Before I get to my day, let me say the girls have been fun. Elle and I had a talk about fish gills, Sofia loves playing the Wii Fit balancing games, and Ayla keeps humming along being her bubbly self.
As for me, I only have 2 more hours to get my caffeine kick. I am exhausted this morning, but will grind it out. I have had some tea already, and will have another cup. Trying to fight a nap. Wish me luck!! Brian
Friday, February 3, 2012
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Caffeine Withdrawal
Lent starts in 3 weeks. Being Catholic, this means I will be sacrificing something. I have decided this year will be something really meaningful: giving up caffeine.
l have tried giving it up numerous times with no luck (I am hoping making a promise to God will get me through it!!). Starting today I will stop drinking any drink with caffeine after noon. I will try to give daily updates on my progress. Wish me luck!!
Brian
l have tried giving it up numerous times with no luck (I am hoping making a promise to God will get me through it!!). Starting today I will stop drinking any drink with caffeine after noon. I will try to give daily updates on my progress. Wish me luck!!
Brian
Friday, December 23, 2011
Dad Can Hardly Wait
My girls have only been off of school for a week, yet I am finding myself counting down the days until they go back. Does that make me a bad parent?
It doesn't help that I don't like the winter. I can't STAND it. I am bored. I put on weight. I am tired all day and am ready for bed at 5:30 (FIVE THIRTY!!!) when it begins to get dark. I can't send the girls outside to play. I can't take the girls for a walk and enjoy the weather. I AM taking them to Lifetime today to play in the kid's area. But I am not exactly a role model when it comes to dealing with the Winter Blues.
I am finding I am doing one of the things they told us who work in education NOT to do; take things personal. It is easy for me to get on one of my football kids for being an idiot in class, or being lazy at practice, or treating people the wrong way. It is part of learning. It is part of growing up.
However, as soon as I tell Ayla to stop hitting her sisters in the head (for fun) with her over sized stuffed animal, Baby Gracie, then my whole morning is shot. It starts with the playful banter amongst siblings. You know, the oldest sibling is laughing while the other two yell out "Leave me alone Ayla!!!" Playful or not, I told Ayla more than once to stop. She didn't.
So of course I take the stuffed animal away and the tears start flowing. At least today I didn't hear how much I hurt her feelings. All I heard for the next ten minutes was "I want Baby Gracie back!!" Music to my ears.
In the meantime, Elanor has been on an antibiotic for bronchitis. It is recommended that she takes it after eating something. She has been up for over an hour now, and I have gotten her to eat a spoonful of peanut butter. Awesome.
Lastly, Sofia has been up and down too with her health. (While I am writing this Elanor tripped over the wire to the Singing Snowman and the hat broke off. They are trying to fix it. I am ignoring it to try and finish this blog before I lose my mind). This morning she woke up in a good mood, but she has become very vocal with what she wants (She is crying now because I took those little candies on paper you peel off to eat away from her. She finds everything and anything). I feel guilty because I go back and forth: I can't stand hanging out with my girls (like now, while trying finish this with Sofia clinging to me, crying, and driving me nuts). But I love hanging out with them when they are happy, fun, polite, smiling, and making me laugh.
Does this make me a bad parent?
It doesn't help that I don't like the winter. I can't STAND it. I am bored. I put on weight. I am tired all day and am ready for bed at 5:30 (FIVE THIRTY!!!) when it begins to get dark. I can't send the girls outside to play. I can't take the girls for a walk and enjoy the weather. I AM taking them to Lifetime today to play in the kid's area. But I am not exactly a role model when it comes to dealing with the Winter Blues.
I am finding I am doing one of the things they told us who work in education NOT to do; take things personal. It is easy for me to get on one of my football kids for being an idiot in class, or being lazy at practice, or treating people the wrong way. It is part of learning. It is part of growing up.
However, as soon as I tell Ayla to stop hitting her sisters in the head (for fun) with her over sized stuffed animal, Baby Gracie, then my whole morning is shot. It starts with the playful banter amongst siblings. You know, the oldest sibling is laughing while the other two yell out "Leave me alone Ayla!!!" Playful or not, I told Ayla more than once to stop. She didn't.
So of course I take the stuffed animal away and the tears start flowing. At least today I didn't hear how much I hurt her feelings. All I heard for the next ten minutes was "I want Baby Gracie back!!" Music to my ears.
In the meantime, Elanor has been on an antibiotic for bronchitis. It is recommended that she takes it after eating something. She has been up for over an hour now, and I have gotten her to eat a spoonful of peanut butter. Awesome.
