A Manly Date

Daddy took Monkey on a date. They got hair cuts, got an oil change and tire rotation on the car, and had ChickFilA for lunch. Monkey is very, very happy about his day with his daddy.

Nightmares

For the last couple of nights, we haven't been as great about praying with the kids when we put them to bed. As a side effect, I've been waking up to deal with nightmares slightly more often. We'll make sure we pray tonight.

Most of the nightmares have been pretty standard "a big dog was chasing me" stuff. But this morning...

LF: Mommy, where's Daddy.

A: At work, why?

LF: When will he be home?

A: At the end of the day, like normal. Why are you crying?

LF: Because I dreamed we were watching a video. And it was just you, and me and LB and LM and Grammy and Grandad. And it was a video of Daddy playing with LM. And at the end of the video, it said, "Best Daddy." *bursts into sobbing tears.**

A: Oh, my... Come sit in my lap. I promise, Daddy is just at work. He's not dead. And if something happens to him, I promise he'll go to Heaven, and hang out with Uncle Ethan. And they'll watch you and make sure you're being taken care of. Would you like to talk to Daddy on the phone this morning?

LF: *nods while wiping tears**

Poor kid. It can't be easy having someone so important in your life as your uncle die when you're only three.

Daddy's boy

David just came to me with the bag of Cherrios and the tv remote. Then, he left and came back with his blanket and cup. The boy knows how to have a good time: sit in Mommy's lap with your blanket, Cherrios, and drink. Push buttons on the remote. 

Like Daddy

David "helps" Daddy race cars in a video game.

Chore Reward: Dad Date

The girls earned another chore reward. This time, a date with Daddy. There is currently a fair/carnival at the Parsons Arena, so Keith took the girls for a fun afternoon. They had the most fun on the carousel, but Keith didn't get a picture of that because he was on it with them.

Daddy's girls

Boys don't wear jewelry

**Let me start off by saying I don't agree with the title statement. After all, the wedding ring is a very special identifier. And I don't mind a few other tasteful pieces. As long as a guy isn't blinged out like a rapper, I'm cool. However, I fully recognize that not everyone feels that way.**

David has an amber necklace. He's worn it since he was about four months old. It is a low level, natural pain reliever. This makes chronic teething much more livable. I seem to always be explaining this to people who ask why I'd put a necklace on my son. The only people who do not ask "Why would you...?" are people whose kids are wearing amber necklaces. They all say something along the lines of, "Is that an amber necklace? Aren't they wonderful? It has really helped [child's name]." These are the parents who know the night and day difference of a child in constant pain verses a child with occasional spikes of pain (acute teething/cutting days).

The person that asks me most often about the necklace is my dad. He seems to forget every couple of weeks and asks again. And I explain again. And he says, "Oh, yeah, that's right" again. David always watches this exchange with wide eyes.

This morning, David was crawling around on my bed in just his diaper. He was watching himself in my dresser mirror and occasionally doing things (like waving) to indicate that he was playing with the little baby in the mirror and having a grand old time of it. 

Then, his eyes caught on the necklace around his neck. He began pulling on it, and messing with it. At one point, he started pulling hard enough at just the right angle that he was putting pressure on his windpipe and choked a bit. I asked him if he wanted the necklace off. To which he replied, "Da-da a Ga-da oh oh." Which (because he's used several of these words before) I know meant, "Daddy and Grandad no, no." Ah, so now that it's been drawn to your attention, you no longer want to wear the necklace because Grandad (and apparently Daddy too) don't like it? Or is it simply a case of because Daddy and Grandad don't wear necklaces, you don't want to wear a necklace either? Either way, the necklace came off. Now, I'll just have to remember that it's off the next time he starts getting really fussy from teething.

The art of parent manipulation is bred from birth.

No, David. We don't put headphones or any electronic things in our mouth.

"Dada."

Daddy's at work. And he wouldn't let you put that in your mouth either.

(Disappointed) "yeah."

Coasters

We have picture frame coasters: a smooth glass top with an envelope on the back for a picture. David has found these. He keeps picking them up, pointing at them and saying, "Da da da!" Except for one. The one with a picture of just me. He doesn't play with it. Only the ones with Daddy in them. If I weren't his milk supply, I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't make his list of favorite people. Daddy, Grandad, and uncle Paul all make the list, though. 

At least she's honest.

K: Do you want to give me a hug?

KJ: *Looks at the iPad that she reached out for**

K: Who do you love more? Me or the iPad?

KJ: Please I have the iPad?

K: You love the iPad more?

A: At least she's honest.

K: I think it's time to cut this off. No iPad. Watch golf instead.

Piggy Back Rides

The third one is David giving Laura a ride.

Watching Veggie Tales' Little Drummer Boy while waiting for dinner.

A Christmas Story

Keith hears from the next room:
L: Kill them! Kill the baby dead!
K: *horror* Laura!
A: *laughs* Laura and Karen are telling the Christmas story. And that IS what Herod said about Jesus. K: Oh.
A: I understand your horror at hearing your child say that...

Man to man discussion

I got a really cute video of K playing and L singing Away In A Manger. But since KJ was running around "nekky," I can't post it.

Secrets

L: *standing by Christmas tree, looking at presents.* Daddy, we bought you a present!
K: Yeah? Well, don't tell me; it's a secret.
L: *leans in close and whispers* It's a puzzle.
K: No! You weren't supposed to tell me; that's what "secret" means.
L: *crying* But I whispered...
K: It's ok, Laura. Is it that Angry Birds one right there, that Mommy ran out of wrapping paper?
L: Yeah! *smiling*

Someday, David's feet will be as big as Daddy's.

A still asleep Keith heard Laura say, "I kill you, Daddy. Help me up." Luckily, he saw her blanket and realized she must have said "cuddle"