Hello Everyone.
Just a quick reminder that we are taking next week off. The newsletter will return with all new stories on August 18.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Friday, August 08, 2003
Thursday, August 07, 2003
Top 5 List ...
Hello Everyone.
I thought it time to do another top 5 list so here it is:
The Top 5 Things You Never Thought You'd Say to a Toddler.
"Careful Milo, you're going to fall off the dining room table."
"Please take the flowers out of your mouth."
"Milo, eat the other end of the banana."
"In our house, we don't climb the shelves in the refrigerator."
"Milo, please don't stir the fish in the bowl on the piano."
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
I thought it time to do another top 5 list so here it is:
The Top 5 Things You Never Thought You'd Say to a Toddler.
"Careful Milo, you're going to fall off the dining room table."
"Please take the flowers out of your mouth."
"Milo, eat the other end of the banana."
"In our house, we don't climb the shelves in the refrigerator."
"Milo, please don't stir the fish in the bowl on the piano."
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, August 06, 2003
The Sky is Falling ...
Hello Everyone.
As is fitting for this newsletter over the past number of weeks we have had yet another challenging day. This time, after all the recent rain, our kitchen ceiling called it quits and decided to retire into the floor. During its decent, it greeted all of our appliances with a thundering hello. It scared the fuzz from my daughter Neva's socks but 14-month old Milo, asleep in the next room, luckily slept through the whole adventure.
To let everyone know, we are taking a planned holiday next week so there won't be a newsletter until August 18. Now if only we can be assured that Milo stays healthy, Neva keeps calm and both Kathleen and I remain sane ...
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
As is fitting for this newsletter over the past number of weeks we have had yet another challenging day. This time, after all the recent rain, our kitchen ceiling called it quits and decided to retire into the floor. During its decent, it greeted all of our appliances with a thundering hello. It scared the fuzz from my daughter Neva's socks but 14-month old Milo, asleep in the next room, luckily slept through the whole adventure.
To let everyone know, we are taking a planned holiday next week so there won't be a newsletter until August 18. Now if only we can be assured that Milo stays healthy, Neva keeps calm and both Kathleen and I remain sane ...
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Friday, August 01, 2003
On the Mend ...
Hello Everyone.
Well, it's been a tough week around our household. Our 13-month old son Milo was not only cutting molars but also got an ear infection to boot. Needless to say, we had little sleep for three long nights. Which explains the absence of the newsletter.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Well, it's been a tough week around our household. Our 13-month old son Milo was not only cutting molars but also got an ear infection to boot. Needless to say, we had little sleep for three long nights. Which explains the absence of the newsletter.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Thursday, July 24, 2003
Shaken, Not Stirred ...
Hello Everyone.
He dragged a chair over to the piano and used it to climb onto the bench. He then he climbed over the keys and up to the top of our piano.
It was the odd music emanating from the living room that caught my attention. And when I went to check what was going on, there was my 13-month old son Milo stirring the gravel in the gold fish bowl.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
He dragged a chair over to the piano and used it to climb onto the bench. He then he climbed over the keys and up to the top of our piano.
It was the odd music emanating from the living room that caught my attention. And when I went to check what was going on, there was my 13-month old son Milo stirring the gravel in the gold fish bowl.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, July 23, 2003
Can Anyone Hear Me?
Hello Everyone.
My 13-month-old son Milo was happily sitting in his high chair eating a snack the other day when I left the room to speak to my husband Bob in his office. Milo was chatting and yammering as he always does.
Shortly, we could hear he was getting louder and louder, almost as if he was calling someone, and the "calling" didn't stop.
I went back into the living room to see what he wanted and there he was yelling ... with both hands over his ears!
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
My 13-month-old son Milo was happily sitting in his high chair eating a snack the other day when I left the room to speak to my husband Bob in his office. Milo was chatting and yammering as he always does.
Shortly, we could hear he was getting louder and louder, almost as if he was calling someone, and the "calling" didn't stop.
I went back into the living room to see what he wanted and there he was yelling ... with both hands over his ears!
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Tuesday, July 22, 2003
Ewww Gross!
Hello Everyone.
