Living with us forever....

Tonight Kamryn was a bit fragile. She was crying because she was diciplined and then that just spiraled into every sad thing in her life. She said, "Sometimes I don't feel like my friends are here to comfort me when I'm sad." I told her that I would always be here to comfort here when she's sad. "No, not when I get married, I won't get to live with you when I'm married!(more tears) I want to always live with you." I told her she could live with me for as long as she wanted. Then as I was tucking her in I assured her again that I would be here for her to comfort her to which she burst out with more tears, "Not if you die!" Oh, such sad thoughts for a little girl. She told me later that she is just really tired tonight.

Super Shopper

Yesterday Kamryn went to Costco with me. We needed to buy some diapers, I normally get the Kirkland Signature brand but I noticed that Huggies were the same price because there was an instant manufacturers rebate. So, I loaded the Huggies into my cart. As I was pushing away Kamryn said, "but wait mom, how many diapers are in there? This box has 160, how many does that have?" She was right, the Huggies were the same price for 10 less diapers. Thanks to my super shopper Kamryn I didn't get ripped off.

Bradyn's Letters

Today Bradyn came in while I was busy working on something and asked me how to spell "Uncle Shawn." I said, "Bradyn, you don't even know how to write letters yet." She said, "Yes I do!" So, I said, "u", and she wrote a "u." I said, "n", and she wrote an "n". The whole family was standing around with our mouths hanging open. She said, "I learned all my letters in my preschool book. I was blown away to say the least. She knew every letter needed to spell uncle Shawn and Aunt Erica. She then went and got her preschool book to show me how she's been practicing. All the while I thought she was just scribbling on the pages, she was learning. A Cool Moment!

Playing School

Today we were doing an art project that used wooden dowels. While I was fiddling with it trying to make it work the girls got bored and started to "play school." Kamryn had a wooden dowel and was pointing to objects on the Christmas tree for Bradyn to identify. She pointed to a house and Bradyn said "house." Kamryn said, "No, what do you call a small house?" Bradyn just stared at her blankly. Kamryn said, "It's a Condo."

Thinking

The other day Steve was cleaning up the play dough mess that the girls made and Bradyn was sitting nicely in her chair watching. She said out of the blue, "Thanks for cleaning up my mess dad." Steve looked at me and said, "Did you tell her to say that?" I said "no." Bradyn said, "you know how I knew to say that? I just thinked in my head." I think she should do more thinking in her head.

China

Last night I hosted a table at our church's Women's Christmas dinner and I used all of my china. We had a babysitter afterwards so that we could go to the neighborhood Christmas gathering and my babysitter washed all of the china for me. That was cool! Anyway, I told her to just stack it all on the kitchen table. Last night when we came home I was too tired to put it all away so I just left it. This morning while Bradyn was snuggling in bed with us I said to Steve, "I have china in the kitchen that I need to put away before the girls go out there." So, I asked Bradyn not to go until I was with her. She went into the playroom where Kamryn was watching cartoons (surprise, surprise) and said in a very enthusiastic voice, "Kamryn, mommy has china in the kitchen." Kamryn said, "What's china?" Bradyn said, "I don't know, but mommy said it was in the kitchen." So innocent and cute!

The truth hurts...

Daddy is sick. He has a cold and his head feels like it is 3 times the size of a baloon, achey, and tired. But, Daddy must go on, and so as I was getting Bradyn ready for bed she said, "You are my still my daddy even when you are sick, aren't you?" Yes, I am...

Written on her face...

This morning Bradyn was needling Kamryn pretty good with words of affirmation for herself. Kamryn was a bit grumpy this morning and was taking it pretty hard... Kamryn, when she gets angry, tries to keep her compsure, but her face gets this contorted, repressed look on it.

And then Bradyn suprised my saying, "Kamryn is losing her temper."

I couldn't control my laughter. It was pretty perceptive and so true. Kamryn was like, "No I am not. I am just looking at the ceiling."

Sister rivalary is well underway!

Bradyn is perceptive...

