Champagne Dreams ...

It's funny how kids get things mixed up in their heads. Like the time our 7-year-old daughter Neva was talking about someone in a coffin and said, "You know, in the esophagus." It took Bob a minute to figure out she meant "sarcophagus". (How she would remember either of those words is beyond me!)

The other day, we were watching a program on The Discovery Channel about hot air balloons. Neva had seen it before and was excitedly telling us what was happening.

"When they land they drink wine. And when they blow up the balloon, they fill it up with champagne!"

"They don't put champagne in the balloon," I corrected. "They drink champagne when they land."

"No, that's what they said. They fill it with champagne." She insisted.

Again, Bob clued in: "Propane," he said. "They heat the air in the balloon with propane."

"Yeah, that's it!"

Happy sweeping!

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

Odds Are ...

This morning I think I woke up on the pessimistic side of the bed. I was feeling especially tired, so my husband Bob asked our oldest daughter, Neva, to get breakfast for the little ones. In her almost-seven short years, Neva has, more often than not, proven to be a little less than cooperative when asked to help out in a situation like this. I had my doubts.

Everything sounded cheery in the kitchen as she got bowls and asked 4-year-old Milo to get the jug of milk from the fridge.

"I'll bet you a quarter she spills the milk on the floor," I wagered.

"I'll bet you a dollar she doesn't clean it up," Bob countered.

Wouldn't you know it, she proved us both wrong.

And that is a bet I don't mind losing!

Happy sweeping!

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

W-W-W-What's That?

With my 4-year-old son Milo starting Junior Kindergarten, I've been helping him learn alphabet sounds. We'll pick a letter and look for things that begin with that letter. "B-B-B-Book starts with B."

One day he picked the letter Y. So I pointed to a yellow fish on the shower curtain and said, "Y-Y-Y-Yellow begins with Y."

"No!" Milo corrected. "Y-Y-Y-Lellow!"

Happy sweeping!

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

Under Construction ...

It's newsletter day today and we weren't sure this issue would make it out. The city has finally begun construction on our street. We spent most of our morning watching the big excavator dig up the boulevard and the pavement, dump trucks filled with dirt and enormous flat bed tractor trailers arriving and unloading the giant concrete sewer pipes. It's busy, noisy, exciting and we get a kick out of watching it.

Can you imagine how much less work we're going to get done when the kids all get home from school and want to watch too?!

Happy sweeping!

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

Routine? What Routine?

It's been crazy in our house the last week or so. Swimming lessons are over, day camp has wrapped up and the woman down the street who looks after our two youngest from time to time is taking a three week, kids free vacation.

It wasn't too long ago when we had all three kids at home all day and we managed for the most part. Then, last year, my oldest daugher Neva started school full-time and the prospect of uninterrupted time to do what it is we do, seemed to be much closer.

With three long weeks of summer vacation still ahead of us, reality has set in. We have joined that league of parents who wait with great anticipation for that first day of school.

Happy sweeping!

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Gotta Hand it to Him ...

I learned a good discipline motto from a close friend of mine when my oldest daughter was a toddler. Whenever her little one would hit, she'd tell him, "Hands are for helping."

I've been using this gem for 6 years now and all my kids have heard it. In fact I use it daily. I've even added extras ("...and holding and hugging") and listed the exclusions ("...not hitting or hurting," and, most recently, "... or pinching or scratching...").

Until recently, this rule has gone unquestioned, uncontested. The other day, I was scolding my 4-year-old son Milo (who’s had his fair share of these warnings!) for scratching his sister in retribution for some minor transgression.

Milo, you know hands are for helping. Not hurting or hitting or pinching or scratching."

He looked at his hands and clearly saw they had done nothing wrong. "What are fingers for?" he asked. "Poking?"

Happy sweeping!

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

The Piano ...

On the other side of my office wall stands our piano. Over the years the cost of maintaining it has gone to diapers and new shoes, but it still sounds clear and bright albeit slightly out of tune. Over those same years as my kids grew older the songs played on that piano went from classical masterpieces to a more and more discordant mishmash of notes played randomly by little fingers and fists.

So when I heard a beautiful melody the other day as I was working in my office, I sat back listening, thinking my wife Kathleen was playing. I thought it was a variation on Beethoven's Fur Elise as most of the notes of the melody seemed to be there.

Slowly I went to my door and peaked around the corner and to my surprise saw it was my 4-year-old son Milo doing the playing. "Good job, Milo!" I exclaimed when he stopped. To which he responded by pounding relentlessly on all the keys at once while singing in his now famous screeching voice.

Happy sweeping!

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Multi-Lingual ...

Where we live, we have the benefit of receiving both Canadian and US children's television programming. So our kids are exposed to French and Spanish words on many of the pre-school shows.

One day my daughter Neva and her little friend were discussing how many languages they speak. When you're almost 7 years old, being able to count to 10 in both French and Spanish counts as two languages, so they were up to three, including English.

Then Neva excitedly asked, "Mommy! How does Daddy talk to Oma's sister?"

"In German," I answered.

"I know four languages," she exclaimed, "'cuz I almost speak German!"

Happy sweeping!

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

Still Singing ...

On Tuesday I wrote how my children love to sing, especially my 4-year-old son Milo, whose singing talent is the envy of the neighbors. Recently, Milo has come to have his first public "commercial" performance.

It came about the other day as my wife Kathleen was grocery shopping with Milo at our local supermarket. Always the energetic type, Milo was running from one aisle to the next. It was in the paper products section that Milo suddenly stopped. Pointing to the toilet paper on the shelf, he burst into song, loudly singing the "Charmin Ultra" toilet paper jingle he's heard on television.

Happy sweeping!

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

I've Got the Music in Me ...

My wife studied music for the better part of her life and it led her to a degree in Music Theory and Composition. And coming from a very musical family that stretches back generations it's not surprising that Kathleen has those musical genes.

So it stands to reason that my children should likely have similar talents. And for the most part they do. All three of them love to sing, love music and especially love to perform. Both my 6 1/2 year-old daughter Neva and 2 1/2 year-old Willa are not bad. Willa often sings melodies in tune.

It is my 4 year-old son Milo however, who really stands out. He sings with such bravado and power that you can hear him halfway down the block. Whether it’s a children's classic or the latest pop song he's hooked on, Milo screeches and shrieks his butchered melody and made up lyrics with abandon, convinced he’s a Rock Star. Which goes to prove that even with good genes, talent doesn't always come naturally.

Happy sweeping!

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Since I Saw You Last ...

My two-year-old daughter and I were visiting our landlord the other day and it just so happened that her brother was in town at the same time. It's been close to a year since Greg visited his sister last and it was good seeing him again.

Though she had met Greg during his last visit, Willa being just one at that time, had no memory of their previous acquaintance. But he's such a character: young at heart, outgoing and boisterous. Little wonder Willa warmed up to him instantly.

We were seated in front of Greg, Willa on my lap, when he suddenly turned to her and said: "My Willa, you've grown three feet since I saw you last". Without missing a beat, Willa raised her legs in the air and pointing to her feet said: "No, I two feet... see ... one, two".

Happy sweeping!

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Mosquito Bites

My 6 1/2 year-old daughter Neva has been complaining of itchy mosquito bites this last week, asking me to "Scratch my back, Mommy," and "A little to the left... Ooh, more... Ah! That's the spot!"

The other day, however, she decided they weren't mosquito bites at all.

"I know why I've been so itchy. I've been cold, so I must have alot of frost bites."

Happy sweeping!

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

Schools Out for Summer ...

It's been a week since my 6 1/2 year-old daughter Neva started summer vacation. No more waking her up in the morning or rushing through breakfast to get to school on time. No more frantic searches for overdue library books, missing shoes or lost homework. Morning's pace has slowed, at least until she starts summer art camp.

For the first few days Neva kept busy doing all sorts of things. She visited some of her schoolmates, dug holes in the garden looking for worms, watched TV, and went rollerblading.

But this morning it seemed that she might have run out of things to do. As I stood at the front door watching, Neva meandered around the yard with her butterfly net catching those plastic garden pots that store-bought transplants come in.

Happy sweeping!

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

It's Like Pulling Teeth ...

For a 6 1/2 year-old, my oldest daughter is quite enterprising. As you may have noticed she has her own little online store that sells her artwork on t-shirts and cards and such. She hasn't really sold anything but after 6 months, she still tells everyone about it. (See Neva & Daddy deSIGN on the left menu of this blog - the cards are especially nice).

Then last month as I was readying my garden, Neva took the seeds from a green pepper and planted every one of them in seed flats she borrowed from me. Her plan is to sell the peppers in the fall to raise money for Heart and Stoke research. Last year, she set up a lemonade stand in front of our house and raised a lot of money for the same cause.

But it's her latest enterprise that has me a little concerned. She's at the age where losing her baby teeth still requires a visit from the Tooth Fairy. A baby tooth falls out, she puts it under her pillow and the next morning, the tooth is gone and in its place is a shiny coin or two.

Now that shouldn't be a problem, you say. And I'd have agreed with you until I caught her the other morning wiggling one baby tooth after the other, from the left side of her mouth to the right, across the top row then back along the bottom.

Happy sweeping!

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Blowin' in the Wind ...

