Owner: Dad2twins URL:http://www.dad2twins.com Join Date: Fri, 03 Aug 2007 21:10:40 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Dad2twins is about the amazing adventures of the farty pants twins. This blog is also about the wit, wisdom, trials, and tribulations of being a father to twin girls and it also chronicles my attempt to survive and thrive as a parent and a husband. Site statistics:Click here
Observations about Germany Part III 2007-10-17 16:20:33 Germany is an interesting place if you are American. Historically and physically. I mean, the Allies bombed the shit out of the country in World War II and then there was the whole East Germany vs. West Germany until the late 80’s. Actually the wall started to come down on November 9th, 1989. Funny enough, the Germans celebrate on October 3rd. As you may know, we were in Berlin on October 3rd. What a party. The town was alive and the day was sunny and beautiful and there were concerts and the whole town was a party. Here is a picture of me at the Brandenburger Tor (Brandburg Gate to you and me). This was the demarcation of the east and west during the cold war. Now it is on of the biggest tourist attractions on Berlin. At the base of the gate, the city had set up a big concert stage and many of Germany’s biggest rock acts performed all day. Because we had the Farty Pants twins and the in-laws with us, we decided to bypass the festivities at the gate and moved on to other si Read more:Germany
Observations about Germany Part II 2007-10-16 19:19:30 I was thinking the other day about my trip to Germany
and how efficient the German transportation system is. Everywhere you want to go in Germany can be reached without a car. There are subways and trains and buses and taxis to every destination you can think of. And when you do want to drive, you have the Autobahn. No speed limit and the only two lanes wide on each side. Unlike our American highways that can have 4 to 6 lanes each direction, the German Autobahn usually only has two lanes and every driver knows that you only use the left lane to pass. Otherwise get your ass in the right lane and drive at the speed of the other vehicles. It still amazes me that we Americans haven’t figured this out with as many lanes as we have to drive in.
But…. one thing we have that is way more important than the rules of the roads is the Americans with Disabilities Act. This allows for people with handicaps to maneuver around more freely with wheel chairs, or other devices to aid people
A little game of guess where and what. 2007-10-15 11:07:32
I figured we would start this post with a little
game. Guess where this picture was taken and what it’s name is. Now be careful. If you are a frequent reader of my blog, then you should have a pretty good idea of where it is not and what is is not. This was an actual picture taken by me outside our apartment window. The first person to correctly guess which city this picture was taken in will win a prize. I still have not determined what the prize will be, but those of you who have played my blog games and won know I give out pretty good prizes.
So, as promised, I am going to start my series of “observations…” over the next couple of days. The jet lag has worn off. The kids are ALMOST back to a normal sleeping schedule and I have spent the last few days jotting down ideas for my observations.. posts.
Because I like games so much, I thought this would be the best way to start off the week of posts to come. Good luck, and if you are a friend of mine or a fami
Fighting the loss of innocence, also known as, trying to be a good parent. 2007-10-19 12:18:46 You may have heard about the Maine school providing birth control to middle school children? Whether you agree or disagree, I really don’t want to get into a debate here. This is not the right forum. Besides, I think Christine over at the Bean Blog has summed it better than I could in her post today.
What this article reminded me of, was the innocence of my youth and the stories my parents told of their “Leave it to Beaver” childhood. I fear our children are losing their childhood innocence younger and younger as each generation passes. Today, girls seem to be entering puberty much earlier then past generations. Also, both girls and boys are much more aware of their own sexuality way too soon. Have you seen how some kids dress lately?
I was talking to my Wife yesterday after reading the Maine School article and we both were trying to figure out why kids are exposed to all of this “Stuff” so soon in their lives. Is it the media, bad parenting, outside influ Read more:Fighting
Calling all Dad (daddy) Bloggers out there… 2007-10-26 14:39:11 When I first started writing this blog a couple of years ago, Sarah from Sarah and the Goon Squad was the first to welcome me to the blogosphere. She was my first blog friend. She is also a mommy blogger. A popular mommy blogger as well. These mommy bloggers have a cool network of other mommy bloggers and they support each other in their blogging endeavors. Even though I’m a daddy blogger, they have also welcomed me with open arms into their blogging world. To top it off, they even have this.
So Dads. Wassup? I’ve heard there are a lot of daddy bloggers out there. Some even read my blog. Hey Holmes, I’m talking to you. I have even heard there is a group called the Blogfathers. Though I’ve never heard from them. Besides the loosely knit clubs of daddy bloggers, there is no real network of daddy bloggers that I can find that rivals the network the mommy bloggers have.
There was a time when I kept a blog roll of the mommy bloggers, twin bloggers, daddy bloggers, Read more:Calling
, hellip
3:30am is the new 6:30am 2007-10-25 13:57:56 I know, your jealous that you didn’t get the memo on this one.
3:30am is the new 6:30am. You may be asking; “What do you mean?” Well, since we have returned from our lovely family sojourn to Germany, the girls have not really returned to “normal” sleeping habits. At least normal as I hope it to be.
We thought they were with the program. You know, “Don’t get up before 6:30am girls. I don’t care if you don’t know how to tell time yet. Do NOT get up before 6:30am!”
Yeah right, try telling that to a 2 1/2 year old.
“Okay Daddy, no problem. Even though you know I don’t know how to tell time, I will stay in bed and sit quietly in the dark.”
“Oh, and if you do wake up, stay in your room and quietly play or something. But whatever you do, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT wake up Mommy and Daddy.”
um…..
