This morning my oldest daughter Bridgett played her indoor soccer game, which they won in the last 2 minutes with an adrenalin-pumping comeback. While she was celebrating with her team, I asked my middle child Delany if she'd like to come with me to the bike shop (I needed to to exchange some AmFIB shoe covers for the right size).

She agreed, but as we were climbing into my truck she nonchalantly asked me if I was ever going to start taking her and her siblings out on dates "ever again". Doh! There are times as a dad when my kids' innocent, honest questions completely knock the wind out of me .

I recovered quickly and asked her if she'd like to have a lunch date with me. Her face lit up and we headed over to Carl's Junior - the closest restaurant in site that serves happy meals. I asked her if Danielle was still her best friend, how things were going at home and if she still liked her room... even found out that she would like a book shelf for Christmas, and would like to help me build it too.

On the way to the restaurant, we ran into a friend of mine who invited me to go on a bike ride with several other guys in a half an hour. Laney was sitting right next to me in the truck when I declined the invitation, and she asked me about it as we pulled away in my truck... wondering why I had decided not to go on the ride (she knows how much I completely LOVE to go on bike rides)

I told her I turned him down because I would much rather have lunch with her. Man did that ever make her day! And it really was a great time together.

Next I'll take my other daughter out, and then my son too. And then it'll be rinse and repeat for another round, and another, and another. I have to take advantage of these times before my kids grow up and writing this helps remind me how important these times are - and how much I'll regret it later if I don't sieze the moments now.