat top for a decade I knew nothing about split ends. For a week Haley has told me she no longer wants me to cut her hair she wants a pro (mommy got her hair done last week and it cost me a fortune --- and don’t ask how it cost me a fortune if I’m not working. It still cost me a fortune!) We wanted to surprise mommy when she got back from Sydney with a new do so today was the day.

Today’s journey was to find a salon to cut her hair. We rode the tram and while we were walking up to the salon Haley said, “I want my hair cut where Robbie got his cut.” As any great dad would do, I told her I already knew that and we were on our way. We entered and there was only a man cutting today. There was also a 15 minute wait. Since I didn’t think Robbie could last 15 minutes plus Haley’s cut plus my cut I asked Haley if she really wanted to get her cut there. She said no. I had no hard feelings leaving since there were no hot chicks cutting hair there.

We went to the next place I knew of. We marched up. Haley looked in and told me that she didn’t want to get her hair cut there either. Again, no hotties so no disappointment from daddy. I asked her why she didn’t like the two places. She said, “I’ll pick the next place you want, daddy.” What a sweetie. She is converting over to the spoiled, snooty girl who only gets her hair done at top of the line places (and too young for that I might add) but yet still wants to please daddy (which will be over way too soon). I was out of known places except for my barber.

We went walking through the city. I found another place and just before walking in she says, “I only want you to cut it daddy.” What love and trust, huh? We turned around and started walking home. We passed another salon. We went up and I asked Haley if she wanted it cut there. No hot chicks so she said no. We went back home. PS - None of the salons give a break for cutting kids hair.

The whole tour took about an hour and then we were home with daddy cutting Haley’s hair. Daddy took about an inch off last time cuz he was afraid to make it too short. Mommy told him that they normally take an inch off. With the known split ends and such a long time between cuts daddy went to take two inches off. I must have wet and combed her hair for seven solid minutes before getting the courage to make the first cut. It was a nice, accurate two inch cut in the middle of her back under layer. Yes, I was going to try to layer. The next cut was horror. Turns out it was about four inches. That was a little too much. Then I had to make the rest even with it. When I was done, it was still long hair. My cutie had four inches off but that was OK she still had long hair….wet. As it dried the wavy curls came back and pulled it up. Mommy’s gonna beat me.

It’s cute but it’s short. It’s only to her shoulders (err, umm, chin when it dries) now. Quote after dinner tonight, “Robbie, mommy’s going to think I’m a boy cuz my hair is so short.“ If any of you ladies know how to weave please let me know before Stacey comes back.

Uncle Sean's visit

So there I was.....forced to go golfing last Sunday morning (the 4th of the 3rd of 07 is how the Aussie's say March 4, 2007). I went kicking and screaming because golf is no fun :) As soon as I left for the course, three months of planning between my brother and wife went into action........

Sean was flying in from Asia. Stacey was going to pick him up at the airport while I was golfing. It was a surprise for the kids and myself. When she went to leave she discovered the tire was off the rim in the parking garage. Uncle Sean then had to take a bus from the airport to Southern Cross Station; a 10 minute walk from home. She coaxed the kids to riding in the pram (stroller) instead of the car to go pick up a surprise person to go to the beach with us. (Believe me changing plans from car to pram or any change for that matter is often a struggle with kids.)

At the station Uncle Sean had snuck up behind the kids. He held his suitcase over his head and Stacey told the kids to turn around. Haley screamed, "Daddy!" (Some say he looks like me. I hope that’s not true.) Sean lowered his suitcase to show his face then she asked, "What are you doing here? You're suppose to be in Michigan?"

Meanwhile, Adam and I are now fixing the flat tire in the parking garage. Stacey had rung (called) him on his mobile (cell phone) and told him of the change in plans. When we finished we went back to the lift to go back to the apartment. We hit the button, waited, when the door opened......there was my brother standing right in front of the door. I was too surprised to give much more than a, "Hey." You know guy lingo for, "WOW! It's great to see you. How'd you get here? This is great. What a surprise!" So Uncle Sean didn't get the surprised excitement from the kids or I he expected but we showed him a good time in appreciation during the entire week he was here.

