Cerebrate Good Times

Well, we moved to Idaho Falls about ten months ago. And while people outside the Rocky Mountain states probably see Idaho and Utah as virtually identical (and it's certainly an easier transition than most interstate moves would be), there are some differences. So here, in no particular order, are my impressions of our new state compared to Utah. Most of the time it's 5 to 10 degrees colder here. Which is really nice in the summer. In the winter the roads seem to just be covered with ice perpetually. Any fear I ever had about driving in snow and ice is long gone. Since I've spent most of my life living in Utah, where anything harder than beer is confined to liquor stores, it was just a little odd to see aisles of wine at Walmart. But I got used to it quickly. Service people seem much nicer here. From cashiers at Walmart to servers at restaurants, almost everyone has been friendly. The one exception is our local post office, where the people have kind of had an attitude...

I've had several friends and family members recently become parents, and it has made me think back to when I became a father 11 years ago. At least, I'm pretty sure that's right; I don't remember so well anymore. Anyway, there are a lot of things in life that we train for, from job interviews to athletic competitions. But we don't necessarily train for parenthood. Why not? Many parents would say it's the most important part of their lives. I know I didn't really feel prepared. So, in the interest of helping those who are considering parenthood (or have less than nine months to prepare), here is my 4-week program designed to get you into parenting shape. Week 1 Sunday: Stay up all night. Monday: Wake up for 30 minutes each time at 2 AM, 4 AM, and 6 AM Tuesday: Carry a bowling ball in the crook of your arm for 3 hours. Wednesday: Make 4 different meals for dinner. Thursday: Clean your toilet with nothing but baby wipes. Friday: Sleep in a chair...

This is Cyclone. Well, she's Clara. But while we have tried to give our other kids nicknames, this is the first one to really stick. And boy, is it apt. I'm not sure if we were just lucky with Sam and Allison, but they didn't do a lot of the stereotypical kid things like drawing on themselves, taking off their clothes, and making messes just for fun. But Cyclone does all that, in addition to chasing the cats around and occasionally stepping on her baby brother. On the flip side, she is exceptionally sweet. She won't stop kissing James, is always excited to greet me when I come home from work, and approaches everything with remarkable enthusiasm. She simultaneously makes me feel older and younger. I can't imagine life without our sweet little terror.