No political statement....

just an observation that the litter you find

while walking through the District is true

to its political nature.

Emergency!

We've had two "emergencies" at our home lately that must be recorded for blog posterity.

1. We make the boys use the potty before bedtime, sometimes twice, if they had an accident the night before. Last week, remembering the extra laundry load that day, I made Asher try to use the potty a second time. He yelled to me from the bathroom after his unsuccessful attempt, "It no work, Mama....(referring to his p*nis) I tink its BROKEN!"

2. I was making cornbread in the oven to go with our dinner. The boys were downstairs playing and I had gone upstairs. Pretty soon, I hear Asher shouting, "EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY! Come downstairs....EMERGENCY!" I had never heard Asher use that word so I was especially alarmed. I run down the stairs and Noe (a big fan of the cornbread) was spooning out cornbread from the oven. Luckily, it was basically done and he was very careful not to burn himself or make a mess, but it still scared me.

There's no place like Zion

I had such a great time with my family of orgin in Salt Lake City last weekend. I had almost forgotten how majestic the mountains are in winter, how quirky the Mormon culture is in the valley, and how good the homemade rolls are at the Lion House.

Some highlights of my weekend: Park City for sure, spending time with my adorably blond nephews and exchanging Thomas stickers and candy for their love and affection, reading books without interruption in cozy quilts at my sister's cute house, lots of encouragement and laughs with my mom, brother and sisters, experiencing Cafe Rio for the very first time.

U.S.A. 4, U.S.S.R. 3

Sunday marks the 29th anniversary of The Miracle On Ice, widely considered the greatest moment in American sports history. Perhaps more amazing than the fact it was so long ago is how much it still resonates. I'll never forget going to the theater with Jen to watch "Miracle" and hearing people cheer at the end of the sequence below when the underdog U.S. team knocked off the mighty Russians.



And here's how it happened in real life. For me, this never gets old:

What I Learned This Weekend

1. The single parents who make the best of it, you have my eternal respect. And I say that knowing my weekend alone with the boys didn't remotely approach the hardships that single-parent homes deal with on a daily basis.

2. The boys will NOT be ignored! You do so at your own peril. They were not shy about expressing their feelings whenever they felt we needed to go outside or they needed something to eat or drink. Part of me was proud of their assertiveness, and part of me was at wits' end if it happened while I was telecommuting or in the middle of a phone call with one of my reporters. During one such conversation, I had to lock myself in the bathroom.

3. I consider myself an involved/engaged father, but I still found myself pleasantly surprised during small moments such as...

--Asher quietly reading to himself (he pores over his books like a Rabbi pores over the Talmud) and running to me for help when he doesn't recognize a word.

--Noe harrumphing and stomping off to his room after I told him to keep his voice down, then in a quiet moment later on offering a smile and a kiss when all was forgiven (The first part sounds bad, but trust me, I'm happy when he shows any kind of emotion that isn't stimmy or withdrawn).

--Noe and Asher riding the Reston trails together on their bikes, and Noe staring down Asher every time he'd blow past him up a hill, a la Lance Armstrong during a mountain stage.

--Any time the boys would be cracking each other up about something and having their laughter fill the house.

4. The boys are really growing up fast. It's exciting, but it also makes me wonder where the time went.

5. People talk about having a regular date night, but I think a mom having an occasional weekend away from the kids can be pretty refreshing. Certainly, work and other circumstances make that tough for most of us. But if it can be had, take it.

Couple of Inauguration Week Leftovers

Finally got these off our cellphone. From an Inauguration Week exhibit that featured replicas of the Oval Office, Air Force One and other presidential tidbits...
Asher picking up after telling Mrs. Landingham to get Transportation Secretary Sir Topham Hat on the phone.


"How you spell 'Barack Obama'? B-A-R-A-C-K-O...."

Happy Valentine's Day!

This one goes out to the love of my life, whom I'll be missing very much this weekend...