god bless the great indoors
Yesterday was great. It was really, really cold yesterday so we mostly played indoors with a nice fire going. Yogi got many car massages (see yesterday’s picture). We got a couple of nice surprise visits/gifts – Heather and Becca from next door stopped by to see the kids and drop off a pinball machine they had outgrown and Carolyn stopped by with some Sky Dancer’s DVDs for Viv.
Bubs and I sat down and did a bunch of his math homework (he has two weeks worth of classwork he had refused to do for some reason). Doing that homework was fun, I really like teaching a lot and my son is such a bright little guy.
After dinner it was time for me and the kids to kick out some jams. We opened up GarageBand on the iMac and made Yogi Mountain. That’s Viv singing, me and Bubs clapping, Bubs is on the Korean bell, and Bubs also supplied the piano solo.
Viv was sleepy early from missing her nap yesterday and she came into my office and curled up on my lap. I put on a song she used to fall asleep on my shoulder too pretty much ever night – Gravity, Our Enemy – which is a song I played guitar on with an artist from a remote island near Nova Scotia (Acumen) and a singer that lived in Santa Monica at the time (Miss Volatile). And here’s the results…
After I tucked Viv into bed, Bubs and I read together on the couch. This was really good, because he has also been refusing to read and getting him to read some Mo Willems to me was awesome. We both needed that.
January 4th, 2008 at 9:27 am
i’m sorry. i thought you said “homework” and “fun” in the same sentence. can i send you my nine year old every weekday between the hours of 4:00 – 5:00?
January 4th, 2008 at 9:44 am
I like helping my little man with his homework. Although, I’m pretty sure he is smarter than I am, so it’s more like he’s helping me understand it.
January 4th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Jodi – yeah i do enjoy it. he’s a challenge to get focused, but he’s very bright when you get him channeled towards the right stuff
april – some of the homework instructions are worded kind of weird, i usually have to reread them a couple times to make sure i tell him correctly.
January 4th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Between the two songs, I get sort of a Cloud Cult impression – that is NOT a bad thing!
January 4th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Chris – that’s definitely a nice compliment, thank you amiga
January 4th, 2008 at 10:52 am
That picture is priceless, it doesn’t get any better than that! I am glad your week is going so well!!! Enjoy!
January 4th, 2008 at 11:09 am
= totally perfect day.
and a most adorable daddy/daughter snuggle. there is nothing in the world like a child sleeping in your arms. pure bliss.
January 4th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Mike D – it’s gotten better for sure as of yesterday
liv – it really was, very content.
January 4th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
now if that’s not a picture of love i don’t know what is!
January 4th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
lime – she’s pretty sweet ain’t she?
January 4th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
what a sweet picture. Sounds like you AND the kids are having the time of your lives.
January 4th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
YogiMountain ROCKS, dude. I was all like clapping and foot stomping away, singing along you know, by the end of the tune, I think I even did a couple of chair wiggles. WOOT! I’m going to go play it a couple of more times – - you know, make it REALLY stick in my head.
You’re too special, you know that? SPECIAL, as in extraordinary. Not, spucialllllllll.
January 4th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
You need to frame that picture.
January 4th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
That picture is so so sweet. What a little snuggle bug. It’s so cool that you get your kids involved in the creative process, too..what a great day.
January 4th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
That picture is excellent! I love it! I am so happy you are having such a great time with your kids!
January 4th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Gosh, what this? Refusing math homework? not reading? That doesn’t sound much like little Van. I’m glad you were able to help him over the hump. Poor little guy. Boys get lost at this age, and it’s near impossible to catch up.
I am glad you are enjoying each other so much. Yea!
January 4th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Das purty cute alright. Loved the Yogi Mountain jam. Gotta be better than the Chipmunks.
January 4th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
That picture is priceless. Indoor days rock!
January 4th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Aw V, that picture gave me the warm fuzzies. I think it’s my favorite picture on your site.
January 4th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
It’s hard to motivate young boys to study, I think. Did you like Alvin? I loved it!
January 4th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Great picture…so serene. A moment to treasure.
January 5th, 2008 at 9:32 am
I miss Mariel falling asleep in my lap like that. Sweet.
Math homework, eh? Ah, well…
January 5th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Lorrie – it has rocked
Claudia – thank you for checking out our jam
mamatulip – ok fine, stop being so bossy. god
flutter – i just got done to listening to my son play our baby grand while viv danced around in her cinderella dress
tori – thanks amiga
Open Grove Claudia – he did great on the remainder of his homework this morning, he’s such a smart guy
Franki – we’re gonna challenge them to a battle of the bands
Mary – I concur
Tink – it’s one of my faves for sure too
Cindy Lou – he likes doing it when i put him in the mindset, i talked to him about how good at math astronauts are. when i reach out to him creatively, he really responds
Carolyn – absolutely
Craig D – you could always get a tranq dart and put her in her lap as it takes effect
January 5th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Hmmm…
Or maybe some roofies..?
January 7th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
That’s a touching shot and a great story, man. Good music, too.