Hello Everyone.
I apologize that the creative juices haven't been flowing. My nose continues to however ... We'll be back on Monday with all new stories. Here is one from a little while ago.
My three-year-old daughter Neva is at the stage where she questions why things are the way they are. I try to give her answers that are clear enough to be understood and for the most part accurate. The sun has moved below the horizon and that's why it's dark outside.
Formed somewhere deep in her mind, nothing could have prepared me for the question she asked me earlier today. As soon as she asked my brain froze. Not a word came out of my mouth. Speechless as I was, the real problem was that I had absolutely no idea on how to respond. None what so ever.
"Why don't dogs wipe their bum?"
Originally published December 4, 2002.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Friday, May 30, 2003
Tuesday, May 27, 2003
We're All Sick ...
Hello Everyone.
When it comes to colds, our kids share. We'll be back with a new story in the next day or so when we are a little less sniffly.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
When it comes to colds, our kids share. We'll be back with a new story in the next day or so when we are a little less sniffly.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Friday, May 23, 2003
Precious ...
Hello Everyone.
Putting my 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva to bed the other night, I lay beside her talking about all she had done during the day. As we chatted, I was overwhelmed with how beautiful this little creature was. I looked at her blond curls that fell softly over her ears. I looked at her cheeks, flushed slightly from a day in the sun. I looked at her sweet little mouth and red lips that were telling me every important detail of the day. I looked into her beautiful blue eyes that watched me so intently.
And there she paused, asking, "Why are you wiggling your eyes around like that?"
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Putting my 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva to bed the other night, I lay beside her talking about all she had done during the day. As we chatted, I was overwhelmed with how beautiful this little creature was. I looked at her blond curls that fell softly over her ears. I looked at her cheeks, flushed slightly from a day in the sun. I looked at her sweet little mouth and red lips that were telling me every important detail of the day. I looked into her beautiful blue eyes that watched me so intently.
And there she paused, asking, "Why are you wiggling your eyes around like that?"
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Thursday, May 22, 2003
Genius ...
Hello Everyone.
My daughter Neva was wearing one of her favourite shirts, the turquoise one with the lightbulb on the back and "genius" printed on the front. Being a typical 3 1/2-year-old, she insisted on dressing herself this morning.
Later in the day, as she rode ahead of us on her bike, I asked my husband Bob, "Do you think Genius up there realizes she's got her shirt on backwards?"
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
My daughter Neva was wearing one of her favourite shirts, the turquoise one with the lightbulb on the back and "genius" printed on the front. Being a typical 3 1/2-year-old, she insisted on dressing herself this morning.
Later in the day, as she rode ahead of us on her bike, I asked my husband Bob, "Do you think Genius up there realizes she's got her shirt on backwards?"
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, May 21, 2003
Can You Hear Me Now?
Hello Everyone.
If you happen to be walking by and you say "Hello" to my 11-month-old son Milo he'll probably put his hand to his head. He's not showing you that he has an earache, he's just talking to you on the phone.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
If you happen to be walking by and you say "Hello" to my 11-month-old son Milo he'll probably put his hand to his head. He's not showing you that he has an earache, he's just talking to you on the phone.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Friday, May 16, 2003
To Catch a Thief ...
Hello Everyone.
He waddles casually up to the couch. I know what he's after, it's not the first time. He looks around to see if the coast is clear and grabs for it. Little does he know that I have watched his every move. "Milo," I ask, "what are you doing?"
And off he runs as fast as his 11-month-old legs can carry him, TV remote in hand, a mischevious sparkle in his eyes.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
He waddles casually up to the couch. I know what he's after, it's not the first time. He looks around to see if the coast is clear and grabs for it. Little does he know that I have watched his every move. "Milo," I ask, "what are you doing?"
And off he runs as fast as his 11-month-old legs can carry him, TV remote in hand, a mischevious sparkle in his eyes.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Thursday, May 15, 2003
Food for Thought ...
Hello Everyone.
How is it that, when I feed my 11-month-old son Milo a few pieces of food at a time, I remove him from his high chair and find twice as much as I fed him?
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
How is it that, when I feed my 11-month-old son Milo a few pieces of food at a time, I remove him from his high chair and find twice as much as I fed him?