Lastly, Sofia has been up and down too with her health. (While I am writing this Elanor tripped over the wire to the Singing Snowman and the hat broke off. They are trying to fix it. I am ignoring it to try and finish this blog before I lose my mind). This morning she woke up in a good mood, but she has become very vocal with what she wants (She is crying now because I took those little candies on paper you peel off to eat away from her. She finds everything and anything). I feel guilty because I go back and forth: I can't stand hanging out with my girls (like now, while trying finish this with Sofia clinging to me, crying, and driving me nuts). But I love hanging out with them when they are happy, fun, polite, smiling, and making me laugh.
Does this make me a bad parent?
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Update on the Girls :)
A lot has gone on in the last few months. Sofia is blabbering her head off. Elanor still thinks she is a rock star. Ayla is going a long way to becoming class mom for life. But one thing hasn't changed: my girls don't stop talking. Ever.
On most Tuesdays and Thursdays we have added a new body to the chaos at Daddy Daycare. Cousin Jacob!!! He is a couple months younger then Sofia (he turns one next week), but doesn't stop moving. At least with the girls they will stop and read a book, dance to music, sing, etc. Not Jacob. If he wasn't trying to get to the our fish in the fish tank then he is getting out pots and pans. Then he turns to attacking the DVD player and stereo. Oh, don't forget the TV!!!
The one thing he hasn't gotten to yet is the Christmas Tree. I am sure it is coming. Putting up the tree was fun. It reminded me of being a kid and going up into the attic to get the boxes of ornaments and the such. Stephanie was getting a little annoyed with Elanor though. Every ornament she put up she asked Steph, "is this one from when I was a baby?" I mean, EVERY ornament she asked this question. I thought it was hilarious, of course.
Last thing. Halloween candy is almost gone!!! They rarely ask for it anymore!!!
Brian
On most Tuesdays and Thursdays we have added a new body to the chaos at Daddy Daycare. Cousin Jacob!!! He is a couple months younger then Sofia (he turns one next week), but doesn't stop moving. At least with the girls they will stop and read a book, dance to music, sing, etc. Not Jacob. If he wasn't trying to get to the our fish in the fish tank then he is getting out pots and pans. Then he turns to attacking the DVD player and stereo. Oh, don't forget the TV!!!
The one thing he hasn't gotten to yet is the Christmas Tree. I am sure it is coming. Putting up the tree was fun. It reminded me of being a kid and going up into the attic to get the boxes of ornaments and the such. Stephanie was getting a little annoyed with Elanor though. Every ornament she put up she asked Steph, "is this one from when I was a baby?" I mean, EVERY ornament she asked this question. I thought it was hilarious, of course.
Last thing. Halloween candy is almost gone!!! They rarely ask for it anymore!!!
Brian
Monday, October 31, 2011
We're Back!!
Happy Halloween!!!
Hi friends of Daddy Daycare. Sorry it took so long for us to write again. The girls and I have been busy, so let's get right to it:
Ayla started kindergarten. Wow, it's amazing the things she tells us when she gets home. She is so full of information it is unreal. I think my favorite part so far is that she told her teacher while doing her "All About Me" project, that she wanted to be a football coach when she gets older like her dad. Had that is awesome!!!
Elanor started preschool. I honestly thought she would struggle being by herself, but she has been great. I think my favorite part is when Grandma Sherry went to work her class and Elle wanted to hang out with Grandma more than playing with the toys. I am sure it made Grandma's day :)
Lastly, Sofia fits her nickname well: TROUBLE. I had a really hard time with Elle at her age, but this is nuts. She runs off whenever she feels like it (fun game). She grabs her sister's hair. She has a rivalry with her cousin, Jacob. If she doesn't want her drink or her binkie she swats away your hand. I guess this goes to say for all the girls: when they are fun, they are FUN. But when they are brats? Good Lord. Is it because I am a guy that I feel this way?
FYI I will make sure to submit pictures from Halloween tonight.
Brian
Hi friends of Daddy Daycare. Sorry it took so long for us to write again. The girls and I have been busy, so let's get right to it:
Ayla started kindergarten. Wow, it's amazing the things she tells us when she gets home. She is so full of information it is unreal. I think my favorite part so far is that she told her teacher while doing her "All About Me" project, that she wanted to be a football coach when she gets older like her dad. Had that is awesome!!!
Elanor started preschool. I honestly thought she would struggle being by herself, but she has been great. I think my favorite part is when Grandma Sherry went to work her class and Elle wanted to hang out with Grandma more than playing with the toys. I am sure it made Grandma's day :)
Lastly, Sofia fits her nickname well: TROUBLE. I had a really hard time with Elle at her age, but this is nuts. She runs off whenever she feels like it (fun game). She grabs her sister's hair. She has a rivalry with her cousin, Jacob. If she doesn't want her drink or her binkie she swats away your hand. I guess this goes to say for all the girls: when they are fun, they are FUN. But when they are brats? Good Lord. Is it because I am a guy that I feel this way?
