Live for the Elmo-ment

Kevin Clash is the puppeteer behind Elmo, the adorable furry red monster of Sesame Street fame. He and Elmo are the stars of Being Elmo, a wonderful documentary that swept the film festival circuit a year ago. Puppeteering is often treated as a bit of a joke in movies—see: Being John Malkovich and Forgetting Sarah Marshall—but this film shows that it’s serious business, much to the benefit of children and parents everywhere.

I watched this today with Reed and Olivia, and we were mesmerized by what Clash and his fellow puppeteers do. I’m certain that you’ll also find the story of Kevin’s childhood and career trajectory equally mesmerizing, and I recommend that you see this in the near future—especially if you, your children, nieces, nephews, or grandchildren were ever enthralled by Sesame Street or the Muppets. If not, maybe this trailer will convince you of this film’s excellence.

Rain, Rain, Don't Go Away

We try to acclimate our kids to the Pacific Northwest—one of our favorite regions to visit—by sending them outside for hours when the rains fall on our town in America’s heartland. Reed practically begs to go outside on the prospect of precipitation. His favorite activity is to mix together the mud in an area in the front lawn. He calls his gooey creation peanut butter.

Write On, Q

Cousin Quintin made the trip with his parents to visit for a couple days. They’re getting ready for their move in July to a nearby city, and so once they settled on a place to live and the details of my brother’s job earlier in the week, the three of them were able to kick back some before their trip back to their current residence in Kentucky. We all made a trip to the children’s museum, where the cousins brought paint to glass pane to create a Pollock-esque masterpiece.

Answering Bell

The food product picture above—Taco Bell’s latest gastronomic contribution—may or may not have been consumed by someone in our family who may or may not go by the name of Beni.

Bunny Grab It

The kids partook in the UU’s Easter egg hunt this morning. (No, the eggs are not filled with fair-trade coffee beans, social-justice bumper stickers, or peace signs.) Afterward, the two worked off their sugar high by hopping around in our backyard, but they paused long enough for us to capture this picture.

Egg-stasy on His Face

Reed took a break from the thrill of gathering Easter eggs at his preschool by showing just how thrilled he was to have gathered so many eggs.

Our Sweet(s) Son

Dear Reed,

No joke—today is your third birthday. (Sorry, you’ll have to get used to those “jokes” over the course of your lifetime having been born on a day of and for fools.) Your smile warms our hearts, your laugh makes us laugh all the time, and your energy is infectious—and hard to match. Please forgive us if you develop type 2 diabetes later in life from all the sweets you had in your youth. Just remember that the slushy you had before your cake breakfast and afternoon doughnut party was a special treat for your special day—most days you only get a cake breakfast and doughnut dinner. (Kidding! See my warning about the foolishness that occurs on this day.)

Aside from the sugary treats, we got you a personalized dinosaur-themed stool to commemorate your stepping up in age.

Love,

Daddy

Let the Good Times Roll

Among the many benefits of Beni’s employment at a large state university is the occasional complimentary family bowling outing at the school’s lanes.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Which is worse? That our soon-to-be-three-year-old pretends he’s pooping out a rock, or that we find the whole scene hilarious?

Pillow Pals

Lounging in their pajamas and in bed well into the morning, Olivia and Reed are doing their best to make today as lazy a Sunday as Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell’s.

Against All Odds

I first became aware of Rachel Simmons’s work when I watched a show she hosted on PBS called A Girl’s Life. In it, she introduces the audience to four American teenagers who are dealing with the issues of cyber-bullying, body image, and violence. Simmons is the founder of the Girls Leadership Institute, and she’s written several books, including Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls.

I picked up the revised and updated version of Odd Girl Out from our local library. While reading it, I often turned to Beni to ask if she had to deal with any of the vicious and vindictive peer-on-peer attacks detailed while she was growing up. She answered yes, that she had been victim at various points during her pre-teen and adolescent years, but that the omnipresence of cell phones, lap tops, and social media added a potentially dangerous dimension to the lives of girls growing up in today’s world.

All of which makes me fretful for Olivia’s journey through girlhood, but also hopeful that her mother and I can provide her with the knowledge, support, and love needed to navigate the challenges that come her way. Books like this one help us in our journeys as parents.

Not-Good Night

We watched Last Night last night. I hope it’s the last time we waste away the evening watching a mediocre movie. The premise—how humans deal with temptations—is nothing new, and I have to say that Eva Mendes, while beautiful, falls short in her portrayal of a temptress. Resist this film, if you can, even if you’re a fan of the stars Mendes, Sam Worthingon, and Keira Knightley.