From IHOP to Middle Earth


Today was DadurDaughterDay.  We journeyed from IHOP to Middle Earth.  The lesson that I continue to have to relearn is just to sit quietly by and listen.  My daughter is a great teacher for this study.  I’m reminded that during the teenage years a paradigm shift in my job description is required.  I’ve gone from monster slayer, princess attendant (with a part time job of rule enforcer) to a full time job of listener (still part time rule enforcer).  It’s amazing what your teenager will tell you when take the time to keep your mouth shut and just listen.

Breakfast began at IHOP and the conversation flowed over Belgium Waffles and coffee.  With time to kill before Ballet class a quick trip to Walmart was found to be in order.  Not only is it the most interesting place in the world to people watch, but it provides a great opportunity to talk about gadgets in the electronics department.  Then off to Ballet at Prodigy dance.  After an hour of jumps and twirls a sweet tea is in order while I get my hair cut.  Then finally…  the big event:  Golf.  Yes,  my daughter wants to go to the course with me and ride in the cart.  She keeps score, and I shoot balls into the woods.  It was too fun!  After cleaning up we took the whole family to meet some great friends at the Cannon Brew Pub.  My daughter and I sat at the same end of the table and really enjoyed the conversation and hilarity that ensued.  Finally to top off the day,  we watched the first installment of the Lord of The Rings:  Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition.  Sweet!!!!  I love Dadurday!

The Opposites

 

I’ve been blessed with a teenage daughter, who is preparing for high school this summer, and a 6 year old son who’s preparing his plan to figuring out how to build an actual AutoBot (a real transformer).  He told me all he needs is a scientist to show him how to do it.  Dadurday this weekend was spent moving from Ballet to Cars2.  What a great day!  My daughter and spent the morning talking over coffee before the rest of the house was awake.  We ran errands, got the car washed, made a walmart run, and then headed to Ballet class.  She continues to get so big and yet when I see her next to high school kids and I’m still reminded of my little girl.  That won’t last much longer.  It was a great time because she spent most of it talking and I spent most of it listening.

My son has been waiting weeks for Cars2.  To the point of counting down the days this week.  We had a friend come over to play and then off we went.  We got to the theater and were stuck with front row seats.  I think that’s the first time he has seen a movie that close.  By the end of the movie he was almost yelling at the antagonists he was so excited.  The wound down with some Wii and Transformers Prime and then it was off to bed in his tent that we setup in his room.  An indoor camp out.  Looking forward to the next one!