100th Post Extravaganza

We did it everyone! 100 posts!!

To celebrate reaching this milestone, I figured I would do a fun themed list. Also, I pulled the kids on this one to help me write it :)

"100 Things the Megows Think You Should Know"

100) This morning, I stepped out of my room after getting ready for work to find all four of my kids still in their pjs, all crouching on all fours, forming a circle, and howling. Apparently, they were a wolf pack this morning. 

99) Lately, the kids and I have been getting into the Disney classic movies. I've discovered that Belle is my dream woman. (besides being a cartoon and all...) 

98) When I asked Stevie what she would like to share with the blog readers. She left the room for about 45 seconds and came running back with this…

“Dad, this is a moth pooping out the alphabet. This represents our family.”

97) Titus has decided to be a professional magician when he grows up. But he wants to be “the kind that wears the cape” not one on the street. Because if you wear a cape on the stage, you get to be with a pretty girl.

96) Speaking of Titus the magician, he has this new trick where he acts like he's cracking his neck. I haven't been able to get a video of it yet. But that junk is freaking impressive.It's so fun watching him create his little tricks. He gets really into them.

Another of his favorite tricks

95) Olive likes to put kiddie toothpaste on her lollipops to make them “spicy”. The last few suckers she has gotten, she has eaten while sitting on the bathroom counter.

94) Olive recently requested "melted ice" to drink. Not water. Melted ice. She sat and watched it melt to assure I didn't give her water. 

93) In high school, I was watching Scooby Doo and saw the way Shaggy walked and thought it was hilarious. So he walked around the room kicking his knees out like Shaggy does. He started doing it at school to be funny. After about a week, he couldn’t stop. Still to this day, I walk like Shaggy from Scooby Doo.

92) I've been giving the kids more responsibilities lately. Mostly, they focus on helping keep the house clean. They absolutely hate cleaning. I can't blame them. I don't like it. In the words of Neela, "God made me an aminal girl, not a cleaning girl. God gave me aminal super powers. Not broom hands dad."

91) As many of you know Titus's love language is Words of Encouragement. He is constantly telling me encouraging things when I'm feeling down. He also writes little surprise letters as I've shared with you guys before, but one of my favorite things about my little buddy is what he does when he gets in trouble. After getting in trouble for something, he almost ALWAYS comes back with a little handwritten apology. It's just so sincere and tenderhearted.

90) According to Stevie, Neela always smells like a skunk.. but only on Thursdays. 

89) Titus's thoughts on the weather lately: "It's confusing. At recess I get hot when I put on my jacket, but cold when I take it off. It would be easier if I could have hair all over my body like you. I could stay warm without a jacket. Dad? When will I grow hair all over my body like you? I hopewhen I turn 8."

88) Neela is currently torn about her future career as a zoologist. She wants to have a pet puppy when she grows up but is worried about jaguars in Africa eating her dog. It's a very very big issue in our house at the moment.

87) The last family meeting the kids told me that I was getting too fat. Their suggestion to correct this is assign to Titus develop me a workout plan. Because in their words, "You are soft to lay with so we like that, but remember dad, you aren't Santa."

86) The kids have really been getting interested in the blog lately. They've known we have "a website", but lately when strangers stop us and talk about the blog the kids have been thinking it's just super neat. When I asked them about how they feel about me sharing our family with the world, they always love the idea. Lately, they have been wanting to become more involved which I love. Stevie is wanting to start filming art lessons. Neela wants to live stream a frog hunt. Titus wants to use it to get his magic career off the ground. Olive just wants me to film her asking for candy and have people bring it to her. 

85) Every night the kids take turns with "alone time with dad". Alone time is really a special time for us. One on one time with each kid in our current life situation is hard to come by. So when it's each kid turn, they get to pick about 30 minutes worth of activities and we do it just us two in my room. Stevie had hers tonight. So per her request, we laid together on the floor and just talked. She just giggled for about 10 minutes straight as she told me about the funny dreams Neela has every night. Apparently for three nights in a row, Neela told Stevie has had a dream where the tooth fairy comes to their room, but Neela farts so bad that the tooth fairy passes out. 

84) Olive is about to be 5 years old in a few weeks :( While I am sad she's growing up, I'm super excited about seeing her little (giant) personality develop. 

This sweetheart has my heart.

83) Speaking of Olive's birthday, we are currently planning her birthday party. Today she told me she doesn't want cake or cupcakes at her party. She wants soup instead.

82) One time when I was a little kid my mom told me she was going to buy me a turtleneck shirt for our annual Christmas pictures. I was PUMPED! I never had ninja turtle shirt before!! Needless to say I wasn't thrilled when she came home and I found out what I turtleneck shirt was. I was crying in the family pictures that year. 

