Culinary arts

It's called a carrot tower and Oaks is very passionate about building them. And then eating them.

Squishy kneesies

I don't think these adorable baby knees, (notice all the cute dimples and squishiness?) have seen the sun in a very long time. I for one am so very happy they're exposed finally. Fat baby legs are almost the best thing on the planet.

Twins

We look so identical you can't tell which one of us is the real Monkey, can you?

Take Your Child To Work Day

So today was take your child to work day.   A day I have been planning and hoping to take Davey to work with me for a while now.  A few weeks ago, on an evening after we had a real good show, I figured it would be a good time to hit the old bossman up about having Davey come in with me.  He at first said no, because it was the first day of the book (tv sweeps), but then quickly changed his mind and said yes, but only if Davey was well behaved, and was not on tv.  I agreed and said how good Davey's behavior is.  So the pressure was really on.   Counting on a 4 almost 5 year old is rough.

Crystal snapped this first pic around 8:55 in the morning as we were heading out the door to work.  A few days ago we went out looking for a little suit for Davey for this day.  He picked out the clothes (a combo package at Kohls, suit w/pocket square, shirt and tie).  Lets say finding a suit for someone his age was an epic battle, but clearly, the battle was won as he looked great (could of filled the suit out better, but then again, I could probably work to not fill out the lower part of a shirt as much too).

When we took this pic, I was pretty jazzed about this day.   In fact, I have been waiting for this day since my boss agreed.   Davey always hears about my day, but never actually sees what I do.  Plus I love being around him, and whenever we get some 1 on 1 time, I always enjoy him. (I enjoy him with Crystal and Oaks like crazy too, just saying when its us 2, he is equally as fun and never a pain).

So when we get to work, I fully prepared Davey that we would have 3 meetings to attend today.   The first meeting is a super fun one where we all discuss story ideas for the day.   Davey got a nice introduction, said hello to a room full of adults and sat quietly next to daddy while everyone pitched their ideas.   Our assistant news director, being a good dad of two boys himself, also kept the pitch meeting very G rated, making sure ideas were not completely pitched if they were graphic for a 4 year olds ears.   Davey I don't think really was listening anyway, because when one of our reporters was making a great story pitch, Davey saw a backhoe through the window, pointed and said loudly, "backhoe!" which made the room break into smiles and laughter.   Next it was onto meeting number 2, a phone conference daddy had at 10am.   Davey wanted to learn what daddy looks at for forecasting so I showed him some model data to start.   Davey learned what the colors on the maps meant, where the time and dates were, and even how to read different maps (like a 300mb wind map).   When he realized the green was over Ohio on Saturday at 2pm, he learned t-ball practice might be cancelled :( 

About midway through the day, Nick (the 5/530 producer) informed me that Davey would be in the show at 5.   It was not my choice, because of the promise I made to my boss... Nick checked and the big man supported the idea, so Davey was in for the 530... below is his line C6 and C7 in the rundown. 

Next, there was a request in from our Assignments manager to put a quick social media video together for midday about the cold weather tonight, and to include Davey.   Wow, another Davey job.   Davey agreed, but only if we could eat first.   So when I asked Davey about working with me, I told him I would take him out to lunch.   NOPE!  He wanted mommy to make us special lunches.   Every day, he watches Crystal make my lunch in the morning.   So we went to the break room and enjoyed our lunch together.  Davey and I had to describe every item in our lunches, and then like the cool kid at the table he bragged about how his lunch was better.   I like to think Crystal made mine with a little more love ;) haha

After lunch, it was time to do our social media video.   We went outside to find a good spot to record it, and Davey wanted to do it right on the helipad, because it has a giant number 4 on it, and we were at NBC4.   Cool.   The video is on the nbc4 facebook page.   If you want to see it, its here https://www.facebook.com/NBC4i/videos/10152709318707751/  and Davey was solid.

Next we had another meeting at 130.   Our typical Thursday afternoon meeting.   Davey knew that we would have a group in for this, and I told him he needed to be quiet and it could take a while.  So he brought his leapreader pen and his frog headphones.   He was quietly sitting in there, and our GM walked into the meeting and immediately addressed Davey with a smile, since he said he just saw him on facebook.   Davey laughed and giggled a bit, and said something cute.  He was a champ in the meeting.   Next we were called to the studio so he could be set up for his camera shots in the 5pm show.   He is Davey at the weather switch.... that is when he realized there was a 70" tablet like thing behind him.

We have this array of monitors that is like 130", so when Davey saw himself on it across the studio, he was pretty excited.