The sky quickly turned dark grey as the storm clouds moved in and I knew we were in for our first major thunderstorm of the season. I was sitting on the front porch watching my 2-year-old daughter Willa play when, with the now rumbling sky, I beckoned here to join me.

Within moments, there were loud claps of thunder one after the other and lightning flashed across the sky illuminating everything around us. Willa was filled with excitement and trepidation. She's still too young to remember the thunderstorms of last summer, I thought to myself.

As the storm grew stronger Willa became agitated. The thunder and lightening must be scaring her, so I suggested we go inside. Strong gusts of wind were blowing and as we walked to the door, I realized that Willa was holding the top of her head.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Me no want my hair blow ‘way," she nervously answered.

Happy sweeping!

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Upon Reflection ...

We took a break for most of the month of May. We needed some time to collect ourselves. It's a busy household with three little kids and sometimes it gets a little overwhelming. We watched some movies and played together. Got the vegetable garden mostly planted and my wife Kathleen almost got the laundry piles down to a manageable size.

It was during this most recent "time with the family" break that I once again took time to sit back and reflect on what it means to be a father. Now long time readers might remember that in the past I have come up with a few Rules of Parenting when I was left to ponder and this time, I again have come up with yet another one to add to the list.

So for those of you not familiar with my Parenting Rules, here they are, listed in chronological order:

1. Accept the fact there is no way of escaping the inevitable ... that somewhere, sometime, you will be outwitted by your child. Again.

2. Understand that it is our duty as parents to give our children something to talk about in therapy.

3. Remember that the best a parent can do is to teach our children what little we remember of those things we seem to think actually worked out okay.

Happy sweeping!

Bob Gunther

Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Everyone has a Green Thumb ...

I love the spring. It's the time of year that I finally leave the house after cowering from the cold of winter. The snow has given way to green grass, the trees bud and flowers grow wildly. It’s when I make my way into my vegetable garden with children in tow.

Together we dig and rake and collect. A little compost here, a little straw there. Stones go in the big yellow bucket and weeds go in the wheelbarrow. And as I loosen the soil, all three of them follow behind me, walking or jumping, even rolling in the dirt that will soon be as compacted as it was before I began.

As I rake the beds flat, my son Milo makes it a point to demonstrate to his little sister Willa how not to walk through the garden beds, a lesson equally lost on both of them.

Soon my oldest daughter Neva is tirelessly digging for worms leaving holes everywhere. She collects them into a pail -- all 134 of them -- telling me about each one she finds. "Found another one!"

In another day or so, I'll be back out with my entourage planting seeds. Then I’ll just have to wait to see what grows where after my pint-sized crew finish rearranging things.

Happy Sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Home + Work = Homework

In my daughter Neva's Grade One class, they are learning about compound nouns. On one of the worksheets she brought home, she had to combine the words of two pictures (a picture of a foot and of a ball to make the word "football"). Another worksheet had her doing math-like problems, adding two words to make a compound word (pig + pen = pigpen) or dividing a compound word into two separate words (raincoat = rain + coat).

On the last worksheet, she was given a sentence from which she had to put together the compound word. Here were her answers:

A room with a bed in it is a ... "bedroom".
A bird that is blue is a ... "bluebird".
A man made of snow is a ... "snowman".
A horse that can race is a ... "fast horse".

Happy sweeping!

Kathleen Gunther,
Editor, ContestHound.com

On the Road Again ...

We took advantage of the Easter holiday weekend to make a trip to see our family who we haven't seen since before the New Year. After packing an overnight bag, the five of us piled into our van and headed off on the 2 1/2 hour trip.

As soon as we get to the highway, the kids insist I put the "road trip" CD into the player. It's the Canadian cast recording of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" with Donny Osmond as Joseph.

Not a mile down the road, my 6-year old daughter Neva, 3 1/2-year old son Milo and 2-year old Willa are all singing along. For the next hour or so, they sing ... as loud as they can and totally out of tune. They make up the words and occasionally get one or two right. And all the while, I see them in my rear view mirror, convinced they are Broadway stars.

Happy Sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Dave the Landlord ...

Last night, in the middle of making dinner, the drain under the kitchen sink burst ... again. And despite my husband Bob's valiant attempts to stare and scowl at it, it just didn't fix itself. So we called our landlord, who said he'd be over in the morning to fix it.

As the sun rose the next day, the promise of having his good friend Dave the landlord come to fix our sink, my 3 1/2-year-old son Milo excitedly got himself dressed entirely in his "Bob the Builder" clothes. He put on the "Bob the Builder" underwear and pants, the sweatshirt and socks and finally his construction hat. And off he went, our own little "Bob the Builder" billboard, to help Dave the landlord.

(For those of you who don't know Bob the Builder, he is one of today's most popular animated pre-school programs on television starring Bob, a likeable fella who owns a construction company).

Happy Sweeping,

Kathleen Gunther

Editor, ContestHound.com

The Self-Portait ...

Quite often over the past 5 years, I've bragged about my oldest daughter Neva's artistic abilities. You can even see a few of her works in our online store (see Neva's deSIGNS at top right of this newsletter). As it happens, the other day I was stunned by my youngest daughter's creative endeavors.

You'll be as surprised as I was that at the tender age of 2, my daughter Willa painted herself. She painted her legs and then her tummy and finally her face. And I tell you one could really see that it looked like her.

Even more amazing was that she did so by hand. No brushes. No help. In fact, no paper either. Not even paint. No, just a ripe avocado squished up in her hands and smeared all over herself, head to toe.

Happy Sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Boo-Boo Blues

After careful study, using my 2-year-old daughter Willa as the subject, I have come up with the following guidelines on how and when to use bandages.

For "boo-boo" that have made your child cry:

1. Use a new, brightly colored bandage.
2. If crying continues, try using a bigger bandage with a different picture.
3. If the cut is barely noticeable, repeat Step 1 every couple of hours for the next few days.

For a "boo-boo" that has you convinced you need new glasses:

1. Simply hand the child the entire box of bandages.
2. Add bandages to the shopping list.

When all else fails:

Threaten to take the child to the emergency room doctor now that it's 11:30 at night and the kid has complained unrelentingly about it for the past 4 hours, as what little patience you had a while ago has been completely drained away and you've decided there and then never to have more children and you struggle not to run out in the street in your underwear screaming wildly just so the police will lock you up for a night of peace and quiet ...

Happy sweeping!

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Do You See What I See?

I turned off the lights and crawled into bed with my 6 year-old daughter Neva and 3 year-old son Milo. As I tried to get them to settle down for sleep, I quietly asked, "What do you see when you close your eyes?"

"Oh, I know!" Neva jumped in excitedly. "I see a truck holding up some wood. And it's wrapped in a big orange wrapper. And they're taking the wood out, two at a time. Some are wrapped in blue -- it must be extra special wood."

Gee. All I see is spots!

Happy sweeping!

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

Running Truths ...

As children, we were told to always tell the truth yet as adults we edit the truth as we see fit. "Does this dress make me look fat?" You know what my answer is going to be don't you.

So now my 3 1/2-year old son Milo has of late been misappropriating the truth. I suppose all children start to experiment with the facts at some time or another, bending them to their needs or wishes. So, he's begun lying. Not very well mind you, but nevertheless, the truth has lately become a commodity.

It might be his eyes that give him away as they dart back and forth, every once in a while meeting mine as if to see if I'm buying into his story. Maybe it's the faint smile where the corners of his mouth curl up while he tries explaining himself. But most likely, it's the fact that once he finishes spinning his web of deceit, he simply runs away.

The world was flat until somebody reasoned that it wasn't. The glass is half full, no it's half empty. Our Governments would never mislead us and every sale saves you money. All of which leads me to wonder about the truth. Is it that lying is bad or is being a bad liar just not good? No wonder Milo runs away.

Happy sweeping!

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Writer in Residence ...

Hello everyone my name is Catherine and over the last few days I have been in town visiting my Aunt Kathleen, Uncle Bob, Neva, Milo and Willa. Aunt Kathleen, Milo and Willa came to pick me up from the train station. After saying hello to everyone Milo decided to take off his mitt. As I was putting it back on for him he told me that it goes on his left hand and he told me which hand was his left and which was his right. I was kind of surprised he knew left from right at his age. I don't even think I knew my left from my right till I was at least 6 or 7. As we were driving to their house Aunt Kathleen and I were talking and Milo says "Mommy...I want to talk to Ratherine. Ratherine?......." But that was pretty much all he wanted to say.

As I walked in through the door Neva ran to me with big arms and gave me a huge hug. We watched TV for a bit and Neva told me which shows she disliked on Treehouse TV, it was pretty much all the shows.

Later that night, as all 3 kids got out of the bath and into their pyjamas, Milo asked me to read him a story. He picked Chicka Chicka Boom Boom [by John Archembault and Bill Martin Jr.]. Aunt Kathleen told me that he could probably read it to me, and he did! He even sounded sad when the letters were sad.

The next day was busy, we went to the University and then came back to make smores before I left. It was a lot of fun coming out to see them all, I hadn’t seen them since Christmas. It was kinda funny being pulled in 3 different directions. It made me feel good to see how much each one wanted to play with me. Milo with his puzzles and trucks, Neva with her story writing and coloring and Willa wanting to play with her dolls.

Thanks so much for having me.

