It's never good when you check your phone after softball - it was the first game of the summer - to see a text that says "Scariest parenting moment maybe to date...I put the diaper bag on passengers seat, load Arlee, buckle Ava, shut the door, all car doors locked and I have no phone or key or anything."
Mom brought you and Arlee down to the ball fields for a little bit. It felt more like a fall game with the chill in the air than a summer game on May 5.
You guys stuck around long enough to see my third at bat - a long fly to left - and head for the car and the warmth of our house after that.
The games went long, it was 9:00 p.m. before we finished and I walked into a dark house lit only by the glow of the TV.
Thinking I need to keep it quiet, I peered into the living room from the kitchen to see everyone sound asleep on the recliner.
You don't possess a poker face and quickly popped up with a grin. The jig is up so mom and soon AJ opened their eyes.
Mom explained the story to me and said that it took some coaxing from her to get you to find the door lock - which you were just barely able to reach. When you leaned forward the seatbelt locked, adding to the problem, but you were able to make yourself long enough to swipe the door lock.
"Daddy, I saved the day!"
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.
