This morning as I was leaving for work:
Emma: Daddy, I want to have a date with you on Saturday. Just you and me.
Ash: This Saturday we are celebrating Granddaddy’s birthday.
Emma: Well, maybe we can do it Saturday after Saturday after Saturday, because I have my Fancy Nancy party next Saturday.
Me: Okay, sounds like a plan.
Posted in Emma, Kids Say the Darndest Things | 2 Comments »
This weekend was our last school-free weekend. Ash has several days this week that she has to be at school, and both of the kids start next week.
Saturday morning we went to Lexington for my 7:30am haircut, and then Ash went to the Lil’ Lamb’s Closet consignment sale while the kids and I watched movies in the car. Then we went home and cleaned the house until 3:30 when we left for a giant birthday party for our worship leader’s 4 kids. They had great food and fun stuff for the kids to do. Then Saturday night we got a sitter and went to Comedy Off Broadway in Lexington and saw Larry Miller (Pretty Woman, Desperate Housewives, etc., etc., etc.). He was really good. We had a great time. Then we went to Saul Good for dessert afterwards. We didn’t get home until midnight…which is crazy for us.
Sunday we went to church, then QDoba for lunch, then Meijer to grocery shop. I put the kids down for their naps and Ash went to Worship Team rehearsal while I cleaned the master bathroom and did laundry. I scrubbed the shower and sinks until they were spotless. Then I cleaned the master bedroom after she got home while she made dinner (her famous BBQ chicken over rice…the first meal she ever made for me when we were dating…with corn on the cob…yum!).
Now we’re back to reality.
Posted in Family Fun, Marriage, Preschool | Tagged Back to School, Family, Weekend | 1 Comment »
I took the day off Friday to go to the Cincinnati Zoo with Emma and Ethan’s playgroup. All the other dads are teachers, so all the kids had both parents at the zoo with them.
Australian Walking Stick
The highlight of the trip was, surprisingly, the insect house. There was a zookeeper inside, who had an Australian walking stick on a piece of driftwood. She was letting the kids “pet” it. Emma wanted nothing to do with it. In fact, she was quickly over the bugs and wanted to go outside. She and I went, but Ethan loves bugs, so Ash stayed inside with him.
When he got to the Australian walking stick, the zookeeper said, “Would you like to touch it?”
Ethan said, “BUG!” and grabbed it, turned around, and started to walk away.
The zookeeper panicked. “No, no, honey…you’re scaring it!”
Between the zookeeper and Ash, they got it away from him unharmed and back on the driftwood. I guess he’s a little young to pet fragile animals.
Posted in Ethan, Play Dates | Tagged Australian Walking Stick, Cincinnati Zoo | No Comments »
The kids were getting ready to brush their teeth Wednesday night before bed. Emma pulled out some old toothbrushes from the drawer.
Daddy: Where are your regular toothbrushes?
Emma: Mommy can’t find them, so we’re going to use these.
Daddy: (starting to leave the bathroom) I’m sure we just haven’t gotten them out of your suitcase since we got back from Michigan.
Emma: Daddy, they’re not in our suitcase. Mommy already looked.
Daddy: Well, I don’t want you to use those old toothbrushes, so I’ll go look for them.
Emma: (sigh) I’ll go get them.
She left the bathroom, and I followed her into her room. She lifted the skirt on the rocking chair and pulled out the Ziplock bag that had the toothbrushes and toothpaste in it from our trip to Michigan.
Daddy: So you knew where they were, and you lied to me?
Emma: I wasn’t lying, Daddy. I said Mommy couldn’t find them. I didn’t say I couldn’t find them.
Posted in Emma, Kids Say the Darndest Things | 3 Comments »
Ethan and Emma spent last week visiting their grandparents in Michigan. We were planning to move Ethan out of his crib this summer, but since he was showing no signs of climbing out and getting hurt, we decided to wait until he got back from Michigan. We figured it would be easier for my parents if he was still in his crib while he was there.
We went up to Michigan to pick them up and spend the weekend. We got to see my Uncle Mike (Dad’s brother) and Aunt Sue from Maryland, my Grandma Lois and Grandpa Walt (Dad’s parents), my Uncle Bill and Aunt Lori (Mom’s sister), and of course Ben, Paulie, Mason, Mom, and Dad. It was a great weekend.
When we arrived home Sunday evening, I took down the crib, and we got the toddler bed out of the basement. Don’t ask my why we didn’t do this during our week without the kids instead of waiting until the end of a long day in the car. I guess it was because we were concentrating on having fun last week!
Anyway, we’ve just gotten through night three with the toddler bed, and Ethan is doing very well. He protests a little more at bedtime, but I think it’s just because he can (since he’s not locked in a cage and can get up and open his door). He was really excited about the new bed, and sleeps through the night just fine.
