And then there were Four

And one was a Jayhawk.

Congratulations Coach Self and team on KU's 14th Final Four appearance!

Not ready for Capitol Hill

Granted, I probably should not have followed up an uber-fun trip to Dave & Buster's (where we won our family a waffle maker with my savant-like ability to repeatedly score 1000 tickets on the Wheel of Fortune game) with something educational, but I really wanted my kids to see the Kansas state capitol building in nearby Topeka. 

The building is roughly 150 years old and excruciatingly beautiful inside and out with its four stately wings and large copper dome standing slightly taller than our nation's capitol building in Washington, DC. Most of the original art and architecture remains, including the shiny copper warming pipes in the senate chamber from pre-central heating and cooling days and the infamous portrayal of John Brown just outside the governor's office.

I took all four kids plus two tag-a-longs for the experience, the pinnacle of which being the impending tour of the dome.

Unfortunately the dome was closed for repairs. Moose out front did not tell us.

Still we toured the majestic building, learning all sorts of things about our state, our government, our history, our natural resources, art and architecture. The kids seemed enthralled with the docent's stories and attention to detail. And I still love the way the building smells.

We piled into the car and I turned excitedly to the kids. "What did you think?" I asked, "Wasn't it beaut--"

"BORING!!!!!" the six-pack said in unison.

Clearly not ready for government work.

Spring Break!!!

We have already plowed through the donuts I bought and cannot seem to get Ellie to get out of bed. Once again, we would have made terrible pioneers.

Dear Missouri

I would feel bad for you. I really would. I enjoyed watching your team play, probably even more than you did. But even with a top-notch Missouri team making school history this season, you were still fixated on Kansas. I saw more Facebook posts from Tigers delighting in Kansas losses than I saw from Tigers reveling in a Missouri win. MU wins the Big XII tournament, but somehow every Tiger turned their own win into nothing more than Kansas's loss.

This is like divorcing, getting remarried and then spending all of your energy hating your ex more than loving your new spouse. I loved our border rivalry with all of my soul, but you must understand that every moment you spent bagging another school is a moment you did not spend supporting your own. Your balance always seemed to tip towards hating us more than loving yourselves.

I feel bad for the seniors on your team, just like I do the seniors on the 67 other teams who do not win the championship every year.

But I do not feel bad for you.

Maybe your defection to the SEC will cure you of your Kansas envy blues and you can focus on your own team in the future.

Farewell, formidable foes. I've got to go. KU is playing soon.

Rock Chalk!
Jules

Why do I care so much?

I will NOT engage in political discussions with strangers on Facebook. I will NOT engage in political discussions with strangers on Facebook. I will NOT engage in political discussions with strangers on Facebook. I will NOT engage in political discussions with strangers on Facebook. I will NOT engage in political discussions with strangers on Facebook. I will NOT engage in political discussions with strangers on Facebook...

Charlie

Four years ago today, just hours after the turn of Leap Day, my sister called me from my parents' bathroom. She was nine minths pregnant, and her husband, hesitant to leave her alone for any period of time, had dropped her at my parents' house while running his daughter to the airport.

"My water just broke," she said through tears over the phone.

Grabbing my keys I excitedly replied, "Call for Mom, I'm on my way."

"Mom's not here," she warbled back, "just Dad."

Now, Dad is not without experience in this sort of situation. Mom has given birth three times to four babies (she is efficient), and Dad has seen his share of amniotic fluid. Still, Kari was hesitant to let Dad in on the less glamorous and highly intimate details of imprending grandparenthood.

But her track record for quick births left her no time to wallow on the toilet, lest she give birth in it.

"Suck it up," I firmly advised, "and call for Dad."

I met Kari, Mom, Dad, and eventually Chris and his daughter at the hospital just in time to wait eight hours for Charlie to enter the world.

And the excitement he has provided our family has not stopped since.

Happy birthday, Charlie!