This Memorial Day we went to the Memorial Cemetary to pay our respects. We'd never been there before and it was high time to pay a visit. We got the boys in their "My Uncle G is fighting for my future" shirts. They didn't know what to expect, and neither did we.

I didn't expect to see so many people. There was a steady stream of cars pouring in to the parking lot. The main drive was lined with large American flags. Volunteers placed hundreds of small flags above each headstone. Obviously, most of the people coming there, didn't know anyone buried there. People stopped to look, to pray, to take pictures.

We walked around quite a bit. We helped an old Veteran find a plot he was looking for. We showed the boys the plaques, the memorials and the graves. They don't really understand the signifigance, but someday they will. I will make sure they do.

"I'm sah-wee!"

Brady my man, you are the King of the pre-emptive apology. You have finally developed the fear of punishment. Actually in your case the fear of getting caught. Whenever you create some kind of mess, or explosion, or breakage...you say, "I'm sorry", even though we may or may not have witnessed your crime. It's cool, because it lets us know that it was indeed your fault, and that you know you did something wrong. Scratch that...you recognize that whatever you did WE will think is wrong. Either way it's both ridiculously cute and cool and it makes me proud of you. But heck, you don't have to do anything but breathe for me to be proud of you. Keep it up dude.

Easy Mac

What you have here is two little dudes enjoying a little Playhouse Disney on the computer. Uhh, but what is that white stuff they are eating? Marshmallow? No. Cheese? Not even close. Yogurt covered fruit of some kind? Heck no.

It's cauliflower. Oh yeah, cauliflower. Straight up, no dipping sauce required. They love it. We got some weird, weird dudes in this house. Healthy, but wierd dudes.

Guilty as charged

You know you've done it. Some of you do it everyday. Sometimes 2 or 3 times a day. Come on, it's ok..we all do it. Nothing to be ashamed of. Wait..what were you thinking of?!? Sicko.

I'm talking about spoiling the curtain climbers. It's fun. It's almost too much fun. So, here's my top ten list for ways to spoil the kids.

1) Ice Cream. For breakfast. No, I haven't done this, but...what if?
2) Staying up wayyy too late. I'm talking 11-ish. For no good reason.
3) French fries in the car. This happens far too often.
4) Scary stories. Only, not right before bed. I likes me sleep.
5) Trips around the block. That sometimes end up at Krispy Kreme. OK Always.
6) Not brushing their teeth. Some nights...it's just not happening.
7) Wrestling before bedtime. They won't calm down for an hour, but who cares?
8) Letting them eat with their hands. It's just funny.
9) Playing with toy guns. It's not PC. It's not "acceptable". Deal with it.
10) Letting them get as dirty and wet as they can, for as long as they want.


Good stuff. Indulge your kids folks...and you will be indulged.

Oops

Happy Mother's Day! Without the fairer sex, we'd never be here...so, thanks. C,K,P,K,R,E,T,J,H,A,...umm..some more letters...thanks to all the mothers who's names begin those letters. If I forgot any of you, just leave a nasty comment on here and sign it with your first initial.

Happy Day.

Bored

This is how I feel tonight. Nothing to write. The boys are fine. A little sniffly, but fine.

Jake made the cut...

He's officially too old. He'll be going to pre-school next year at Mommy's school. Only for a few hours, but still. He took a few tests today, passed with flying colors, and now...God help us all.

Inhale. Exhale. Repeat as necessary.

On parenthood

I'm a man and I'm not afraid to admit I love my children to whoever will listen. I tell my customers. I tell strangers in line at the bank. Whoever will listen. In turn, they tell me about their kids. In so many words we are telling each other how much we love being parents. How much we love our children. And deep inside, buried underneath the pride, is the pain only parents know.

The pain of missing out. The pain of regret for not somehow being...better. That burning in your gut, that tells you to do MORE. The knowledge that we only have them for so long. It's as though a wicked task master has presented you with an unachievable goal, that you may never know if you have even come close to achieving.

You don't know this going in. Nobody really knows it. Because you can't, until you get there. You cannot explain the emotions that take over when you become a parent. They just happen.

When the boys were first born, my mind exploded with joy, guilt, gratitude, worry, wonder, awe, and more guilt. That was just in the first 15 seconds. It hasn't changed in almost 4 years. I still worry nonstop about them. I worry about their present as much as their future. How can I make it easier for them? Should I make it easier for them? If I do too much, is it too much for me and too little for them...or vice versa? Wow, I just blew my own mind.

This is all sounding too depressing. Is it bad being a parent? Heck no. Is it the hardest thing I've ever done? Heck YES. Loving them is easy. I wake up loving them, and I go to sleep loving them. That's easy. Raising them is hard. Making sure they don't grow up and have their faces on a Most Wanted poster...is hard. Providing a safe environment for them is easy. Keeping them from proving me wrong about that is hard.

Boys, if I fail you in any way...blame Al Qaeda. No, no. Blame me. I am doing all I can. But, if I do fail you in any way, don't fail your kids in the same way. Learn from my mistakes. You are here on this Earth to make a difference. A positive difference. If you fail to learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others, you will fail at changing your World for the better.

