Happy Birthday Seth

Seven years ago today I became a father. Prior to that day I would have never guessed I would love being a father like I do. But, we were truly blessed by the addition to our family or actually the start of the family.

Seth, I love you and truly love being your father. I can't believe you are 7. It has been a great 7 years.

Happy Birthday!

Brave Diver

The boys are currently taking swimming lessons at an indoor pool. One benefit of taking swim lessons in the winter is it seems most people aren't thinking about swim lessons so we only have one additional boy in their class. So, we are getting private lessons at a group rate.

But that isn't really relevant to this story.

At the end of each lessons the boys take turns jumping into the pool. Last night I watched the boy in front of Chase jump into the pool and since he is a pretty good swimmer he chose to swim away from the instructor. So, when the instructor swam off to get his student I looked down for a moment. While I was looking down, I heard a splash and when I looked up, Chase was no longer standing on the edge and the water was rippling. Also, the instructor was still trying to catch up with his other student.

When I yelled out, "Chase!", the instructor turned to see the dilema and he and I got to the scene of the incident about the same time. I reached in, pulled Chase up and he helped push him on the ledge of the pool. Chase had a big grin on his face and I'm sure I was pale as a ghost.

We still aren't sure why he chose to jump in but one thing is for sure, he's not afraid of the water. :-)

Cowboys' Playoff Victory

The Cowboys' finally won a play off game this weekend. The last time they won a playoff game I was just 30 years old, going through a divorce, had not even met Shelley and the idea of having 2 boys was completely inconceivable.

For a die hard Cowboy fan it has been a long journey. I'm trying to savor it because who knows when the next victory will come.

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2009 will always be remembered for snow. Yes, SNOW! The midwest was hit hit by a winter storm on Christmas Eve and this included Oklahoma and Texas. We had arrived on the 23rd in Oklahoma so we were safely in Oklahoma when the snow rolled in but it was evident that our planned return to Dallas on Christmas Eve night might be in jeopardy. And, in fact it was. We decided to spend another night in Oklahoma which proved to be a wise decision.

The boys Christmas will be remembered as the Christmas they got their Nintendo DSs. They also got a new microphone, piano bench, WII Lego Star Wars, scooters, Toy Story Woody and Toy Story Buz Lightyear and new bedding for their rooms.

It was a special Christmas because it was a white Christmas and we got to spend it with our family.

Christmas Services

We have been attending our church for over 10 years and I have to say my favorite service is always our Christmas service. I don't think we have missed one but I could be wrong. We usually schedule our Christmas travels to make sure we don't leave without attending the service.

Every service ends the same way and that is with everyone lighting a candle and singing Christmas carols. It is an amazing sight to see the sanctuary full of people and lit by only candles.

We just got home from the service this year and I am already excited about next year.

Memories

I am off this week for Christmas so I started a project of turning all the DV8 tapes we have into DVDs. In order to do this you have to play the tape through the camera and burn it to DVD. This has led us to watching some of the very first tapes we made of the boys and has brought back a lot of memories. I will always be thankful for all the video and pictures we have taken because I would have forgotten a lot.

But, two things are apparent. First we sure were a lot younger looking back then and second, our house sure was a lot cleaner. As we moved from one boy to adding a second boy, more gray hairs appeared and more toys were scattered through out. It sure is nice to have a messy house.

Getting a Haircut

I take the boys to a traditional barber shop where 99.9% of their customers are males. When you go there everyone knows each other and it is a bunch of men sitting around talking sports and hunting. It is great fun.

Today I took Chase and as we are driving up I asked him who he wanted to cut his hair. Ms. Johnann is who normally does it and she is Todd's wife. She and Todd are the owners of the shop. Todd is a bit of a haircut artist and you can never go wrong with him cutting your hair plus he is great with kids. But, Shelley really likes the way Johnann cuts Chase's hair and Johnann really likes Chase.

So his response to my question was he wanting Mr. Todd to cut his hair.

Me - Ms. Johnann is available and Mommy really likes how she cuts your hair.
Chase - But will she be funny?

Why Do I Watch Sports?

Why do I watch sports? It just drives me crazy. The Cowboys only frustrate me and after a great season, TCU only gets the Fiesta Bowl. I just need to give it up but I can't. It is my crack..

Dear God

Dear God,
Thank you for all your blessings. You have blessed me with an incredible wife, the two most special boys, good health, a roof over our head and food on our table.

With all these blessings why am I looking for more? I feel you have more planned for me and I am missing it. Lord, please make your plan for me clear and if I'm still not seeing it, please give me confirmation and leave me with no doubt.

If where I am is where you want me then praise to you for that. But, if I am missing it because of fear or an unwillingness please open my mind and heart to your desires.

In Jesus name
Amen

Sleeping Arrangements

I have probably posted about this in the past but the sleeping arrangements in our house are very fluid. Where someone goes to bed doesn't mean that is where they will wake up.

Shelley and I might go to bed together but I will wake up on the couch and she will wake up in one of the boys' rooms. Lately, Chase has been coming in and sleeping with me and Shelley has been moving to the couch. Chase says he likes to "sleep with Daddy."

I like sleeping with Chase as well because he is a cuddler and is the only one who let's me touch him when I sleep. These are memories that I hope I can burn into my brain.

