Goodbye, Thirty Seven! - Mar 31

Today is Friday, the last day of yours truly being 37. Tomorrow, MEGA OLD.

This week yet again has been a whirlwind of nothing mixed with everything. Don't ask me how it's Friday again because I don't know. LOL. I did get to work in Chloe's classroom again on Wednesday and I have to say that is really one of my favorite days. Sometimes as a Dad/parent you just feel like your kid already doesn't want anything to do with you. Everything is "I KNOW DAD!" "YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME DAD!" but thankfully there is still one thing that makes me forget all of that and that is working in Chloe's classroom. When I get there, Chloe runs over and gives me a big hug..as if she is showing me off "look guys!! It's my dad!! My dad's here!!" then when it's time to leave the kid comes up again and gives me giant hugs and just really does seem happy that I was there. It's fun because some of the kids seem to like me too since I have seen them a handful of times. It's just a nice feeling like I said that maybe as a parent you don't always feel that appreciated for your efforts and then suddenly you do. =)

Just a couple of random snaps from this week, nothing much new or exciting to report as I said so perhaps next week being spring break we will have better luck finding something fun to do....

Have a great weekend, folks~

-B

National Penny (puppy) Day! - Mar 24

Apparently March 23rd is "National Puppy Day" which I can't actually remember if I had ever heard of before. Penny has been such an awesome addition to our family I literally don't think we could have a better dog. She is super smart, fairly obedient and well trained, and just all around the most gentile dog that just loves EVERYBODY and EVERYTHING. Yes, she sheds a little bit which we wish she didn't but I know from other friends with different dogs that it could be SO MUCH WORSE. SO MUCH. LOL. She is perfectly in sync with our speed of life and will play or cuddle with you whenever the opportunity presents itself. Chloe, adores her and Penny, adores Chloe. Every morning when I go in and wake up Chloe for school, Penny is the first one through the door and up on the bed with her. It's cute. Chloe, well she's 7 now but she was like 4 when we got her and I think it was the perfect age to have her learn about how to treat animals and taking care of them and such. She really does help out(when you ask her) and hardly ever complains. =) It all just works together very well and I could not be happier thus far with the decision to add Penny to our family.

That said, I just decided to snap a few photos of Chloe playing with Penny and her favorite toy. She has 2 or 3 favorites, actually, but I would say this one is her "go-to". It has these stretchy parts that you can play tug with her, but she also loves to retrieve it when someone throws it and then she will like whip it back and forth in her mouth. She hasn't fixated on chewing it apart or ripping out the stuffing so..that's a plus!

Have a great weekend, folks~

-B

I'm Going To Catch A Leprechaun! - Mar 17

Today is actually Saint Patrick's Day and Chloe is pretty excited. A few weeks back she apparently was given the idea that she could catch a Leprechaun if only she were to make a "trap" for them. She tells me her friend at school, Leah, has caught one before and she is certain she will too. Chloe started with a cardboard box which she then filled with trinkets, toys, and a place to sleep for said Leprechauns then we glued the lid shut. Why? Because she installed a front door complete with a welcome mat. One of the most creative things I have seen her come up with 100% absolutely on her own. I love it. Hopefully she is not to disappointed if she does not actually trap a leprechaun, but she is for darn sure going to try.

And in other news, our beloved "cherry trees" have completely come and gone but I do have a few more photos we took a week or two ago with our favorite tree within our complex. It has been really warm but that particular day was cold and overcast but we knew we were going to be hit with another storm and it would probably be our last chance before the rain and wind messed it all up. Got some cute stuff despite all that and now Chloe and I will anxiously await for the trees to bear fruit. I think its so cute that Chloe is so into it so..I'm sure there will be pictures in the coming months when that happens. =)

Just a few pics to share, have a great weekend folks~

-B

















And to conclude the story about McQueen, we went and delivered him last weekend to his new owner. Reid's reaction was basically the funniest thing I have seen in a long time, lol. We brought the car into the back yard to surprise him with it and when he came around the corner he just did a complete double-back and kept on running back into the house! He apparently got a little embarrassed that we were all there and he took a little while to warm up to the idea of riding in McQueen. Once he got in and stared going, we could not get him out! Crashing into fences and everything in sight but having a blast all while smiling ear to ear. =)

Saying Goodbye To McQueen! - Mar 10

Well, it hasn't been used nearly as much as I had hoped it would, but the time has finally come to say goodbye to Lightning McQueen.

When Chloe was 2(turning 3) she really wanted a "Cars" themed birthday party and I knew right away what I wanted to get her as a gift. I had been waiting my entire life to have a child, boy or girl, to get some kind of "power wheels" thing for and I was certain it would be used until it broke, rebuilt, and then used until it broke again. Chloe was so excited when she saw her McQueen and she was more excited once she found out she could actually ride in him. Over the course of time, Chloe used it less and less and for the last probably 2 years(?) it has lived under a blanket in our garage. Every once in a while I would suggest we take it for a drive before she is to big for it. She has basically been to big for it for at least a year but she refused to let me let him go. I had planned the last 2 years to put him up for sale around Christmas time figuring it would be the best opportunity for a sale and I was told no, lets keep it. As a point of fact, I love the thing. I would love to build a shelf and display it on the wall but the bottom line is, we need the space. As soon as he goes, something else will live right in it's place(most likely bicycles). It is what it is.

My buddy Todd has a couple of kids and he has a son who is around the age that Chloe was when we first got it for her. He came over the other night to help me do some work on my car and he spotted McQueen and he was all over it. I told him I would have to check with Chloe and see if she was willing to let it go and to my surprise, she was. By her request(and I believe as a suggestion from Heather) she wanted me to charge his battery and let her try to have one list time driving it. Say no more. I charged it up and the next day, we took on the hilarious task of wedging Chloe in and letting her take one last ride. The sad thing is, she loved it. She was having so much fun but she was knee to chest wedged in there. It's time to say goodbye. It was fun while it lasted. =)

Have a great weekend, folks~

Brian

ps, here is the post from her 3rd birthday when we gave it to her..convenient to have a weekly record of things. LOL.
http://baby-gross.blogspot.com/2013/01/im-having-cars-party-jan-18.html

Cherry Blossoms Ver 6.0 - Mar 3

All the rain and bad weather has taken a break this week and we were finally able to make the trip over and check out my "secret" photo spot with our favorite trees. Type of tree, not 100% sure but once again we are just referring to them as "Cherry Blossoms" We are still waiting for our trees in our neighborhood coming around but I have a feeling maybe that will happen this weekend.

While the weather has warmed up as the week has progressed, when we shot these photos it was actually a bit overcast and cold. Well, cold to a 7 year old wearing a dress, lol. The ground was also fairly soggy still in many places so we were very limited in our options as far as where I could actually shoot. Made for an interesting challenge and we did not shoot very long but we certainly got some cute stuff. Another fun little mini-tradition that Chloe actually is on board with, even if she complains the entire time about the temperature. =)

Have a great weekend, folks~

-B