tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807754600713098882012-02-01T10:13:59.700-05:00Observations From a Stay-At-Home DadKevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-35123391169374718612008-07-08T11:31:00.008-04:002008-09-09T13:45:30.159-04:002008-09-09T13:45:30.159-04:00

Summer has come and gone and Tiernan is back at school. The kids and I had a good summer at The Club. This year it was harder to navigate the dangerous waters of the Social Swim Club. We have more friends in town, now that Tiernan is in school all of his buddies from school were there. Which is great. Our social circles are expanding. Also Tiernan is getting to be a big boy and big boys take

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-5017437003706970032008-05-13T08:59:00.006-04:002008-05-13T10:34:54.152-04:002008-05-13T10:34:54.152-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, Mom came home with great news, one of her co-workers was offering her 2 tickets the Mets vs. Braves game on Saturday afternoon, her co-worker thought the Tiernan and I would enjoy going to the game. The co-worker was right..... Now, I will readily admit that baseball is not my thing. I am not anti-baseball, I am just baseball-agnostic. I don't worship one team or

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-16027394198233237932008-04-07T11:04:00.003-04:002008-04-07T11:31:48.541-04:002008-04-07T11:31:48.541-04:00

Hello again, gentle reader. (I know who you are.) Let me reintroduce myself. I am Dad and I've been away from my cyberposting post. It has been a pretty lousy 2008. I stopped just before the holidays and with all the holiday hype, followed shortly by a Birthday bacchanal, followed quickly by a heart attack (not me), followed by a little thing the doctors call cardiac difib, and a Dick Cheney

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-8193645681174196102007-12-21T08:44:00.001-05:002007-12-21T09:16:01.682-05:002007-12-21T09:16:01.682-05:00

One of the many blessings that make up Reagan, which include her burgening sense of humor and unstoppable cuteness, is her sleeping habits... She sleeps. At night when it is time for bed she goes to be. No fight, no fuss. And she sleeps all night 98 percent of the time. Earlier this Fall she was released from the confinement of a crib, and now sleeps free-range. She is still her crib but one of

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-74582887396574960342007-12-18T10:51:00.000-05:002007-12-18T11:01:51.885-05:002007-12-18T11:01:51.885-05:00

It seems, I can't get rid of Lightning McQueen and the gang. They are coming around for a second lap.Recently, Reagan is trying to talk more and more. She's always talked, alright babbled a lot. Mostly, just incoherent baby blather. Like a Democrat. I have conditioned myself to stop trying to decipher this baby blather. But now she is trying to tell me something. Early last week, she was trying

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-67413482491487520402007-12-18T09:58:00.000-05:002007-12-18T10:40:12.431-05:002007-12-18T10:40:12.431-05:00

The other night the whole gaggle of O'Rourke's were sitting at the dinner table for our nightly repast. There is one among us who is a Slow Eater... To the Slow Eater other things seem to take higher priority for the Slow Eater. The Slow Eater feels compelled to do anything while at the dinner table as long as it isn't eat his meal. He will dance. He will make faces. He will spontaniously get up

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-60552144183309729162007-12-07T10:44:00.000-05:002007-12-07T11:03:10.588-05:002007-12-07T11:03:10.588-05:00

It is been a weird and busy and sick couple of weeks here at Casa O'Rourke. The boys (Tiernan and I) have been sick all week. The coughing, the oozing mucus, the fever, the general discomfort. We seem to be improving. Always a good thing. So, Reagan has gone from being a baby girl to a little girl in like two weeks....I had chance to measure her on her wall-based growth chart. She is 2-feet, 10 3

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-81485902437359575082007-12-04T18:14:00.000-05:002007-12-04T18:14:20.626-05:002007-12-04T18:14:20.626-05:00

The first snow allowed the kids to get and get their shovel on.    

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-91310296527683096732007-11-13T15:19:00.001-05:002007-11-13T17:36:40.967-05:002007-11-13T17:36:40.967-05:00

Earlier today, the kids and I were driving to the Stop N' Shop for groceries. On the way we passed a house that had already decked its halls for Christmas. And Tiernan said, "Daddy, we have to put up our Christmas Decorations." I said...."Not yet." It is just too soon for anyone to be putting up Christmas decorations. I am not a Scrooge, but I haven't finished eating my kids' Halloween candy yet.

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-20398170948883250212007-11-07T09:22:00.000-05:002007-11-07T09:39:50.810-05:002007-11-07T09:39:50.810-05:00

Last month my little warrior/artist painted himself and most of the basement floor red for the sake of art. BraveArt, I called it. As with all great art, it has had a lasting effect on the house....It seems, I have discovered the "weapon" he used to do all that painting of himself and the basement. It was a toy dust-brush. Part of a toy dust-brush and dust-pan, which purchased for the kiddies so

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-70405355475293275102007-11-06T09:30:00.000-05:002007-11-06T10:17:28.039-05:002007-11-06T10:17:28.039-05:00

Do anyone remember back in June, when I referred to Reagan as Sir Edmund Hilary reincarnated? At that time, I mentioned her lack of fear and proclivity for climbing. Well, she has managed to climb out of her crib.... Yup, she has mastered the ability to climb out of her crib, and as a result she's longer sleeping in a "crib." She now sleeps in a daybed, which is her crib with the outside rail

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-57363607730146030372007-11-05T09:16:00.000-05:002007-11-05T09:49:34.493-05:002007-11-05T09:49:34.493-05:00

Last week saw the coming and going of Halloween. It was a very busy day here at Casa O'Rourke. First, was Tiernan's big school Halloween shindig. He was all excited to go to school in his dragon costume. Reagan had her costume on when we dropped him off at school. She was a Butterfly....After school it was on to Hockey Lessons. It was great because DirectorMom had taken the day off and was able

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-71763453922191171792007-10-29T15:51:00.000-04:002007-10-29T16:10:55.503-04:002007-10-29T16:10:55.503-04:00

One Shoe Rea is a simple person. A person who likes to wear only one shoe. Two shoes are... excessive for Rea. Rea likes cookies, especially Oreos that have been on the floor. Rea likes things simple. Rea is a simple person, who doesn't like mind dirt on food, but takes issue with more food being on her food. For instance, BBQ sauce on chicken nugget will not fly for Rea. Too much excess. Rea

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-31329583439132338492007-10-22T16:10:00.001-04:002007-10-23T11:37:47.784-04:002007-10-23T11:37:47.784-04:00

Lunchtime around here is usually a good time. Everybody here likes to eat, and eating is a good thing. An inter-generational favorite is peanut butter and jelly. The mighty PB&J. Lord knows it sustained me for most of my kidhood...The PB&J gets no respect. It isn't a healthy meal but it is beloved. It is like pizza. Everybody craves it but nobody admits that living on a diet of purely pizza would

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-31543217929856571342007-10-10T09:38:00.000-04:002007-10-15T00:34:50.126-04:002007-10-15T00:34:50.126-04:00

While Reagan was napping yesterday, Tienan felt the call of the muse. He wanted to do "Art." He was walking around saying, "Dad, I want to do my art. My art. I must do my art." So I set him up at the easel, his grandfather made for him and let the creativity flow unrestricted....When Tiernan the artist, feels the call of the muse he prefers to work in mulitiple mediums, so there was makers, and

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-40113534776618792392007-10-03T15:09:00.000-04:002007-10-03T15:15:37.414-04:002007-10-03T15:15:37.414-04:00

Here is some video evidence of Tiernan's skating ability. This is last week's lesson. He did much better last week than the week before.Hopefully, he'll be even better this week, especially since he'll have a hockey helmet and not that goofy red bike helmet. That little Ranger fan he's skating with is our neighbor.

