Hail to the Victors

Ah, a nice weekend.

Mister and I went to the Michigan spring football practice. Sadly, we missed the alumni flag football game. That's my favorite part.

The joy of being in the Big House after such a long absence was tempered by the cold weather. At one point it hailed. Small hail--but hail. Yep, you could literally see the spring in the air.

Mister just looked at me with that "you've got to be kidding me" look after noting how much longer we had to wait before the practice started.

Ever the optimist, I said that at least it wasn't raining. Mister was still looking skeptical so I explained, "Look, at least you can brush this off!" while I brushed some of the hail off his arm. "See?" His look of disbelief was priceless. Apparently my nuggets of wisdom were as unwelcome as the hail.

"Well, I have always been a glass half-full kind of guy--to your everlasting annoyance, I know."

That at least got a grunt of amusement.

I stifled a "Hail to the Victors?" comment out of fear that it would not be appreciated one bit. Mister was in that kind of mood at the moment.

I didn't even feel like grabbing anything from the concession stands. And after bitter experience, I know the "hot" chocolate is the inverse of the "spring" game--lukewarm at best. I only bought tote cinch bag things for Mister and Lamb to benefit Mott Children's Hospital.

We waited a long time to see the actual "game." They really could have used someone calling the game. They had the band to simulate game atmosphere. They had refs who seemed to call or not call penalties based on a script. Why not announcers?

And it would have really helped if the fans had something to watch on those fancy new big screens during the long, cold gap between the alumni game and the practice. Is that too much to ask? Run all the old videos from last season, or something.

But it was good to see the lads playing. The first game is in August.

Lamb made a Plankton out of clay for her Spanish class. She painted it yesterday but an antenna broke off. I glued it last night but it broke again. So I broke out the glue gun to see if I'll have any luck with that. She needs it tomorrow.

Lamb also continues her quest to make me gain weight. My mom complains, too--despite my defense that I still weigh a bit more than I did when the Army turned me into a killing machine--but at least my mom doesn't bake for me. Lamb bakes.

Yesterday, we made chocolate-dipped pretzels and then she wanted to bake something. I have no eggs, I protested, for any of the mixes in the cupboard.

No go. It was off to the store for eggs. Lamb likes to walk there. She's still young enough where walking along with her dad hand-in-hand isn't a social faux pas. And she likes to chat. So the walk goes quickly.

So we return with the eggs and make brownies. They are good. But I still haven't gotten rid of the cake we made a couple weeks ago. And there are still two cupcakes from Lamb's aunt that we got last weekend when she invited us over for the Red Wings game (as a belated birthday opportunity for Mister).

And I have to say that Lamb isn't helping on the baked goods consumption much. Sure, she had a half-brownie (to avoid spoiling her dinner), but when she thinks dessert she is still working on her Easter candy.

But she doesn't go overboard on sweets, anyway. After years of limiting sweets in amount, she's actually fairly good about regulating herself. So much so that I promoted her this weekend by lowering her dessert jar (where her candy is stored) from the top shelf to one she can reach herself.

At this point, holding hands with dad is something that won't seem cool at all before too long. Chatting, too.

Anyway, it was another good weekend with my children. But every day I spend with them is good. I once couldn't imagine being a dad; and now I can't imagine not being a dad. I'm very lucky to have such good kids.

UPDATE: I forgot, but a bomb-hunting "robot" brought out the football before the practice. I explained to my son what they are used for in war. It's too early to say for sure, but it looks like we could use some in Boston this Monday afternoon--even if it is just to be on the safe side.