81) Neela asks about a dog daily. Literally every day that kid asks about a dog. When I ask her if she is responsible enough to potty train a dog, her reply is "Yes! I'm going to take it outside and poop in the yard beside it so it knows what to do."

"Trust me dad. I'm an aminal expert."

80) I try really hard to limit screen time. So I like the kids to ask before watching a show or getting on their tablet. It's hard to say no when Olive walks up and says "Dad. Can I have scream time?"  hahaha

79) Titus has been going through a "fancy clothes" stage. He wanted some new ties for Christmas. 

78) When I started my job at Wiregrass GA Tech as the person who ran the Testing Center (about 7 years ago) , I shared an office with my friend Nicole. So on one of my very first days of work, she went to go run down the hallway. I had this funny thought to hide under the desk and jump out and surprise her when she walked back in. I was dying laughing sitting under the desk just waiting to come back to the office. A few minutes pass and suddenly someone just plops down in my chair. So I just waited for a few minutes and finally just said "Excuse me. It's Seth. I'm trapped under the desk. Would you mind rolling the chair back so I can get out?" Of course it turns out to be my boss's boss who I hadn't really met yet. I'm an idiot.

77) Lately, my favorite time of day is late at night before I go to sleep. I walk around and see my kiddos sleeping peacefully. There's nothing more beautiful than seeing your babies asleep in the glow of a Panda nightlight. Sometimes, I just sit on the edge of their beds and wonder how the heck I got so blessed. It's always such a serene moment for me. 

76)  Over Christmas break the kids and I took a winter road trip. We went to stay at a friend's cabin in North Carolina. The kids absolutely loved hiking. Well.. most of the kids.

Olive: "I hate hiking. I hate leaves. I hate waterfalls. I hate nature. 

I only want to eat chips on the couch and watch Princess movies."

75) I'm convinced my kids found a way to mass produce the fake grass that comes in Easter Egg baskets, and my children are attempting to have it take root in my carpet. I can't remember the last time I vacuumed and didn't see some in the when I dumped it out. Next Easter if anyone gives my kids a basket and it contains that fake grass, I will cut you. ;)

74) I've recently adopted this tune as the official Megow theme song. 

"You got troubles, I got'em too. There is anything I wouldn't do for you.

Lets stick together and we can see it through. 

You've got a friend in me."

Geez, I love that.

73) Stevie's favorite thing is to show new classmates around the school. She always gets so excited at dinner when she tells me that she got picked to welcome the new student. I love that about her. That girl is the most loving and compassionate person I have ever met. She literally gives hugs to everyone she sees. We are checking out of the grocery store line, "Wait dad, I need to hug the cashier" They are with me at work "Wait dad, I need to hug all of your students.". Seriously, I have never met someone who wants people to feel welcome and valued as Stevie does.

My best friend

72) Neela is still on the hunt to find dad a wife. Honestly, she asks complete strangers everyday to marry dad. The other day we were visiting my grandma at the nursery home, and she asked a 90 year old woman to marry me. When the lady said "yes". Neela was ecstatic and asked her "So once you two are married, are you moving in with us or will we live here. I hope we live here. I've always wanted a house with an elevator."

71) I hate laundry. Recently, I waited a little too long to take the clean clothes out of the hamper. 

Oops.

70) I'm convinced there's nothing sharper for a man to wear than suspenders and a knit wool tie. #classy

69) Every night at dinner, we go around the table and all have to say one way that we each made someone smile that day. I think it's probably my favorite tradition that we do in our house.

68) My kids have been getting into legos lately. On an unrelated note, my feet are constantly sore. 

Pretty much my life now...

67) I'm about to launch a formal investigation to find the "Midnight Cheese Block Biter"

Exhibit A.

This is the fourth block I have found like this.

66) My favorite candy is black licorice. It's perfect because everyone else in the world hates it, so people just give it all to me. However, I might need to slow my roll on this gifted Black Licorice. (See list #87)

65) Speaking of candy, Titus came home distraught  because he figured out a boy in his class doesn't like candy. He says "Dad... I really just don't get it. I've thought and thought about it. I'm worried about him."

64) The kids have kind of thought of unofficial titles for each of us:

Seth- "The silly one"

Stevie- "The artistic one"

Neela- "The nature one"

Titus- "The nice one"

Olive- "Olive" 

63) Megows love palindromes. They are our favorite. The kids get so pumped when they see one. 

62) This Calvin and Hobbes strip makes me cry every time.

