Devotion

Big bro goes potty.
She follows behind, ready
To wipe his tushy.

Ah, Prepositions!

Exiting the car,
Shira calls to me: "Daddy,
Buckle yourself out!"

Plea

You've been gone three days
But it feels like three lifetimes.
Please come home, my love!

The Meaning of Israel

Yoni wants to know:
Why is Mommy traveling to
"Wrestles with God?"

Oh Yeah! That's My Boy!

Yoni in the car:
Is David Bromberg singing?
Oh, it's Taj Mahal?

Trees

I love all the trees!
They give us air for breathing,
And juice, and pizza...

Grammie's Gift

I want my mommy
To put nail polish on me!
I want sparkly pink!!

Where Is Blueberry Tonight

Where is Blueberry,
My favorite stuffed doggy?
Did a ghost take him?

My Big Kid's Bedtime

We sit on your bed,
Reading extra chapters of
"The Wizard of Oz."

Yoni Sniffs the Good Earth

Hi! My rock smells good.
I think it smells like fruit punch!
You wanna smell it?

Dress-Up

Daddy's in a suit.
Playing dress-up with my friends?
Shira wants to come.

Itchy Kisses

DId you shave, Daddy?
Your face is really itchy!
Your kisses tickle!

One More Blanket

Trying to comfort
My sweet baby girl in the
Chill of the dark night.

Chilly Weekend

The heat's not working.
Slip on double pajamas
And try to sleep tight!

A Perfect Morning

On the big, green couch
With Yoni, watching Batman

Dance the Batusi!

Easy Supper

When Mommy's not home,
English muffin pizzas make
A great dinner treat.

You Must Be Growing

You slept so deeply
That you didn't even stir
For my good-bye kiss.

Yoni Speaks

I don't have eyebrows.
No. I have a uni-brow
And I'm proud of it!

Shira's Bedtime Request

Daddy kiss my cheek.
Then my other cheek.  Then kiss
Me on my mustache.

On A Cloudy Shabbat

Yoni plays baby.
Shira tucks him in her bed
And sings Hebrew songs.

Swimming

There's a ladybug
Swimming in the toilet bowl.
With fear she is flush.

Handyman!

Tonight before bed
Your favorite tale: How To
Install A Toilet!

A Moment In Wayne Manor

Today he asked me,
"Why don't we have a butler?"
As I fetched his milk.

Packing For a Trip

You gave me a hug
By squeezing me on the nose!
I will miss you so!

Where Every Day Is Hanukkah

In the dollar store,
Combing all of the aisles
For shit we don't need.

Yoni's Little Pony

Pinky Pie became
Feather-May.  Her hair changed hue.
She got cutie-marks.

Lost in Space and Time

Daddy, what's this shape?
It looks like a rectangle.
No, it's October!

Yoni's Favorite Book

Reading you to sleep
Is best done with books about
Installing plumbing.

Speed Demon

To watch you riding
Your trike all around the gym
Sends my heart soaring!

To-Do List Postponed

Just a slight fever
Seems like a great excuse for
Yoni and dad time!

My Little Housekeeper

Yonder stands Yoni,
Tip-toe on the bathroom scale
As he scrubs the sink.

Saving Grace

As my hair falls out
And my patience wears so thin,
I appreciate friends.

Imelda

Once you've walked a mile
In all of your parents' shoes,
We'll put them away.

Winding Down

Tired as I may be,
It warmed my heart to see you
Tuck your bear in bed.

(In)Decision 2012

I want a pickle!
Mmmmm! I like the taste of that!
I don't like it! EEEEWW!!

Perspective

I get so upset
When you don't sleep through the night.
My problems are small.

Warm Wishes

Wishing you safety,
Hoping you stay dry and warm
During Frankenstorm.

Dear Shira

Today, when you said,
"RRRROOOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!! I'm a firefighter hat!!!!"
Ummm, what did you mean?

A Song Deferred

There are times I think
I will write Shira a song.
Then I fall asleep.

Caught Off Guard

How do I respond
When my son sees wine and asks,
"Is that magic juice?"

In the Right Light

Posing for photos
In the Indian summer,
As the sun descends.

Yoni's Bedtime Request

Tell me when you go
'Cause I wanna give you a
Night-night kiss and hug.

Shira Eats the Guts

I watch as you eat
Cheese from your quesadilla
Leaving a wheat corpse.

Hmmm.... I Wonder

With one eye squinting
You ask, "How does lemon juice
Get sprayed in your eye?"

Shake It Up

A change in routine
Can be a whole lot of fun
Til bed time arrives.

Enlightened One

Tonight you asked me:
"Daddy, can you tell me more
About the Buddha?"

The House is Breathing

The kids are asleep
As it is well past midnight.
Listen to the house.

Fine Motor Skills

You squeeze the fried rice
With a chopstick in each hand
And guide it mouth-ward.

