5 vs. 1

I think it's fair enough to tell this story.

Stacey and I made the best decision yet of our parenthood lives to enroll our daughter in a local co-op preschool. It's been incredible building relationships with other like minded parents and it's benefited our relationships with our children as well.  That's not the point though...

A family in the co-op recently asked if they could drop their 3 year old boy and 2 twin 20 month old twin boys off for a few hours on a Friday. Stay At Home Dad Mode kicks in. I can do this. I can do anything!

Drop off was made. Find snacks. I thought my 2 girls ate a lot ... boys eat A LOT! And for good reason. They are active! From jumping off the walls, moving around furniture, and constantly getting into things they shouldn't, these little guests didn't slow down. From the 3 year old, whom I'm most acquainted with via the co-op, he's an even more energetic little fellow. It's like he ran a 5k before his mom dropped him off!

Lunch couldn't come quick enough - as the boys I was watching were vegan and I was running out of vegan option snacks. Their mom dropped off peanut butter and sunflower jelly sandwiches, which were amazing and I was holding them for lunch. So we finally dined, a kitchen full of loud, hungry, fun loving little people graciously ate vegan yummies until their bellies content.

And then it was on. Mind you, it was raining outside so throwing them in the backyard was out of the picture. The blocks came out, the balls came out, the diapers needed changing and they were still hungry! We danced to Gangam Style, and played guitar, bongos and maracas, and read books ... it was a full on daddy day care up in the hood.

1 episode of television saved the day...just to rest and calm things down. We don't want to the be the household that you drop your kids off too and they learn the Fresh Beat Theme song. Funny how kids can bond over a television show, thought ...  "Wait, you know Dora? I know Dora too!!".

And then it was on again. I had to put my youngest down for a nap. She couldn't handle all the attention from 3 cute older boys. So she's napping, we're drawing, and mom arrives to the boys yelps of glee.

Pick up was a success, Indie was still sleeping, Zoe and I chilled and then we went to pick up mama.

It's funny - being a Working Stay At Home Dad you plan your days around such events. It's important for Zoe and Indie to have interaction on their home turf (and others' home turf) with their peers. I worked my butt off to ensure I didn't have much to do on Friday so I could over see a successful play-date.

Oh how I never expected myself to type that...

Cheers!

-marc

Slooooooow down.

I found this video on my Facebook page today and it made me slow down ... if at least for 6 and a half minutes.

Whether it really is, or we make it that way, our life as the Cali Blackwells is crazy. With 2 kids under 3, mom working a full time job, me staying at home with the kids and running a small business and EVERYTHING else in between - we feel like we never slow down.

If it's not making dinner before the kids get hangry, or running Z to dance class every friday, juggling preschool activities, fundraisers, and playdates it's taking the dog to the vet or filing our taxes, or cleaning the house.

And sometimes I like it. I feel like I can do anything and everything ... sometimes.

But then sometimes it just all hits ya in the face and you go - whoa ... I need to SLOW down.

Taxes will get filed. Dinner will be made. Business will be had. The other truths that are more important are that our youngest (1 1/2 y/o) is starting to talk. Our 3 year old is a genius and understands every word that comes out of our mouth. They are starting to play together, really love each other, and enjoy each others company. We have two beautiful children in our home that won't always be here. That's the important stuff.

Not money. Not material things we want. Not even getting a second car (but boy how that would be nice!)

Family is love. Family is taking the time to show that love. Everything else falls in place if you show an abundance of love.

I used to tell my mom, "Mom, all you need is love". She would argue, "Yes, but love doesn't pay the bills." I will still and continue to happily disagree with her on this one.

Big City Mornings

This grey gloomy morning is one I'm thoroughly enjoying. While the girlies are at home with the babysitter I snuck out to a coffee shop and am soaking up the alone time in the big city. I sit 10 feet away from the busiest intersection in town, my bike in sight, warmed by my black coffee and an outdoor heater. I have my headphones in but I'm not listening to anything but the sounds around me.

Met a cool guy named Nick. Invited me to bike from Irvine to San Diego. "Only 70 miles, and you can bring the kids!" Ha! Nice to meet ya!

What to do with the next 2 hours?

Perhaps turn off all electronics. Sit. Alone. For once. Not work, just dream and think. Maybe train for my new biking adventure? The possibilities are endless as long as it doesn't rain!

See ya later.

On Being A Stay At Home Dad

It's funny, I'm a stay at home dad 100%. And as the months pass into years, I'm becoming a damn good one.

I am a "Laundry Master". I can make a mean chicken broccoli macaroni and cheese. Poopey diapers are changed within seconds. Dirty dishes and spilled milk don't last very long in my house. Preschool drop offs are scheduled between emergency baths and breakfasts are no problem. Auditions, play dates, snacks and kissing booboos are all routine in my day. I can hold my weight with any stay at home mom.

All this while juggling a small business, friends, the wifey and keeping up with my shows. LOL, see? I hafta keep up with my soaps!

Lately the phrase "it's a thankless job" has been running through my head. And while I'm cleaning poop off a crib, no one is saying thank you. While I'm washing peed sheets (AGAIN!), or picking cheerios out of the rug I don't get verbal thank yous. But the hugs, giggles, and happiness of my girls make it all worth it. I guess all this to say that I love it. I love being a stay at home dad and wouldn't change it for the world. I love looking into my girls eyes, smiling, and automatically getting a smile back.

I know this time will not last forever. I'll blink and my girls will be in grade school, or getting married and I'll be lonely and old at the house by myself. So for now I'm soakin' it in.