We relaxed for about 30 minutes after Sean arrived then got our day going. We went to the place where we treat all new comers to Melbourne - to BBNT (Burgers, Burritos, Nachos, and Tacos) on King St. It is not far and it is a good location because we were coming back to Telstra Dome for Uncle Sean's first footie game. The game was just like last time but better as mentioned above (ya, that's right. All you skimmers didn't read that part did you? I said the footie game is better with Uncle Sean). The kids got to choose which team to barrack (root) for before going in and they got blow up hands with one finger extended (number one not the middle for you men). They loved the fingers. (They enjoyed them more at home where they got to beat Uncle Sean or poke him in the back when walking.) During the game Uncle Sean was going to take them to get ice cream. Unknown to us Haley told Uncle Sean she knew where to get it. After making Stacey very nervous because they were gone sooooooo long Sean explained that Haley took them to the other side of the stadium. Then in big brother fashion I politely pointed out the ice cream stand at the top of our stairs. I guess mom was right. I shouldn't have hit him so many times as kids. Uncle Sean and the kids really enjoyed the game. None of us understand the rules but it's fun to cheer and yell at the referees.

Sleepy Sean and the kids slept in to 9:30 on his first day. We then had to make heaps (lots) of phone calls back to the US in the morning to let everyone know everything was OK. We finally got out of the house around 1:30. The kids and I showed Uncle Sean what Daddy Daycare was all about. We showed off the piers and future plans for the area in the Docklands Model Area then wandered over to Waterfront City. That night we went down to Hardware Alley for dinner. We warned Sean about the slow, poor service in Australia. That night was not slow nor poor service. We met a Canadian who is staying in Melbourne and waiting tables. That was the reason for the good service. She was imported! Sean got to try a two authentic Australian dishes; kangaroo and chicken schnitzel.

On Tuesday I let Sean and the kids sleep in again. We leisurely got out the door and on the road to go to Phillip Island. (You all remember Phillip Island. It's the place where we saw lots 'o wildlife and fed the roos and saw the penguins come home, etc.) On the way to Phillip Island we stopped at the Mura Wildlife Park. We were suppose to be able to touch the koalas, feed kangaroos and wallabies, and see all sorts of animals. It was pretty much a bust. We only found one, count it, one kangaroo on their grounds. The emus were behind a fence. The plus side was that they had three dingos (Asian wolves that migrated to Australia nearly 4,000 years ago. Steve Irwin says that if the migration occurred 4,000 years ago that should make them an indigenous species but they are not considered such) that were active. We ate lunch there. Sean found out that in Australia a Hawaiian hamburger is a bun with a piece of pineapple on a slice of ham. He was disappointed there was no burger.

The Phillip Island Wildlife Park was awesome again. Sean got a great big kick out of feeding the wallabies and roos. The roos were very aggressive this time. The would come hopping across in a pack (that's neat to watch), circle us (oh, that's cute too), then reach with their sharp claws and open mouths trying to rip the bags of food from our hands (uh-oh, we're in trouble). You have never seen a two year old boy transform into a cat trying to stay out of water until you witness Robbie (who is a third of the height of an adult kangaroo) scale up and keep scaling up over my head, screaming to keep the roos away. I think Uncle Sean got the biggest kick out of feeding the roos but the next biggest is the barking owl. You can go up to his cage and bark twice like a dog. The owl will return with his own two barks. It is hilarious. This could go on for hours and almost does with a two and four year old. We have to drag them away. We got to get very close to the koalas. They had been fed recently and were actively eating. We saw flying foxes (bats), wallabies, wombats, quolls, roos, Australian outback (a large area out back with bush trees and dried up lakes), emus, dingos, Peregrine falcon, kite, barking owl, barn owls, Tawny Frogmouth owls, cassowaries, cockatoos, koalas, blue tongued lizards, turtles, echidnas, lorikeets, pelicans, Tasmanian Devil, and others.