(Im)Perfection

A day this perfect
Found its proper ending with
Your knee in my balls.

Overcoming Late-Night Loneliness

Will a sit'n'spin
Keep you from climbing the stairs
Hours before daybreak?

By the Light of the Internet Radio

You ask me, "Daddy,
Why did The Beatles break up?"
Then you drift to sleep...

Over The Line

You crowned your brother
With a plastic frying pan:
It's time for lights out.

Liver Spot

I never felt old
Til my 2-year-old daughter
Called to me, "Hey, Dad!"

Perfect Moment

Lying on your floor,
Reading a Super Friends book
This surely is bliss!

Discussion Over A Good Book

Do you need to poop?
No, Daddy, I just farted.
Oops! An accident!

Shira Comes Home

A few days away
Has started me wondering:
When did you grow up?

Whose Law?

Time folds in your mind:
You ask,"Did Moses give the
Law to the police?"

Sunday Afternoon

Crossing the small stream,
From one dry rock to the next,

My son in my arms.

Guys' Weekend

Yoni and Daddy
Painting the town autumnal
And watching "Batman!"

No Day Care

Playing through nap time
On a Friday afternoon
Wears a daddy out!

Slippery Kiss

I kiss you goodnight.
Your face, covered in lotion,
Gives me slimy lips.

For A Good Night's Sleep

Sleeping with white noise.
A gate on your bedroom door.
Electric fencing?

Run, Run, Smack!

Shira hit her face
On the corner of the wall.
Ooooooh!  That left a mark!

The Fate of the Bison

Look!  There's a buffalo!
One day I really want to

Kill a buffalo!

Straight From the Horse's Mouth

I want to be with
Mommy as much as God likes
Us to do good things.

                                 -Yoni

A Week In A Day

While out and about,
We did so many great things.
What's left for Sunday?

While Reading Batman At Bedtime

You ask hard questions
Like "What's a good punishment?"
What's a good answer?

The Speizers' New Identity

Yoni changed all our names:
Balloon Piper Starburst is
Who we all are now.

Mommy Time

You sat with mommy
As she read you a story
In your rocking chair.

Siblings At Play

I'm washing dishes
As you dive on couch pillows
With your big brother.

Until We Meet Again (At 3 AM When I Am Screaming)

Daddy, kiss my nose.
And my eyebrows and cheeks, too.
And my ears and chin.

Long, Long Weekend

When cleaning my car
Feels like a reprieve from kids:
Must be Sunday night.

Bedtime Oath

Daddy, I promise:
I will only come upstairs
If I feel lonely.

Heavy Duty Threats

If you leave your room
One more time tonight, I swear,
I'll put up the gate!

Fall

The leaves are turning.
Our shorts are packed in storage.
We have no babies.

Sunset With a Smile

Sometimes I wonder
At the sweetness which exudes
From such a small boy.

Rainy Tuesday

Drive on past the house,
Too tired to cook dinner.
Blessed with a sweet life!

Additon

Over-tired girl
Plus a fall from the sofa
Equals sprained ankle :-(

The Ancients Spill The Beans

In the olden days,
I had a sip of coffee.
It didn't taste good.

Velcro

You like to tell me
That my hair feels like velcro
Then kiss me goodnight.

Wrestling With Daddy

Standing on my back
And tumbling to the floor,
Smiling all the while.

At Least You Said "Excuse Me"

Always unpleasant:
We're in a public place and
You fart in my lap.

Buried Treasure

Imagine the thrill,
The glow in your little eye:
You found a blue bead!

Worst Kept Secret

As the day winds down,
Everyone will be at
The school's secret tree

Fairy Tale

Jack and the bean stalk:
That Jack's a no good butt head!
Don't grow up like that.

Communication

When did you begin
Speaking to one another
Without translators?

Daytime Insomnia

Up at 5:30
And you went without a nap.
Thank God for Grammie!

Busy Day

I only saw you
For a few minutes today.
I miss my babies!

Hot Dog!

Sharing a hot dog,
Your face full of condiments
Affirms your pleasure.

Nocturne

Shira cries, "Mama!"
As crickets sing in the night:
Perfect harmony.

Huh?

I laugh when you say,
"My armpit's a suction cup,"
For there is no choice.

Shira's Dinner-Time Words of Wisdom

I want my own cake.
I don't want dessert, just cake.
Can I have your cake?

Date Night

A babysitter
Is like a gift from heaven!
Now where should we go?

The Ugly Truth

I get so annoyed,
But I chuckle inside when
You annoy mommy!

Camping Adventure

Camping in the yard.
Sleeping bags full of laughter.
Back inside by nine.

Sibling Revelry

Prince in his litter,
Gliding down the road.  Kid sis
Struggles to push you.

True Grit

A smart little boy,
Many skills at your command.
Why eat rocks and sand?

At Dusk

Listening to your
Sweet voice echo through the house.
Sing yourself to sleep.