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-74476790615846217842007-10-03T08:55:00.001-04:002007-10-04T10:15:06.647-04:002007-10-04T10:15:06.647-04:00

I have the iPod playing in the kitchen throughout the day. All day long, I subject my kids to whatever musical whim, may come over me....Sometimes it is the old school heavy metal of Judas Priest and Kiss, or the alt-country stying of Charlie Robinson and Robert Earl Keen, or the classic rock tones of Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen, or maybe the indie-goodness of Death Cab for Cutie and The

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-58240419369020998722007-09-27T10:09:00.001-04:002007-10-02T00:30:20.044-04:002007-10-02T00:30:20.044-04:00

Way back in August. Tiernan hit a tremendous milestone for a young boy. He went to his first NFL game. I have New York Giants season tickets with my father, thanks to his brilliant forethough 30-some years ago. In 1975, my father put his name on the New York Football Giants season ticket list, 27 years later, we were asked to join one of the most exclusive clubs in the country. The Giants asked

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-83504041687026373572007-09-24T09:42:00.000-04:002007-09-24T11:21:04.098-04:002007-09-24T11:21:04.098-04:00

We are a Devils House. No not the dark angel, belezabub, satanesque devils. The New Jersey Devils Hockey team. We live in New Jersey we are Devils fans. Before the children came, DirectorMom and I would go to games quite often. I've taken the kids to see the Devils practice in West Orange. And Tiernan has even been to two games already in his short life. We are hockey people... We have neighbors

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-70314026209978615762007-09-23T14:11:00.000-04:002007-09-23T15:27:53.710-04:002007-09-23T15:27:53.710-04:00

Oh For Pete's Sake. A harlmess oath which is a safe replacement for "For Christ Sake," and one I use around the house quite a bit, i.e. "Would you please clean up that pile of cars for Pete's Sake!," or "For Pete's sake, please stop screaming" or "For Pete's sake would you get your hands out of your pants" or "For Pete's sake, please please please, stop jumping on my chest." We do a lot of

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-82176700806571574002007-09-14T08:58:00.000-04:002007-09-14T09:52:17.079-04:002007-09-14T09:52:17.079-04:00

Tiernan's bedtime/overnight issues discussed in an earlier post persist. He's still having a hard time letting go of the day and embracing sleep. We have nightly tantrums and tears when its time to hit the sheets. But the bedtime bedlam is the least of the problems...Back in July when I first reported Tiernan's sleep issues, I took SuperNanny's advice and did a chart with a great reward. The deal

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-11186044859000775512007-09-13T09:04:00.000-04:002007-09-13T09:27:19.063-04:002007-09-13T09:27:19.063-04:00

Today was Tiernan's first day of pre-school. It was his third-first day of pre-school. Technically, it isn't his first day of school, because it is pre-school - not school. Technically, it isn't his first day of pre-school at Corpus Christi School, because we went to orientation yesterday, so yesterday his first day of pre-school, but not really...This isn't the first time he's attending school.

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-29729651819267710232007-09-11T12:02:00.000-04:002007-09-11T14:19:22.643-04:002007-09-11T14:19:22.643-04:00

It is once again Sept. 11. Six years later, and it still hurts. This year, I watched the reading of the names. And it seems to be getting easier. I was able to watch names being read, something I could not do last year...It is painful. You can't help but getting choked up. Again this year, I spent the morning choking back tears and mumbling curses to myself. The idea of 9/11 fatigue is abhorrent

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-34434995573296053382007-09-11T01:22:00.000-04:002007-09-11T01:25:19.239-04:002007-09-11T01:25:19.239-04:00

We were all on vacation again. Our yearly trek to the beautiful and wonderful world that is Duck, N.C. While in Duck we did some swimming and guess who likes to jump into the pool ....Reagan. She is an adrenaline junkie. I have video proof.

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1880775460071309888.post-19319751571077121322007-08-23T11:14:00.000-04:002007-08-23T11:14:26.319-04:002007-08-23T11:14:26.319-04:00

Tiernan was heavily into Thomas for a while. He spent two-years under the spell of the "Really Useful Blue Engine." For his second Christmas, (making him just shy of two-years old at the time, for those of you scoring at home) I, er uh, Santa got him Fisher-Price's GeoTrax trains. Santa was hoping that the trains would act as a sort of methadone for his Thomas addiction and ween him off. Santa

Kevin O'Rourkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01231341383575412537noreply@blogger.com2