Bradyn spilled her milk about 5 days ago. It was like right when my waffles were hot, my eggs were hot and I was ready to eat. It got all over the floor, chair, table and everywhere else. I kept my composure, told her it was an accident and moved on to clean it up later. But, since then, every meal that I have been in charge I have given her a sippy cup, that won't spill... She called me on it this morning. Ever since I spilled my milk you have given me a sippy cup, she said. I was suprised she noticed and tried to give her a different reason of why she had a sippy cup, and I kind of lied so I she wouldn't feel bad and I wouldn't either. I think I need to give her another chance...

Prayer with an agenda...

Kamryn was praying for dinner the other night:

"Dear God, I love you very much and thank you for this meal. Please help Bradyn to stop lying, and crying and please help her stop picking so we can get our stuffed animals back. Thank you."

My favorite things...

This morning Julia woke us all up at 5:00am, thanks in part to the time change. As part of the deal, to keep Kamryn in her bed, I snuggled with her. She told me that she was looking forward to three things happening on Monday. You get to stay home, I don't have to do school and I get to go to Spanish class. I thought it was really cute.

Effective prayers availth much...

Dear God, please help Bradyn to stop lying...

Kamryn's prayer a couple of nights ago!

She loves me, she loves me not...

One of my favorite parts of a dad is coming home. The garage door sounds, my car door opens and my kids burst through the door, yelling "daddy, daddy." I hug, I kiss and I feel like a rock star. But lately, I have found that while Bradyn and Julia still show me the affection, Kamryn has been a bit slow in this department. She won't get up from the TV, she won't leave her book or game. I must admit a bit of panic in this department, and I called her on it. I told her I was afraid of losing my rock star status, that I wondered why she wasn't coming to see me anymore and she apologized. I have noticed a significant change in her enthusiasm towards me lately as she is now running to see me, yelling "daddy," and making me feel important and valuable. Yesterday I came in, garage door, car door and still no girls. I walked in, looked left, looked right, still no footsteps running, no shrieks of delight. I peered in the tv room, and there sacked out on the floor, Kamryn and Bradyn, watching tv. I put my foot on Kamryn's stomach, and she looked up. She yelled, "daddy." She held her arms up to me and I leaned down to give her a big hug.

As she hugged me she said, "Daddy, I love you more than T.V."

Don who?

Don Miller, the author of blue like Jazz, is coming to speak at Western Washington University and is going to be staying at our house. I was trying to get the girls excited about him coming up, and how he knows our aunt and uncle and loves heirborne the dog. I said he is a really great guy and they will really like him. One of my children clearly unimpressed said, "Daddy, you are making a big deal about him."

Quick tidbits...

Julia is talking a lot now, not intelligable, but doing her best...
Yesterday for Stephanie and today for me, she was like blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah (with inflection and heartfelt rendering) blah blah and blah. We answered, "really?" And she responded, "No."

Kamryn is memorizing verses: John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only forgotten son...

dreams

Today I was putting Bradyn down for her nap and I asked her what she thought whe might dream about while she was sleeping. She said, "Hmmmm, probably a dead cat." So does anyone want to try to analyze that dream?

blankies

Whenever Julia gets an owie or something the girls are really sweet and race around to try and find her blanket for her. They love to try and comfort her. Well, recently, Julia has been repaying the favor. Whenever Kamryn or Bradyn is crying for whatever reason, Julia has been bringing them their blankies. So sweet!

bananas...

Bradyn does not like Bananas. I always try to give them to her but she always puts up a huge fight. Tonight she came in, saw the banana on Kamryn's plate and said, I want a banana. I said, "You don't like them." "Yes, I do," she objected. Kamryn clearly exasperated by Bradyn's flip flop, said, "you're weird."

Phonograms

A few days ago we were practicing our phonogram cards during school. Bradyn likes to practice them with Kamryn so she came running over when she saw that we were drilling them. They were lined up agains the sliding door and Kamyrn would say the s0und and then Bradyn would say the sound. After a few, Julia came over and lined up against the sliding door and she started mimicking the sounds too. It was so cute, seeing them all three lined up against the door from tallest to shortest, all mimicking the phonograms one after the other. At least we know Julia can say the sounds even if she hasn't put them together into words yet. She stayed for about ten of them.

