Daddy Blog: Mommy in the Mountains

Mommy has been at the mountains today (ladies conference at the Wilds) so it's just been Daddy and the kids. Everyone has survived the day with nothing more than a few scrapes and bruises. Here are a couple of quotes:
Chlo (after a few bites of her PB sandwich): Daddy, is there crunchy peanut butter on here?
Me: Oh sorry, Chlo. I forgot you like crunchy.
Chlo: Mommy doesn't forget. She doesn't forget because she's a mommy.

(After giving me a tight hug at bedtime)
Chlo: I gave you a big, big hug, Daddy. It was a special present for you because we had such a fun day!

Wormy's Words

Here are a few of my favorite quotes of late:

Chloe: Mommy, I am going to be very good at the park today. I am not going to cry or complain even one time! It will be a special treat just for you!
(At the park both kids were wonderful. Forgetting about the pre-park promise of politeness, I praised the kids thoroughly when we got back in the car.)
Me: You guys were awesome at the park! That makes Mommy so proud! Thank you very much!
Chloe: I told you you would get a special treat today!

In order to encourage Chloe to not cry when I drop her off at the gym or school, I bought an after Christmas clearance My Little Pony advent calender with surprises behind 24 doors. As we were drawing to the end of the calender:
Me: Chloe, it looks like we are almost done with the calendar. I think that means you have learned that you don't need to cry when Mommy drops you off. What do you think this means you should do when we run out of doors?
Chloe: Um, Mommy, I think it means you better buy another calendar or I might just have to cry again.
Me: (sigh.)

Chloe: I love everybody in the whole family! I love Mommy. I love Daddy. I love Eli. But I love Dolly best of all.
Daddy: (feigns sadness and disbelief)
Chloe: Oh, don't worry, Daddy! I love you! I love everybody in the whole family very much! I just love Dolly more!
Me: (the next day) Oh, goody gumdrops!
Chloe: Goody gumdrops! That's what Grandpa says! I looooove Grandpa. He's SO silly!
Me: (I couldn't resist) You love Grandpa? Well, who do you love more? Grandpa or Dolly?
Chloe: (pauses and thinks, then holds up two fingers)
Me: Two?
Chloe: (nods head) Both. I love Dolly and Grandpa both the most of all.

Chloe looked out the backdoor to see the workers working in our yard.
Chloe: Mommy, I think we should put some water and snack on the porch for them. That looks like very thirsty work!
(she just warms my heart.)

More SNOW

Though initially thrilled, even the kids are ready for the snowy days to be behind us.  After only thirty minutes outside they begged to come in, retiring to the living room where a morning of Sleeping Beauty, Toy Story 2, and bowls of popcorn were waiting.

The Birthday Season

The birthday season has come and gone leaving us all a year older and wiser and a little plumper.  It seems to arrive every year only a day after the holiday pounds have been lost!

This year on top of the various parties we had a great time at Dunes Village where Chloe braved the waters and even went a couple of times on the water slide.  The first night we booked, Patrick and I stayed alone, and the kids headed back to Mimi's (and Grandpa's, I should mention) house after water play, pizza, and cake.  The second night they got to stay in the room, too!  They loved it.  They actually slept together on the couch bed after a latenight viewing of Cars. The next morning they got to pick out a muffin and juice at the onsite coffee shop, watch several shows that only come on cable, and then we headed to my old place of employment Build-a-Bear where Chloe made a blue (of course!) bear decked out in Hello Kitty jammies and Hello Kitty slippers.  She appropriately named it Hello Bear.   Afterwards we went to River City for burgers and fries, and headed back home.  Chloe had an absolutely wonderful time!

Check out the family cake Mom had made for the party.  I love how Chloe's name is on a fallen leaf since she is the only outlier with a fall birthday!

The Winter Highlight Reel

Winter is making it's final plea to stick around today, while all of us in the C household are longing for the warm breezes of spring.  Opportunities to take an evening walk around the lake and to visit a different park every day for a picnic lunch are just around the corner.  We simply cannot wait. 

