Three Year Olds

Today's strip is finally up, only 12 hours late! Go Team!

One of the things that made the transition from working to being a stay-at-home dad and freelancer is that we kept Abby in preschool a couple days a week for the first couple of months. It gave me and Olive time to get to know each other, and to establish a routine. We also got started on some long term projects during that time. It was amazing to me that the house could actually function without someone there every day to do cleaning and maintenance. Work was also slow at first too, which made it possible to get things done and to figure out how to live on a budget. More on that later though.

My friend Tommy from Top Hat Sasquatch posted this photo on Instagram of some Muppet drawings I did for him. They look pretty great in frames. I'm hoping to do a lot more little drawings of the things I love this year as part of the Watercolor Warm Ups I've been doing. If you'd like to follow along, I post the paintings on Instagram as I work on them each day, or on our website as a Watercolor Wednesday feature in our blog and shop.

Happy Birthday Amy!

It was Amy's birthday today, so I spent time with the family, made a cake, wrapped presents...my parent's came in for a visit, and there was a Girl Scout meeting. I'm telling you all this because 1. It's awesome that it's my wife's birthday, and 2. I didn't get an actual strip done today. I know, right?! Priorities! Ha-ha-ha!

In other news, the sequel to the ENnie award winning game Hobomancer came out today. Check out the all new Hobomancer's companion for new rules, stories, and some interior and cover art by me. We're all really proud and excited about this book, and have been looking forward to sharing it with you all.

October 2010

October 2010

In the olden days, when people still thought the world was flat, and there was still so much left to be explored, maps were drawn by hand by master craftsmen. Pictures of these maps show cool little annotations like "Here there be dragons" and "Abandon all hope." On the map of my year, the annotation for October would read something like "Hang onto your seat" or "Many busy days ahead...too bad you won't have time to rake the leaves."

The annual trip to the pumpkin patch with my in-laws marks the official start of our holiday season. Seeing Abby running around, picking out a pumpkin, looking at tractors, riding the horse, or playing with the other kids is only half the fun. Enjoying the company of Amy's parents, and watching them enjoy their youngest grandchildren is the other half.


I started keeping track of my life with the girls in 2009, in a series of illustrated status updates called "Daily Life"...As I finish up collecting some of these stories for print books, and catch up on some freelance work, I thought it would be a good time to post some of these older stories, so that everything is collected here on the blog. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. :)

Daily Life 020: Speak No Evil, See No Evil, Hear No Evil

July 5, 2010 - Daily Life 020: Speak No Evil, See No Evil, Hear No Evil

We went to see the fireworks down in old town Saint Charles, by the waterfront on saterday. The show was great, and the kids loved it. Olivia sat and watched in silent awe. Abby thought the the great showers of sparks were too bright, so we offered her sunglasses to her. Which she gratefully accepted and then enjoyed the rest of the show. Our friend's son thought the pops and bangs were just a bit too loud, so he sat with his hands over his ears.

We had our own little parady of the monkeys that See, Hear, and Speak no evil. Happy fourth of July, everybody.

I started keeping track of my life with the girls in 2009, in a series of illustrated status updates called "Daily Life"...As I finish up collecting some of these stories for print books, and catch up on some freelance work, I thought it would be a good time to post some of these older stories, so that everything is collected here on the blog. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. :)

July 2010

July 2010

Some people complain about having to drive to four different places for thanksgiving or Christmas or blah, blah, blah...let me tell you about my Independence Day. First off, it's not just a one day event. It usually lasts three, and can last as long as five. Heaven help me if I can't get off work for all of them, either. In our house, Independence Day is like a high-school reunion, college frat party, documentary about locations in the Saint Louis metro area, and family reunion wrapped up with parades, topped with a carnival and then set on fire and blown up.

It is pretty cool, though, hearing Abby say "Oooooh...fireworks!"