Catherine or as Milo likes to say "Ratherine",
Guest Writer, ContestHound.com

There is a Season ...

In our part of the world, now that it's the middle of March, school-aged children everywhere have an entire week off from higher learning. Many have found that their parents have also taken time off, packed too many of their belongings and stuffed themselves and their children into some form of transportation in hopes of finding better weather.

With the exception that we can still see a foot of snow on any given day, the weather came to us and we found ourselves basking in the warmth of an otherwise perfect spring day.

It wasn't the weather that gave away the pending arrival of spring. Nor was it the smell of the soil as it thawed or even the longer days. That there was no school for my 6 year-old daughter Neva wasn't even a consideration and if any of the early spring flowers had poked their heads out of the earth, it was lost on me.

No, what signaled that the turn of seasons was near came as I sat watching my three children and their little friends running around the yard barefoot and in T-shirts, covered in layers of mud and dirt.

Happy sweeping!

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

A Star is Born ...

The other day my husband Bob and I attended a school assembly in which our oldest daughter Neva's Grade One class performed a few songs and a number of short plays for the rest of the school. The week of the concert, Neva had very excitedly told us how they rehearsed with "real live" microphones -- "for real, Mom!" - for the plays. But knowing my daughter as I do, I had my suspicions about the need for one.

And so it was, Bob and I found ourselves at the back of the gymnasium with a few other parents there to witness the confusion that is inherent to a gathering of twenty or more 6- and 7-year-olds. It quickly became evident the need for the microphone as child after child shyly spoke their muffled lines to no one in particular. Those who weren’t so shy had their lips pressed so close against the waffled orb that we couldn’t understand them anyway. And then there was Neva.

Neva shouted her lines so clearly into the microphone, I’m sure you could hear her three streets over. And when it came time to sing -- their voices amplified only by natural enthusiasm -- Neva’s voice was the one that could be heard over and above the piano and the other voices in the choir. Clear to the back of the gym and, thankfully, more in tune with the choir than she is when singing solo at home. Her expression was glorious - cheeks rosy and eyes sparkling - her spirit raw, unfettered. She was in her element.

Happy sweeping!

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

What Are the Odds?

My daughter Neva seems to have somewhat of a lucky streak. At the young age of 6, she has already won prizes in about half of the raffles held at her school -- various cakes, easter eggs, a backpack.

The other day we received some scratch-and-save coupons in the mail for a local restaurant. If you presented the coupon to your server, you could save anywhere from $5 to $50 off the bill for your meal. We see these types of scratch cards more and more these days. Department stores, fitness clubs and now, apparently, restaurants all try to lure you in with the promise of big savings that you ultimately never see. I don't care about a 5% savings off my $30 purchase. That barely buys me a coffee for my efforts. The mystery and temptation around them, not to mention the "forbidden fruit" of scratching the card before you make your purchase, just frustrates me and I tend to ignore them and let the kids play with them.

And so it was with the coupons that came the other day for the local restaurant. Neva grabbed a penny and began unmasking the mystery. It was pure delight for her and pure torture for me.

Both cards revealed a $50 coupon!

Happy sweeping!

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

Earth to Milo. . . Come in, Milo!

There are times when I wonder if our children are really on the same planet as us. My 3 1/2-year-old son Milo can be so mellow and mild-mannered at times, you wonder if he has any concept of what is going on around him.

One morning when I took Neva, my 6-year-old, to school, I left the other two children at home with my husband Bob. I said goodbye to Milo, who was standing watching television at the time. When I returned 15 minutes later, Milo was still in front of the TV, standing in the exact spot I had left him.

"Hi, Milo. What are you watching?" I asked.

"Dora," came his reply, eyes glued to the set.

I left the room and went about starting my morning chores. About 5 minutes later, the show had ended and Milo came to the kitchen where I was doing dishes.

"Mommy!" he exclaimed, excitedly. "You're home!"

Happy sweeping!

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

A Few Whiskers Short of a Catwalk ...

My 6-year-old daughter Neva insists on wearing her shoes on the wrong feet. She feels they look better that way. And she'll put on a summer dress in the dead of winter because the colour is to her liking. When it comes to colour co-ordination, Neva wears so many different clothes at the same time that she looks like a painter's palette after a frenzied artistic spurt.

Now Milo, who happily announces that he is now 3 1/2, wears his shoes in the house, but is hard pressed to remember to put them on when he goes outside. He does have his own couture moments. He'll rifle through two drawers of clothes to find anything with "Bob the Builder" on them and will wear everything he finds.

As for 2-year-old Willa, she's simply more interested in taking her clothes and diaper off.

Happy sweeping!

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

She Nose Shopping ...

When my oldest daughter Neva began speaking I remember marveling at all she had to say. Later as she began to form short sentences, I was regularly amused at the ideas she would connect together.

A few years later, my son Milo would begin to do the same and I was still enthralled. As if I had never before experienced a child learning to express themselves. And now my two-year-old daughter Willa is at that same stage. And I am still amazed by the coupling of unrelated thoughts that somehow make sense.

Willa and I were sitting together the other day, just enjoying each other's company when I tickled her nose and asked her:

"What's that?"

"My nose," she replied.

"Where did you get it?" I asked.

"Grocery store!" came her reply.

Happy sweeping!

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

"Have You Reached a Verdict?"

Among the cobwebs there sits a deep shelf above the cupboard by our front door. Its contents look down upon us with suspicious eyes, wary of what may come next. And my children stare back blankly, the pain of their losses evident on their furrowed brows, wounded tears still streaming down their cheeks.

It is here where toys are condemned to serve their sentence for their indiscretions. In one way or another, each toy has incited anarchy, a lawlessness whereby my children are forced to abandon the virtues of sharing, of kindness, of civility.

And so, for what may seem like a lifetime to a child, the worst offenders are banished to their prison awaiting our pardon as they quietly reflect on whether they will once again be brought back into our children's world, or find themselves being quietly kicked out that front door.

Happy sweeping!

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

You Ought to Be in Pictures ...

About a week ago, a neighbor of ours had taken a photo of my youngest daughter, 2 year-old Willa, as she puddled around wearing his boxing gloves. He enlarged it, then framed it and gave it to her for her second birthday. Willa was thrilled, and after hugging it for an afternoon, she gave it to me. So, I quickly tacked it on the wall in my office before anyone else thought of a better place for it.

As I was hanging it I was looking around at all the photos I have of my kids scattered here and there. I noticed for the first time that they are all the same 5" x 7" size. In fact, most of the photos we have displayed are that size.

And for two day it's really bothered me. Maybe because they are growing so quickly and I want to hold on to them just the way they are for a little bit longer. I really can't say, but I know I want to hang bigger photos of my kids.

Happy sweeping!

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Dinner Lament ...

We've three little chairs,
One for each of our cares,
In colors of red and blue.

Each child takes a seat,
When it comes time to eat,
Around their table askew.

Our youngest leaves first,
Complaining of thirst,
As she quickly marches away.

Our eldest declares,
As she stands on her chair,
Her dislike of tonight's entree.

Which leaves only one,
Our cheeky young son,
Who doesn't eat much anyway.

Each one leaves their plate,
In its uneaten state,
Their behavior in disarray.

Then I reach for the wine,
And Kathleen and I dine,
A mother and father alone.

It's evenings like this,
That in time we will miss,
When our children are finally grown.

Happy sweeping!

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Wearing Down the Dressers ...

The other day, I saw my wife Kathleen running all over our house chasing my two-year -old daughter Willa, who really didn't want to get dressed. This usually is not an issue, but Kathleen and I needed to pop across the street to retrieve some office furniture our neighbor had given us.

As things quickly degenerated, Kathleen naturally became more and more frustrated. Willa of course turned from a gleeful baby to a shrieking demonic apparition. Thinking I might be helpful, I gave it a shot. Bad idea. Willa was just not going to let us get her dressed.

We finally gave up trying and went outside for a breather and to figure out how to get across the street and pick up the furniture before someone else steals it from their porch. Moments later, my 6-year-old daughter Neva opened the door, a triumphant look on her face. And Willa followed behind, fully dressed.

Happy sweeping!

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Dog Daze ...

As many of you know, our household functions somewhere between the edges of chaos and anarchy. So naturally when my mother asked me if we could take her dog while she went of a vacation for a month, I jumped at the opportunity.

The first day was a little rough for all of us, but by the second day, my mother's dog regained her appetite and started to fit right in. She came to enjoy sharing her meals with my two-year-old daughter Willa who regularly ate the kibble and made off with dog's treats to return empty handed.

At 11 years old, the dog was quite set in her ways. So I was surprised at her tolerance with being mauled by the kids for days on end. She really took things in stride. She wasn't bothered by my 6-year-old daughter Neva regularly picking her up like you would a cat nor did she care when 3 1/2 year-old Milo and/or Willa would use her as a pillow.

So when my mother called to check in to see how we all were making out, I let her know everything was fine, her dog was fitting in quite nicely. I did neglect to mention that on the first day, we lost the dog briefly, and that a few days back, someone in our house had tried to paint it a nice shade of blue.

Happy sweeping!

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Cracker Caper ...

So I learned something today. I learned that my 1 1/2-year-old daughter Willa is sneaky. Very sneaky. In fact, she is the only one of my children that knows enough to go and hide when she's doing something she's not supposed to.

