Daddy Daycare comes to an end...

8/25/13

Today brings the end of an era...it's my last day of Daddy Daycare, and I'm not happy about it at all!!!

When Erica was born almost 5 months ago, I knew I would be home with her for the summer. I was very nervous at the time and wasn't sure how it would go and wasn't sure if I'd be overwhelmed by full days of daddy-duty when Laura went back to work. Now that I'm sitting on the couch with Erica sleeping in my arms one last time for the summer, I'm a pretty sad dad!!!

The first 2 weeks were tough. I won't lie about that!  It took us time to learn how to work with each other while mom left us alone for the day. I don't think I was a bad dad before summer started, but Laura definitely had me beat in terms of all of the cues and signals she could pick up on from Erica!!!  Now, we seem to be very equal to each other, though she still has that mommy instinct that I'll never be able to topple!

My last couple of days with Erica this past week were not enjoyable at all. I caught a quick flu bug that kicked my butt and had me down on the couch for 2 full days while we were on the north shore for Laura's training. Luckily, Laura's parents were up there and were able to help for a day before my parents took over for a day while Laura finished her training in Duluth. Unfortunately for Grandpa Russ, he spent 2 of his vacation days on the north shore in the hospital due to a bout with diverticulitis. Now that I'm on the mend, I need to make sure Erica doesn't catch what I had!!!

I thought it'd be a good way to end Daddy Daycare by sharing some highlights from our first summer together:

- occasional baths during the day due to blow outs 

- dad screaming like a little girl when those blowouts got on his hands!

- walking Lexi and pushing Erica in her stroller around the neighborhood when it wasn't sticky hot out!!!

- Erica joining dad and "the boys" (the old  men neighbors) for a beer occasionally in the afternoons and listening to us talk about boring guy stuff!!!

- meeting up with friends and their young kids for dinner and play dates (thanks, Moes, Swaineys, Ericksons, Garcias, and Levendoskis)

- Taking Erica to school with me a few days to work in my new classroom at the high school. She can proudly say she was the first kid to fall asleep in my class this year!!!

- watching Lexi play fetch with dad during the day and smiling when she gnawed on my arms!!!

- we enjoyed a trip to North Dakota to visit Laura's family and a couple trips to the lake for the weekend

- Erica saw her first ship come into Two Harbors while mommy worked one morning!

- by far the best part of my summer was waking up to a smiling baby every morning in her crib when I awoke to her babbling and screeching!!!

There were countless other things I loved this summer, but I don't have time to list them all. Each week brought new excitement as I watched Erica discover more and more in the world around her!!! 

At the start of the summer, I had 2 goals: I wanted to get Erica on a napping routine, and I wanted to do some reading. I'm happy to say I accomplished both of those goals!!! Considering Erica never napped before the summer started, she now takes 2 each day and has a fairly established daily routine and both Laura and I can tell when she needs a nap!!!  My reading was fun as well. I read 2 books and just started another last week, though I'm not sure how much I'll be able to read once the school year starts next week!!!

And so, with this final update from Daddy Daycare for our first summer, I'll leave you with a laugh...as Laura and I pulled into St. Paul this afternoon returning from the lake, Laura smelled poop!!! We decided to press on and get home instead of a diaper change off the highway. We got home and Laura carried Erica into the house in her carseat with a startling observation..."Dan, her seat is leaking poop!!!"  Erica pooped through her carseat!!! Luckily the base prevented it from leaking on to the seat of the car!!!  It took both of us to extricate her, undress and rinse her before I bathed her and Laura began wiping out her seat. It took both of us to figure out how to take the seat apart and unhook the straps so we could clean it properly!!!  Now, it sits drying on the deck...until it dries, Erica is grounded and staying home!!!

Thanks so much for checking in on our latest update!! I appreciate you reading my Daddy Diary!  Take care. 

Here's a picture of my "little nugget" snoozing in my lap as I wrote this entry!!!

And here's the culprit of the epic poop I described above...before we started cleaning!!!!

Erica visiting grandpa Russ in the hospital in Duluth while Laura worked...before Dad got his dose of stomach problems!!

 

And this last one is Erica watching her first ore boat, the "Edwin H Gott", a "1000 footer" come into Two Harbors one morning

Daddy Daycare; North Shore Edition

8/18/13

This week, Daddy Daycare takes to the road for a special, "North Shore Edition" while Laura trains for her new job in Duluth!  (Yes, there are pictures at the bottom from our last few weeks together!!!)