FYI I will make sure to submit pictures from Halloween tonight.
Brian
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Football Season
Sorry it has been so long. Football has started and my life got crazy. Things that have happened in the last few weeks:
1. 4 day trip to Alpena. It was a very peaceful, yet wet vacation. I would rather go up there then spend a ton of money on Florida, California, etc. You feel God's presence when you are sitting by the lake at 6 am.
2. The start of football season. After watching our intersquad scrimmage, Ayla told me she noticed we passed the ball more than last year. Is that a good thing Ayla?
3. Ayla performing in a play her summer preschool program put on. She was awesome!!! Her one line in The Hungry Caterpillar was, "I'm one apple!!!!" I think the funniest part was Elanor repeating her by saying "I want an apple!!!" Or the fact that Elanor made us watch the recording of Ayla's play over, and over, and over. She loves her sister.
4. Elanor finally getting the hang of riding her bike so we don't have to push her now. She is a character.
5. Sofia is in the climbing stage. Climbing up the stairs with no one watching. Climbing on the back of the couch with no one watching. Is she trying to tell me I need to pay more attention to her?
6. The passing of Uncle Rick. What a blessing it was to spend a Sunday with him at the Tigers game last month. I am glad I got to share a special day with him before he got to see Aunt Susie, Grandma and Grandpa Stark, Gunk, Mrs. Sparks, my Dad, and God all up in heaven.
That's it. Kept it short today. Only a few more weeks until Ayla and Elanor are back to school. I can't wait!!!
Brian
1. 4 day trip to Alpena. It was a very peaceful, yet wet vacation. I would rather go up there then spend a ton of money on Florida, California, etc. You feel God's presence when you are sitting by the lake at 6 am.
2. The start of football season. After watching our intersquad scrimmage, Ayla told me she noticed we passed the ball more than last year. Is that a good thing Ayla?
3. Ayla performing in a play her summer preschool program put on. She was awesome!!! Her one line in The Hungry Caterpillar was, "I'm one apple!!!!" I think the funniest part was Elanor repeating her by saying "I want an apple!!!" Or the fact that Elanor made us watch the recording of Ayla's play over, and over, and over. She loves her sister.
4. Elanor finally getting the hang of riding her bike so we don't have to push her now. She is a character.
5. Sofia is in the climbing stage. Climbing up the stairs with no one watching. Climbing on the back of the couch with no one watching. Is she trying to tell me I need to pay more attention to her?
6. The passing of Uncle Rick. What a blessing it was to spend a Sunday with him at the Tigers game last month. I am glad I got to share a special day with him before he got to see Aunt Susie, Grandma and Grandpa Stark, Gunk, Mrs. Sparks, my Dad, and God all up in heaven.
That's it. Kept it short today. Only a few more weeks until Ayla and Elanor are back to school. I can't wait!!!
Brian
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Morning Date
Since Ayla was pretty mad at me yesterday for not working her up to watch the sunrise, I dediced I wouldn't make the same mistake today. So we woke up, to a walk around the block, and enjoyed a God filled, peaceful morning. You would think that she would be quiet the whole time, since we woke up before six. But no.....not Ayla. She wanted to now why \we had seasons (I tried to explain the whole earth being on an axis thing), why the sky was ful of pretty colors, etc. It was cool :)
Of course, after being back for two minutes Elanor wanted to get up and hang out on the couch. So be it, because I did not want to batlle her over this. So we are on the couch watching the World Cup of Softball on ESPN. USA is winning 6-2 over the Czech's. Those darn Czech's are feisty, but I think the Americans can finish them off. Going to the sixth inning , USA now up 4.
Sofia awoke slightly, but she was tired and didn't feel like putting up much of a fuss over her sisters hanging out with me. Her time will come. I told Ayla we can watch the sunrise with Elle when we go to "Alepena," in a few weeks (that is what she calls it). Looking forward to that more than I am the start of my football season. Perspective, I wish everybody had it.
Brian
Of course, after being back for two minutes Elanor wanted to get up and hang out on the couch. So be it, because I did not want to batlle her over this. So we are on the couch watching the World Cup of Softball on ESPN. USA is winning 6-2 over the Czech's. Those darn Czech's are feisty, but I think the Americans can finish them off. Going to the sixth inning , USA now up 4.
Sofia awoke slightly, but she was tired and didn't feel like putting up much of a fuss over her sisters hanging out with me. Her time will come. I told Ayla we can watch the sunrise with Elle when we go to "Alepena," in a few weeks (that is what she calls it). Looking forward to that more than I am the start of my football season. Perspective, I wish everybody had it.
Brian
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