I saw her carrying a box of crackers earlier this afternoon but paid little attention to it since my wife Kathleen was intercepting her. She said "Willa, you can't have the whole box" or something to that effect.

Suddenly, Willa ran into my office and crawled behind the big chair we have in the corner. What's going on I thought as I looked to find her holding only the bag of crackers.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

We Like to Snooze ...

Probably the most enjoyable part of my day is when I put my 1 1/2-year-old daughter Willa down for her nap. It's nice to take a break and lie down and do nothing for a little while. But the best part is watching Willa get herself prepared.

It's pretty much the same routine every afternoon. Willa starts by searching around for her doll that she's named "Baby". Once found, she tucks it in beside me. Then she's off to find her other doll, also named "Baby". It too finds its way into the bed. Now comes her stuffed dog "Puppy" and her duck "Ducky" and finally she herself climbs in.

After flipping this way and that, Willa finally gets comfortable and asks for "Row Row" and I quietly sing: "Row, Row, Row your boat, gently down the stream ... " She chimes in with a few words here and there and we do this for three, four, sometimes five verses.

And then it's on to Sandra Boynton's Snoozers, the same story I've been reciting for months. Willa shouts with glee at the end, rolls over, throws her dolls and stuffed animals onto the floor then snuggles in beside me and falls asleep.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Driving Miss Crazy ...

Editor: After about a half dozen false starts on writing a story for this issue, I've finally decided to recycle one from a few years ago. This story was first published on June 18, 2002.

Lately I have been contemplating the wisdom of having car seats for the kids. Safety issues not withstanding, I wonder why they exist in the first place. The process of getting a child into a car seat is certainly a conspiracy to keep parents with young children out of shopping malls, libraries and other public places. Little wonder.

For my 2 1/2-year-old daughter Neva, the journey to the car seat begins in the front of our truck behind the steering wheel -- you know, the place where all the buttons are within arm's reach. After repeatedly lunging after her, I finally manage to wrestle the giggling Gertie into the back of the truck. Cornering her with my shoulder, I use my upper body to contain her as I struggle to harness her into place using both hands to adjust the straps. As I bang my head for a second time, it occurs to me that an engineer designed this chair.

A little ruffled, I climb into the driver's seat, close the door and start the truck. Quickly realizing the radio is on full volume, I turn it down, then turn off the windshield wipers, turn signal, air conditioner and rear window defrost. After replacing the contents of the glove box, I buckle myself in before readjusting all the mirrors.

Okay, ready to go ...

"Daddy, I gotta go pee."

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Sticker Shock ...

My kids have become sticker junkies. Six-year-old Neva gets a sticker for doing her school work. She uses them to make all the time to make art projects. My 3-year-old son Milo gets a sticker everytime he goes to the bathroom. And 1 1/2-year-old Willa has found that glueing them to her arm is wonderfully entertaining.

Did you know they come in a greater variety than almost any other thing on the entire planet? But what are you really supposed to do with them? You get a few hundred in a package, more if you get them in book form. I mean, there's only so many times Milo is going to go to the bathroom.

And then half of them don't stick to what you want them to stick to. Instead they fall off and become permanently adhered to the floor. The kids glue them to the walls, the furniture, even my computer screen! My kids are like little mice sneaking around the house leaving sticker droppings everywhere.

Their appeal is lost on me, but the kids, they like them even if I don't.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

The Mysterious Cocoon ...

Back in the summer, my 6-year-old daughter Neva caught a caterpillar. She found it in our vegetable garden and gave it a new home in a plastic magarine tub. She poked holes in the top and added fresh leaves every now and then.

Not long after the caterpillar spun itself a cocoon. It had attached itself to an old dried up leaf that had curled up into a tube. And every day Neva would check to see if it had turned into a butterfly.

As weeks passed it became clear to everyone but Neva that the magical transformation wasn't going to happen. She wasn't letting the simple passage of time dampen her enthusiasm. She checked almost daily, hoping and waiting.

Last week something mysterious did indeed happen. The cocoon disappeared and a moth took its place. I know that little elves had something to do with it; they told me they had made the switch, a moth in place of the cocoon.

What I imagine is that some day, maybe years from now, Neva will be reading this and say: "Hey, I remember that". And the elves and I will have been found out. Neva will then finally know that neither of the elves, nor me can tell the difference between a butterfly and a moth.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Weigh In!

I was thinking last night, as our sugar-filled children lay snug in their beds, limbs still jittery and twitching, how it was that special time for Moms and Dads to raid the Halloween treats! (Oh, we all know you do it.) But before you did, did any of you check out just how much was in those bags?

As soon as my kids got home, 6-year-old Neva instructed the two little ones to empty all the bags into one pile. Candy spilled off the table and onto the floor. So we sorted, tallied and re-bagged. And I got to wondering how much it all weighed. I mean, just how much weight will I be putting on when I eat all of this stuff, anyway?

So I dusted off the bathroom scales and here's what I got: 8.5 pounds! And more than half of that is in chocolate bars. Unbelievable! Especially since they only walked a little more than two blocks and visited probably only two-thirds of the houses!

I was interested in hearing from some of my family and friends with power-trick-or-treating older kids. (Ah, those were the days!) While most of them said it was too late to weigh, since much had been eaten last night already, one of my nieces (in a family of four) had 8.6 pounds alone. That's alot of candy! My friend "buys" her kids' candy, giving them a toy instead and sends the sweets to work with her husband. Although, she admits she sends only what she doesn't like.

However, a cousin of mine, who was out with her girls for almost 3 hours, put it quite well. She feels raiding her children's candy is her due for walking miles and miles with them to 'ensure their safety'. I couldn't agree more!

And with that, I'd better go. There are KitKats calling my name.

Happy Hallowe'en everyone!

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

A Little of This, a Little of That ...

My 6-year-old daughter Neva has always had quite an interest in cooking. She’s helped in making dinner a few times and has made muffins with Mommy since she was a toddler. But her favourite recipes are the ones she invents herself.

I always make a point of trying each of her concoctions. Most have been bearable and some, like the lemon juice with water and a spritz of lime, were actually quite refreshing.

The other day, Neva was preparing her list of ingredients naming them as she set them out. A bit a sugar, some milk, so far so good. But when she added the lemon juice I had to draw the line. The curdled and lumpy liquid seemed to have taken on a life of its own.

It may have made a good science experiment, we could have kept it and named it George. But alas, the nameless mass would meet its end slithering down the drain.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Cereal Mystery ...

With three kids in the house there are few things that are predictable. Surprisingly when it comes to breakfast Neva, Milo and Willa, without fail, are eager to have a bowl of Rice Krispies. They love it. I don't.

The other night I was browsing through our bookshelf to find something to read to get my mind off the hectic day that was just winding down. I took my time and finally
decided on a good mystery.

I called to my wife Kathleen, "I'm going to read some Agatha Christie."

From the other room, my 3-year-old son Milo piped up with, "But Daddy, you don't like Rice Krispies!"

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Musical Hoops ...

I took my 3-year-old son Milo to a birthday party a few weeks back. It was held at a gymnastics club and boy did those kids have fun! Sending Milo into the gym was like letting a fox loose in a chicken pen. He ran wildly in circles, stopping briefly at every play station to take a quick look, only to run off in the other direction to find something new. Clearly, listening to the two girls who were trying to run the class was not high on his priority list.

The game was "Musical Hoops". Like Musical Chairs, the kids were to run around while the music played and then stand inside a hula hoop when it stopped. Before the teachers started explaining the rules, the kids were instructed to sit on the purple line painted on the floor. But Milo couldn't contain himself and was constantly being called after to go sit back down. He would sit on the purple line for all of two seconds before he was scampering off again.

So the music started and off they went -- finally something Milo wanted to do! And when the music stopped, all the kids ran to the hula hoops as instructed. All but Milo. He sat on the purple line!

Happy sweeping,

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

All's Well That Ends Well

I don't know much about sibling rivalry. My sister and I were 11 years apart so the two of us had little opportunity to spend all that much time together. Which is why watching my 3-year-old son Milo and 19-month-old daughter Willa interact is so fascinating for me.

Each day starts out with Milo waking up before either one of his sisters. He plays quietly even if his bigger sister Neva is awake. But as soon as he hears Willa's voice, he comes running into the bedroom to find her. He greets her the same way every morning, sweetly, gently and as if he is surprised to see her: "Oh, Hi Lilla Billa," he says giving her a big hug. They seem to be the best of friends.

So, what is most remarkable about their relationship? It’s how, at the end of the day, after Milo has pushed her over a dozen times, stolen her toys and repeatedly refused to respond to her even though she’s been calling him for 10 minutes, they make it to bedtime and again give each other a great big hug.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Oh Poor, Poor Me ...

It's been 2 1/2 weeks since my oldest daughter Neva began Grade One. She was so excited her first day that she forgot to say goodbye to us as she ran into the school. It took me a few days to come to terms with that oversight. By Thursday, Neva had brought home the school year’s first cold and shortly thereafter I took up my position in front of the TV moaning about how miserable I feel.

Thinking that it’s important to take an interest in what my kids are doing, I ask Neva everyday what she did at school. Her answer is always the same: "Nothing." But then the other day, I overheard her on the phone telling my mother all the exciting things she’s learning.