Here are some of our favorite memories from winter:



Disney on Ice!  Grandma came up and treated us all to a very exciting night of family fun.  Despite Chloe's high fever and oncoming case of croup, she thoroughly enjoyed herself.  She still talks about all of our fun adventures that night!  We started the evening at Michaelangelo's, our local Friday night pizza place (serving a large 2 topping pizza for only $7.99 after 4pm and fountain drinks for $1!) and had our usual pizza and drinks.  The kids received special cups to kick off the night.  Then we headed to the pre-show where we got to meet Cinderella, admire all of the princess's gowns, and gaze into Mirror Mirror on the Wall.  The show was simply amazing.  The talent that it takes to skate and dance around while wearing large, ridiculous costumes astounds me.  The scenery was wonderful, too.  We saw Mickey and all of his friends, the cast from Cars, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and a grand finale with Tinkerbell.  After the show ended we finished off the night with a run to Krispy Kreme for some fresh hots, since we happened to be "in the neighborhood."

The girls and I with Cinderella.  Melissa screamed "I love you!" to her and received a very sweet "I love you, too!" and a blown kiss.

Tinkerbell. So cool.

This is the doll I made for Chloe for Christmas.  She named it Chloe and loved it to literal pieces.  I am now trying to learn to mend.  I didn't think the girls I made them for would love them so much! I envisioned shelf-sitting dolls!

 We tried to start new traditions of homemade gifts, baking parties, gingerbread houses, and advent.  For the first time, I think we can truly say we savored the season and worshipped Christ while looking forward to the celebration of His birth throughout the entire month. The kids also received fleece blankets made by Patrick and I during the evenings when they were asleep, and bikes from Craigslist.  They were absolutely thrilled with all of it.

Chloe and Dolly on Christmas morning

During our holiday travels, the kids got pretty much everything they wanted from all of the various grandparents.  Chloe began her My Little Pony collection thanks to generous gifts from Nana, and believe me, it has flourished!  The girl is nuts for Ponies!  She also received a laptop and a tiny vacuum cleaner that are played with daily.

This season we received three ocassions of snow much to Chloe's delight.  Every morning that she woke to find it outside of our front windows Chloe would exclaim, "He was right!  Mommy! The weather man was right!!"  She had much fun catching snowflakes on her tongue, eating snow cream, throwing snowballs at the boys, and making numerous snow angels.

All I Want For Christmas

a Laptop like this one

a Crest spinbrush with Hello Kitty

a crib/cradle/bed for Dolly

a vacuum cleaner like Mommy

an iron and ironing board like Mommy (like I ever use it as anything more than a storage shelf!)

a washer and dryer

anything Rose Petal Cottage (where, apparently, all your dreams come true)

Happy Halloween!

Happy Birthday, Chloe!

I can't believe Chloe is already four years old.  Time has flown by, on the one hand.  On the other, I can't really remember life without her.  She has been such a blessing to me, and a constant source of conviction.  She is one of the sweetest children I have ever known, full of concern for everyone around her, and with a lovely attitude that remains unblemished by bitterness and cynicism. 

Chloe loves to learn, and spends many hours at her desk doing her "schoolwork", a preschool workbook with sheets on phonics, counting, handwriting, rhyming, patterns, early math, etc.  She is going to be very ready when Kindergarten finally rolls around!

She is really into opposites, and loves to play the wonderful game of calling everyone and everything the opposite name (ie calling me "Daddy" and Patrick "Mommy").  A single game can last for hours or even days.  It's terribly fun.  Emphasis on TERRIBLE.

Chloe has decided that she will NOT be athletic.  She constantly tells Eli "When you grow up, Buddy, you are going to play (insert every sport), and I am going to watch and yell, YAY ELI!!" She did recently tell Patrick that she might play badmitton when she grows up.  I guess we shall see.

She has quite the eye for Strawberry Shortcake, Dora, and Princesses, finding them any and everywhere no matter how miniscule they are.  She announces over and over again in a loud voice when she finds them. ("Dora, Mommy! Dora!  Look! It's Dora! Do-Ra!")

Chloe adores her family.  Every extended member.  She cries for days every time we have to part ways with a grandparent or aunt or cousin or even an honorary uncle.

