Rob's family

I moved my family website from a publicly hosted spot to a company server (and put new pictures from Connecticut) http://fitest.inspect.com/coleman It'll be http://www.chicagocolemanfamily.com/">www.chicagocolemanfamily.com(it's not - don't click that link) just as soon as I can convince Tracey that the $50 a year is worth it for a vanity plate... --- Did the camping thing this weekend with Melinda for the first time. Tracey has about as much interest in camping as skydiving. Thus, it'll be a daddy-daughter thing until one or both girls gives up playing with worms (more on that in a bit). Gretchen too decided to sit this one out(she can go when she's potty trained). I met a buddy of mine from High School (Mike) and his 5-year old daughter in Buckhorn State Park in Wisconsin. He drove down from St. Paul. Buckhorn is about 3 hours for each of us. The girls had a great time. None of the things that bothered me bothered them. No sore backs, or compl

We're working HARD at getting Melinda to help prepare dinner without snitching food. Difficult given the examples she has to watch. "Do as I say! Not as I do." She's also fond of that little bit of food, right before dinner. Tonight, after she helped me set the table - "You can do the silverware, Dad." she snuck up on a helpless bag of cherry tomatoes (I kid you not, she'll sit down and eat a pint - by herself). Noting her intent, I informed her that she could ask: Dad : Melinda, if you want a tomato, please say, "Dad, may I have a tomato please." Melinda : Dad, may I get myself a tomato please? Dad : Here, you may have this one. Melinda : I want to pick my OWN tomato. Dad : If you want a tomato, you can have this one. <5 minute discussion about being grateful and saying thank you when you get a little treat, rather than throwing a fit when you don't get things exactly your way. Conversation ends with Melinda not taking the one I o

from Tracey The rain clouds that have been camped out over Chicago lately finally moved away overnight, and it's a glorious day! Poor Rob had to go in to work this afternoon, but I got to play with the girls. Melinda stayed overnight with my parents last night. Earlier in the day she said "I don't want to go by myself", but when they came to pick her up, she was out the door almost without a goodbye to old Mom & Dad. My parents seemed surprised when I called at 9:30 to make sure there had been no problems at bedtime. Apparently Melinda had a grand time. Rob and I took advantage of Gretchen still being at the portable age and went out to eat. Nice little tapas restaurant that Rob has been wanting to try. Definitely not a toddler-friendly menu, but someday we'll get a babysitter and go back with friends. Today, my parents and I took Melinda and Gretchen to a playground. While we were there, along came the first ice cream truck of the season. Finally bein