We ended the evening watching the penguins come in from the ocean after dusk. You watch them come up and tentatively walk across the beach in groups. Then you can observe them from the boardwalks as they return to their burrows. We looked up to see billions (well it looked that way but we didn't count) of stars. There are more out there than anywhere I have seen before. We cruised home after the penguins around 10:00 and chatty-cathy kept me awake the whole way.

The next day was Wednesday. Our first mission was to go to the Queen Victoria Market. It is an open air market where Uncle Sean could get a lot of cheap souvenirs (nice to all those who got something from him and are reading this). I stopped at the near-by 'school bus' playground with the kids to feed them and Sean went to the market. He came back shortly because I forgot that the market was closed on Wednesdays. After lunch we played on the playground. Sean got to witness the Aussie kids and parents first hand when a boy tried to knock Haley off of the monkey bars. She then went into protection mode for Robbie and would block the kid off anytime he tried to push near Robbie. I'm so proud of her. Sean also witnessed the kid step on a 14 month old and when that didn't work for him he kicked the baby (said just like in South Park) to knock him over and out of the way. After the park we came back for naps. Sean and Robbie needed them. I worked with Haley on the alphabet. That evening Sean came out to cheer for me in my third running race. I had a friend, Keith, pace me. He did a great job and we almost met my goal of knocking another two minutes off my time. I could have if I had listened to him. I was just too mentally weak.

Thursday Uncle Sean got to experience Daddy Daycare at its finest. We woke up late, took a long time getting ready, and rushed out the door trying to get to the Toy Library to return our toys before they closed at 11:00. We barely made it with 30 seconds to spare. We left there and went to a playground with a teeter-tauter that had its fulcrum15 feet in the air with swing hanging down. Uncle Sean and Daddy had a blast playing on this one. Watch for the video link in a few days. We ended the day over at Science Works museum. Uncle Sean and the kids loved it.

Friday we went to the Moomba Festival. We watched pro wake boarders and wake skating. We also went over to the river and saw ski jumping. The kids got to play at the carnival and then we headed over to Little Italy for dinner. Most of the time in Little Italy you get approached by the host as you walk by each restaurant and pick one based on the free drink or dish they are wheeling and dealing. We went right for the first one to offer us two booster seats. Sean was disappointed.

Saturday we went swimming with wild seals, fish, and dolphins. Swimming with the seals was amazing. We got within three feet of them. We checked them out. They checked us out. They would dive around us, swim under us, or lay on the surface and scratch their bellies. We were snorkeling near a man made platform. If they weren’t in the water, the seals were on the platform. If they were on the platform, they seems to be arguing about personal space. It wasn’t too good to drift near the platform in case someone got thrown off. The boat then took us to an area to view the fish. I still am laughing after hearing Uncle Sean and Adam squeal through their snorkels because they were afraid of the jelly fish in the water. Even Stacey wasn’t afraid. Next we went in search of the dolphins. This was were Stacey got the delight of her Australia visit. She got to see four swimming around her. She also got to video some porposing at the front of the boat. She was delighted.

It was sad to take Uncle Sean to the airport on Sunday morning.

We were busy all week. We walked a lot. I got a great laugh when Sean complained one evening about how bad his feet, knees, back, and legs hurt. I remembered well how all the city walking hurt us before we got used to it. Uncle Sean brought some cooler weather with him. It did not get into the 30’s while he was here. It was warm and got into the mid to high 20’s (low to mid 70’s). The evenings were cooler though. Most of them were very breezy and upper teens (low to mid 60’s).

It was the fastest week we have blown through since we got here. Thanks for visiting Uncle Sean!

Pictures with Uncle Sean will be uploaded later along with a video of the chasing kangaroo.

