My wife has discovered a new method of bringing the kids into line. It’s from a book called “1 2 3 Magic” and it’s a variation on the old “you better be good before I count to 3″ schtick. Part of the routine, apparently, is that you don’t tell the kids why they’re in trouble. […]

One of the kids’ closest adult friends has a southern twang to her accent. In case you haven’t heard it, it often adds an additional syllable to words. “Well” becomes “Wayell.” “Cat” becomes “Cayat.” My youngest picked up this accent, but shortened it up. Instead of “cat”, he says “kyat”. Actually, it’s almost “Keyat”. Last […]

The fireworks this past fourth of July were amazing. As usual, however, we managed to be one chair short. Now I understand that in most families, being short a chair doesn’t affect the dad. With us, however, I’m the one who ends up on the blanket. That may sound like I’m complaining, but I’m not. […]

Today’s tale is in the Chronicle. Click here to read it! Terms for Searchers: Tonsils, Parade, Flag, Eclair.

Father’s Day this year was a quiet sort of day. Between the triple digit heat and humidity so thick you could bottle it, we pretty much just stayed indoors all day. By late afternoon, the kids were going stir crazy. “Okay,” I said from the kitchen table. “Get out.” The six-year old stopped spinning long enough […]

“Daddy,” my five year old asked. “Does mommy have a back eye?” I was making breakfast, still feeling a little blurry from a late night playtest the previous evening. “What?” I yawned. “No, no I don’t think so. Why would she have a black eye?” “No,” he tugged on my pajama pantleg. ”A backeye, does she have […]

“Mom, Dad, who’s the most famous writer?” My six year old greeted us with this question this morning as he crawled into our bed. “Hmm,” I said. “I think maybe William Shakespeare. What do you think, momma?” “Aren’t we just talking about living writers?” she asked. “Okay,” I propped myself up on my elbow. ”then I […]

Yesterday, my wife and kids turned the kids’ new bunk beds into a giant blanket fort. My four-year old took me in to show me in the evening. We climbed under the blanket hanging over the head of his bed, and he showed me all the cool features of it. “It’s got a light,” he […]

The end of our bedtime routine involves a story followed by a song. During the song (and sometimes the story), our oldest likes to have his back scratched. Not too long ago, our youngest started objecting that he wanted his back scratched also. This is a problem because he doesn’t like to have his back […]

Today’s tale is in the Seminole Chronicle. Click here to read it! Terms for Searchers: Roller Skating, Semoran Skateway, who’s the daddy