And so it goes...

Sometimes life is just doo-doo.  That is a polite way of saying  it without a profanity laced tirade.  It seems that one things happens right after another, and when it is one bad thing, it becomes multiple in a row.  That sucks.

When we moved from Wolfforth we rented our house to a family that owned a local business.  Everything seemed okay.  We had renters in our house and they lived near their business and had their kids in a good school district.  Those are the only positives about the whole situation.  It continues to speed downhill from there.

We were given about three days notice when they moved out recently, breaking a twelve month lease about four months into it.  And, they skipped out on January's rent.  We were told the house was, and I quote, "Move-in ready."  That is hardly the case.  We got out first really good look at the house today, which I can only describe as...bad.

I walked in the door and at first glance, everything looked okay.  The wood floors were mopped, although streaked.  The kitchen counters and cabinets were clean, as was the microwave.  Again, everything was downhill from there.  The stove was disgusting.  The carpets are a filthy mess.  We lived in the house for over two years and the carpets were not dirty or stained at all.  That was WITH multiple young children in the house that spill everything.  They were in the house for about four months and there are stains and dirty areas all over.  The walls were...oh my.  There was some blue streak from an unknown liquid down one of the walls in a bedroom.  There were smudges and missing paint in multiple areas.  The walls were littered with small holes where large screws were put into the walls to hang stuff.  It looked like a large dog had gnawed on the back door and tore up the insulation seam.  One of the ceiling fans had a busted light fixture.  Huh?  How?  And, and, and...

So now we are in a dilemma.  I am not a litigious person by nature.  However, I am inclined to change my belief in this situation, given the totality of the circumstances.  They broke a lease.  They damaged our house.  The cost to repair, paint, clean and make the house "move-in ready," combined with what is owed to us, brings the costs to about $2500.  Nice, right?

I know...we should have expected something like this.  Or, yes, we took that risk when we decided to rent our house.  BUT.  That gives them what right to do things this way?  It makes me angry just thinking about the situation we have been placed in.  Had we been given time to prepare for this whole thing, we could have had something worked out.  We could have inspected the house before they left and made arrangements with them to have everything repaired, and truly "move-in ready."

I can safely say this.  Never again will I be in this situation.  Is it any wonder why I don't trust anyone?

Oh, the other thing?  Ashley sprained her wrist the other day and will have her right wrist in a splint for about six weeks.  The hits keep on coming.  All nonsense, of course. 

Dressing daddy

All this time I have been telling "funnys" about my kids, so now I guess I need to tell one on myself.  As the father of three little girls I expected days where I would be expected to take part in a tea party with stuffed animals while wearing a tiara, all while simulating the sipping of tea (with my pinky finger in the proper position of course).  I haven't done that yet, but I know my day is coming.

Yesterday we went to a family function in a town I only heard of, but had never seen.  We had a good time hanging out with my wife's side of the family.  There was plenty of good eats and good company.  All was going well.  Riley was crawling around dressed to the nines wearing her holiday dress, complete with hair band and huge hair bow.  Yes it is true she is basically bald headed, but the bow was attached to the band.  We thought she looked very cute, but she disagreed and repeatedly ripped it from her head.  I laugh along with everyone else who is watching her.  Then I lose my sense of humor about it all.

Thinking how cute daddy would look wearing it, Ashley proceeds to accessorize my wardrobe by strapping the bow to my bald head, as evidenced here:

Clearly, I am not amused.  However, everyone else is laughing beyond control.  Multiple photos were taken, including this one by my loving wife.  I look around and see flashes going off and people laughing.  I had a flashback to high school...ugly scene...another story for another time.

Anyway, even Riley thought it was funny.  Cooper called me a baby while laughing an pointing.  Were it not for my daughters, no way I would have allowed that to happen.  But because I am a father of all girls, certain embarrassing moments will happen.  This is the mildest of the embarrassing moments to come as a result of my daughters, or wife.  So for you fathers who do not have girls, enjoy a laugh at my expense just as many others have done.  For you who have young daughters, enjoy a laugh (but not for too long) and keep this statement in mind:  you are next.  Yes, your day will come.    

Hurricane Cooper and Tropical Storm Riley

Those sound like good names to use during the next storm season.  Nothing can do more damage inside our home than those two forces of nature.  It is almost as though they cannot stand living in a clean house and have some unknown urge to bring destruction.