Next, after the awesomeness of seeing himself in the huge array of monitors wore off, he started to practice his skill of "storm tracking".  More like "circling cities"   He had a blast doing it, and made for some crazy drawings, including one the newsroom thought would be on-air for my first weather hit.

Below is another pic of him working the radar from the big array of monitors on the set.

While I was preparing my show, our Chief, Jym Ganahl was showing Davey all kinds of webcams of animals and fish from around the world.   These two know each other fairly well, so they were like two kids in a candy shop watching these videos.   At one point during the actual show, I had to be the adult and tell them both to stay quiet :)   It was funny. 

So you have seen how professional athletes get ready for the big game, with their Beats By Dre headphones.  Well Davey was preparing for his 1st live in studio debut with his beats by frog headphones on.   Yes, behind the set, they basically just threw all the random crap we couldn't fit on the set.....

Here are a few screen shots from Davey's on-air hit that he had.   Here is the 4 shot with Duane and Ellie.

Two shot with Davey at weather center. 

Another shot at the weather center of us two 

What the hell, Davey is now an old pro, and is doing the comfortable lean into the camera.   I honestly think I was more nervous about how this would go than he was.



When it was all done, Davey did a great job, he put in a solid 9 hours at the station, and never complained or asked to go home.   He did a great job on-air, and he isn't even 5 years old, big task for a kid that young.   My co-workers were all so nice and supportive of him, and made him feel very welcome.   He met every manager in the building by the end of the day, they made him feel happy that he came in.   We (I) grabbed our stuff, we got in the car, and did the normal last thing I do before I leave the parking lot, call Crystal to discuss the day, and talk about the amazing dinner she was making us.  Tomorrow is going to be a significantly sadder day at work without my little monkey there with me.  On the plus side, I will not have to ask the guys in my phone conference call to "please excuse me, its take your kid to work day, and my 4 year old son has to use the bathroom now, as he just told me..." (which both guys who appear to be dads laughed and totally understood.) 

One more note, my worst, no 2nd worst nightmare about him coming to work came true tonight.   I thought I had him all ready for the show, we went to the bathroom 15 mins before the show, he had water, had headphones and tablet.   Well, I am getting the countdown until the show started 10, 9, 8, 7.... tug tug... "daddy!"  "daddy"   "uh oh, I have to go poo, right now!"  I asked him if he could wait, that's like asking an atomic bomb 1500 feet from contact if it could not explode.   I knew the answer before I asked.  I quickly looked at the rundown, and ran through my options.  The bathroom is behind the set, its close and safe, but do I have time?   I quickly run him in there, get him set, and run out to make sure that everything is running fine.  I run back into the bathroom, and details are details but the miracle of colons and gravity worked in rapid time, and we were cleaned and ready to get back in the studio a solid 90 seconds before my hit.   No sweat, no problem.   Being a parent really prepares you for anything.  

I love Davey so much (Oak too, but this blog is about Davey at work).  He was amazing today, and I really have to thank Crystal for her endless 24/7 teaching and working with our kids.  I knew he would not let me down today, and his behavior was great.  The kid is still 4 and he hung with adults all day at work, he talked, shook hands, fist bumped, and was on-air.   It really blows me away that I am either dumb enough to trust a kid that young, or he is amazing enough for me to trust at that young of an age (I know the 2nd is true).   For the record, he evened the score when he cried for mommy while brushing his teeth a few hours later... it was the epic meltdown that he only saves for home, thank god.

  I cannot wait until next year, when I can take my child to work again :)

** UPDATE **  Here is the clip from last night's show.



WATCH: two little monkeys jumping in a crib

Disclaimer: I changed Oak's diaper....I don't really make Davey Tre do that. 

WATCH: Muffins with mommy

Davey's school today invited all the mommies to come visit the school and eat breakfast with our son or daughter and watch the kids sing a few performances. It was really fun and made me so proud of my little man. Also while we were there he answered a few questions about me with some amusing answers like What's mommy's favorite show? He answered 'daddy's news'. And how much does mommy weigh and how tall is mommy? He answered '12 pounds and 12 feet tall'. And what's mommy's favorite song? He answered 'lullaby songs.' And what makes mommy very happy? He answered 'when I clean up my play room'. (He ain't lyin'!)

Yes sir!

Everything in this picture is his doing. The Iron Man shirt is part of a pajama set that's his favorite...he wants to wear them always. He put the soccer ball basket on his head and said "look mommy look mommy look at this, I'm a soldier." And then he saluted while saying "yes sir!!"

Just a swingin'

Sidewalks & sidekicks

Nothing is as chillaxing as walking hand-in-hand with brother and finding treasures on the sidewalk - like ants and a pine cone.

