Unexpected Halloween Twist

Every once in a while my kids will do something that just amazes me. That happened last night on Halloween.

I took the day off so I could be with the kids yesterday. However, I wound up going to work for a few hours. I need to bank a few extra hours for upcoming stuff. My daughter decided that she wanted to come to work with me. She was welcomed by a big box of donuts in the break room!

After I sorted through things to get my coworkers ready for the night, we drove home. We had about an hour before it was time to trick or treat, so we all enjoyed dinner together.

The temperatures were not too cold, unlike the last couple years. It was windy, which made it feel chillier than it was. As you know, the kids have been on the mend, so we made sure to dress them warm.

My wife is all about matching. This year, we “coupled” based on their costumes. Andrew was a fireman. Naturally, the fireman had to have a Dalmatian dog. Mommy was happy to help.

Ella was Wonder Woman, and needed someone to help her fight off the candy stealing criminals. I was happy to step in as “Bat-Dad!”

This year we opted not to take the wagon with us, so that meant we were all walking. We got one half of our street done and made our way to the next one over. About halfway down, Ella decided that she wanted to go home. We completely understood, and it was decided that Andrew and I would keep going.

A few minutes later, my phone rang. I had told the folks at work to call if they had any questions about the night. It wasn’t work. It was Sam.

“You locked the door.”

“Yeah, I did.”

“You have the key!”

“Uh, yeah, I do.”

So Andrew and I walked back home to let them in the house. When we got back home, he said he wanted to stay home. I was surprised. I thought for sure he’d want to go back out, but he didn’t.

We had a big bowl of candy from past trunk or treats. Sam thought it would be a good idea to pass it out to the kids walking. So we went on the porch and passed out candy. They kids LOVED being able to give candy to the kids. Now here is the unexpected twist…

As we were getting to the bottom of the candy bowl, we said we’d have to go inside. The kids both grabbed their candy buckets and dumped them into the bowl. We asked if they were sure they wanted to do that, and they said they were.

Every time someone walked up to our house, they’d run over to them and hand them sweets. The joy and excitement on their faces and those who were receiving the candy was worth it. When we finally ran out of candy and went inside, we asked they why they gave away their candy. Ella said, “I like sharing.”

Sam and I couldn’t be more proud of them!

Dressing Up

You may remember a week or so ago that my wife bought a bunch of costumes for the kids to dress up in. Can I tell you that this has been so much fun for them, especially on rainy days.

A few more costumes have been added since the original post, but what I love is that they have found ways to mix and match as they play. The results have been …. humerous.

Edna from the Incredibles was quick to say, “No Capes!” However, the kids seem to be using them as accessories to various costumes. The hospital exam glove on Andrew’s hand is there for no reason in particular. Believe it or not the yellow had Ella is wear is a cowboy hat. How it got mangled into that shape is beyond me. Daisy had a hat on, but it fell as I snapped this photo.

My favorite outfit of the week is the ensemble that Andrew put together to go “scooter riding.”

First, Ninja Turtle pajamas. Next, we have Ella’s T-ball cleat on one hand and his baseball glove on the other. Top top it all off, he has a regular baseball cap on his head and on top of that, the hat from the Paw Patrol Chase costume. I do not have to wonder why people driving down our street slow and stare at him as he happily rides his scooter up and down the driveway.

Bitsy

The thing about our new kitty is that she is so tiny. She hides everywhere. She snuck out when the kids had the side door open this week and didn’t go far. As a matter of fact, she sat in front of the door meowing.

She can get into tight spaces and since she got out once, when we can’t find her, I freak a bit. I could not find her the other day and thought, “Ok, maybe she is sleeping under a chair or in the basement.” So I sat down with a cup of coffee and out of the corner of my eye, I looked at the shoe rack. Sure enough …..

She’s a sneaky one.

“The smallest feline is a masterpiece.” – Leonardo da Vinci.

Expensive Trip To The Book Store

Because of the Microsoft issues yesterday, I got a text from my boss saying I could stay home if I didn’t want to come in. Well, almost everything I do needs a computer, so I stayed home. It was nice to have lunch with the family and, honestly, even nice to be able to grab a nap when the kids napped.

