Breanne and Daddy Day or Days

So, last week while I was doing New Teacher Orientation, Breanne approached Lauren and said she wanted a daddy/daughter day before I went back to school.  Like any sensitive father, I wiped away a tear and, of course, agreed to spend a wonderful day with her.  The only problem was we were booked pretty solid for the next couple of days.  So instead of one special days, we did several chunks of days.  We began the 1st of many chunks by going to see "The Smurfs" Saturday morning.  It was a decent movie, but it was even more fun just watching Breanne react to seeing the Smurfs on the big screen.  Sunday, we were suppose to go to a lobster feast, but it was canceled due to rain (and quite frankly, I had just played my first soccer game in a decade and played 88 out of 90 minutes).  Instead we went and had ice cream.  Breanne had crazy vanilla and I had my usual cooked brownie topped with chocolate peanut butter ice cream with some extra peanut butter on top.  Hey, you don't keep a figure like mine by having frozen yogurt.  Our final segment happened yesterday.  I was able to get off work early because, of all things, we had an earthquake (5.9).  We went out disc golfing on a beautiful afternoon.

As you can see, Breanne is starting to get pretty good at throwing too.  Breanne actually played the first 3 holes by throwing, picking up, and throwing from where I landed.  During the round, I had one of my best throws of all time.  As seen in the picture below, I was more than 30 yards away from the basket when I threw and put it in.  The picture below shows my view from where I threw the disc from.

 

Sorry the photo is so big, but it is hard to see the basket otherwise.  Anyhow, it is great that one of the first things Breanne asks to do with me is play disc golf.  We did our usual playground time to break up the round and then finished it out.  Following disc golf we hit up Chick-fila' one of Breanne's favorites and low and behold, it was kid night and a clown/magician was there.  We ended our night watching a guy juggle, make napkins come back together, and play a guitar while standing on a ball that was 3' in diameter.  

As a father, there really is nothing better than having your child want to spend time with you.  The fact that she is so into playing disc golf is a bonus, but I would do anything.  Thank you Breanne for our wonderful day!

Bre's first photoshoot

My daughter melted my heart today. She's been doing that a lot recently, or maybe it's just the upcoming school year that has me sentimental and weepy. Today she told me she was going to do her very first photoshoot so that she can come and help me on my next shoot. She asked for help and guidance on where to put "Linda" her kitty and how to use the camera. It was a bonding moment, for me anyway. Ugh...I just love her.

Notice the leash keeping Linda steady and in one place. Not a bad idea. :)

She then decided she should take "brother/sister" pictures. I'm thinking I should try this technique with multiple children. Just get a single collar and strap it on both of them! It seemed to work for this duo.

Every now and again your kids will drive you nuts. It's just part of life. It doesn't mean you don't love them, or that they are bad kids. It's just that your kids will have an unreasonably large amount of energy compared to your own and you just won't know what to do with them. Today was such a day.

To say that David is a wild child compared to Breanne is an understatement. I am certain that over the course of his toddlerhood my little man will force me to purchase every baby proofing contraption ever made just to keep him safe, while for Breanne we bought...next to nothing. Now to be clear, he is in no way a bad kid. He is curious, energetic, sly and tall which makes it easier for him to get to things his older sister may not have had the reach for. At 14 months he can get his fingertips to the first burner on the stove.

Enter cousin C. A much older and wiser toddler, who knows about things such a lolly pops, glitter pens and mud pies and suddenly we have a dynamic duo that is sure to turn me gray earlier than otherwise necessary.

This is when newspapers come in handy. The kids don't read, they don't care what the president signed, who was found on what street corner or what the stock market is doing. They just know that they can destroy it. Rip it, crumble it, shake it, tear it to pieces, it really doesn't matter as long as they don't eat it. And that's what they do. For at least 20 minutes they will sit screaming and laughing and ripping a pile of paper to shreds and I get 20 minutes to myself...granted, not quiet minutes, but minutes non the less.