So Sweet

Tonight as I was tucking the kids in to bed I asked them what their favorite part of the day was. Bradyn said it was getting to ride on the floor in the van as we took Ruth and Abby home, and Kamryn said it was getting to spend time with mommy.

gluten free?

Bradyn had her four year check with the doc today and we talked about her frequent stomach aches and the doctor suggested trying a gluten-free diet for a few months. (Steve has been suggesting this for a while.) Anyway, on the way home I told Bradyn that she was going to eat like daddy for a while. When Steve came home for lunch they hugged and rejoiced that they get to eat like each other. Later, as Steve was finishing his lunch Bradyn came out to beg a chip off of him. He gave her a Frito. She turned around to leave and then turned back and asked, "Are these gluten-free?" How many 4 year olds know what gluten free is?

Observations...

We have been watching a friends dog for the last 10 days and it has led to some interesting observations by Kamryn.

"Dad, Bradyn is a lot like Julio (the dog)."
"How Kamryn?"
"Well, she begs to go outside and then wants to come back in right away. She begs to eat and then she doesn't eat."

Our three little girls
Kamryn 6, Julia 2, and Bradyn 4 (today)

The hardest part of parenting...

Letting your child win in a board game... They taunt you, gloat and basically crush your little ego into pieces... The things we endure as parents...

Too much t.v.

I always wonder if Kamryn watches too much t.v. We really try to restrict it, but you start to wonder sometimes when their is a conversation like this one:

Kamryn: Bradyn, Bradyn, there is a bee right next to you!!! Pause!!!

Wonderings...

The other day at breakfast I was minding my own business while eating when I hear Kamryn saying, "hhhu, hhu, hhhhuuu." Finally, my curiousity could handle itself no further and I asked, "What are you doing?" She said, "I am trying to say a word without breathing. Can you do it, Daddy?" I tried, and I tell you it can't be done... My 6 year old daughter is a genius.

bedtime prayers

Kamryn's bedtime prayer:
Dear Jesus, please help all the people that say "oh my God"...stuff like that, people that take your word in vain. Please help Bradyn's sliver to come out without having to use a needle, and if she does have to use a needle help her to be brave and not cry. Amen

Owls...

I am watching Kamryn turn her head and keep her eyes straight. I am wondering what she is doing, but I am not asking. Two minutes later, Kamryn said, is it true that owls can't turn their eyes like humans.

Folding hand in prayer...

Kamryn:
Daddy, why do we fold our hands when we pray?

Daddy:
So our hands don't distract us and do things.

Kamryn:
Yeah, maybe, but I think it is also because when we put our hands together, they point to God.

Armpits?

Bradyn to Daddy:
I don't like mommy's armpits. But, I I like yours.

It's not easy being the middle one...

Growing up as the youngest of three boys, I never struggled much with the order of age. I was the baby, and even though I was picked on, the baby usually get what he wants:) The middle one though is kind of stuck in the middle and they have to find their own way. Bradyn is in such a predicament. Her older sister is the parent-pleaser, her younger sister is too cute for her own good. Bradyn is in the middle. So, she is kind of our little cute rebel, trying to do things differently than her older sister which is usually the right way. So, Kamryn spends half her childhood trying to make sure Bradyn doesn't kill herself. However, there are times when Kamryn decides to test her parents and her independence. It doesn't usually last long, but when she does, Bradyn makes the most of it. It is amazing to watch. When Kamryn gets in trouble for something, or is complaining about something, Bradyn is right there doing the opposite of her "bad" sister, ready to make known to the world that whatever bad Kamryn is doing, she is doing the opposite good.

