It is once again off track time here in our little corner of suburbia. As I’ve mentioned before my kids go to a school that is on a year round schedule. A school that once, all the way back in ‘05, held the proud distinction of being the most populated elementary school in the state of Utah. Go Mormons, and their love for multiplying and creating urban sprawl. Not that I have any room to talk, because I’m contributing to the sprawl just as much as the faithful church goers. I’m trying to do my part to limit the multiplying though. Even though I have three kids, which in some places constitutes a large family, here in Utah you aren’t being a good Mormon if you don’t have at least four. Because naturally every child you have over three multiplies your blessings by like a million. And naturally Jesus can shove my extra blessings up his ass.

We are thankfully nearing the end of our three week break, with all it’s ups and downs. Sunny and Leo have been living life to the fullest, planted firmly on the couch in front of the video game du jour. Every suggestion I’ve made for an outing is met with disdain, because there is no XBox 360 at the Utah Children’s Museum! And I don’t have the energy to force them to be well rounded and interesting people. Let them be lumps because they will fit right in with all their suburban contemporaries. And one day they will resent the fact that I never took them anywhere.

My one hope is Badger, who has spent his off track time doing art projects. He has gone through an entire pack of nice white printer paper, drawing, cutting and endlessly taping. He tore through 3 packs of post-it notes, drawing a picture of a future occupation on each one. He has made at least 10 full sized paper people. He won’t stop and he won’t allow any of his creations to be discarded. It’s as annoying as it is endearing. But a least it isn’t video games.