Happy Valentine's Day

My Valentine's

As most of you prepare to celebrate Valentine's Day in your own special ways I'd like to share this little story with you that I received from a friend today...

Why God created children

Whenever your children are/were out of control, you can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to His own children.

After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve. And the first thing he said was "DON'T!"

"Don't what?" Adam replied.

"Don't eat the forbidden fruit." God said.

"Forbidden fruit? We have forbidden fruit? Hey Eve...we have forbidden fruit!!!!!"

"No Way!"

"Yes, way!"

"Do NOT eat the fruit!" said God

"Why"

"Because I am your Father and I said so!" God replied, wondering why he hadn't stopped creation after making the elephants. A few minutes later, God saw his children having an apple break and He was ticked!

"Didn't I tell you not to eat the fruit?" God asked.

"Uh huh," Adam replied.

"Then why did you?" said the Father.

"I don't know," said Eve.

"She started it!" Adam said

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"DID NOT!"

Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own. Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed.

BUT THERE IS REASSURANCE IN THE STORY!

If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give children wisdom and they haven't taken it, don't be hard on yourself. If God had trouble raising children, what makes you think it would be a piece of cake for you?

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT!

1. You spend the first two years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next sixteen telling them to sit down and shut up.

2. Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your own
children.

3. Mothers of teens now know why some animals eat their young.

4. Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said.

5. The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind yourself that there are children more awful than your own.

6. We childproofed our homes, but they are still getting in.

ADVICE FOR THE DAY: Be nice to your kids. They will choose your nursing home one day.

AND FINALLY: IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF TENSION AND YOU GET A HEADACHE, DO WHAT IT SAYS ON THE ASPIRIN BOTTLE:

"TAKE TWO ASPIRIN" AND "KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN"

What do you think?

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Journey to the Land of Broadband!

Ever since I started blogging those dark lonely nights in May. I've been using my old dial-up modem to connect to the internet. Believe me the speed on that thing was slower than a tortoise on razors! I could not get much done every night apart from a post once in a while. Whenever I tried to visit any other blogs it would take literally ages to do and when I got there and wanted to tried to leave a commet it'd just go blank. It was oh so frustrating!

So this went on for all those months. I had been planning on changing my old PC too for ages. That trusty old faithful thing should really have been mothballed but I was so out of touch with the world of IT that I didn't really know what to get. So I looked around for a good system and also for a good deal.

So as my daughter like to sing "A hunting we will go" for a new PC that is. I finally found a Dell system and an offer I couldn't refuse. I won't go into details but it's superfast and has a ton of memory too. The best feature was the 20" widescreen that came with the package. (me being me and never satisfied opted for the 22" screen and was in for a shock when I opened the box)

Madre Dios it was huge , almost twice the size of my old faithful! Woo hoo!! Anyway I was so excited to order it but I still had my old dialup system. I had been trying to get broadband for a while too but because I still had my old system procastinated as usual. Once the new system arrived I was spurred to get my broadband service and tried to go online but was advised that I should go to the outlet for faster service. So I went on a Saturday...it was also the day before their promotion ended. Procastination!!!!! So went there bright and early to to my dismay the outlet was closed. But they told me over the phone that'd be open I kept repeating to my wife as we drove home!! Arrgghhh. So nevermiond, I decided to log on and register online...afterall it was a broadband service provider wasn't it. So I did! Successfully I thought.

I then waited...and waited...and waited some more. Now I've been warned before about the "service" of this broadband provider and it made me wonder. If this was the service before I even received it what ws it going to be like when I did. I decided to call a few days later and enquire about my application and to my dismay they said that they had no record of
my registration. I asked for their supervisor and waited for so long that I hung up...I was mad as hell! I had missed on the great package because of thier ineffiencies. If you advertise that the package is available until the 30th of September then you should be able to receive applications until the last day, right!

By then my new system had arrived. I removed my trusty old faithful PC for the last time. Then I unpacked the new system and carefully removed the components from their boxes and placed them where I wanted them. Then wifey and me set it up. She used to work with computers before so I was not going to waste her expertise. Besides all the wiring had to fit in tiny slots that my large fingers were not too fond of! It looks great I must say! But alas still no broadband...so I rummaged for the old dialup modem and tried to log on. Couldn't get a signal! I was preplexed. Stumped even!

Tried again the next day...and the day after! Finally on Saturday called Dell helpline. They were very professional and so helpful...not forgetting to mention polite. So this is how that conversation went.

