Great poem that touched our hearts

Below is a poem that we stumbled upon and enjoy.  It has a message every adult should read, because it's a reminder that children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.


When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's alright to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, 'Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.'

(Written by a former child)
--Author Unknown


Please always remember children seem to learn best what they see you doing, not from what you are saying.

What life use to be like

   Remember when life was simple and all you worried about was making your spouse happy or what you were going to watch on TV that night.  A lot as changed in our lives over the last three years and also for many of our friends and family members.  Now most of us have to worry about our children.  We worry about the rash under their neck, when there next bowel movement will be, is there head the perfect shape, and/or if they should be rolling over or walking this month.  Just think, we have not even reached the teenage years!    
   I use to watch "House" or "Lost" every night, now I watch "Little Einsteins" or my favorite; "Chugginton".  Jill and I have "Hangover" and "Superbad" on Blu-ray, but instead we get to watch "Happy Feet" or "Finding Nemo."  Aren't Disney movies the best.  Another thing I now know is every Disney Princess (Jasmine is my favorite).
     Another thing that has changed is the music I use to listen to when I wanted to relax.  Jill and I would listen to George Strait or Jack Johnson but now we get to listen to the Happy feet soundtrack or "Alice the Camel."  Plus, I have to dance with Addy every time we listen to music, which means that I must hold her the entire time and it is me that does the dancing...not her.  And if I put her down she says, "Daddy hold me please" over and over and over with the cutest smile on her face (how can I say no).
     I use to know every stat from my favorite college team and I was able to watch Gator games without any interruptions and as we all know, that changes when you have children (thank goodness for DVR).  Now I have to make sure Addy uses the potty or puts her shoes on the correct feet and make sure she doesn't poke Carly in the eye with the corner of her books.  We all now how nice it was to read a book at the beach or after a long day at work.  I use to read James Patterson or Dean Koontz books, but now I read Dr. Suess books or books about penguins or pretty pink clothes.
     After all my ranting about how much my life as changed I would not change one thing about how everything has turned out.  I am the luckiest dad in the world because everyday I get to dance, wrestle, jump, read, watch, and talk to my daughters.  I get to put puzzles together, play with blocks, play hide-n-seek, tickle my kids, and watch Addy make Carly laugh.  The greatest thing in the world to see is Addy, Carly and Jill smile.  I am very blessed to have two wonderful and beautiful daughters and a special wife who does more for this family than I could ever image.  We have a great family in Florida, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania (and a few others scattered about) that we miss everyday and wish we lived closer.
     -Yesterday is history tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift, that is why its called the present-
~Jeff

Remembering my father

        Today is my father's birthday (he would have been 61).  He was born on April 8, 1950.  He passed away 11 years ago from lung cancer.  There is not a single day that goes by that I don't think about him or remember something he taught me.  He was a wonderful father, caring husband, and terrific friend.  Now that I have two children, a lot of my actions and ways that I respond to situations remind me of my father.        When I am with my two daughters I see myself acting like my dad.  I love to play outside with Addyson and Carly.  We like to jump on the trampoline and kick the soccer ball up and down the driveway.  My brother, dad and I would wrestle in the back yard and shoot hoops in the driveway.  I have also acquired my dad's talent of drawing.  My dad could draw anything from medieval warriors to snoopy.  Last summer Addyson wanted to draw with her chalk on the driveway.  That is where I realized I could draw.  It started with elephants to Elmo and by the end of the summer I could draw a giraffe and most of the sesame street characters.  Now we have moved inside for the winter and we draw with markers on a floor pad.  I can now draw the "Florida Gator," "Cat and the Hat", and other Dr. Suess characters from his books.  I always thought my father had an incredible talent drawing his pictures.
         I was lucky to have a father like mine and hope I am half as good as my father was with Tim and I.  I can't wait to see my daughters grow up.  I just wish my father could have seen Addyson and Carlean and had the chance to meet my amazing wife.  Dad I miss you and love you!

Here are two great pictures of me with Carly and then both of my girls.

Here is a picture of Addy and I drawing together and Carly is doing some crunches while she watches.

"At our house
we play out back.
We play a game
called Ring the Gack."
Dr. Suess







Next two pictures you can see that Addy likes to help me color in the characters.

"From there to here,
from here to there,
funny things
are everywhere."

