my boy likes to party all the time

Kenny poses with the birthday girl (and their mommies).

AJ & Victoria's wicked cute daughter, Ava, turned 4 on Monday, but had her party on Saturday at the Glenview Park District center. A wise move, since so many of the 4 year old's have work on Monday. Seriously. The kids out here play for keeps, I'm telling you.

Kenny had a lot fun at the party. He didn't really try to keep up with the older kids, but instead busied himself with the multitude of balls to throw and kick in the gym. He also proved to be fairly proficient in wielding an inflatable pirate sword.


"Okay, Mommy, now I'll just drag you around the room. Awesome!"

Come to think of it, it's probably best not to grab the sword by the blade, as opposed to the handle.

When it came time to eat, Kenny tried chocolate milk for the first time. After the initial sip (which lasted around 43 seconds), he shot me a quick quizzical look. I'm pretty sure he was trying to figure out why I had withheld this incredible nectar of the gods from him for so long. I don't have a good answer for that. Maybe I'm just cruel. He was also a big fan of the chocolate cake. Again, not surprising.


"Can't talk. Imbibing liquid chocolate. Mmmmmmm...chocolate."

On the downside, Kenny had practiced singing "Happy Birthday" to Ava, but we missed the big moment due to an important potty break. C'est la vie.

Even though the car ride home lasted around eight minutes (if that), Kenny fell victim to a sugar-crash of epic proportions. Our happy party goer napped for about two and a half hours, before waking up in a haze, with an insatiable craving for cocoa beans.

To see all of our party pix, just click here.

kenny's taxi service

After a long period of asking/demanding we drive him around, Kenny finally offered to do likewise for us. I think we might have been pushing the vehicle's weight limit, but it was fun all the same.


"You look like you could use a ride, my good man."

"How much are you supposed to tip for this?"

"Yo, Daddy...you puttin' on weight? I'm just sayin'."

Overboard gets to go for a spin as well.

Overboard shows Kenny how not to drive with your hands at 10 and 2.

In the end, Mr. K realizes that it's much more fun to be the rider than the pusher. So true.

kenny's new game

Overboard discovered a new game with Kenny that is highly popular. It involves his collapsible stuffed animal basket, which is just big enough to fit Mr. K and his friends...


Step 1: Empty basket of its cuddly contents.

Step 2: Push down and step inside.

Step 3: Assume the ready position.

Step 4: Have someone (preferably Mommy) fill basket with animal friends.

Step 5: Giggle like a maniac.

Step 6: Converse gleefully with fellow basket-dwellers.

Step 7: Fall backwards and emit hysterical laughter.

Then repeat for hours and hours of endless fun.

let's hear it for business trips

One of the perks of living in Chicago is that there are a lot of conferences and trade shows held here. A lot. This means that we occasionally get to see friends of ours who come to town for work, but find some time on the side for a quick visit. Bonus!

Last year, my buddy Evan was in town for an annual trade show, but there was just too much disease in the air around here for a visit. This year, everyone was healthy (except my road rage, but that's a story for another time), so Evan was able to come over for a nice dinner and visit. Really, I have proof.


See? Look at the healthy glow!

Evan is all smiley because I promised him not to antagonize any state troopers or violate too many laws of the road when I drove him back to the hotel.

another fun morning at the kid's museum

Last weekend the JUF rented out the Kohl's museum for a special kid's event. Kenny had fun running amok with smaller than usual crowds, and even got to hang with his buddy Jack. Since we're learning from our past mistakes (well, most of them), we brought a second shirt for Mr. K. This was handy after visiting the water room. Very handy. Go, Team Parents!

Anyways, here are some fun pix:

Kenny and Overboard rev things up for the kids going through the car wash.

Our junior engineer was in no hurry to leave the train table. Hey, somebody's got to make sure the 9:56 arrives on time.

Notice the shirt.

Notice the new shirt.

"Order up! Who wanted the toasted plastic bread?"

creative snacks

Like waffles with peanut butter and jelly...


So good, so good!

silent scream

Like all good toddlers, Kenny loves to let loose with a good blood-curdling scream now and then. He clenches his whole body and just lets it go. It's all very primal scream therapy-esque, in a pre-school kind of way.

Now, if Yoko Ono's album sales have taught us anything, it's that primal screaming doesn't sit well with the American public. Consequently, I have taught Kenny how to pull off the ingenious, "Silent Scream." The silent scream involves everything that a normal scream does, except sound.