For example, this morning, Kamryn was complaining because Daddy burnt the waffle. I told her that children in Africa were starving... Actually, no I didn't, but I did say it is not burnt. You know the psychological game that we never win. Anyway, so Bradyn starts out by saying thanks for the waffles. Than she said, "Do you like burnt waffles?" I said, "yes, I do.' Bradyn said, "I loooovve burnt waffles. I love them very much." She then proceeded to go on and on about how much she like burnt everything, including bacon. She saw the opportunity to infiltrate her sisters righteous ranking and her smart little mind seized it. You gotta hand it the one in the middle.

Progress?

Well, I have been trying really hard this weekend to be patient with my kids. I have worked hard on not yelling or getting frustrated. As can happen with three little independant thinkers, I have lost my composure a few times. Just a few minutes ago, I mimiced Bradyn's crying and then I apologized saying, "I'm sorry. I have worked really hard this weekend not losing my temper." Kamryn said, "It's o.k. dad. We know you love us."
Then a second later she said, "When's Mom getting home.":)

Kamryn is turning into quite the little league slugger. Just thought I would show you this cute picture!

Sit right down...

This is better seen than explained but it was so cute I have to talk about it. I was jogging around the track with Julia in the double jogging stroller. Bradyn wanted in and apparently so did Julia, becuase when she got near, Julia was patting the empty seat next to her for her big sister to sit in it! It was really cute.

Learning the necessary words

Julia is growing ever so slowly with her language. She has Mommy, Daddy, Bye-Bye, blankie, Bumpa, Boggie, Papa, and an assortment of others. Yesterday was a milestone in that she combined four words in a sentence. Kamryn had finished going to the bathroom and Julia said, "Bye-Bye pee-pee and poo-poo!"

Growing old...

Kamryn is growing older. Just ask her. Today she told me that some games are too simple for her. They are too easy. I asked her what kind of games and she said, well, like Chutes and ladders.

Well, today is kind of a monumental day. My daughter Kamryn Anne Allen, did the monkey bars. Wow. What progress and determination!The bars to the left is our swing set which is not what she did. At Fairhaven park, she went across the entire monkey bar. She tried so hard, kept stopping, and over two days, (two different trips to the park) she kept persisting, until she did it. I was so proud of her. She thought she was pretty good too.

If our walls could speak...

I feel sorry for ya'll readers of this blog because words can only carry you so far. I mean, so many time my kids do something hilarious or brilliant, or brilliantly hilarious, they laugh or burp or fart or have this so funny look on their face. Sometimes as you watch their minds work, I just think, I wish I could blog that somehow. I guess it is part of the reward of being a parent, in the midst of amazingly smelly diapers, unthankful service and early morning interuptions, are these hidden small moments of joy that make you think, their is no place I would rather be.

Julia, the adventure wanderer

I just want to post this so people can know that our Julia Hoolia is our official explorer wanderer. You turn your head for a moment and she is gone. We haven't lost her yet, but if we do, this blog is proof that it wasn't our fault.

Preaching Anonymity

So I was making dinner, just you know, minding my own business, when Kamryn said to me out the blue from the living room, when you told that story in your sermon, did you say one of your daughters or did you say Kamryn? Uh, well, why I responded. I kind of lied and said I think I may have said daughters. She thought about it and said, "I think they would figure it out that it was me." She seemed pretty distraught and so I asked, would you want me to use your name. "No," she cried out. "That would be embarrasing." Uh-oh. Well, I assured her I would never use her name again, and I probably shouldn't lie about sermon again. It kind of defeats the purpose of preaching in the first place.

Nice Try...

I have been watching the girls by myself this weekend. As a result there are lot of more stories. One of my favorites happened tonight Bradyn was having a hard, (i stress hard) evening, crying lots and just having a hard time. Anyway, she perked for a second when she got sight of her outlawed blankie (she picks it) and said, "When I have an owie, I get my blankie." I smiled (inwardly) and said, "Sorry, no" (Though I must admit she almost got me) and she started crying again...

My sensitive Kamryn

Stephanie is away at a wedding this weekend and dad is Mr. Mom. I am doing my best, but it is tough to replace Mommy. Kamryn came up to me at dinner and said, "Daddy, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but (bursting into tears), I really miss mommy."