Me: I'm having problems using my modem.
DELL: Okay sir please try this and please try that. Okay now lets try to install your software again.
Me: Uhuh...No...err.no sitll can't...nope...what was that...no that didn't work either.
DELL: Sir is your modem plugged in to the right place...
Me: Yes
DELL: Sir is your modem plugged in this place...
Me: Yes...
DELL: Sir that is the network slot for your broadband...for your dialup there is a slot below for the line...
Me: (DOH! red faced already) Err...but I tried the other place and it wouldn't fit.
DELL: Sir please try to turn the jack around...
Me: (DOH Again) Ohhh...no wonder...I tried to do it the other way...(I guess I must have had DOOFUS written in large bold letters on my comment card back at DELL HQ)

I really wished I had the powers of a Genie King and could wish away the embarassment LOL

After several tries...it still didn't work properly (managed to get in once but that was it) so they actually did a conference call with my dial-up service provider to try to fix the problem! Still no go! They said they'd look into it and call back on Monday! Me wasn't happy cause got no internet over the weekend...but what could i do. My beautiful new toy was a lame duck!

I called my good buddy Nick to come over...we've fixed many a problem together in the past and I had more confidence in us than in DELL (even with their great service). So my trusty buddy comes and we still can't get fully connected after trying! I'm totally frustrated by now. We make an evening out of it and have some garlic bread and wine to drown my sorrows. LOL

On Sunday night I finally managed to get hooked up after deleting all previous connections and starting from scratch. I was happy but was clocking 28.8 kbs. But that was normal for me at home so I didn't care. The next day we were off so I decided to try other service providers. We went to a mall that we knew for sure had another service provider.

My luck was running thin because I went to the first one and they didn't have a line in my area. they directed me to another service provided...but this one also didn't have service in my area...although they keep advertising about their great service...it's like putting the cart before the horse...no service don't advertise so much until you do! So there I was again...with no broadband service!

We roamed around the mall and even asked information if they had any others and they said no. So we went to the supermarket to get a few items. After that as I waited for wifey who had to go for a pit stop...i wondered when I'd get my broadband service. I decided to walk over to the restrooms and I saw her smiling gleefully. I was wondering what she was up to.

Wifey: You saw it ah?
Me: "Yes"...but we were on different pages...I was thinking of the roasted meat they usually sell at Chinese New year but were now selling for Hari Raya albeit the halal version.
Wifey: No, the Broadband counter...
Me: Broadband counter?
Wifey: You walked past it.
Me: No lah...where got?
Wifey: There...
Me: (DOH! AGAIN!) I didn't see it lah...

So we see the guy (Ali) and he said he has still got the package I wanted (although it expired a week earlier) but that I'd have to sign up before 2.30 pm...it was 1:30 pm!! I wasn't too sure and though it might be a sales ploy but hety he was giving me my broadband service at the special promotion price I wanted....woo hoo. The guy even fixed everything for me and told me all I had to do was wait a couple of days and then could log in. I had finally done it...got my broadband! But the story doesn't end...That night as I was watching tv the guy calls...

Broadband guy: Mr. Adrian you left you IC in the shop...
Me: (DOH to the power of 4) Okay okay...thanks for calling...I'll pick it up tomorrow...

So the next day I pick it up and I see the signs advertising the offer are no longer there, so he was telling the truth and not up to salesman type tricks. Good!

The following day...I get a strong signal and am now able to use my broadband. Or so I thought, because I try logging on but keep getting error messages. I try and try repeatedly but still the same. I try the CD too that came with it but that doesn't work either. So I call the broadband guy.
Me: Ali...I can't get into my broadband lah...I've tried everything but can't get it...
Broadband guy: Did you activate your account?
Me: (DOH!!!!!!! for the last time I tell ya!) Oh yes ah...I have to activate my account...okay thanks I'll give them a call now.

Ten minutes later I finally get broadband at home! LOL The first song I hear is from my blog and it's Bing singing "White Christmas" (remember I love Christmas) One of my favs...my daughter and wifey come over to inspect the noise and we play her little computer game called "Purble Place" on the PC.

Call me crazy, call me doofus, call me sentimental...I don't care I was happy!

Photos Phor Phriday!

Janice! Here are the durian pictures I promised you! She just loves the stuff! :)

Pics of some of the flowers in our garden taken by wifey!

Surprised! (santa collection in background)

Shrek fighting with Homer over which movie is better! /Getaway Driver!

Homer T's for dau and me!!

Face Off!