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, May 14, 2003
Splinters ...
Hello Everyone.
I had taken upon myself the onerous and unpleasant task of removing a sliver from my 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva's foot the other day. To that end, I promised her a treat afterwards for being brave and sitting still while I did it -- just as my mother had always promised when I was a child.
"There's a box of Smarties with your name on it in the kitchen," I assured her, thankful for having stashed away some of that Halloween candy.
After bravely enduring what I imagined to be torture, she got her reward. But as she turned the box over and over in her hand she asked, "Where's my name?"
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
I had taken upon myself the onerous and unpleasant task of removing a sliver from my 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva's foot the other day. To that end, I promised her a treat afterwards for being brave and sitting still while I did it -- just as my mother had always promised when I was a child.
"There's a box of Smarties with your name on it in the kitchen," I assured her, thankful for having stashed away some of that Halloween candy.
After bravely enduring what I imagined to be torture, she got her reward. But as she turned the box over and over in her hand she asked, "Where's my name?"
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Tuesday, May 13, 2003
Ticker Tape Parade ...
Hello Everyone.
It would seem my 3 1/2-year-old daughter is into excess these days. Yesterday I wrote how Neva all but emptied a bottle of shampoo into the bath water so she could have bubbles.
Today I walked into the dining room just in time to see the empty spool from the paper calculator tape roll out across the floor. The paper lay in a luxurious, billowing pile on the table as Neva, with great delight, busily cut and colored.
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
It would seem my 3 1/2-year-old daughter is into excess these days. Yesterday I wrote how Neva all but emptied a bottle of shampoo into the bath water so she could have bubbles.
Today I walked into the dining room just in time to see the empty spool from the paper calculator tape roll out across the floor. The paper lay in a luxurious, billowing pile on the table as Neva, with great delight, busily cut and colored.
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Monday, May 12, 2003
Bubble, Bubble, Girl in Trouble ...
Hello Everyone.
I was running the water for Neva's bath and before she got in, I left her in the bathroom while I finished getting the baby ready for bed. When I returned to the bathroom a minute or two later, not only had she climbed in but there were bubbles in the tub.
"Um," I began, "where did you get the ..."
Sitting on the edge of the tub next to my very guilty looking 3 1/2 year old daugher was my brand new bottle of shampoo, now three-quarters empty.
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
I was running the water for Neva's bath and before she got in, I left her in the bathroom while I finished getting the baby ready for bed. When I returned to the bathroom a minute or two later, not only had she climbed in but there were bubbles in the tub.
"Um," I began, "where did you get the ..."
Sitting on the edge of the tub next to my very guilty looking 3 1/2 year old daugher was my brand new bottle of shampoo, now three-quarters empty.
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Friday, May 09, 2003
Ready to Go ...
Hello Everyone.
Being prepared is always a good idea and having spent 20 minutes planning and packing should insure that nothing is forgotten. She had filled the knapsack with a change of clothes, a few books, some toys for the baby and a couple of extra big girl toys. Slipping her arms through the straps she announced she was ready to go.
Of course, most plans tend to overlook something and in this case it was the overall purpose of packing. You see, we were going out to a local furniture and electronics warehouse 10 minutes from home.
But for my 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva, it was important to take along a survival kit. Which, by the way, was immediately dropped at the store's front door as Neva kicked off her shoes, climbed into the display bed in the front window and hid under the covers.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Being prepared is always a good idea and having spent 20 minutes planning and packing should insure that nothing is forgotten. She had filled the knapsack with a change of clothes, a few books, some toys for the baby and a couple of extra big girl toys. Slipping her arms through the straps she announced she was ready to go.
Of course, most plans tend to overlook something and in this case it was the overall purpose of packing. You see, we were going out to a local furniture and electronics warehouse 10 minutes from home.
But for my 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva, it was important to take along a survival kit. Which, by the way, was immediately dropped at the store's front door as Neva kicked off her shoes, climbed into the display bed in the front window and hid under the covers.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Thursday, May 08, 2003
Little Thief ...
Hello Everyone.