Cheers,
-marc

Turkey Trot

Zoe recently had a Turkey Trot fundraising run at her preschool. Here's the video begging for money:

Here's the video of the event!

Cheers!
-marc

Why I bought the Samsung Galaxy S III

I know there are topics out there more interesting than why a 28 year old stay at home dad purchased a particular phone ... I know our economy is tinkering from left to right/up and down in this upcoming election. I know shit's going down in the middle east ...

But OMG I got 19 comments on my Facebook when I announced to the world I purchased the Samsung Galaxy S III! With that kind of interest I knew I could bump the AdSense here on my blog, earn a few pennies from the traffic and maybe ... just maybe ... get retweeted by a few celebrities.  By writing this long winded, pretty much pointless, review/comparison on this silly little phone my peers can and should reaffirm my nerdiness and rest assured I wasn't taking drugs when I went into Best Buy and bought a phone other than the iPhone 5.

So let's begin. And let's be honest, if I would've found the iPhone 5 before today, I would've bought it. I had made my mind up weeks ago to just wait patiently, call a few times here and there, maybe stop in an Apple store just to check - but I wanted the process to be painless and seamless.  I have two children, btw, so waiting around in a store for an hour while AT&T takes my blood type and checks for a criminal record, while transferring phones, does not sound fun.

But last night I watched this video;

I was kind of blown away.

I've been an iPhone user since the first generation came out back in the summer of 2007. Since then I've purchased every iPhone up to the 4, (my wife currently owns the 4s), a Mac Book Pro, an iMac, and iPad2, Apple TV and many an app from the App Store. My friends, family and enemies know me as an Apple Fan Boi.

But look at all those cool features! Google Maps, face recognition, voice commands, real multi tasking, removal batteries, mini sim card, live wall papers, 8 megapixel camera, and more!

Today, my wife and I, plus 1 child, went into a best buy and purchased the Galaxy S III. I walked out of there only putting $115 down too (and that included a case)! Not too bad, but there's no turning back. I traded in my iPhone, I have 14 days to decide if I like it before my upgrade expires or, well, I dunno, I wasn't paying attention. I was just too excited to get my new phone!

Here is what I've noticed/liked so far about the Samsung Galaxy S III.

• The battery life is great. I only charged it up to 80% today after taking it out of the box, and I haven't had to charge it since, unlike my old iPhone which I had to charge at least twice a day.

• The camera is great! It's just as clear, if not clearer than the iPhone 4. I've noticed no problem and even found my favorite photography apps so my transition as a mobile photographer has been seamless.

• It's SUPER fast. I was working on an older phone, but this one flies. Be it the internet on 4g, or just switching from app to app, I can get more done quickly so I can spend more time with my family.

• Google integration. This was my big seller. I use Google a lot for business. Our business phone number is integrated through Google Voice. So being able to answer calls, listen to voice messages and answer e-mail quickly and efficiently via Google Apps is profitable. 

• My contacts are all in Google. When using the iPhone I had figured out how to sync my Google Contacts w/ the phone. Now, I don't have to go through a bunch of BS - I can edit a contact online, or on my phone, and it's synced everywhere. 

• While we're suckin' up to Google - Google Calendar is the main calendar on the phone. No more syncing w/ iCal and praying it transfered over. It's all there, crystal clear and easy to edit.

• It's bigger! I'm not much to brag about size ... but it's a lot bigger than the iPhone 4, and I like that. It's not too big to hold, or to fit in my pocket, and YouTube videos look amazing on it.

• Google +. You know me, you know I like G+. This phone does too. 

Every phone is different and meant for specific users needs. The Samsung Galaxy S III is not better than the iPhone 5. I repeat, the Samsung Galaxy S III is not better than the iPhone 5! I'm not going to get into that flame war. For me, the nerd, tech, Google guy, it sold me. For my wife, who's more into simple interfaces, Social Media, and just taking pictures - the iPhone works perfectly for her.

I'm happy with my purchase so far. Stay tuned to see if I'm still happy in a 14 days or less.

Cheers!
-marc

support cancer research

Lover of the Lights

My last post was on April 30th, 2012... whoops?!

Hmm... better late than never, right?

Today was one of those days you wish would never end. Or one that would just be on repeat. We woke up, rode our bikes to breakfast, and on the way home stopped by the Pumpkin Patch to pick up a few pumpkins.

Upon arrival home we painted, or carved, our orange vegetables fruits and then got some chores done around the house. The girls were really good today - not that they're not every day, but the older they get the better they play together and are ... less "terrible" (aka "terrible twos). It was a beautiful day to play and paint outside. Mom went to pick up groceries, came home, made dinner, schedule me a surprise massage, I got to stop by the bar and got an excellent "Old Fashion" (whiskey drink). Now we're home, the house is clean, Stacey's filling out thank you cards for Z's b-day party and life couldn't be better.

I read my friends blog tonight - JohnAndChels - and it inspired me to write. I actually babysat this kid (or as I thought of it "Making sure the siblings don't kill each other") and was the photographer at his wedding. His wife is amazing, raising two twins, and she reminds me of my own mother.

Anyway - I just randomly thought to write tonight, inspired by other moms who have written lately.

Did you know Zoe is part of a Co-Op Preschool? It's so cool. I'll hafta explain more later.

For now - I could ramble all night but I'll spare you. What am I kidding - you're here reading, you could read as long as I could write! I know I have a lot to catch up on, but for real... I'm done.

Cheers,
-marc