"If you are going to continue making these messes, then I'm just going to start taking showers and you're gonna have to clean up all by yourself!" says Audrey.
I have to say that the best par to of this conversation isn't Audrey saying that to Addison but Addison replying with "Yes ma'am." as if Audrey was the other mother that she had.
I remember that when I was growing up and when I would say stuff like that to my brother we would usually get into a fight of some sorts. He was never needy with me because he knew I wouldn't take care of him like Audrey takes care of Addison.
One thing is very obvious though: Audrey tries really hard to be just like her mom. I doubt that she would ever admit that she does it intentionally but she does. I think a lot of it might come naturally. They're both the cute nerd type. Audrey is one of the few girls I know who finds rats to be cute. She tried last week to convince me that we needed either a boa snake or a ferret. I told her that we could get either of those just as soon as we got a bengal tiger first. (that means never)
Audrey can give different science facts off the top of her head, she never really read fairy tales when going to bed, she would read Ripley's Believe It Or Not books. The first book she ever asked me to read to her one night was a book about how Egyptian mummification worked (can't make this stuff up).
I can only think of one person who probably did the same thing as a child and that is Ashley. Personally I grew up hating science. Ashley says I only felt that way because I had bad science teachers. Maybe thats the truth or maybe I just stick with the ol "God made it" mindset just so I won't be corrected by my 11-year old future daughter.
Audrey takes up so much after her mother. The two of them have been through more together than I can imagine. Ashley still says it was having baby Audrey there that really got her through losing her parents the way she did.
There is something that I have discovered about how Audrey, and even Addison to a degree, looks at me. Audrey is 11 and is a developing adolescent. This is usually the time where kids think that their parents are incredibly stupid. If parents can't read the mind of their kids, then the kids automatically assume their parents to be idiots. Somehow, I have scored some sort of exception rule as a future stepfather. I'M COOL!
I honestly don't really know why Audrey thinks I'm cool. I'm really not that cool. I used to even introduce myself to other people as "I'm Casey..... but don't worry I'm not really cool."I say weird things and make people think I'm awkward at times for my own personal amusement. Somehow, someway, Audrey genuinely admires me. Maybe it's because I love her mom so much and show it. Maybe it's because the teenagers hang out with me at church. Maybe it's because she thinks I'm funny. Maybe it's something else I'm unaware. Maybe it's a little bit of all of these. Whatever it is, it's working!
When we are in public she will oftentimes sit in my lap or tell a story of something that we did together.
I can only hope that this will last through when she goes to college. I'm probably jinxing myself simply by writing this. I have to say that I do feel really lucky though. God has blessed me with an amazing job, beautiful family all in a great city. Having my future oldest daughter think I'm cool is like icing on the cake.I doubt she will ever admit that she thinks this, but her actions prove it to be ever so true. And even though she is a total nerd, she is so beautiful inside out and she has taught me how to love someone in a way that I never knew. And for that, I am very grateful.
I am sure that one day, being cool will come to a sad ending (if it hasn't already). Until then, I am choosing to simply ride this wave and keep doing what I'm doing. Apparently it's working!
My Future Family
a big thanks to my amazing sister for taking our engagement pictures!