Money Magic!

Daddy, I can stick
A penny on my forehead!
I just use my germs!

Puzzle

Such a fun-filled day
With a sweet, well-mannered boy!
So why kick my nuts?

Night-Time Ultimatum

So nice in your room.
Promise not to leave and I
Won't put up the gate.

Our Last Shabbat Before School Starts

Two kids and their dad,
Picnicking on a park bench.
Shabbat shalom, HEY!

Bride of Dracula

Watching Spiderman:
"Does she know that the people with
Long teeth are bad guys?"

Milking It

Sitting just outside
Your sister's room, waiting for
An extra tuck-in.

Too Much Information

The hot tub again:
Yoni likes how the jets feel
Blowing in his tush.

Lazy Man's Dinner

Burrito dinner.
They love the taste of salsa.
I love not cooking!

Master of Good Manners

"Shira, you need to
Put your drink on a coaster,"
Says the big brother.

A glimpse of the Dynamic Duo

Shira just loves to
Fight crime with her big brother.
I watch them, smiling.

Paradox

A night time diaper
And a superhero cape:
My sweet boy wonder!

Keeping a Stiff Upper Lip

Kisses at bedtime:
I giggle when she requests,
"Please, kiss my mustache."

Two-Year-Old News Junkie

After-school pick-up
Listening to rock'n'roll
She shouts, "I WANT NEWS!!!"

Bedtime Rain

Counting the seconds
Between lightning and thunder,
My son in my arms.

My Royal Tenenbaum

Long hair and head band:
Little Yoni Tenenbaum!
But much happier.

Homecoming

Well folks, I did it:
Solo dad for a whole week.
Thank God she came home!

The Little Sage

Unerring wisdom
From the mouth of Shira-Belle:
No eat poopy! NO!!

My Kids Frickin' Rock!

You give the best hugs,
And shower me with kisses.
Real love's so simple!

Captain Shira and the Froggy Life Jacket

Tiny, lapping waves
Kissing two-year-old fingers.
Gliding back to shore.

Alone With the Kids Day 4

Put money on this:
When your mama goes away,
We all lose our shit.

Night-Night Time

Singing bedtime songs.
Standing between two bedrooms,
I fall fast asleep.

Rainy Sunday

In the living room,
Wrestling big brother on an
Inflatable boat.

Essence

One question answered:
Inside the skin of a pea,
You'll find its pea-ness

Acceptance

By the time you're ten,
I'm pretty certain you'll be
Taller than your dad.

Gratitude

Moments of trauma
Are thankfully brief when you
Fall from the swing set.

Perhaps

Perhaps I'd smile more
And bask in the warm sun's rays
If you would just nap!

If They Want Track Down The Hulk, They Should Look Into Purple Pants Manufacturers

When the Hulk get mad,
His super power is that
His pants get ripped off.

4 Years Old, 3 AM

In the still, dark night,
Moonlight peeks through the curtain.
I wish on a star.

Acting Your Age

In celebration
Of you turning 2 today,
You pooped on the rug.

Pretzel Logic

For Daddy's birthday,
He can have a cupcake and
I'll have a BIG cake!

Get This Kid a Washcloth!

Cherries with Daddy
I learned to spit out the pits
Juice runs down my chin

Precursor to a Mess on the Livingroom Floor

I am so dizzy!
Time to stop the Sit'n'Spin.
 I feel kind of sick...

For the Birds!

To be a seagull!
I'm pretty sure that they can
Fly and poop at once.

On the Fringes

Waltzing in the mist
As the big kids drift off from
The city sprinkler.

Closer!!

Snuggling with Mama.
You couldn't be closer if
You were in her womb

In Praise of Our Forefathers

You saw a picture
Of a black woman and said,
"Benjamin Franklin!"

Dining Out

Going out to eat.
We park and then we notice:
The boy peed his pants.

Reeejected!!!!!

My sweet little love,
Let me kiss away your tears!
No!  Mommy do it!

Anticipation

Reach up on tiptoes
And pull the door wide open:
Is there mail for me?

Scooby Homecoming

You jump in my arms,
And licking my cheek you say,
"Rye ruv roo, Raddy!"

Yoni's Invitation

Let's use the hot tub!
What? No swimsuit? No problem!
Clothing optional!

Shabbat Dessert

Candle light glistens,
Softly reflected in rice
Pudding on your chin.

Early Morning Candy

Not quite two years old.
Straddling the "Bat Potty."
More jelly beans, please!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Madness

Woke up to double
Diarrhea explosion
Steer clear of ice cream

Who Will You Be?

Yoni will just be
My secret identity...
Or maybe Bruce Wayne

Holding My Breath

Lying on my back.
You're standing on my belly.
How long can this last?

When Sleep Comes?

Night-night time, so sweet.
Pajamas on, floss and brush.
Screaming for two hours.