They have a frightful appearance, recklessly race about and if you get close enough, they're rather foul smelling. The forceps on their rear end can be painful when used and though not much more than 1/2 inch in length they certainly are not the type of insect one can easily ignore despite their diminutive size.
If you are already squirming in your chair you must be an adult, since earwigs cause many of us to cringe. Now, my 3 3/4-year-old daughter Neva recently met her first earwig under rather unusual circumstances.
For those of you already too squeamish, you may want to skip this part. The earwig you see, somehow found its way deep into Neva's ear. Perhaps it was Neva's screaming for 20 minutes that caused the earwig to pinch her eardrum. In any event, it came, it explored, it bit her, and it left the same way it came.
After all that and the trip to the doctor's office, you would think that Neva would be terrified to even go outside. As I said before, most adults get a little queasy at the mere mention of them and I expected Neva, after her experience, to be terrified. But she wasn't and isn't. In fact, it is her latest must-tell story and with each telling, I am left feeling a little weaker in the knees.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
They have a frightful appearance, recklessly race about and if you get close enough, they're rather foul smelling. The forceps on their rear end can be painful when used and though not much more than 1/2 inch in length they certainly are not the type of insect one can easily ignore despite their diminutive size.
If you are already squirming in your chair you must be an adult, since earwigs cause many of us to cringe. Now, my 3 3/4-year-old daughter Neva recently met her first earwig under rather unusual circumstances.
For those of you already too squeamish, you may want to skip this part. The earwig you see, somehow found its way deep into Neva's ear. Perhaps it was Neva's screaming for 20 minutes that caused the earwig to pinch her eardrum. In any event, it came, it explored, it bit her, and it left the same way it came.
After all that and the trip to the doctor's office, you would think that Neva would be terrified to even go outside. As I said before, most adults get a little queasy at the mere mention of them and I expected Neva, after her experience, to be terrified. But she wasn't and isn't. In fact, it is her latest must-tell story and with each telling, I am left feeling a little weaker in the knees.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Monday, July 21, 2003
Every Minute Counts ...
Hello Everyone.
This past weekend the big downtown park hosted another of our city's big summer festivals. While walking through the park visiting the craft booths, my daughter Neva was her usual friendly self talking to the vendors.
"I'm 3 and 3 quarters!" she proudly told one woman.
"Wow, you're even keeping count. That's great," she replied.
"Ya," Neva continued, "I'm 1...2...3... and a little bit of 4."
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
This past weekend the big downtown park hosted another of our city's big summer festivals. While walking through the park visiting the craft booths, my daughter Neva was her usual friendly self talking to the vendors.
"I'm 3 and 3 quarters!" she proudly told one woman.
"Wow, you're even keeping count. That's great," she replied.
"Ya," Neva continued, "I'm 1...2...3... and a little bit of 4."
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Thursday, July 17, 2003
Peek-a-Boo ...
Hello Everyone.
The sun had already set as I came in from puttering around in the garden. My wife Kathleen had taken our 3 3/4-year-old daughter Neva and 1-year-old son Milo to bed a good 45 minutes earlier.
It was quiet in the house, not unusual for that time of night. After all, Kathleen often falls asleep with them when she put both kids down. So, I washed up and made my way to my office to do some work.
I sat down and was about to pull my chair closer to my desk when I caught a glimpse of two tiny feet where mine were to go. I bent down and to my surprise there was Milo sitting quietly under my desk, a huge smile on his face.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
The sun had already set as I came in from puttering around in the garden. My wife Kathleen had taken our 3 3/4-year-old daughter Neva and 1-year-old son Milo to bed a good 45 minutes earlier.
It was quiet in the house, not unusual for that time of night. After all, Kathleen often falls asleep with them when she put both kids down. So, I washed up and made my way to my office to do some work.
I sat down and was about to pull my chair closer to my desk when I caught a glimpse of two tiny feet where mine were to go. I bent down and to my surprise there was Milo sitting quietly under my desk, a huge smile on his face.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, July 16, 2003
Getting Nosey ...
Hello Everyone.
My daughter Neva, who proudly tells everyone that she is now 3 & 3/4 years old is at that stage where her self awarness has been internalized. Literally.
The other evening I overheard Neva and her mother naming the bones in her body. They had covered all the major bones in her body when Neva asked my wife what the bone in her nose was called.
"It's your septum," Kathleen answered as Neva shoved her finger up her nose. "I can feel it Mommy," she said. Pulling her finger out of her nose she promptly stuck it in her mouth. And with that Neva annouced, "I'm so hungry I could eat a WHOLE NOSE!"
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
My daughter Neva, who proudly tells everyone that she is now 3 & 3/4 years old is at that stage where her self awarness has been internalized. Literally.
The other evening I overheard Neva and her mother naming the bones in her body. They had covered all the major bones in her body when Neva asked my wife what the bone in her nose was called.
"It's your septum," Kathleen answered as Neva shoved her finger up her nose. "I can feel it Mommy," she said. Pulling her finger out of her nose she promptly stuck it in her mouth. And with that Neva annouced, "I'm so hungry I could eat a WHOLE NOSE!"
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Tuesday, July 15, 2003
Unexpected Absence ...
Hello Everyone.
We took an unexpected holiday to attend to some personal matters but the ContestHound.com Daily Contest Update is now back. I apologize for our unexpected absence.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
We took an unexpected holiday to attend to some personal matters but the ContestHound.com Daily Contest Update is now back. I apologize for our unexpected absence.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Friday, June 20, 2003
Stay Tuned ...
Hello Everyone.
"Neva," I asked my 3 1/2-year-old daughter, "would you like an olive cheese sandwich for dinner?"
"No. I had one before this day when you were at work."
"Yesterday?"
"Yah."
"So you don't want one tonight?"
"No ... (pause) ... I know what I want!!" she adds excitedly.
"What's that?"
"An olive cheese sandwich."
Perhaps next time I'll be sure to turn the television off before I ask.
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
"Neva," I asked my 3 1/2-year-old daughter, "would you like an olive cheese sandwich for dinner?"
"No. I had one before this day when you were at work."
"Yesterday?"
"Yah."
"So you don't want one tonight?"
"No ... (pause) ... I know what I want!!" she adds excitedly.
"What's that?"
"An olive cheese sandwich."
Perhaps next time I'll be sure to turn the television off before I ask.
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Thursday, June 19, 2003
Mad Artist?
Hello Everyone.
My 3 1/2-year-old daughter has proclaimed that she wants to be an artist when she grows up. Knowing this, a friend brought over a kid's craft set with paints, crayons, markers, colored pencils and pastels. Neva was so thrilled with the gift that she set straight away to painting. Two days later those once brightly colored discs of watercolors were now dingy black-brown chips and her paint brush had but 3 little bristels left.
I guess she's found her medium!
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
My 3 1/2-year-old daughter has proclaimed that she wants to be an artist when she grows up. Knowing this, a friend brought over a kid's craft set with paints, crayons, markers, colored pencils and pastels. Neva was so thrilled with the gift that she set straight away to painting. Two days later those once brightly colored discs of watercolors were now dingy black-brown chips and her paint brush had but 3 little bristels left.
I guess she's found her medium!
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, June 18, 2003
For the Birds ...
Hello Everyone.
The other day as we were outside doing odd jobs in the garden, my 3 1/3-year-old daughter Neva announced to me that she had a new friend. Looking around, I was hard pressed to see anyone besides the two of us but I played along nevertheless.
As it turned out, Neva had found a garden snail, about the size of a 25-cent piece, whom she named Smokey Arthur Stripes. I explained to Neva that the snail needed to have food and shelter to survive. Having finally convinced her that snails don't eat cookies and really wouldn't like to live in the house with us, Neva found a suitable home.
It's dark and cool inside, has good airflow, and with the addition of some vegetable leaves and a few pieces of paper, Stripes the snail is now living a life of luxury in the bird feeder.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
The other day as we were outside doing odd jobs in the garden, my 3 1/3-year-old daughter Neva announced to me that she had a new friend. Looking around, I was hard pressed to see anyone besides the two of us but I played along nevertheless.
