#1 Dad

I haven't posted in awhile because I have been very busy with my multi-faceted life. Last week I was a single Dad in Springville, in addition to an athlete who is not dead. My Aunt (pronounced Ont, not ant) and Uncle went to Miami for the week and asked me to watch their four kids while they were gone. I'd say it went pretty well. Besides losing the dog and two of the kids as they chased after the dog, letting the oldest stay out until 2 a.m. on a school day and then letting him stay home from school and Church the rest of the week because he caught a cold while he was out, stepping on the 12 yr. old's violin, and abusing the "two scoops" ice cream rule like it had never even been implemented, the week went by flawlessly. Each morning I got the kids up on time, filled up my "#1 Dad" mug with hot cocoa, and loaded the chillun' into the Honda Pilot and took them to school. After school I helped them with their practicing, which mostly consisted of me asking questions like, "What's rosin?" "Why is your violin shaped like that?" "Can I try playing?" "Why are you still playing Jingle Bells in February?" I am not sure if I was a help or a hindrance, but at least I enjoyed it. The dog (Delta) and the kids were recovered, but only after a 30 minute, 3 block man/dog hunt. As for the ice cream, I just love it. I love it so much I eat it all the time, so I figured the kids could do the same while they were under my care. Well, no one said anything until my Uncle called on the phone, and the 9 yr. old said to him, "Yea! And we are having way more than four scoops!" That's when I learned about the house rule. Oops. When the real parents got back I learned the actual house rule is two scoops. My bad, again. Anyway, my other paternal activities included a 12 yr. old girls' basketball game, wherein I chatted with the other parental units about our "little ones", cooking dinner, taking the kids to my basketball game, and getting beat in Skip-bo and Life. Yea, I got worked. Anyway, it was a fantastic week bonding with my cousins and I can't wait to be the #1 Dad again.

It's my birthday.