Sled Hill

On our way.

In true blizzard-like conditions...

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...

But today, for a little while, it was delightful!

P.S. Here's the new house...finally. And Sled Hill is a block away. We four walked over while poor Stewart slaves away at work.

I heard the music...

And realized.

I realized that I have been busy being Bah.

Humbug, that is. (Do you know I actually told our kids that I was running away on Wednesday night on the way to meet you at the restaurant for your birthday dinner? I told them that the only person in our house that listened to me was the dog. I sounded more like my mother than I ever have before.)

Something going on every day, every night, running here and there. And I guess I missed what really mattered.

YOU!

Happy birthday to the love of my life. You are getting old now. You aren't quite old enough to dress the way you do or listen to the music you like...but you're getting there, Old Man. My old man.

I heard you in here checking my blog tonight. I heard the same old songs from my playlist that I really should update but haven't. Nothing new on here, right? No birthday wish for you. That's not cool. Lincoln didn't get one either. So, belatedly, happy birthday to Lincoln "Nino" Peay, too! You are all 2, all the time. And, unlike your father, you DO act your age. I'm not loving it. You may even be the reason I threatened to run away. Who gets into the kitchen sink with all of their clothes on? That's just not normal. You need to stop doing that, Nino.

Anyhow, happy birthday, Guys!

And, sorry...

I'm not running away. I think I'll stay, for now.

WHAAAAAAT?

I know, I know...

I've been out of blog-land.

Usually people try to come up with a great reason why they haven't blogged. Hmmm. I'm not pregnant. We did get swine flu here a few months ago but that's not really a good reason. We moved in July. Does that count?

But I have something cool to say so I'm here. My bionic kid and I got the greatest new toy last night. No, not a zhu zhu pet. Still can't find one of those blasted things. (Any tips? Seriously! Believing in Mr. Claus may be on the line here!) What we got is our own personal FM system. Unlike other FM systems that simply amplify the voice through speakers, this one goes directly into bionic girl's electrodes, stimulating her cochlea directly, skipping all of those middle steps.

I stayed down in our library and Hadley went up to her room with her door closed. I spoke in a normal voice and told her to knock twice on her bedroom door and then come downstairs and say "I love you, Daddy!". And she did! Not kidding. Miracle. That means if we are using it, I can talk to her while she's in the back seat of our car. I can talk to her at a noisy restaurant. I can talk to her when she's 100 feet away at Disneyland. I want to go there. Disneyland, or a restaurant, I mean. Now or even tomorrow would be nice.

It also works like a bluetooth with my cell phone. We tried it out and made a call to grandma. One of her best ever phone conversations. I was about to cry, I was so excited.

Frustrating as it may be to wait for the developing technologies, it's also very exciting when something new comes along. I love watching Hadley's eyes light up when it actually works. So, here's my technology wish list for the coming years:

1. An alarm clock that automatically zings her cochlea when it's time for her to wake up
2. A voice in her head whenever she forgets to hang up her wet towel
3. For teenage years: an electrical shock from her cochlear implant to any boy who comes too close to her
4. For now: an electrical shock to her whenever she yells at her brother

Okay, that's all for now. You techies work on those and let me know how they're coming along and then I'll give you a few more. And maybe work on a reminder bell for Maddox when his bladder is getting full. Four and a half years old...still gets too busy to take potty breaks. We don't have any internal electrodes in him so you'll have to design something that's purely exterior. Shock collar?