It seems that my 11-month-old son Milo has figured out not only that his 3 1/2-year-old sister Neva keeps her crafts on the dining room table, but also that to get to them all he needs to do is pull at the table cloth.
When I caught him chewing on Neva's scissors this afternoon, I was perplexed as to how he got them. But later in the day, I found him carrying the open jar of glue through the dining room. I was certain that the glue had been on the craft table and glancing at it, the table cloth was so off kilter I knew what he had done. I then discovered what else he had learned. When he heard me questioning him about his new found possession, he ran away!
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
It seems that my 11-month-old son Milo has figured out not only that his 3 1/2-year-old sister Neva keeps her crafts on the dining room table, but also that to get to them all he needs to do is pull at the table cloth.
When I caught him chewing on Neva's scissors this afternoon, I was perplexed as to how he got them. But later in the day, I found him carrying the open jar of glue through the dining room. I was certain that the glue had been on the craft table and glancing at it, the table cloth was so off kilter I knew what he had done. I then discovered what else he had learned. When he heard me questioning him about his new found possession, he ran away!
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, May 07, 2003
Hiding Spot ...
Hello Everyone.
Just a short observation: When I play Hide 'n Seek with my 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva, she doesn't hide very well. In fact, she hardly hides at all. But she seems to think she does. I can tell by the wonderful look of anticipation on her face as she peaks out from under her arms while I move ever closer to her hiding spot.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Just a short observation: When I play Hide 'n Seek with my 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva, she doesn't hide very well. In fact, she hardly hides at all. But she seems to think she does. I can tell by the wonderful look of anticipation on her face as she peaks out from under her arms while I move ever closer to her hiding spot.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Tuesday, May 06, 2003
Another Collection ...
Hello Everyone.
Around our house, we use a variety of wicker baskets to store things in. From small stuffed toys to Lego there is a designated bin. Of course, having a baby and a pre-schooler around doesn't lead to a particularly organized home, but eventually things find their way back to their wicker home.
I found one of those baskets this morning that had been cleared of its original contents and replaced with an assortment of goodies. It could only have been my 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva, who has recently been collecting a wide array of found objects that she calls treasures.
Along with the 100-year-old chunk of concrete were 2 snail shells, a tattered piece of wrapping paper, a 5-inch stick, a small square of weathered cardboard, 2 stones, one dandelion, one weed with roots intact and an assortment of crumbled leaves.
I take real pleasure in perusing Neva's collection of things. Though I can't explain why, I find it fascinating.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Around our house, we use a variety of wicker baskets to store things in. From small stuffed toys to Lego there is a designated bin. Of course, having a baby and a pre-schooler around doesn't lead to a particularly organized home, but eventually things find their way back to their wicker home.
I found one of those baskets this morning that had been cleared of its original contents and replaced with an assortment of goodies. It could only have been my 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva, who has recently been collecting a wide array of found objects that she calls treasures.
Along with the 100-year-old chunk of concrete were 2 snail shells, a tattered piece of wrapping paper, a 5-inch stick, a small square of weathered cardboard, 2 stones, one dandelion, one weed with roots intact and an assortment of crumbled leaves.
I take real pleasure in perusing Neva's collection of things. Though I can't explain why, I find it fascinating.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Monday, May 05, 2003
A Little Unbearable ...
Hello Everyone.
I was working in my office the other day, concentrating on the task at hand, when out of the corner of my eye I thought I say Winnie the Pooh. This can happen when one works in front of a computer all day long and so I thought nothing of it. But then it moved.
I turned toward the wobbly little fella and it turned out not to be an aberration but rather my 11-month-old son Milo. He was wearing a red and tan outfit with a hood that had two small ears on top.
"Is this a Halloween costume?" I called out to my wife Kathleen. "No," she replied sounding annoyed. It was late afternoon and I knew it wasn't bedtime. "They're not pajamas are they?" I asked innocently. "No!" she said.
It seemed a small on him, a bit short in the legs. The hood came down over his forehead stopping above his eyes but it pulled his chin toward his chest. I thought it best not to share that the get-up looked ridiculous.
But as he waddled out the other door, I thought about how costly his therapy is going to be.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
I was working in my office the other day, concentrating on the task at hand, when out of the corner of my eye I thought I say Winnie the Pooh. This can happen when one works in front of a computer all day long and so I thought nothing of it. But then it moved.
