My Three

So I'm winding down another great weekend with my kids! The saddest part is that the end of my long weekends brings the start of my short week with them. This really isn't how God planned families to work but I will continue to do the best I can with the hand I've been dealt. Two weekends ago we were supposed to go to Gillette, Wy for their fall blast soccer tournament. Last year during this tournament, my ex-wife and I were newly separated and still sharing my home. We had promised each other that during our time in the house we would not have anyone but family here. My kids and I went to Gillette and their mother stayed home and had a party. Another one of so many broken promises and so many times that she chose something else over the kids. This year the weather was bad enough that Gillette cancelled the tournament. It was a bummer and Ky was really disappointed but we worked out a plan. I had a little money set aside and figured we better do something fun in place of the trip. The kids had been wanting to go to Watiki, the new indoor water park, so that's what we did. Swimming, waterslides, pizza, more swimming, a movie, bed, breakfast, and more swimming. It was a great weekend!

So much has happened since my last post! I got to take C to his first concert! He likes country music best, a fan of many others but country is what he picks when he's running the stereo. As we were shopping one day, Ky and I were picking out some new cd's and he wanted one too. I had heard a couple Rodney Atkins songs on the radio so I suggested we get his cd. We got it home and listened to it all the way through, on there is a song called "watching you." I loved it the first time I heard it and now it's become our song. A couple weeks ago Rodney Atkins was here in concert; I told C about it and he was very excited to go. The only obstacle to overcome was that he was supposed to be with his mother on the night of the show. The subject came up at Ky's orchestra concert and surprisingly she let me take him! Yeah! So we went, watched the rodeo, then were right on the fence for the start of the concert! C danced and sang along with every song but was having trouble seeing as more people crowded in so when I heard our song start, I put him on my shoulders. It created a moment like those in live concert videos where the artist points to people in the crowd that fit the song. He was pointing at us and at one point C pointed back! It was so cool!!

We had a nice time this weekend too! The weather had been a little cool but warmed up nicely so we got to spend some time outside. I have been wanting to get the kids a trampoline but hadn't been able to get it done. That is until a couple weeks ago when another true friend came through for me and mine. I had it in the garage and had been waiting for the right time to get it out and put it together. Saturday was that day! The kids and I were up, the weather was beautiful and we were looking for something to do. A couple hours later and with blisters on my fingers from stretching springs, we were jumping on our new tramp! We spent the rest of the morning playing outside, then went to the movies in the afternoon. We saw The Prestige, it was pretty deep and Boo slept but a great movie just the same. I explained a few parts to C and Ky and they jumped right in to follow the plot.

Halloween also passed since my last post. Great time - costumes, pumpkin carving, trick or treating, all of it. The kids had a great time and we did everything here that families do on Halloween. I also had a Halloween party the weekend they were gone. Grown ups only, good times with good friends. Thanks to all who added to my party, it pleases me to host parties with a good turn out of such great people. I also met another new girl! This happens from time to time and I'm really enjoying our time together. The problem with my dating has been worrying about my ex-wife and how she will handle my moving on. I have taken little steps toward this in the past and I know how hard it's been for her. She likes that I have waited and begged her to come home; what's bigger is she knows that I meant it, regardless of what I would have to accept for her to do so. She still owns a large part of my heart and perhaps will forever. But as time passes and she continues on her downhill path, it becomes more and more clear that no matter what I am willing to do to save her, she evidently enjoys the lower parts of life where she now resides. The kids and I are moving on, albeit slowly. She will always be their mother in the biological sense but they see things as clearly as I do. As they mature, they will hold her accountable for her actions and lack of them; I would hate to be her when that day comes. All of the choices we make will affect the rest of our lives; some of those choices will have a much bigger effect than others. That's a nice quote isn't it, please quote me if the opportunity arises! The pictures above are: C at the concert, my three on the tramp, Rodney Atkins up close, and my three at Watiki. My kids call me Super-Dad!