Your First Race!!!

I am so proud of you. Yesterday, you did your first running race at the Mustang Stampede at Strongsville High School. It was about 1/3 of a mile and you came in 3rd place! You were so excited and have always had an interest for exercise and running (maybe from me???) and just being healthy. I hope that stays with you forever. I really look forward to you continuing to take interest in things like this and maybe even doing some races together one day.

Side note: You peed the bed last night! Luckily I was able to sleep in a little because we just changed the clocks back. :) 

I love you so much and feel lucky every day how amazing you are and how much joy you bring mommy and me. You and Benny are best friends - Please don't let that ever change!

Start of Fall 2018

I don't know how often to post since I don't know what it will be like to read through all this one day. I've been thinking of starting an email address for you so that I can send you more messages and thoughts that aren't a full-blown blog post - Sometimes after you go to sleep or while you're at school, there are a few things I want to say to you.

It's been a rough week for you. You woke up Saturday night throwing up - Probably because it was Trick or Treat day at Coe Lake and we finished the night with fireworks and a lot of funnel cake. 2 nights ago, you came in my room in the middle of the night because you were scared of No-noggin from some Curious George Halloween movie. Then last night you wet your bed and needed to get your sheets changed.

I used to get upset or frustrated about these things, but I've started to appreciate you coming to me for this stuff since someday you won't need me for any of it.

As always, mom and I couldn't be prouder of how you're doing in kindergarten (should probably post some first-day pictures) and how great you are with Benny. He has been hitting, kicking, and biting you a LOT lately and you never do it back! You still love him and love spending time with him and we love it.

Our First Dance :)

Your preschool held a father/daughter dance. It was Candy Land themed and we both were so excited and had so much fun. I was surprised how much time you spent with your friends while I was left making small talk with the other dads. But it was fun to dress up and have our own night together.

Winter 2017

What a pretty girl dressed up for Christmas !

This may be the funniest video of the year right here. One of the only times we went sled riding and you took this kid OUT! But everything turned out ok which is why it is funny :)

Early evening NYE party that ended at 7pm 

Fall 2017

What a Fall this has been! In October, we went with you and your preschool to Red Wagon farm for a fall celebration.

Then, we went to DisneyWorld with Gigi, Auntie, Uncle Dan and Seamus! I wish I had more pictures, but we stayed at Animal Kingdom which has an awesome pool with a slide. It was so much fun to see you taking it all in and seeing the castle for the first time. 

Random day that we stayed home together and made slime!

Halloween was cold, but we went Trick or Treating and you and Seamus went crazy running from house to house to get as much candy as you could. You would have dressed as Moana if it wasn't so cold.

Some things that I never want to forget about you right now:

- The way you are with Benny: 

You guys absolutely love each other and I hope that never changes. When he is crying, you sing a song from Tarzan to him "Stop your crying it will be alright, just take my hand, hold it tight. I will protect you from all around you - I will be here, don't you cry. You'll be in my heart, you'll be in my heart always, (whisper) always...

When he wakes up from a nap and I go into his room, you play a song on his monitor and then press the intercom and say "I love you Benny and Daddy. You're my favorite boys."

At night when mommy and I tuck you in, you say "I love you as big as my closet and wall and 100 cars and t-shirts connected."

Raking the leaves in the backyard and taking some slo-mo video!

Spring/Summer 2017

A lot has happened! Benny turned 1 and you turned 4! I can't believe it. Today we went for a run together in the morning with you in the stroller. Don't know how many more chances we'll get to do that together so it made me really happy.

Current favorite movie is Moana. Last night while we were watching it, you said that your spirit was a giraffe :)

Summer is going great. I don't get so spend anywhere near as much time with you guys as I wish I could, but I'm glad mom has her summers with you. Michigan trip to the sand dunes coming up this Sunday. Hope it is so much fun.

Winter 2016-17

Winter is officially over today! Yay! Hopefully we can start getting outside some more. Yesterday you and I went to the Middleburg Rec to do some swimming. You are getting so good - 5 people literally stopped and asked if you had lessons and how old you were because you can swim so well.  You swim forwards, backwards, doggy paddle, and can get to me from almost any distance.

Here are a couple pictures from Christmas:

Benny playing with Papa:

Putting reindeer food out on Christmas Eve!

Center of Town Ice Castle in Strongsville with Benny!

Snowman!

Got outside on a warm day and got to see you show off your climbing skills!

 A couple cute pictures from Gigi's house:

You and Benny are best friends - It is amazing to watch you guys together. I hope you stay close forever and ever

A rare picture with mommy and both babies!

Took a day off from work for your second trip to Kalahari - I love taking you here so much.

Below freezing out, but this is what you decided to wear into Walgreens.

Breakfast date with mommy before school!