Time Flies

Since you see your kids every day, you never realize how much they've grown until you come across old pictures of them.

 It seems like only a few days ago that Ev looked like this on our way to church.....

Now, that little baby is gone and has been replaced by a smelly toddler...

Fingers Crossed

Everyone had a great day at school today, so we are going to get a little wild tomorrow. We are going to attempt to take the kids to see a movie. Now, that doesn't sound like a big deal, but keep in mind Everett is only 2 years old. He is probably just as likely to eat 4 day old popcorn off the floor as he is to actually watch a movie.  Additionally, there is a 50/50 chance he will fill his diaper and turn it into a 4-D smell-o-vision viewing experience for the other patrons.  All that said, I'm a little excited to see how he handles it. The first time I took Amelia, she was so excited that she fell asleep about 20 minutes into the movie. I'd call that a win tomorrow.

Yellow

After five years of an impeccably clean behavior record, Amelia has gotten on "yellow" two days in a row. The worst part is both of these troubles were for hitting close friends of hers.  I'm not really sure what is going on in her head.  Two weeks ago she was given the class humanitarian award and now she is going after the class welterweight boxing title. Before we lock her in the dungeon for the next 6 months, we are trying to get a better understanding of why she is acting out a bit. As of right now, I'm guessing it is just like most things with girls...it is something I'll never understand.

Overconfident

Here's what I'm dealing with these days...

Me: Here, let me help you brush your teeth.

Amelia: I can do it better

Me: Your better at brushing teeth than me?

Amelia: Yep

Me: Really, dude??

Amelia: I'm the smartest

Me: You're smarter than me too???

Amelia: When it comes to all of me and all of you... I'm just better. 

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Me: How was school?

Amelia: It was good

Me: Did you play with (boy who shall remain nameless)?

Amelia: Yeah, I played with the smart boy.

Me: The smart boy?

Amelia: Yeah, he always says he's the smartest.

Me: Oh yeah?

Amelia: He really just tells me things I already know.

Me: So, you're really the smart kid?

Amelia: Yeah, but I don't tell him because I want to encourage him.

Me: Well, that's really nice of you.

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So, as you can tell...I'm raising a very confident little girl who like most women, was apparently born with the ability to manipulate boys by stoking their egos. 

Boys

Boys will always love their mothers. As a dad, there is no way to compete with that level of love. In a short time, I've already learned that I can't compete with Everett when it comes to Meggan's love and affection...and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Visitors

The kids have two uncles, two aunts, and a grandmother coming to the house this weekend. Let's just say it is safe to assume Amelia is so excited that she might explode. I'm pretty sure it is 50% excited to see them and 50% excited about all the sweets she knows they'll sneak her when we aren't looking.

Fired Up

You never know what is going to come out of a child's mouth....

1) Amelia: It (acting terrible in a store) was all Everett's fault. He is the one who made me feel that way and I couldn't control myself.

Me: Made you feel what way?

Amelia: Made me feel all wild.

Me:  Well, you have to control yourself. Everybody has to control themselves.  If I act wild at work, they will fire me.

Amelia: Fire you?!?

Me: Yep

Amelia: Does that mean they'll kill you with fire?


While she was off on that language interpretation, she really impressed me with her math intuition...

2)  Amelia: Why do I have to go to bed now?

Me: Because you are 5 years old

Amelia: No, there's only 7 days in a year, I'm 100 years old.

Me: Uhhh, no. There are 7 days in a WEEK. 4 weeks in a month. 12 months in a year.

Amelia: 4 weeks in a month?

Me: Yeah, pretty much.

Amelia: (begins using her fingers to count to 7 ...and then does it again from 8-14...and then again...and again) that means 28 days in a month.

Me: Wow. That was awesome.

Pool Gear

Everett may love his Woody cowboy boots and his fire chief boots more than anything, but when it came time to go to the pool, the man had a single threaded focus on which shoes he should wear. It took a whole boatload of kicking and screaming before he finally gave in to the fact that perhaps Amelia's flower girl shoes were not the best match to his new bathing suit...or as he calls it, "baby soup"...

Father's Day

As usual, Father's Day was awesome.  We didn't do anything particularly special,  but I don't have to when I'm hanging out with my kids. They are instant enjoyment. If you don't have kids, try to find two tiny comedians and hang out with them for a day. Now, imagine those comedians love you more than anything and think everything you do is hilarious. That's how every weekend goes for me.  So, yeah, I enjoy all the attention and pampering of Father's Day....but, what I really enjoy is being a father.

Fire Chief

Big sister isn't the only one who got to dress up this weekend...

Graduation pt. 2

I finally had time to put up a few pics from Amelia's big day...

The Graduate

Amelia had her TK graduation tonight. Even though it was the first of multiple graduations in her life, it was still great seeing her up there. She was even voted "Class Humanitarian" by her teachers for being the student who cares the most for her classmates and tries the hardest to make sure everyone is doing well. Very few things could have made me more proud.

Pondering Life

Last night when lightning derailed our swimming pool plans, we opted to go to the park instead.  This wasn't the best consolation, but the kids were able to take a few moments to ponder life and realize there will be other pool days ahead...

Timing is Everything

You know that feeling when you have your kids wolf down their dinners, put on a swim diaper, put on plastic swim pants, put on bathing suits, and load up in the car for a rare school night trip to the pool only to have a random flash of lightning in the distance close the pool right in front of your eyes as you are literally steps away??? Well, thanks to tonight, we now do.

It was soooo fun explaining to two pool hungry kids that we can't swim and have to go back home even though it is fairly sunny and not raining at all.  Sorry kids, use those towels you are dragging to dry your tearful little eyes.

Time Well Spent

This weekend included a birthday party, swimming lessons, a play date with friends, another trip to the pool today, ice cream, cupcakes, and birthday cake. In other words, it was a good weekend.


Here is Amelia finally playing in the toddler bounce house she had previously been afraid of....

 Ev and his buddy....

 That poor bounce house never stood a chance...

Cell

When Everett has business to tend to, he has to take the call no matter where he is. Little does he know, his cell phone might actually be smaller than my first real cell phone was....

Socks

This morning, there was nothing I could do to entice Everett into putting on his socks and shoes...and when we've exhausted options like putting them on Sophie to make it seem fun and cool, we're about at the end of the line...

Must Be NIce

There is nothing sweeter in the entire world than when your little two year-old wraps his little arms tightly around your neck and quietly says "I love you so much" as you lay him down for bedtime ... at least that what Meggan told me after he did it to her last night. I wouldn't know...this morning when I told him I loved him, he just looked at me and said "okay".  I guess you can say it is pretty obvious who he loves more...for now.

Chalk Artist

I found this graffiti in my garage floor....as soon as I can do some more investigating and figure out who the artist is, I'm going to find out what they have against spaces between their words...


IloveyousomuchtoMomfromAmelia...

Great Literary Works

This is the kind of work of art Meggan buys for the kids to read....

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...Yes, that dog is farting a giant cloud that has literally knocked the socks off that little boy. Awesome.