Wanting to please daddy

Kamryn our most wannabe pleaser, was out of her chair in the kitchen when I was in the other room. I could hear them through the wall. When I went into stealth mode and came back and suprised her and Bradyn, I said, "If I would have been standing here would you have gotten out of your chair. You need to do the same things when I am in the room as when I am not." She then said, "Daddy, when I was down on the floor I was thinking to myself, 'If Daddy saw me, he would not be happy,' so I was beginning to get up when you came up." Yeah right:)

Hurtful reasoning...

"Hey, Dad, I know," Bradyn says, "When I am hurt I can suck my thumb. When I am not sick, I won't suck my thumb."

Heaven thoughts...

Kamryn has been very curious about Heaven lately, wondering if she is going to have a Dad and Mom in heaven. Stephanie tried earlier to explain to not much avail that her Father in heaven. So, we, uh, lied, and told her that yes, she would have a dad and mom in heaven because she is just so upset by the fact that we wouldn't be her mom and dad in heaven.

sick thoughts...

I don't get spankings when I am sick.
-Bradyn

Happy Birthday!!!

Today Kamryn turned 6. We have a great day, family up from Seattle, friends from the neighborhood and Daddy led them in My Little Pony games!!!!

baby video

The girls have been watching old baby videos. They were watching the one where Bradyn is born. I overheard Kamryn telling Bradyn, "Look Bradyn, Boggie's crying." Bradyn said "Why?" Kamryn answered, "Because she thinks you're so beautiful."
Later Kamryn was telling Bradyn, "that's Julia." Bradyn said, "that's me." Kamryn said, "No, I know who everyone is." (Kamryn was wrong!)

This picture is actually a year old. Bradyn swallowed a nail and it was on Kamryn's birthday cruise to Blake Island that the nail was recovered. We just put it in the blog for posterity.
 

sister love

This morning the girls have been a little fragile. While outside playing on the swings Bradyn got a little owie on her back. I suggested that maybe they would like to go watch a quick cartoon before we needed to leave. They all grabbed their blankies and decided that they wanted to watch the baby video from when Kamryn was a baby. Kamryn sat down on the bean bag and reached her arms out on both sides and Bradyn snuggled in with her blankie and Julia snuggled in on the other side with her blankie. Kamryn said, "oh, I have two arms for two sissy's." Kamryn is cute the way she is commentating the video, "that is what mommy looks like with short hair...etc"

Band Aids, Part II

Bradyn loves Band Aids. (Read story below for Band Aid, Part I) Anyway, tonight, when Bradyn again needed two band aids for places that she hurt that weren't visible, I said a little exasperated, a little sarcastic, that band aids were for owies that actually had blood on them. She said but it really hurts. It was bed time and I didn't want to argue so I gave it to her. The band aid I had was TOO BIG so I went to get another one. After I wrapped it around her finger, (she had trouble locating the owie) she said, in a moment of revelation and realization, "I didn't know that band-aids were for blood." I said, "yeah." And she had this look on her face of wow, I get it! Let's hope she does.

Vacationing with Bumpa and Boggie

Kamryn just got back from a 4 day trip by herself with her Bumpa (grandpa) and Boggie (grandma). She has a great time. During this time when she was eating ice cream for breakfast and watching movies in bed, a strange occurence was happening at home. Julia who at almost 2 is usually left out in all the playing. Kamryn and Bradyn who share a room have become best friends who are also sisters. Anyway, while Kamryn was away, Julia and Bradyn sort of discovered each other. They played together, got in trouble and terrorized their parents the four days when our referee/police/parent-kid spy/mother Kamryn was gone. So, when Kamryn got home and I told her to go outside and play with her sisters, which she had been doing, she said, "They don't want to play with me. They are only playing with each other."