Nick of Anything Goes! was the @$#%!! % who tagged me to reveal the face behind my blog. Like as if he doesn't know what I look like! Thanks bud...with friends like you who needs enemies! LOL Besides the lowlife didn't even reveal his own face! Okay okay now that I'm stuck with this tag I shall be a nice guy and comply! So here I am...exposed at last!

Blog Title : First Time Dad!

Description : Tall, Dark and Handsome...err seen my pic already huh...Okay just an ordinary looking chap... DOH! You mean my blog...it's about my experiences growing up with my little daughter and then some!

Why "First Time Dad!" : Doh! Because that's what I am now! I thought I'd be cool to post my thought about how I "grow" up as I learn about parenthood and being a Dad. I hope my daughter will be reading this one day and know the ups and downs we had while bringing her up!

Name : Adrian (named after a Pope, if you believe)

Country : Malaysia

Occupation : That's means work right! Blogger....Err...and sometimes a HR type person

Email : batchappie@yahoo.com

Birthday : July 9

Fav Color : Blue

Fav Drink : Iced White Coffee (no it is not a racist type drink) Yummy!

Fav Fruit : Pears

Fav Dessert : Anything chocolate....MMMmmm chocolate

Hobbies : Reading, Fishing (although I haven't gone in a while),

Some of the blogs that I know which put up picture(s) of me are : Playgirl (LOL) of course none!

Here are the next bunch of mystery men/women who have to unveil their faces:

Jim & Emma of GO! Smell the flowers

Lisa of Work at home Mom Revolution

Ann of A Nice Place in the Sun

Joe of all is one, one is all

Nick of Anything Goes...yes you buddy...you can run but you can't hide!

Be sure to follow these simple rules: Post a short article and include your photograph (or more if you want to). If you already have a pix online somewhere, the get creative with a new one :)Next include the link to the others who have displayed their pix, or even include their pix in your post, adding a reference to it. So far, these are the brave ones :)

Gayla at Mom GadgetChar at Essential KeystrokesPaul at Reflections Rob at 2DolphinsZep at The In-Sect Ingo at StixsterStevie at Lost In Cyberspace The Paper Bull at (oddly enough) The Paper BullLisa Sabin-Wilson at Just A Girl In The WorldDawud Miracle at dmiracle.com Wendy Piersall at eMoms at HomeDennis Bjorn Petersen at Petersen Inc. Randa Clay at Randa Clay DesignDrew McLellan at The Marketing MinuteBecky McCray at Small Biz Survival Phil Gerbyshak at Make it Great!Steve Woodruff at StickyFigure Dave Olson at Live the GREAT life that you desireGreg at Become a Remote Control SEOAriane Benefit at Neat Living Blog Genesis at the At Home Mom BlogArmen at iFFECT.NET Mihaela Lica at Online Public RelationsTara at Graphic Design BlogDoris Chua at Home Office Women Edward Mills at Evolving TimesTony D. Clark at Success from the Nest Jonathan-C Phillips at SmartWealthyRichKaren at A Deaf Mom Shares Her WorldLisa Gates at intrinsic life design Rammel Firdaus at rammelfirdaus.comCarol at Pentimento Adam Kayce at Monk at WorkThomas at Technical BloggerTammy Lenski at I Can?t Say That! Chris Brown at Branding & Marketing Rory Sullivan at HamelifeDerek Wong at Going The Wong WayEmbuck at embuck.comMs. Q at QMusings Shelly Tucker at This Eclectic Life Steve at Ramblings from the MarginalizedTroy Worman at on!blogLilith at Lilith’s Owl NestRevov at REVO-OVER Karin at Stop/Start Jamy at Seay's Kopitam this is a miracle Anything Goes!Adrian of First Time Dad Hui Sen of Brain Spillage Seiche Lis of About-every-little-thing Diamond of Nonsense, fun, tears, happiness and anger all roled into one

The last thing you need to do is after you do link back to me, please give me a ping and I'll try very hard to include links back to you. It's that easy! Now let's see those pictures!!

Law and Disorder!

As usual this is something I got via e-mail and it's hilarious...

Disorder in the Court: These are from a book called Disorder in the American Courts, and are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now published by court reporters who had the torment of staying calm whilethese exchanges were actually taking place.

____________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Are you sexually active?

WITNESS: No, I just lie there.

____________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?

WITNESS: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.

____________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all ?

WITNESS: Yes.

ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?

WITNESS: I forget.

ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you forgot?

___________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: What was the first thing your husband said to you thatmorning?

WITNESS: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?"

ATTORNEY: And why did that upset you?

WITNESS: My name is Susan!

___________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved invoodoo?

WITNESS: We both do.

ATTORNEY: Voodoo?

WITNESS: We do.

ATTORNEY: You do?

WITNESS: Yes, voodoo.

__________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in hissleep, he doesn't know about ituntil the next morning?

WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?__________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the twenty-one-year-old, how old is he?

WITNESS: Uh, he's twenty-one.

__________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?

WITNESS: Are you shitt'in me?

__________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?

WITNESS: Yes.

ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?

WITNESS: Uh.... I was gett'in laid!

__________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?

WITNESS: Yes.

ATTORNEY: How many were boys?

WITNESS: None.

ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?

WITNESS: Are you kidding? Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney?

__________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?

WITNESS: By death.

ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?

WITNESS: Now whose death do you suppose terminated it?

__________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?

WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard.

ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?

WITNESS: Guess.

__________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to adeposition notice which I sent to your attorney?

WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.

__________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Doctor, how many of your autopsies have you performed ondead people?

WITNESS: All my autopsies are performed on dead people. Would youlike to rephrase that?

__________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to?

WITNESS: Oral.

__________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?

WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.

ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?

WITNESS: No, he was sitting on the tablewondering why I was doing an autopsy on him!

_________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?

WITNESS: Huh....are you qualified to ask that question?

__________________________________________________________

--- And the best for last: ---

ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?

WITNESS: No.

ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?

WITNESS: No.ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?

WITNESS: No.

ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?

WITNESS: No.

ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?

W ITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.

ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive,nevertheless?

WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law.

Stress Test!

As usual some kind soul passed me this via e-mail. Try it!

This is a good Stress Test for you to take. Stare for a few seconds at each of the following patterns. Are the patterns moving? Or are they perfectly still??







The patterns above are used to test the level of stress a person can handle. The slower the pictures move, the better your ability of handling stress. Alleged criminals that were tested see them spinning around madly. However, senior citizens and kids see them standing still.

None of these images are animated - they are perfectly still. How did you do with the test??

Goodnight Sweetheart! Hello Basil! Eh...Who's Basil???

After much neglect I'm finally going to write a little about my daughter's progress. The little one has been ill this past week. Down with a viral flu...hmmm well can't say she's been down because she's still been her usual self i.e. running and jumping about! In fact on the first day it happened she really talked a lot too! Which is something she rarely does! We think it might have been the medication! LOL She kept talking about everything in between licking up the contents her little runny nose that we had failed to wipe off in time! All kids love doing that don't they! LOL

Well like I said she has been a little slow to talk although she understands perfectly well. And she does pick up words prety fast too. Of course she is still in her inquisitive stage and loves asking Why? What? and Where? repeatedly. What she loves to do is run and play! She can play all day! We have this snake from Ikea (you know the one) that she grabs one end of and then she'll give me the other end and ask me to pull in a little game of tug-a -war! When she tired of that she try spinning it and twisting it and jumping over it and walking on it! I never knew that silly snake had so many uses...we got it for her to hug and that is the only thing she doesn't do with it! LOL

Another thing she loves to to is to be tickled! She used to come up to me and say "Daddy tickle" and I'd be wondering what she wanted until she said "Daddy tickle me" and I gladly obliged! Then she'll say stop and when I do she'll ask to be tickled again. This'll go on for a while...ahhhh my own little tickle me Elmo! LOL

As I was saying earlier she is quick to pick up words...well every night before bed I say to her "Good night Sweetheart" and she'll say good night back until one fine night I hear her say "Good night Sweetheart" back! I almost fell off my chair! You just can't prepare for moments like that! LOL

Finally, the telephone! She usually doesn't like talking on the phone when we call her back! She'll only listen and run away after a while! However, she loves playing pretend with wifey's cellphone and slowly but surely she began to say Hello to no one in particular, sometimes her uncles or aunts or cousins, in her imaginary little way! So you can imagine my shock when one day she said "Hello Basil!" Who the hell was Basil! We don't know anyone named Basil! And she hasn't met anyone named Basil! It's such an uncommon name! So long and hard we thought about who it could be until it fianlly dawned on us! We had been watching a Jamie Oliver show the other day. You can guess where this is going, right? Yup, he was using basil in one of the dishes and our little one somehow remembered it and used it in her little "Hello Basil! We really had a good laugh about that one! I was ready to buy a shotgun...my little one ain't gonna have no boyfriends so soon! LOL

Well that's my little progress report! One day I hope my daughter will be reading this and having a good laugh at her antics just like I am now! Ciao!