HOWEVER, if I am the perfect example of what a Father should be, well by all means; erect statues, name ballfields, throw parades, etc., all in my honor. Oh and have some kids and show 'em all the cool things your Daddy taught you. Like living room baseball. Yeah, stuff like that.

I love you boys.

Click it

This is for those of you who never bother clicking my linkery. Yes it's mostly military related. Click it anyway, and learn something besides what the voices in your head teach you.

Support for GW ...This is my buddy's Mom, laying her thoughts out for all to see on War, Family, Life, and the how each effects the other.

Mudville Gazette ...This a clearing house for all blogs related to our Armed Forces. Run by a soldier and his wife, it doesn't get any better.

Special Operations Warrior Foundation ...This foundation provides college scholarships to the children of our special operations warriors who are killed in combat. Give till it hurts. Then give $50 more.

Pat Tillman Foundation ...This is a great group of people honoring a great man. Throw them some cash.

Fast Bunnies ...Don't let the name throw you. This is an Army officer blogging from Iraq. If you served, you'll find his humor unbearably funny. If you didn't you'll find his humor unbearably funny. Win win.

From My Position...On the Way! ...Chuck is a former tank commander. Former, only by way of IED. He got knocked out of the game for a while but came back with a vengeance. Read it or he will find you.

Holly Aho ...Gotta be, hands down, one of the coolest people on earth. She visits, provides for, and looks after wounded soldiers coming right off the front lines. Is she paid for it? Not a dime. She's a civilian. She's an angel.

Jack Army ...The Man. If it's available in the Army, he's done it. In a few months he'll be plying his trade again, in the sandbox. Read up.

Soldier's Angels ...Like Holly, these are all angels walking the earth. Throw them lots and lots of cashola.

The War Tapes ...Filmed by soldiers in Iraq. If this hits in theaters near you, help make these guys billionaires.

Texas Music ...Another odd title. If you ever wondered what goes through a police officers head when he's on the street....click and read.

CLICK AND READ.

and miles to go before I sleep...

Our boys are good sleepers. Always have been. It's in their blood. However, they have both reached the age when delaying the process is as enjoyable as the act itself.

OK, that was too weird...as I just ended that last sentence I looked up and saw two little eyes staring at me from the hallway. Told you so.

Jake needs to pee. Brady needs a hug. Jake wants some water. Brady sees a questionable shadow. They both want Mommy. Nobody wants Daddy. Daddy gets comfortable. Everybody wants Daddy. It's our little ritual these days. The dance of the tired monkeys.

Rock and/or Roll

This is a Jake and Brady original. Long live metal.

From the backseat...

Driving a vehicle is 75% of my job. The other 25% is easy. I used to enjoy driving. But, now..logging 36K a year in the truck has taken away the pleasure and left mind-numbing tedium. Except when the boys tag along...

I will occasionally pick them up from Mimi's in the rig. Other times it's scooting around town in the Jetta. Whichever vehicle we are in, the ride is never a dull one. If it's just me and them, I'm most often persuaded into story time. They'll make up some wild premise and I have to expand on the concept as I drive. "Shrek and Fiona want to go eat crabby patties with Spongebob and the Lollipop Guild, and then they go to Willy Wonkas chocolate factory." Fun stuff. If it's an all-play, then Mommy gets to play DJ and work the CD player non-stop. She can spin tunes like nobody's business.

The boys are at the point now where they both know our usual driving routes and will point out landmarks along the way. "There's the Geico lizard", "There's the Barry Goldwater Memorial", "There's Pizza Planet"(what they call Peter Piper Pizza). If we ever get turned around, chances are good they can point us in the right direction. That's only for Mommy though...I never get lost. Nope not me..never. Honest. Hmmm...

The Ol' Ballgame

Jake went to a Diamondbacks game last night with his "Poppy". Instead of writing some fancy recap, I'll let Poppy's words stand.

"Thought you might like to take a look at some of the highlights of last night’s game. I really had a great time and I think Jake did too. He was perfect. He never asked to leave, never seemed to be overly bored and was nice to the people around us. As you would have guessed, he got lots of cool looks from the fans as we walked through the concourse and up and down the aisles to our seats. He’s the coolest; he just goes with the flow and acts like he does this all the time."

Tadpoles in Motion

This is a big file, and grainy as all get out. It's my first time..it'll get better. Enjoy.

The Depot

Today, we hit the Depot. Home Depot. The dudes have already acquired the addiction. Is it the smell of building materials, paint, fertilizer, and new appliances that does it? Or is it the sweet Tony Stewart shopping carts with the steering wheels and belt buckles? I don't know. But, its a dang good bet that if you ask the boys where they want to go, just with Daddy....its the Depot.

I can remember when I was kid, always wanting to go to True Value with the old man. It wasn't a big place, but they sure did have some cool stuff. I'll never forget when I got the 6-in-1 hammer-screwdriver-combo...thing. That has got to be one of the best inventions ever. Need a small head hammer? Got it. Need a screwdriver? Phillips or flat? Got it. Just let me unscrew it out of the handle my good man. If you never had one, get one. They aren't top notch tools, but sure is handy in the ol' junk drawer.

Times have changed a little bit though. Maybe the boys will look back to their first laser leveler. And how their Daddy kept stealing it all the time. Ahhh...good times. Good times.