My girls rule

Just a quick note to reaffirm that my daughters rock. As the first parent/teacher conferences of this new school year confirmed yesterday and today (not that I needed confirmation), my girls are brilliant. Both are phenomenal readers and are very strong (amazingly) in math. I couldn't be prouder of them.

Emelie is turning a huge corner and is actually "among the most advanced in her class"...despite being one of the youngest. Needless to say, that was a great meeting and put a lot of Lori's fears to rest. Emelie is really applying herself and, despite a few dalliances with immaturity, is showing her true scholarly aptitude. She reads like nobody's business and is actually writing with greater insight and detail. Bless her little unshelled heart.

I am a proud dad.

This past weekend, we treated ourselves to a weekend at Disneyland. We returned to the Paradise Pier hotel and stayed TWO nights -- Friday and Saturday night. Spent all day Saturday in the park, and enjoyed the hotel's much-beloved water slide on Friday afternoon (I left work a few hours early) and Sunday morning. I gotta tell you, not only is it wonderful having Disneyland this close (and it's in such a sweet spot for the girls age-wise now), but staying in the hotel is the only way to go. The service is impeccably gracious, and getting the early admission privilege is worth the price of the room. As we did at Christmas when we stayed at the Grand Californian and also got into the park an hour early, we rode about six or so rides before the riffraff got in.

This excursion included a ride on the newly-revamped, Johnny Deppified Pirates of the Caribbean, our first ride on Splash Mountain (my highlight) and my and Sydney's first time on Raiders of the Lost Ark. I tell you, Disney magic is very much alive. Having the extra night at the hotel is pretty cool, because we had time to have a leisurely dinner at the Grand Californian, stroll back to our hotel, play a board game or two. I got a nice recharge and huge quantities of quality time with the fam.

Thoroughly enjoyable.

Makes scents to remember

Some of life's most subtle moments are the one's most important to remember. We document the major ones, but letting the smallest ones fade away seems such a shame. I felt like capturing one from this morning.

Emelie is developing a strange yet wonderful sense of humor. She is learning the ability to not take herself so seriously and, in doing so, laugh more freely about everything.

Most mornings, either after witnessing me get ready for work or just prior to leaving the house, Emelie comments on my fragrance. She calls my cologne "the smell" and often wants me to spray a bit on her hand, after which she inhales a long dose and sighs pleasantly. Sometimes she'll burrow her face in my neck and breathe in "the smell", drawing out the long comment "yoooouu smell like waaatttermelllllon." I think it's sweet and we all joke about it with her.

This morning, I woke up and went into Emelie's room where she, Lori and Sydney were. Lori was combing Sydney's hair and I laid on the floor at their feet (savoring a lazy Saturday morning). Emelie laid down upon my chest as did Sydney a moment later. As I hugged on them, Emelie looked into my left armpit and noticed the white glaze of deodorant I had put there moments before. Always (and often unabashedly) interested in anything having to with bodily functions and/or hygiene, she cocked her head back and said, "what's that in your pits? It looks like salt." I laughed and answered, "it's deodorant." At which point, she buried her face in my armpit for a second or two, withdrew it with a blissful smile and said with eyes half-closed, "deeee-ooooodoraaannt" with all the olfactory satisfaction of smelling roses or fresh apple pie.

We all laughed and it became the catch phrase of the day. And another tiny chapter in this life.

Monster hit, part deux

It dawned on me early this morning. They didn't wait until Halloween because now they can plan on a Halloween DVD release. If the movie tanks, or even if it does well, I'm sure a massive Halloween-themed DVD launch is in the works. Mark my words.

Looks like I'm ready to join Mel's church now.

Monster hit

We saw Monster House this weekend with the kids. I have to tell you, I liked it more than any animated feature in recent history. Really, really good. Unexpectedly good. The entire movie seemed to be approached as a live action movie that just happened to be animated. The dialogue, delivery and facial expressions were very subtle and, while caricatured, believable. I particularly loved the video game wizard/fast food guy. What a riot!

I stayed awake through the entire thing, if that's any indication of just how good it was. I can't say that for 85% of the movies I see in the theatres.

Only thing I can't figure out is why they didn't release the movie at Halloween. It seems like the natural thing to have done (considering the story takes place during the days just before Halloween) and it probably would've RULED at that time of year instead of going to head-to-head with the remaining summer fare.

But who am I to figure out Hollywood's inner marketing machinations? I suppose Mel Gibson and the Jews know why...