According to your mom today you read your first word. The word in question? “mop”.

There was 8-10 inches of snow on the ground this morning when we woke up. Unfortunately the snow was very dry, to dry, in fact, to make good on our promise to have a day making snow people. Your disappointment on this matter, however, was short lived. After the always arduous task of getting your snow gear on you and Mom headed outside to meet the neighbors and play in the snow, I followed soon after. After getting the driveway dug out (thanks Anna) we moved to the front yard to make some snow angels and a “Snow Mound”. I piled all the snow from the sidewalk, and some from the yard, into a big pile at the front of the yard. You made some windows and dug around with your rosy read cheeks as I finished off the walkway and patio.

Before heading in for the day we dug out a snow cave, in classic form, however, you were more interested in destroying it than playing in it, though I did manage to snap a couple of pictures in said cave.

After destroying the snow cave your hands started getting cold and we decided to go inside and warm our toes by the fire. You mom had the brilliant idea to make some hot chocolate. So while she worked on getting dinner started and making ready for cookies, you helped me make the chocolate which was topped off with some “Fluff” in lieu of marshmallows.

As I write this you are about halfway through your cup and are already way out of control. For example you just jumped up and down on the couch for about 5 minutes exited about football being on and demanding to know where the gamecocks are, all the while pounding on my back. Following that display you suggested that we go tackle Mommy…then you took off and tackled her (though I don’t think you actually brought her down).

So back in October our friend John came to visit us in Spain. While there he tried to get you to tell us “what the fonz says”. However, you refused to say the iconic “Ayyy”, choosing instead to put up your thumb and say “Beeee”.

In the midst of all our travels we quickly pushed this to the back of our minds. Until last night at dinner when you started asking (with your thumbs up) “who says Beeee, daddy”. It took us about ten minutes before your mother correctly guessed the Fonz.

I am going to get Daddy some bacon… some soda…. some wine…. some football.  I want to get all that for Daddy and give it to him!

So on our visit to Granada and the La Alhambra we got to visit the Palacio de Carlos V. While in the great patio, which had amazing acoustics, so of course we talked Lilah into recording some Little Feat for us.

You have always enjoyed looking at our pictures as soon (and sometimes even sooner) as we take them. On our recent trip into the Andalucian region of Spain, you took it a step further and actually began taking your own pictures. And amidst the close-ups of your shoes, gravel, and blurry tourists you managed to take some very nice photographs. You were insistent enough to get your turn with the camera that we will be sure to get you your own sooner rather than later. Here are a few of our favorites.

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Lilah, you have finally come around on some of Daddy’s “moogis”. Last week you woke yourself up coughing and so you got to spend some insomniac hours with the old man. I happened to be watching some Little Feat videos on You Tube and you were interested enough to ask me who was singing. After thinking about the answer, Little Feat, for a bit you replied that “I like little feat, that’s my moogis daddy”; “they don’t have little feat, they have big feet.”
Which made me smile, both on the inside and the outside.

Ever since that night you have also been going around singing:
“der’s a fatman
in da tub
with the blues on” (Winnie).

While I appreciate the fact that you have been asking to hear “Fatman in the Bathtub” ever since, I can’t help but get the feeling that you are calling me fat.

We took you swimming in the Mediterranean sea this afternoon. As promised the water was clear, warm, and quite calm (quite a difference from last summer on Ocean isle eh?). While you are still very adamant about not going under the water, you continue to get braver and braver with each visit. Today you even swam around on your own with your water wings, and after the first couple didn’t even mind the small waves that splashed in your face.

The highlight of the day, however, was while we were playing in the sand where I was teaching you to make drip castles. Three minutes in and you made the declaration “I’m Poopin’ on the Castle Daddy”. Made up several chants about poopin’ on the castle, and wanted to know “What’s the princess say when I am poopin’ on her castle?”. As I howled your mom just shook her head and muttered something about the trials of being in charge of two 3 year olds.

Alright kid, first of all you have been a bear for the past month (since the day you turned 3 actually), completely un-cooperative, refusing to sleep, and temper tantrums galore.

Today, however, you were back to your old self full of cheer and ready rock-n-roll when I got home. As is the the habit of late, I had to assume the role of pooh bear as soon as I got home and, apparently, you were Eeyore. Made clear by your crawling around on the floor while complaining, with the proper amount of melancholy in your voice, about the impending rain.

Eventually we made our way over to your blocks and after building your castle 4 blocks tall you declared, with much enthusiasm, it to be “normous”, it doesn’t sound as cute in print as it did in person but I promise you it was quite cute. In fact I coaxed you into repeating several times to my own delight.

It was about this time that you decided you were the “Bad Wolf” and immediately knocked over the tower.

Before we left you also rode your first carousel which you enjoyed very much after having your fill of slushy and ice cream treats.

Other than revisiting the Monkey’s and Elephants we didn’t really tread new ground. Although you did manage build up your courage to let the Flamingos eat from your hand! You were tickled.

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