December 2004
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Annie's Dad here. To avoid an ugly dispute between Annie and "the boys" I decided that as the mature commander in chief of the Boytim household and, well, because "I'm bigger than them" I would write the Christmas newsletter this year.
Now some parents would use this opportunity to brag exaggeratingly about their kids, but
not me. So you won't have to hear about how Annie got some A's on her report card, or made
accidental contact with the soccer ball as it went into the goal, or punched out some kid on
the playground for not sharing - and get all depressed-like wondering why your kids can't be
just this darn perfect.
Parenting can be challenging at times, well, actually most of the time. But of course Annie’s Grandma Mitzie didn't have to deal with this because Annie's Uncle Mark and Uncle Craig and I were such good kids - well actually, they were rotten but I made up for it. Anyway, where was I... oh yeah. But it’s amazing that somehow in just a brief moment a child can say or do something to completely erase the memory of prolonged parental grief and mayhem (and as if by magic land squarely on Santa's nice list). With this in mind, here's a cute story from Annie’s summer…
On nice days, Annie and I would go for motorcycle rides which often included lunch where we
could eat outside. There aren't that many different places so we eventually ended up at a
Rally's which happens to be across the street from a car wash. As it was a nice day, the car
wash was very busy with a long line of cars that extended well into the street.
Annie: (not quite able to read 'the big words' yet) "Mike's Impressive Car Wash...
Ya know, it's not that impressive."
Dad: "No, no, no... Not 'Impressive'... 'Express', it means 'fast'."
Annie: (pause thinking) "Well, it's not that fast either."
Okay, so maybe not that cute – then maybe you’d rather hear how Annie got mostly A's on her report card, and scored a winning soccer goal, and taught another kid on the playground to share, and... Need I go on? Very cute now, right? I thought so...
Judging from the lack of cards, flowers, and swell gifts I can only assume that most of you didn’t know that I fell from a tree this summer and had to spend a day in the hospital. I seem all better now although they call me the “six million dollar man” – not because I got bionic replacement parts, that was just the regular hospital bill.
Well, looks like I’m outta space! Don’t forget to visit us on the web at www.boytim.com. On behalf of Annie's Mom and Annie, warmest wishes this holiday season,
Annie's Dad (formerly known as "Matt")