Fischer threw up yesterday, so Marissa took the kids to the doctor.  Both Leo and Fischer have strep throat.  Awesome.  They were pretty lethargic yesterday, but they both woke up before 6:30 this morning and were crazy and playful as usual by the time we got up.  So I guess the antibiotics have kicked in.

I felt a little bad because the other day Fischer had told me that he had two sore throats, but now that I think they’ve passed it on to me, I think we’re even.

Leo and Fischer always want us to tell them a story or two once they get into bed, but this week I’ve been making them tell me one first before I tell one.  The other night both of them told different stories about Lightning McQueen, Chick Hicks and the King.  The best part is that no matter what story Fischer tells or wants told, it has to involve a witch – either Lightning McQueen and a bad witch, or a brother and sister and a good witch, or my modified C. S. Lewis: the tiger, the witch and the closet.  Leo’s a little more unpredictable – tonight she asked for a story about a clover and a leprechaun. 

It’s funny to hear what they come up with, but they’re getting better each day.  And they know to start out with, “Once upon a time . . .”  Fischer likes to close it out with a simple, “The End,” while Leo prefers the more traditional, “And they lived happily ever after. . . .”

THE END

. . . as the saying goes.

The boys both got haircuts – actually the same haircut.  It’s my same haircut, too, because I have my own clippers and that’s the cut I know how to give.  Neither of them likes getting a haircut, but it was a bonding experience for us:  a lot of crying, a lot of hair, a lot of anger.

I chopped my thumb pretty bad on Saturday while I was making lunch – took a little piece of the tip right off.  It took several hours and a lot of direct pressure for it to really stop bleading.  Anyway, the point being that I have a new appreciation for my thumbs. 

Even with it wrapped up, it was painful to touch anything, so I had to have Marissa button my shirts for me.  Trying to take a shower and keep it out of the water has been a challenge.  And even typing this post isn’t as easy as it should be.  Now if I can just get my disability insurance application approved . . . .

I picked Leo up from preschool today, and although it’s a pretty nice day, I hadn’t rolled down the windows or turned on any air.  After about two minutes of me asking her what she had done at preschool, she cut me short and said, “Dad, I’m freaking hot in here.” [Emphasis on freaking].  At least we already know what one of Marissa’s legacies to her children will be – let’ just call it the ability to speak in rich and vibrant language.

I couldn’t help but laugh.  It was a little hot in there, but I asked her if she was just hot or actually freaking hot. She confirmed, and I can attest, that she was indeed freaking hot. And then she told me to “kick down, whiteboy” . . . .

I’ve always had a thing for Giada (of Food Network fame) – for her food, of course.  Everyday Italian is the name of her show, and while some of it might not be every day fare, there are definitely some great, quick meals.  Now the kids love her.  Every night, Leo will ask me to check the DVR to see if there are any new Giada’s to watch.  If there are, both she and Fischer sit enthralled.  They think it’s hilarious when she says any Italian words, because she says it will full accent – like parmigiano reggiano.

So now they’re my little chefs.  It’s great because I can do the prep, and then they’ll add it to the pan and stir, so I can do several things at once and not worry about burning something.  They’ll put a chair on each side of the stove and stand up there and cook away.  Last week, Leo made pork chops alla pizzaiola and Fischer made a fine sauteed spinach with lemon and garlic.  Tonight is chicken piccata.

I’m not sure why they call it Portrait Innovations.  Sure, the camera is off the tripod and they take quicker and more candid shots, but isn’t that how most of us take pictures?  I guess Portraits Unoriginal doesn’t have the same ring.  Not to mention that every time we go, we wait at least 45 minutes after our scheduled appointment.

But you can’t beat $9.95, so we continue to go.  Here’s the latest:

Also, since we never put up the pictures from the end of 2007 on the old site, you can check out the 3 monkeys, under the tree, and christmas morning.

OK, so this site has gone through more reinventions than Mitt Romney and Madonna combined (I say that as a fan of Mitt – with Marissa a fan of the material girl).  I’ll admit that designing the page is more fun than adding the content for me.  It’s all about change. . . .

Anyhow, the latest retooling is less cosmetic than practical – it’s going to make it much easier for us to add pictures and tell stories about the kids. (Of course, I said that the last time, but, hey, it’s not your site!)  come along for the pictures, or the colorful language, or the dry political humor – whatever your reason, just come along.

And I have to add, this is really Marissa’s blog.  She wanted to have an outlet (another one?), and this was her idea.  So I’m not allowed to stifle her or edit her or try to reign her in (although if any words in her posts mysteriously get changed to asteriks, you’ll know who did it).  Like Marissa said, I was aiming for a family blog, but we’ll see how it goes.  I’ll try to protect you from anything too intensely personal, but I can only do so much.