All about the kids

Daddy Daycare. Ah, Daddy Daycare. These are some of things that just make Daddy Daycare what it is. The kids have continued their daycare training of clearing their own places after each meal. What we've added is where to eat. Most meals are sitting on a phone book with a towel covering the chair (can't stain these cloth chairs purchased for high ranking executives and not for a four or two year old). However, at lunch or brekkie (not dinner cuz mum is around) we often build a tent in the kitchen to eat under. The kids love it and ask for it all the time. They sit on the tile. I drape a sheet over the doors that hide the fridge and pantry and over the counter drawers. It makes a beautiful tent. Haley is getting really good at addition. We haven't been practicing her numbers or letters as much as before (she only wants to do addition or skip the school part). They have been learning their shapes, colors and how to fall and get up and try it again on the playground. I even push them down just for fun if they haven‘t fallen recently. Robbie is getting back to how he was in Michigan with slides and going down again. Neither are afraid of bugs or spiders (not even the 6" diameter Huntsman spiders (those spook daddy but not the kids)). Don't worry though...they know not to touch a red back spider or funnel spider. Those are the dangerous ones here and we've only seen them in exhibits. They wrestle all the time. They laugh all the time too. They play together and do audibles (icon that makes noise during instant messaging). Before we leave for playtime they always clean up their toys and put them away in the toy chest. Well not always but we try. Haley is getting more defiant. I have to ask her to do things a few times before she stops what she is doing and does what she is suppose to. That, in turn, has translated into Robbie following suit. So both are testing me more. Does the “terrible two’s” mean two kids?

When traveling around we are advancing too. We leave the pram (stroller) at home more often and we walk more. We also get onto the trams and trains as a team. Both kids know the routine on how to do it. They also know our tram numbers and train platform numbers while traveling to gymnastics. On the trams they have advanced to being able to stand up. They always ask if they can watch the tram driver. If there is room they run up to the front and sit right behind them. They tell him when he has a green or red T (the light for the tram is similar to your round driving light for an intersection except it is in the shape of a T for tram). They know how he moves the lever to go faster or slower. It is really amazing how quickly they pick this stuff up during observations. They take turns pushing the tram stop button or pulling the cord. They also take turns putting the tram pass into the machine for validation (great, now I can't get on and try to scam a free ride.... of course, not that I would ever try that anyway). Haley has recently discovered that the tram only beeps for the first person to push the button. Therefore, she lets Robbie put the tram pass into the machine first so she can push the tram stop button first. Smart, huh? And they take turns pushing every button. Whether it is on the lift (elevator), cross walk, open door, and every other button. I'm the one who has to remember whose turn it is and they never complain (at least any more) about whose turn it is now and who was last. Haley does calculate and sometimes gives Robbie an extra turn at a stop light so when it comes time to push the button in the lift it will be her turn. Amazing.

They have a new buddy too. There is a shop owner just outside of our apartment. They love going by and waving and saying hi. They get disappointed when he is not working there. He is very friendly. We also have a building cleaner that they look for and say hi to all the time too. She is very sweet. The shop owner is a big time Kangaroo barracker (supporter of the Kangaroo Footie (Australian Rules Football) team). He's converted the kids over too. Their first game they barracked for the Melbourne Demons. Well sort of.....

Two weeks ago we took the kids to a preseason tournament footie game. It was the Melbourne Demons vs. Hawthorn Hawks. Footie is similar to rugby but much faster. The game is packed with action. They play on a oval field about 200 metres (meters) long and 150 wide. The guys are running all over the place. It is exciting when the action is in front of you but because the field is so large most of the action is somewhere else. Each quarter is about 25 minutes (yes, about 25. only the official on the field keeps the time and that’s 100 minutes of play). Each score is worth one point within the outer goal posts (called a Behind), 6 points within the inner goal posts (called a Goal), or 9 points within the inner goal posts and kicked outside of the 50 metre mark (called a Super Goal). Each team scores about 80-90 points per game. The kids loved the game. We cheered when the Demons scored AND when the Hawks scored. We were sitting in the Hawks section and the kids didn't care who scored they loved cheering. They would stand up and clap and yell. It was great. Stacey took them for a walk around the stadium. They got ice cream and souvenirs (fleeces with the Demon logo). What could have been better? The better comes in the next game when Uncle Sean went with them.