Random Traffic Through Nick's Brain » Parenthood http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic What happens on Earth, stays on Earth. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:50:06 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Dance! http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-11-27-dance.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dance http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-11-27-dance.htm#comments Sun, 27 Nov 2011 16:19:55 +0000 nvaracalli http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-11-27-dance.htm http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-11-27-dance.htm/feed 0 Airplane emergencies, part II http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-11-10-airplane-emergencies-part-ii.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=airplane-emergencies-part-ii http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-11-10-airplane-emergencies-part-ii.htm#comments Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:50:15 +0000 nvaracalli http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/?p=3617 As related by Dina:
Today as the were taxiing after landing, Alex had to go. So as soon as the plane stopped he jumped up and said he had to go, loudly enough that the stewardess helped push people out of the way so he could get to the WC. Then he came out dangling and naked and she kept people away so I could come and help him get dressed in the aisle :)
]]> http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-11-10-airplane-emergencies-part-ii.htm/feed 0 Definitely my son http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-11-07-definitely-my-son.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=definitely-my-son http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-11-07-definitely-my-son.htm#comments Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:01:13 +0000 nvaracalli http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-11-07-definitely-my-son.htm Alex’s first to do list.

20111107-190051.jpg

]]> http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-11-07-definitely-my-son.htm/feed 0 First letter to Santa http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-11-06-first-letter-to-santa.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=first-letter-to-santa http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-11-06-first-letter-to-santa.htm#comments Sun, 06 Nov 2011 09:24:21 +0000 nvaracalli http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-11-06-first-letter-to-santa.htm
  • iPad 3 for daddy was hard to distinguish from 3 iPads in Alex’s mind. He spelled iPad himself, purposely writing the “D” backwards for space reasons.


    • 20111106-102359.jpg

    20111106-114511.jpg]]>     http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-11-06-first-letter-to-santa.htm/feed 0     Weight off our shoulders http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-11-04-weight-off-our-shoulders.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=weight-off-our-shoulders http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-11-04-weight-off-our-shoulders.htm#comments Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:17:00 +0000 nvaracalli http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-11-04-weight-off-our-shoulders.htm no reaction to peanuts. Yay! We shouldn’t slather her with peanut butter, and she will be retested in a year, but I am over the moon. :-)]]> http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-11-04-weight-off-our-shoulders.htm/feed 1 Parent-teacher night http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-10-23-parent-teacher-night.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=parent-teacher-night http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-10-23-parent-teacher-night.htm#comments Sun, 23 Oct 2011 19:22:30 +0000 nvaracalli http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/?p=3590 This was a while ago. We went to parent-teacher night at Alex’s Kindergarten. We survived despite the fact that it was entirely in German. As an ice-breaker, the kids had answered some questions the teacher asked… what is {your | dad’s | mom’s} favourite { food | drink | animal | something else}. Alex was pretty easy to identify, since his favourite animal is a monkey. He thought mine was spaghetti (close, lasagna), coffee (not really, but it is definitely a mommy/daddy drink, so it’s not hard to see why he chose that), and dinosaur (projecting… it’s definitely a turtle). One kid replied that his mom liked “white wine and Red Bull”. “White wine”. Sure.

    ]]>     http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-10-23-parent-teacher-night.htm/feed 0     Time flies… http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-08-24-time-flies.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=time-flies http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-08-24-time-flies.htm#comments Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:40:02 +0000 nvaracalli http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/?p=3568 Alex started Kindergarten on Monday.

