Camping but not

I was never a big camping fan when I was a kid but I thought that would change when I had kids. I think it is a great opportunity to get closer as a family. I figured if I made a big deal about how fun it could be they would like it and then I would as well. To prepare for this I added camping equipment to our wedding registry. It's actually the only thing I contributed to our registry, and we got it from my family. Yay. However, I think we have used the tent three times but never made it through the night. Now don't get me wrong my kids LOVE to camp we just alter it a little. We camp inside (me and the kids, Tammy gets the bed to herself), with a movie and snacks. In my brilliance or my wife's I'm not sure, when we camp I bring down the kids mattresses and we camp on them. Now this may seem like a great idea but when you put two twin mattresses and have three bodies one of those bodies (me) sleeps in the middle right in the crack. One day we will venture outdoors again but for now my kids love the way we camp. Bryce always tells me its a "great idea".

Pollen and the Importance of Bees

Isabella, like many others, is not a bee fan. When she sees one she will run the other direction. As we were trying to leave the other day there was a bee blocking our exit. I thought this would be the prime opportunity to educate Isabella on the importance of bees. I told her bees are important they pollinate the flowers. If we didn't have bees the flowers would die. Isabella "I'm allergic to pollen"

A Childs Motivation

Well let me tell you I am sorely addicted to those games with the claw. You move the claw and try to pick up a prize. I am not very good but I enjoy playing it. Bryce and Isabella enjoy the same addiction. I have gotten better as of late and must have instilled some confidence in Isabella that I will get her a prize. I was playing today and she said get me a girl colored prize. As I was trying she she said "come on Daddy you can do it you just need to step it up".

Bryce and his clothes.

Bryce is very aware of what his fashion sense is and is not easily swayed. He has an opinion on what he should wear to church down to the socks and tie. He even can tell you if he should be wearing any clothes at all. Case in point-while playing a new board game Bryce proceeded to take off his shirt. Upon my asking why he was taking his shirt off he said "I don't need to wear clothes to play this game" in which he then took his pants off. I had no argument my response was for him to go tell his mother.

Time for art

Aunt Pam needed her basement painted so the kids went to help. So much more fun drawing pictures first. These are, from left to right, portraits of Pam, Tammy, Bryce, me, and Isabella.

Good sport

To get Isabella to listen I usually make everything a competition. Isabella go use the potty. Isabella "no". Ok then I'm gonna get in there first. Isabella takes off running to be the first. The magic phrase is "I'm gonna be first". This formula has worked for getting a diaper for Bryce, finishing her dinner, her getting dressed, brushing her teeth, washing hands, picking up toys. Wow I really think I over did it. I may have created an over-competitive youngster. At swimming lessons today the teacher had everyone race from one end of the pool to the other. This was more of a running race rather than a swimming race. The first race Isabella came in first and let everyone know it. Then the second race came. This time a little boy just edged her out. He went up to her and said he had won. Isabella corrected him and said "no actually we tied, good job". On the way home I told her that we don't always win but we always need to be good sports. I said when someone wins we always want to say good job and when we win we should say good race to those that didn't win. At dinner she sort of got my advice. We were racing to see who could put a piece of chicken in our mouth first and Isabella was first. She declared "I won" and then feeding me my own advice followed with "Daddy you need to tell me nice job cause I beat you". I didn't see that one coming.

When Isabella was a baby

When Isabella was a baby she went to school with me and so did her sister Kierda. When I ask her who Kierda is she says 'she's just my sister'. We have welcomed Kierda because she doesn't cost anything. I'm not clear who Kierda's mother is but I have been told I am her father. Not sure how I missed that. When Isabella was a baby she liked roller coasters but she doesn't want to go on them now. When Isabella was a baby she wanted a dog but now she would rather have a cat, however she won't pet either.