Well that didn’t work. Instead, 3:30am rolls around and Farty Pants Twin #1 is screaming at the top
Bring it on… 2007-11-09 01:11:40 My kids mock me. They are 2 1/2 and they mock me. I will need to nip this in the bud quick. They both tell me no when I ask the super nicely to do something. Then when I threaten them in my best big grown up dad voice, Reese looks at me and points her finger and says No No NO! in her big girl voice and puts her hands over her ears and points at me then says shush! What the Eff? She’s 2 1/2.
Don’t get me started with the other one. She thinks she’s so grown up that she doesn’t even need us. But hey, get this. My kids rock. Why you ask? Because they are now fully potty trained! Oh, and they dress themselves too. Sometimes the outfits they pick out leave a little to be desired, but my wife let them go to the mall today dressed exactly how they put the clothes on. Shirts were backward, princess shoes from Halloween on the wrong feet and odd striped pants with flower print shirts. (Didn’t you get the memo on the new fall fashions?)
That’s right, my kids Read more:hellip
Random thoughts from a random mind… 2007-11-16 11:37:27 I was just thinking about our family trip to Germany and went back to look at some of the photos we took. When I say we, I mean my wife. I realize, upon reflection, that she is the one always taking the pictures. She is only in about 1 in 50 pictures. Most of the pictures are, understandably, of the farty pants twins. When I discussed this fact with my wife she said it’s fine.
I know it’s not fine. She needs to be documented as much as the rest of us. She is a part of our lives. When I told her this, she specifically told me not to publish ANY pictures of her on “That blog of yours”. My wife is not a reader of my blog.
Does your spouse read your blog if you have one? While I am supported by my wife in my writing endeavors, she is not a follower. She tells me that she doesn’t need to read about what she lives day to day. I have to agree. But I remind her that my blog is just like pictures, only with words. A reminder of little moments in time. Snippets of Read more:thoughts
, hellip
Next stop…. 2007-11-26 10:50:44 Christmas?
Wow, the end of the year seems to fly bye. We made it through Thanksgiving. I say “made it” because we hosted Thanksgiving at our house this year. It was a wild success. I must say though, I have a new appreciation for my other family members who have hosted this for years in the past. It is a lot of work and by the time it is over we were TIRED.
All of the family made the trek to our house. We live about 2 1/2 hours from everyone. So it was nice they made the trip up. It made it a lot easier for us. Not having to load up the car, kids, food, clothes, etc.
Oh, and this was the first major holiday without Dad. I think we did well. Since my Dad had never made it to my new house before he died, there were no memories of him at our house to reminisce about. I don’t me that to sound cold. We still missed him in the house and at the head of the table. It wasn’t the same without him there. Now if we can get through Christmas without too much pain, I will ca Read more:hellip
Yo ho ho ho…..(My version of a classic.) 2007-12-05 15:02:01 Anyone that really knows me, knows that I love Disneyland and specifically the Pirates of the Caribbean. Lately I’ve had that song in my head. You know the one “Yo ho ho ho a pirates life for me.”? Right? Well here is my Christmas version
I wrote today. Music still by George Bruns of course.
Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho, it’s a Santa life for me
The village, snowed under, it’s trifle, it’s moot
Christmas is coming , Ho Ho
We package and wrap and holler and hoot
Christmas is coming, Ho Ho
Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho, it’s a Santa life for me
Time’s short, we sort, we stack and sack
Christmas is coming, Ho, Ho
The elfve’s are quite tired, I even rub backs
Christmas is coming, Ho Ho
Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho, it’s a Santa life for me
We bundle and bag, check names through the night
Christmas is coming, Ho Ho
We map out our cities, we’re ready for flight
Christmas is coming, Ho, Ho
We’re restless, excited, the reindeer are bathed
Christmas is coming Ho, Ho
The cookies are placed, the stocki
Advent addicts… 2007-12-04 15:28:38 My wife is German. As in, from Germany, and my wife is an Advent
calendar practitioner. Did you know Germans where the inventors of the Advent Calendar. Back in the 19th century the German Lutherans would just put a chalk mark on the door beginning December 1st.
Fast forward to today December 2007. Because we have twins, we have TWO Advent calendars. Because it is 2007 and not 1800 and whatever each calendar day has a nice little chocolate candy inside. (No chalk on the door for my kids)
Fast forward to this morning. Day 4 of the Advent and my girls now feel the need to wake up at 5:30 am so they can rush downstairs and open the Advent calendar to get the chocolate candy. Now mind you, they could give a shit about the meaning of the Advent. They are 2 1/2. But tell them they can eat chocolate every morning and, well, let’s just say my girls are now Advent addicts.
If they had their way, it would be Christmas tomorrow so they could open ALL of the days NOW!
[tags] Advent Calendars
To do list…. 2007-12-02 15:36:51 Let’s see. It’s Sunday December 2nd and this is my current to do list.
Get Christmas Tree
Get presents for entire family. Only my wife is done.
Decorate house
Hang lights outside
Work during week
Various business trips to go on
Finish delivering See’s candy to clients and neighbors and friends
Make Christmas cookies
Make Norwegian family version of rullepolse and freeze until Christmas. (Becky you with me on this?)
Wrap presents
Remind my kids they have a Dad to play with.
Actually play with kids after reminding them I still live in the house.
Enjoy the holidays
Possibly go to Christmas party if time permits (Editors Note: Party is 175 miles away)
Watch as many CLASSIC (and this) Christmas movies as I can find on TV. This includes the very awesome National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
Get German Gifts to Post Office. Yeah, I know we are way too late already. Shut up.
Find time to enjoy the Christmas season.
Make it alive to Christmas Day.
Do it all again next
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