Thanksgiving 2009

This was one of the best Thanksgivings in a long time. First I took the entire week off and it has been very relaxing. We went up to Oklahoma and spent Thanksgiving with Shelley's family where the food is incredible and plentiful. Also, my mother came down and also made the trip to Oklahoma. I think she enjoyed her time there as well. And finally, the Cowboys won!

The Change Continues

One of the greatest and saddest things about raising children is watching them grow and change. It is very cool to watch but I often find myself wondering where my little boys went.

Seth has really changed in the last few weeks. First, he has developed a big interest in history, U.S. war history to be more precise. I've started recording anything I can find on the History channel that relates to the Revolutionary War, Civil War, WWI or WWII.

He has also just started practicing the piano on his own. Without notice he will go in and start playing where before we had to bribe, beg, plead and threaten to get him to practice. And reading has become a new obsession. He is now just getting books and going into his room and starts reading.

What could be next, picking up his toys? No way, that is just crazy talk.

Father Son Retreat

Seth and I had our 2nd Father/Son Retreat this weekend at Allaso Ranch.

This is a weekend we both have been looking forward to and it lived up to our expectations. We had a great time just being together and walking. The only thing missing was the smallest Dowdle but he gets to join us next year.

We bonded and I really enjoyed the time together. I just enjoyed walking through the woods with him and he really enjoyed taking a canoe out onto the lake.

We are ready to go back and next year will be real interesting as Chase will get to experience it for the first time.

Blogging

I am going to make a new effort at blogging again. I'm going to try and keep it simple and avoid worrying if it is interesting.

When they get older

I have been a real slacker on blogging and I'm going to try and improve.

Here is part of a comment Chase made to me.

"daddy when I get older, and if you are still alive..."

I was so moved by this. :-)

I've Got To Go Pee Pee

"I've got to go pee pee." Those are words that seem to come out of no where from Chase's mouth and it often seems to be at the most inconvenient times.

One evening Seth and Chase and I went to the UPS depot to pick up a package that we missed the delivery. We had been in line for 30 minutes and were finally next when I heard "I've got to go pee pee." This statement is also expressed rarely loudly and in a very urgent manner. It is also followed by a quick grab to his lower regions with both hands and a very stressed expression on his face. History tells us that time is of the essence and not to dilly dally. At this particular incident at UPS I quickly looked around and saw no public restroom. I also assessed the line behind us and knew if I got out of line, we were going to have another 30 minute wait. So, I began a high stakes gamble with time. Fortunately, I won the gamble and was able to get out to the parking lot where Chase was able to hose down my tire.

Today, we went to a movie and had made it right to the end. We were coming to the exciting conclusion when the words "I've got to go pee pee" echoed through the theatre. Again, I assessed the situation and knew if we left we couldn't get back in time so another gamble with time was undertook and again I won. I know my luck is about to run out.

Anniversary and Birthday

Facebook and Twitter are taking the majority of my social networking efforts but that is for another post.

This weekend was a busy weekend and will always be. The middle of June will always be occupied by Shelley and mine anniversary and Chase's birthday.

I surprised Shelley and took her away for a night at the Gaylord Texan and dinner. We had a great time and it was nice to get away.

Sunday was Chase's 4th birthday and we had a family party and an afternoon at Bedford Splash.

I can't believe that I have been married 10 years and have a 4 year old.

Chase was extremely excited about this birthday. For some reason, being 4 had a special place in his heart and he wanted to tell everyone about it. He enjoyed all of the attention. Last year his birthday party, while special because it was celebrated on the beach, I think he felt a little shorted because it was just us and Shelley's mom.

I think Shelley and Chase enjoyed their special weekend.

My Kindergartner (or soon to be former Kindergartner)

This past Friday was Seth's Kindergarten year end program.

It started off as each student went on stage and said what they liked about Kindergarten. I watched Seth through the video camera and was just taken by how grown up he looked. He approached the mike and said his favorite part was their play "How Does Your Garden Grow?"

They then all sang as a group, and since Shelley was able to get there early, we sat close enough that I could distinguish his voice from all the other kids. I sat there and listened and could hear the slight lisp that he has since he had just lost his second tooth that morning.

A slide show ran that captured all the pictures from the year. I looked through the crowd and at all the teachers and tears were running down everyone's face.

Our babies weren't babies anymore.

Seth,
I love you and you will always be my baby.

Dad

No More Red Drink Store?

Ever since Seth was about 2, something we have done and was always seen as something special, was going to QuikTrip together. Anytime we did something together, it often included a stop at QuikTrip so that Seth could get their strawberry banana Freezoni. (This is like an Icee.) This tradition has expanded to include Chase but his drink of choice is often either white cherry or blue rasberry.

Seth dubbed his favorite drink as a "red drink" and Chase has since followed suit calling his a "blue drink." Well, this then meant that QT was the "red drink" store, and for the last 4 years it has always been referred to in our house as the "red drink" store.

Well, another sad step in growing up occurred yesterday when Seth announced that he was going to start calling it QuikTrip instead of the "red drink store." This made me sad because it was just another sign that I can't keep them from growing up.

A conversation I overheard

Today we started scraping the wallpaper off of our walls in our bathroom. I was on a ladder with my back to the boys and they started having this conversation.

Chase - I want to go on the ladder.
Seth - When you are a grown man you can do whatever you want.
Chase - Like what?
Seth - You can do things on the ladder and you never have to go to your room.