    • 5 x 1/2 days a week. 4 mornings, 1 afternoon.
    • It’s all in Swiss German.
    • He has a separate gym class 1 afternoon a week.
    • He has  DAZ (Deutsch als Zweitsprache (German as a second language)) once a week.
    • It takes him and his friend 10 to 15 minutes to walk to school, despite the fact that it’s 320m (0.2mi) door to door.
    • Arianna cries when Alex leaves.
    ]]>     http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-08-24-time-flies.htm/feed 0     Singing lessons http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-07-28-singing-lessons.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=singing-lessons http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-07-28-singing-lessons.htm#comments Thu, 28 Jul 2011 19:11:35 +0000 nvaracalli http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/?p=3550 [We're visiting a dinosaur exhibit in a rainforest-like setting.]
    Nick: Alex, want to learn a song about rainforests?
    Alex: OK!
    Nick: Welcome to the rainforest,
    Alex: Welcome to the rainforest,
    Nick: We’ve got fun and games
    Alex: We got fun and games
    Nick: We’ve got everything you want
    Alex: We got everything you want
    Nick: Honey, we know the names
    Alex: Huh, we know the names
    Nick: We are the people that can find
    Alex: We are the people that can fi-iii-iind
    Nick: Whatever you may need
    Alex: Whatever you may need
    Nick: If you’ve got the money, honey
    Alex: If you got the money, book
    Nick: We’ve got your disease
    Alex: We got your disease. Daddy… what’s a disease?
    [Digression as we discuss what a diseases is and then digress further into the difference between similes and metaphors.]
    Nick: Welcome to the rainforest, welcome to the rainforest
    Alex: Welcome to the jungle, welcome to the jungle

    ]]>     http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-07-28-singing-lessons.htm/feed 0     Communication http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-07-27-communication-3.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=communication-3 http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-07-27-communication-3.htm#comments Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:50:34 +0000 nvaracalli http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/?p=3545 Dina: Arianna, what do you want to do now?
    Arianna: Nap.
    Nick: Arianna, I don’t think you really want a nap. Do you know what nap means?
    Arianna: Yes!
    Nick: Really?
    Arianna: Nap. Sleep.
    Nick: So, you do know what that means. Cool. I’m proud of you for using different words to explain.
    Arianna: Nap. Bed.

    ]]>     http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-07-27-communication-3.htm/feed 0     The meter is off http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-07-27-the-meter-is-off.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-meter-is-off http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-07-27-the-meter-is-off.htm#comments Wed, 27 Jul 2011 09:12:29 +0000 nvaracalli http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/?p=3543 Spiderman BandAid,
    Spiderman BandAid,
    Does whatever a spider BandAid can.

    ]]>     http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-07-27-the-meter-is-off.htm/feed 0     Context http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-06-10-context.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=context http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-06-10-context.htm#comments Fri, 10 Jun 2011 07:13:35 +0000 nvaracalli http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/?p=3486 Alex: What did you do at work today?
    Nick: I met with a bunch of my work-friends, they’re called co-workers, to talk about things.
    Alex: You had a play date?
    Nick: Play dates with co-workers are called “meetings”, Alex.

    ]]>     http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-06-10-context.htm/feed 0     Baby you can’t drive my car http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-06-03-baby-you-cant-drive-my-car.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=baby-you-cant-drive-my-car http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-06-03-baby-you-cant-drive-my-car.htm#comments Fri, 03 Jun 2011 07:58:39 +0000 nvaracalli http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/?p=3472 Nick: Alex, do you want to drive me to the airport for my flight.
    Alex: Dad, I’m not allowed to drive.

    ]]>     http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-06-03-baby-you-cant-drive-my-car.htm/feed 0     Home alone: 1st challenge http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-04-27-home-alone-1st-challenge.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=home-alone-1st-challenge http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-04-27-home-alone-1st-challenge.htm#comments Wed, 27 Apr 2011 18:09:41 +0000 nvaracalli http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/?p=3461 It’s tough combing Arianna’s ultra-curly hair as she screams, “Daddy, stop hurting me!”. I can’t really explain to her that it’s only going to be worse if we don’t un-knot it occasionally. Plus I feel guilty since she inherits the hair from me.

    I’m not sure how good a job I did. :-(

    On the good side, that was a 4-word sentence (unless you punctuate it as, “Daddy! Stop hurting me!” in which case it’s only 3… still good for her age).

    ]]>     http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-04-27-home-alone-1st-challenge.htm/feed 0     What to do? http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-04-25-what-to-do.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-to-do http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-04-25-what-to-do.htm#comments Mon, 25 Apr 2011 12:46:39 +0000 nvaracalli http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/?p=3454 I’m alone with the kids for a week… let’s see how this goes. (In addition, performance review feedback is due at work this week, as are a bunch of other stuff… I remember the good ol’ days when time off actually meant time off… either from stuff at home, stuff at work, or both… when did it become neither?)