Ashley cannot stand a dirty house.  I have a similar dislike because I cannot stand a dirty kitchen.  I think all of my children know that and intentionally decide to wreck it.  There have been afternoons where all was quiet.  All was clean.  It did not last. 

Riley was sitting in her high chair eating puffs and drinking a sippy cup full of water.  Cooper was sitting at the table coloring and creating a modern art masterpiece.  They saw me sweep the floor and wipe down the counter tops.  Then, Riley had the urge to throw puffs over the side and Cooper stacked junk on the counter.  They couldn't stand it.  There were puffs all over my freshly swept floor.  Riley started banging on the tray in victory after creating a small mess that I would have to clean up so she could, again, create a larger one.  It is a vicious cycle folks.

It is not just the kitchen either.  The living room is one of the worst rooms in the house.  That is where we spend a large amount of time in the evenings either playing on the floor or watching, you guessed it, Vh1 Classic.  Yes, I am now a junkie when it comes to videos.  Anyway, Ashley and I try to keep everything in check and keep at least a path to walk in around the room.  Actually we keep things picked up pretty well.  Then, the storm systems enter the room and the carnage begins. 

We keep all of Riley's toys in a basket in the corner of the room.  Riley and Cooper know this and have the urge to start emptying the basket because everything is too clean for them.  Shortly thereafter the basket of toys ends up on the floor in a small pile, and then the pile grows and spreads across the floor.  Before you know it, there is a sea of toys floating around the room and there is nowhere to step or walk.  We become trapped on the couch due to the debris across the room.  They laugh and squeal in victory as they have again overtaken our attempts to maintain a tidy home.

I understand that we will be battling all of this for the next two decades.  I hope our sanity, and our home, can take it.  As they get older the disasters will only get worse.  Baby toys will give way to Barbie dolls, which will then give way to their wardrobes.  When she gets older, Hurricane Cooper will move about the house leaving clothing scattered from her bedroom to the bathroom and back a she attempts to get dressed for a date or something.  I'm not looking forward to it.  Her dating, or the messes.

Oh, well.  As parents, we will have to continue sweeping up the messes after our storms (children) continue in their destructive ways.  I love our kids, even though they are slobs.   

They really got me...

"I don't know why they say 'you have a baby.' The baby has you."  

- Gallagher

When I first heard that I didn't quite understand what he meant.  I was a young teenager when I first saw Gallagher on television.  In my twenties I saw him live, and his show was still funny.  I knew logically what he meant by that statement but I did not understand until I became a father.  There are a few different meanings behind the statement, but to me it means that they have got me completely wrapped around their fingers.  I'm in trouble. 

I can still dish out discipline (sometimes) when needed so I am not a complete pushover, but it is safe to say I'm in trouble when they get older.  If they can smile and give me pretty eyes now, and I buckle, when they get older I don't stand a chance.

These three didn't do it on purpose of course, but they wrapped me around their fingers.   Look at those faces.  Hannah was first to do it.  I knew when she was born I was in trouble.  The first time she got in trouble and I swatted her bottom I cried more than she did.  She got in trouble for something relatively unimportant and meaningless, but I swatted her on her bottom one time.  She cried not from pain, but from the shock that I did it.  So, as soon as I saw her bottom lip quivering, I lost it and started crying with her.  So picture me holding my baby and both of us crying.  Looking back it was comical.  I snatched her up and gave her a hug and started to apologize.  Surely, I completely confused her.  I'm sure she was thinking her daddy was insane, or maybe a little bipolar.

Cooper caught me a few years ago.  But I knew I was done when she got in trouble in school a few months ago and I laughed while I was supposed to be disciplining her.  My first blog post was about her getting a yellow on her behavior chart and her trying to change it to a green.  She started laughing and so did I.  I'm a sucker I tell you.

When Riley was born I didn't stand a chance.  Her sisters already ruined me so she already had it easy.  She could crawl outside, climb into the car, put it in gear and crash it and sit there grinning.  After getting over the initial shock of how she pulled it off, I couldn't stay upset.  Confused, yes.  Upset, no.

Yep, it is safe to say my daughters are all going to keep me, and Ashley, on our toes.  I mean, look at those faces!  What do I do when they do something and I have to lay law down but can't because they look at me, pooch out the bottom lip, and apologize?  Holy cow.