After nap time, we decided to take a quick trip to the bookstore. I found a couple books that they just love and promised to get the third in the series. The “Creepy” series features Jasper Rabbit and some creepy objects.

We found the Creepy Crayon book and began walking through the kids books. It didn’t take long for the kids to find some of the toys and stuffed animals. It took them even less time to find something there that they “had to have.”

I suppose it is wrong for an adult to think that they will get just 5 minutes to look at books for themselves. When I walk into a book store, I want to browse. I want to be able to take pictures of books I want to add to my “To Read” list. Yeah, that didn’t happen.

There was a book that Sam really wanted to read that is unavailable in the Library audio apps. The two of us walked the store looking for it as the kids continued to run around like crazies. When we finally met up she stated that she had found it and that we should probably go after she found a couple more kid books.

That, of course, meant going back to the children’s section. Ella found a Jasper Rabbit stuffy, but when she saw a fox, she wanted that instead.

This fox was like 10 bucks. Andrew, who loves all things construction, found an excavator stuffy. I had no idea that this stuffy is a character from a book, which means they can charge more or something.

I think, and I haven’t compared the two but this may be a bit smaller than the fox. As we walked up to the cashier with 4 kid books, Sam’s book, my $5 magazine, and the two stuffies, I was surprised when they told me the total was like $130!!!!

I looked at Sam when they told me that and she showed me the price of that excavator. Neither of us was smart enough to look at the tag, which read, $29.99! What makes me even more angry was a search for the picture above on the internet showed me a few places where it was $15!

At bedtime, when we read our new books, Ella grabbed her fox and I asked Andrew to get his excavator. “I don’t want it,” he said to me. Urgh ….

(After) Father’s Day Lunch

One of the hardest things to do it seems is to get all my kids together. There are a lot of factors involved in this – jobs, appointments, certain people, and schedules in general. However, over the weekend, all of my kids got together with me to celebrate Father’s Day.

We met at one of the local parks and we had pizza. We had planned on eating under the pavilion, but there were people there for a high school graduate’s open house. We found some bleachers by the baseball diamond and had our picnic lunch there.

The youngest kids wanted to hurry up and eat because they wanted to play on the playground. my older boys were filling me in on stuff at work, school, and other things. My younger ones were quite persuasive and got their older brothers to eat a bit faster so they could go and play.

As their father, it gave me the warmest sensation inside to watch them all play together! What a joy to see them all running around and chasing each other. It was hard to tell who was having more fun, the younger kids or the older kids. Andrew chased Dante’ up the stairs to the curly slide and on his way down, Dante’ got stuck!

Different slide, a few minutes later, Dimitri came down and conked his head on the way out.

After a lot of running around, screaming and laughing, they slowed down a bit as Ella and Andrew wanted to swing on the swings. Naturally, they wanted their big brothers to push them.

I found myself trying to take in every moment of this, but also wanted to get some pictures. Their interactions are something that is so special. Ella and Andrew love them so much, I truly wish that my older sons knew just how much.

I have two favorite pictures from the day. The first is because of the sheer delight in Andrew’s face as he chases Dante’ around the playground.

The second is a recreation of our Father’s Day picture from last year, only this time it is on the bleachers.

I’m a lucky man to be called “Dad/Daddy” by these kids. Thank you for a wonderful time together. I love you all!

Pre-Summer Splashing

They kids are all set for summer. Sam and I got them a huge inflatable water slide a few months back and we finally got the chance to put it up. We’ve had some summer-like weather and we’ve all had some fun with it.

This thing is really cool. There is a shower at the top of the slide that keeps water on the slide itself. Then at the bottom there is a water cannon that shoots water on the end of the slide. There is a “tunnel” with a sprinkler you can walk or run through, as well.

At some point Sunday, Sam decided that she was going to sit in the water with the kids, which led to a whole lotta splashing.

The asked me to come over, so I put my phone down and next thing I know, all of them were splashing me. The water was from the hose and it was freezing! But after about 30-40 minutes playing in the water as a family, I can honestly say it was a blast and worth every second.