When Kenny tries to screech at the moon these days, we encourage him to pull off a silent scream instead. It's fairly humorous to see him clench up and wail, sans volume. We'll see how long this trick lasts.

the bookshelf

I was back in Atlanta this past weekend and stayed in my old room at the folk's place. Looking for books to bring home to Kenny, I perused some of the shelves. There were a lot of great options, but I finally decided to grab some of my favorite Richard Scarry books for Mr. K. However, while checking out everything, I came across a sight that cracked me up.

On a bookshelf in the closet, my mother has stacked a number of titles including some Dr. Seuss, Mother Goose, a kid's picture dictionary, and that great children's bedtime story: Hamlet. What can I say? I was a pretty smart kid.


"Alas, poor Magilla Gorilla, I knew him well."

the war on christmas

A while ago, one of Overboard's friends was very sweet and gave Kenny a cute book called "If You Take A Mouse to the Movies." It's the story of a little boy and his kind - but demanding - mouse buddy, as they partake in numerous holiday adventures. These adventures include building a snow fort, having a snow ball fight, purchasing and decorating a Christmas tree, singing carols, and, yes, taking a mouse to the movies because he wants some popcorn.

Kenny thinks the book is cool and it has become one of his current favorites.

The funny thing is, in our fakakta Jewish home, Overboard and I have both been quietly editing the story (all while ignorant of the other's simultaneous religious editorializing). Instead of saying that the mouse was gonna get a "Christmas tree," we've just been saying, "a tree." Instead of saying, "singing Christmas carols," we've just been saying "singing songs." And so on.

The whole thing is kind of goofy, and I just find it amusing that we were both doing it. Of course, Kenny is probably sitting there wondering why we're not saying "Christmas tree" when the rest of the unchosen world is. Personally, I think we can balance it out by investing in a fun Hannukah book, but that purchase has yet to be made.

I bring all of this up because I've noticed all of the Christmas displays going up in the stores, and we're still two weeks away from Thanksgiving. Hell, last night I heard two different news channels announce that there was "47 shopping days left till Christmas." I know it's a recession and all, but ain't that a touch early? Or am I just some sort of curmudgeon? On second thought, don't answer that.

And while I'm ranting aimlessly about the holidays...have you noticed the dearth of quality Hannukah songs? You'd think that with the sheer amount of Jewish songwriters we'd have something better than "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel" or Adam Sandler's "Hanukkah Song." You know it's bad when some of the most popular Christmas songs were written by Members of the Tribe, who apparently saw no good audience for their other opus, "Who Left the Menorah Burning When We Haven't Checked the Batteries in the Smoke Detector in, What, Six Months?" It's a sad state of affairs, truly.

In the meantime, we'll continue to read about the pros and cons of matinee loving rodents. At least until Kenny decides he's had enough and wants to move on to another book for a good 378 readings or so.

new family portrait

Taken by the talented Cousin Eric while in Atlanta the other weekend.

Kenny is giving his famous "more" sign. As in, "Yes, I'd love to pose some more for the camera and all of my adoring fans."

just like i taught him

This morning Overboard and I were talking about what we should be working on with Kenny. It was decided that since he knows his letters, we should keep reinforcing what sounds those letters make. Overboard then started to do just that by yelling from our room across the hall to Kenny.

"Kenny, what sound does B make?"
"Buh, buh, buh, buh."
"Right! And what sound does T make?"
"Tuh, tuh, tuh, tuh."
"Right! And what about a F?"
"S?"
"No, a F. Like Frank."
[pause]
"Ring-a-ding-ding, baby."
"RIGHT!" (shouted Daddy)

kenny enjoys simple fall pleasures

Like stomping around in piles of leaves...

yes we can

Last night, after Kenny was in bed, Overboard and I sat on the couch and watched history being made. We kept track of the electoral votes on TV, on the Web, and via emails. We discussed what an Obama presidency could mean for us, and most importantly, for Kenny.

My eyes welled with tears, and they're doing it again as I type. Why? For many reasons, but mainly because we believe that our country has turned a great corner and our son will live in a world where an African-American president is no big deal. He'll live in a world where anyone can truly work their way up and achieve the highest office in the land, or whatever dream they set out for themselves. The promise of America was realized last night and now it's up to all of us to help bring real change and hope to fruition. Not just for us, but for those who will inherit the world we give them.

Yes we can. Yes we did.

Here's the text message Overboard received last night at 10:07pm:
----- Original Message -----
From: CNN Breaking News <BreakingNews@mail.cnn.com>
To: textbreakingnews@ema3lsv06.turner.com
Sent: Tue Nov 04 22:07:34 2008
Subject: CNN Breaking News

-- CNN projects that Sen. Barack Obama has won election as the next president of the United States.

