newlifeinstpaul | Week One with Da Babies

Sorry I haven't had much time to update...I've been much, much too busy enjoying LP and Da Midget.

Since half my unit has 100 to 150 more claims than I have, I didn't take the time off. They can't handle backup for my caseload (or at the minimum, really shouldn't). So I've been getting in early while my moopies sleep, then leaving after a half-day to enjoy my day with them.

There's absolutely no way I can tell you every story and there's still a week to go. So I'll try to sum up each day in 5 sentences or less.

Monday: Picked them up after work and took them to Barnes and Noble. This was an ambush of sorts; I had already picked three books for LP to select and read. She chose The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens and was asked to read a chapter and submit an essay every day. Midget got a Clue Finders 4th grade CD. We net-dorked on Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy in free-for-all mode.

Tuesday: I paid Da Babies a surprise lunchtime visit...at least one of them was wearing pants. No work done on anything so I had to lower the boom. Things were better when I got home. Tonight's Jedi Dork-Out was team Capture the Flag with us taking on a buncha bots.

Wednesday: Much better with the essays and Midget was working on fractions. We attempted a cake with homemade batter and frosting. The frosting was remarkably easy to make and frosted great. Meanwhile, I managed set the oven on fire for the first time since '04 thanks to overfilling the 13" x 9" pan.

Thursday: Took em home to Mumma as promised since I had to work Job #2 Friday. At a little past midnight, anyway. We were having too much fun.

Saturday: Bought myself this new aluminum bike I've eyeballed for years, a 3-bicycle rack and took Da Babies to Lake Nokomis. LP was the first person to fall off her bike in the clumsiest, slow-motion fall you've ever seen. Da Midget could barely touch the ground (she kidnapped her Mommy's bike) but never fell. My bike self-destructed after one lap around the lake; I thought I had only stripped the chain from the gears and told Da Babies to keep going. Two laps later, they found me.

Sunday: Beach or lake? Da Babies picked the beach but decided to ride 'a little bit' first. I adjusted the seat lower on LP's bike and had her give it to Da Midgety One, who rode it head-on into a cinderblock wall. Midget was fine...the bike, not so much. Caught Stevie Ray's Improv in the Park and the infamous Chicken Wing Deli on the way home (yes, it's real)

Tomorrow Da Babies and I will hit Worlds of Fun in Kansas City...