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.

Twenty Eleven

The last day of 2010 was sad in that Luvae Anderson, Kelly's grandma passed away.

She was 94 years old, and I can only imagine all that she saw in those 94 years. I am currently reading a book called "How to Live". It is one person's account on the search for wisdom. This person decided the best way to search for wisdom was to interview a series of individuals all over the age of 70.....for wisdom comes with age.

The author should have interviewed Luvae.

The Anderson's lived in Albert Lea. Lionel and Luvae built a home, and a family through trying times that I have only read about in books. Lionel amassed considerable wealth by working for the same company for 40 years, and investing in little companies like IBM when a computer weighed about 4000 lbs and took up 3600 sq ft. Lionel made great decisions...but as they say...behind every great man is a better woman.

The support behind Lionel was a little spitfire named Luvae. If she were to be interviewed for "How To Live", she most likely would have shared little gems like "you can reuse those little brown bags you pack your lunch in...." She would have told the author that lunch is not a meal to be eaten as quickly as possible and consisting of whatever you can heat up fastest in the microwave. Rather, sit down...enjoy each others company, and have a good meal. Then take a nap.

I first met Luvae about 8 years ago. Kelly took me down to Albert Lea to meet her grandparents. When I was introduced, Luvae politely said hello and then turned to Kelly and said "How is Mike doing?" (Mike was Kelly's long time boyfriend from high school). Obviously, I would need to work to earn her respect.

Over the past 8 years I came to know a grandma who cared deeply for her family, who would speak her mind, and was highly independent. After Lionel passed away, we occasionally would visit Luvae, but it was tough to get on her schedule. That is right, this was the only 92 year old I knew who had a busier social schedule then I have had in 35 years.

Luvae was excited to hear when we were pregnant with Katelyn. When we told her a couple of years later that we were pregnant with Ashley she emphatically replied "oh goodness...." as she knew my wife ran a business and did not stay at home....

Luvae eventually accepted that Mike was no longer going to be in the picture, and was a wonderful great grandma to our kids. Every time we got together, it was fun to chat briefly with her to hear about her schedule, and learn about everything going on in Albert Lea. Until a year ago, Luvae could still be found driving around town in the Buick. Spitfire.

So, it was a sad end to 2010, but I can only imagine that Luvae wanted to bring in the new year with Lionel and as my older sister said "I am sure heaven just got a little livelier".

So what will 2011 bring? Obviously we hope health and happiness to all of our friends and family, but one thing we know for sure is that we will be bringing one more precious little princess into the world. We don't yet have a first name for our little girl, but Kelly suggested that Luvae be her middle name.

I can't think of a better tribute, and how lucky the little one will be to have such a strong role model represented in her name.

Because my littlest continuously yelled "Happy New Ear" and tackled me with a hug...and my oldest ends every night by saying "I love you, Happy Dreams"......I love my girls......

I don't have a chance.....

So, one of the things we deal with in the Smith household is daycare. We have it pretty good in that our daycare is two houses down from our house. It makes it easy for drop off and pick up. The only problem arises when our daycare lady, Rhonda, requests a vacation day. Either my bride or I need to take off a day of work to be home with the kids.

Side story here:

I often get asked why I still refer to Kelly as "my bride" even though we have been married for 6 years. It dates back to my days as a used car salesman. I had heard the used car manager, Whitey Herzog, talk about his bride. Not knowing Whitey well, I figured he had just gotten married. I learned a little while later that he had been married for 22 years. After a while, I got to know him and one day asked why he referred to his wife as his bride. He said that she had been his wife for 22 years, but that it all started the day she became his bride. So, Kelly will forever be my wife, the mother of my children, and the love of my life, but it all started the day she became my bride.

Back to Main Story:

I like to think I am a good father, but when it comes to who my kids would rather stay home with....I don't stand a chance. You see, when I stay home it is typically a day filled with some sort of cartoon marathon (i.e. Spongebob or Scooby Doo) microwave corn dogs for lunch, and some Wii or computer games.

When my bride stays home with the kids they get this:

Rolling dough, making cookies, and decorating them. This is how the day started....After of course chocolate chip pancakes, and some Christmas Carol singing.

A Jam packed day with mom that led to this:

So to me, she will always be my bride. To them, she will always be their cool mommy who is good at everything and super fun to be around.

Because they still "pretend" to be excited when I get home from work.....I love my girls......