I started keeping track of my life with the girls in 2009, in a series of illustrated status updates called "Daily Life"...As I finish up collecting some of these stories for print books, and catch up on some freelance work, I thought it would be a good time to post some of these older stories, so that everything is collected here on the blog. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. :)

April 2010

April 2010

April is great. It marks the end of the (often bitter) cold Missouri winter, and brings with it the spring and the vibrant, crisp green of new grass and leaves after a rain. Outside, we can hear the neighbor kids playing, the baby birds chirping and the insects starting their warm weather chatter.

It also brings my two most very favorite birthdays of the year. Abby's birthday is crazy with all the kids, parents, relatives, wrapping paper...you get the idea. Then, assuming it' not too soggy outside, the kids run in the yard while the adults get lunch together.

This year, the best birthday present was a new baby sister. I think the only way that Abby could've been more excited was if Olivia had been dressed in a Batman costume when she met her.


I started keeping track of my life with the girls in 2009, in a series of illustrated status updates called "Daily Life"...As I finish up collecting some of these stories for print books, and catch up on some freelance work, I thought it would be a good time to post some of these older stories, so that everything is collected here on the blog. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. :)

Daily Life 017: The Fence

March 15, 2010 - Daily Life 017: The Fence

More new boots... What can I say? My daughter loves shoes. And she's not a baby anymore, she's a big girl now. Today when I got home from work, Amy and Abby were outside sitting on the porch swing. Abby has on a red sweatshirt (over a Batman T-shirt), purple flowered pants, bright yellow puddle jumpers with monkeys on them, and quite possibly the ugliest greenish-yellow felt bunny hat... ever. Apparently, she's been very into opening and closing the fence gate into the backyard today. She spent a couple of minutes showing me (over and over) how good she was at it until we walked across the boggy ground to the shed so I could give her rides in the wagon.

The one nice thing about this ridiculous time change, is that there is still plenty of daylight after work to do a little playing outside before time to make supper.

I started keeping track of my life with the girls in 2009, in a series of illustrated status updates called "Daily Life"...As I finish up collecting some of these stories for print books, and catch up on some freelance work, I thought it would be a good time to post some of these older stories, so that everything is collected here on the blog. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. :)

Daily Life 016: Chainsaw

March 01, 2010 - Daily Life 016:Chainsaw

I read in the manual that this is the face you're supposed to make when you are chainsawing stuffs. Grim and purposeful... this face has nothing to do with the fact that I spend faaaar too much time sitting in a chair working with virtual things, and not enough out showing real stuffs who's boss. I keep on telling myself that it will all be different in six months. Maybe I need to change some of my habits now. Ha-ha-ha!

I started keeping track of my life with the girls in 2009, in a series of illustrated status updates called "Daily Life"...As I finish up collecting some of these stories for print books, and catch up on some freelance work, I thought it would be a good time to post some of these older stories, so that everything is collected here on the blog. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. :)

Daily Life 015: Things to Come

February 15, 2010 - Daily Life 015: Things to Come

This weekend, we watched our friends' four-year-old son, so they could go out to lunch for Valentines day. Abby was so funny, wanting to hang out with him. She followed him around, and sat on her little couch with him to watch a movie... it struck us that this is the same age spread that she will have with her little sister. Just old enough that they CAN do things together, and just young enough that maybe they'll WANT to.

I started keeping track of my life with the girls in 2009, in a series of illustrated status updates called "Daily Life"...As I finish up collecting some of these stories for print books, and catch up on some freelance work, I thought it would be a good time to post some of these older stories, so that everything is collected here on the blog. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. :)

Daily Life 014: The Tale of Four Penguins

February 08, 2010 - Daily Life 014: The Tale of Four Penguins

Two-year-olds are funny people.

We went to the Zoo this weekend, and watched the penguin parade. All of the penguins marched out the back of their habitat, down the side-walk, and back into the front. Strutting their stuff, waving, straining their necks... one even laid down to take a nap in the sun. Abby loved it. She was so excited that Amy had to hold the back of her pants to keep her from dashing out to play with the birds.

