Hi there!

As this blog continues to develop, I’d like to start a thread with a common theme called, Moose Tales. These will be just quick stories and snippets of situations that Carter puts us in on a daily basis. I call it Moose Tales, because I’ve been trying to anoint Carter with the nickname “Moose” since before he was born, really just because it’s an awesome nickname! Anyways, here’s the first Moose Tales. Toothpaste.

For many months now, I think because it feels good on his inflamed gums from his teeth coming in, Carter has loved to carry around our toothpaste and chew on the lid. On Tuesday night, as Beth and I get ready for bed, Beth reaches for the toothpaste in our normal drawer, and wouldn’t ya know, it’s missing! We quickly figure out that two little feet must have carried it off, and proceed to spend the next 15 minutes looking for the toothpaste! To quote one of our favorite books, “Love Monster”, “we looked high. We looked low. We looked middle-ish.” We seemed to look everywhere on each level of the house! Under beds, dresser drawers, toy boxes. And wouldn’t you know, it was perfectly placed between a stack of Beth jeans in the back of our closet! Makes perfect sense to me! Only took 15 minutes to see the beauty of that little mind of his.

Bottom line, keep an eye on your toothpaste! It might walk off some day. 😂🤣

I’m sure this is the question many of our new neighbors were asking each other last week. We moved to our new home just a few short months ago, and within a 24 hour period every beating heart in our house gave the new neighbors reason to question our sanity.

It all started Wednesday evening when Beth and I began to tackle our Japanese Beetle infestation that has been eating our garden entirely. We are using these awesome new traps that are working so well, that they are attracting every beetle with a 3 mile radius. Which is great! Except that our plastic bag trap had gotten to full for us to close as directed, so I got the great idea to put the entire trap into a plastic grocery bag, tie it off three more times than normal, just to be safe, and put it in the trash can. I even closed the trash can lid for good measure. Rub those hands together and get ready for dinner, because that was a job well done.

As we get going Thursday morning, we go about our standard pre-work/school morning routine. Beth leaves about 10 minutes before Carter and I do, which allows for a lot of great play time outside in the summer months. Usually bubble mowing, sweeping the sand, or pulling the wagon which is what Little Man decided to do on Thursday. Fantastic! I love the wagon, and the fact that he likes to pull it all by himself! He’s getting so big and I’m so proud! Before we leave, I check on the beetles and see no movement! They must be dead and mission accomplished! Let me open up this garbage lid and get on with my day. We head down the sidewalk, Carter in the lead, me right behind, and Karlee (our chocolate lab pup) meandering, off leash, through neighbors yards. As we get a couple of drives down, out BOLTS a new neighbor with her little Yorkshire Terrier. And I say bolt, because it seems like she came out of the house sprinting like Usain Bolt in the Olympics, but looking back I’m fairly certain she was at normal speed. Anyways, as they come bolting out, Karlee, can’t wait to get her paws on them. She charges, causing the neighbor lady to do some what of a standing curl up to protect herself while the dogs nip and bark at each other. As I see this unfolding I have to think quick on my feet to remedy the situation. I quickly developed steps to complete to succeed in my mission.

Step 1 (in thought) – Get Carter and wagon turned around heading back towards our house so he stays out of the way of dog/neighbor lady and doesn’t get hit by cars in the street.

Step 1 (in action) – pick up wagon and turn around. Great. Pick Carter up and turn around. Hang on, he’s not ready to turn around…come on bud we gotta turn around, uh oh, he’s screaming bloody murder because he doesn’t want to turn around. (Again 645in the morning!). Wait, he’s laying on the sidewalk, flailing and screaming. Alright, I have to move to step two, I’ll be back for you Little Man.

Step 2 (in thought) – get the dog by the collar, pull away and get her headed back towards our house.

Step 2 (in action) – grab the dog, pulled her away, say sorry to neighbor lady, and get Karlee headed the right direction. Success!

Now back to Carter. Pick him up and hold him in my left arm, still crying, and begin walking back towards the house while pulling the wagon in my right hand. We are on our way to success! Wait where’s Karlee? (Call for Karlee) Turn around and she is shi***g in neighbor lady’s yard!

Everybody back in the house and we won’t be going back outside for the next 3 years! After cleaning up the Karlee mess, I think “What a morning! How can the day get any more eventful?”

Which leads me back to my beautiful bride, and our beetle friends. At the end of the work day, Beth picks up Carter and gets home about an hour before I do. So while at work I receive a text “babe! They escaped the garbage!” As Beth pulled into the garage she sees hundreds of Japanese Beetles (that were supposed to be dead) swarming the garage! I asked if she closed the trash can lid? She hadn’t yet as she had been sitting in the car with Carter for a few minutes trying to figure out what her plan of attack was.