A few weeks ago, Laura accepted a new position and left her old job, along with the daily 2+ hrs in the car to and from Minnetonka!  Her new job will be doing the same thing, but through a Duluth-based company and she will be working from home!  So, today was our first full day up at my parents' lake home on the North Shore and we're looking forward to the next week up here while Laura gets trained in with her new company. 

To keep us company, Laura's parents are taking a week's vacation and will be up on the shore this week as well.  They will be staying at Superior Shores, where Laura and I got married just over 4 years ago, while we're 9 miles farther up the shore. 

Once we're done with this week, I'll be back to work and back to the grind...ugh!  When Laura went back to work from her maternity leave, I didn't know why she was so moapy and wondered how she was going to miss Erica as much as she was saying she would.  Little did I know what I was in for after a summer home with my Little Nugget and Lexi!  I've been depressed all month long knowing my summer is about to end!  It's been my most favorite summer yet...nothing can compare to how awesome it's been hanging out with Erica and bonding with her on a daily basis.  She is so fun to watch grow.  She gets cuter by the day and each week brings some new development or milestone she reaches. 

It's been a while since my last update, so I'll do my best to provide little glances at some things we've enjoyed over the past few weeks:

- Erica is now reach for everything she can possibly get her hands on!  Anything she does grab, goes right into her mouth!  Needless to say, mommy and daddy are always on our toes now and are cautious about what's in arms reach!!  Whether it's a plate, cell phone, dad's lips or mom's hair...everything is fair game!!!

- She has definitely found her voice over the past month.  It started with some panting (perhaps she's imitating Lexi?!?!) and now has moved into high-pitches squeals/screeches (like some sort of prehistoric flying dinosaur?!?!) and lots of grunting.  Erica and I have seemed to developed our own caveman-type language.  She grunts, and I grunt back and she grunts again and so for several seconds.  Laura is left to wonder what we're saying about her!

- She is constantly smiling!  It's pretty cool to see her always smiling throughout the day.  Our favorite time of day is the morning when Laura or I get her up from her crib...regardless of who it is, we are always greeted with some massive smiles when we peer over the edge of her crib!  I enjoy asking her to show me her smile, and she shows me that adorable smile with her one dimple almost every time on cue!

- She loves watching Lexi!  It doesn't matter if Lexi is playing fetch with us, attacking/chewing on me, or just lying around the house, Erica will just stare at her endlessly!  Of course, now that she is reach for things, she is now trying to pet Lexi if we get her close enough to her...and because she grasps everything her fingers touch, she usually ends up with a fistful of Lexi hair!

- She now tries to feed herself!  She knows when we're getting a bottle ready for her and once I sit down with her, she looks over to the table where the bottle usually sits and she sees it...and then she starts panting and the arms start flailing as she gets so excited for her bottle!  I then move it to within arms reach and she grabs it with both hands and pulls it towards her mouth.  It's funny because she hasn't figure out all the motions of her wrists, so she just pulls the bottle straight at her face and ends up with the bottle smashed against her lips. With a little help from dad, she is able to move it to the right angle and then immediately forces it into her mouth...all the while, her panting never ceases! 

I hope I haven't left anything out, but I know I can't possibly get everything from the past few weeks into this entry!  If you're still reading/following my blog, thanks so much for checking in with us and reading along as Erica continues to grow and develop before our eyes!  And of course, no entry is complete without expressing my appreciation for you reading this entry of my Daddy Diary.  Take care!

Erica watched her first ore boat, the Edgar B Speer, pull into Two Harbors this afternoon. 

Our Growing Girl!

8/7/13

Our little Erica is getting big...so fast!!!

I took her to the doctor for her 4 month check up yesterday.  She is definitely growing!  Laura, my parents and others were putting bets on how big she would be...She tipped the scales 1/2oz shy of 14lbs, and was 26in long!  If she hadn't been spitting up all morning before the doctor, I would've been right with my guess of more than 14lbs!!! 

The doctor said she is in great health and is doing excellent!  She is in the 95% for height, meaning she is taller than 95% of other babies her age.  She is in the 50% for weight.  The doctor said to take that with a grain of salt because the babies they use for those numbers are all formula fed, and since Erica is on breast milk, it's apples and oranges to compare the two.  But, she did say she is a tall girl.  She couldn't say that it means she'll be a tall girl when she gets older, but that's what it's looking like at this point.  Perhaps we have ourselves a basketball or volleyball player on our hands?!?!  Just so long as she keeps growing and outgrows a good hockey size...we can't afford all of that gear nor do we want to become annoying hockey parents!!!