Chubby Bunny! Julia loves to get into the pantry. If I forget to leave the doors closed it is a sure thing that I will find her with a box of cereal all over the floor, or a bag of chips...this timed it was the marshallows. I think she had two shoved in her mouth. I thought this was cute until Steve told me that the game "chubby bunny" where you see how many marshmallows you can stuff in your mouth and still say "chubby bunny" had been outlawed in youth groups because a girl had choked and died while playing it.

The power of words 

Bathtub Tales

Context:
A while back I saw a Calvin and Hobbes comic strip that went something like this:

Calvin: Uncle Max, when are you going to be leaving.
Uncle Max: I am leaving tomorrow, Calvin.
Calvin: Awww... (with a disappointed look on his face)
Uncle Max: Well, that's nice you are going to miss me.
Calvin: Yes, I am. Mom is always more patient with me when we have company here.

Story:
I think we have all experienced this dynamic. Well, Bradyn decided to put a twist on this. Last night, I was giving Bradyn a bath and usually she cries when I put water in her hair. She hates it when I wash her hair. This time she didn't and I was a little surprised. I praised her for it.(Whatever it takes is my philopsophy) Stephanie and I were getting ready to go out for dinner and we had a babysitter coming over...

Bradyn said:
When we don't have a babysitter coming over, I cry.
But when we do have a babysitter coming over, I don't cry.

I asked why this was and she said, "Well, I don't want the babysitter to see me crying."

Dear Diary, Part I

Kamryn is beginning her first diary, an impromptu start with a diary without a key, so I will take advantage of that:) Enjoy!

(word for word)

I was playng and Julia spit up
Bradyn laft at julia. and I didn't laft
I whud never laf at julia bekus she is the best
I love Julia

Perfect Hostess

The other day a neighbor girl was playing with Kamryn and Bradyn and she needed to come inside to use the bathroom. As she was on her way out she commented on what a nice house we had. Bradyn responded by saying with a wave of her hand, "Sorry it's so messy." You kind of had to see the way she said it, but I got a kick out of the fact that she thought it was messy, I didn't think it looked too bad considering it was the end of the day.

Band Aids

Our daughter Bradyn loves Band-Aids. They are the cure all, for everything, at anytime, anywhere. If she falls down, trips, bonks her head, anything. There doesn't need to be any blood. Usually there isn't. But give her a band-aid and she stops crying. The other night she hit her knee while trying to fall asleep and came out crying. I asked if she wanted a band-aid (for a bloodless knee) and she said yes. In the process of playing with the first, she messed it up and cried for a second one. I brought in another one (we were trying to watch our show and I was getting desperate:) and she said, "You can't really see my owie. It is really small." I thought that was progress...

Bunnie Rabbit

When Kamryn was four she really wanted a dog. Not wanting to have a dog join the family I told her she could have a bunny rabbit. Her next question was "when?" The age of seven seemed far away enough so I told her that when she was seven she could have a bunny. The other day I picked her up from her Kindergarten Enrichment class and she said, "I want to have a bunny rabbitt." I said, "How old are you?" To which she let out a big moan and said, "oh, I just can't hold it anymore!" "I'm almost six anyway!" I thought it was so cute.

There's always next year

Kamryn is busy gearing up for her birthday party (which is going to be a My Little Pony pary.) This year I am having her write the invitations and address the envelopes. Something she is very capable of doing, but she tires easily and wants to give up. Anyway, She was checking them off and we got to the one for Blake. Not wanting to write another one she said, "I just won't invite him. He won't mind, I'll just invite him next year." She has about three left to do. We'll see when they get done. :)

Anger...

On Saturday on the way up to Bellingham, the ride went from great to chaos in a matter of minutes. Things were good when the DVD was working and Julia was sleeping. But the DVD stopped working, and then as the kids got bored, they eventually woke up Julia. I was very angry at this point and I let the girls know of my displeasure. But it didn't really matter. Bradyn was in and out of her straps, playing with the DVD player, and disobeying daddy, which only increased my frustration and anger, which I let them know again very clearly. I kept Julia at bay with cereal, and eventually Bradyn fell asleep. When the cereal serum eventually wore off, and Julia decided she had enough being in the car. She started crying, and eventually woke up Bradyn who started crying, which led to Kamryn crying and daddy really felt like crying. I decided that it was a good time for a break, and pulled off at Krispy Kreme in Burlington. As I went back to talk with the girls, Kamryn started crying saying, "Daddy, I am so sorry. Sometimes, I think God is so angry with me, that he is going to send a wasp down through the windshield and sting me."

