Before having kids I watched/read excerpts from Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Ted Tripp. The premise that you need to do more than just manage behavior, but get to the heart of what is causing our child’s behavior, made a lot of sense to both Scott and I. And through the years I think we have tried to apply this approach to our parenting. But, there is something very different about reading a book before having kids and reading one with both feet in the trenches.

I think there is something about the age of 3 that makes kids say some of the cutest things. Lately, our 3 year old has been cracking me up and I have to write them down lest I forget… Last week Scott was playing catch with our oldest son.  She of course wanted a turn as well.  Scott said sure and then she said, _**“Dad, can I get closer to you when I throw the ball, since I am a girl?

One of my very first blog posts ever was on my children’s love of kidney beans. It is now 3 years later and my girls have moved on to baked beans. Seriously, the love my daughter has for baked beans can NOT be overstated. Last week I figured it was time to try the kidney beans out on number 4. (let the playgroup mocking begin). What do you mean I shouldn’t eat too many at once?

There is a whole lot of hype round these parts about the Orioles… with a 4-1 record to start the season, some new acquisitions over the off season and a new manager last season, for the first time in a LONG time, things are looking up for the Baltimore Orioles. And I feel the need to 1. explain the weird circus family sports allegiance when it comes to Baltimore and Pittsburgh and 2.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love Chick-Fil-A. So, when I found out that they were opening a new one in Pasadena AND they had a “Raving-Fan” contest on face book in which the winner would win a year of free Chick-Fil-A, I had to enter. The contest: submit a photo of your favorite memory at Chick-Fil-A and explain it in 100 words or less. My favorite memory at Chick-fil-A?

Finally, she was legally aloud to cross the white line and she loved every.single. moment! At the beginning of the half one of the coaches asked if she was ready to stand with her on the side. Her response, “No. I want to play!”  And play, she did… scoring 2 goals! (plus one in the other teams goal) Her smile truly radiated the entire time she was out there.

Last week I mentioned on face book that I love how Scott makes me a pot of coffee every morning. And, I do. Makes me smile each morning when I come to the kitchen and pour myself a cup. And I smile again later that morning as I go back to top it off. Again… and again. Thursday, however, I had to laugh when I went to pour my cup of coffee.

The time had finally come for the tooth to be pulled. While our son was more than ready for it to come out, Dad was secretly uneasy about the venture. “He trusts me” Scott confided to me in the hallway, “What if I hurt him?” Then Scott got another one of his moments of sheer fatherhood brilliance. “I’ll let him do it,” he declared. He tied one end of the dental floss to his light saber and the other to his tooth.

March in Maryland is always fickle. Short sleeves one day and winter coats the next. You always know when the first “jacket less” day arrives, that it is just a tease. And try as you may to simply embrace and enjoy it, the next day when you have to scramble for your winter coat and hat, it is always a bit disappointing. Having lived in Maryland for most of my life, I know this and expect it.

Quick! I gotta get to the bookshelf to have some fun before one of my siblings notices and tries to stop me. I know that book is around here somewhere… I just gotta throw some of these papers out of the way first. Don’t tell Mom it was me, kay? I’m just gonna sit over here and pretend those books were like that when I got here.