Awkward adn Awesome

Awesome: Being able to write a blog post whenever I want
Awkward: Not knowing how to spell and. 

Awesome: Not being a football fan, OK I don't mind watching an occasional game but I found out who was in the Superbowl yesterday morning at church.
Awkward: Not understanding what all the jokes about a blackout are about.  Still not clue, I think there might have been a power issue at the game but honestly I am not sure.

Awesome: Having Sunday afternoon to catch up on church and family stuff.
Awkward: Calling other people who are football fans trying to get information.  Apparently there is no good time to call during the Superbowl.  Who knew?

Awesome: Having all 5 kids stay awake through early morning church
Awkward: Having all 5 kids take an afternoon nap so they are still up past midnight

Awesome: Having a farm cat that has adopted us and is one super mouser
Awkward: Having it bring its latest catch to our back door so we can see it.
Super Awesome: Kids yelling during dinner  "Dad its true they do throwup cool stuff!  Look at what its doing now."

Awkward: Having assorted bird and mouse parts piling up on our back porch
Awesome: Asking what kid wants to claim the cat (who was named TS Elliott) as their own.
Super Awesome: Watching the said child back pedal as soon as they find out the owner of the cat has to clean up the assorted animal parts.

Awesome: Getting a couple of days off work
Awkward: Having the wife get sick so I got to spend the time driving her all over the courtry side to various doctors who basically said "take 2 asprin and call me in the morning".

How to spend Sunday afternoons

About 8 years ago I started to give my kids a monthly interview.  This takes place the first Sunday of each month.  Over the years it has evolved as the kids have gotten older.  We set goals for school, scouts and personal progress.  I ask them questions of the word of wisdom, feelings of the Savior and keeping the commandments.  That way it would be a common place for them.  So if when they were teenagers and having struggles that teenagers go through they would know that there was a time set aside each month to talk and to be held accountable.  I keep a detail note book of the things we talk about and I have gleaned a few gems to share with you here.  I will not reveal which kid said what or when it was said but I get a real charge out of going back and seeing their progress. 

5 Year old: Dad why do I have to brush my teeth they are going to fall out anyway

13 Year old:  Wanted to be a Vet, visited a Vets office and does not want to be a Vet anymore, apparently animals smell funny.

10 Year old:   Dad: Last month you were on the 2^nd chapter of Moses.  Where are you this month? Child:  Moses Chapter 2, I lost my bookmark and did not know where to read.  Dad:  Did you think to ask me? Or, maybe just start over? Child: No, I knew I was going to talk to you next month and you could tell me.

6 years old:  Child: Are chocolate covered cherries considered fruit?  Dad: No not really.  Why? I tried to make them part of my lunch and Mom said they were candy and not fruit.

7 year old: Could you please talk to Santa, last year he gave my brother way better toys than he gave me and I think it’s my turn to get the good toys.

10 Year old: Child: If my bed is not messed up to I have to make it? Dad: I guess not. Child:  OK thanks.  (Later I found out he was sleeping with a blanker on top of his made bed and stuffing the blanket under his bed.  After that was stopped it became easier to sleep with his little brother so his brother had to make the bed and he did not have to.)

11 years old:  Can we get a cat I heard they throw up cool stuff.

13 years old: At what point of time are we done setting goals and trying to improve this is getting old.

I really look forward to fast Sundays to talk to my kids.  The conversations have moved from struggles with learning to read to “Why does that person not like me?”  My 10 year old Payton gives me a pedicure every month.  This consists of me getting my toes painted a new and wonderful color each month.  Ask me some time I will be happy to show you her handy work she is really quite talented.  

These monthly stewardship interviews were a key part in Regann Earning her Young Women’s Medallion and Mayson his Eagle Scout Rank.  We were able to set short term goals and complete a tremendous amount of work.    

I would love to take credit for coming up with the idea of regular monthly interviews but it was actually my wife read an article by L. Tom Perry who said if he could change one thing from his children’s childhood was to have regular interviews and so we took his advice and are off and running.  If you are looking for a way to connect with your kids I would highly recommend trying interviews.  I love and they enjoy them too.  After a few months you don’t need to remember them anymore the kids will be all over you if you forget.

The more things change the more they stay the same

We are members of the Caldwell Idaho YMCA this is a great place with a huge indoor pool, gym, track and lots of activities.  Tonight they offered a Daddy Daughter Date night.  My daughter Payton and I attended.  We made crowns, had our picture taken, ate dinner, decorated cookies and danced the night away.  This was for dads and their daughters 3-11 years old.  There were probably 150 people there and we had a wonderful time.

This is one of the few times I have been to a public dance since I got married and quit going to young singles adult dances.  I was shocked how as soon as music is turned on and you are supposed to start dancing how many adult men completely shut down.  All of the dads fell into one of these categories:

Sexy and I know it: There was one of these.  He could dance.  He was less concerned about dancing with his daughter as we were performing for everyone else.  In fact I never saw him with his daughter he might have been a party crasher.

I am too scared to dance:  There must have been 30 men standing on the side of the dance floor with their daughters not dancing.  The girls wanted to and they were keeping themselves busy playing with balloons but some of them never actually made it onto the dance floor.

Rhythm, what’s that?  Ok this is where I fall.  I can’t dance; I never have been able to.  I can walk slowing in a circle rocking back and forth to  a slow song with the best of them.  I do have confidence and am completely comfortable looking stupid on the dance floor.  However until tonight I did not realize how bad I did look.  This is all thanks to the dance being held in a room with a floor to ceiling full wall mirror.  So as long as I “danced” with my back to the mirror I was fine.

I can’t dance so let’s do stupid tricks:  I have established I can’t dance, however I do try to blend in with the those that can and those like myself who don’t care and just fake it.  Is there some rule that getting on someone’s shoulders during a slow dance is not appropriate? Or having some sort of contest sliding across the floor on your knees is ok at a dance.  Is it just me or does this seem wrong?

We are here, but really want to be left alone: Ok in a young singles adult dance this is the couple that met last week and got engaged earlier that day so they slow dance to every song off in a corner someplace.  I have a family member that did that several times… with a different fiancé each time.  At a daddy daughter date that would be awkward and a little creepy.  But there were a few people who were giving each other their undivided attention.  One dad was teaching his daughter how to dance, another was taking turns dancing between his two little girls, and it was very sweet.

All in all it was a great night.