I amnot sure if she was just trying to get me to feel bad so I wouldn't discipline her, but I felt really bad, because I know that she interpreted my anger, which wasn't good, with how God felt about her which is good. As I look back, I realize how much of my kids perception of a good, holy, loving, forgiving God is based on my example, right or wrong. I pulled her aside today, Monday, to talk with her about this, trying to help her understand the difference between an imperfect daddy and a perfect God who loves her very much. As I cuddled her close in, I asked her if she understood what I was talking about. A smile breaks across her face and she said, "Daddy, you have blood on your chin." And then she got off and ran to the house for dinner.

Not so subtle...

This past Sunday, mommy was in Spokane visting her friend and I was Mr. Mom and also Mr. Youth Pastor. In between services I thought I would check on my kids. Kamryn saw me and told me she didn't want to stay in her sunday school class and wanted to come with me. I said no. She said please. And she won out eventually. She colored pictures and spun in her chair. She did pretty good but towards the end she was getting a little bored. Right in the middle of the testimony/lesson by Aaron Gibbs, she let out this big loud extended yawn. The class laughed and Aaron got his not so subtle hint to hurry it up!

Good 'ole big sister

Tonight while Stephanie and I were working in the garage, and Kamryn and Bradyn and Julia were supposed to be sleeping, Bradyn walks out into the garage, trying her best to look like she belongs.
I (Steve) ask, "Bradyn, what are you doing?"
To which, Bradyn replies, "Kamryn said that if I say another word, she is going to call 911." Trying not to smile or laugh I say, "Well, you better not say any more words and go to bed."
To which she then responds, "Do they serve only bread and water in jail?"
I said "Yes, they do," wondering where shew was leading with this questions.
I then asked, "Did Kamryn tell you that they she was going to call 911 and take you to jail?"
And she responded, "Yes."

Thoughts...

Kamryn:
"Sometimes I think people are robots."

Bed Time Prayers.

Kamryn's prayer:
Dear God, thank you for the wonderful day. Thank you for my family. Please forgive all my sins, even the ones that I can't think of. Amen

Bradyn:
(dad) Bradyn do you want to pray?
(Bradyn) No.
(dad) Will you pray after me?
(Bradyn) Yes.

Dear God...
Dear God...
Thank you for my family
Thank you for my family.

Please help me obey my mommy and daddy
(pause and a slight look of reluctance...)
Uh, please help me obey my mommy and daddy

(how's that for strategy prayer:)

Inspiration

(Kamryn comes running into the room.)
"Daddy, do you want to come and see my animal inspiration."
(Yes, seriously, that is she what she said.)

It's all about me...

"Hey Daddy."
"What Kamryn?" I (dad) asked
"I like having a little sister."
"Why?"
"Because she is attached to her blankie. So whenever I have her blankie she will come snuggle with me."
"That's nice."
Whenever she is hurt, she snuggles with me. Whenever she wants to read a book she snuggle with me. Whenever she is sad, she comes to me. She always comes to me."
(Julia gets up and walks to Kamryn)
"See, she always comes to me..."

I want to be there...

Bradyn made a decision to accept Jesus into her heart on Monday morning. Kamryn was talking about Heaven at breakfast and Bradyn said that she wanted to be in Heaven with Mommy, Daddy and Kamryn. We prayed together as a family. A great memory... "I want to be there with you guys."

Ugly and pretty?

This morning I (Stephanie) was drying my hair while Bradyn was lounging on my bed. She wanted to tell me something so I turned off the hair dryer and she said, "mommy, you're a little bit ugly, but you're still pretty." Hmmm! I'll try not to let that compliment go to my head.

