Happy New Years

Catching Up

It has been awhile. Too long. Time, commitments and tiredhead override my need to sift through thoughts and memories.

Tomorrow I head off on a 2 day excursion to Seattle. Then a good 4 day break for Thanksgiving. I'm ready. While business travel has it's perks, there's always a bit of emptiness...wanting to share the time and experiences with family.

Batting Average
Nothing captures my attention like time spent experiencing the world through the eyes of my children. My son, I'm convinced has eclipsed my intelligence at the tender age of 4 and his passion for learning and trying new things reminds me that it's not the number of hits that matter, rather the number of at-bats. The "if at first you don't succeed...just try again" approach.

First Times
Our 8 month old attempted real green beans tonight. Don't worry, we have it on video and will upload soon. Here's the spoiler: she didn't like the beans per se. But she did enjoy exploring:

• How they felt in her hands
• How they taste to the tongue
• How they look on a plate

All firsts for her...and new firsts for me. Fun for us both...and for Kim and Corbin as well.

I look in the mirror and see that time keeps ticking. I look at my children and see my chance to continue to live new at-bats and first times again and again.

Thank you my young loves for showing Daddy how to learn and explore. Continue to pull me into your young worlds and I will follow you as we learn together.

Grandparents Day and Wiggles

We talked today with Corbin about what Grandparents do. His answers (as always) are the best. Here's the list:

• They come see you
• They take you places
• The play with you

What more is there really. Simple, important things...that's it.
Thank you son for reminding me again of the simple things.
Thank you grandparents for supporting our family and loving our children as your own.
Wiggles...
We were putting Corbin to bed tonight (a time consuming task as that's typically when 80% of the daily questions come out) and after telling him that he needed to go to bed he told Kim that he was having trouble falling asleep because he had "wiggles" in his head.
Ah the wiggles...those daily things and activities that leave us thinking about the day, tasks undone or to do tomorrow, and just life in general. Corbin asked how he could rid himself of the wiggles. Here's the remedy we came up with:

• Take deep breaths
• Think about happy things (Corbin chose trains)
• Close your eyes

Make not work 100% of the time but seems to be working for Corbin tonight.
Thank you son for reminding me that a good day is one in which today's priorities were met and tomorrows can wait until tomorrow.

Ice Skating

We took Corbin Ice Skating this evening. Great thing to do on a hot August night. My kind of place...55 degrees inside. If only home could be like that.

It was Corbin's first time on the ice. He loved it. Slipping, sliding, falling, the cold ice. The only thing we missed was watching the Zamboni. (Yes I still like to watch it and think that'd be a cool job when I retire one day).

During our time together on the ice Corbin asked, "Daddy what happens if I fall?" Answer: "You get back up?" Question: "But Daddy what if I can't?" Answer: "Then I will help you." Question: "But what if I still can't?" Answer: "Then I'll lift you up."

--PAUSE IN CONVERSATION--

"OK Daddy then I won't worry about falling...I'll just have fun."

Amen Corbin.

“The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand, is when I
carried you.”

-Mary Stevenson

Sound Logic

My 4 year old son amazes me everyday. Sometimes it's a new thing he can do. Sometimes it's his ability to adapt to change much faster than his old man. Sometimes it's watching his logic play out.

Below are just some fun thoughts and logic imparted to me in the last week.

• You can't watch what you're doing on while on the potty, "because my bottom is in the way"
• Wrestling on the floor with daddy can be paused to grab a drink of water...just like a video
• Nothing is as comforting to a baby in a crib as a good pink stuffed lamb
• ANYTHING broken can be fixed--even bubbles

Keep teaching me son. I value our lessons and time together.

Sanctuary

I spent the morning with Corbin today at a Catfish pond in Mesquite. We arrived, chose our fishing spot and got everything setup. Ahh a relaxing morning in the sun...just the guys. Amidst the barrage of "Hey Daddy" and "LOOK DADDY HE GOT A BIG ONE!" I did find sanctuary.

Websters defines sanctuary as "a sacred or holy place". When I think of sacred places for me several images stir:

• Mountain vacations in Colorado



• Hotrod shows with Dad



• Walking and laughing with Mom



• Being anywhere with Kim

I found a new sanctuary today.

• It's outdoors
  


• It's quiet (I said it's quiet..not we're quiet)



• It involves a pond of fish



• It includes fishing poles and the required equipment (boats optional)



• Good conversation (like, why is the sky blue today and why does chicken liver stink)
  


• Hugs, laughs and smiles
  


• A 4 year old son

It's interesting to me how Daddys and sons define things differently. You see, for Daddy relaxing means a cold drink, shady spot, quiet focus on the task and most of all time with family. For Corbin relaxing meant picking up dried horse poop with a pair of needle nose pliers.

Different paths...same goal. Mission accomplished.

Few things I learned and thought I'd share...

• Fish, evidently come from fishsticks (at least according to Corbin)



• Catfish won't eat Chicken Livers on a hot day...but a hungry dog will



• A cold Sprite tastes good...and fizzes when you poor it on grass (thanks Corbin)



• Dragonflies really are cool to look at



• Speed fishing won't catch fish but it's probably the best way to frustrate them (and I admit it's kinda fun)
  


• Horse poop is just the right size for needle nose pliers

I found myself thinking of Papo today...actually the last couple of days as we prepared for this little outing. I wondered if he got as excited as I did the night before a fishing trip. I wondered if I was able to share some of life's simplicities with him? I discovered why he woke up at 4am with his young grandson...and enjoyed it. I realized how easy it is to connect with someone when life's daily chaos is stripped away.

I found a new sanctuary...it's one that moves. A state rather than a place. I look forward to creating the setting again soon.

Thank you Papo for sharing your sanctuary, your sacred place with me. It is a place and a state I hold sacred still and am honored to carry on with my child.

Thank you Corbin for joining me in that sacred place and showing me how to again marvel in the simple wonders.

Thank you son for taking the time to explore life your way.

Welcome to the Richardson Family Blog

Welcome!

This has been a long time coming and we've finally found the time to create this small home in cyberspace. We'll use this place to share things going on in our lives, funny things the kids said, journal thought and feelings and share photos. Remember to keep up with our growing photo album at the Richardson Photo Gallery.

As for a first post...here goes:

It's be one heckuva week for us. Emily is sick (again)...another ear infection and on top of the normal week's activities, this is the week that Kevin's company performs physical inventory. (Yes, each year we actually count every single nut, bolt, screw, washer, o-ring and everything else we sell). It's been a long week. Today (Sunday) it's calm...everyone is home together, and the only thing to occupy us is time with each other. It's a nice change from the norm and I find it quite a break to just "be" with my children and see life through their eyes.

Quote of the day (thus far):
Corbin: Daddy I will take a nap for 1 hour today.
Daddy: OK Corbin
Corbin: Do you know why I'll only sleep for one hour?
Daddy: Why?
Corbin: Because I am only one hour tired.

Simple logic. I love it.

Here's to recharging for each hour we're tired.