Busy is...

With three kids, when people ask me, "How are things going?" I often respond by simply saying, "Busy."

But that's such a meaningless response - barely a step up from the flaccid "fine." So, looking back over the past few weeks, I thought I'd try to define what "busy" is to me.

Busy is picking up kids in the afternoon and providing popsicles on Fridays, even if they're goofy.

Busy is making sure homework gets done. And knowing one can use Pokemon to your advantage in such endeavors.

Busy is taking kids to gymnastics, play practice, girl scouts, and tennis...

...and then going that extra mile to get a great shot of one of the youngsters that you then spend an hour tweaking to get it just right.

Busy is spending 15 minutes looking for your baby's socks, only to find out she's holding on to both of them.

Busy is teaching someone who doesn't know how to sit how to sit.

Busy is teaching someone who doesn't know how to eat how to eat...

...and dealing with kids who know how to eat but are for some reason scared of baked blueberries.

Busy is keeping track of a pacifier that your two-year-old never used a day in his life but suddenly becomes obsessed with while shopping in Costco.

Busy is using toys to prop up your baby's bottle because you're having to deal with a nutjob who now loves pacifiers.

Busy is making a nutritious bento for your daughter (and eventually your son and other daughter as well) six days a week.

Busy is waking up early every Saturday so your daughter can attend Japanese school.

Busy is making sure your boy makes it to his favorite event, Cars and Coffee, the first Sunday of every month.

Busy is engineering a way to fit all three kids into a vintage 911 for Cars and Coffee when your wife is on call and stuck at the hospital.

Busy is celebrating the first time your eldest child finally figures out how to pump a swing by herself.

Busy is escaping with the entire family to the Bay when it's too hot...

 ...helping your daughter dig a poor man's beach chair in the sand...

...and giving up your own poor man's beach chair to your wife and baby so you can clean up beach toys and chase down the boy.

Busy is getting the lighting and timing just right because, damn, your baby looks just like Boo from Monster's Inc.

"Busy" these days is a lot of things. But more than anything else, "busy" is just plain "good."