She rides her bike with training wheels rather well as long as you appear to be holding on.  The second she even suspects that you may have possibly even loosened your grip, she throws her arms toward you and bails off, leaving the bike to careen down the cul-de-sac and crash into the neighbor's curb.

She asks lots of doctrinally interesting (read: difficult) questions, and talks a lot about going to Heaven and living with Jesus.  She can't wait to get there.

She still has some anxiety when I leave her, but I think she is testing me more than anything.  I've caught many stray smirks and smiles as the tears have rolled down when she thought I was not looking.

She makes up songs about everything.  Constantly.  Some are really amusing.  Occasionally they are even kinda good.  Mostly they're just weird. Today's song was: Tree! Tree! Tree! Tree! Tree fall down.  It falls down on the sign and on the road. Trees fall down all the time. Trees fall down on the strawberry. Trees. Fall. Down. 

Followed by, "OK Eli, now you sing it!"

E: "Don't know how."

C: "I'll teach you again.  Listen this time, OK?"

E: "K" 

Chloe repeats song with surprisingly little variation. 

C: "Now it's your turn, E"

E: "Don't know how!"

C: "Yes you do, E! Try!"

E: "K, Trees. Tree. Tree. Tree fall down on Strawberry Shortcake."

C: "NO! NO! Trees not supposed to fall on Strawberry Shortcake! That's not how the song goes!"

She loves to teach Eli.  She teaches him puzzles, letters, colors, and about Jesus.

Strawberry Shortcake is her hero.

Fall Means Fair!

The kids loved the NC State Fair this year. The freebies, the animals, the stomach sickening rides, the fried things on sticks. The whole thing was a hit.  We got to go twice this year.  Once on free day with our friend Hope and her kids, and once on Saturday with Mimi and Grandpa.  I'm actually already looking forward to going again!  It always leaves me with the yearning to go back to my roots and become a farmer. On the other hand, I didn't even keep the cactus my dad gave me alive.  I don't think that bodes well for my new way of life.  The goats would make me happy, though.

The Silver Lining

The past two months have been full of sorrow and grief, pain and fear.  With the death of Daddypa, Granny's fall, Tootie's new shoulder, Tony's two heart surgeries, and MeMaw's torn ACL (not to mention Mimi's therapy, Mama's MRIs and XRays, and a couple of hearty colds for the wee ones) I couldn't help but become afraid and discouraged from time to time.   It's been a blessing to know the peace of Christ through it all.  I don't know how one makes it through such tough times without it.  Besides resting on the Lord, we were also able to really wrap ourselves in one of the greatest blessings God has given us on this earth. The love of family.  Though this time has been hard, very hard, we have had countless opportunities to spend with one another.  The kids were able to spend days and days at Mimi and Grandpa's while Patrick and I did what we could do to help Grandma and to grieve.  Then there was a week long stay at Grandma's for the kids  and I, with many more to follow.  Tootie came and hung her hat for a week here and another week there, and MeMaw and Poppa came to enjoy the kids and work in our yard, so Patrick and I could get away for a time of spiritual refreshment at the Wilds.  It has been so wonderful to constantly be around the people we love the most.  I just hate that it only happened as a result of tragedy.  I look forward to the day when we can all be closer together, or when we all get cars like the Jetsons to drastically cut down on the commute.  I just hope it happens before the kids are too cool to hang out with us anymore.

A Day Out With Thomas

We decided earlier this year that when Chloe's birthday rolled around, we definitely wanted to attend A Day Out With Thomas.   This year it just so happened that Thomas was at the NC Transportation Museum during the first weekend of October, and Chloe's birthday, as you know, is not until the last weekend of October.  Thus began the month of the birthday. 

The day was incredibly fun. I had no idea there would be so much to do when we signed up.  We had been to ride the Santa train before, and figured Thomas Day would be on the same scale.  Boy were we wrong.  There were Thomas tattoos, Thomas mini golf, Thomas train tables, a Thomas bouncing house, Thomas stamping, Thomas coloring, A live show with Bob the Builder, a room where you could watch Thomas videos and listen to Thomas storytelling, a giant Thomas made out of Legos, train displays like you wouldn't believe, and of course, the cherry on top, an actual steam engine Thomas that peeped and pulled and took children on rides.  The kids had an unbelievable time!  They are already talking about when we go back next year (which we won't be doing, by the way.  It was fun and all, but, once is enough!).  We took a break halfway through the day and had a picnic lunch with cake and everything under a beautiful tree in a nearby churchyard.  The weather was perfect. On the drive home we stopped at the beloved Sir Pizza in Asheboro for supper.  Chloe couldn't have asked for a better birthday party... except of course to ask for two more of them!