At this check up, Erica also had to get some shots.  There were 6 vaccines combined into 3 shots, plus an oral one.  She was quite the trooper.  I noticed my leg bouncing and twitching before the nurse came in.  Once she was on the table, she squeezed my thumbs (something we've done during shots since her first few the day she was born!).  She screamed a bit, but settled down pretty quickly after they were done.  The rest of the day she was a bit fussy and didn't sleep much.  I'm guessing that was because of her sore legs?!  She made up for it last night...we put her down for bed around 8pm and she slept in this morning until 10:30am!!!  What a good snooze!  I checked on her a few times to make sure she was still breathing after I got up...and I decided to let her sleep and catch up on her missed naps from yesterday.  But, at 10:30...out of jealousy, I woke her up and we started our day with a big bottle, clean diaper and took Lexi for a walk.

Other than that, I don't have much else to report on Erica.  Laura's last day at her current company is in 2 days.  She then has a week off before starting her new job from home!!!  She will essentially be doing the same thing she is doing now, but through a Duluth-based company that has a lot of employees work from home.  She is excited about this new opportunity...and a much short commute to work!!!  She will have training in Duluth in a couple of weeks, so Daddy Daycare will be on the road as Erica and I join her for over a week at The Lake on the North Shore.  Erica and I will be hanging out while Laura commutes to Duluth.  Even though it'll be a 45 minute drive each way, it will still be shorter than her current drive!!!  Grandpa and Grandma C will be in Duluth that week as well for a vacation, so we'll be spending some time with them while Laura works.  I have plans to meet up with an old teacher friend that lives near Duluth for part of a day, and Erica and I plan to head to Grand Marais with her grandparents another day during the week.  Once we're home, it'll be into the grind of school and normalcy again.  Laura's first day from home is also my first day of workshops.  It's also Erica's first full day with our nanny! 

I think I've mentioned it before, but we are sharing a nanny with our friends and their 6 month old girl at our house.  We definitely need the nanny at least for the first year so Laura can get into her groove and make a good impression at her new job, while Erica is still at a pretty high-maintenance stage in life.  With any luck, we may not need a nanny in a year or two?!?!  Regardless, it's a win-win for all parties...especially Lexi!!!

And with that, I'll wrap up this entry.  I hope you enjoy my Daddy Diary and I thank you for continuously checking in on our little angel, Erica!!!  Take care and thanks again!

And with that...

Professional Pictures

8/4/13

We had our first professional pictures with Erica taken a week ago...and now we have a problem...we don't know which one is our favorite!!!

Luckily for us, we purchased a package that gives us the CD with digital copies of all pictures taken...for this photo shoot and a few additional ones over the course of her first year to show her growth!!!  So now, as we look at these great pictures, we have no clue which ones are our favorites!!! Fortunately, we have the digitals so we can print and frame at our leisure, and not have to decide on 3 prints to be produced by the studio for an astronomical fee!

We took Erica last Saturday for her first pictures.  It's an in-home photographer that has been doing this for decades, but recently moved his business from a studio to his home.  His "in-law suite" was converted to a studio in recent years and it worked great!  He had a variety of props/stages inside as well as dozens of locations/sets to be used outside. As we walked around his acres of property on our way to a pond, we couldn't help but think how cute Erica would look in a few of the sets. 

Without spending hours typing this blog, I'll summarize it by saying Erica did an awesome job at the photo shoot, and she looks absolutely adorable in each and every picture the photographer snapped.  The instant we sat her down she struck a pose on her own and it was all smiles and great pictures until the tears started to flow an hour later that told us our time was up!  I've included a few pictures below to give you an idea of the variety of pictures we took last Saturday.  We're excited to go back in a few months and then repeat the process a few more times to capture some cute memories of our little girl as she grows before our eyes!

Enjoy...and, as always, thanks for reading my Daddy Diary!!!  Take care!

It's been a while...

7/14/13

I can't even remember the last time I was on here with an update...but I'm guessing it's been a while, so I figured I should provide some updates for those faithful followers...