61) 2017 is the year I'm truly going to start writing my book. So everyone do me a favor, when you see me in public ask me how the book is coming. I need the motivation :)

60) I know it's rare in men, but I officially have baby fever. Geez, I want another little tiny so bad.

59) If you ask Neela what shes most proud of in her life, there's a 38% chance she will tell you about the time she ate a worm.

58) Every morning, Olive picks me a flower. It's my favorite.

57) I caught Titus practicing his winking in the mirror the other day. When I asked him what he was doing, he said "Getting ready for Valentine's Day." HAHAHA. I'm convinced that boy will have girls falling for him left and right. He's such a kind soul, but knows how to charm a lady ;)

56) Seth's secret to the perfect hot chocolate - Use marshmallow cream instead of regular marshmallows. Trust me. It's life changing.

55) When I asked Titus what he wanted to include on this list, he paused for a second and then said "I want to tell everyone that I love them... Also, tell people not to eat their boogers."

54) I turned 32 this year. When I asked the kids what they thought about that, the responses ranged from "You are still the most handsome" to "Wow. You are old. You might die soon. We should buy a lot of snacks to fill up our pantry. You know... just in case."

53) My kids are around each other quite a bit. So naturally, they argue. This is probably my favorite argument I have ever broken up. One time Neela punched Titus for something. Instead of hitting back, he quietly snuck into her room, grabbed one of her toys, took it to the bathroom and peed on it. HAHAHA. It was insanely hard not to laugh when I was talking to him. "Titus, did it make God happy or sad when you peed on your sister's My Little Pony?"

52)  Titus: "Dad, Neela has the chicken pox."

Seth: "No she doesn't."

Titus: "Well, she's walking around pecking like a chicken. So...."

51) One of my favorite feelings is when I "out-fun" the kids :D

50) Crap. Only half way through. Who's genius idea was this anyways? Oh yeah... mine.

49) I know people always make New Year's Resolutions or Personal New Year's goals. I don't think I will do that this year. Instead, I might just little humor tests to see if I can draw the line between funny weird and just weird. Just little things that are really off the wall. For example, when someone asks me a question, I would drop everything I am holding, walk up really close to them, make my face really serious and whisper back to them super awkwardly what they just said but a random name of the opposite sex at the end. For example:

Scott: "How's life been lately?"

Seth *leaning in ultra close to their face: "How's life been lately Linda?"

You know just see how weird I can really make myself in 2017.

48) One of my all time favorite Titus stories

47) This is me at every grown up event.

46) Although Neela can be ultra silly a lot of time, that girl can get really deep. I love hearing her thoughts. Normally on the weekends, she stays up late with me while everyone else goes to sleep. We just hang out together and talk. She has remarkably deep emotions and thoughts. That's one of my favorite things about single parenting. Sometimes I am the only person who gets to experience these little things about each of my kids. I can't think of a better blessing. :)

45) Before my divorce but after my ex-wife decided to move out, I got really down for a long time. I was still in love with her and trying desperately to make it work. I battled deep depression constantly. One night (very late, maybe around 3-4am) I remember crying and praying for God to show me some kind of sign that He still loved me and asked Him if anyone viewed me I was truly valuable and irreplaceable in their lives. Literally right when I finished praying, I saw my door crack up and Olive climbed in my bed, gave me a little kiss, and said "I just love you Daddy". Then walked back to her bed and went to sleep. Immediately, my heart was full. I love how God can use the tiniest things for the most significant, life altering experiences.

44) Another thing I love about single parenting is I get to set the normal in our family. It's just a freedom I just truly truly enjoy. One of the things that I've encouraged is holding hands. That is just something so simple, but is also something so close and affectionate. My kids have really picked up it and nothing makes me happier.

   

  

43) So I just looked at the clock. it's 3:47am. This thing is gonna be down TONIGHT. I need to go eat a (healthy) snack for some energy. By right back

_____________________________

42) Fact #42. I just ate some peanut butter crackers and drank the best beverage on earth for my snack.

This stuff is brain meltingly delicious

41) Oh snacks... That's one thing everyone loves. Snacks. Stevie is probably my biggest snacker (because she is an ultra picky eater). I'm sure she will grow out of it. But in the meantime, it's just a "pick your battles" thing. There's one thing this girl likes though. Chocolate. One day, she told me she needed my laptop to do some work. I found this file on my computer later in the evening.