 

We'll Miss You, Daddypa

August 3, 1942- September 1, 2008

An Oldie but Goodie

This happened a while back, but I forgot to post it, and don't want to forget!

One morning, Eli was chasing Chloe around the house, sword pointed, causing her to scream and feign distress.  Around and around and around they went, chasing and screaming, chasing and screaming, when I heard Chloe shriek in a loud voice, "Lord! Lord! Lord, please help me to forgive this pi-rate!"

The Summer Highlight Reel

As promised, our summer in one post or less!

June

The Highlights: Our annual trip to Buckwheat Farms in Apex to pick strawberries.  Chloe still talks about the "funny goats" and the horses she got to pet and feed strawberries.

Taking an impromptu week-long beach week, just Mommy and the kids.  It happened to be the same week as the annual Forrest family beach week with Grandma Kepley, so we had a blast with Jillian and her whole family.  Chloe got to play with Ava, on the beach.  Chloe + Ava = BFF!

Our first trips to the pool with friends. 

Eating LOTS of "ice cream on a cone."  "Choclit on banilla, please.  That's my fav-rit!"

A short, yet special, get together with Nana and Ed at Ann and Dean's house.

Spending an entire week at Mimi and Grandpa's house.  Chloe couldn't wait for us to leave, and constantly asked, "Are you going to New York City now, Mommy?"  or "Go to New York City! See you next week!"  not stopping until we finally left.  The highlights of her week included going to the beach with Grandpa and riding a boogie board, and going to the pool with Mimi and riding a golf-cart.

The Lowlights- Going to the pool the first couple of times.  Chloe would hold so tightly to my arms while wrapping her entire body around mine, that I thought I would drown.

Having to leave Mimi's house to return to this prison we like to call "Home."  She still complains about not getting to live with Mimi forever.

July

The Highlights: An Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration in Apex.  Chloe liked the moon bounce, painting, water run, and playing Lucky Ducky the most.  She also particularly enjoyed her patriotic sno cone.  (I don't know why.  It was rank.)

Fireworks! Chloe loved our escapades to view the fireworks in the Wal-Mart parking lot (2 days in a row. Thank you, Mother Nature.), and enjoyed every second of the show.  She reminisced "Remember America's birthday party, Mommy?" for weeks afterward.

The church picnic on the future site of College Park Baptist Church!

Filling her picnic basket with our lunch nearly every day, and going to a park after my workout.  I would let her pick the park most days, and she would describe her desired locale, "how about the park with the climber in the sand?" or "how 'bout merry-go-round park?" or "let's go to park by water-lake!" or "let's go to the park with the bridge today!"

Watching the new ducklings grow from babies to "little girls" to "big girls" all in a month's time.

The Durham Bulls baseball game.  Patrick’s company has season tickets to the Bulls, and we got to go.  We got to watch the game from the 2nd row, just behind 1st base.  The kids had a blast. Chloe liked Wool E. Bull, the cartoons on the big screen, and the music more than the game. She really got into the YMCAing and clapping and rooting and such.  We were certain we would only stay for a short time, and were completely ok with that, but the kids loved it so much we got to stay until the fireworks!  This time we got to watch them close up! Chloe loved them, and was absolutely giddy while watching them.  She squealed with delight, and smiled so big I thought her face would break.

Going to the pool and JUMPING in with Melanie and the other big girls.  Un-be-lievable.  Truly.

AUGUST

The Highlights- Mama and Daddypa's surprise party.  Chloe loves nothing more than a birthday party.

Going to the Science and History Museums with Carrie, her bro, and her boys.  Tons of fun!  Chloe really liked the butterfly room this time.  She was especially thrilled with all of the big blue ones.  (Cause Blue's my favorite colorrrrrr!)

