Life is never peaceful in Chris Erskine’s house, what with the four children, the 300-pound beagle, the chronically leaky roofing, and his long-suffering wife, Posh. And that’s exactly the method he likes it-except when he doesn’t. Weekly in the Los Angeles Times as well as the Chicago Tribune (and today after which in many additional papers), he distills, mocks, and makes us laugh in the absurdities of suburban fatherhood. Right now, he’s gathered the very best of these essays-and asked his children (and perhaps actually Posh) to annotate them with up to date commentary, which they promise won’t be too snarky. This assortment of essays may be the ideal gift for the daddy who would have everything-if he hadn’t already given it all to his kids.