Conversation

There is a back story to this conversation that without it would be lost in translation. I was sitting with Eden watching telly. In a moment of spontaneity, Eden asked me a question, the question was very innocent and had no inflection points. In that moment, I replied as though I were speaking to an adult. Eden's poise in the question was very mature, the question even more so, ergo, my response was penned on the same scale. Here it goes.

Eden: Daddy, is Santa real, or a fiction character for stories?

I didn't realize the gravitas of this query, so my response was as mundane as I thought the question was.

Me: No, Santa isn't real Eden. He's a fictional character used in stories, much like the Bubble Guppies and Dora. He's a fun character though, he makes people smile.

It was at this point I realized what was actually happening... actually

Eden: So who buys the gifts?

Couldn't back out now...

Me: Well, your family buys all the gifts, we wrap them and put them under the tree. You do enjoy it right?

Eden: I do enjoy it, but it all seems like trickery Daddy. I don't think I should tell the other kids about this. They think Santa is real. This will be our secret, ok?

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't on the verge of tears when she said this. I didn't have a response, so I congratulated her on her decision and agreed, it was indeed our little secret. I think she was more concerned with her sisters position on the matter.

Witness Love

I witnessed what I consider to be a bit of love last night! I approached the downstairs corridor expecting a dark room, the attendants fast asleep. What I found, was a remarkably different. At the eleven o'clock p.m. hour I found both my parents attentively watching a movie, not sure what the name was, it doesn't matter, what I witnessed was far more important.

For Christmas my dad received an iPad. He loves it. My mom missed her calling as a movie critic or casting director, but her and my dad together would make a team stronger than Siskel & Ebert.

At first I didn't notice what was happening, my observations grew as the movie progressed. It would start with a statement, not a question but a statement, more often than not, from my mom, with a qualified response from dad.

My mom would make general comments about the movie, characters or scenario's. My dad would silently Google the statement on his iPad and respond with a "wiki" quote. It was rather impressive. It became more apparent of the importance of these statements when my dad decided to go to bed. My mom made a comment about a supporting actor in the movie, I accepted the statement and went about my viewing. Moments later Mom asks what I found, I asked about what, her response astounded me! She needed me to search the comment she made earlier, she went on to accuse me of not be as supportive as my dad! I laughed, she scowled, we both went to sleep.

Happy 3rd Anniversary

Well, it's that time, 3 wonderfully roller-coastery years have gone by. I have had such a wonderful time being a husband and a father, my wife and I often chat about our single days, and quite frankly, we struggle remembering life before kids. Having 2 kids isn't a walk in the park, but our little one's are absolutely wonderful so it's always fun in our house. My 3 year old is a nut, and the 4 month old is developing a hilarious personality.

I have a wonderful wife and she is quite possibly the most amazing mother in the world. I adore my wife and look forward to the rest of our lives together, or at least the rest of mine. HAHA!

We Also Took Family Photos

You can view them here!

Family Photo's... Well, Quasi Family Photos

My wife decided some time ago that we should take family photos, and like a good endearing husband, I fought the idea for months. But, like all things husbandly I lost that one. So, this past Thursday we hired a photographer (Ashley's cousin Kylie Boggs) for some family photo ops. Here is a sneak peek to what can be found here. All the photos were taken at my parents house, it was 3 in the afternoon so it was HOT! Poor Eden was so flushed here cheeks had the "rouge" all day. She is still my little princess face though.

How Fast Do We Grow

     Took last weekend to spend all the time I had with the family, and with the question, "so, what do you want to do today?" There was a glorious and joyous, "Let's go swimming" that came from a little person in the backseat. So I did the Daddy thing, I caved. 

It's Official, Eden has a Sibling on the Way

My wife and I are proud to announce the coming of our second child. The unofficial due date is July 20, 2011. That's 3 weeks after Eden's birthday and 2 days after my Ashley's birthday, and 19 days before my birthday. So it'll make for some fun summers in the future.

The Orange Tree

Eden learning to twist off the "Onjarange"

The animals don't waste.

We have a beautiful Orange Tree in our yard, that has produced amazingly sweet oranges over the past 3 years for us. As we returned from our morning activities Eden asked, "can we go pick some Onjaranges daddy?" Although cold, it was a beautiful morning so there was no hesitation to say yes. Furthermore, across the street was a burning Sugar Cane field, a smell both my wife and I love. So with a bit of warmth behind us we picked to our hearts content. I lost count somewhere around 125, but that's the number of oranges I counted whilst walking around the tree. I guess there is around 175 in total. I can't seem to pick them all, but the squirrel's and Racoon's absolutely love them. Thusly, I will comply to sharing.

Really Big French Fry

Me and Fam went to see "Tangled" tonight and post haste Eden was wanting to go eat Waffle House. Well on  our way in she thought she would show me, "a huge french fry". She was in awe over how big this French Fry was. It was hilarious to watch her gleam over this phenomena.

They Grow So Quickly

Getting ready for the ride to school...


Her book sack is almost bigger than she is...



My little princess started school last week, and its seems that she is enjoying it very much, in fact, when I get home int he evenings that's really all I hear about. Her new friends and her new found social life.