So being the clever rabbit that I am, I proposed to Neva that I go in and speak with her teacher and see why it is that she is not teaching my kid anything. Without hesitation, Neva agreed, leaving me eating my words.

All of which has left me wondering if my suffering at the hands of our educational system was only beginning.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Recent Studies Have Shown ...

The following study, released today, has scientifically proven that 2 children aged 3 and under, can, pound for pound, destroy more things than 2 fully-grown adults. This study was conducted under strict supervision by a man and woman research team who have spent the better part of 5 years logging their various findings.

In brief here is the study:

Went to the massage therapist …
Our 3-year-old subject Milo and his 18-month-old sister Willa used 14 paper cups to drink one fifth of the water from the water cooler. Another one fifth of the water found its way onto the floor, up the walls and sprinkled across half the furniture.
Children: 1 Adults: 0

Went to get adult researchers bangs trimmed …
The stylist’s shop was newly adorned with numerous glass vases, some towering over Willa’s head. The fish in the huge glass vase situated on top of the glass table, the one with the glass shelf at step stool height, was not necessarily the best place for Willa to go climbing.
Children: 2 Adults: 0

Went to hair salon:
Seems that glass has become the decorating item of the year. Those ball-sized glass bubbles really looked like they could bounce. Within 30 seconds, Willa and Milo proved they don’t.
Children: 3 Adults: 0

Returned home 1 hour after having left:
In a quest to beautify their home, Willa happily picked a few flowers from the garden pots on the deck. Most didn’t have roots.
Children: 4 Adults: KO’d

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

I Know This Because ...

Every once in a while I find myself repeating something that has been said to me. I suppose I do it in hopes that if I hear it enough times it will make more sense to me. Maybe it’s my way to reality check; to make sure that things are actually as they seem.

Today was one of those days. Sometime this afternoon my 3-year-old son Milo lost his chewing gum. My wife Kathleen spent the rest of the day looking for it and only after he had gone to bed did she find it. I know this because she told me:

"I found the rest of Milo’s gum. It’s in his belly button."

"I found the rest of Milo’s gum. It’s in his belly button."

"I found the rest of Milo’s gum. It’s in his belly button."

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

It's All Going Swimmingly ...

I'm not much one for swimming. I know how, I just don't
enjoy it all that much. And if you've ever seen me with
that garden hose you'd know I'm certainly not afraid of
the water.

My kids, on the other hand, love to swim. We've had them
taking lessons this summer and all three of them have done
very well. Another couple of days and they'll be done for
the summer.

Neva, my soon-to-be six-year-old, was afraid to get her
head and face wet when she started her lessons last spring.
She looked like a cat that's just been thrown in the water
but now, she looks and acts like a dolphin. She spends
more time under water than most fish.

Three-year-old Milo has also come a long way. He's the
youngest in his class and also the shortest, so the water
level in the pool comes to just under his shoulders. He
spent his first day of lessons climbing out of the pool
because he was so nervous about how deep the water was.
But now, he couldn't care less. He jumps right in and when
his lesson ends, he slowly ambles out of the pool.

And Willa too has been doing great. She goes with Mommy
and a bunch of other parents and their toddlers. She's at
the top of her class when it comes to blowing bubbles and
loves to be dunked under water.

It's fascinating to watch them and see how their confidence
grows. As I watch them with a great sense of pride, I'm
reminded that standing back a little and just letting our
kids do their own thing is sometimes the most rewarding
type of parenting.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Green Thumb? Green Somethin' ...

I have grown a wide assortment of vegetables in our backyard garden for years. And it seems that every summer one of my kids is obsessed with one form of produce or another.

One year, my oldest daughter Neva befriended a potato. It was her new best friend, except she kept losing it and getting a new one which too would end up lost somewhere in the house.

A few summers later, my son Milo's interest in the garden had more to do with digging than with veggies. He had a small front-end loader that he played with, usually between the broccoli plants.

And this year 18-month-old Willa is my newest helper. She especially loves to hide behind the plants and pick green tomatoes. No matter how often I show her the red ones, once I'm out of sight, she goes back to picking 'em green. I love her enthusiasm, she always shouts with glee when she gets one off the vine. I just hope she is as excited about green tomato cake.

Here's the Green Tomato Cake Recipe

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

This Way and That, Up, Down and All Around ...

It's odd the things that we take for granted, like seeing one's elbow for instance. It takes practice to get your arm and head coordinated, it's not all that easy. But when was the last time you thought about the first time you saw yours?

I caught my three-year-old son Milo looking for his the other day. He had scraped it on the sidewalk earlier in the day and now wanted to see the damage. He was bending his arm this way and that, tilting his head up, down and all around. He just couldn't get it sorted out, but he kept trying.

Afraid that he might get all tied up in a knot, I offered to help. I first had to try it myself, which took a moment before I could figure it out, I mean, how often do we look at our elbows.

When he finally saw his, I could tell how proud he was. He was intently investigating it with a look of satisfaction on his face. And me, well, I tried it again, this time with my other arm.

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

I All Done ...

We were visiting neighbours for a BBQ recently. All the
kids were playing and too busy to come for supper. When
3-year-old Milo finally came to the table, he happily took
a hot dog and sat down to eat. After only a few bites, he
spied the chocolate chip cookies for dessert, which most
grown ups, not having been too busy playing to eat, were
already enjoying.

"I all done," he announced as he got up to help himself to
a cookie.

"How about we put that on your plate to eat once you've
finished your hot dog?" I suggested.

"Not I want it," he reasoned. "It too big. I too little!"

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

Silent Movie ...

The other night after dinner, as every evening, we all went
outside to enjoy the warm weather. And, as usual, it was
busy and loud, even if it was just my three kids. So, much
to my husband Bob's chagrin, I left the kids with him and
retreated to the quiet of the kitchen to finish cleaning
up the dishes.

From the kitchen window, I watched as Bob and the kids dug
in the vegetable garden. They'd found a pile of big rocks
and were digging deep to get them all out. Each kid had a
shovel, Bob was using his hands and all of them were filthy.
And they were having a great time.

And I stood there, staring and marvelling at my family.
There was Neva -- independent and confident -- who would
occasionally leave to ride her bike around the house. Milo,
still in his bike helmet, was happily flinging dirt
everywhere, his skinny little arms working hard. And Willa,
the baby, how she's growing! She was shaking her shovel,
eating dirt and sliding into the hole. What a beautiful
scene to behold.

And it was then that I realized, as I watched this silent
movie play through the window, how much more you appreciate
your family when you can't hear them!

Happy sweeping,

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

Give Me a P ...

I wonder if there's such a thing as a phobia about causing some sort of phobia in someone else. Would it be a aphobiameaphobia?* Anyway, I've been wondering these past few days about my 3-year-old son Milo whose just begun potty training.

Most of the time Milo has a whole entourage with him when he goes to the bathroom. There’s Neva, his 5 1/2-year-old big sister, full of encouragement, cheering him on as he sits on the big people's toilet. His little sister, 17-month-old Willa, sits beside him on the potty, chanting "Peee, Peee, Peee ... " and Mommy is in there too giving him instructions to point it down. It's quite the circus but somehow Milo gets the job done.

What worries me is that when he goes to the bathroom by himself without his cheerleading crew, he pees on the floor. We’ll find him running around with nothing on and there's a puddle in front of the bathtub. Seems like he doesn't want to go it alone. I'm afraid that he'll never be able to go without 137 people coaxing him on.

So, if you see a little blond fella walking around alone and looking like he might burst, please take him to the bathroom. And bring your friends, lots of 'em.

* In fact there are such things:
Phobophobia - a fear of phobias
Phobophobiaphobia - fear of fear of phobias.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

I Quit ...

Hello Everyone.

Whatever happened to our newsletter you might be wondering, after all it's been three months. Well, let's see:

I gained 15 very unwelcomed pounds;
I perfected separate growls for each of my three kids;
I learned snarling at my wife is bad;
I realized chewing gum all day hurts;
I switched to caffeine free cola;
And
I replaced my 25-year pack a day smoking addiction 92 days ago!

It's been hell. Absolute hell. I've been sick for the past 3 months with non-stop colds, sinus infections, ear aches and now I'm getting over a mild case of the chicken pox.

But I haven't smoked. I haven't gotten off the couch either nor have I had the energy to go outside, but I am a non-smoker.

You may have noticed the new format of the newsletter. I've added a couple of ways for you all to spend your money. Please shop at our sponsors, it helps to pay for this newsletter and the therapy for my kids after witnessing me becoming a non-smoker.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Elbow Grease ...

Hello Everyone.

Our neighbor gave my daughter a Tupperware-like box in which to take her snacks to school. She thought Neva, being 5 1/2 years old, would like the compartments in it. I think she gave it to her because she had little use for a plastic container whose lid didn't fit properly.

In any event, for whatever reason, Neva thinks it's the greatest thing and always wants to bring her snack to school in it. The other morning she was packing up her muffin and strawberries and I heard loud banging from the kitchen.

"Be sure that lid goes on tight," I cautioned. "You don't want strawberry juice dripping into your backpack."

"It's on!" she said proudly. "You just have to bang it a few times with your elbow."
Happy sweeping,

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

Bath Time ...