Over the past 2 weeks, Daddy Daycare has been in full swing...and I'm happy to announce that Erica is still alive and well!!!  It has mostly been really enjoyable!  There was one day during our first week together where nothing I did was right and she fussed most of the day!  Of course, it had to be the longest day of the week...Laura went from work to her running club before coming home around 7pm...a full 12 hours of Daddy Daycare!!!  I must admit, Daddy Daycare has been awesome!!!  I love every minute of it!  Despite sitting down, and then jumping back up a second later to change a diaper or frantically search for a burp cloth while puke is running down my arms...it's a blast!!!  Erica is full of sounds and noises that keep me wondering what her voice will sound like when she starts making more noises that just squeaks and squeals.  By far, my favorite things during the day are the little naps she takes in my arms!  She'll fall asleep pretty easily with some burping pats on her back, or if I hold her hands together on her tummy, she'll fall asleep while laying in my arms.  It's a total blast and I'm loving it while it lasts!  I feel totally worthless in the sense that I can't get much done during the day on some days, but it's great knowing that it's not time wasted, but time well spent that I'll cherish forever!

The 4th of July was a lot of fun celebrating with my 3 girls.  We didn't make any plans, and decided to stay home rather than travel.  Our friends, Adam and Shana, came over for dinner and brought their 1 month old girl, Ava.  Erica seemed to enjoy her new friend and seemed rather confused and looked around when Ava cried.  It was almost like she was wondering who was crying if it wasn't her!  We had dinner on the deck and they headed out early in the evening after a few hours of hanging out with us.  After they headed out, we got Erica ready for bed, and then headed down with her to our neighbors house where a bunch of our neighbors were gathering for a bonfire and some drinks.  We hung out there for an hour or so before coming home and getting Erica tucked in for the night. 

Since the 4th of July...time has flown by!  In fact, my entire summer has flown by so far, and it's half over already!  June went by in the blink of an eye with all the trips we/I had jammed together once school got out.  But July has settled down a bit for us, yet still continues to speed along.  Erica and I are now pretty much established our daily routine: she gets up each morning around 8-9am, she gets a bottle before we head out on a walk to give Lexi some love and attention, we get home in time for Erica's second bottle and then a nap before dad eats lunch, and then we pretty much alternate the rest of the day with short naps, bottles and a ton of diaper changes.  My routine is much simpler:  I generally catch at least one of the following shows throughout the day...Cops, Everybody Loves Raymond, and re-runs on the History Channel.  When I can, I try to get some reading done, but I must admit that I am way behind schedule in terms of how much I would have liked to have read by now!!!

Here's a quick update on Elvis, our Equinox...It's alive!!!  We had the engine replaced on it, after learning that the timing chain broke and then broke other parts of the engine within as it tore apart.  Our mechanic said we'd need to replace it and that it looked like it wasn't installed correctly at the factory because a few bolts were missing, and another part was completely sheared off.  Fortunately it was completely covered by a GM factory warranty and we didn't have to pay a dime!  Long story short, we were completely ticked off with the mechanic's inability to call us and keep us updated on the process, it was then towed to a Chevy dealership so the warranty work could begin.  Just over 2 weeks after it broke down on the highway in the cities, Laura picked it up after work with the help of our neighbors!  (Have I mentioned that we love our neighbors?!?!)