Conversation

Eden: Daddy?
Me: Yes ma'am?
Eden: I like your yellow sweater! You're cute daddy (laughing sheepishly)
Me: Thank you baby, you're adorable too.
Eden: Daddy, let me wear your sweater please daddy, I wanna be cute too!

I was looking at photos of Eden last night and began to awe at how big and intelligent she is getting. She has learned how to format her own opinions of the things around her and how she thinks things should be/operate. This morning I was reading The Prophet by Khalil Gibran, an amazing book of poetry if you haven't read it, I recommend it. There is an iPhone app for it if that's your thing. The chapter on children is as follows:

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Dinner at Texas Road House Tuesday Night

Every Tuesday night me, Mike & Brad and Ashley all go eat before we go to the Bowling Alley. This past Tuesday the Outside Sales Rep for Gulf Cranes attended, not knowing me or wife, or what we look like, here is the conversation. The scene is set with me, Mike, Brad, and Rocky sitting at the table. My wife approaches but sees a friend sitting across the way and accosts their table. Passing us by and walking away from our table, the conversation begins:

Rocky: Holy Shit did you see the ass on that chick?

Me: Who that chick right there? (Pointing to my left)

Rocky: Yeah that one standing across from us, she's fine as hell!

Me: Dude, that's my wife! (smiling from the audacious compliment)

Rocky: Whatever man, she's fine man. You're joking!! (getting worried)

Me: No, seriously watch, "Hey babe."

Ashley: What's up?

Me: Just wanted to say hi...

Ashley: Why, go away I'm talking. (smiling)

Rocky: Wow, she really is your wife, my bad man, I'm sorry. But she is fine.

Me: No worries, sharing is caring. I like her too. (Laughing hysterically)

Conversation

Last night I won two very expensive pairs of shoes for very cheap. They were 2 pair of Martin Dingman Oxfords, retail was 525.00 and I won the auction for 37.45. The response goes as follows:

Me: Nice, I am the eBay king, Happy Birthday me!

Eden (daughter): Daddy, that's not nice, don't say that. Your name is Daddy!

Me: But baby I won the shoes I am the eBay king!

Eden: Daddy, that's not nice go in time out! Sit down right now daddy!

Me: I'm sorry baby!

Eden: It's ok daddy, now sit down and watch me play!

Water Melon Patch

My dad, as some of you may know, is an avid gardenere (not a real word I'm sure), and has been growing a vegetable garden since I was a young lad. He has, as of late, began a watermelon patch, here are a few photos of some of his water melons.




My lovely wife and daughter taking in the size of the watermelons. Eden learned how to use the word "huge" in context that day.

This one weighs 60lbs.



This is the size compared to a size 10 boot!







These photos were actually taken before they were even ripe. I don't eat watermelons, but I am sure I will be obligated to try these.

The Banker

I needed a loan! The Eden stimulus plan...

R.I.P to Tiger Sharlow

The unthinkable has happened to our family. With all the things that we have endured, me totaling my wife's car, losing my job, our septic tank collapsing, then our dryer went out, now the television is finally done, with all that, our poor little puppy Tiger was hit by a car tonight. We let him off the leash for 5 minutes to clean his kennel and fix his food and I thought I heard a gun shot followed by the sound of what sounded like a helpless severely injured dog. Suddenly a sick feeling in my gut and I started calling Tigers name. I cringed when he didn't come. I grabbed my flashlight and took off walking. On my way back I found my puppy lying in my ditch. A very sad Easter Weekend for my wife and I.

Embrace Life...

A pretty good video from my good buddy MikeMWS6. I'm not in to PSA's, but I found this particular video quite interesting.

Kids 101

As a father, my daughter is the smartest kid in world, even smarter than Jeff Foxworthy and his fake 5th graders. At any rate, she has started this new thing where if I'm standing next to a counter or a dresser or any high standing object that she can't see over the conversation goes as such:

Eden: I wanna hold daddy!
Daddy: Awe, thanks baby, I love you...(I pick her up)
Eden: (hugging me) awwweee I yu too! (then she looks at the area she once couldn't see) (and it begins) I want that, daddy!!!! I want that, I want that!
Daddy: Did you really want to hold daddy?
Eden: No! (smiling)
Daddy: Are you using daddy to get something from up here?
Eden: Nyeah! (smiling again)

The "N" is not a typo, she starts every "y" word with an "n". Like she always prepared to say no.

From Stool to Stool

Speaking of getting big, we are at THAT stage!!!!!!!! And after she was done pretending to make stool, she turned it in to a stool, then like any other young lady, she found the most expensive shoes she could find and went about her night. I think I should be scared.

She's Getting Soooooo Big!!!!!!!!!

Well my daughter is 21 months now....21 months, I can't believe it. She is growing so rapidly and learning so much every day. Monday night at Walmart we met up with our good friends The Picard's and little Emma was more than happy to escort my little tyke to the TOYS section. It was quite peaceful to be able just to sit back and watch them fantasize about all the pink any one person could possibly desire at their fingertips. Emma is 3 and Eden is not even 2, but as you can see, my daughter is a little big...LOL! I love her.