Hello Everyone.

It's funny what kids learn to do when they are still toddlers. When it comes to bath time, we have taught all three of our kids to throw their diapers in the bathroom garbage before they get into the tub. A good idea I might add, as diapers that end up in the tub weigh enough to hold an elephant down during a tornado.

So, the other day I was getting our youngest daughter, 14-month-old Willa ready for her bath. She loves the water and is always excited to get in there to splash and play but at that moment she was getting frantic trying to take her own clothes off. So I her undid the buttons for her to make it easier.

With the crises averted Willa easily pulled her feet out of her pants which she then promptly threw in the garbage. Off came her shirt and it too went into the garbage and then her undershirt and finally her diaper.
Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

New Identity ...

Hello Everyone.

I picked up my oldest daughter Neva from kindergarten the other day when I realized that I am no longer Bob. I am still me but it appears that I am not Bob.

Originally I was named Robert but in grade 2, I decided to go by Bob. And that short form stayed with me until, on a sunny afternoon last week, my old identity had run its course.

So here I am re-introducing myself as the man formerly known as Bob. You can call me Neva's Dad, everyone else does.
Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Ode to Spring ...

Hello Everyone.

Spring has sprung here in southwestern Ontario and yesterday evening we were outside playing with the kids. In a matter of minutes, the collection of children grew from our 3 to as many as 10 as some of the neighborhood kids joined us in our side yard. It was definitely noisy, but everyone, parents included, was grateful to be outside enjoying the milder weather.

In the midst of the melee, our new neighbor, who lives in the apartment upstairs, called down to me with a smile:

"Where did all the kids come from? Most neighborhoods just have groundhogs that come out to let you know it's spring!".

Happy sweeping,

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

The Apprentice ...

Hello Everyone.

When I am doing project around the house I have always let my kids lend a helping hand. My 5 1/2-year-old daughter Neva especially likes to help whenever I have my tool box out.

I was painting the trim around a closet the other day and sure enough there was Neva, dressed in some old clothes eager to get her hands on a paintbrush. So, together we painted, Neva doing the bottom third, and me doing the rest.

We traded the brushes for small rollers and back again and for the next hour, Neva and I worked together painting the trim, and some of the wall, and quite a large part of the floor but mostly each other.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Backing Up is Hard to Do ...

Hello Everyone.

It's funny the things children pick up on that we take little notice of in our adult world. Take, for instance, my 2 1/2-year-old son, Milo. We visited the local drop-in center the other day and he instantly ran off to play. Knowing he was safe and happy, I joined up with a friend to chat.

When I took a look for him a little while later, I saw him driving himself around in one of those big toy cars. He stopped, looked over his shoulder and backed up, going "Beeeeep! Beeeeep! Beeeeep!"

Happy sweeping,

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

Rabble Babble ...

Hello Everyone.

When my now 5 1/2-year-old daughter Neva was beginning to talk we gave her lots and lots of encouragement. Which probably explains why she hasn't stopped talking ever since. Regardless, we are now at the same stage with our youngest, one year old Willa.

Seems to me that we may not be as supportive in Willa's speech development though. She tends to make a multitude of bizarre sounds that Neva never did. Ask Willa what a dog says and she answers sounding more like a car trying to start on the coldest day of winter.

She makes this really odd throat clearing sound when she wants something and hisses like a snake for no apparent reason. And when she is tired there is that ear-splitting shriek that makes you go instantly cross-eyed.

It's amusing to listen to her babble, full of grunts and croaks and other strange noises. If you stand a busy intersection during rush hour, you'll get a good feel for it.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Forget-Me-Not ...

Hello Everyone.

My 5 1/2-year-old daughter Neva was begging me to have a little friend of hers over for a playdate. She hadn't seen her in several months and she desperately wanted to have her come visit. For weeks all we heard was, "Can Sydney come for a playdate?" and then "How many more days until Sydney comes?" Sydney this, Sydney that. Sydney! Sydney! Sydney!

Finally, the day arrived and Sydney came to play. The girls immediately ran off to catch up. In the middle of their play, I overheard Neva saying, "Come here! Come here! Hey! ... What's your name again?"
Happy sweeping,

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

For Grampa (March 30, 1923 - March 8, 2004)

Hello Everyone.

It's no surprise that after being stuck in the house all day with three boisterous kids who couldn't go outside because it's too cold, that I remark to my wife Kathleen, "We should have bought a puppy".

Now I have given this some thought lately and I realized a few things. A puppy, when it gets a chance, will try to run away. So too, do my kids. And a puppy will stare at you blankly when you are talking to it. Just like my kids. The puppy will tear up the only important piece of paper I have on my desk, walk around chewing on my shoes and without a doubt, pee on the floor. Ditto for my kids.

So really, what's the difference between having kids or a puppy? Well, we wouldn't have gotten three puppies that's for sure and one other thing, Grampa would rather have had the kids sitting on his lap.
Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

You're Kidding, Right?

Hello Everyone.

I've always thought that I have a rather well developed sense of humor. Even after years of my wife Kathleen tilting her head sideways and staring at me with an "are you feeling okay?" look on her face, I still thought I was funny and clever. And then along came my joke-telling 5 1/2 year-old daughter Neva.

A few days ago she started to make up her own jokes and since then, she's been following us around all day trying them out on us. They're all loosely based the old standard "Why did the chicken cross the road?". For example:

"Why was the window broken?
Because he hit him in his bum and crashed through the mirror - Get it?! He hit his bum!"

As you can see her jokes really don't make any sense. It's how totally absurd the punch lines are that makes us chuckle. Meanwhile, Neva howls with laughter and promptly makes up another one.

Now I really believed I was a witty sort of fella until I realized something. I too was tilting my head sideways in utter confusion each time Neva told a joke.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Princess Pay, A King's Ransom ...

Hello Everyone.

My 5-1/2 year old daughter Neva has come to the conclusion that it's time for her to get an allowance. She started learning the value of money long ago when she played with Mommy's credit card as a baby. Even at that time I knew we were headed for trouble. She never wanted to give the credit card back.

Nearly a week has passed since Neva mentioned it for the first time. Since then she has decided that trading her time and effort for money is not just a noble deed but one worth about 5 bucks. Just to be clear here, she doesn’t mean $5 per week. No, little Miss Corporate Mogul here thinks we should pay her $5 for each chore she does.

So, it comes as no surprise that Neva is suddenly much more helpful around the house. I guess she’s trying to prove that she is worthy of such a lofty pay scale.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Father Nose Best ...

Hello Everyone.

Editor's Note: Sorry about the absence of the newsletter over the past two weeks, all 5 of us had our February cold. This is not to be confused with the January cold and the March cold which are different.

Each time one of my kids has a birthday it shakes me up a bit. Our youngest daughter Willa just turned one the other week. An entire year flew by and I can't account for the time between Willa's birth and her birthday. What have I been doing for the past 12 months?

During that time Willa's achievements have been numerous. She learned to crawl, walk and climb, spoke her first words, began playing with toys to name a few. I'm still doing precisely the same thing I was doing a year ago. Nothing's changed for me.

Eventually I realize that the sameness is maybe not such a bad thing. My life is predictable and with that there is a certain comfort. Unlike Willa, I at least won't be surprised to find out that when I have a cold, I shouldn’t lick my nose.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Going Bananas ...

Hello Everyone.

Back in December, my husband Bob asked if I wanted a banana tree for Christmas. Not the organic, fruit-bearing kind, but the wooden, fruit-hanging version that stands on your countertop. Although our kids are voracious banana eaters, I simply couldn't justify spending the money on a gizmo when a fruit bowl works just fine.

I relented this week, however, when the banana tree was in the clearance bin at the grocery store. I brought it home, put it together and happily hung a nice bunch of bananas on it.

Later that day I walk into the kitchen, only to find our banana tree empty and five loose bananas at its base, as if it had shed its leaves.

"What happened here?" I asked 5-year-old Neva, who was eating the evidence.

"I wanted the one with the sticker on it."

Banana tree for sale!

Happy sweeping,

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

Bouillon Brigade ...

Hello Everyone.

A child's imagination never ceases to amaze and amuse me. From my toddler's use of an escargot plate for a steering wheel to my 5-year-old's "imaginary friend", Ian, the vinegar bottle. And a kitchen is a veritable make-believe wonderland for kids.

The other day, all 3 of my children showed me the many different "uses" of chicken bouillon. And none of them had anything to do with eating -- not surprising for my kids, really, but that's another story altogether.

It started when Willa, now 11 months old and into everything, discovered a box of bouillon packets in the cupboard. She shook, squished, twisted and threw those little envelopes like nobody's business. Then 2 1/2-year-old Milo picked up all those that were still flat and dealt them out to all of us. "Cards!" he happily declared. Finally, Neva (the bottle collector) came around collecting our "tickets" to the next show.

So the next time you're in the grocery aisle and you see the chicken bouillon, think of my clever kids. And then pick some up for me, because I have no idea where mine is now!

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Take Da Poll ...

Hello Everyone.

There is quite the controversy brewing in our household. It has pitted my wife Kathleen squarely against me. She stands firm in her opinion even though I know she is wrong. So I turn to you, our loyal readers, to offer your insights so that we may settle this dispute once and for all.

