The Present

Sometimes, the greatest present you receive over the holidays is the time you get to spend with family...

Little Chef

My plan is working masterfully.  Step one, buy Amelia a kids cooking book for Christmas.  Step two, sit with her and discuss the best recipes. Step three, sit back and wait for her to make us french toast for breakfast...

Entourage

If somebody had a better looking entourage with them at Christmas Eve service, I can't imagine it...

New Low

Sophie has now escalated to taking the bone directly out of Teddy's mouth while he's chewing it.  I believe she has finally broken his spirit....

Little Bully

Despite giving up 20 pounds and 10 years of youth, Sophie has now become the smallest bully in the house.  Today, she not only took Teddy's rawhide from him, but she took ALL the rawhides and guarded them. Oh, did I mention she also decided to rub it in by taking one to his bed and chewing it in front of him....

Two for Two

It's always a win-win if 1) you find out your child wants a present that you actually want to play with him and 2) you have already purchased said present for Christmas...

It's Getting Fun

You know you're heading into the fun times of parenting when your kids are old enough that you try to take this picture of your beautiful daughter feeling like a million bucks wearing her flower headband...

....and you get this picture of your son trying to steal the show....

Caged Animal

This was our view at puppy training last night..... that's what happens when you can't behave and have to be put in solitary confinement away from all the other dogs....

Territory

It looks like someone is moving in on Sophie's territory...

Inch by Inch

Despite the fact that my finger is bleeding as I type this, I have to admit Teddy has really come a long way.  Pretty soon, we'll be able turn our backs without wondering what he is peeing on or eating. 

Battle

This game of tug is sure to end well.

Please Help

I don't know how Santa can possibly resist bringing this poor little guy this toy he clearly needs in order to be happy...

Round 2

Everett went for his second round of testing for kindergarten today.  He did excellent on the first test, which was gauging cognitive ability.  However, this test is geared toward actual readiness for school, i.e. is he ready to be a big boy?  Despite the fact that he was the smallest dude there, I believe that answer is a strong yes.  I mean, he knows Twinkle Twinkle in Spanish.  What more could he need?

Down for the Count

Nothing like a little post-walk cool down nap to get your day started right...

New Helper

I thought raking all the leaves was going to be a hard job today....that was before I found out I was going to have such a great helper. I believe he is making sure the wind doesn't blow them away....

Crutch

I'm not entirely sure how Everett got hurt or the severity of his "injury". I'm just happy he was able to find a pair of crutches so he could still get around on his own...

Class Clown

Teddy attended his first puppy training class tonight.  While he didn't get put in detention, let's just say he was the only student who got called to the front of the class for being naughty and disruptive...

Growing

Everett got his school pictures back today.  It's hard for me to imagine in less than a year he'll be taking his kindergarten photos.  It seems like he was a baby only a few months ago.  I couldn't be more proud of the little boy he's turning into these days.  He's smart. He's sweet. He's hilarious.  He's all I could ask for in a son and certainly more than I deserve. 

Grip

The poor handles on this motion ride probably never recovered from the death grips of these little girls.  Somehow, they both found a way to survive its light vibrations and 6 inch drops...

Shredding

When Ev is shredding on an axe, he takes it very seriously...

Dr. Visit

Teddy has his first visit to the vet tomorrow.  He doesn't seem too stressed about it...

Step One

There are 11 people headed to my house tomorrow for Thanksgiving.  It's always great to be around my family during the holidays.  However, tomorrow will be different. While I'll be surrounded by loved ones, there will be a huge missing piece to the puzzle.  Tomorrow marks the first family holiday since my mom's passing.  It's been almost 2 months, but in many ways it feels like it was just yesterday.  Here's to hoping tomorrow is filled with enough love, laughter, and memories to fill at least a tiny portion of the void.

Two Views

Despite the fact that Teddy absolutely bites anything that moves, he's actually not nearly as tough as he thinks. The big dog next door, Sadie, came outside.  He and Sophie took two very different approaches...


Sophie decided to jump up and down while barking and giving Sadie the business...

Teddy decided to run halfway across the yard and watch the action from the other side of the deck...

Two of a kind

Looks like Amelia isn't the only one who likes to sleep surrounded by some of her favorite things...

More the Merrier

Some people like to sleep alone, other people are named Amelia and prefer to have 100 stuffed animals...

Lesson Learned

Don't be fooled by the picture, this sweet looking little guy sports a feisty streak.  That streak got him into his first scuffle today.  He decided he'd try to bark and jump and dominate Sophie....she decided she'd bite him.  He decided he'd go lay down. 

 

Home Again

I'm finally home from traveling to a training seminar. I'm pretty sure nobody has ever been more excited to get back to their wife, daughter, son, dog, and crazy puppy before.

Warning

With the new puppy coming home tomorrow, we have started Sophie on puppy anti-anxiety meds.  We're hoping this takes her from absolutely freaking out and pooping everywhere down to simply losing her mind and pooping here and there.  That said, I checked out the medicine today while giving it to her and found out I've been ignoring very important warnings this whole time....


