Addy & Lilly Take Columbus

When Grandpa Ian called and invited us all to go on a business trip to Columbus (OH) with him, we didn't hesitate--a fun family outing with grandparents--yes please! The girls love staying in a hotel and swimming in the hotel pool. We visited the Center of Science & Industry (COSI), adding another museum stamp to their passports.

We took them out for one of their first "fine" dining experiences and they did great! Lindey's in German Village was amazing food, amazing service and they LOVED our dining divas. Certainly not something we will do often, but they felt so special and their behavior was amazing.

We hit up Easton shopping center the next day and Grandpa & Dad took the girls to see Lion King in 3D while Grandma & I shopped. It was a great trip! Enjoy the pictures.

Lilly, testing gravity & pulleys with Grandpa at COSI

Addy LOVED the water exhibits

Addy finished her fancy dinner with lemon sorbet


Lilly opted for the standard vanilla ice cream

We stopped for some pictures at a park in German Village (Lilly & Mom)

Thanks for a fun trip Grandma & Grandpa!

Guest Blogger-Coaching Soccer

Written by Daddy!

Sitting on the couch in early spring, my wife asked if we should enroll A & L in the local soccer league for under 5's. Of course, I said yes. With that decision made, I was caught off guard by her next question--"Want to coach?"

As a 3 sport athlete growing up (Baseball, Basketball & Football), I watched my dad lead several of my childhood teams. I always said I'd coach my kids at some point, just didn't realize it would be GIRLS and SOCCER.

My dad was a great coach and made sports fun. He instilled competition and camaraderie with all our teams, but his overall goal was always to make sure every kid played equally regardless of skill and to recruit kids with GLM's (Good lookin' moms). I was ultra competitive growing up with a brother just 14 months younger that followed in my footsteps and played every sport I did. I hope that A & L would acquire a competitive spirit as they will always have a teammate in the house as long as they continue to choose the same sports.

I'll admit I had many negative thoughts when Aimee asked me about coaching:

• Will I be too hard on them?


• Will I be one of those coaches that I hated?


• Would I play favorites to my own kids?


• What are the rules to soccer anyway?


• Will Aimee be a wreck on the sidelines, yelling & embarrassing me?


• Will this interfere with my golf or lake schedule?

However, after some consideration and a fellow dad convincing me we could co-coach, I signed up, thinking I had nothing to lose...except of course the fact that A & L may never want to play for me again.

It has been one of my favorite "dad' activities to date!

Our team was made up of 9 girls, all under 5 years-old: Sofia, Akhila, Mallory, Molly, Mallory, Sam, Addy, Lilly & Lauren. We have 2 official rules:

#1: Have fun

#2: Don't use your hands

Lilly added a third--no hitting, biting, pushing, or pulling hair. Bottom line: it's herding cats. I didn't have high aspirations of teaching them much about the actual game, but I wanted to give them the experience of a 'team' sport and to send them home tired. If the ball made it in the right goal occasionally, it was a great day. We practice once a week and have a game every Saturday. Our first game we were defeated by over 20 goals (we aren't supposed to be keeping score, but how could you not, at least in my own head). I was depressed. But, we've now won 3 in a row and I was so proud during last week's game, each girl scored a goal. We have one game left and told the girls it's the "World Cup Finals".

My girls are growing up so quickly and all I can hope for is that they let me continue to coach them in the coming years!

437 questions x2

Thanks goes to my friend over at 4tunate for sharing this sign and helping me realize the source of my insanity! I also think driving alone with the girls may be the worst time. There is no escape and the onslaught of questions never stops. I have one daughter who probably asks this many before lunch! Here's a sampling of what I've heard this week:

-Why is the sky blue?


-What makes the ground smoke in the morning?

-Who picked the names of the colors?


-Why can't we go to the park anymore?


-Do pee and poop come from the same place?


-Why do vacuums make that noise?

-Can I have a snack?


-Why are some dogs big and some dogs small?


-What makes poop smell?


-Where does the poop when you flush?


-Why can't we talk about poop?


-How old do I have to be to wear earrings?