I turned toward the wobbly little fella and it turned out not to be an aberration but rather my 11-month-old son Milo. He was wearing a red and tan outfit with a hood that had two small ears on top.
"Is this a Halloween costume?" I called out to my wife Kathleen. "No," she replied sounding annoyed. It was late afternoon and I knew it wasn't bedtime. "They're not pajamas are they?" I asked innocently. "No!" she said.
It seemed a small on him, a bit short in the legs. The hood came down over his forehead stopping above his eyes but it pulled his chin toward his chest. I thought it best not to share that the get-up looked ridiculous.
But as he waddled out the other door, I thought about how costly his therapy is going to be.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Friday, May 02, 2003
Foresight ...
Hello Everyone.
After Thursday's story of how my 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva managed to gobble up loads of jellybeans just before bed, I thought it might be high time for another top ten list of how a lack of foresight on my behalf played out in the long run.
So, without further ado, here it is, my Top Ten List of Recent Mishaps:
- If you have to mail it, don't let your 10-month-old son Milo play with it.
- Training wheels on a 3 1/2-year-old's bicycle won't stop her from falling off.
- Speaking of falling, even though a baby hasn't far to fall, if he doesn't use his hands to land, he will scrape his nose on the sidewalk.
- Gardening immediately after a rain involves mud.
- Yogurt and a spoon, if left in the hands of a baby, is not an advisable way to redecorate the living room furniture.
- Paper back books are easily eaten, as are playdoh, stones, markers, crayons, socks, shoes ...
- Half full boxes of cereal left in the hands of a baby, makes for a crunchy floor.
- Neva's collection of garden snails may at first fit in her hands, but they will begin to crawl up her arm.
- Teaching a baby to play the harmonica is pointless.
And finally,
- videotapes used to make a walkway do not support the weight of a child.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
After Thursday's story of how my 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva managed to gobble up loads of jellybeans just before bed, I thought it might be high time for another top ten list of how a lack of foresight on my behalf played out in the long run.
So, without further ado, here it is, my Top Ten List of Recent Mishaps:
- If you have to mail it, don't let your 10-month-old son Milo play with it.
- Training wheels on a 3 1/2-year-old's bicycle won't stop her from falling off.
- Speaking of falling, even though a baby hasn't far to fall, if he doesn't use his hands to land, he will scrape his nose on the sidewalk.
- Gardening immediately after a rain involves mud.
- Yogurt and a spoon, if left in the hands of a baby, is not an advisable way to redecorate the living room furniture.
- Paper back books are easily eaten, as are playdoh, stones, markers, crayons, socks, shoes ...
- Half full boxes of cereal left in the hands of a baby, makes for a crunchy floor.
- Neva's collection of garden snails may at first fit in her hands, but they will begin to crawl up her arm.
- Teaching a baby to play the harmonica is pointless.
And finally,
- videotapes used to make a walkway do not support the weight of a child.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Thursday, May 01, 2003
Oh Sugar!
Hello Everyone.
I can't believe I am about to compare my 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva to a dog. You know the puppy that wanders into the kitchen and finds a freshly baked apple pie on the window ledge. Well, Neva is not a dog and the apple pie is in fact jelly beans but the differences stop there.
Similar to her canine counterpart, Neva stole quietly into the kitchen and made off with an unknown number of jelly beans. I found her sometime after sitting very quietly in the corner of the living room gobbling away.
An hour has passed since I found her and right now any suggestions on how to detox a sugar-laden child would be really, really useful ... it's her bed-time.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
I can't believe I am about to compare my 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva to a dog. You know the puppy that wanders into the kitchen and finds a freshly baked apple pie on the window ledge. Well, Neva is not a dog and the apple pie is in fact jelly beans but the differences stop there.
Similar to her canine counterpart, Neva stole quietly into the kitchen and made off with an unknown number of jelly beans. I found her sometime after sitting very quietly in the corner of the living room gobbling away.
An hour has passed since I found her and right now any suggestions on how to detox a sugar-laden child would be really, really useful ... it's her bed-time.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
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