40) Me and the kids love music. Our tastes are pretty eclectic; so the kids and I really like make 1990's style mixed CD's. There's really nothing better than a good mixed CD!! Don't you remember how fun it was when someone burned you a CD. Normally, me and the kids each pick a few songs to each CD. We will play it for a month or two in the car, then make another. Our current mix has everything on it from James Taylor, the Beatles, Jack Johnson & Otis Redding to Disney Princess songs and the theme song from Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers 

39) Not trying to brag, but I had the most epic senior yearbook photo ever.

38) This.

37) I'm convinced if you greet people with a smile and pleasant attitude, your day is just going to be so much better. A smile and warm greeting shows people that you are happy to see them. Which makes them feel valuable about themselves and just leads to happiness all around. Making people feel valued is probably one of my main goals in life.

36) The other day I kept smelling this weird smell coming from the kids bathroom. I finally tracked it down to one of the cabinets under the sink. It was a mason jar filled with mud, applesauce, and ketchup. So I dumped it out and washed the jar. A few hours later, I hear this child screaming from the bathroom "WHAT HAPPENED TO MY EXPERIMENT?!?!"

35) My great-granddad used to be a millionaire. This was back in the day, so that was A LOT of money. He started a model company called "Megow Models". It was ultra successful. After Pearl Harbor was bombed, the government took all of his balsa wood to make cases for submarine missiles. That ruined his business. Megow Models have actually been featured in the Smithsonian. Isn't that so neat!! Google it! :)

34) My first car was a red 1966 VW Bus. Man. I loved that car. I had so so many awesome memories in that ole bus. However, it was kinda a death trap. I had to Flintstone stop that thing more than once, when the brakes, emergency brake, and transmission went out all at once. 

33) I love babysitting for friends. I enjoy it for a few reasons. One, it gives my kids friends to play with. Two, it gives my friends the chance to do something fun. Three, seriously once I passed three kids,it's pretty much a "herding" parenting style anyways. So there's not much difference adding a few more kiddos to the mix :)

"Adding a few more kiddos to the Mix"

FYI The Mix is a local froyo spot. See what I did there? 

Impressive writing huh?

32) I think I have life pretty together, but geez. I see where Neela gets her clumsiness from. Today I made a point to count how many times I accidentally dropped my phone on the ground. Six times. I dropped my phone of the ground six times today. This is everyday. Seriously people, don't give me nice things. I will break them, and then probably just blame it on my kids when they aren't around ;)

31) I think I'm super content being single. I know people say that to sound not desperate, but I really am content with how my life is at this moment. However, one day I would love to get married. I want to have a partner and best friend that I get to kiss whenever I want. I'm being patient though. I feel if you rush things like that, it's never going to end up with anything worth while. This is my scripture for my wait.

30) This song always reminds me of my Stevie. The first time I had ever heard it was driving home from the hospital after she was born. It's just extremely special to me.

29) I'm probably the most least competitive person I have ever met. Seriously, I don't really care if I win or lose at things. I don't really know that's a bad or good thing. It's just the way I'm wired. My parents were still super supportive of me playing sports and stuff going up. I mean it was still fun to win, but really I just enjoyed spending time with my friends. True story, one time during a soccer game I was on the bench (like usual) and wandered off to explore the woods behind the field. The coach called me in the play, but no one could find me. When they finally found me, I was just picking blackberries and was using my soccer jersey to carry them around in like a basket.

28) Neela is probably the messiest eater I have ever seen in my life. Good news about that is that it's impossible for her to hide if she ever sneaks any snacks.

Seth: "Neela have you been eating chocolate?"

Neela: "How did you know?!?"

27) I love wearing glasses. It's like decorations for your face. Plus, they make an excellent way to hide bags under your eyes if you haven't sleep in a month or two :) hahaha

26) Stevie literally don't care at all about fashion. She would wear the same thing every day if I let her. She's tried to talk me into letting her 3x adult men's pajama tshirt to school before. But I have also found that there is one fashion statement even Stevie won't sink to.

25) Number 25. Getting close! Let's make up a poem. (PS. I love little poems)

We are on number 25.

That number is divisible by five.

Not all poems rhyme.

24) One of things I miss most about my kids being little is carrying them around in a little chest carrier. I used to love to tote my little tikes around in one of those. :)

23) My kids are getting to the age, where they love having and spending money. It's just so exciting to them. I try to make them earn money they want. My favorite memory of Stevie wanting to make money was she wanted to shave our heads, dye the hair rainbow, sew them into afros, and sell clown wigs door to door. 

22) Olive will not go to sleep unless you rub her tummy. She will just stand there and stare at you. Until you do it. 

21) Another Olive fact. She is incredibly flexible. Like REALLY flexible. She sleeps in her bed every night doing a complete leg split. I need to enroll that girl in gymnastics or something.

