What's so exciting about taking out the trash? I wish I knew ... but it's become our Wednesday night chore.
You love to help, you always have. You're our avocado smasher when we're making guac, my sandwich maker when I'm home for lunch and our sous chef when it's dinner time.
We appreciate the help, trust me we do and I dread the day you realize some of these tasks, like taking out the trash, are chores and no longer fun to you.
Let me back track a bit to this afternoon while I was at work. It looks like Arlee is taking a page out of your book and becoming your protege in the help department.
Mom sent me the pic below with the following caption:
The picture itself is hilarious and shows great teamwork, but it's the caption that makes it.
Ava: Mom I'm hungry. Can i have some rice cakes?
Mom: Sure, let me wash your hair and then you can have some when you get out.
Ava: Can't I have them in the tub?
Mom: Nah, not today.
Meanwhile ... As I'm washing Ava's hair, Chuck flops out of the tub. As I rinse Ava's hair I hear crunching. Sure enough, little sis went and grabbed the rice cakes and was feeding them to Ava as I was rinsing her hair.
Wow, just wow! Now that's working together.
So tonight after work and mom was back home from her showings, we started our chore of taking out the trash. With your rain boots on, we gathered up the bathroom trash, kitchen trash and Chuck's dirty diaps.
You plugged your nose from the smell of Arlee's gifts and down the stairs we went. After our first trip we heard the neighbor call to use "You guys just missed four deer at the end of your driveway."
You became super excited and looked all over for them.
After a brief conversation with Joanne, we learned that they came down the street, stopped at the end of our drive and went up beside our house and around back into the woods.
"I can't wait to tell mom" you squealed.
After our second trip, I pretended to start running and said "I'm going to win." Trying to provoke a race up the asphalt.
"It's okay dad, we can go together" you said as you reached for my hand.
Excuse me while I wipe the dust from my eyes.
We finished up and went back in. As soon as we got upstairs you darted for the living room and I heard "Mom, you're not going to believe this!" and went in to a wild story about the deer.
It had to do with the deer dropping a newspaper in our driveway and then running away.
I cleared it up with mom so it made sense while you looked at deer on the iPad.
I was so happy to see that genuine excitement and the fact that you wanted to learn about deer since you didn't get the chance to see them tonight.
It didn't begin as a cute moment but had an adorable ending.
I got home from work and as quickly as I could to let Miss Logan head home for the day. Since it's Tuesday she comes to the house after her day of work so mom can go to the office for a few hours.
Mom's working on a difficult deal and told me she'd be running a little late. We talked dinner and decided on Chipotle since it's near her office and she still had some work to do afterwards.
Socks and shoes for the girls, check.
Diaper bag, check.
One cranky Chuck, check.
Soon enough we were out the door.
I just happened to toss the snack container that had some left over Aldi brand Lucky Charms in it into the diaper bag.
Arlee grabbed it and began munching away nearly as soon as we were in the car.
In typical sibling fashion, you girls have a tendency to want what the other has, no matter what. So naturally, you wanted some cereal.
A snack you would never even think of if Chuck wasn't eating it.
A number of failed attempts to snatch it from Arlee's grasp and you began to cry that she wouldn't share.
I couldn't do anything since I was driving, and quite honestly, I had to side with Chuck on this one. You can't just take it from her simply because you wanted it.
This is where the adorable part happens.
Finally, Arlee offered you a piece. It must have been a marshmallow because you took it and thanked her.
After offering you a few pieces I soon heard "No thanks, Chuck. I only like the marshmallows. Can I have a marshmallow please?"
Unfortunately for you, Arlee can't understand your reasoning yet and did her best to hand you the cereal.
So, being the kind big sister you are, you took the cereal piece and said "Thanks, Chuck. I only like the marshmallows, but I'll try this one."
That was so nice of you!
I watched in the mirror as you popped the cereal piece in your mouth and chewed. It was a look of disgust but with your graciousness you swallowed it and thanked Arlee again.
Such a good big sister!
Mom works very hard during the day to do activities with you girls that are both fun and educational.
I chip in when I can, but I'm so thankful for your mother because by no means am I nearly as creative as her.
She would have made a wonderful elementary school teacher if that's the path she chose.
So last night I thought it might be nice to help mom and we could work on the days of the week. I stopped you and said "do you know what day tomorrow is?"
You wanted to pretend you knew, I mean who doesn't want to have the right answer all the time? But, you thought for a brief second and said "I don't know."
I replied, "Today is Sunday so that makes tomorrow ..." and you were quick to play the part of the interrupting cow and blurted out "Swimming day!"
I said, "Close, but what day of the week is it?"
"Dance!" and you began to hop up and down excitedly.
"Yes, tomorrow is dance day but what day of the week is it?"
Stumped.
"You have dance on Monday. Today is Sunday, tomorrow is Monday."
"Okay," was the uninterested response I received.:
So this morning before I left for work, I asked you if you remembered our conversation from last night and knew what day it was.
It was probably too early as you looked past me to the TV and said "I don't 'member."