Tootie and Ally and a trip to Chuck E. Cheese.  Thanks to the constant commercials of the rat and all his promises of fun on PBSkids, Chloe has been begging to go for some time.  Thankfully, it didn't disappoint, and she had an awesome time! It helped (my nerves, especially) that there was only one other little boy there for the entire first hour of our outing.

Playing with Ally.  I was almost sad she doesn't have a big sister.  She just loved having Ally here to play with and talk with for the week.

A Mt. Airy trip complete with Pilot Mountain, Speedy Chef, and Tootie's house.  Chloe LOVED the mountain, and found a perfect rock to bring home and add to her collection.

A day in the old neighborhood.  Lunch at the old pizza place, a drive by the old house, playtime at the old park (which has been completely renovated and is incredible, I might add.  Figures.), and a sprinkled doughnut, hat, and balloon from the old Krispy Kreme.  In Chloe's words, "You're the goodest Mommy of the world, Mommy!  What a fun day! Thank you so much for the fun day, good Mommy! I love you!"

The lowlights- Tantrums, talking back, and intense anxiety when I leave her in the gym or church nursery.  It's tiring, sad, frustrating, and downright bizarre.  She would normally trade me for most anyone at our church in a heartbeat. Hopefully this will soon past.

Daddy Blog: Tricycle Tragedy

I can still see her desperate face screaming in slow motion, "Daddy, noooooooooooo!!"  I had placed Chloe on the porch and Eli by the fence so that I could watch them as I backed the van out of the driveway to make room for shooting hoops.  Unfortunately the trike that was directly behind the van did not receive the same care.  I heard Chlo's scream right about the same time I heard a strange crunch and scraping sound.  I hopped out to survey the damage.  It wasn't pretty.  But Chloe sweetly and gamely tried to ride the trike afterwards.  She could only go in circles and the trike would occasionally tip over.  I think I should probably buy the girl a new trike.

Daddy Blog: If, Then Logic

It always warms a parents' heart when their child learns new social skills.  Like the art of blackmail.  Drawing some kind of connection between the themes of the previous post and the previous post before that, Chlo now announces to me, "Daddy, if you say, 'Wolfpack is stinky,' then you can win!"

Daddy Blog: Divided House Indeed...

More like stacked house.  Chloe announces to me often in a sing-song voice, "Wolfpack is stinky!  Tarheels is good!"  Wonder where she got those ideas...

Daddy Blog: The Race Home

Having to take two cars to church on Sunday evening (Terri has choir practice) has led to a "race" home after service.  Chloe has decided to abandon her Daddy allegiance in favor of girl allegiance and cheers vigorously for Mommy to win.  Chloe holds this position even when she is riding with me.  She has decided not only that Mommy should win, but that Daddy shouldn't win.  "Daddy,"  she says, "Don't win.  You aren't supposed to win."  Another time she counseled me, "The Lord doesn't want you to win."  She has also chided me, "Daddy, Mommy is a very nice Mommy.  Don't win!"  She has even led her brother astray with her rubbish.  In the past Eli would shout through the windshield for Mommy to get out of the way, but now chimes in, "Don't win, Daddy!"

Beyond the Blue

In the car, on the way home from church, on a particularly beautiful Sunday.  The sky was bright blue and full of billowy, fluffy white clouds.  Chloe said to me,

"Mommy, I want you and me to get on an airplane and fly up in the sky.  Then we can fly up into the cloud, and when we get there, we can open the door, and get out, and play with the Care Bears!  That would be fun, wouldn't it, Mommy?  Can we do that, Mommy, can we? Or do I have to wait until I get bigger??"

On Women's Roles

Yesterday, I told Eli he was "awesome at baseball" and Chloe immediately responded with, "I'm awesome at being a cleaner, right Mommy?" Then, before I could answer she darted to her room and returned with an armload of pretend food, then announced "and I'm also an awesome cooker!"

 

In the car today, Chloe asked who I was talking to on the phone.  "Daddypa," I responded.  "Oh! Is Grandma there, too?" "No, she went to pick up Melissa from school." "Oh, well, is Memaw there?" "Nope, she's at work." "But Mommy! Girls aren't posed to work!"