#magnus choate

[getoutofthisplace]

Dear Gus & Magnus,

Dare I say that Magnus is starting to make a habit of going peepee on the potty before bathtime now?

We had another lazy day today. Sundays have become a little lazy anyway because Mom lets me have what we call "football day." I don't care about college football, but I like watching NFL games, so she lets me relax on the couch more than usual. Gus has been disloyal to my New Orleans Saints and chooses his teams based on the viciousness of their mascot, but it's fun any time he gives any of the games attention with me. And I think next season Magnus may be more interested as well.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 10.29.2023 - 7.14pm.

#magnus choate #potty training #toddlers #parenting

[gchoate17]

In keeping with tradition, here’s my top ten list of the best events of 2021 and the worst events of 2021, vaguely ranked in the order that they most impacted my life.

Best

Magnus was born. (June 8)

Gus started Pre-K, which was the good kind of scary – he’s growing up (and it saves us a ton of money in daycare costs). (August 16)

It was a good year at work.

I beat the system and got vaccinated before I was eligible without taking a vaccine from anyone else. (February 16)

Somehow, against all odds, it was a good year for writing. The Arkansas Times published my top 10 meals article and Mud Season Review nominated one of my essays for a Pushcart Prize on the same day (December 27). I also published an essay in Collateral Journal (May 16). And a book that I ghostwrote came out in September.

We got in a couple of good family trips this year – to Disney World (March 20-27) and to Arizona/Las Vegas (November 16-25).

I moved out of my warehouse office and into an office downtown. (September)

Liz and I spent a weekend in Memphis with no children. (February 6-7)

It was fun to see Gus enjoy the first real snow of his life. (February 14-18)

I stuffed discarded trash back into the car from whence it intentionally came. (January 21)

Worst

Children under the age of five – both of mine – are still unable to get vaccinated against the world’s most prolific virus.

I haven’t been able to prioritize writing new things, which means I haven’t been able to process my thoughts, feelings, and emotions well.

Magnus didn’t sleep for long periods of time without being held, which means Liz and I didn’t get much uninterrupted sleep. (June-December)

Gus fell up against an elevated fire pit and got second-degree burns on his arm. (November 24)

In a year in which I planned to lose weight, I gained 8ish pounds.

My biggest work event of the year didn’t turn out like I’d hoped. (October 7)

It was tough to say goodbye to Gus’s daycare so that he could go to pre-K. (August 13)

The frustration associated with trying to convince Gus to not wet the bed.

The fly-home day from Arizona – Thanksgiving – was hell. (November 25)

Somebody in Florida hacked my Bite Squad account and ordered food for themselves and I caught it in time and answered the phone when the driver called me, but the driver gave the hacker the food anyway, despite having me in his ear saying "DON'T DO IT, MOHAMMAD!" This is the kind of injustice that’s hard for me to let go of/recover from. (March 30)

Previous Best/Worst Lists: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020.

#best of 2021 #worst of 2021 #best/worst list #best list #worst list #magnus choate #babies

[corinadotdash]

#thankyou Posted @withregram • @2ndskincollective Venezuelan-American artist, Corina S. Alvarezdelugo @justcorina_studio and active member of @2ndskincollective was born in Valencia, Venezuela. She studied at Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut; had formal art training with Venezuelan painter and sculptor Luis Alvarez de Lugo, and earned a BFA in Studio Art with Honors and Distinction from Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, while raising her three children. She is currently a Lesley Art + Design MFA in Visual Arts candidate at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, with a Strauch-Mosse Merit Scholarship. Working in different media and techniques, her artwork has been shown in galleries and museums in South America, the Caribbean, and in the US, including the prestigious Salmagundi Club in New York City. Corina's work has been featured on the Connecticut Public Television (her piece nominated for an Emmy award). She has won several major awards including an Artist-in residency merit-based grant from the Vermont Studio Center. Also, she was a 2019 artist-in residency at RUC (Residency for Contemporary Artists) in Italy. Her work is in public collections in the US. Visit her website www.justcorina.com for more details. #contemporaryart #covid19 #mask #MFA #visualart #installationart #artistlife #justcorina_studio #2ndskincollective #proudmember https://www.instagram.com/p/CG5UqCwFV1L/?igshid=1omiecgvqune8

#thankyou #contemporaryart #covid19 #mask #mfa #visualart #installationart #artistlife #justcorina_studio #2ndskincollective #proudmember

[getoutofthisplace]

Dear Gus & Magnus,

Magnus requested to take Suki around the block again tonight. We collected a decent amount of sticks along the way. When we get to Gus's school, Magnus says, "Hey, Gus's school!"

