Look out Disney

So, we are leaving for Disney in "one more sleep" and this is how my youngest is preparing:

No explanation necessary, cause I love my girls.

Shakopee holds many secrets

Fantasy Football is something I am fond of. For those of you counting, I have three daughters, and a wife....none of which whom like football. I thought I might have had Ashley on the hook, but she keeps telling me she is my Sunday Night Football girl, and then when Sunday comes, and I tell her to get ready for football, she says she is my Monday night football girl. I have yet to catch up to the night. That being said, my Sundays are typically filled with getting the kids out of their pajamas and trying to help with breakfast, because at 11:30 I tune into football....for pretty much the rest of the day. But, as you may know, Katelyn recently celebrated her 8th birthday. Typically, all of the girls get a 'mommy and me" day to celebrate with just mom. This year, because Katelyn is pretty much the nicest human being on earth, she said that she wanted to take all of her sisters to the corn maze because it was so much fun last year. So her mommy and me day was Katelyn and family day.

This is us at the corn maze in Shakopee.  No, we have no idea why Ashley is posing for her Hollywood glamour shot.

Shakopee holds this little secret that isn't so little.  It is this huge corn maze, with different things to jump on, ride on, climb on, etc...that I can see why Katelyn had so much fun last year.

The only problem was....we went on Sunday....and arrived at 12:03....to late for me to set my fantasy lineups.  I lost in both leagues.  Simply because I did not check before we left for the corn maze.

I most likely would not have won either league I play in....but it did not help to lose only because I did not check my fantasy football.

That being said......I would trade all of my fantasy leagues every year to see again the smiles of my little girls climbing around in a corn maze or a corn pit.

Because the oldest is nice enough to share her day with her sisters, I love my girls.

She never knows

I have been away from posting for a while, and I would love to blame it on life and being too busy and what not, but I have two sisters who manage to keep the world updated....so I thought I better try.

My kids are amazing, more amazing then yours,  (although I am sure I am biased)...but my wife is more amazing than all and I have never explained why.

So, why.....

1)  Kelly has an ability to put her kids first, no matter how the day has gone.
2)  She runs a million dollar company, that she would throw away if any of her daughters said they did not get enough attention.
3)  This company she started with an intern now has clients like Cargill, Land O Lakes and Ecolab
4)  She has never missed an event for her girls...whether it is reading to the first grade class or going on a field trip to the zoo
5)  She sends me a "week in review" to help me know who needs to be where and when
6)  She lays out all of the kids clothes each morning......including mine.

I could go on and on with what she contributes...but what I want to share with all of my readers is this.

Monetarily, we have been successful....but the sole reason my kids will succeed is because they have a MOM.  I do not know how she does it.  I am consistently amazed that she runs our household as she does.

Sadly, as with many moms, she does not hear "good job" enough.  She NEVER KNOWS how much she is needed.  But tonight, she is in Chicago...traveling for business.....and my girls could not have cared becuasethey got to say goodnight to her, they got to see her thanks to Face Time and they know that before she left...she laid out all of their clothes and told dad what their snacks should be.

So, I share with you this not because I think you should reach out to Kelly and say "good job" but because all of my posts only talk about my kids.

I am hopeful that in the future when they read this, they will read about an amazing gal who helped raise them.

Kelly, your achievements will never be documented enough, but please know that you are an amazing individual.

Because every time I ask them if they love me, they ask me where mom is....I love ALL my girls...

We made it 5 innings

My company was kind enough to share our Twins tickets with us so I got to take my girls.  We made it 5 innings, which was four more than I thought we would.  Just as an FYI - they had me buy these hot dogs, for $5 a piece, and then as soon as I took the picture, they both gave me their hot dogs.

Thanks Mosaic for the tickets, Thanks Katelyn and Ashley for doing a boy thing :)

Because they cheered as loud as anyone when a home run was hit (I think because there were fireworks)  I love my girls.



My Little Pianist

This weekend was a great weekend all in all.  I got to go to what is known as Shakopalooza III.  This is a friend of mine who lives in Shakopee and each year he invites about 30 friends to head to Canterbury to watch the Kentucky Derby, then back to his house for a poker tournament.

Poker, horses, blackjack, friends.  I am looking forward to Shakapalooza IV already.  Thanks dear for taking care of the home front while I was running around playing.  Although I didn't win on the Derby, Kelly and the girls watched closely as they each had me bet for them.  Katelyn bet on Goldencents, Addie bet on Charming Kitten, and Ashley was cheering for Uncle Charlie.....we don't know why...there was no horse running named Uncle Charlie.

Then on Sunday, we had my nieces confirmation.  Congrats Maddie - thanks for letting us come celebrate.  Then we had a little time before the first piano recital in the Smith house.  Ashley has been taking piano lessons for about 8 weeks, and last night was her end of the year recital. 

After hearing a preview at Aunt Kerry's house, Kelly and I were a little nervous as to whether or not Ashley would deliver.  Apparently though, if you put a new dress and some sparkly shoes on your 5 year old...she can tickle the ivories with the best of them.

