Random Pictures

Charlotte and Drea playing with the Ipad

Drea and her girls from dancing

Pictures from Christmas Eve

This was Drea's idea...

The girls and me

Char's turn to be up front

Making a gingerbread house....Thanks Talia!

This is squishy baff...

...this is what it looks like.  The girls were not sure at first...

...but they soon got into it, literally....Thanks, Uncle Dave!

Drea turns Seven

First, let me start by saying, "Wow!" I can not believe that Drea is actually seven years old.  I do not know where the time has gone.  People say it happens fast and don't blink and they are right.  It happened so quickly, none the less here we are celebrating her seventh birthday.  Drea wanted to have her party at WV gymnastic training center again.  I promise these are new pictures of the event and not me recycling last year pictures. 

Cheese!

Charlotte walking the balance beam

Drea and some of her guests jumping on the trampoline

Now just Drea

Swinging on the rope

Charlotte's turn to say, "Cheese!"

Just enjoying her party food

Drea and Bad Words

The other day Drea and I were playing tickle fight and she says to me, "Daddy, I know cuss words."  My response was, "Really, what words do you know?"  In between tickles, Drea managed to share that she knew the "S" word.  Intrigued, I prodded some more.  "What S word are you talking about Drea?"  "Well, I can't say it, but it's S-H-"......At this point I stop tickling her and tell her she can just tell me what word it is and I won't be upset with her.  "Daddy, Shut Up is a cuss word and you shouldn't say it."  Trying not to laugh, I agree with her conclusion.  I then ask her if she knows any more cuss words.  "Oh, yes Daddy, the "F" word."  Now I was really curious.  "Drea, what's the F word?"  "You know, freaking."  Again, reinforcing that, freaking is not nice to say either, she then shares with me the other cuss words she knows.  "Daddy, you know, Oh My God, you can't say that, that would be using the Lord's name in vain.  And you can't forget Oh my Goodness, because it sounds like, Oh My God."  Out of the mouths of babes and I just had to laugh.

New Year's Prayer

Dear God,

It has been a long year.  Patience has been a must, yet you have been there every step of the way.  You amaze me.  You have taken this broken and battered man and have molded me into something way better.  I haven't always made the best decisions, but somehow and someway you manage to take me back.  I don't deserve you.  However, I am incredibily thankful that you do take me back.  Last year at this time I blogged about Change.  I know you are still not done changing me.  You have shown me so many things about myself.  Mostly, I have learned that I don't fit in.  Mainly because I am not supposed to fit in.  You made me to follow you.  I am at my best when I follow you.  I am at my best when I surrender everything to you.  I am at my best when I do what you want me to do.  So as this next year moves forward I pray that I continue to honor you and live for you.  Bless and protect those two little girls that mean as much to you as they do to me.  Help them to see you in everything.  Help them to recognize your plan for their lives.  Help them to see and know who you are, and who you created them to be.  As I write this I find peace knowing you are in control and that is all I need. 

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow

Nothing says Christmas like snow.  On Friday it began snowing here and did not stop until Saturday.  We were left with about 5 or 6 inches of snow.  Of course the girls wanted to get out and play in it.  I think it takes more time to dress them up, then they actually play in the snow, but it is worth it.  Last time I looked they were calling for more snow on Tuesday or Wednesday...Here's hoping for a white Christmas.

Here is the yard next to us....the girls enjoy playing there

Drea's snow angel...that is a must when it snows

Char making a snowball

Walking in a winter wonderland

DAD!

Drea walking away from me...

...now walking to me...

...getting closer

...closer

...closer

...snowball fight!

Gotcha!

Merry Christmas

Last week it dawned on me that I didn't do Christmas cards.  I probably thought that because I started getting Christmas cards in the mail.  At this point it is too late to make a card and send it out.  However, it's the 21st century so instead of sending out Christmas cards, I'll send our holiday greeting on the blog.  We hope everyone has a great Christmas and New Year....Love to you all....

We wish you a Merry Christmas

So right after this picture the girls ran down the hall and ran into each other.  Drea wound up with a bloody nose, Oh the drama....

We ended with this picture and it is by far my favorite...Happy Holidays!

A Cute Charlotte Story

The girls and I like to tell each other secrets.  It's something I have always done with them.  I usually just say to one of them, "Let me tell you a secret."  Sometimes the secret is you smell like poop, or something more serious like I love you.  So it came as no surprise the other day when Charlotte said, "Daddy, can I tell you a secret."  Charlotte's secret was that she loved me.  So I responded to her by telling her, that I loved her, too.  Charlotte then wanted to know why I loved her. 

I started by saying, "Well, Daddy loves you because you are funny"...and she stopped me right in the middle of my sentence.  "No, Daddy I don't want you to love me because I am funny, I want you to love me because you are proud of me and I am smart."  So cute...and to set the record straight, I am proud of her and her sister.