Makes Sense

Amelia: What do you do at your work?

Me: It's hard to explain

Amelia: Well, it looks like you just talk on the phone all day

Me: No, I mostly just do a lot of hard math.

Amelia:  Like, on a special app?

Me: Uhh, kinda like an app, I guess.

Amelia: You can do hard math without an app??

Me:  Sure. You know there weren't any apps when I was little.

Amelia: Then what is 100 - 100?

Me: Ha. That's how much money daddy has.

Amelia: Then we better go to Publix.

Me:  Why Publix?

Amelia: Because you have zero dollars and they give out free cookies

Double Trouble

Some nights go smoothly...Other nights have each of your children falling and busting their lips in two separate incidents. Tonight was the second option.

Bonding

Quality time with loved ones doesn't have to involve big spectacles and action. Sometimes, it's just spending a little time coloring your favorite princesses together...

Fit

It's pretty easy to see how Amelia gets her impressive physique....

Yellow Face

Everett said he told his teacher he "didn't want a scary yellow face", but she drew one anyway...

Wild

Amelia took a selfie tonight. Seriously, people, this is what I'm dealing with on a daily basis....

Zoo Store

This weekend I learned that I no longer have to take Everett to the zoo. All I have to do is take him to Cabela's sporting goods and let him look at all the stuffed animals they have on display. He doesn't seem to know, or at the very least mind, that these animals are no longer living.  I had to drag him out of the store and listen to him cry the entire ride home that we didn't buy one....

Quiet Time

As a parent, a little quiet time is worth more than gold. However, when the kids are quiet for too long, you know they are up to no good. Here is our latest example...


This picture probably doesn't do it justice, but Amelia slipped away and used Meggan's quite expensive makeup to paint her face like a clown make herself more beautiful.

In the Driver's Seat

She can keep on trying, but I'm still not going to let her drive my car...


Amelia at 6 months...

 Amelia at 6 years....

The View

When we bought our house, the view from our back deck was of nothing but acres of lush trees. Now, thanks to the need to overdevelop every possible square inch of land, our view is now that of a giant construction site.  While I'm not a fan of having a new neighborhood in my back yard, Everett has enjoyed his front row seat to all the, as he puts it, "big trucks digging a hole!"

Big Help

We put in a quality day's work in the yard today.  Luckily, I had a lot of help from Amelia.  Without her riding around the store like this the entire time, my mulch may have blown away...

He's Alive!

Ev has survived his terrible week long illness. He came out the other side all smiles...

Intern

With Everett trying to set the record for most consecutive days with a fever, Amelia got to spend a little time in my office. She had no trouble fitting in....

Get Well

Everett has had a very high fever and stomach issues since Friday night.  This has meant quarantine for him and Meggan while Amelia and I try to stay healthy. This also meant Easter came and went for us with no church, no hunting eggs, no Easter dinner, and no candy for Everett. Luckily, we got to color eggs before the little man went down. Also, he's lucky to have his big sister pulling for him...

Chatting

With Everett sick today, Amelia and I had the whole day to hang out together. We took this time to chat it up ...




Amelia: Why did you have the "all because two people fell in love" sign over my door? I didn't fall in love with anyone. It should be in your room.

Me: It was there because ALL because two people fell in love, mommy and daddy got married, and then they had you. If we didn't fall in love, you wouldn't be here.

Amelia: Mommy could have married someone else.

Me: She could have, but their baby wouldn't be you. You are half mommy and half daddy.

Amelia: I think I got your face and mommy's hair. If I got your hair, I'd be so sad. But, if I did have your hair, I guess I'd just keep living because we only get one life.

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Amelia (wrapped up in a towel): You know way back in the old days when the indians and cowboys were around?

Me: Yep. What about them?

Amelia: They would wear this like a dress out to a concert.

Me: They would?

Amelia: Yeah, but I mean way, way back in the old days ... like the '90s.

Me: The 90's?? Mommy and Daddy were in college in the '90s

Amelia: Whoooa, you're older than I thought.

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Amelia (while discussing death, the resurrection, Jesus, etc.): But, how do I know God can watch over me?

Me: Don't you think if he can build all the mountains, color all the fish, and hang all the stars, he can manage to watch over one little girl?

Amelia: I guess so. But, I just don't think he knows me.

Me: Of course he does. He knows about every single hair on your head.

Amelia: That just means he counted my hairs when I was a baby in Heaven. Maybe I should make him an "About Me" book.

Good Friday

Two days from now, people everywhere will celebrate Easter. We will be no different. We'll excitedly open our Easter baskets, dress up in our best clothes for church, and we'll try to answer Amelia's 50 questions about how the resurrection worked.  That said, this Sunday has an additional meaning to me. It will be the 30-year anniversary of my dad's passing. To further the meaning, Amelia is almost exactly the same age I was when he died.  This is a point that has bounced around in my head for weeks. 

I've said on here before that I don't remember much about my dad, but Amelia has given me perspective into how well he knew me.  This revelation has literally changed my entire view of my life. I'd often wondered what he would have thought about me, my life, and the man I'd become. Would he have been proud? Would he have thought I'd been a good son and brother?  Would he think I'd make a good father? Now, through my feelings about Amelia in her short life, I know those answers. I am already bursting with pride.  I can already see that she's a wonderful daughter and sister.  And I have no doubts that she will be one of the best mothers on the planet.  It has been an absolute blessing to get the chance to see in her what he saw in me....and I fully intend to appreciate every second of every day going forward as anything less would be a slap in the face to the time he and I didn't get.  

Life is Good

My children are two very different kids. Everett enjoys basically everything.  Amelia takes a little longer to warm up. With this being the case, I get this look from Everett just about every day...

To get this level of excitement from Amelia, I had to go to her school for Donuts with Dad and I had to capture this picture right after she touched the shark they have in their touch tank. ....

...on a related note, I think it is really awesome that Amelia's school has a touch tank full of star fish, Nemo, Dory, cleaner shrimp, a shark, etc.