After the parade was over, we decided that it would be fun to go to the gift shop, and let the girl pick out one of the cute stuffed penguins we'd seen earlier, to take home with her. Baby girl could care less about the four stuffed birds Mommy held out for her to pick from... She had her eye on the souvenir pen holder with the penguins that floated inside of it.

That's what we get for thinking a two-year-olds idea of "cool" is the same as ours.

I started keeping track of my life with the girls in 2009, in a series of illustrated status updates called "Daily Life"...As I finish up collecting some of these stories for print books, and catch up on some freelance work, I thought it would be a good time to post some of these older stories, so that everything is collected here on the blog. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. :)

Daily Life 013: Gravel On Satin

February 05, 2010 - Daily Life 013: Gravel on Satin

This is the international sign for "Holy crap this hurts/something's wrong inside of me!". If some guy is making this gesture because he just got hit in the nuts by a rogue baseball, while watching a Little League game... funny. If it's your wife, and she's six months pregnant... not funny. Actually, it's a little more on the alarming side.

 Last weekend, Amy called me upstairs, in too much pain to even talk. She insisted that we didn't need to go to the ER. LOL. "It's probably nothing, and they'll think I'm a baby." God love her, she does NOT want to be one of those pregnant women that calls the doctor for just anything...

 Long story short, after four hours(ish) in the ER, we find out what the deal is. Gall Stones. The doctor described the gall bladder contracting to release bile into the stomach (triggered by fatty foods) as two satin sheets sliding past each other... Throw a handful of gravel in the bed though, and it's a little less... um... luxurious. If she wasn't pregnant, the solution would be simple. Instead, we're moving towards a low fat diet, and painkillers as needed. Which fortunately isn't often. 

 On the plus side, I got to watch the last half of the new (meaning not filmed in the 70's) "Freaky Friday" movie, and most of "George of the Jungle"... The good times just never end.

I started keeping track of my life with the girls in 2009, in a series of illustrated status updates called "Daily Life"...As I finish up collecting some of these stories for print books, and catch up on some freelance work, I thought it would be a good time to post some of these older stories, so that everything is collected here on the blog. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. :)

Daily Life: February, 2010

February, 2010

We love our kids. Every day with them is wonderful, and special, and full of new discoveries. Of course, there's also the discovery of how awesome it is to get out of the house without them. Ha-ha-ha!

Every February, we do our annual "Valentine's Day Kid Swap" with our friends so that we can get out and do something together. An afternoon (or evening) at the movies, or getting coffee in peace and quiet. A time to enjoy each other without having to carry extra diapers.

Towards the end, we inevitably miss the kids, and it's wonderful to see their smiley faces again.


I started keeping track of my life with the girls in 2009, in a series of illustrated status updates called "Daily Life"...As I finish up collecting some of these stories for print books, and catch up on some freelance work, I thought it would be a good time to post some of these older stories, so that everything is collected here on the blog. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. :)

Daily Life 012: Abby The Explorer

January 25, 2010 - Daily Life 012: Abby The Explorer

Christmas morning on the way out the door to drive to Warrensburg and see Grammy. Abby was all dressed in her PJs with a winter coat, hat and (of course) her cowboy boots. Also the Santa lantern that Daddy Jim had given her on Christmas Eve... While Amy was watching her step out the door, she commented that Abby looked like a little explorer.

I started keeping track of my life with the girls in 2009, in a series of illustrated status updates called "Daily Life"...As I finish up collecting some of these stories for print books, and catch up on some freelance work, I thought it would be a good time to post some of these older stories, so that everything is collected here on the blog. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. :)

Daily Life: January 2010

January 2010

What better way to start off the new year tan with a forty-foot pillar of flame? 

We have a January tradition (weather permitting) of having a party and burning the Christmas tree. Fortunately, we have a large backyard with quite a few old trees on the property, so there's never a shortage of other stuff to burn. This is important because the Christmas tree goes fast. 