I reminded you that it's Monday and again you got excited for dance.
We've got some work to do, but no doubt we'll get it.
Go ahead and relax a little, you've got years of school ahead of you. :)
This afternoon we had a newborn shoot for your friend Keelie''s cousin, Kaycee.
After getting the studio setup in the basement, we began to take a few photos of you and Arlee.
This is the norm for us, if we have everything out and ready to go, we might as well get shots of our girls!
It started with you begging to take photos of me.
Future photog?
We messed around with some bubbles for a few minutes, which admittedly did not go as I had planned but you girls had fun.
Then, mom ducked into the laundry room for a moment and came back out with her wedding dress.
Much to our surprise, coming from a girl who LOVES dresses, you wanted nothing to do with this one.
Mom worked her magic and coaxed some good smiles out of you!
I couldn't help but think that someday I'll walk you down the aisle with that same beautiful smile on your face.
Is it dusty in here?
I know it's been a number of months since I've posted and I feel terribly for it. Many memories will forever be missing from this journal, but I hope you enjoy what I have posted and will post!
Your personality and character are really starting to show. Combine with an incredible imagination you bring smiles and joy to our faces daily.
See what I mean?
Tonight as we were all sitting around watching your sisters favorite movie, Home, for probably the fourth time today, you welcomed mom and me to your club.
1. We have no idea how you even know what a club is
2. How did you figure out that there's an initiation process?
What do you do while I'm at work??
Playing with an old (I think it survived the more more than five years ago) lady bug cat toy that when you pull the cord it vibrates until the cord winds back up, in a slingshot manner, you went to all of us and many objects in the living room "shooting" them. Though the toy never left your hand.
Side note - look how big you're getting! Stop growing up!!!
You insisted mom try it then me.
After instructing me on proper handling .... "Hold it in this hand and put your other finger here."
Per your instructions I held the toy with my right index finger and thumb and pulled the ring on the cord with my left index finger.
"Let go but don't throw it."
Like this? and I let go of the cord.
"Yeah!" you squeeled while hopping up and down. "Now you're part of my club."
Say what? Mom and I both reacted.
"Don't worry mom, you're in my club too!"
We attempted to get the details out of you as to how you knew about clubs and such but it must be a secret society as you were tight lipped.
It's been a little while since we've last visited the Aultman Emergency Room staff ...
Grandpa Bernie had come over to hang out and deliver your Christmas gifts. You were enjoying your new putting green and playing in the living room when the accident happened.
I was sitting in the recliner, with my outstretched on the floor hitting a balloon into the air with you while you tried to catch it.
You came running towards me to catch the pink piece of inflated latex when you tripped over my feet and went headfirst into the end table.
It's a sound I won't soon forget. I popped out of the chair and quickly grabbed you.
Blood was rushing from a deep cut to the side of your right eye.
I grabbed a paper towel that was quickly saturated and mom brought over a damp towel covering an ice pack.
Grandpa Bernie scooped up Arlee, who was crying because she was concerned for you.
While assessing the situation and trying to stop the blood, you told us "I don't want another boo boo!"
Heartbreaking.
We had an idea that you'd be okay when you asked for us to take a picture so you could see it.
Since the cut is so close to your eye, we thought it best to go to the ER and just make sure there wasn't anything wrong with your vision or the orbital bones.
I was a little surprised as the doctor's and nurses didn't even really check that. Mom was concerned that the cut might need a stitch or two since it was so deep. Luckily all it needed was a little super glue.
The staff observed you for a little bit to make sure there was no neurological issues and even offered you a popsicle.
We're so thankful nothing was broken, that your vision is fine and we were able to walk out of the ER with just a little glue and an inflated latex glove.
I was offered a pair of tickets to see the Cavs take on the Philadelphia 76ers tonight at the Q. Could we pass them up? Absolutely not!
Chcuck could get in without a ticket, but it was necessary for you to have one. Or so we thought.
We wanted to take you girls to the game and just figured on getting a ticket at the box office.
"That will be $300" the attendant told mom. Mom turned around and said "Well I guess we'll just go back home ..."
He motioned her to lean in close, asked how old you were and then said "Each of you go in at a separate entrance and each say the kids are under two."
I don't like being dishonest and we're raising you two to be truthful, but if that's what he's instructing us to do, then we'll give it a shot.
We walked through security without being questioned.
Things are going in our favor today.
We got to our seats and noticed that the two beside us were empty. You got your own sea anyway!
Mom captured one of the cutest photos as the players were being introduced. I'll have to have her send it to me to add here (her Instagram account is set to private so I cannot embed it here.)
The look on your face was priceless.
Your attention span lasted into the second quarter, even cheering on Lebron a few times!
After that, it quickly faded and in the third quarter you look at mom and said "I'm ready to go home."
We bribed you with food ... Nachos, a hotdog, pretzels that we brought ... but that wore thin around and with about 4:00 left in the game we left our seats.
Somebody was tired.
All in all, you did great at your first game. Get used to them, there'll be a lot more in your future.
