Sandoval Family Blog

Birds and the Bees, Daddy Style

While watching "Cheaper by the Dozen, Two" Olivia asked Steve tonight, "Daddy, how do they know the difference between the girl babies and the boy babies after the babies are born? Is it by the color of their blanket?"

Steve: "Yes, that's it."

Overheard this weekend

"Mom, we literally put an X on the days on my calendar at the end of each day, right?"

I love that she's using the word "literally" and she's using it correctly.

And let it be noted that tax season is almost officially over. However, the hockey playoff season has started and doesn't finish until November (okay, a slight exaggeration).

Oh well, at least Olivia seems to enjoy watching the games with Steve sometimes!

Under the Influence

Over the past year or so, several of my CDs have made it into Olivia's room. One of her favorites for bedtime is a Christmas mix CD I made. Another favorite is an old Sarah McLachlan CD. A moment ago I went in Olivia's room to get her ready for a nap. I walked in to hear an unfamiliar song playing.

"That's Daddy's music," she said, "He let me borrow it."

It only took about 30 seconds to realize it was the new Jimmy Buffett CD. She is officially under the Buffett influence. Steve will be so proud.

"I absolutely love it, Mommy," Olivia told me. (Her version of absolutely is more like "absalutally.")

• One night when I was sick he showed up early, despite the fact that it's tax season.
• He took my six-page Word-document grocery list and somehow organized it into a two-page Excel spreadsheet that's easier to use...
• also because he doesn't think it's anal to shop from a pre-made grocery list...
• also because he's totally willing to grocery shop.
• He jokes my taste in music, yet when we got married and combined our CD collection, we had lots of duplicates of the same CDs...
• and two of the duplicate CDs were...The Backstreet Boys and N'Sync. (He's going to kill me for making that public.)
• He knows his way around computers, Quicken and numbers in general. It's oddly sexy. I'm in awe.
• He only joked me a little bit when I couldn't get a bank deposit slip to add up correctly.
• He's ambitious, self-driven and incredibly talented and still manages to be be completely in the picture when it comes to family.
• He accepts me for who I am, doesn't say a word when I eat a cupcake all of his ice cream sandwiches while dieting, and has never suggested that my roots could use touch-ups.
• He does a great impression of the "Carnnneeee Asada" lion in the Taco Bell commercial.
• He's a fabulous dad - involved, hands-on and even throws a load of Olivia's laundry in when I least expect it.

There are more where these come from...but for now,

Happy Valentine's Day, Steve!

Making her daddy proud ... Part 2

Amy had some friends over Friday night for book club, so Olivia and I went out. We decided to go to our first hockey game! I bundled her up with a warm coat and hat and we headed out. We had to wait in a long line to get a ticket and she did really good waiting. When we got into the stadium, the first thing we saw was a fight between 2 players. She didn't ask what was going on and I didn't explain that part. Approximately 30 seconds after we got into our seats, the snow cone man came by and the popcorn plans went flying out the window. It was a rainbow colored snow cone, of course! She munched and slurped on her snow cone and got to see her first goal. It was a penalty shot. How cool! Our player scored, a siren went off, people cheered and loud music played. It caught her off guard a bit and she covered her ears, but she liked it when they started playing music. She mentioned that that was one of her favorite parts. She asked a lot of questions like:
"What is that machine doing?" "Cleaning the ice," I said.
"Are they coming back?" "Yes after they go take a break."
"Why did THAT light come on daddy?" "Because the other team scored."
In the middle of the 2nd period, she was standing up dancing to the music and a strange look came across her face. (Not the one we remember from when she was a baby and going #2) It was the look of a cold pre-schooler. The snow cone cold had kicked in. I put her jacket on and we headed out near the end of the 2nd. When she realized we were leaving the building, she didn't want to go. I promised that we would come back soon. "Tomorrow?" "They are not playing tomorrow, but soon." (My proudest moment) On the walk back she talked about all the things she saw...
I've been to a lot of hockey games. I threw a rat at Panther's playoff game (don't worry PETA, it was plastic) ... I've thrown my favorite hat for a hat trick... seen the Admirals win the cup... seen a Stanley Cup finals game... this had to be one of greatest games I have ever been to.

Steve's new job

The company Steve now works for was recently picked by Inside Business as one of the Top 25 Best Places to Work in Hampton Roads. An accounting site did a story to  cover the news. Click here to read the story - it's a great look at what they're doing to work with their employees. We're both very impressed with them so far!