...Sophie's been operating all kinds of vehicles, vessels, and machines while under the influence....

It's Simple

I've seen every kind of reaction possible to last night's election.  Some were funny. Some were sad.  However, the one that really annoys me is people asking "What do I tell my children?".  First of all, don't ask social media what you should tell your children. They're your children.  You should probably go ahead and manage all important conversations with them on your own.  Secondly, what do you tell your children the morning after last night's election? You tell them the same thing parents have told their children after the last 44 elections. You tell them good morning. You tell them you love them and you hope they slept well.  You tell them to eat their breakfast and brush their teeth. You remind them to say please and thank you. You show them the value of a hug.  You teach them to be a good family member so they can be a good neighbor so they can be a good citizen.  You remind them that God, not a person, is in control.  That said, you explain to them that for the 45th time, we have a new president.  You let them know that just like the 44 before him, he will make some good decisions and some not so good decisions.  You tell them you're excited to see what happens over the next four years regardless of your actual opinion.  You are the adult.  It is not your job to enlighten your kids about the dark side of politics.  There is nothing to gain from sharing your fears, your concerns, or your wild guess on what the future holds.  Your job today, just like every other day of their lives, is to make them feel loved, safe, and hopeful.  Instead of stressing over what to tell your kids about this president, focus on raising them to be people you'd want to be president.  

In the Books

Well, season 1 of Amelia's soccer career is in the books.  She didn't come away with any wins, but she played hard and got better each game.  Most importantly, she had fun every time on the field...

Thinker

Compared to his sister, Everett isn't much of a talker. However, don't let that fool you. The man is always paying attention and always knows what's going on....

Decade

This happened 10 years ago today....

......3,650+ days down, happily ever after still remaining...

Neighborly Relief

As we learned tonight, there are few things in life that bring you more relief than seeing this post on your neighborhood Facebook page while you're out frantically looking for your dog who went roaming the streets when your lawn guy left your gate open......

"I found this dog walking down the street. Does anyone know who it belongs to?"

Multipurpose

In today's update on puppy supplies showing up at our house, we now have a new huge crate.  The best news is we've actually already been able to put it to good use....

Small Triumps

This has been a few days of small triumphs....

Amelia scored her first ever goal in a soccer game ... who cares if it was on the wrong goal???

I am no longer on crutches... who cares if am walking like Frankenstein???

Everett didn't immediately stop trick or treating when he saw a scary kid... who cares if there were 3 houses he refused to go to???

Carved Up

The kids were really excited about carving pumpkins tonight.  Then, once we started, Amelia continued to draw, clean, and carve with excitement. Everett, however, dictated what he wanted his to look like and then went on to play in the back yard. 

Countdown

We got some updated pictures today. Only two more weeks until this little guy comes home...

It Adds Up Quickly

The annual Toys 'R Us catalog came today.  As is tradition, we let the kids go through and circle the things they want.  I hope Santa has been picking up side gigs throughout the year because they did not discriminate when it came to making those circles.  The final tally for the toys they circled - Amelia - $2,500, Everett $4,200. $6,700 seems like a totally reasonable amount to spend on Christmas for your kids...you know, if you have 15 kids.

Life Savers

Tonight was a rough night. Meggan had to work and I am nearly immobile due to some foot ailments.  Let's just say it isn't easy to care for the kids when you're on crutches.  You can't bring them a glass of milk. You can't carry their dinner to them.  You end up sweating profusely at the effort it takes to get up the stairs for bedtime.  That said, Amelia really came to the rescue.  She actually cooked dinner for all of us tonight (I handled most of the parts that could burn you) and helped clean up afterward.  She cared for her brother and every need he had as well.  Everett, on the other hand, mostly contributed by eating all the cookies so we wouldn't have to clean up as much.  Hey, every little bit helps.  He also dropped this on me as I was tucking him in.... "Daddy, I wish I could give you my foot so you'd feel better" ...That helped more than he could know.

Perfect Fit

I just don't have the heart to tell Sophie that this bed, like the rest of the things that have been creeping into our house, is for the puppy...

Safe

It's always good to know your home is safe from any evildoers. That said, we have our very own superhero patrolling the area and the best part is we pay him with Chick-Fil-A...

Date

Meggan and I get to go on a rare date night tonight! Okay, so it's an event on marriage at our church, but it's still a date. Besides, we'll be out past 9pm...so, that's pretty wild for us.

Trim

Just in case this picture of Ev makes you think his hair looks crazy because he's on his back....

.... I took this picture....the man looks homeless....

Hmmmm

I wonder at what point will Sophie realize we are not outfitting the house with new things in case she goes on a growth spurt, but in preparation for a new puppy....

Miss You

I don't have anything else I can say about this....

We finally got to switch from our yellow jerseys to our lucky white shirts at soccer today. It made all the difference in the world....instead of getting trounced by 15, we only hammered by 8.....woohooooo!!!

