Year 5, Day 335

Miles accompanied me to Heroes Aren't Hard to Find this week, and while every trip there with him has been a milestone, this was the very first time I've told him that he could pick some books out all by himself. Granted, there were limits (I'm not letting him leave there with any Milo Minara … Continue reading Year 5, Day 335 →

Year 5, Day 322

Jaclyn had a work event tonight, and while I like our typical family-focused Friday routine, it was pretty cool that this particular event was held at an indoor go-kart track. I wasn't sure how Miles would respond to the experience. Not that he wouldn't be enthused about the kart racing -- after all, he's become … Continue reading Year 5, Day 322 →

Year 5, Day 278

Speaking of traditions, here's an annual December event that millions of people enjoy. Not me, for reasons that will become obvious, but I'm sure everyone else absolutely loves taking the yearly stroll down auditory memory lane that is "Spotify Wrapped." There are probably a ton of insights to be found in these retrospectives -- confirmation … Continue reading Year 5, Day 278 →

Year 5, Day 192

I picked up the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Cowabunga Collection for Nintendo Switch last week, and with all the time he's spent playing Shredder's Revenge with me, it should come as no surprise that Miles was overjoyed to find we now had THIRTEEN more Turtles games to play, including the very game that vexed him … Continue reading Year 5, Day 192 →

Year 5, Day 171

In the days that followed our recent trip to Super Abari, Miles began honing his video game skills as we've tackled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge together. The Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers are the perfect size for him, and the game itself has really given Miles a chance to finally "get" how controller buttons … Continue reading Year 5, Day 171 →

Year 5, Day 157

Miles's love of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is well documented. I get it, I love them too. I've got a big soft spot tracing back to my younger days for those storied heroes in a half-shell. But there are different degrees of fandom. Some people buy toys, posters, games, and other products adorned with … Continue reading Year 5, Day 157 →

Year 5, Day 135

With Jaclyn out and about this afternoon, I thought today would be the perfect opportunity to visit the new location for one of my favorite Charlotte hangouts. More than merely amenable, Miles was excited to visit Super Abari Game Bar with me this afternoon. PICTURED: Palpable excitement. Upon entering, Miles was immediately drawn to multiple … Continue reading Year 5, Day 135 →

Year 5, Day 127

Someone (maybe my mom, maybe Jaclyn) decided it would be a great idea to hit Myrtle Beach for Fourth of July weekend this year. Miles was eager and ready for action. "I'm Donatello," he said. Little did he know that Grammy had picked up some fireworks just for him to set off this weekend. WHAT … Continue reading Year 5, Day 127 →

Year 5, Day 121

Having accomplished most of what I set out to do this weekend (and spent about as much money as I possibly could) by COB yesterday, today's final day of HeroesCon 2022 was wide open to be completely focused on one thing -- making it an experience that catered completely to Miles. Surveying an exhibit hall … Continue reading Year 5, Day 121 →

Year 5, Day 112

As is often the case for Miles and me, what began as a simple conversation this morning about Ninja Turtles quickly became a deep discussion about aging, time, and prospective descendants. Miles, fascinated by the thought of me as a child, wondered where he was in 1988, a period I was describing as the time … Continue reading Year 5, Day 112 →