Family Matters, Week of 5-23-05

Hi once again folks, this week has been a rather run-o?-the-mill week in the Erwin household, but I?ll see if I can keep things interesting?

Annie

Annie?s birthday is imminent (June 8th), and that means that her present (the bird) is getting ready to make the move. We?ve bought seed, we?ve looked in her room for any unsafe bird obstacles (we stopped counting at 73), and we?re preparing for the worst.

It?s funny what kids get obsessed with. Whether it?s a fictional character, an insect, or even an imaginary friend, Annie has run the gamut this week. The fictional character is, of course, Spongebog Squarepants. Ericka has purchased the Official Spongebob Baking Pan and is more than ready to dish out cakes, jello, and other Spongebob pastries into the hands of the party guests. Of course the meat cooking will be handled by yours truly, but that?s the focus of a future blog post.

Moving on, Annie is also obsessed with ladybugs. No matter what format, characters that are ladybugs or the real thing, she simply can?t get enough. It?s funny and enthralling to see her so enamored with the little things. Me and Ericka are planning on replacing her Current Ratty Blankie(tm) with a Ladybug Blankie(tm) for Annie?s B-day, so I hope that goes well.

Lastly Annie has taken to my old voice recorder as her very own cell phone. But that?s not the curious part: She talks on her ?phone? to someone named Katie?and she knows no other Katies but herself (her first name is Katie, FYI), and she won?t answer any questions about this mysterious (and invisible) friend. Of course, all of The Parent Tomes say to let them have imaginary friends and not to push the fact that they are, um, by definition, imaginary, so I smile, nod, and ask her what she was talking to Katie about.

?Ladybugs??

Abby

Abs, as she?s known around the house, is just as giggly and interesting as she?s always been. At this point in her development, she?s hit a lull where she takes in her surroundings but doesn?t contribute much back to us. She can mimic a few sounds and words, but not without a lot of practice and time, and you simply can?t rush vocabulary (trust me on this one). She is learning more and more every day, and all that that implies, but for right now I?ll be patient to wait for my youngest little angel to catch up to her more mature sibling.

Ericka (her blog)

Ericka finished her Beginner Cake Decorating Classes at Sugarbakers last night, and of course came home with goodies (15% off, why wouldn?t you buy out the store at those prices?!?*cough*). She also topped it off with a decorated cake that rivaled anything I?ve seen from her to date. She used Super Amazing Top Secret Techniques to produce a cake of such astounding beauty I knew instantly that she is destined for Cullinary Stardom.

Martha Stewart? Rachel Ray? Pshaw! My wife has em all destroyed in the dessert department. And I have the gut to prove it.

Etc

Ah, not tied to a theme at the moment, excuse me while I let my mind wander:

? I didn?t get to mention this, but I did pretty well in the Kentucky Magic the Gathering Saviors of Kamigawa prerelease. 5th place, 6?1?1 record (my only loss in the final round). Got a box of cards for my trouble. I wish the damn thing hadn?t been during my friend JRob?s son?s birthday party. Insert feelings of guilt here.
? I?ve gotten Ericka (and her friends) hooked on Trent. That is some quality stuff right there, the blogging equivalent of Pop Rocks. Emphasis on the rocks.
? I knew I wasn?t going to be anywhere near the blogebrity list, but a guy can dream. Seriously though, let?s be honest here, I don?t have a shot in hell of making that list.
? Finding new music is fun. The Bravery are currently rocking my winamp install, whilst Bloc Party waits in the wings.
? I?m ready for a nap.

Until tomorrow, stay safe, clean, and efficient. Like a good toilet seat.

I?ll bury all the noises
From your hateful little mouth

Tags: Family Story Erwin Annie Abby Ericka Evan