A typical Olive relaxation pose

20) My kids love stuffed animals. I mean that's the only toy they really ever want or ask for. The thing about their stuffed animal thing, is they actually play with them everyday. I love it. It's just so much imagination. 

19) One thing I pride myself on is that I try my hardest to never give unsolicited parenting advice. On occasion I will have people ask random questions. Normally, when I get asked questions it's something like this "My kid is doing this ultra weird thing, have your kids ever done anything similar?.... Oh they have?.... Wow, they did that?... Oh well... at least my kid didn't do that. Thanks Seth!"

18) I've posted this to facebook before, but I freaking love it.

This is remarkably accurate :)

17) My kids love to text on my phone. They have on multiple occasions texted random contacts 87 poop emojis and the word "butt". I always get some classic responses from those.

16) I love how God puts us in places for a reason. Even when it seems we are in a holding pattern, there's something we are supposed to be doing. It's not always something big, just something. The way I got my current job was just sitting in a holding pattern for years. However, in those years, I was given tiny little opportunities to learn random skills. Instead of just giving me one of the jobs I was begging him for; He kept me there. He kept giving these things to do to sharpen random things in my life. Finally, I kind of just fell into my current job. If I hadn't been forced to sit in that holding pattern and learn all of that stuff while I was waiting, there's no way I would be successful at my current job. And without my current job, there's no way I would have been a successful single parent. I've learned that my big plans are usually just a distraction to what God has in store. Honestly, that kind of takes the stress out of life. I just pray and figure what God wants me to do today. He'll figure out the rest for me. :D  He gives us the easy job. I love that.

15) If there's one thing in life Titus loves as much as than being a spy and learning magic tricks, it's monkey bars. Tonight, we had a 45 minute conversation about monkey bars. Seriously, if you ever run into us in public, ask this kid if he's good at monkey bars. You will make his year!! :)

14) Here's the way to my heart. Talk to me about some "Bob's Burgers" and I'm yours. :)

13) Sometimes I have people tell me my house looks clean in pictures I post online, to those people I want to leave you with two words "effective cropping".

12) I don't care how many times I share this image, I swear it will always need to be shared ONE more time.

"Awe. Look how cute baby Olive is... wait... what..."

11) I sing constantly. I sing at home, at work, out to eat, at the playground. I don't care. I sing horrible and I sing loud. 

10) Our family is starting to switch from "God our Father" dinner prayers to real spoken prayers. Titus loves to bless the food and asks to do it every night. He's different than many other kids, I have heard pray. Instead of just listing off a ton of different things to pray about, he will sit and think while he prays and typically pick 2-3 specific things to focus on for that night's blessing. I love watching him pray. He's going to be such a great husband/dad.

9) The other day in the car Olive asked to have some of my Good and Plenty (black licorice), we were driving home from North Carolina, so I stopped and bought everyone (including myself a snack). A few minutes later, I remembered she doesn't like black licorice and turned around wondering what she had done with them. 

"Hey Daddy. Your candy smells good."

8) I think I radically changed my kids lives recently. I showed them the "Semi Truck Honk Request" Arm motion. Car rides will never be the same.

7) I've never shared this before because I honestly have no clue why he came home with it from school. But last year, I was going through Titus's Friday Folder. He apparently made this at school...

Teenage Titus Blackmail

HAHAHAHA

6) I'm officially old I think. I've had like 9 people explain the purpose of Snapchat. I'm still confused. Just call me a grandpa I guess.

5) Along the lines of Grandpas, I've already picked out my granddad name. I'm gonna be called "Pootie". I'm ultra excited about it. Some of my friends' kids already call me Pootie. It's one of my favorite things I've ever thought of. Ever.

4) This is proof that I can actually fix things from time to time. I love doing this like this. Single parents are both mom and dad. I feel like I have to lean into mom territory more than I'd like. So it's nice to be able to do man stuff when I have time.

I had to bypass some internal dimmer switches in our fans. 

I was ultra proud of myself.

#thanksyoutube

3) Again, not trying to brag, but I will blow your mind singing karaoke. It's more than singing, it's an experience. One day if I can find some video of one of my performances, I'll post it for the world to enjoy. 

2) Neela has some warts on her neck. She has named them. She loves her warts very much. Don't talk to her about removing her warts. She loves those stupid warts.

1) Finally, I'm just grateful for everyone reading, liking, commenting, sharing, messaging, and encouraging me with the Ole Dishwasher. It's really been big personal growth thing for me. Not trying to sound sappy but it really means so much that you guys read this thing and put up with all of the Megow silliness.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,

Seth