Ashley kicked out Rockin Pony Ride and was the cutest little girl there.  She loved dressing up like a princess and had no fear performing in front of a pretty big group.

This one on the other hand..... well it might be a little while before she cares to "get all cleaned up and in nice clothes"

Because one is the cutest little girl in the world even when covered with chocolate, because one is the cutest little girl in the world at a piano recital, and because when I asked the oldest one if she will always be my little girl she responded "Daddy, I have no control over life's mysteries"....I love my girls....

Why I hate "pursuing my MBA"

As many of you know, I have made a living reviewing resumes and finding people jobs.  Everyone knows that the coolest people in the world have their name at the top of their resume followed by some sort of initials that represent a certification or accomplishment.  Bob Thompson, CPA or Mike Williams, PHD etc...

Being that I am not sure what I understand less, accounting or the medical profession, my best option was to get my Master's degree.  As I decided to wait until I was 37 to start this adventure, I think I will be about 45 years old before I can write Daniel Smith III, MBA.  (I compensate for no initials currently by putting "the third")

So, the first class I decided to take is The Practice of Statistics for Business and Economics.  For those of you not pursuing your MBA, let me translate that for you.  The Practice of Statistics for Business and Economics basically should be called "Everything you learned and already forgot because you never use it in HR"

It is a little intriguing, I have learned to use Excel and something called MiniTab (an actual software program not a "small tab").  I have been able to do regression testing, hypothesis testing, graph like a maniac, etc..etc..

So, why do I hate pursuing my MBA.  Because tonight, while I am in class for the next three hours trying to determine the difference between a confidence interval and a prediction interval, my gals are doing this:

Becuase they could care less if I have any initials after my name, I love my girls.

Apparently, we have a son too......

Mom - I just want to make sure you know I am NOT referring to a fourth child.  You see, this weekend was our cat Spencer's birthday.  This is what my wife came home with:

 I was mad we spent money on a cake for a cat.  Then the kids started giggling and singing happy birthday to the cat so I was a little happier.

Then Kelly told me that the cat would be doing this:

You say what, eating his cake.  NO.  He is eating a piece of the salmon that my wife made him for dinner.  I was mad again that the cat got salmon for his birthday...until Katelyn gave Spencer her card:

I was happy that Katelyn's card was so cute.  I was mad when I realized cats can live to be twenty.

Because they accept Spencer in their family, but I still catch Addie pulling on his tail often, I love my girls.



My loving wife and Mother-in-law took the older two girls to Disney-on-Ice (or whatever the heck it is called) and when Kelly asked if her daughters could take a picture for dad, this photo was Ashley's response.  Reminiscent of "What you talkin about Willis?"

As many of you know, I have three girls.  The first two of these are very different.  Katelyn is the most loving, kind, considerate girl you ever met.  Ashley is the  most loving, kind, considerate girl in the world who will also punch you in the face if you say anything mean to her older sister.  We joke that we are saving for college for Katelyn and bail for Ashley.  The jury is still out on Addison, but she is leaning toward Ashley's way of life....

Every night, when we put our kids to sleep, we read a story, talk about our day, and discuss whatever is on our minds.  Sometimes we skip the story, sometimes we talk longer, but the key is we spend time with each of our kids as we say goodnight. 

As I was putting Katelyn to bed last night, she told me the following story:

Katelyn:  "Daddy, when you and mommy did not know each other, I was just a little spec in heaven. When you and mommy fell in love, I was sent to mommy's tummy from heaven.  They pick the good daughters to be with the good mommys, so I got sent to mommy.  You do know that the mark on my nose is the mark left when the angel kissed me goodbye."

I swear to everything holy that I am not making this up.  Katelyn has a birthmark on her nose that is a little bump of skin.  We told her it made her special, and when kids asked about it at school she could tell them it was a birthmark.  We NEVER told her it was where the Angel kissed her goodbye.

I am not sure what Ashley's version of this story would have been, but most likely it would have involved her punching whoever asked her about the mark on her nose.

Because one was kissed by an angel, but all of them are my angels, I love my girls.

Why the two year break?



Where have we been for Two Years?????


So, I have received countless e-mails from my fans asking why I have not been blogging.  When I say "countless" you should know I was asked by my mom and my wife.  The reason I have not been blogging is a little angel named Addison.

Addison Danielle Smith was born two years ago on this date.  For those of you keeping score, you got it...three girls.  Everyone has asked "don't you wish you had a boy"... and the reality is no.  I don't wish that.  I am not sure what I would do with a boy.  Most likely, he would pee on me often and I would try to enroll him in gymnastics at least three times.

So, today Addison celebrated her second birthday.  She dressed up as Minnie Mouse, and had the time of her life at the Mall Of America.  Thanks to everyone who came out last night to celebrate and thank you for all the gifts.

I am back now, and will be posting more regularly.  I just wanted everyone to know what was keeping me away :)

Because I have watched a five and seven year old be the best friend possible to their baby sister, I love my girls.