And here's the message we reveled in, as delivered by our next President:

barack the vote

I was the first in line at our polling place this AM. When I walked back to the house, Overboard took her turn and went to vote. Now we wait.

Obviously, you can see which way we lean, but regardless, please go vote. And when you do, think of Kenny and what kind of future you want him to inherit.

Speaking of Kenny...we told him we had gone to vote this morning, but he thought we had somehow sneaked off to play on a boat. This led to a lot of, "No, sweetie, it's 'Vote,' not 'Boat.'"

On a more romantic tangent, Overboard went out on our first date eight years ago today. Here's hoping we get the anniversary gift we're looking for.

e-i-e-i-moo

"Yo! Cow! You're mother's a bovine!"

This morning we made a fun return trip to Wagner Farms, where we met up with our friends John and Joanne, and their kids Jack and Ellie. Jack isn't too much older than Kenny, and they became friends in the span of about 13 seconds, when they both realized that they liked cows. And pigs. And horses. And chickens. And...well, you get the idea.


Jack and Kenny talk to the animals. In this case, cows.

Jack and Kenny run to the animals. In this case, towards the chickens and geese.

Kenny practices his egg theft techniques. He also practiced his chicken head butting, as he kept bonking his noggin' on the chicken's beak each time he reached down to grab more eggs.

Working on a farm is hunger-inducing. Which is why all good mommies pack snacks. Jack shared his raisins and Kenny shared his goldfish. The Republicans will call this "socialism" and use it against either one of them in a future presidential race. We just thought they were being nice to each other. Oh well. What do we know?

To see all of our farm pictures, just click here. Moo.

halloween '08!

"Okay. So I've got the pachyderm outfit on. Now when do I get this candy of which you speak?"

I got stuck at work last night and didn't get home until after Kenny had been de-costumed, but our little elephant had a grand time trick or treating with his Mommy. He also had fun handing out candy to the 3 or 4 trick or treaters we had stop by. Not sure why we're so overlooked each year, but I have to wonder if during years gone by our street became famous for handing out boxes of raisins, or maybe rocks, instead of candy. Whatever. Saves us on purchasing the executive size bag each October.

Here are a few more shots of Kenny the elephant.

Look out! He's on the rampage!

"Bradaloooooooo!"*

It ain't easy for an elephant.


*This is the accepted household elephant sound. Seriously.

fleeting frozen fun

The other weekend the temperatures took a turn towards winter. Luckily, it bounced back during this past week, but when we decided to go out last Sunday for some fun in the park, we underestimated how freakin' cold it really was. Kenny didn't mind that his boogers were freezing, or that his lips were blue. What he did mind was when we said we had to leave after only 10 minutes or so.

Here are a few pix that we snapped before telling him we had to vamoose.

Kenny ponders whether or not to attempt the much celebrated "around the world" move, where you flip all the way around the bar. Overboard was happy he only pondered and didn't actually attempt said maneuver.

Kenny being herded away from the sandpit and all of its sandy goodness.

This slide was the big hit of the day. He enjoyed tossing a wood chip down it from the top to check for traps. Kenny is happy to report he encountered no such traps. Whew.

"Slides rule! Get it? Dad? Slide rule...slides rule? It's math humor and I've never even taken a math class. Dad? Mom? Anyone? Hey, is this thing on?"

Look closely. See the snot coming out of the right nostril? It was starting to congeal/freeze. So we decided to go. Yup, the ol' "snot bell weather" works every time.

Since leaving the playground was not a popular move, we tried to figure out where we could go for some good indoor fun. This being the suburbs and all, we ended up at a nearby mall. Overboard thought she had heard something about a merry go round, but it turned out to be a small area of those little rides for kids that cost 75 cents and provide about 65 cents worth of fun. You know, the ones you see at the entrance/exits of K Marts or grocery stores. But we were there, and Kenny had never been on one, so we tested a few out. Kenny was only mildly amused, but we didn't need a miracle, so this was totally sufficient.


Overboard fires up the Bob the Builder bulldozer. Who apparently enjoys running down cats. As a dog person, I suppose I understand the fun in that, but it did seem a little cruel.

"Hey, where'd the cat go? And why is this guy riding shotgun and staring at me the whole time?"

"Yo! Anyone bothered to check if this dog's shot record is up to date? His eyes seem a little glossy. I'm just sayin'."

You know how hard I bit my tongue in order not to make short bus jokes? Pretty hard. Hey, the truth hurts, people. Really.

The fighter jet cockpit was pretty popular. Kenny refused to exit until he had properly strafed Glenview and Arlington Heights. What? They had it coming.