As it turned out, Neva had found a garden snail, about the size of a 25-cent piece, whom she named Smokey Arthur Stripes. I explained to Neva that the snail needed to have food and shelter to survive. Having finally convinced her that snails don't eat cookies and really wouldn't like to live in the house with us, Neva found a suitable home.
It's dark and cool inside, has good airflow, and with the addition of some vegetable leaves and a few pieces of paper, Stripes the snail is now living a life of luxury in the bird feeder.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Monday, June 16, 2003
House Pets ...
Hello Everyone.
My daughter Neva was watching television one morning when a new show called Dumb Bunnies came on. I had never heard of it before but was certain, with such a title, it wasn't appropriate for my 3 1/2-year-old who still didn't have the "D" word in her vocabulary. So I picked up the remote control to change the channel.
"No, Mommy!" came the protest. "I want this one!"
"I will find something else, Neva, but you're not watching 'Dumb Bunnies'." I said, hoping she wouldn't learn the word as I used it.
"No! I want to watch the Dust Bunnies!"
Hmm... come to think of it, I'm not sure I'm happy she's learned that term either.
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
My daughter Neva was watching television one morning when a new show called Dumb Bunnies came on. I had never heard of it before but was certain, with such a title, it wasn't appropriate for my 3 1/2-year-old who still didn't have the "D" word in her vocabulary. So I picked up the remote control to change the channel.
"No, Mommy!" came the protest. "I want this one!"
"I will find something else, Neva, but you're not watching 'Dumb Bunnies'." I said, hoping she wouldn't learn the word as I used it.
"No! I want to watch the Dust Bunnies!"
Hmm... come to think of it, I'm not sure I'm happy she's learned that term either.
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Friday, June 13, 2003
To The Rescue ...
Hello Everyone.
Last week I finally went to the doctor's office with the cold that had made me not only tired but downright miserable. My 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva accompanied me and she sat quietly as I described my symptoms in vivid detail to the doctor.
I launched into some sort of filibuster about how my sinuses ached and my throat hurt. There was something about how productive my seemingly endless cough was and how I was convinced I had an infection since every tissue took on a green hue after I used it.
Today, I was once again complaining about the remnants of my cold to my wife Kathleen who by now had heard the same sob story for close to two weeks. Her sympathy waning, I was thrilled when Neva came to my defense.
"Daddy's not feeling well, he's got the greens."
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Last week I finally went to the doctor's office with the cold that had made me not only tired but downright miserable. My 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva accompanied me and she sat quietly as I described my symptoms in vivid detail to the doctor.
I launched into some sort of filibuster about how my sinuses ached and my throat hurt. There was something about how productive my seemingly endless cough was and how I was convinced I had an infection since every tissue took on a green hue after I used it.
Today, I was once again complaining about the remnants of my cold to my wife Kathleen who by now had heard the same sob story for close to two weeks. Her sympathy waning, I was thrilled when Neva came to my defense.
"Daddy's not feeling well, he's got the greens."
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Tuesday, June 10, 2003
Um, well, ahhh ... Hmmm ...
Hello Everyone.
The four of us were out for an afternoon walk the other day, when my naturally inquisitive 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva asked to be lifted up to pick a leaf off a tree.
"What kind of leaf is this, Mamma?" she asked.
"That's a maple leaf," I said.
She admired it for a moment and then, turning to Bob, she exclaimed: "Look, Daddy! I got a maple leaf from the maple tree!" As if her mind hit a speed bump, she again paused, looking back at the tree, then at Bob and back to the tree again.
And with that she asked one of those unanswerable questions that really stump parents: "Where are the maples?"
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
The four of us were out for an afternoon walk the other day, when my naturally inquisitive 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva asked to be lifted up to pick a leaf off a tree.
"What kind of leaf is this, Mamma?" she asked.
"That's a maple leaf," I said.
She admired it for a moment and then, turning to Bob, she exclaimed: "Look, Daddy! I got a maple leaf from the maple tree!" As if her mind hit a speed bump, she again paused, looking back at the tree, then at Bob and back to the tree again.
And with that she asked one of those unanswerable questions that really stump parents: "Where are the maples?"
