Hockey Super Star

Bella woke up wanting to play.  First board games and then some table top air hockey.  She hadn't even made it out of her PJ's before the family room floor was littered with games.

Who won? That depends who you ask. Big brother has a point when he says she plays by "Bella rules."  Then again, big brother has been known to play fast and loose with the rules himself.

So, who won?  I've have to say the family did.  Good times for everyone.

Historic Franklin

Saturday / Family Day.  The family enjoyed a catfish lunch and walking tour of Historic downtown Franklin.   Bella insisted that Grandpa push her while I pushed Grandma.

Bella wanted her picture taken with Uncle Bud, the Catfish.

Why is Bella crouching on the floor with a cup?  There could only be only reason.  She has stolen my ice tea and wants to go unnoticed until she has finished it off.  And the look on her face suggests she is all too happy with  herself.

Elvis

I would say "only in Vegas" but we weren't in Vegas.  We encountered off duty Elvis tribute artist, Tony Diamond in Franklin.  He was all to happy to serenade mom, Elvis style after finding out that she went to high school with the real Elvis.

Likeness

My girls in their matching jocking shorts and pink shirts.  Beauties!

Word Perfect

This is such a fun age for language.  At four, Bella's vocabulary is pretty advanced in terms of number of words she can use correctly. She understands the meaning and can use words in context.  It's just the articulation that gets her and keeps me smiling.

Here are just a few:

Conditioner  - she says "ditioner"
Convention - she says "vention"
Kentucky - she says "tucky"
Huge - she says "ooge"
November and December - are both "cember"
Milk - since her baby days is has been "MO"
Chicken - she says chickie

These last two have made their way into our family vocabulary. I have seriously asked the Cracker Barrel server for "Mo."   Yes, I got the look.

My personal favorite is "ooge"  It's just how she says it.   "Daddy, that spider was really ooge."  Or when asking for candy, "Daddy, I want a really ooge one."

And don't forget the word combinations, like "really super."  Everything is "really super" right now. Like, "Daddy that was really super fun."  "I really super like their ice cream."  "I was really super scared."

This too has found its way into my vocabulary.  I was on the phone with a customer this week and heard myself say "that's a really super good deal..."

I buried my head in my hands.  It's not supposed to be this way, I'm supposed to teach her my language - not the other way around.  I'm in serious trouble if this girl ever goes hip hop on me.

Gang of Two

Cute?  Yes.  Innocent?  NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sometimes you need to put the picture in context.  This isn't "aren't we cute?"  This isn't "Daddy we love you."  This  isn't even a "We didn't do it."

No, this is way worse.

This is the "Daddy, can we please because we are cute, you love us, we love you, you're the best Daddy in the world, if only please, please, please, please, Daddy.  Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy. Please, PLEASE!"

This is that moment you realize you've lost. You're done. You no longer have the upper hand. You're agenda is useless.   The moment you realize one is a kid but two are an Army.

Gang of two - WOW, they don't tell you this before you have kids.

And for the record. Yes, we ordered the ice cream.  As if you had to ask.

B & C Kids

The Bolton and Cain kids enjoyed the morning pool side and then enjoyed lunch inside.  Mom wanted to capture the moment on film but the girls, well, let's just say the girls were acting like their Daddies.

Summer Sleep

Yes, I know.  One day she will yell at me about this picture.  But let's set the ground rules. It's Baby Bella's Blog but Daddy is the blogger.  (and only Daddy knows the password).

Now that that is settled.

This is what passes for PJ's on summer nights.  Not often, but Bella occasionally likes to chill down to a summer slumber without her shirt.  But who can blame her.

I will admit to knowing little about raising girls.  Among the surprises is how hard it to explain why Skyler and I can do things that are inappropriate for her.  Such as standing up in the bathroom and taking our shirts off in public.

I never liked the excuse "cause you're a girl."  I always thought it was a little demeaning, no matter how nicely it was said.  But what else do you say?

For now, no worries.  A hot summer day has come to an end and Bella is shirtless in her summer slumber. 

There She Sits

 

 

Growing up in Berea, Kentucky, there were some thing you could just count on...

Kick ball in Farmer's Field.  That was one.
Kentucky Wildcat basketball championships. That was another.
The Kentucky Derby.  That was yet another.

And every May, you could count on Derby week to bring tons of excitement to the Bluegrass.  One of the highlights of Derby week, for me, was the race down the Ohio River by the old steam boats.

The race was run by two legendary vessels - Kentucky's own Belle of Louisville and the pride of the South, The Delta Queen.

Their rivalry matched that of the horse owners at the Derby. So loved was the steam boat race that it was televised and even called on radio by legendary play-by-play announcer Caywood Ledford (who also called the Derby for CBS Sports.)

I am old enough to know you can't go home again.  But I still get a child like thrill when I see the Belle of Louisville and recall all of the excitement of watching her race down the Ohio.   Like many of us, her years are starting to show.  But we still call her ours and we are proud of what she stands for.

There she sits, in the Port of Louisville.  Our lady, the Belle of Louisville.

Kids Museum

To be a kid in the Louisville kids museum.  Papa and Nana took the kids over to play (well, Papa went to play as well) while convention was in business hours.

Bella found the water area - no real shocker there.  This girl can entertain herself for hours at the sink or in the bath tub.

Live, Learn, Love, Look - all in the kids museum.  Good times.

Touring Louisville

The kids enjoyed playing tourist while in Louisville.  Along with Papa and Nana, they became well acquainted with downtown Louisville - even meeting some new bronze friends. 

Tour Guides

Isabella and Skyler played tour guides to show Papa and Nana the Louisville Slugger museum.  The Lego exhibit was a big hit with the kids - this is an all Lego version of Wrigley Field and a Lego wall display of baseball in action.

Lunch in the Park

Well, you gotta eat somewhere.  The kids enjoyed a little outdoor lunch while touring Louisville with Papa and Nana.  And the parents?  We were "working it" on the convention floor.

That's a Wrap

The picture of exhaustion.  Isabella sums up the family and our state of exhaustion.  It has been a whirlwind four weeks - Disney World, Tennessee Convention and the Kentucky Convention.

Alas, let the summer began. The Cain's are ready for some R&R.

Museums

Mommy and Daddy were headed back to the convention floor for the final day.  Isabella was all set to take in the area museums with Papa and Nana.

President's Dinner

Honored to share the stage with KFDA President, Mary Steele and to share the evening with family.

This was an especially gratifying evening to share with Grandpa and Grandma.  They did this for many years and I was honored to follow in Grandpa's steps by leading the KY Sales organization in 2013.

I can't put into words the joy of being able to share this evening with my kids. You know, in the end, it's all about family.