A note to Caden, Addison, and Collins

As you go out into the world: Be true to yourself, carry your name, help others, make each day your masterpiece, and give thanks to God. I will always love you.

Cadenism 12/23/09 and Sledding

Today, Caden overheard me make a phone call from home regarding a school matter. I introduced myself to the person as "This is Brian Muller, assistant principal at Northern Middle School." Later, I told Caden to call Grandma. When she answered the phone, he said "Hello this is Caden Muller from First Baptist." He pretends that he works there.

Caden started out going with me half-way down the hill and eventually went solo from the top kamikaze style. Way to go Caden!

December Snow

Please Daddy?

AdEliz......thrilled to be in the snow.

He was not coached on this one.....he came up with it on his own. I guess it is a natural kid instict.

I think she will like it better once it stops falling.

School released 3 hours early today. That was a first time experience for me in my 10 years. I was able to leave and be home by around 3:00 to enjoy Caden's excitement about the snow. Addison- not excited. She cried unless I held her....then she was fine. Becky stayed inside and take a break while Caden, Addison, and I went out and played around for a little bit.

Finally Slowing Down

The fall semester is finished, Christmas shopping is done, the Living Christmas Tree is over, it is now time to slow it down and enjoy Christmas with Becky, Caden, and Addison. This will be an exciting Christmas as we spend quality time with family and see friends that we haven't seen in a while.

I haven't been home earlier than 8:00 this week until tonight. I left school at 4:20 after a bus issue (shocker) and spent hours with Caden and Addison while Becky went to work at church. It felt great. Caden asked me if he could have chocolate milk for dinner. I said no. He said that he wished that he was a grown up and I was the little boy and he could have chocolate milk. For some reason, he always tries to get me to give him chocolate milk and not Becky.

Off topic, but I really enjoyed the weekend in Wilmington with Becky. It was really great. We went back to our roots of dating and just being the two of us. We missed the kids and talked about them sometimes because really-- they are a part of us that we just can't ignore. I am so humbled and grateful that God made me a father. I am going to post my personal committments on the next blog. I want to put some thought into it, so it could take me a while.

Back to the Basics

Becky and I did something really awesome tonight. She had a great idea to put the kids to bed and cook dinner for just the two of us. We grilled a NY strip acompanied by mashed potatoes. It was really neat to get back to just us and not having to worry about Addison throwing food to Emma or Caden explaining why he isn't going to eat something. I felt so in love with Becky and we just sat there and talked and ate. It was really that simple. It just feels good to know that we can still be in love and act like ourselves even when the kids are not right under our noses. As great as tonight was, I am even more excited about going to Wilmington with just Becky in a few weeks. Although, we wil greatly miss the children.

Not too busy for Cold Stone

It's been a while since my last entry. This part of the fall tends to be very busy with papers, projects, late nights at the university. Balance seems to be going well lately. I told Becky that I would leave around 5:00 today from work. I was able to follow through just fine there. I came home to chili and we took off to cold Stone to meet friends with several children (10 to be exact). We had a blast though. Only one injury among the 10 kids, and she turned out to be OK thank goodness.

Cadenism 11/1/09, I will Always Love You

OK- hilarious dialogue tonight as I was chatting with Caden. He was eating a cupcake and I grabbed his cute little cupcake smeared cheeks and said "You are my boy Caden". This is where it went from there:

Caden- You aren't my boy though.

Brian- (giving him a silly and mad look) What!?!?!

Caden- You are my daddy!

Brian- I'll always be your daddy Caden.

Caden- Uh huh.

Brian- I will always love you too buddy. Even if you do something bad or make a mistake, I will always love you.

Caden- And when I get in trouble and you have to spank me, I will always love you too daddy.