    ]]>     http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-04-25-what-to-do.htm/feed 0     Terminal commands for lazy parent owners of Macs http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-03-19-terminal-commands-for-lazy-owners-of-macs.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=terminal-commands-for-lazy-owners-of-macs http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-03-19-terminal-commands-for-lazy-owners-of-macs.htm#comments Sat, 19 Mar 2011 17:02:01 +0000 nvaracalli http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/?p=3438 say 1 say 2 say 3 say 4 say 5 say 6 say 7 say 8 say 9 say 10 say 11 say 12 say 13 say 14 say 15 say 16 say 17 say 18 say 19 say 20 say 21 say 22 say 23 say 24 say 25 say Ready or not, here I come. ]]> http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-03-19-terminal-commands-for-lazy-owners-of-macs.htm/feed 0 Vocabulary and Pronunciation http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-02-25-vocabulary-and-pronunciation.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=vocabulary-and-pronunciation http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-02-25-vocabulary-and-pronunciation.htm#comments Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:33:44 +0000 nvaracalli http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/?p=3417
  • Good News: Arianna now pronounces the “x” at the end of “Alex”.
  • Good News: Arianna’s vocabulary has exploded over the last few weeks. She constantly repeats the last word you say to her. She points at things and asks “What is this/that?” She actively works on her pronunciation, repeating words until she gets it right.
  • Bad News: She still can’t pronounce the “r” in “shirt”.
    • ]]>     http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-02-25-vocabulary-and-pronunciation.htm/feed 0     The Joys of Parenthood http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-01-23-the-joys-of-parenthood.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-joys-of-parenthood http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-01-23-the-joys-of-parenthood.htm#comments Sun, 23 Jan 2011 01:35:40 +0000 nvaracalli http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/?p=3366 What could top yesterday’s middle of the night wake-up, where I forgot to change Alex out of his underwear into his night diaper when changing him into his pyjamas, resulting in the inevitable middle-of-the-night sheet change?

    [It's 02:00]
    Alex: Mom! Mom…
    Dina: [Groggy] What?
    Alex: Come here…
    Dina: [gets up... goes to Alex's room] What is it Alex?
    Alex: My butt is sweaty and it made my hand wet.
    Dina: That’s not sweat.

    We are so showing this picture to his girlfriends.

    ]]>     http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-01-23-the-joys-of-parenthood.htm/feed 0     Imitation http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-01-20-imitation.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=imitation http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-01-20-imitation.htm#comments Thu, 20 Jan 2011 21:05:12 +0000 nvaracalli http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/?p=3364 Dina: Knock knock.
    Alex: Who’s there?
    Dina: Interrupting cow.
    Alex: Interruptin…
    Dina: Moo!

    [A couple of minutes pass.]

    Arianna: Knahk knahk.
    Dina: Who’s there?
    Arianna: Moo!!!

    ]]>     http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-01-20-imitation.htm/feed 0     Arianna Carries Her Weight http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-01-09-arianna-carries-her-weight.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=arianna-carries-her-weight http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-01-09-arianna-carries-her-weight.htm#comments Sun, 09 Jan 2011 17:51:30 +0000 nvaracalli http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/?p=3350 ]]> http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2011-01-09-arianna-carries-her-weight.htm/feed 0 No^4, Sample Size http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2010-12-27-no4-sample-size.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=no4-sample-size http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2010-12-27-no4-sample-size.htm#comments Mon, 27 Dec 2010 12:36:16 +0000 nvaracalli http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/?p=3340 Arianna is fond of saying, “No!”, typical of most toddlers. She also says, “Nei”, “Nein”, and, endearingly, “No way.”

    There are times I feel like I should friend more people on Facebook so that I can have a larger sample size when asking questions or making statements about the odd stuff the kids do.

    Directly related to the previous sentence, Alex has so far managed to “accidentally” land two whole rolls of toilet paper in the potty when he’s attempted to wipe himself. Really?

    ]]>     http://www.varacalli.com/random-traffic/2010-12-27-no4-sample-size.htm/feed 0