And lastly, just today, we returned home from a weekend at the lake with my parents.  I went up with them Thursday afternoon with Erica and Lexi, while Laura headed up after work on Friday night.  Erica enjoyed the ride up in the back seat with Lexi and grandma, (there was plenty of room, actually!) until we made it to Moose Lake, and then she got fussy.  After a quick bottle and diaper change in Barnum, we made it to Duluth for a quick growler fill-up at my favorite brewery, Fitger's Brewhouse for my all time favorite beer, Apricot Wheat!!!  Then we made our way to the lake and took Erica out to stretch and be free of her car seat before heading into Two Harbors for pizza and the grocery store.  Friday was a fun day for everyone while we waited for Laura to join us:  Grandma hung out with our girls at the lake while I helped my dad check an item off of his bucket list by hiking up Minnesota's highest point on Eagle Mountain (Northeast of Lutsen by about 20 miles).  It was a beautiful day for a hike...up a hill!!!  7.8 miles later, we were back at the car and driving the 1.5 hrs back to the lake to pick up my mom and Erica for the walleye fish fry in town for dinner.  Laura joined us later that night after her drive up.  The following morning, Laura, my dad and I headed to the gun range for some plinking.  Apparently, I won again...but didn't realize we were keeping track of the score.  I've always been a good shot, and I'm happy to say that it's one of my few hobbies, and it's 1 thing that I'm pretty good at in life!  I was able to hit a silhouette target at 100 yards, open sights, with 3 different handguns, and was able to hit the same target with my rifle at 400 yards...again, open sights!!!  I wasn't aiming for the bull's-eye' by any means, but this steel plate target made a very audible "ping" when it was hit, and I was happy just to hit the things at that distance!!!  Over the past year or so, I've discovered that I absolutely love shooting with my lovely wife and my dad.  We've gone together several times, and it's great to share this hobby with people I love, and to see both of them steadily improving and becoming a lot more accurate...though I must now be a little concerned for my safety if I ever get Laura really angry at me!!!  After our time at the range, the 4 of us took Erica to the parade in downtown Two Harbors and walked through the art tents during their yearly festival called "Heritage Days."  After a short stay in town, we headed back to the lake and hung out for the afternoon before I cooked authentic, steak tacos for dinner.  We finished the night hanging out at the lake.  Laura and I planned to head to the nearby resort to do some swimming once Erica went down for the night at 8, but some fussing and big fits kept her awake until after 9:30, so we didn't make it!  My parents treated us to a breakfast date for just Laura and I this morning while they watched the girls.   It was great having a meal out with Laura before packing up and heading home.  And now, Laura and Erica sit in the chair next to me...keeping each other entertained with smiles, noises and lots of puke and cleaning!!!

Well, that's all I have for now.  I'll add pictures to this post soon, so check back in the next few days for some pictures of the events described above.  Thanks again for reading my Daddy Diary!  I hope you enjoy it and I hope you continue to check in with us on occasion!  Take care!

Shooting at the range...notice the dumb deer just left of center!!!

Count the white targets on the far left side...each is 100 yards apart, starting with 100 yards as the first one...you get an idea for how hard they are to see at the distances I described above...

The top of Eagle Mountain

Erica and her friend, Ava Garcia

Laura and her long time friend, Shana, Ava's mom

Ava's dad, Adam and Erica and I...look at our hats...I don't know how we're good friends?!?!

 

My favorite girls

 

Nap time with my girls

A typical day at Daddy Daycare!!!

Apparently, Erica doesn't approve of this picture?!?!

Our patriotic girl!

Daddy Daycare, Day 1

6/28/13

I have big shoes to fill today...Laura's back to work and I'm home alone with my 2 girls for the first time!!!

Wednesday was Laura's first day back to work, but I worked for my dad that day and yesterday as well.  My Aunt Kari watched Erica for the day on Wednesday and loved it!  My mom watched her for part of the day yesterday while I finished the job.

Wednesday was a big day for us...not only did Laura go back to work, but our Chevy Equinox, "Elvis" broke down on the side of the road.  My dad was heading back to the office after dropping off his truck and trailer for me at the job site, and Elvis died on him at the end of the entrance ramp onto 35E.  Not that there is a perfect spot for a breakdown, but this was far from it!  After getting the run-around from AAA on the phone, having to add me to the account and ensuring I would be with the vehicle when it was towed, the wrecker was sent our way.  I wrapped up at the job site for the day and pulled in behind my dad.  He took the truck to the shop and I sat for 5 minutes with Elvis while waiting for the tow truck to show up.  It hooked up Elvis and brought us to our auto shop next to my parents' office.  It still sits there today...after having determined it's likely the timing chain that went out on it.  Luckily, this expensive and timely fix  is covered under our extended warranty we purchased with Elvis last fall.  Now, I just hope that's what the problem is just so it will be covered under the warranty.  Regardless, we'll be without Elvis this weekend.  Fortunately, my parents will be dropping off my dad's truck for us to have for the weekend while they are at the lake for the upcoming week on vacation.

So...all of that gets me back to today...my first day as a mom!!!  I woke up around 7:30 while Erica still slept.  I gave Lexi her morning scratches as she lay by her front window.  I started the pot of coffee and was brushing my teeth when my little nugget began crying and letting me know she was awake!  Since then, she's had 2 bottles, 2 wet diapers, endless amounts of drool, lots of smiles...and now...silence!!!  She's taking her first nap in front of me in her bouncer in the sun room!  My goal for the summer is to get her on a napping routine...and get some reading done for myself.  She doesn't seem to like napping in her crib, but loves her bouncer...so I'll take it!