The cat in the hat














Addyson likes to tell me what to draw.

"Look what we found
in the park
in the dark
We will take him home
We will call him Clark."

"He will live at our house.
He will grow and grow.
Will our mother like this?
We don't know."







Addyson hard at work drawing a picture.

"I like to box.
How I like to box!
So, every day,
I box a Gox."












This is what Addy looks like when we are finished drawing with markers.

Here are a bunch of characters from Dr.Suess's book
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.

    Had to put this beautiful picture of the sweetest little girls in the whole-wide world on the blog.

 





I hope you enjoyed the pictures and remember a great man in my father.  He will always be missed and loved by everyone that knew him. 
~Jeff

The girls

We are just so blessed to have two wonderful little girls.  They are both such sweet and happy kids.  They bring so much joy to our lives.  Carly spends her days watching Addyson and taking everything in, while Addyson loves to entertain Carly and make her smile and laugh.  It works out really well.

Addyson takes her role of big sister very seriously.  She not only feels the need to participate in all of Carly's activities (ex. she often joins in Carly's tummy time with her) and teach her everything she knows, she also feels compelled to help me out when tending to Carly.  She specifically loves to help out during Carly's bath time and she's really taken an interest in feeding her, but that's not going so well =). 

Here is a cute photo of the girls laughing together. 

Here's a video of the girls hanging out together. 

Here is a video of more of Addy's musical talents...

One more quick story...a glimpse of things to come.

Last night I had Carly sitting between my legs and had grabbed a book to read to her.  Well as soon as Addy saw what was going on, she came over and plopped down on my knee and said Addy read too.  However, what that really means is that Addy wants to hold the book and read it.  Well up to this point, Carly would have just found something else to entertain her, but not this time.  I guess Carly had a real interest in this book, because the entire time Addy was reading and flipping pages, Carly tried her hardest to grab the book so that she could look at it.  It was so cute, because Addy looked so confused as to why Carly was trying to take her book.  She finally turned so she was facing Carly, would turn a page and then turn the book and show Carly the pictures and explain what she was seeing (ex. Carly this is a frog, this is a school bus, etc.).  I know I probably should have intervened, but all I could do was laugh, thinking about what life will be like sooner than we think.

Carly...

Here are some more cute pics of our baby girl. 

Some cute Addy stories (and pics)

Last night I was putting Addy to bed, and after we said our prayers, I asked her if she could tell me who some of her friends are.  Usually, she names kids from her playgroup or school, but tonight, without hesitation, she said "Bobby".  I had never heard that name from her before, so I replied curiously, "who's Bobby" and she said "boy".  Well that didn't really clarify anything for me, so I asked her where she knew Bobby from and she said excitedly "the Cabin".  So, there you go Papa, you are officially 'Bobby', right at the top of Addy's list of friends list!!! (For those of you who might not know, Jill's dad...Addy's granddad's name is Bobby.)

This morning, Addy was sulking about something minor (you know how two year olds can be) and Jeff replied to her (jokingly), "Oh Addy, you are such a drama queen".  Her reply...without even thinking twice, "No daddy, not drama queen...little girl".  Jeff and I just laughed and laughed.  We tried it again with the video running and she said it again right on cue.  I'll try and get the video uploaded soon. 

Lastly, at school last week, she must have learned the story of the three little pigs (since that is what she recited all the way home).  Well since then, she has been applying that concept to everything.  She flips through books and at every page she will say, "Once upon a time, there were three little fill in the blank with what ever is on the page".  In other words, Once upon a time, there were three little goats (she also know about the three billy goats gruff) or three little girls, or three little fishes, or three little princesses, and so on...  It's very cute.

Additionally, she has stated taking an interest in her clothing, especially shoes, and I believe we are in for a ride.  Mixed with her love for her "tattoo" as she likes to call it, she has come up with some very creative outfits.  Here are a few pictures...
Here is Addy in her "tattoo" and her snow boots (which she loves). 

 Here Addy had been putting on ALL of her shoes until she got to these, when she apparently felt her outfit was complete...

 Addy loves her princess backpack...

 And her winter hat...

Here is Addy 'petting' Carly's head. 

Carly at 5 months

Here are some pics of our little cutie on her 5 monthday!  She is growing up so fast and is such a sweet and happy little girl. 

 Trying to capture how long she is...

 That irresistible smile!