Baby Willa is 11 months old and she's been chattering away making all sorts of sounds for months now. Recently, I started asking her: "If you're Willa, who am I?" and she'd answer with "Da-Da". "Who's that?" I'd ask pointing at Kathleen, and Willa would respond with "sssth", which means fish as far as I’m concerned.

I understand that Kathleen isn't a fish. That's not the problem. My wife however denies that Willa's first word is "Da-Da". Kathleen tries, in vain I might add, to prove that Willa answers "Da-Da" to anything asked of her. "If you're a pickle, what's the time?" she asks. Willa answers "Duh-Duh," which clearly is not the same as "Da-Da". Try it, it's different. Da-Da, Duh-Duh. See?

Since all of you are sitting there talking in baby speak to your computer, please help us settle this once and for all. Is Willa's first word "Da-Da"? You know it is. Click the link below to register your vote:

Click Here to Vote

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Happy New Year ...

Hello Everyone.

I have heard that some people believe looking back on the year just passed is bad luck for the coming new year. For me, looking back has never created enough anxiety. While many people are making New Year's Resolutions, I have my New Year's Reservations.

So what does 2005 have in store for the ContestHound.com household? I suspect that we'll have the regular drama and chaos that most parents have. Our oldest daughter Neva will turn 6 and start grade 1 in the fall and Willa, our youngest daughter, will be a year old in February. Squashed in the middle is Milo, who often finds himself squashed between things, will turn 3 in late spring.

For my wife Kathleen, hopefully she'll finally be able to sleep through the night, something she hasn't done in almost six years. And maybe not take the laundry too seriously. And for me, I'll probably be doing what I do best: obsessing about worrying too much.

Here's wishing all of you a Happy New Year filled with promise and hope and the strength and courage to face whatever challenges may come.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

So You Say ...

Hello Everyone.

My 2 1/2-year-old son Milo loves to talk with loads of enthusiasm. He's really polite too. Hand him a pair of socks and he's sure to say "Oh thank you Daddy!". Here are some other Milo-isms:

chicken shake --> kitchen sink
do it, self! --> do it by myself!
Bava hab it dis --> Neva has this
eat it dis? --> eat this?
my puthle gether --> put my puzzle together
sgoob-gobber --> screwdriver
bluedy werger (or "varger") --> blueberry yogurt
home peepo --> Home Depot
sheh-shie --> french fries
Toma Chank-En --> Thomas the Tank Engine
kepich --> ketchup
peter putter --> peanut butter

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Keep On Moving ...

Hello Everyone.

You might think that by the amount of boxes in our house that Christmas spending in the ContestHound.com household was at an all-time high. Instead those boxes are what is left from our latest adventure.

Seems that we packed up absolutely everything we own and carried it across the lawn to the house next door. And with each trip, we kept seeing our neighbor doing exactly the same thing in the opposite direction. You see, we swapped apartments with the folks next door.

Which explains why the newsletter has been absent for the past couple of weeks. Speaking of absent, anyone know where I packed ...

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Say Cheese ...

Hello Everyone.

It's that time of year when many families go to get 350 wallet sized family photos that they send with their holiday greeting cards to their closet friends, many of whom they haven't spoken to in years.

My 2 1/2-year old son Milo sat patiently for 23 seconds. We got some great shots of 5 year-old Neva making faces and a couple of baby Willa crawling out of range of the camera.

The photographer had me lying on my side with Milo sitting on my legs. My wife Kathleen and Neva where in behind resting their arms on me and Willa was held in the arm that I wasn't using to support myself. Too bad we didn't get a picture of everyone tumbling around after I collpased under the weight.

And suddenly our session was over. Of the dozen or so pictures, we found one single photo that had all of us in the frame, looking at the camera and smiling.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

SHHHHH ...

Hello Everyone.

Recently I have been pondering the animal kingdom. Do their offspring make anywhere near as much noise as my 9-month-old daughter Willa? I would think that yelling at the top of their lungs would attract all sorts of unwanted attention. Willa fortunately only attracts the odd annoyed glances from passers-by.

The thing is, she's not distressed, it's more like she's talking loudly. Very loudly. At first I thought she was just trying to keep up with her older siblings, but then I remembered that my oldest, Neva, did the same thing when she was an infant. Now, Neva watches TV with the sound turned way up.

I have been trying to figure out ways to curtail the yelling. It may not be the best solution but, when her mouth's wide open, I can easily get a Cheerio in Willa's mouth silencing her temporarily while she chews it.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Food for Thought ...

Hello Everyone.

When my two oldest, Neva and Milo, were babies, I followed the book on infant feeding. I started with all the traditional and "accepted" baby foods and progressed methodically from pureed grains and veggies to lumps and chunks, carefully watching for sensitivities and allergies. New tastes and textures were not introduced until after the prescribed time period had elapsed, safely and uneventfully, since the last new food. Nothing passed my baby's lips unless I approved it first.

Then along came Willa. I was in no hurry to introduce solid food. Quite frankly, I didn’t have the time. So when I did give her her first food it was more out of convenience. I was eating a banana. So Willa had some. And since that "unconventional" start, nothing’s been the same. She refused a spoon for the first month or two, accepting only food by hand. I have managed to get through some of the standard fare, however, she just keeps eating more and more things that aren’t on the menu. She has eaten plenty of scraps from Neva and Milo’s plates: muffins, grilled cheese, pork chops. But more troublesome than that are the rather unorthodox items. Take, for instance, the gravel in the bottom of the plant in the bathroom. Or the red play-dough she was munching on this afternoon. (Boy was that a treat to clean up!)

Oddly enough, despite all my efforts to start Neva and Milo off right, they are rather picky eaters. Milo, now 2 ½, wouldn’t eat a vegetable to save his life. And Neva cries treason if there’s even so much as sauce fumes on her pizza or pasta.

Happy sweeping,

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

Another Day of Fatherhood ...

Hello Everyone.

There was snow on the ground when we woke up this morning. When my 5-year-old daughter Neva discovered it, she announced enthusiastically that school was cancelled, which it was not of course. Neva and I managed to scrape together a few snowballs and mercilessly throw them at one another before she went off to school.

My son Milo spent most of the afternoon singing an eclectic medley of the "Bob the Builder" theme song and the old club standard "YMCA". This led me to wonder if all 2 1/2 year-olds are tone deaf.

Baby Willa followed me around on and off for the better part of the day. When she is happy, she has a habit of scrunching up her nose and making sniffing noises. I guess now I know what it must be like to be a dog.

In other words, nothing out of the ordinary.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Something About Nothing ...

Hello Everyone.

Sometimes when I sit down to write the stories about my kids I end up going completely blank. Today is one of those days. It's not that I don't have anything to say, that's never, ever happened to me, but what I do have to talk about doesn't seem to be very interesting.

I had already had 4 or 5 false starts and now once again the page in front of me was blank. I made 17 trips to the kitchen, 4 to the bathroom, checked the mail, raided the kids' Halloween treats twice, tripped over a dozen toys and still the page waited for me to type something... anything.

I decided to go outside to sit on the top of the stairs to think. Just then the whole family returned home from grocery shopping. As my wife Kathleen carried the groceries in, Neva and Milo played outside. I was fascinated by how wonderfully they played together, like best friends, totally unaware that I was watching them.

They'll be fine when they grow up, I thought to myself.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Customer Service ...

Hello Everyone.

Banks should know better than to put their brochures so low that a certain 2-year-old little boy named Milo can reach them. But then again, perhaps they foresaw the outcome.

It was late in the day and for whatever bizarre reason, my wife Kathleen and I piled all three of our kids into the truck and went to the bank. We weren't in there a minute when Neva and Milo were off running amuck. Baby Willa sat on my lap as I slumped in one of those wonderfully comfortable chairs all banks seem to have.

I was really quite relaxed and totally engrossed in Willa's babble when I noticed Milo. Seems that he had grabbed a bunch of those brochures I was talking about and was politely handing them out as he made his way through the line-up of customers.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Green Thumb ...

Hello Everyone.

I do like gardening, but I don't take as much an active part in it as my husband Bob does. He has his books and seed catalogs -- the arrival of which brightens up his otherwise bleak and dreary February like nobody's business. He marks the pages with sticky notes and highlights his choices in green. (The pink highlighter is reserved for our 5-year-old daughter Neva's selections.)

He has his garden plotted out shortly after and knows what crops should be rotated where. He starts the seedlings in March and has them in the cold frame before we've even doffed our winter coats. He turns the soil by hand -- how else? -- and surveys the bricked pathways to see how it faired through the cold weather.

It's much more than a hobby for him. It's a passion, if a bit obsessive. And it's hard not to get caught up in it. But I must say, even I was surprised when, while scolding Neva for tracking dirt all through the apartment when she brought me fresh carrots she just pulled from the garden, I couldn't help but think as I shook her pants out in the tub:

"Wow! That's really nice soil!"

Happy sweeping,

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

Clever?

Hello Everyone.

What kids can do is often really amazing. Take for instance my 5-year-old daughter Neva and some of her accomplishments. Just the other day, she found three one-foot long tree branches and colored them completely with chalk. It takes some kind of patience to fill every nook and cranny, but that's what she did.

Then, a short while later, she discovered that if nobody's looking she can climb to the top of our bedroom dresser and jump off of it, landing on our bed. Without hurting herself! Even more impressive is that she likely jumped a number of times before we even caught on.