The lighter Side of Religion - in case you missed it!

I received this via e-mail recently and thought I'd share it. Enjoy!

PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE WORDING AND SPELLING. IF YOU KNOW THE BIBLE EVEN A LITTLE, YOU'LL FIND THIS HILARIOUS! IT COMES FROM A CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEST. KIDS WERE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE BIBLE WERE WRITTEN BY CHILDREN. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RETOUCHED OR CORRECTED. INCORRECT SPELLING HAS BEEN LEFT IN.

1. IN THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, GUINESSIS. GOD GOT TIRED OF CREATING THE WORLD SO HE TOOK THE SABBATH OFF.

2. ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED FROM AN APPLE TREE. NOAH'S WIFE WAS JOAN OF ARK. NOAH BUILT AND ARK AND THE ANIMALS CAME ON IN PEARS.

3. LOTS WIFE WAS A PILLAR OF SALT DURING THE DAY, BUT A BALL OF FIRE DURING THE NIGHT.

4. THE JEWS WERE A PROUD PEOPLE AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY THEY HAD TROUBLE WITH UNSYMPATHETIC GENITALS.

5. SAMPSON WAS A STRONGMAN WHO LET HIMSELF BE LED ASTRAY BY A JEZEBEL LIKE DELILAH.

6. SAMSON SLAYED THE PHILISTINES WITH THE AXE OF THE APOSTLES.

7. MOSES LED THE JEWS TO THE RED SEA WHERE THEY MADE UNLEAVENED BREAD WHICH IS BREAD WITHOUT ANY INGREDIENTS

8. THE EGYPTIANS WERE ALL DROWNED IN THE DESSERT. AFTERWARDS, MOSES WENT UP TO MOUNT CYANIDE TO GET THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

9. THE FIRST COMMANDMENTS WAS WHEN EVE TOLD ADAM TO EAT THE APPLE.

10. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IS THOU SHALT NOT ADMIT ADULTERY.

11. MOSES DIED BEFORE HE EVER REACHED CANADA. THEN JOSHUA LED THE HEBREWS IN THE BATTLE OF GERITOL.

12. THE GREATEST MIRICLE IN THE BIBLE IS WHEN JOSHUA TOLD HIS SON TO STAND STILL AND HE OBEYED HIM.

13. DAVID WAS A HEBREW KING WHO WAS SKILLED AT PLAYING THE LIAR. HE FOUGHT THE FINKELSTEINS, A RACE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN BIBLICAL TIMES.

14. SOLOMON, ONE OF DAVIDS SONS, HAD 300 WIVES AND 700 PORCUPINES.

15. WHEN MARY HEARD SHE WAS THE MOTHER OF JESUS, SHE SANG THE MAGNA CARTA.

16. WHEN THE THREE WISE GUYS FROM THE EAST SIDE ARRIVED THEY FOUND JESUS IN THE MANAGER.

17. JESUS WAS BORN BECAUSE MARY HAD AN IMMACULATE CONTRAPTION.

18. ST. JOHN THE BLACKSMITH DUMPED WATER ON HIS HEAD

19. JESUS ENUNCIATED THE GOLDEN RULE, WHICH SAYS TO DO UNTO OTHERS BEFORE THEY DO ONE TO YOU. HE ALSO EXPLAINED A MAN DOTH NOT LIVE BY SWEAT ALONE.

20. IT WAS A MIRICLE WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND MANAGED TO GET THE TOMBSTONE OFF THE ENTRANCE.

21. THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED THE LORD WERE CALLED THE 12 DECIBELS.

22. THE EPISTELS WERE THE WIVES OF THE APOSTLES.

23. ONE OF THE OPPOSSUMS WAS ST. MATTHEW WHO WAS ALSO A TAXIMAN.

24. ST. PAUL CAVORTED TO CHRISTIANITY, HE PREACHED HOLY ACRIMONY WHICH IS ANOTHER NAME FOR MARRAIGE.

25. CHRISTIANS HAVE ONLY ONE SPOUSE. THIS IS CALLED MONOTONY.

Autobots...TRANSFORM!!