Even Daisy found it fun to play …

The kids kept shooting her with the cannon and she kept biting at the water.

I will be sure to remind my wife of the fun we had when the water bill shows up!!

Mother’s Day Recap

This was the first Mother’s Day since becoming a mom that Sam had the day off. I was so glad that she was able to take the day and spend it with us. She worked the night before and on the way home, she called and told me to make sure the kids were dressed. We were heading out somewhere when she got home.

I hurried and got the kids dressed, got myself dressed and was ready when she got home. She came in and changed clothes before we left, so I just assumed we were all going to go out to breakfast. Instead, she drove to the cemetery where my mom is buried. She told me she wasn’t going to let Mother’s Day go by without taking me there.

The innocence of my kids always chokes me up. As we walked up, Sam said, “We have to see grandma on Mother’s Day. She was daddy’s mommy.” When we got to her headstone, Andrew said, “I can’t see grandma.” That was the first choke up. Then Ella had found what she called a “heart shaped rock” and wanted to put it on her headstone. “I want grandma to have it.” Choke up number two. In the car, on the way out, Andrew starts to get upset. Sam asked why and he said, “Grandma can’t hold me.” Choke up number three.

When we got home, Sam got to see the gifts that the kids got for her.

They each drew her a picture/card and we placed a paint handprint inside. We bought her some hair stuff (hair ties, clips, a mirror, and stuff she uses to get ready). The kids also picked out a beautiful dozen roses for her. Finally, we made sure she got a delicious cake!

When our Head Start friend came over, we made feet flowers for her with her favorite colors.

After we opened her presents, she got to laid down and nap since she worked the night before. Then the kids and I went outside and we detailed her car.

We debated doing a BBQ for dinner, but she said she was really craving some Chinese food, so that’s what we got! By 7pm, the entire family was just exhausted and we were all in bed and asleep by 8! LOL

I am so happy that we got to celebrate her for mother’s day!! She is so special to all of us!

If You Give A Boy A Baseball

With the baseball season in full swing, and my daughter getting ready to start T-ball, I was reminded of those great days when I helped coach my two oldest boys. I was not the best coach, that is for sure, but we had fun. I coached T-ball, coach pitched, and player pitched teams. Eventually, my boys decided that it wasn’t for them.

Now with Ella and Andrew, I hope that they enjoy the game like I do. With my schedule I won’t be able to coach, but I have already put a plan in place to be able to see some of her games. I cannot wait to start playing catch with them.

I found this poem online and have no idea who wrote it, but I love it. It is about a boy, but I know plenty of girls who love the game, too, so it can easily apply to a girl as well.

If You Give a Boy a Baseball

If you give a boy a baseball, he will want a bat to go with it.

You’ll buy the best bat you can find, and then he will probably want a bucket of balls and a glove and some cleats too.

When he realizes he can’t carry all these things with his own two hands, he will want a bat bag.

Then he will want to spend hours begging you to go out in the yard to play with him even though you just want to sit on the couch and watch TV. He will insist. And his insistence will win!

When you go out in the yard to hit, pitch, throw, and catch. He will not want to go back in the house for dinner and will swear that even at dusk there is enough light to continue playing!

Next the backyard will get too small and he will want to go the baseball field to see how far he can hit and throw. Finally he learns to catch and then he wants friends to play with.

When a boy gets a jersey, he will want pants and socks and a belt and a hat to go with it! And a TEAM!!!

Then life as you know it will end!

There will be no more lazy weekends. You will see more sunrises than you ever thought possible! Every spare minute of your time will be spent hauling buckets, bags, stinky cleats, and crazy boys all over tarnation for practice and games. Your house will be a mess, and your car will be dirty.

All because you gave a boy a baseball!

Your weekends will be spent freezing in the cold or burning in the hot summer sun in a lawn chair! His weekends will be spent gaining confidence and friends, learning new skills, and having fun getting dirty. So dirty you will learn a whole new way to do laundry! Like going to the car wash using a pressure washer!