 Around about seven, when the yard is dark and quiet, everybody gets bundled up and puts an extra drink (or two) in their pockets, and we go out to the burn pile. 

Amy has her own tradition on this night...not paying attention to the trip to the backyard, and missing the awesomeness.

I started keeping track of my life with the girls in 2009, in a series of illustrated status updates called "Daily Life"...As I finish up collecting some of these stories for print books, and catch up on some freelance work, I thought it would be a good time to post some of these older stories, so that everything is collected here on the blog. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. :)

Daily Life 004: New Boots

August 20, 2009 - Daily Life 004: New Boots

Abby got a new pair of boots from her Nana this weekend... She was very excited. We went to the Wal-mart after dinner, and she kept stopping to admire them.

I started keeping track of my life with the girls in 2009, in a series of narrated illustrations called "Daily Life"...As I finish up collecting some of these stories for print books, and catch up on some freelance work, I thought it would be a good time to post some of these older stories, so that everything is collected here on the blog. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. :)

Daily Life 003: My Bike

August 17, 2009 - Daily Life 003: My Bike

"My Bike is now functional again! The plan is to drop me and the bike off at work every day, and then I will ride it in the afternoon to pick up Amy and Abigail. It's like getting back in touch with an old friend."

I started keeping track of my life with the girls in 2009, in a series of narrated illustrations called "Daily Life"...As I finish up collecting some of these stories for print books, and catch up on some freelance work, I thought it would be a good time to post some of these older stories, so that everything is collected here on the blog. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. :)

Daily Life 02: Darth Vader

August 10, 2009 - Daily Life 002: Darth Vader

"Abigail recently discovered her mothers microphone/tape player. She doesn't seem to get that you're supposed to talk into it, so she sticks the whole microphone into her mouth and does a pretty decent Darth Vader impression... Then says UH! really loud."

I started keeping track of my life with the girls in 2009, in a series of narrated illustrations called "Daily Life"...As I finish up collecting some of these stories for print books, and catch up on some freelance work, I thought it would be a good time to post some of these older stories, so that everything is collected here on the blog. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. :)

Daily Life 01: Fifteen Minutes

August 3, 2009 - Daily Life 001: Fifteen Minutes
My favorite part of the day, is the fifteen minutes between bath-time and bed-time when Abby and I just sit on the couch, watch a cartoon, and wind down...

 I started keeping track of my life with the girls in 2009, in a series of narrated illustrations called "Daily Life"...As I finish up collecting some of these stories for print books, and catch up on some freelance work, I thought it would be a good time to post some of these older stories, so that everything is collected here on the blog. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. :)

100 Themes: Gray

 

And so concludes the first story arc of the Dragon and the Witch. As is often the case with imaginative play, things get pretty crazy in a hurry. Ha-ha-ha! I'm looking forward to exploring this story and characters a bit more in the future, as I think I learned a bit about how they tick over the last couple of weeks. Especially the dragon, as he's seeming to not understand how people work at all, and is more excited/curious about what's going on with Abby's arrow wound.

I'm going to the S.P.A.C.E. small press expo in Columbus, Ohio in a couple of weeks, with my friend Leighton Conner (Fuzzball & Scuzzball, Laser Brigade), so I'm working frantically to get my books ready in time. Amy's editing while I'm finishing up the cover, doing freelance work, and making comics. It's really hectic right now, and I think the next theme "Fortitude" will talk a little about it.

100 Themes: Blood

Continuing the story arc of The Girls and the Dragon, we see why you should never shoot an arrow in the direction of somebody...We had bows and arrows when I was a kid (among other things), and sometimes I'm amazed that none of us got hit. Ha-ha-ha!

In other news, I'll be at St. Louis Comic Con this weekend with original art, prints, calendars and buttons. I'll also be drawing and taking commissions all weekend, as well as chatting, so I hope you can stop by and say hi! If you can't make the show, I'll also be on Fox 2... LIVE from the Convention Center on Friday morning, doing a sketch of the host throughout the program and finishing it up by 9:00.