It takes some creativity and imagination to come up and carry out such endeavors. And yet, even though she has been told a hundred times, I am baffled as to why Neva still can't seem to wash her hands with soap.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Age Old Story ...

Hello Everyone.

As soon they start to talk, we teach our kids say how old they are. This is what I heard after my husband Bob taught that lesson to our 2-year-old son.

Bob: "How old are you, Milo?"

Milo: "Two-free-four."

Bob: "No, how old are you?"

Milo: "Two!"

Bob: "How old is Mommy?"

Milo: "Two old."

Me: "Milo's two years old? Good boy!"

Milo: "No, Mommy too old!"

When eight-month-old Willa starts talking, remind me to teach her myself!

Happy sweeping,

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

Fall's Lament ...

Hello Everyone.

It's fall in our part of the world, the weather has turned rather cool and the wind, now coming from the east, sends a chill right through you. Leaves are falling from the branches that they have called home for an entire summer and the days are rapidly getting shorter. But the true calling of autumn is not found in the arms of mother nature, no, what really signals the coming of winter is the five runny noses that live in our home.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Tiny Bubbles ...

Hello Everyone.

"Can I play in the sink?"

Six simple words and, one would think a relatively benign request. However, it's something I always hesitate to agree to. You see, my daughter Neva (whose new greeting to people is, "Hi! I'm five!") loves water and, like her father and brother, water likes her. It also likes the counter and the chair she stands on and the floor!

Reluctantly, I agreed. It's only water, Kathleen, I reassure myself. And sure enough water is everywhere and Neva is soaked when I return a little later. She is "washing" the dishes on the counter with hand soap and a sponge. The floor is a mess of wet bubbles.

"Please use this tea towel to wipe up when you're done," I ask, pointing to one that is ready for the laundry anyway.

"I already used that one," she says, pointing to the clean one I just put out before dinner. Sigh. It's only a tea towel, I reassure myself again. At least she has already thought to wipe the floor, although where I can't tell.

"Well, please wipe up and come get in the bath. It's time for bed," I add before I go.

Minutes pass and there is still no sign of Neva in the bathroom. I go back to the kitchen to remind her to wipe up and get moving. And there she is, drying all her "washed" dishes and putting them away. The oven drawer is open to put the pie plates away where they belong. They are still covered in bubbles. She is drying some Tupperware with the tea towel she used to wipe the floor. It, too, is still mostly covered in bubbles when it goes in the cupboard.

I stop myself from correcting her because Neva is beaming and couldn't be prouder of the great job she is doing.

And neither could I. Bubbles and all!

Happy sweeping,

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

Toy Training ...

Hello Everyone.

My 2-year-old son's train collection is growing at a rapid pace. He has no less than three hand-made wooden trains, a growing set of Thomas the Tank Engine trains, cars and track and a few odd lots of locomotives and freight cars.

Rather than stuff his trains in the green box where they normally would be kept, the other night I decided that a new, bigger home would be in order. So there were Milo and I cleaning up. I would put a few pieces in the new box, he would take out just as many. Eventually I got the better of him and managed to get them all put away.

Since it was now empty, I put his toy cars into the green box rather than having them strewn around as was generally the custom. Feeling rather pleased with myself I went off to bed.

Early the next morning I awoke to the sounds of toy cars being thrown onto the hardwood floor in our living room. One after another went crashing down in rapid succession. Milo was furiously emptying the new box of cars. I knew he had come to an end when I heard him exclaim: "Oh oh, choo-choo gone!"

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Beep, Beep ...

Hello Everyone.

Every time one of my kids does something strange I try to remind myself that it is only a healthy imagination at work. Most of the time I keep myself from tilting my head sideways, scrunching up my nose and staring at them. But there are times when I can only shake my head.

My 2-year-old son Milo stood in the kitchen earlier today spinning in circles four or five times. He'd then stop and go "beep, beep, beep". He did this a few times before we realized that he was doing an imitation ... of the microwave.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Oh, My Achin' Head ...

Hello Everyone.

It must be September since school started and we all are in varying stages of the first cold of this educational season. We'll be back later this week with a new story. Sneeze-ya-then!

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Meltdown Mania ...

Hello Everyone.

They say five-year-olds are very emotional and my daughter Neva, almost 5, certainly has her share of meltdowns. And every time it happens, my wife Kathleen and I come up with the most far-fetched reasons for Neva's overly emotional behavior.

We have always known that if there were an Academy Award for a Melodramatic Performance in a Non-Movie Role, Neva would win hands down. She has a lot of emotion and is not afraid to express it, albeit in an immature fashion.

Yet, this doesn't relieve us of the relentless fear that we are doing something wrong. We question and analyze each episode convinced that we are the cause. For us at least it isn't difficult to ignore the facts and come up with some reason that proves we are damaging our kids psychologically.

But then, as we have said before, you need to give your kids something to talk about in therapy.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Water Hazards ...

Hello Everyone.

We are back! After taking some extra time off this summer the newsletter is back, bigger and better then ever. Check out the Quotables Quiz in each issue (see below) and you could win a great book from the folks at HarperCollins.com. And of course, I'll be including more stories about my adventures as a father to three -- count 'em, three -- kids under the age of 5.

To get you caught up, my daughter Neva will soon turn 5, while my son Milo just turned 2. The newest edition, my second daughter, Willa, is already 6 1/2-months old!

It wasn't too long ago that my son Milo began taking an interest in using the potty. At first it was a family affair of sorts. Mommy would join Milo in our tiny bathroom, Willa in her arms, with Neva squeezing in shouting wild encouragement. I would take up a position at the door and excitedly join in on the melee.

Things have changed. Milo doesn't always announce his need to go any more. So it was no surprise when Kathleen found him alone in the bathroom this afternoon. However, she wasn't sure whether to congratulate him on going pee on the potty all by himself or to scold him for finding a straw in the garbage with which he was about to have a nice cool drink of water from, where else, but the toilet.

Hey, look at that, it's a ContestHound.com Newsletter!

Hello Everyone.

I imagine you've all noticed the absence of the newsletter over the past few months so let me apologize. As many of you know, we had another baby back in February. Suddenly we found ourselves with three kids: our oldest daughter Neva who is 4 1/2, Milo, our 2-year-old son and Willa who is now 4 months.

I had once been told that the transition from having 2 kids to having 3 is usually not as challenging as having the first or even second child. Right. There was a time that we believed our apartment was really spacious too and that turned out not to be true either.

In our little world my wife Kathleen and I are outnumbered. Neva is as independent, outgoing and dramatic as ever and Milo has developed his own strong-willed personality. And Willa spends her day eating, pooping, burping, sleeping and she's started to roll over. Every space has two toys to fill it, every TV show has dissenting views on whether to watch it or not, every plate has something on it that someone won't eat.

On the floor in the hallway there's laundry in the basket that needs to be folded or washed, no one quite remembers, and there's a pail on the balcony that once was full of garden snails but most of them have escaped. Countless craft projects, drawings and paintings covering the dining-room table spill onto the floor below and packages of new diapers, in three sizes, are pilled on the couch in my office.

And before we know it, the day has escaped and the assembly-line routine of bedtime is behind us. It's just Kathleen and me and the quiet. All there is left to do is everything else.

Some Important Changes

1. For the foreseeable future the newsletter will be published on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

2. Starting next week, you can play the Quotables Quiz where you can win prizes with each issue of the ContestHound.com newsletter.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

The Tooth, The Whole Tooth and Nothin' But the Tooth ...

Hello Everyone.

Well it was my wife Kathleen's turn to go to the dentist the other day and she took along our 4-year-old daughter Neva. Unlike last year, when Neva went with me, Kathleen did not have a kid crawling around the office floor barking like a dog.

She was so well behaved in fact, that the dentist gave Neva her very own flosser. This is a handheld thingy that looks like half of a wrench with some dental floss stretched across the opening.

For most of us I am sure that flossing our teeth does not rank very high on our excitement scale. But for Neva she couldn't wait to use it. Once home, she was literally jumping with excitement. Now, if only she had the same enthusiasm about brushing her teeth ...

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com

Grandpa ...

Editor's Note: We would like to apologize for the absence of the newsletter over the past 7 weeks. As you read this week's stories, I am sure you will understand that we needed to take some time to be with our families. --ed.

Hello Everyone.

There are times when life's journey can take dramatic twists and turns yet somehow we manage to plod on trying to cope. We had just celebrated the beginning of a new life with the birth of our third child, a daughter who we named Willa Kathleen.

Especially poignant, is that when Willa met my father-in-law he was lying in a hospital bed, clinging to life. Just 12 days earlier, Granny and Grandpa had been sitting at their kitchen table, toasting the birth of their 28th grandchild. Now, only months after having been diagnosed, the rapidly growing brain cancer could no longer be controlled. And in another 12 days Willa would bear witness to an entire life.

She was there with her Grandpa as his life peacefully came to a end. She was there when we celebrated Grandpa's life. She was there when his body was laid to rest. She was there.

B.Edmund Nelligan 1923 - 2004

We will walk with you,
holding your hand,
as you near the threshold
where the living may not pass;
until you are ready
to reach for the hand of God.

Happy sweeping,

Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com