You will be there the day he has his first strikeout, double play and hits his first home run! And he will make you so proud. The other parents will congratulate you. But you feel weird saying thank you because it’s not you at bat or on the mound. It’s all him . . . He did this.

His smile will grow bigger and bigger! And each year that he plays with that baseball, he will get better and better. And his love for the game, and confidence in himself will grow right along with his jersey size!

Right before your eyes, your little boy will be transformed from the baby who spun around with his head on the bat, (because he loves attention), into a pitcher. Because he still loves attention.
Then he might try to be a catcher, outfielder or infielder because baseball teaches him he can be anything he wants!

When you give a boy a baseball, you give him more than just a ball. You give him a sport, and a talent, and hope, and dreams, and friends, a new family, a place to learn about life, room to grow as a person where he can push his limits, and bravery, and courage and life, and memories. He will have all of these things, simply because you gave a boy a baseball.

Because you gave a boy a baseball, you too will develop new/lifelong friendships, developed solely from the same passion for the game and love of your team. You will cheer together, all because you gave a boy a baseball.

Then one day, many years from today . . . he will be in his room and a baseball will roll out from an old dusty bat bag underneath his bed. And he will pick it up and realize instantly that when you gave that boy a baseball, you also gave him a childhood that he would never forget! Then he will hug you, and your eyes may leak – because you realize that everything YOU gave up along the way . . . was worth it!

All because you gave a boy a baseball!

Resurrection Weekend Recap

My wife was on the schedule to work on Easter Sunday. The family made sure that she would be included in the weekend happenings. My sister-in-law hosted a brunch on Saturday, which was just awesome. She had eggs, bacon, sausage, fruit pizza, and biscuits and gravy.

In past years, we’ve filled eggs with candy and coins and just left them around the yard for the kids to get. This year, each kid had their own color basket, which matched their egg color. Everyone got the same number of eggs. It made things so easy for them.

After brunch, we headed back home so that my wife could get ready for work that night. We also had the kid’s baskets out for them so that she could see them get their loot.!

Each of them got a new Tonie for the Tonie Box, a chocolate bunny, a toy, some play dough eggs, and new outfit. I think they both ate their bunny for breakfast!

On Easter Sunday, we were invited over to my in-laws, but my brothers-in-law were sick. With Andrew’s surgery coming up this week, we didn’t want to risk him getting sick (more on that in a sec).

Sam brought home donuts on Easter morning and we all enjoyed them. After breakfast, the kids were off playing with their toys. I grabbed a cup of coffee and tuned in to one of my pastor friend’s church service. It was a tremendous message and I am glad that I had the chance to sit and watch it. The message was on the resurrection of Christ and how it benefits Christian believers. It was a wonderful message that I really needed to hear with all that is coming up.

As I mentioned, Andrew is having surgery to repair the cleft that is between his vocal chords this week. I have taken a couple days off, so I may or may not post on here. I have a few things I might schedule ahead of time, but I will be back as soon as I am able with an update. He will see one of the docs a day before surgery to discuss some other possible diagnoses. We are also waiting to see a neuromuscular doctor. Not sure what we are looking at, but if you wouldn’t mind sending along positive thoughts and prayers, I would appreciate it.

My father-in-law could also use some good vibes and prayers, too. He is post op and needs to have another procedure done this week. Thanks in advance.

I had to do some quick testing a few weeks ago to see how the ADHD medicine is working. I will follow up with that doctor tomorrow. I’m not sure what to expect. You know how it is, in some ways I think it is helping, in other ways, I’m unsure. Hoping for some good news there.

I know this blog was a bit up and down emotionally, so I apologize. Know that I am ok, just thinking a lot.

Thanks for reading and your comments and support.

The Weekly Adventures of My Kids

There is never a dull moment at our house! The other day my wife and I are in our room. We hear Ella from the bathroom “We’re playing dentist. The pink kitty has a cavity and having a tooth pulled”. Sam looks at me and says, “You better check on that, I’m not sure what they are doing is dentistry!”

I walk in and the patient is in the “chair.” The flashlight is there to provide light. Andrew’s wearing medical gloves. Ella has a timer she is using as a thermometer. And the drill is on the ground, ready to prepare for cavities.

Looks like dentistry to me …..

We went back to Meijer to swap out bikes for Ella. The one we had came with two left pedals. Rather than just let me grab a right pedal from a box, I had to swap out the whole thing. On the way out, the kids see the penny horse ride. Someone was nice enough to leave a bunch of pennies on the base for kids who wanted to ride. Ella got right up and loved every minute. Andrew lasted about 3 seconds and wanted off. Naturally, Ella got to finish out his ride. (Yes, she is wearing unicorn slippers!)

It didn’t take long for our photos from the kid’s Spring Mini Session to come back. The kids love doing these because they get to pose with a live bunny! Our photographer, Beth, at Enjoy the View always amazes us. The kids were so out of control during the session, we really thought there wouldn’t be any good ones. We were wrong! She was really able to catch some fantastic shots.

After we downloaded the photos, we once again said to each other, “we really need to get these printed so we can hang them on the wall.” Seriously, the last photos that we hung on our wall was when we did family photos at Andrew’s newborn session! So today, Sam and I finally sat down and went through almost four years of pictures to have some printed. We ordered some canvases, and some 8 X 10 prints that we’ll be hanging in the living room.

Andrew was watching me upload pictures on my computer. He wanted to play on his own computer. He opened up the DVD player I use for my classes and I had to stop him. It is the only one I have and cannot afford to have that break. So I went downstairs and grabbed this old laptop my dad had given me a few years back. He was elated.

Because it is old, it is bulky. But it opens and he can bang on the keyboard. He was carrying it everywhere. I took the dog outside earlier and when I turned around, there was Andrew in the yard … with his laptop!

These kids bring me so much joy! There truly is never a dull moment.

See You Later, Gigi

We woke up this morning to the news that Sam’s grandma had passed away. It was not a surprise, as she’d been in hospice for a short time. She was 94 years old.

After Sam and I were married, I got to meet Gigi for the first time. She welcomed me into the family with open arms, literally. She told me, “In this family, we hug!” Sam and I visited her often and she always had stories to share with us. I loved listening to her. She was like my bonus grandma.

When the kids came along, she loved on them a lot! My kids loved seeing their Gigi. It is not often that a child gets to meet and interact with the great grandparents. Both of our kids were lucky enough to do that!

Gigi was all smiles holding Ella when she was only 6 days old.

She was just as happy to hold 13 day old Andrew.

Despite the noise they made when we went over to visit, she loved watching and listening to them. Every once in a while, Sam would visit and I wouldn’t be there because of work or something. She’d tell Sam to make sure I stop by with her the next time she went.

One of my favorite pictures of Gigi is with Sam at her baby shower.

When visits were over, I always made sure to give Gigi a hug and tell her that I loved her. She always told me she loved me too. Sam and I both had the chance to stop and see her before she passed. We went separately so one of us could keep the kids.

When I went to see her, it was difficult. It took me back to those final hours before my mother passed away. Gigi was more alert, though. She was talking, but much of it I couldn’t make out. I told her that the kids sent their love and wanted her to know how much they were going to miss her. I talked about Ella and she said clear as a bell, “She’s smart!” I agreed with her.

I thanked her for all she has done for us. She then said that Sam and I were “lucky to have each other.” I told her that I was the lucky one and how I couldn’t live with out Sam. She smiled. I asked her if I could pray with her. She took my hand without me asking and I prayed.

Afterward, she started to doze off. Sam’s Aunt Tana came in and sat next to me. We talked a bit and Gigi would occasionally start to say something to us. As I got ready to leave, I again told her that I loved her and told her to say hello to my mom and the rest of the family when she arrived in heaven. She clearly said, “Bye bye” and I kissed her on the forehead. I hugged Tana and chatted a bit with Sam’s Uncle before I left to go to work.

If you would be so kind as to keep my father-in-law, my wife, and her family in your prayers in the days and weeks ahead, I’d appreciate it.

Obviously, this is a pre-hug photo with Aunt Tana and me,

Gigi had a very strong faith and I know that we will be reunited in the future.

See you later, Gigi.