Photos: December, January & February Highlights

Dec. 25, 2018 - Christmas morning

Dec. 25, 2018 - Christmas morning

Jan. 21, 2019 - Helping Daddy in the kitchen

Feb. 2, 2019 - Hamilton

Feb. 6, 2019 - Atticus loves his blocks

Feb. 6, 2019 - Atticus at COSI

Feb. 16, 2019 - Bedtime stories with Daddy

Presidents Day, Another President Book

Ten years ago, Paul and I embarked on a journey to read a biography of every single President of the United States. Ten years later, we're still working on it.

For the third year in a row, I spent Presidents Day reading a presidential biography. Two years ago I started a book on FDR. Last year I finished one on Truman. Yesterday I finished "Eisenhower," by Paul Johnson, a succinct biography of our 34th president. At this rate, it's going to take more than a decade to finish up, so I think I better make this goal more of a priority. (But to give myself a little credit, not long ago I did read "Leadership in Turbulent Times," Doris Kearns Goodwin's excellent book outlining the leadership skills of four presidents. So I'm not totally ignoring the mission!)

As we get closer and closer to modern times, it's interesting to learn more about the events that shaped our country during my and my parents' lifetimes. Our mission may be taking longer than we expected, but it's a worthwhile one.

Why We Got Rid of Family Supper

Before we had kids, Paul and I regularly ate supper at 9 p.m. That was particularly true when we lived in New York, when we usually didn’t get home until 7 p.m. or so anyway.

That changed not long after Edith was born, and probably more particularly after we moved back to Ohio, where people tend to go to work earlier — and get home earlier. Supper began at 6 or 6:30 in our house for a long time.

That changed recently. The kids have been going to bed earlier, and getting ready was getting rushed, especially if Paul got home even 10 minutes later that normal. So for the last few weeks we’ve traded in family dinner for more quality time.

What that means in reality is the kids eat around 5 or 5:30. Sometimes I’ll eat with them, but often not. Then when Paul gets home he can actually play with the kids instead of spending those 90 minutes before bedtime largely in the dining room before getting on their pajamas. Paul and I eat after they go to bed - not 9 p.m. like in the olden days, but closer to 8.

We still eat together on Friday night and during the weekend, but we have found the split meals to work well for our family. We enjoy our time together more without rushing to feed hangry kids. I’m sure our schedule will change again in the summer when we stay up and outside later, but so far, so good. 

"Hamilton," Finally!

I had been waiting to see the hit musical Hamilton for 2.5 years. I can practically name the day -- I got the soundtrack from the library in July 2016, and we listened to the the entire three hours or so on a long car trip one Saturday at the end of the month. I've been hooked ever since.

Less than a year later, that following March, it was announced that the traveling production of Hamilton would visit Columbus ... in two seasons. One year later, in March 2018, I finally had a date -- Hamilton would visit my city in January and February 2019.

We had tickets for this past Saturday, and it was every bit as good as I expected. I know the lyrics backward and forward (however, please don't ask me to rap them!), and even the kids know a fair amount. Even though the story held no surprises, it was fun to witness the visually comedic moments that you just can't hear -- and to listen to the reactions of fellow theater-goers who knew little about the musical.

The takes on the characters were often different than I was used to, having been exposed only to the official soundtrack. I would gladly see it again with a different cast (or, let's face it, even with the same cast once again). Many thanks to my mom and dad, who stayed with our kids while we were gone, even dropping them off and picking them up from a birthday party and staying overnight so we could have a leisurely dinner after our matinee. It was an unforgettable experience.