Happy Birthday Papi

Today is Tim's birthday so let's all sing Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday to YOU!!!!!

Happy Birthday to YOU!!!!!

Happy Birthday dear Papppppiiiiiii!!!!!

Happy Birthday to YOU!!!!!

Guess what Daddy found?

Airplanes and pink play mobile phones. Mission accomplished. 

That will make two very special kids even more happy to see their Daddy when he returns home.

Peek-a-boo. I see you.

Last night I i-chatted with Tim and the kids back in New York. This was the 1st time that we did this and it was really cool. I felt like it was the first time that I played Atari as a kid. We were all hootin' and hollerin' once we made the connection, so much so that the hotel sent someone up to ask me to keep it down as the guests next doors were complaining. Oops.

It was so interesting to see what was going on back at home with Daddy around, but the kids thought that I was home. They couldn't quite figure it out, but thought that it was so cool to see me on the computer. In fact, once we ended the session, Tim said that the kids kept tapping on the screen, as my picture was frozen there, and were kissing my face. Cyrus asked why I wasn't talking to him and Grady kept saying asking me for another kiss. Thought that was sweet. 

We will definitely do this on the regular when we can't be together physically. It was very nice.

Ballin'

I'm in my hotel room in Milan watching a show called "Baby Borrowers" and ballin'  It is a show set as a social experiment where teenage couples who think that they want and are ready to have kids are left for 3 days to raise a baby, work, clean the house, etc. Let's just say that some eyes were pried open. It's not an easy job raising kids and it takes much patience, love and respect.

Mission in Milan

So, I asked the kids what they wanted me to bring them back from Milan and they said a toy airplane and a pink play mobile phone. I mean really, why can't I just get them a tee-shirt and some Italian candies? I can probably find the airplane, if I can get a taxi driver to understand that I need to find a toy store, but a fake pink mobile phone? Come on kids. Give your dad a break!!! 

This is my mission in Milan. Any and all help is appreciated.

Stylin' 2

Cyrus is just cool. Old-fashioned cool, doesn't have to try cool, laid-back cool. Plain old cool. Like his Papi, he likes hats and wears them well. Here is a sample of cool Cyrus over the years.

Stylin' 1

It has been really fun having a daughter who likes to dress up and have fun with clothing. Living in NYC, there is so much inspiration and ways to express yourself through dress. 

Here is a sample of Grady's style over the years.

Hipsters

I bought the kids the coolest jeans today in Milano. Didn't find anything for myself, but they sure scored. They're worth it and I already have everything I want in them.

The white-washed, bleached jeans w/holes are for Grady, which were inspired by Balmain's S/S 2009 collection which I thought was excellent and very modern. also, it reminded me of when I was younger and kids would rip their jeans and drive their parents crazy. Needless to say, she won't be wearing these to Grandma's house. 

The green jeans are for Cyrus and his skinny little legs. I saw this really cool-looking teenage boy wearing a pair of brightly, colored skinny jeans in NYC and I thought that would be really nice on Cyrus. Now he has his own pair.

Easter Frocks

Easter is right around the corner and we like to do it up.

Each year my mom makes Grady a new dress and at times Cyrus a new suit (although he would rather wear a tee-shirt and jeans).

The dresses that my mom makes are so special to us, as they are 

one-of-a-kind and will surely not be worn by anyone else. 

Mom and I typically go shopping for material when I am back home in Michigan for Christmas. She goes for "cute and girly" while I always choose something more modern and befitting of a city girl. "I don't like that material. It's too grown up or hard to sew on" she says. "But Mom we live in New York, not in a Holly Hobbit fairy tale" I reply. As I am paying for the material, I win this battle and mom makes the most beautiful dresses ever. I even try making it a bit "girly" so that Mom feels like she has won this battle. I cannot tell you how many times we have been in church or walking down the street on Easter morning, when a mother, grandmother or little girl stops us and asks where did we buy the dress. "Material from Joann Fabrics, sewn by grandma, styled by dad". The look on their faces is priceless. 

This year I am giving mom a break and Grady is wearing a beautiful dress that she got from Philip Lim, which is a show stopper, but I will surely miss the excitement of seeing what we create together.

Here are the Easter dresses (and a suit for Cyrus) that she has made for Grady in the past.

Heaven from a child's perspective

Calvin's Mom & Dad

some of you may know my father passed away recently (3 Feb 2009). we are all doing our best to find strength in one another and rather than mourning his death, we have chosen to celebrate his life.

after my dad died, i was trying to figure out what to tell the kids exactly. i thought about what to say, how to say it and when to say it until i just said it. it went like this and if i do say so myself, it went smoother than i could have asked.

Daddy (D): Grady & Cyrus I want to have a talk with the two of you about something very important.

Grady & Cyrus (G&C): what daddy?

D: you know that grandpa has been sick and not feeling well lately, right?

G&C: yeah.

D: well grandpa died and went to heaven to live with God. do you know where heaven is?

G&C: in the sky.

D: yes, heaven is in the sky and is very faraway. It's further than the clouds.

C: is it further than where the airplanes fly?

D: yes Cyrus it is further away than where the airplanes fly. it's further than the moon, too.

C: and the stars daddy?

D: yes Grady, it's further than the stars too.

C: is it further than where E.T. lives?

D: yes cyrus, it is further than where E.T. lives. heaven is as far away as possible, but really close to home too, because heaven lives in your heart, too and all of the people that go to heaven live in our hearts.

G:why did grandpa die?

D: because grandpa was sick and tired and everyone dies some day. but grandpa now lives in heaven with GOD and he will surely tell GOD that he has the best grandkids in the world and to make sure that he has extra angels looking out for them. also, when you die some day, you will have friends and angels that you already know in heaven.

G&C:okay. can we have a snack?

D: sure you can have a snack. let's have a snack for grandpa because he really loved snacks.

C: cool

I couldn't have written a better script and the kids really helped to cheer me up and make me feel better. thank goodness for their perspective.

cw