A few minutes goes by and I get the confirmation text from Beth, “I did it”. She had closed the lid on the trash can and drug it out into the driveway. I congratulate her on a job well done! To which she replies that one had flown down her shirt! As I’m crying laughing reading her message, I ask if she did her “skeeter dance” which is the dance we taught Carter to keep the misquitos away, to which she replied…”Nope. I lifted up my shirt so dang fast, hopefully the neighbors missed it.”

That’s us! Crying, laughing, poop and boobies, all wrapped up into one 24 hour period. You’re welcome neighbors.

#HiWe’reTheCresses #ThereGoesTheNeighborhood

-Brian

My hope is to use My Compass as a catch-all for random thoughts on core values, beliefs and life in general. I’ll attempt to break them out by category and will continue to build on this.

Family

• We are stronger as a unit than as individuals. I once heard this analogy: hold your pointer finger out, as if you were pointing at something. See how this individual finger, under pressure, can bend, move and fold? Now, put all 5 fingers (to represent dad, mom, 2 kiddos, and a sweet pup) together in a fist. Now see how strong and solid these are together? They can’t bend or move and are strong enough to power through anything.
• Life is built on experiences. Have the courage to try new things. You will remember the experiences you shared, not the things you had.
• Technology is a great resource, but it’s not a lifestyle. Put down technology and take time to build in-person relationships, or go exploring, take in the amazing world around you.

Leadership

• Lead by example
• Rule with compassion and understanding, not with anger and fear

Values

• Live life the RIGHT way

Respect

Integrity

Genuine Caring

Hard work

Thankful

• Empathy is one of the greatest tools you can use
• Believe in something. Find something that you passionately believe in. And always remember that just because you believe in it, doesn’t mean others have to do the same. Take time to understand other beliefs as well.
• Allow yourself to be amazed.
• Always learn.
• Be able to play every role on a team. Know when to lead and when to follow.
• Mental strength is the most important strength to have.
• Achieve greatness. Strive to be the best at whatever it is you decide to do. Work hard to reach all of your goals, and as you sit on top of those mountains, remember you didn’t get there alone. There will always be folks along the way that help you achieve your dreams, so take time to realize how you got there.
• Learn how to celebrate other people’s successes and how to be genuinely happy for them.
• Take a few minutes every day to reflect.

Be bold every day. Have the courage to be bold.

Believe in yourself. Don’t ever let anyone tell you, you can’t reach your goal. Anything is possible.

Dream. And dream big. There is not one single dream that you have, that you cannot reach.

You can be absolutely anything you want to be. If you can dream it, you can be it. It will take hard work, practice, endurance and perseverance, but it will be so worth it. I can’t stress this enough, you can be ANYTHING you want to be. There is no hurdle to big. Plan it, pursue it with passion, succeed.

Championships are won and lost, but legends live forever.

Be somebody that makes everybody feel like a somebody.

“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” -John Wooden

Hi there!

Welcome to my blog, A Dad’s Compass. Writing has always been an outlet for me and as my young family continues to grow, I wanted somewhere to gather and share thoughts and experiences from my life as a husband and dad. Through the blog I’ll share my experiences, lessons learned, stories both fun and challenging, thoughts on growth, and values that I hope to lead my family with. The blog is in no way intended to say this way is the right way to lead as a husband and dad, rather just provide insight into a regular dad’s life and the situations that come up. I hope it gives folks, other dads in particular, something to relate to through laughter, similar experiences, and potentially pity. Ha!

In order to fully appreciate anything I write about, it’s important that you understand who I am, and who my family is. I am a 34 year old husband to Beth, and Dad to Carter. I’m also very lucky to be Dad to baby #2 who is a bun in the oven. #2 is set to debut in late December. I’m son to Steve and Linda, and brother to Nick. I also have some of the best extended family and in-laws around. I’m a Colorado boy at heart that now lives in the great Midwest. I’m a college grad and Army vet. I’ve experienced a lot in life, and none of it compares to the greatness that is being a husband and dad. My days begin with the sunrise and my two favorite smiles, and end with the best snuggles around. In between, it’s anyone’s guess what will happen.

It’s those in between moments and thoughts that I hope to capture here.

Thanks for tuning in! Please feel free to follow if you would like. My goal is to post often and as the hectic schedule allows. Sometimes a full story, sometimes just a thought.

Welcome to my compass. Now, which way to outside?

-Brian