Hustled

I have been hustled by what can only be described as two tiny adults masquerading as my children. While watching them play soccer, mini-basketball, and hula hoop in the yard, I decided to step up the challenge. I offered Amelia a dollar if she could hula hoop while kicking a soccer ball between two trees. She promptly nailed it. So, I tried my luck with Everett.  I offered him a dollar if he could hit two baskets in a row. He promptly nailed his first two shots. I went back to Amelia and offered double or nothing if she could hula hoop while shooting a basket. Nailed it. With tail between my legs, I went back to Everett and offered double or nothing on whether he could make a third shot. He then knocked down 8 out of 10.

I don't know who has been working with these semi-professionals in their spare time...but, I know when it is time to walk away from a bad bet.

Waaaaahhh

What do you do when you walk into your kitchen to find both your children drinking out of sippy cups and crying like babies?  If you're me,  you just turn around, walk away, and hope you never witness that again...

Working

This little girl was working hard today trying to earn tips for her hula hooping skills. Despite her smooth moves, she was only able to muster a wave from a passerby and a lecture from her dad about asking people for money...

Questions

How do you keep a 10 year-old dog from thinking your new puppy is just a really lifelike chew toy.

How do you train a puppy to sleep in a crate when your old dog sleeps in your bed?

How do you keep your puppy from eating your old dog's food when she just free feeds all day?

How do you trick your children into cleaning up puppy poo and thinking it was their idea?

How do you keep your old dog from eating the puppy poo when you're not looking?

How do you keep your puppy from eating your old dog's poo when you're not looking?

How do you keep your puppy off your couch when your old dog snuggles your son their every day?

How do you keep your new boy puppy from humping everything in sight?

Ahhh, the next month should be a fun one of figuring out these things prior our little guy coming home.

Window Shopping

We went and spent some time with this little guy today...he made a strong push to become the next member of the family...

Upgrade

These two morning snugglers have upgraded their tv viewing spot from the couch to my bed.  They sit in there while I get ready for work and Amelia and Meggan head off to school.  Good for them....at least someone gets to relax in it in the mornings.

Good Start

When you get to spend your mornings with this guy, it's impossible to keep his positivity from rubbing off on you...

Keep Going Forward

Sometimes in life,  you go through something that wrecks your world.  In those times, the only thing you can do is appreciate that the sun came up again and go find out what the day holds for you.  I have a feeling I'm going to have several of those days in the near future.

Until Later....

I'm finally back in town after what started as a wonderful week reuniting with my college friends and ended holding my mom as she passed away in a hospital bed.  I had no idea it was coming.  I'm still in shock. It's a surreal feeling that may never leave. That said, I did have the honor of writing the speech for the funeral and the privilege of watching my beautiful wife read it.


Thank you all for coming.  I speak for my entire family when I say we are honored by your presence.  Those of you who know my mom know she'd love having her family spending this time together.

When the call went out that my mom was in the hospital, 17 people dropped everything and showed up to support her.  These people traveled from 5 states and were made up of siblings, children, grand children, great grandchildren, nephews, and their loved ones.

How does one woman command such love and admiration?  She does it by living a life of selfless, unconditional love.  She does it by courageously moving forward when cancer stole her husband at a young age and left her responsible for her 4 children.  She does it by being the first person you'd call if you needed help and the first person  who'd call you if you had bad weather coming your way.  She does it by being a loving daughter, a caring sibling, and the kind of mother who talks to all 4 of her adult children every day.

In short, she does it by being a very special woman - soft-hearted enough to bring comfort to anyone, yet fiery enough to keep life interesting.  So, while we mourn the loss of her here today, keep in mind she is celebrating a Heavenly reunion with her husband, mother, brother, and a host of loved ones.  She lived life the way she wanted and battled until the end.  In honor of her, I ask that we hug each other a little tighter,  watch that sunset a little longer, and tell people we love them as often as possible.  That's the way my mom would have done it. 

Missing

It's been 9 days since I've posted. I haven't forgotten about the blog. I simply started the last week looking forward to a vacation I've been looking forward to for 2 years and ended it as the worst week of my life. I'll fill in the blanks in a few days. For now, I need a break.

Private Conversation

While Amelia and Everett were getting ready for bed, they had this "private", sweet conversation.


Amelia: I'm really scared about getting our flu shots.

Everett: Well, we don't have to get them tonight.

Amelia:  You're right.

Everett: Let's just play.

Amelia: I'm sorry I'm a mean big sister sometimes.  You're the best little brother in the world.


Hearing this makes me realize how big they're getting.  I can't believe my little man is old enough to give advice to his big sister....and she's mature enough to appreciate it.

Spectator Sport

Amelia's second soccer game went very similarly to her first....the wrong side of a beatdown. After attentively watching practice this week, here is how Everett felt about what he saw....

 ...He was so bored that he tried to bury himself alive.