-Can I watch TV?


-What are we doing today?


-What are we doing tonight?


-What are we doing tomorrow?


-Why is 'she' looking at me?


-Why won't 'she' play nice?


-Will you play babies with me?


-Can I call somebody?


-Will you play princess with me?


-Will you play fighter jet plane with me?


-Where did the missing puzzle pieces go?


-Can I help you cook?

-Can we have a dance party?

-Where are my elmo panties?


-When can I have a baby sister?


-When is daddy coming home?

-When is ga ga coming over?


-When is Aunt Cat coming back?


-Why do you have to work?


-Are we there yet?


-When will I learn to read?


-Can I go to dance class?


-What's a bill?


-What is credit cards?


-Are you old?

-When you are old do you go to heaven?


An oldie, but goodie, buried on my camera's memory card--This was the first day of pre-school this year!

Hilton Head by the numbers

Lilly at the house pool!-she'll tell you she got 51 new freckles on vacation!

Addy--on the beach--most content playing, building, kicking all by herself

We took our first 'real' family vacation since the girls were born. Don't feel bad for us, Jeremy and I have traveled more than the typical couple and we are spoiled to have had some great long family weekends and a family owned lakehouse just a couple hours away. BUT, we hadn't experienced the anguish that is a 13 hour round-trip car trip. We hadn't experienced the sand between our toes and the looks on our kids faces the first time they saw the ocean. We'd never traveled with friends instead of family and the girls didn't know Daddy without his blackberry for 8 straight days. They were in heaven! It is certainly easy to make excuses and say you are saving money or don't have the time, but vacations are important--for both families & couples. Last week reminded us of this. Here's our trip by the numbers:

• 
  
  1650 miles by car


• 
  
  27 hours in the car (I think I drove at least 5 of them!)


• 
  
  13 movies watched


• 
  
  9 bike rides on our rented tandem bikes


• 
  
  114 steps counted at the Harbour Town Lighthouse


• 
  
  5 lbs. of shrimp & fish purchased for our 'at home' fish fry


• 
  
  4 pony rides purchased at the Lawton Stable Animal Farm


• 
  
  1 crab, 1 fish and a mussel caught during Jeremy's attempt at catching crab


• 
  
  Family of 5 hosted us for a quick stop-over in ATL--thanks Brooke!


• 
  
  3 Denny's grand slams eaten while mommy speed-shopped at an Atlanta outlet


• 
  
  1 birthday celebrated with a special date night at Red Fish


• 
  
  3 wishes the girls made when they got home: a baby brother, a pool in the backyard and a pony (This vacation may have gotten way more expensive!)
  

Addy & I in the Atlantic

My little mermaid--she loved the beach

Lilly preferred the water-'surfing' with her daddy!

3 peas in a pod

The girls at the animal farm with Callie, the deer


Pony rides on Romeo--they both told me that they didn't need mommy to walk with them...

Lilly & her pony

4 monkeys ready for movie night

The girls have already asked if Santa will bring them these 'magic' bikes--"I can pedal, then stop and the bike keeps going." (I'm not sure they realized mom & dad were doing the work.)

Put me in Coach!

We made the 1 year commitment for a team sport. We might be crazy and we might regret it by Spring, but we are committed. Jeremy's coaching the team and I have a feeling he'll do some teaching but may learn much more from the experience than the wisdom he imparts. It's been a while since he's been around a sport that doesn't involve gambling spreads, fantasy football rankings and tailgating.

These players are a riot. They may spend more time hydrating off the field than on the field. They may make him crazy because they compliment each other's "outfits". They complain about the velcro on their shin guards and the fact that their cheap mama bought their shoes too big so they'd last the year. Sometimes they run away from the ball or in the wrong direction. They change the drills from sharks and minnows to princesses and princes. They cry.

It's entertainment for the whole family!

Pre-game cuddle on the couch

Addy--totally in her element!
Addy & Daddy

Lilly--told me when I called after the first game that she didn't score a goal, but she'd had fun!

The coach & a few of the crew

Team Cheer

Good game!