Hurry up...

Tonight I (steve) was cleaning up from dinner. There were quite a few pots and pan, the floor was pretty dirty and I was thinking of my 3 children in the other room, lazily watching a Disney movie. During this movie I was thinking about how my kids didn't have a clue how much we do to keep everything going. I was getting a little resentful in my conversation with myself when Kamryn comes strolling in and asks, "Can we watch the funnies video now?" I had promised them when everything was cleaned up we could watch America's Funniest Videos. I said, with a slight tinge of sacrcasm, "What do you think I am doing now, Kamryn?" She said "Cleaning up?" "Right, I have been cleaning up for the last 20 minutes..." I said with a little flair in my voice, hoping she would catch the tone in my voice and feel ashamed at her lack of consideration for how much her parents do for her. She was silent for a second. And then she said, "Well, you don't clean very fast."

Heaven

Heaven came up at dinner last night and again this morning. We talked about what Heaven was going to be like and what we were going to do. Bradyn's favorite thing was saying, "There are not shots in Heaven, right daddy!" Kamryn wondered if we were going to wear clothes in Heaven. Mommy and Daddy looked at each other as if to see if we knew the answer. We were stumped. Good question, Kamryn.

Temptation

This morning daddy was watching a previously recorded America's Funniest Videos and Julia and Bradyn and Kamryn were watching. Unbeknownst to Daddy, Kamryn had been requested by mommy to meet her in the bathroom to do her hair. When Mommy came into room and said Kamryn I told you that I need to do your hair, Kamryn torn between what she was asked to do and what she wanted to do, yelled out "Daddy, you're tempting me. Pause it, please."

Pets

We have told Kamryn that when she is 7 (she is almost 6 now) she can have a pet of her choice (within reason:). We were reading a book tonight and she asked if she could have that dog when she is 7. I said if that is what you want when you are seven, of course. Bradyn then asked, "When I am 21, can I have 21 guinea pigs?"

grandparent love...

I was flipping Julia Hoolia around and I lifted her up high in the sky in our bedroom. When she was up above she caught a glimpse of something behind. She began to yell "BBBBBBuuu, BBBBBUuuuu!" I was wondering what she was yelling with such enthusiasm until I looked behind me to see the picture of her beloved grandparents, affectionately named Boggie and Bumpa by Kamryn many years ago. BBBBBBBUUU!!!!!

Book Reading Milestone

Tonight was the first night all three girls "sat" in my lap and read a book together. Julia had her yellow blankie and her two fingers in her mouth. She laid for awhile then got up and then came back down and back up and back down. Kamryn laid her head on my shoulders and didn'tmove. Bradyn was doing cartwheels, flips and somersaults on the bed, the floor and the rest of the house.

While I was reading, Kamryn started sucking her fingers like Julia was doing. Julia reached over and pulled our Kamryn's fingers from her mouth. Kamryn put them back in and Julia took them back out. In and Out, In and out... It was pretty funny.

thumb sucking

Bradyn crawled up in my lap tonight and asked me when I was going to take my apron off (she was sucking her thumb as she asked me.) I said, "I don't know, when are you going to stop sucking your thumb?" She said, "When I'm 21."

Big sisters

Tonight while getting ready for bed Julia got an owie and immediately her big sisters sprang into action. Bradyn went running for Julia's blankie and when Julia had the blankie Kamryn grabbed hold of her to snuggle her. Kamryn laid down on her bed and said "Come here Julia.." When Julia came and snuggled her head in close to Kamryn, Kamryn said, "I love it when you do that. It feels like I'm your big sister."

There is a lot of love...

Bradyn loves to tell daddy how much she loves him. I love you all the way up to heaven and back, and back and back...

Daddy loves to tell Bradyn how much he loves her. I love you as high as the sky is blue. Bradyn replies, "Oooh, that's a lot of love!"

HI!

Mommy put the phone up to Julia's ear today and she said "HI!" on the phone... She was pretty proud of herself!