Kids Are Awesome...

A few things my son did today (that make me think he's lost is mind...)

1. I walked outside to find him doing "spit-takes" with his Sprite. Three of them in a row.
   
   
2. He spit bubble-gum on my back. Claimed it was an "experiment."
   
   
3. While at a family reunion, discovered that he packed 20 pieces of gum (from the dessert table) into one of his pockets.
   

Sheesh...
Kristen's really got her work cut out for her.

THREE

Little girl...

You turn three today and I want to tell you some of the things I love about you.
Of course, I love you because you're mine. That's obvious...and the reality is that it's the biggest reason I love you. The fact that God gifted you to Mommy and me still amazes me.

But I think there are some other things...some "three-year-old girl" things...that make me love you.

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• I love it when you come out of your room decked out in a pajama shirt, swim trunks, with a scarf around your neck and a tiara on your head. You change clothes about 12 times a day...all on your own. It's quite a pain really, but about as cute as anything. I guess "cute" beats "convenience."
  
  
• I love how much you love your Mommy. I love that you look like her and want her when you're sad. You don't even know it yet, but God has given you an amazing Mom. You'll see.
  
  
• I love that you get along with your brother. I love that you guys take up for each other and that you cry for him when he's at school. I love that you want to be like him...I love that you love him so much.
  
  
• I love to see you come down the hall each morning after waking up. Your hair is always ridiculously tall and those blue eyes are sparkling. Each morning, when you see us, you throw your arms up and break into a run. I love mornings with you, Finley.
  
  
• I love that you love donuts. 'Cause that proves you're a Wright.
  
  
• I love it that you're trying to talk like a big girl. Even though you say every woman you meet is named "Leslie" and you pronounce your S-sounds as Fs. You're not a big girl yet and I love that you're still little...but to see you trying so hard to adjust to the world around you inspires me and makes me grateful for every day with you.
  
  
• I love the way you watch "The Polar Express." It comes alive in your face and I'm reminded that you're able to see magic in places where I don't.
  
  
• I love your laugh. That loud, giggling, belly-laugh of yours is enough to get me through the toughest of days. I want to hear that laugh for the rest of my life.

Someday, Finley, maybe you'll look back and read this.
And it might mean something...or it might not.
But that won't matter. Because I'm decided. My life and my words and my actions will speak all of this love (and more) to you every day. You won't need memoirs or journals to know what your Daddy thinks of you, girl.
In fact, you'll be filled up with the knowledge of how much you mean to Daddy and you'll carry that love no matter where you go.

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl.
Daddy loves you.

The Hubub...

Finally saw There Will Be Blood. I'm a huge Daniel Day-Lewis fan, so I'm always anxious when his stuff comes out. However, the trailer freaked me out. Add the fact that I'm usually extremely nervous about dramas with Oscar-buzz ('cause they're usually weird,) I was pretty mixed up about watching it. So, here are my thoughts...with no spoilers.

THE ACTING
Remember when Daniel Day-Lewis got the Oscar for this movie a few weeks ago? He earned it. I'm not joking around - this is legendary acting. Apart from the storyline or cinematography or box-office receipts, this might be some of the finest acting to come around in a while. And not just in the lead role...this thing is powerfully portrayed. From a purely entertainment perspective, I say it's worth the money just to see these actors own the characters in a way we're not used to seeing.

THE STORY
I'm not going to spoil it, but I do think it's fair for people to know a little bit about the film. This one is dark. It's sad. There's redemption, but it's covered up pretty good by some horrific instances of greed and abandonment and selfishness. Maybe you can find some hope in it. I didn't find very much. But that's okay, because I think that sad movies definitely have their place.

THE LESSON
This is a fantastic movie for fathers. The film hit me pretty hard with regard to my parenting. I try hard to be a good dad, and usually I do okay, but this film was cautionary for me - it put some healthy fear in my head about guarding my heart against the temptation to let work and materialism and self kill all the good things in my life. I think that danger is in all of us - the risk for our own ambition (even for things that are "good") to consume us and incinerate those that love us most and who walk closest to us.
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A date movie, it's not. It's not even a Friday night rental, but I think parents who can handle a well-crafted but relatively disturbing storyline should watch it - there are important lessons in There Will Be Blood. Warnings aren't all that fun to see, but they might just save our lives one day.

Two Funny Things My Kids Have Said

Last week, when Ross was promoting the Andy Gullahorn show, he posted this picture at his Ross King World Tour blog and titled his post "The Best Songwriter I Know."

Jonah who knows about blogs and can read like nobody's business, leans over and reads the title in his sweet little six-year old voice.


"The - best - song = writer - I - know."

He then looks at Kristen and me says, "That doesn't look like Daddy..."

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I was reading CNN online the other day and Finley crawled up on the couch. She sees a picture of Prince Harry and taps the screen quickly, saying,

"Da-da!"



So, one kid thinks I'm the world's best songwriter and the other thinks I'm British royalty.

Am I a great parent, or what?