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