Now, I await my parents' delivery of the truck.  I need to run the warranty papers to the auto shop so they can start the work.  And then, it's off to the laundry mat!  After spending 5 nights in my sleeping bag, that thing needs a good cleaning so it's ready for the hunting season in a few months.  I hope Erica enjoys the endless boredom the laundry mat always offers!  With any luck, we can get a machine right away and let it wash while we run the paperwork to the auto shop.  Until then, I'll enjoy the silence and get some things done around here...currently, Erica's clothes are in the dryer and I'm waiting to fold them up.  I have 2 burp clothes left, so time is of the essence!!!

We have a pretty laid-back weekend planned at the Lemke House.  South St. Paul's "Kaposia Days" kicks off tonight with the parade.  It's a huge festivity around here.  People bring their lawn chairs and put them on the parade route all day to stake out their spot...remarkably, no one steals nor moves the chairs throughout the day during this annual tradition!!!  So we'll take Erica for an evening hike to catch part of the parade tonight.  Perhaps we'll go to the dog adoption at town center on Sunday just to relive our memory of rescuing Lexi last year on this same weekend...on a whim.  It's amazing to think about all of the joy she has brought us over the past year.  It was Lexi who first showed me how receptive I would be to having a daddy's girl when we found out Laura was pregnant just a few weeks after we added Lexi to our family!!!

Thanks so much for reading my Daddy Diary!  I'll try to have more pictures in future entries, but I hope you appreciate the briefness of this update!  Take care...and wish me luck as Daddy Daycare continues!!!

Missing my girls!!!

6/20/13

I'm currently chaperoning a community service/campus visit tour through Wisconsin and ending in Chicago...and one thing is very clear to me...I am totally missing my 3 girls!!!  (With some pictures at the end...let's face it...my writing isn't the draw for people to read my blog anymore now that Erica has arrived!!!)

I left yesterday afternoon (Wednesday) and will get home Sunday night...today is Thursday and I can't wait to see my girls again!!!  

This opportunity arose in early May. It was a very tough decision for both Laura and I to go on this trip because her maternity leave is over a couple of days after I return and we wanted some time together at home before she heads back.    We decided to go for it because I'm not doing summer school this summer and the check they offered me was pretty enticing!!  And extra, unexpected money is always in the budget!!!  

Laura and my girls dropped me off yesterday afternoon...and there were a few tears from both of us.  This was my second trip away from my girls, but the first was turkey hunting and Laura took Erica to ND so it wasn't too bad. But this time was different. Lexi was walking around in the parking lot with us while we waited and I was holding Erica outside of the car as mom and I had a few last words with each other. Erica was totally herself when I put her back in her carseat...smiley and then puked all over herself!!!  Lexi gave me her standard hug and got a final scratching behind the ears. And Laura and I had our last hug and kiss for a few days. I must say, leaving home for a weekend was much easier before our little Erica Jean came into our lives!!!  Laura and I were never really too emotional for our good byes, especially considering all of the hunting I am known to partake in during the fall. Sure, we said goodbye and said we'd miss each other...but nothing like this!!!

Laura told me the day before I left that she doesn't want to be a single mommy. And I don't blame her!!!  I don't want her to be a single mommy this weekend either!!!  Luckily, Grandma C came into town today to hang out with the girls for a few days. 

And so, Laura has been a great mommy while I've been away. She has sent sweet pictures of my girls, and she even left a sweet note from each of my girls for me to find throughout my travels!!!  Needless to say, it's been a long day away from my girls and I can't wait to get home on Sunday night to see them!!!  I've really missed Erica's smile and cueing, Lexi's bawling on my hands, and of course, I've missed Laura's company!!!

Until then, I'll be anxiously awaiting more sweet texts, and fun pictures from my amazing wife and Erica's awesome mom to keep from getting too homesick for my girls!!

Well, back to my work as a chaperone. Over the past 2 hours while typing this on my phone...I've tried my best to write this  between showers...there has been 1 shower/bathroom for 29 students at the church we are staying in tonight...and I've been the guy with the stopwatch outside the door to keep the high schoolers moving!!!  Now, at 11:45pm, I wrap this up from my sleeping bag in the middle of a gym floor...with mostly clean kids scattered about!!!

Thanks for reading this entry into my Daddy Diary. Take care and good night!!!

My favorite picture Laura has sent so far!!!

Daddy's girls!!

The group of kids I'm traveling with. Here we had just finished lunch at a men's shelter in Eau Claire, WI. Earlier in the morning we helped at a bargain center helping separate and organize donated items at the receiving center/store in the same town.