Superhero storytime with "T"

David Tre picked out a couple of his library superhero books for "T" to read to him before bed. Davey is a little scared of the villians in the books.

Bathtime is fun?

They weren't totally happy with me at bathtime tonight...I don't even remember why! But I was sure happy with them! Aren't they adorable! 

Carousel ride with B

Yay "B" and "T" are visiting us for a few days! The boys are having a fun time seeing them and wanted to show them the zoo. Davey talked B into riding the carousel with him. Big Dave and I are relieved she agreed since we get motion sick.

Biking with the boys

So hallelujah Spring is here and this weekend it was sunny and beautiful...temps almost hit 60 on Saturday... it was a great day to go biking with the boys. We drove the boys and the bikes to a nearby town where this fantastic bike trail begins. We rode 12 miles one way, stopped in Granville which is a really charming college town, ate some lunch and then rode back. It was beautiful to get a closer view of Ohio farmland and its wildlife (saw a lot of Cardinals and various other birds, chipmunks, squirrels, a snake, herds of cows, horses, and even a few buffalo that looked like cows or they were cows that looked like buffalo we still aren't sure). We did more than 25 miles round trip and that shattered our Mazza fam record, which is currently unknown but certainly a much smaller number.

Boys at children's museum

A few days ago I took the boys downtown to the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) which has a really elaborate children's play and explore area. Oakley is in awe of the whole place. He goes happily bananas in there. He wants to live there. But with David Tre, I'm starting to see little signs that he's on the very tippy verge of outgrowing parts of it. He skipped right over areas he used to enjoy like the barnyard and shadow/light corner. It was also the first time in three years that he didn't cry/scream/pout/argue when I said it's time to leave. He also seems to have matured passed getting into fights. By fights I mean yanking a toy from another kid, or having a toy yanked from him, and then a mad-face tug-of-war follows until parents intervene. There was none of that with him this time. If another kid stole David's toy, he just grabbed a different one or he gave the kid another toy to distract him and then got his back. David Tre might actually be cut out for a career with the UN. And baby brother might become a pediatrician (see below).

Library books

We were out running a few errands and the boys insisted we stop at the library. I'm a sucker for a library and happy boys so here we are. The boys are holding the books they want to check out. Davey is getting about a dozen superhero books (I'm holding most of them). Oaks is getting two train books.

The Sandbox

I'm kinda worried about my deprived kids. They don't have any toy trucks in their sandbox to play with. It's sad really. Poor little boys ;) ;)

Hocktee dame

As Oaks would say, we're at the "hocktee dame!" Gooo Blue Jackets. Oaks loves seeing these games more than anyone I think. He claps ferociously after the national anthem. His favorite player is the mascot actually... whose name is Stinger. A much much smaller (and stuffed) version is also Oak's sleeping buddy. He's part of Oak's foursome entourage in the crib: there's Blanket, Tigey, Elephant, and "Sting Sting".

Haircut no bueno

Before yesterday, we've tried to cut Oakley's hair four times. I tried once in the bathtub maybe 8 or 9 months ago. It was a disaster. I nearly clipped his ear with the scissors because he flailed and thrashed while screaming hysterically. I gave up and he won. The next time we tried, big Dave held Oak on the kitchen counter while I tried to cut his hair. That was an even worse disaster because the battle went on for too long. Big Dave didn't want to give up and little Oak was angrier than hell. I will never forget how red Oak's face was and how strong his little body was. Somehow Oakley won that round too...and I ended up yelling at everyone in the room and needed a drink-my nerves were gone and my blood pressure was spiking. I then decided we should let a professional to do the job; that way I could hold Oak while someone else did the cutting. We took him to Great Clips a few months ago. After holding Oak through the ordeal, I left the salon with hearing loss and ringing in my right ear from Oak's horrible shrills and shrieks. I think Oak screamed so long and loud that customers actually left the building before their appointments. The stylist tried her best but Oak's hair looked ridiculous... like only one side of it actually got cut. We took him back to Great Clips to try again not long ago and surprise surprise another fiasco. Worse actually...this time he did get nicked by the scissors and was bleeding on the back of his neck. That was the last straw for me...No more Great Clips. So yesterday, I decided we would try this hair cutting place specifically for kids...it's completely decked out to entertain and distract scared/pissed off kids like my Oak. He sat in an airplane and had a TV right in front of him playing Mickey Mouse. It all helped a tiny tiny bit...enough that for the first time all his hair finally got cut. And there was no blood! Although lots of tears and screaming still... but we left happy. (my blood pressure was falling back to normal levels)

THE BEFORE:

THE AFTER: