Category Archives: Kids

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THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE HISTORY: Part II of Road Trippin’ 2013

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We stopped, thank goodness!  TheWife went into the hotel to get our room while I waited outside with the kids, who unfortunately woke up as soon as I turned off the engine.  I could tell the TheBoy was still tired and ready to go back to bed.  TheGirl on the other hand – was ready to party.

We settled into our room, kids were put in pajamas and went to bed, or so we thought.  TheBoy passed out immediately and TheGirl wanted to carry on a conversation, play with my hair, and rub my face.  That wasn’t bad; the pillows in the hotel were 12×12 shitty pillows, which made sleeping difficult.  I think both TheWife and I got a total of 4 hours of sleep.

“It’s just a lot of grass and rocks Daddy!”

Blasphemy son!!  This is history.  We are walking on hallowed grounds.  You could be standing in the same spot as Robert E. Lee or Ulysses S. Grant.  One of the greatest battles in our American history was fought here, isn’t that awesome?  Blood was shed here, lives were lost here, and this placed served as inspirations to one of the greatest speeches known to man.  How can you not think this is awesome?  This is HISTORY!!

“I just want to climb the tower?”

Gettysburg offers two different towers that you can climb to truly understand the enormity of the battlefield(s).  TheBoy who has no fear (unless it’s Ursula from Little Mermaid) climbed a 75ft. tower with ease.  TheWife on the other hand – I’ll leave that for another time.

I think, as parents we sometimes forget things we think are cool are not cool to our children.  If all my children remember of Gettysburg are cannons, towers, and the awful cow manure smell, I’m okay with it.  It was great family bonding experience at a historical sight I will never forget.  Observing the innocence of a child while walking the battlefields of Gettysburg makes one put things into perspective – in the end, it could be worse, we could be worse.

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WE MADE IT!!!  I hope Mike and Kelly are ready for us (click here to read their blog)?  Our friends live in the beautiful suburb of Arlington, VA and near a Metro station, which makes travel easier for those not brave enough to tackle D.C. traffic and roundabouts.  We unpacked our bags and headed out to our first adventure to the National Mall.

Our trip was planned around the blossoming of the historic Japanese cherry trees (yes, the cherry trees were given to the US as a gift in 1912 from Japan) which surround the Washington Monument and the tidal basin near the Jefferson Memorial…This is HISTORY!!

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Needless to say, it was very busy with lots of photography and celebrating going on.  I have a tendency to get a little nervous in big crowds; it’s very suffocating to me and difficult to deal with.  It also didn’t help it was 90 degrees out.  With the culmination of lots of people accidently rubbing their sweatiness on me freaked me out.  However, I was able to take some fantastic pictures.

Both TheBoy and TheGirl were amazed by the beauty and sweet color of…the pink lemonade we bought them.  They could have cared less if they were looking at a cherry tree or redwood.  They had little interest in the beauty, the white and pinkish tones of the blossoms, or the history…THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE HISTORY!!

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If my children didn’t truly absorb the beauty of the cherry trees or the significance of a battlefield – I’m okay with it.  They were able to absorb the sweet taste of pink cherry lemonade, climb a tower, and breath in the stench of cows – which will in turn remind them of their trip to the grassy field and the place with a white rod coming our of the ground with a sharp point at the end of it.

To be continued…

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Road Trippin’ 2013: Part I

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The following blog will be a multiple part series on how my wife and I survived an 11-hour trip to “culture” our children with a visit to the Nation’s Capitol, Washington D.C.

For a few months we have been preparing for our trip to visit our friends Mike & Kelly.  Mike & Kelly are friends and neighbors that moved to D.C. a few years ago and we have been planning to visit ever since.  They recently returned from a 4-month world tour and they chronicled their experience through words and pictures (click here to read their blog).  We appreciate them opening their home to our crazy family.

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Our bags were packed and we were off and on the road by 11:30 a.m.  We made our first bathroom stop at 11:45 a.m.  It is then I realized we were in for a very long trip.  When we OFFICIALLY put the pedal to the metal, we had the wind in our hair, the sun at our back, and…another potty break at 12:15.

It took us 45-minutes to get into Indiana and we made the decision to have a late lunch somewhere in the middle of Indiana…we pressed on, with another potty break.  For those of you that live in Indiana please jump to the next paragraph, I’m about to insult your state.  Indiana, at least the stretch along I-80 has nothing to offer to the World.  I would describe it as the armpit of the U.S.  The roads are horrible, the tolls are ridiculous, and my wife didn’t allow me to stop in Gary to visit Michael Jackson’s childhood home, so I officially dislike this section of Indiana.

What I do like about Indiana are the service plazas along the interstate.  They are huge plazas with different food options, gas, and areas for kid’s to stretch their legs without out driving a ¼ mile and paying a toll to get off then paying another to get back on the interstate.

As I said before, we have prepped for this trip and I would consider us smart travellers, I mean TheWife is a smart traveller.  TheWife had bags of books, movies, toys, crayons/coloring books, and snacks to keep the kids occupied.  But, I think we forget our children have attention spans of a 2-year old and 5-year old which leads to bickering and sibling fighting.  Did I fail to mention this was going to be a long trip?

With Indiana and Ohio behind us we entered what I believe to be one of the most beautiful states America has to offer, Pennsylvania.  We drove into PA, as the residents refer it to, it was getting late and we decided to stop, stretch the legs, and eat.  What we failed to remember is our kids aren’t conditioned to sitting in one place for a long period of time so when they get out of the car, they thought we were done.  TheGirl put up a fight getting back into the car seat, we knew she was tired, bored, tired, and bored, but we pressed on.

The valleys, mountains, and countryside of PA are beautiful, especially at dusk when the sun is setting.  The pastures were green, lush, and picturesque but we didn’t stop to get pictures…we “watered” them with another potty break!

When dusk turned to night, I started to go a little crazy.  We were in the car for 10+ hours and I was reaching my breaking point of sanity.  With TheBoy asleep, and the TheGirl at her breaking point as well, going cuckoo with her non-stop jabbering we climbed the mountains of PA.  She kept singing crazy songs and when I would drive over the rumble strips on the side of the road she would scream out, “what that”.  Needless to say she kept us awake and entertained.  We were on a small stretch of highway, at an 8% grade with creepy houses, shadows, and zero cars around us….this was a very long trip.

I kept telling the wife I was afraid of Bigfoot jumping out and attacking our car.  It didn’t help I recently watched a video (click here) that heightened my awareness of bigfoot lurking in the woods waiting for the exact moment to attack our family.  “What that”, I hit a rumble strip and TheGirl helped get my mind on track.  As we snaked through the winding roads my mind would play tricks on me and I had visions of a masked man on the side of the road with a chainsaw…this was an already long trip.

We decided to stop in a small town outside of Gettysburg and 11:00 p.m.  This is going to be a long trip.

To be continued…

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Bingeing on some Vedder, not Vader…

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Funny Conversation…

Me – Who is this?


Cameron – Eddie Vedder


Me – No, it’s Dave Mathews Band


Cameron – Oh…

Me – Who is this?


Cameron – Eddie Vedder

Me – No, this is Radiohead


Cameron – Oh…


Me – Who is this?


Cameron – I’m not going to say Eddie Vedder. I got that right didn’t I?

Let the good times roll…

There was a time in my life when I was introduced to a band and lead singer who would change how I would view, listen, and embrace the world.  The band was Pearl Jam and the singer/songwriter was Eddie Vedder.  I am not one of those crazy fans who have posters, tattoos of their album covers or lyrics engraved on my arm.  But, I relate to his music and recently LIFE happened and I was reluctant to have his lyrics and music to escape to.  I don’t have anything in common with Mr. Vedder with exception of living in San Diego and Chicago like he did and I ended up marrying a girl from Seattle.

Was this fate?  Is Pearl Jam my version of The Who?  Is Eddie Vedder my Bob Dylan?  I am able to connect to his songs and lyrics more now then I did when I was younger.  Long Road, Oceans, Even Flow, Alive, Indifference, Black, and Yellow Ledbetter all speak to me in ways I can’t begin to describe.  The lyrics are profound and are deep in meaning.  How does this relate to my blog?  Well, as I have written in the past, both Cameron and Parker love music, which I am thankful for.  I hope one day when LIFE gets in the way for my children they kind find peace and comfort in music.  It doesn’t have to be Pearl Jam or Eddie Vedder, but in the mean time, I’ll let them soak up as much of my influence as possible.

Long Road – Pearl Jam

I wished for so long…I can not stay

All the precious moments…Can not stay

Its not like wings have fallen…I can not say

Still something is missing…I can not say

When Cameron and I are in the car we play, “who is this”, of music.  I have conditioned him to say Eddie Vedder to every song that he hears.  I know, I’m bad, but I find it amusing when he gets it correct.

It was a bright sunny day and Cameron and I were headed back home from a day at the zoo.  Windows were down, the wind was in our hair, the music was blasting and we were replaying the day’s events in our conversation.  I had my iPod in hand and shuffling through my songs and asked Cameron, “Who is this?”  Without hesitation, Cameron replied, “Eddie Vedder.”  After listening for a few seconds of Dave Matthews, Grace is Gone, I informed him that is was not Eddie Vedder.  After the song was over and shuffling through a few more songs, I asked Cameron, “Who is this?”  Once again, without hesitation he blurted out, “Eddie Vedder!”  Again, with regret, I had to inform him that it was in fact Radiohead, Karma Police.  I started to shuffle through the songs again and noticed the frustration build in Cameron’s face.  I stopped on a song and hit play, and before I could even get the question out of my mouth, Cameron responded, “I’m not going to say Eddie Vedder.  I got that right didn’t I?”  Feeling bad, I decided to hit the skip button, because in fact it was Eddie Vedder’s, Hard Sun.

I had to let him win at least once…

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Fishing with the Kings

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Funny Conversation…



Cameron – Daddy, I’m the fisher king!

Me – What makes you the fisher king?

Cameron – I caught 12 fish and a foot long fish!

Me – That makes you an ichthyologist (look it up)


Cameron – Yeah, I’m that and a fisher king!

Let the good time roll… 

How many years does it take for something to become a “rite of passage”?  When does something that has little meaning at the time, have such a huge impact later in life?  For the past few days these are the questions that I have been asking myself.  Am I teaching my children the things that my father taught me, and the things his father taught him?  Do I accurately and correctly re-tell a story that was told to me by my grandfathers?  Am I teaching them the proper way, the way I was taught to tie a hook to a fishing line?  What was the secret I was taught on how to properly put a worm on a hook?  Do I tell my children talking doesn’t scare fish away?  Or, do I tell them talking does scare fish away?  Will they be able to digest the sights and sounds of their surroundings?  Will they breath in the fresh air and value how their time is being spent?  Will they place their hand in the cool water and bask in the day’s sunlight?  Will they listen to the sloshing of water under the metal boat and stare in the sky and wonder where the birds are headed?  I know only time will tell, but I have a feeling all will be perfect in the end.  My children are blessed by two guiding lights, which will be there for them when the path gets dim, and the light of day dissipates into night.

I can remember fishing in the ponds of Oklahoma with my Grandpa and Great-Grandpa.  I can remember fishing in the ponds of Missouri with my Dad and Grandpa.  I can remember fishing in the lakes of Wisconsin with my Brothers.  Fishing brings us together and will be a part of our family for generations to come.  Recently, my Dad took Cameron to Missouri to go fishing with my Grandpa (Cameron’s Great-Grandpa).  There is no better time to spend fishing, than fishing with Grandpa’s.  Every night we would get an excited phone call from Cameron telling us about his afternoon of catching fish.  During one conversation Cameron blurted out, “Daddy, I’m the Fisher King!”  I can only imagine which grandpa fed him that line?  I was happy he thought he was the Fisher King, but jealous at the same time and asked, ”What makes you the Fisher King?”  I was picturing him struggling to reel in a small perch and be so excited that he caught one fish.  I wasn’t prepared for the response of, “Because, I caught 12 fish and a foot long fish”.   One thing you have to understand about my family, we are HIGHLY competitive.  I don’t care if you’re 4 years or 99 years old, if you tell me you caught 12 fish and have evidence of your catch; I’m going to be pissed!  I was proud of my son, but felt it necessary to bring him back down from cloud 9 and told him, “That makes you an ichthyologist.”  For a few seconds there was silence and thought I was getting the last laugh on my 4-year old son when he replied, “Yeah, that and a FISHER KING!”  To do this day, I have never caught 12 fish in one day, and as usual, Cameron gets the last laugh.

This post is dedicated to both of my Grandfathers, two men I have always looked up to and admire.

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Sir, you dropped your underwear…

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Funny Conversation…

Lady – SIR, SIR!!

Me :: I turn around ::

Lady – I saw these fall out of your pant leg

Me – Thanks :: Horrified I immediately grab my underwear out of her hand and put them in my pocket ::

Lady – You’re welcome

Let the good times roll…

Today was a preschool day for my son and we all woke up late…I mean real late, 8:45ish and his class starts at 9:10.  We are usually up and ready to go by 7:30, but for some reason the Father Gods were probably golfing and enjoying a good laugh at my expense.  After rolling over and looking at the clock, I felt my throat hit my feet as I jumped out of bad.  In the process of jumping out of bed, I yell for everyone to get up.  In doing so, I’m sure Cameron thought the Decepticons were about to attack our secret hideout.  I scrambled to each room to ensure each of my kids were alive and gave my marching orders.  As I am getting Parker dressed (I refuse to take her any where in her pajamas), Cameron walks in wearing an outfit that…that, I don’t know what it was, but he was dressed.  Before heading downstairs I have both children brush their teeth and while overseeing the haphazard attempt of teeth brushing, I’m calculating how much time we have for breakfast, and how long it will take to officially get out of the house.  I figured I would have at least have 3 minutes to get Cameron a well-balanced meal and another 5 seconds to get shoes on the correct feet and jackets on.  We head downstairs and I throw Cameron fruit snacks, a granola bar, and a diet coke and tell him to eat his breakfast.  For some reason he had a look of fear in his eyes!  I don’t understand why?  As I’m getting Parker ready, Cameron at what seemed to be a painstakingly slow pace dons his jacket and shoes.  As I’m about to head out the door, I realize I’m still wearing shorts and a t-shirt.  I run back up stairs and put on the previous day’s clothes and run back downstairs. I buckle Parker into her seat while Cameron jumps in his seat and we are off.  I’m driving through my neighborhood at 50mph, when it’s a 25mph speed zone…I didn’t care!  We pull in the parking lot and I jump out of the car to unpack the kids.  I then realized I failed to buckle Cameron into his seat – I’m sure I’m going to hell for that.  I finally get both kids out of the car and head towards the entrance.  I’m carrying Parker and Cameron is following in tow.  We are mid-way through the parking lot when I stepped in a pothole that was covered with snow and slush. My foot is immediately engulfed in ice-cold water – literally everything in my body shrank.  I attempt to regain my composure and I’m happy with the fact that I did not utter the word “FUCK” multiple times.  I look at my watch and it read 9:10, not bad!!  As we are sprinting towards the door I hear a lady yell from behind us, “SIR, SIR!” I turn around to see this lady running towards me.  My first thought was to ignore the lady and continue on my mission to get Cameron to school on time.  As she is running towards me, she is waving a pair of underwear over her head (picture Charlie finding the Wonka Golden Ticket).  The second thought came to my head was, this lady is going to glitter bomb me with someone’s underwear.  When she finally caught up with us she tells me, “I saw these fall out of your pant leg.” She handed me my skivvies and giggled while walking away.  The third thought to go through my head, are these my underwear and did she just hand them to me?  Thankfully, I have yet to encounter this lady again, but if I do, I plan on giving her a high five because I got Cameron to school on time and I’m not down a pair of underwear.

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You have no balls!!

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Funny Conversation…

 

Me – Cameron, you have to dodge the balls

Cameron – Daddy, you have no balls


Janel Klinetobe :: laughs in the background ::

Me – I know, mine disappeared 8 years ago!

Cameron – Balls disappear?

Me – Yep, they sure do!



Let the good times roll…

Cameron is getting to the age where sports and activities are taking control of our lives, or about to take control of our lives (I embellished on the first part of the sentence).  He has participated in a sports class and is now in gymnastics.  He looks forward to Saturday’s at the rec center to work on his gymnastics skills and in my opinion he is quite good and we will see how far it takes him, or how quickly he loses interest.  I am a firm believer in organized sports and activities for the bond it creates not only between other children but also as parents.  It is fun watching him run around on the mat doing summersaults, jumping on the trampoline and giving me the thumbs up if he doing well or a thumbs down if he thinks he can do better.  It reminds me of the bond that I had with my father when he would throw pop-ups to me at a local park, or shoot hoops out on the driveway.  Life is more than TV, movies, and video games and I hope Cameron appreciates the activities we sign him up.  I personally look forward to the day when we will be schlepping baseball bags, football gear, and possibly hockey sticks around to get to the next game.

We recently signed Cameron up for a sports class, which taught kids to play soccer, baseball, basketball, football, and dodge ball.  I didn’t realize dodge ball was a sport until my brothers reminded me it is played on ESPN OCHO.  The night or days before the class Janel and I would teach Cameron some of the basic concepts of each sport so he would have a better understanding of the game he was going to learn.  The night before the dodge ball class we went to the basement and stated the rules and decided to have a dodge ball tournament.  Yes, I chucked balls at my son!!  Cameron didn’t understand the concept you have to duck, dodge, dive, dip, and dodge from the balls that are coming at you at a high rate of speed.  I kept telling Cameron, “ You have to dodge the balls.”  Cameron from the other side of the room decided to hit me below the belt and replied, “Daddy, you have no balls.”  You would think that Cameron told the most amazing joke of all time because my wonderful wife couldn’t stop laughing hysterically and had to leave the room to regain her composure.  In order to regain the little dignity that I had left explained, “My balls disappeared 8 years ago.”  I knew Cameron was clueless in the context I was speaking of and asked, “Balls disappear?”  As Janel walked back down the stairs and I looked at her and responded, “Yep, they sure do!” and proceeded to launch every hard object at my wonderful wife.

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To Whom It May Concern: Volume V

Image To whom it may concern,

Thank you for giving me a daughter, who gets angry, then screams in the highest pitch known to man. Thank you for giving me a daughter who at the ripe old age of 16 months has no only an obsession with shoes but socks as well. Thank you for giving me a daughter who when fully dressed after a bath, feels it is necessary to get back in the bath fully dressed. For giving me a daughter who thinks that the bookshelves are a jungle gym. For giving me a daughter who thinks ALL her toys (not just the soft ones) can fly from the top of the stairs down to the bottom. For giving me a daughter who giggles at me when a non-soft toy is thrown from the second story balcony and hits me in the head. Thank you for giving me the greatest daughter a father could ask for.

Respectfully,

B.

P.S. – I know it’s early, but I’m going to take a little swig out of the bottle to make it through the rest of the day.

And, the Academy Award goes to…Parker Grace Klinetobe.  I will be the first to admit that my daughter has me wrapped around her little fingers.  Her cute, fat, chubby cheeks are hard to say “no” to.  Every day with her brings a new experience and a new adventure.  I fear that she already has the “Brandon” stare (which is, you’re an idiot stare) and is not afraid to use the stare at strangers, relatives, and innocent bystanders.  Parker has also learned to be tough in a household with an older brother.  98% of the time Cameron and Parker get along and play well with each other.  It is the other 2% that I fear for Cameron because Parker refuses to back down and is not afraid to push, pull, or body-slam Cameron.  Parker is one of those girls who is an independent girl (cue Kelly Clarkson theme song) and wants to do everything on her own which includes changing her own diaper, pouring her own milk, and attempting to wash her own clothes.  Her independence is borderline refreshing and on the verge of psychotic.  Parker has an uncanny way to brighten a room when the mood is dim.  Her bubbly, energetic, loving personality is all the world needs.  Therefore, the award goes to Parker.

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From Thor to The Hulk to a Princess?

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Funny Conversation…



Cameron – I’m Iron Man

Me – Then who am I?

Cameron – I don’t know?

Me – Am I Thor?


Cameron – NO!

Me – Am I The Hulk?


Cameron – No way! You’re not green! I think you’re a princess.

Me – Why am I princess?

Cameron – Because you look like a princess.

 Let the good times roll…

One of the greatest gifts that both Cameron and Parker have been blessed with is an imagination.  What is even better, they allow me to join them on their pretend adventures, tea party’s, and hero journeys.  We could be protecting a beautiful princess from the big, scary dragon or waging war with the sinister Sith Lords in a far off galaxy.  They have allowed me to be a kid again and take part in their imaginative world, which I appreciate and love taking part in.  A few days ago, Parker walked into the kitchen and came out wearing a pot on her head and handed me colander to wear on my head as well.  I’m assuming they were crowns because she called me Cinderella as we sat at a table and drank milk and ate cookies.  I’m looking forward to the day she attempts to put a boa around my neck and tries to put make-up on me.  Our basement is usually the far off place that we go and pretend to be – kids.  Part of me hopes that they will never lose their imagination and continue to dream being a prince, princess, Jedi Knights, and Generals in the Elmo Army.  I also hope they continue to allow me to be a part their world of imagination where the good guy always wins.

For Cameron’s birthday we had an Avenger’s themed party and Cameron was spoiled with Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and Night Hawk toys.  After the party we were overwhelmed with Thor’s Hammer, Captain America’s Shield, and Iron Man’s Arc Reactor Heart.  He came up from the basement wearing his Arc Reactor Heart proclaiming, “I’m Iron Man!”  As I’m holding the Hammer of Mjölnir (Thor’s Hammer) I asked, “Then who am I?”  Seeming to not want to play the guessing game, he told me, “I don’t know?”  Raising the Hammer over my head calling upon the God’s I asked again, “Am I Thor?”  Cameron quickly replied emphatically, “NO!”  I immediately dropped the Hammer in disappointment and questioned, “Am I The Hulk?”  As I was asking the question I was attempting to rip my shirt, and flexing to pop a few veins when Cameron responded, “No way, you’re not green!  I think you’re a princess.”  At this point, I am completely deflated and not wanting to play any more asked why I was a princess.  As cold and heartless as a 4 year old can be told me, “Because you look like a princess.”  Enough said, I’m not playing anymore – Carry on.

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That’s Not Funny!

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Me – How was school today?


Cameron – It was good. Everyone liked my cupcakes

Me – That’s good.

Cameron – Are you still broke? My tummy wants Jimmy Johns.


Me – I’m broke as a joke today buddy.

Cameron – That’s not a funny joke…

Let the good times roll…

 Being a parent is a tough job.  I don’t think you ever realize what you are getting yourself into until you have kids.  I would like to say my children are the most unique and special out of all the children in the world, but with Facebook and the Internet I know each child is different and every parenting experience is different.  I think if our children were equipped with a training manual, life would be boring and we wouldn’t have all these wonderful stories to share. I have come to realize that each day brings a different experience.  It is how we learn from these experiences to make not only ourselves better but our children as well.  I love reading about my old high school classmates and Navy friends and how they have attacked the parenting world; we are all in this together guiding our future.  The devotion, time, blood, sweat, tears, love, time, and more time makes it all worth it in the end.  If it were not my kids, my life would be boring.  I love being a parent!!

I’m thinking about sending Cameron to an addiction counselor…He’s officially addicted to Jimmy Johns!!  Maybe I should send Janel first, she seems that have helped with the Jimmy Johns addiction.  As mentioned before in a previous post, I pick Cameron up from pre-school at lunchtime and he either wants something to eat as soon as we get in the car or has to use the bathroom, urgently.  Our conversations usually start off with me asking, “How was school?”  On this particular day, it was Cameron’s special day to bring snacks for his class and he replied, “It was good.  Everyone liked my cupcakes.”  To answer your question that you are thinking – no, I did not bake cupcakes, Janel did.  Cameron proceeded to tell me about everything that he learned that day and who farted in class (that’s how we roll).  He then goes on to ask me, “Dad, are you still broke?  My tummy wants Jimmy Johns.”  Not wanting to go to Jimmy Johns or anywhere except home at this point I did the best thing and stated the truth, “I’m broke as a joke today buddy.”  It seems as if I fill Cameron with disappointment on a regular bases because he replied in a pouty voice, “That’s not a funny joke!”  Man, I love my kids and being a parent.

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To Whom It May Concern: Volume III

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To Whom It May Concern,

Thank you for giving me a daughter, who feels that it is necessary to throw her plate of food on the ground, throw the food that is left over from the plate that was thrown on the floor to the dog.  Thank you for giving me a daughter who refuses to properly drink out of a Sippy cup and who finds it entertaining to allow water/milk to seep out of the cup and “paint” a picture on the table or carpet.  Also, thank you for giving me a daughter who loves getting into things that I never knew or forgot that we had and for destroying the things that I never knew or forgot that we had.  Thank you for giving me a daughter who throws her entire body backward in attempt to have a temper tantrum but instead allowing her to hurt her head in the process.  Thank you for giving me the greatest daughter a father could ask for…

Respectfully,

B.

P.S. – Instead of a drink, I’m going to gorge myself with food.

I am blessed to have two wonderful children that have learned to love and entertain each other.  This past week my Dad (Grandpa) took Cameron to visit his Great-Grandparents in Missouri.  It was nice for Janel and I to share alone time with Parker and give her a little more one on one time.  I took Parker to the Field Museum, she helped me with homework, we watched the entire Star Wars Saga, and we ate out of the cereal box every morning.  It was fun to watch her as she entertained herself with her dolls and how she commanded the dog to get off the couch when she wanted to get up and snuggle with Daddy.  When Cameron and my Dad returned, Cameron didn’t jump into my arms, he headed straight towards Parker and told her how much he missed her and proceeded to tell her about the fun adventures that he had with grandpa.  Which included all the milk gravy that he ate, the fish he caught, and the tractor that he drove.  Even though Parker didn’t understand half what Cameron said, she held him tight and said she loved him.  It’s these types of moments as parents that I cherish and makes me realize that I may actually be doing a good job.  As a wise man once told me, “we are nothing without family. – D.Y.O”