Today I shall remember well! For it is the day I watched the Transformers movie. It's been about three years since I'd last gone to the cinema if you can believe it! Well ever since the wife got pregnant and baby came along I never really could find an excuse good enough to leave the little one behind. :)

Anyway I had told wifey that I wanted to go see the movie because I'm a big robot and Transformer fan. So when one of my best pals turned up today we mulled about it over lunch and finally decided to go! I felt guilty about leaving the little one at home on a weekend when our time is supposed to be solely hers (but wife reminded me that theaters can get very loud)! So when the little one had her nap after lunch we quickly rushed to the nearest cinema. We grabbed the tickets for the earliest movie and even had to sit at different sections because only the front rows were available and we didn't want to sit so close! While waiting for the movie to start we bought the little one a couple of story books to soothe my feelings of guilt!

Don't worry, I'm not going to talk about the plot and be a spoiler. What I want to say is, boy was it a great movie! Humor and action, that's all! What I used to watch on TV (and sometimes still do) came to life on the big screen in a big way! I was happy to hear the voice of the original Optimus Prime (what a name) that I felt like a kid again! You have to be a Transformers fan to know what I'm talking about! I wished the movie didn't end and want to watch it again! Can't wait for the sequel that will be sure to follow! Autobots Transform!

Anyway after the movie we rushed home to pick up the little one (glad we didn't take her cause it was loud) and took her to A&W for our dinner and her supper, again to soothe my guilty feelings LOL

I must add that being eager to write this post, I covered my pillow with my blanket and quietly snuck out of my bedroom on all fours commando style (thinking of a similar tale a good friend once told me) as my wife put the little one to sleep. I wanted to burst out laughing but was afraid I might wake the little one up as she was almost out when I did my crawl of shame! LOL

Now if I could only have transformed! toot toot teet teet tooot toot toot :)

A REAL BARGAIN!

Someone sent this to me via e-mail this morning and I thought I'd post it. Read it and you'll know what I mean!

The Price of Children

This is something absolutely positive for a change. Repeatedly, we have seen the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but this is the first time the rewards listed in such a nice manner.

It was recently calculated that the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 came up to $160,140 for a middle income family. That doesn't even touch college tuition.

But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:

* $8,896.66 a year,
* $741.38 a month, or
* $171.08 a week.
* That's a mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be "rich." Actually, it is just the opposite. What do you get for your $160,140?

* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles under the covers every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to:

* finger-paint,
* carve pumpkins,
* play hide-and-seek,
* catch lightning bugs, and
* never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to:

* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
* watching Saturday morning cartoons,
* going to Disney movies, and
* wishing on stars.
* You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay or Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:

* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* re moving a splinter,
* filling a wading pool,
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat to history to witness the:

* first step,
* first word,
* first bra (female) ,
* first date, and
* first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.

In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, So, one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!!

Love & enjoy your children & grandchildren!!!!!!! They are certainly worth every penny!

Whatisthis?

Whatisthis and Where - Those happen to be two of my daughters favourite words! The little one at two years old is starting to pick up words. She is curious and wants to know everthing about anything! I guess they all do at two! They're like tiny little computers on two feet that need to be programed except they're the ones telling the programer to program them! Amazing isn't it? :)

WHATISTHIS?
She picked up the term "Whatisthis" quite a while back except we didn't realize that what she was saying was "What is this?" very fast. The term is something she uses for things she doesn't know and also for things taht she does? Not sure why but I think it's because she wants to verify that that is what it is. A drive out would be filled with "Whatisthis"s form the start to the end. Can you imagine a two hour trip? Whatisthis? A bus Whatisthis? A bus Whatisthis? A lorry Whatisthis? Another bus Whatisthis? Another lorry LOL

This'll go on until she falls asleep or we reach the traffic light. Then she starts with 32, 31 30 26, 23, 27, 24, etc. because we've been teaching her numbers and at the traffic lights they have the electronic countdowns and she tries to follow the numbers. She's quite good actually, especially once it is below 20. Sometimes her focus shifts to the traffic lights and she starts with "Geen coming" because the lights are red. Once it turns green she says "Daddy Go Geen" excitedly :)

WHERE?

Like last night when I was tucking her to bed I told her if she slept early she could get up in the morning and watch the birds fly (which is something she loves to do each morning). The conversation went pretty much like this.

Me: Ellie if you sleep now tomorrow we can get up early and watch the bird fly.

Little One: Where?

Me: Errr fly to their nests.

Little One: Where?

Me: In the trees.

Little One: Where?

Me: Errr in the forest.

Little One: Where?

Me: Eeeeerrrr... look at the butterfly on the wall!

Little One: Where?

Thank goodness her mummy walked in and she got distracted otherwise I'd have been there all night LOL

The next phase is WHY! Why Oh Why? : )