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 9.7.2023 - 5.56pm.

SIDENOTE: Today marks one year since I gave up alcohol.

#magnus choate #walk #sticks #toddlers #sidewalk #sobriety #sober

[getoutofthisplace]

Dear Gus & Magnus,

Mom and I went to breakfast this morning at The Bagel Shop, then drove across the river to pick you two up. We ended up hanging out all day. Yiayia said everyone had a good night.

We took Big Yiayia and Magnus to Home Depot so we could get a pressure washer and some other things. I put a dent in a couple of the crosswords that Yiayia's been saving for me. Gus earned a quarter per baby oak tree that he pulled from the yard. Magnus played restaurant and helped cook dinner. We all took a family walk to the end of the street and back. A good day. But it is worth noting that Magnus won't stop saying "poo-poo" and "pee-pee" in response to everything.

Dad.

North Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.21.2024 - 10.30am.

#liz choate #elaine garrison #athena coleman #magnus choate #family #four generations

[getoutofthisplace]

Dear Gus & Magnus,

When I got home from work today, Gus was at the Grummers' and Magnus and Mom were hanging out in Gracie's backyard, so brought Suki down to play their dog, Shiloh.

Magnus requested to read his Playbill at dinner. And we are listening to "Tomorrow" over and over right now. He sings along. Loudly. It's precious.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.19.2024 - 6.47pm.

#playbill #magnus choate #annie #dinner time #toddlers

[getoutofthisplace]

Dear Gus & Magnus,

We had an impromptu neighborhood playdate in our front yard this afternoon when Benjamin and Gracie joined us. I grilled burgers (and octopus) and Matt & Erin joined us on the back deck. It was a fantastic end to a fantastic weekend. I don't know how you kids stood that freezing cold pool water, but you did, and had lots of fun together.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.14.2024 - 5.07pm.

#erin o'leary #gracie morgan #john talpos #magnus choate #benjamin talpos #gus choate #pool #swimming pool #kiddie pool #spring time #kids #playdate #ridgeway drive

[getoutofthisplace]

Dear Gus & Magnus,

Magnus popped a fever last night and acted a little needy, so Mom jumped on getting him in to see Dr. Strong. No ear infection, no strep, acted normal all day, back to school tomorrow.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.10.2024 - 11.02am.

#magnus choate #liz choate #sick day #mask #toddlers #fever #sick kid

[getoutofthisplace]

Dear Gus & Magnus,

We blew through Magnus's nap to hit the Barkus on Main dog parade this afternoon, then rolled out to Nene's house to spend the night, so we can be on The Compound for the solar eclipse.

Gus helped me make a fire so we could have hot dogs and s'mores on the fire for dinner. I forgot to bring Suki's food, so after you two got into pajamas and started watching Mary Poppins, Mom and I went to Walmart to buy her some. We cruised Beebe for a little bit until we were barely able to stay awake. Another long day, but another good one.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.7.2024 - 2.05pm.

#choate family #the choates #gus choate #guy choate #liz choate #magnus choate #barkus #barkus on main #downtown little rock #little rock #arkansas #selfie

[getoutofthisplace]

Dear Gus & Magnus,

Magnus brought his bike on our walk this afternoon. I thought it would turn into a liability for me to carry at some point, but he rode it all the way up Ridgeway, over to Midland, down Midland, up Alpine, up the alley, and back to our house. I barely had to help him, even on the incline of Alpine, he insisted on propelling himself.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.4.2024 - 5.48pm.