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Monday, June 09, 2003
Got Gas?
Hello Everyone.
We were out for a walk the other day, my 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva happily riding her bike. We passed the gas station where she, with my husband Bob, put air in her flat tire a month ago.
"We'd better go in here, Mommy," she told me. My tire's almost out of gas."
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
We were out for a walk the other day, my 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva happily riding her bike. We passed the gas station where she, with my husband Bob, put air in her flat tire a month ago.
"We'd better go in here, Mommy," she told me. My tire's almost out of gas."
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Tuesday, June 03, 2003
Another Day, Another Sniffle ...
Hello Everyone.
Maybe by tomorrow I can get back to writting new stories. In the meantime, as I get another tissue for my now, here is a story from a little while ago.
A large part of being a parent involves the giving of guidance and direction to our children. Most conversations with a three-year-old have clear cut yes and no answers. No, you can't have chocolate for breakfast or yes, you have to wear your rubber boots because it's raining. There are times though when my three-year-old daughter just baffles me with her answers to seemingly innocuous questions.
A few days ago, at her usual bath time, I asked Neva if she wanted me to wash her hair. "Later" she said. "How much later?" I asked. "When I'm 4," was her response. I felt the crest of that wave fast approaching and all I could muster was, "We'll see..."
Today she asks: "When my fish dies, can we get a dog?" Isn't that a bit like trading in a Chevy for a Rolls Royce, I thought? "We'll see," I said.
Maybe the phrase "We'll see" is a parental safety net that keeps us from falling into conversational oblivion. I find myself using it with more and more regularity. Is my three-year-old really asking questions that I cannot answer or have I just become afraid of saying "no"?
Originally published November 15, 2002.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Maybe by tomorrow I can get back to writting new stories. In the meantime, as I get another tissue for my now, here is a story from a little while ago.
A large part of being a parent involves the giving of guidance and direction to our children. Most conversations with a three-year-old have clear cut yes and no answers. No, you can't have chocolate for breakfast or yes, you have to wear your rubber boots because it's raining. There are times though when my three-year-old daughter just baffles me with her answers to seemingly innocuous questions.
A few days ago, at her usual bath time, I asked Neva if she wanted me to wash her hair. "Later" she said. "How much later?" I asked. "When I'm 4," was her response. I felt the crest of that wave fast approaching and all I could muster was, "We'll see..."
Today she asks: "When my fish dies, can we get a dog?" Isn't that a bit like trading in a Chevy for a Rolls Royce, I thought? "We'll see," I said.
Maybe the phrase "We'll see" is a parental safety net that keeps us from falling into conversational oblivion. I find myself using it with more and more regularity. Is my three-year-old really asking questions that I cannot answer or have I just become afraid of saying "no"?
Originally published November 15, 2002.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Friday, May 30, 2003
We're Still All Sick ...
Hello Everyone.
I apologize that the creative juices haven't been flowing. My nose continues to however ... We'll be back on Monday with all new stories. Here is one from a little while ago.
My three-year-old daughter Neva is at the stage where she questions why things are the way they are. I try to give her answers that are clear enough to be understood and for the most part accurate. The sun has moved below the horizon and that's why it's dark outside.
Formed somewhere deep in her mind, nothing could have prepared me for the question she asked me earlier today. As soon as she asked my brain froze. Not a word came out of my mouth. Speechless as I was, the real problem was that I had absolutely no idea on how to respond. None what so ever.
"Why don't dogs wipe their bum?"
Originally published December 4, 2002.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
I apologize that the creative juices haven't been flowing. My nose continues to however ... We'll be back on Monday with all new stories. Here is one from a little while ago.
My three-year-old daughter Neva is at the stage where she questions why things are the way they are. I try to give her answers that are clear enough to be understood and for the most part accurate. The sun has moved below the horizon and that's why it's dark outside.
Formed somewhere deep in her mind, nothing could have prepared me for the question she asked me earlier today. As soon as she asked my brain froze. Not a word came out of my mouth. Speechless as I was, the real problem was that I had absolutely no idea on how to respond. None what so ever.
"Why don't dogs wipe their bum?"
Originally published December 4, 2002.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
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