So, I guess he’s completed Step #1.
Stay tuned for Step #2: Potty Training. (So exciting…I know.)
Posted in Ethan | Tagged Toddler Bed | 3 Comments »
June 27, 1998…exactly 10 years ago…Ashley and I began a journey that has been the most exciting and wonderful time in my life. I was 25 years old when we stood before God, and her father put her hand in mine. I knew nothing of what was in store for me, except that I was completely and totally enamored with this woman who stood next to me.
Today, our 10th Anniversary, life is as much the same as it is different. She still stands next to me, my partner in this fantastic adventure, whom I am even more in love with than I was on that day. And I still know nothing of what is in store for me. We have made a wonderful home together, complete with two beautiful children. Our inner circle of friends has grown and changed over the last 10 years to include some very special people. We have enjoyed the addition of two sisters-in-law and a nephew, and suffered through the loss of three very special grandparents.
A decade seemed like an eternity on that day, and yet it seems to have gone by in the blink of an eye. In another decade, our sweet Emma will be 14 and little Ethan, 12. We will each see 40 come and go. How different things will be then!
I’m anxious to experience the future and see what it holds for us, and yet, I want time to stop so I can savor every moment.
On our wedding day, a good friend quoted Bessie Anderson Stanley, telling us to “live well, laugh often, and love much.” We have. And we will.
Thank you for 10 wonderful, blessed years, honey. Here’s to decades more.
I love you.
Posted in Marriage | 5 Comments »
Saturday, I had to go to Lowe’s to get some mulch, and I took Emma with me. I heard her in the back seat of the car doing something, so I looked back and saw that she had a package of baby wipes that she was trying to open.
Daddy: “Emma, please don’t get into things back there.”
Emma: “But, Daddy, I wiped a booger on the car door and now I need to clean it off!”
So anyway…during prayers that night, Ash was saying her version…
Mommy: “Dear Lord, please be with Ethan tonight and help him to feel better after his fall. Please help him learn…”
Emma: “TO SHARE!”
Mommy: (laughing) “…to be more careful on the stairs.”
Posted in Emma, Ethan, Kids Say the Darndest Things | 1 Comment »
While sitting at the dinner table, Emma quite often plays the “raise your hand if…” game. For example, “raise your hand if you like broccoli.” And “raise your hand if you’re excited about going to the zoo tomorrow.”
One evening this week, she was being particularly uncooperative while we were eating. After several minutes, she said:
“Raise your hand if you love to fuss at me.”
No one raised his or her hand, by the way.
Em: “Ethan has RUINED my life!”
Posted in Emma, Kids Say the Darndest Things | 1 Comment »
During the summer of 2001, I had the pleasure of playing opposite my beautiful wife in Studio Players of Lexington’s production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. I played “Schroeder” (blonde hair and all) to her “Lucy,” and we had a great time. I’ll have to find a picture and post it…I think it was before we had a digital camera, so I’ll have to dig up a scanner!
I recently found out that Ryan Quinn West, who was in that show with us and played “Snoopy,” is currently in the Chicago cast of Jersey Boys. He has played several roles in the show, including “Bob Gaudio,” who is one of the original Four Seasons and the writer of many of their songs.
We saw the touring company of Jersey Boys in Cincinnati on Saturday (the last of our Broadway Series tickets for this year). It was fantastic!
It’s always fun to know someone who is pursuing their dream and making it. I’ve been in shows with several people who came back to Lexington after successful (or not so successful) attempts at careers in theater and film. Jim Varney (”Ernest” movies; “Know Whatta Mean, Vern?”; Voice of Slinky Dog in Toy Story movies) even came and watched part of one of our Forever Plaid rehearsals toward the end of his life.
I’m excited for Ryan (and, admittedly, a little jealous). Seeing him doing so well makes me feel old. He was such a kid when we worked together!
Posted in Interesting Facts, Performing Arts | 1 Comment »
We spent Wednesday through Friday of last week at Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, Ohio.
For those of you who have never been to Great Wolf Lodge, it’s a great place. It’s a hotel, indoor waterpark, MagiQuest, arcade, bar, etc. etc. etc. all in one building. The kids had a blast…and so did the adults.
In the evenings, the kids are encouraged to come to the lobby in their jammies for story time. This is Avery, Isabelle, and Emma during the story.
On Thursday, we walked across the parking lot to King’s Island amusement park. The girls all had a great time riding the rides, and the moms even let the dads go off and ride the big rides while they watched the kids.
Here’s Emma (Car #3) and her friends Avery and Isabelle (Car #2) on the Little Bill Roller Coaster.
Check out my Flickr account for more pictures of the trip.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
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