More things Eddie says

Eddie was looking around my office and asked if high school is the "last school." I told him about college, and how it's school where you get to choose where to go and what to study so you'll be ready for your job.

Eddie: I think I just want to be a regular dad.

Me: Well, lots of dads also have another job, like being a teacher.

Eddie: Ooh, I could be a hunting dad! Because we'll have to eat and stuff.

Me: True. So do you think your wife will have a good job?

Eddie: I don't know! I don't even know who she is yet!

Surprise Ball

I played a riveting game of catch with the boys yesterday. It's called Surprise Ball, because this time of year, you don't quite know what that is all over the ball. Is it mud? Wet leaves? Dog poop? Snow? Slush? All of the above? Here it comes--surprise! DJ came up with the name.

Eddie was the defender, which mostly involved falling on the ground a lot. It's fun.

Things Eddie says

I love all my kids the exact same amount (infinity), but I hope and pray for everyone's sake that all families in the world have at least one easy-going child. It's no secret that Eddie is one. He's got his things, of course, but Eddie can be generally be counted on to be kind-hearted and agreeable.

Here are a few good Eddie one-liners:

"Awesome." This is his response to any question like, "How was your day?" or "How are you doing?" And it's not a flippant or automatic response. He pauses to think about it for a second, that answers emphatically, "Awesome." Every time. It is, in a word...awesome.

"Mom! You are like a girl Hulk! You have Hulk muscles!"

"[Sighing] Aren't we lucky that God made snow so sparkly?"

"Mom! I can hear your heart beeping! I was snuggling with your heart, and I can hear it!"

DJ turns 8

Vanilla cake with football and baseball decor

The Great Eight! Everyone who has seen DJ this season after not seeing him for awhile comments either on how tall he's gotten or how different he sounds when he talks. He's definitely grown up a lot. This has been a fun year with DJ. He continues to do really well in school but also excels in general silliness and annoying his siblings. He discovered Who Was books, starting with Who Was Alexander Hamilton after Kevin and I went to the musical. That started him on a reading frenzy that hasn't stopped. His Christmas and birthday consisted mostly of Lions and U of M gear (our one Michigan fan in the family), books, and more books. And he was good with that!

Unlike his siblings, he's not particularly into watching TV and playing video games, unless what's on TV is a football or baseball game. I think Kevin likes having a new sports buddy. (He's commented more than once that DJ understands football better than him.) This a great age--equally likely to be telling me about what's going on in his book club or about an amazing play in last night's game. Oh yeah, and he wants his hair longer, so he's outgrown Kevin's barber abilities and got his first real haircut and he's adorable. Happy birthday, DJ!

How do you feel about being eight?  

Happy! Totally happy!

What kinds of new things do eight-year-olds do?   
Playing baseball in a new league. Being in 3rd grade.

What are you most excited about for the next year?
All those things. Also, going to Papa John's house and going to Lake Michigan with Grandma Lisa.

Who are your best friends?

Henry and Bennett, Otto and Mary Cate.

Who are your favorite people to play with?
Otto, Roger, Henry, Bennett, and Xander.

What kinds of things are you good at?

Baseball, basketball, football, playing catch with my football, reading.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Baseball player or police officer.

Why are you interested in those things?
Because I like baseball and I want to put handcuffs on people.

What’s your favorite song?   
Help by the Beatles.

What's your favorite food?
I don't have one. But my favorite drink is root beer.

Favorite movie?   
The Sandlot.

Favorite book?   

Who Is Derek Jeter.

Favorite color?   
Light green.

Favorite place to be?

Papa John's house. There's lots of room to run around and it's in the Upper Peninsula.

What are your favorite things to do?   
Play baseball, football, basketball, play catch with my football, read Who Was Books.

Is there anything else you want us to know about you?   
I was born one day after Dad! Like four hours after him.

What was your favorite birthday present?
The Babe Ruth bobblehead and my book Baseball Genius. 

The sleepy ones on New Year's Eve