#magnus choate #strider bike #bike #toddlers

[getoutofthisplace]

Dear Gus & Magnus,

I flew to Arlington, Texas early this morning for an all-day meeting. Mom sent me this photo this afternoon and said you two needed a rest on the way home from school. The azaleas are popping in our neighborhood this year.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.3.2024 - 4.16pm.

#gus choate #magnus choate #gus and magnus #brothers #azaleas #spring

[getoutofthisplace]

Dear Gus & Magnus,

I had a debilitating headache this morning and stayed in bed pretty much all morning, so you two hunted eggs with Yiayia and Mom. We went to the Compound to have lunch and hunt more eggs, though Magnus got just as much out of hunting dandelions and flowers as he did the eggs.

My favorite time of the day came when I took you two and Sophie Kate on the Mule out into the pasture. Gus wanted to get out and explore, to which Sophie said, "Gus, you can't go out there!" When I told her he'd be fine and that she could explore too, she looked at me like I was an insane person. But she got out and all of you explored the creek for a bit. It reminded me of my own childhood. I have vivid and wonderful memories spent damming up streams and creeks with Will and John.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 3.31.2024 - 2.22pm.

#exploring #kids #pasture #cow pasture #creek #gus choate #magnus choate #sophie kate choate #cousins #country life #the compound

[getoutofthisplace]

Dear Gus & Magnus,

Mom went to a baby shower this afternoon for Sarah. Rhett came over. We crushed some cans and played some pinball, among other things. Yiayia spent the night with us so she could be here in time to hunt Easter eggs with us. While she read bedtime books with Magnus, Mom and I sat down with Gus and explained to him that the Easter Bunny is not real. He's been asking a lot lately, so we decided it was time. After we told him, he asked, "Then who puts the eggs in our yard?" and we explained that we do. We also explained that he cannot tell anyone so that he can help keep the magic alive. When he was a baby I told Mom I feel very uneasy about deceiving him when it came to Santa, the Easter Bunny, etc., but she was right about the magic being fun and I'm glad I ended up playing along. But I'm glad he knows now. I couldn't stand the idea of him defending the existence of such things with people at school based on something I had told him at home.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 3.30.2024 - 4.06pm.

#guy choate #magnus choate #kids #toddlers #dad life #selfie #easter bunny #easter

[getoutofthisplace]

Dear Gus & Magnus,

Today was a tough day at work and my calendar got flooded with new tasks that have me scrambling at the office. Naturally, there's some stress carryover that I bring home with me, but Magnus put it into perspective tonight when he came running up to me and with his little-boy voice said, "Dad, will you play cars with me, Dad?" I was in the middle of something -- I can't remember what -- but it's hard to decline such a sincere and innocent request. After we started playing cars, Gus joined in.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 3.27.2024 - 6.44pm.

#kids #dad life #magnus choate #gus choate #gus and magnus #brothers #boy dad

[getoutofthisplace]

Dear Gus & Magnus,

Yiayia & Errol came over this morning to hang out with you two so Mom and I could go to Oaklawn. This photo is the moment after I said, "Look who's here..." After spotting Yiayia, you both ran out to meet them on the front porch.

I bet $10 on the #1 horse across the board in every race. I did not make money, but it was a fun day.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 3.23.2024 - 9.32am.

#magnus choate #gus choate #athena coleman #waiting #at the window #window #grandparents #brothers

[getoutofthisplace]

Dear Gus & Magnus,

Usually when we eat dinner with the Grummers, we let you kids play for a while, then we put Martin and Magnus to bed and let the big kids put on pajamas and watch a movie while the parents hang out, but tonight we decided to let the little kids join in on the movie. Magnus was STOKED. Gus talked everyone into watching Aristocats, which is a favorite in our house right now. Rhett lost interest quickly, though, and spent the rest of the movie trying to convince everyone to abandon it.

We didn't go home until nearly 11pm and he (predictably) threw a fit when I pulled him from the bed because he was so tired. All in all, a good time, though. I can't believe how big the littles are getting.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 3.22.2024 - 8.52pm.

#the grummers #gus choate #magnus choate #martin grummer #lane grummer #rhett grummer #movie night #kids #sleepover