Fathers Day Should Be Every Day!

As I'm sitting here, I'm thinking about how lucky I am to be married to the man of my dreams.  I consider myself blessed to be able to wake up each morning next to a kind, considerate, sympathetic, patient (so blessed for this one), funny (ok, more sarcastic than funny) husband!  He is definitely more than I deserve. 

But, I'm even luckier.  How, you might ask???  Well, because my husband is a WONDERFUL father to our son.  It only takes a moment to see the love he has for Ben.  You can see it in his instant smile when Ben says "I wuv you daddy".  You can hear it in his gentle tone when he reads him a story.  You can just sense it when they're sitting side-by-side, or working in the yard, or riding on the tractor, or, or, or...you get the picture.  Ben is so blessed to have his daddy, and I'm so blessed to be married to a man who understands what being a parent is...the good, the bad and the ugly.  He takes it all in stride (usually much more patiently than I do)! 

It's so important to take the time to say thank you to those men who love their children and their wives, lead their families by positive example, and take time for those everyday moments with their kids.  So, for yesterday, today and all of the tomorrows...thank you Andy! 

Of course, I don't want to forget my dad, the very first man in my life.  Andy certainly has a lot to live up to because my dad set the bar high.  By no means is he the perfect dad, but he's pretty darn close.  The love that he has for his family is clearly evident.  This picture says it all.  It was taken a few years ago when we were remodeling our house.  It only took a phone call, and my dad (and mom, too) was right there...demolishing walls, rewiring, painting, etc.  When we put up the pool, he was there...built the deck, yep, he was there!  Most of my memories involve some type of project (gee...maybe that's the whole "lead by example thing"), and what great memories they are.  I love you Dad!

Family Tradition

Every family has traditions that they pass down from generation to generation.  We are not any different from most, but we do have one tradition that may be unique to some....this tradition involves a man named Jim the Barber.  Jim has a last name, and I'm sure he's proud of it...but, to us (and to many others) he's simply known as Jim the Barber.  Jim cut my grandpa's hair up until he passed away last month.  He cut my brothers' hair and my dad's as well.  I remember going to his shop up town and sitting inside watching Grandpa and my brothers get a trim, and waiting patiently for a piece of candy when he was finished.  His shop was the traditional barber shop; the place to get a cut and a shave (the straight razor kind of shave).

Jim no longer has his shop up town, he "retired" a few years ago, but he does have a shop set up in his home.  While we were gone on vacation, Mom took Ben up to meet Jim the Barber so that he could get a trim.  When I came home, it was as if I'd gone back in time...Ben looked like my brothers, years ago.  Jim the Barber still has the magic touch, and he still has that candy, which Ben sure did enjoy!

Keep reading...I did our Disney post today, as well.

Where, Oh Where Have We Been???

We've been missing in action for a while because we were vacationing in Disney World!!!  Of course, it's the most magical place on earth, so we had a blast.  Andy, myself, his parents and his sister's family drove down.  His parent's have always wanted to camp in the Disney campground, so this trip was the one!

We didn't think that Ben would enjoy two solid days in a vehicle, so we had Grandma Debbie fly down with him to meet us.  My sister and her daughter also flew down.  They all stayed with us for five days, before flying back home to cooler weather (Florida's coolest temperature was around 95)!!!

We stayed on for a few more days before driving back home.  I was missing Ben pretty badly, so I thought I would just check flights to Indy, and boy did I hit the jackpot...I found a flight for $78.00, which meant I was able to get back home to Ben a few days early!

We tried to take as many pictures as we could (which wasn't near enough)...between Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, the campground, and Grandma Debbie's house, hopefully we were able to capture some "magical" moments!

 Ben watching the airplanes before they took off!

 Waiting for our dinner reservation at in Japan...tired kiddos!

 The whole gang at the Rain Forest Cafe

 Andy's whole family in Animal Kingdom

Ben, enjoying a DVD in the car

So sleepy...Mom said he slept the whole way out and the whole way back...that's a good little traveler!!!

Here are a few pictures of Ben at Grandpa Jim's and Grandma Debbie's house...he LOVES to be outside, so he was having the time of his life!  Plus, he got to ride on some tractors...nothing compares to that (not even Mickey Mouse)!

Summer Break!

It's here!!!!  Summer break has officially begun for me.  Of course, this is my FAVORITE time of year.  I get to be home with Ben, sleep in, work outside, swim in the pool, go shopping, meet Andy for lunch...the list just keeps going.  While this is my favorite time, Andy on the other hand, is not so fond of it.  I think he gets a little jealous of my time away from work.  Don't worry, I don't let it get me down :)  Here's to the beginning of what I hope is a safe, fun and exciting summer with my family!  No matter how you spend your summer, I hope you all enjoy it!

Nashville

A couple of weeks ago, we were able to go to Nashville, TN with good friends of ours, Elise and Zach!  We absolutely love Nashville, and try to get there at least once a year.  Usually, we have to drive through storms, snow, sleet and ice...but, this year it was beautiful weather! 

We decided to do some sight-seeing this time, starting off with the Jack Daniel's Distillery.  This was such an interesting tour, and one I recommend to anyone.

 Zach and Elise

 Zach getting ready to go on the tour

We also went to the Parthenon.  Although this isn't the one in Greece, it's the exact same size...pretty neat to see, especially at night!

The next day was Zach's 30th birthday.  In honor of his special day, he requested a trip to the Bass Pro Shop (you can imagine how excited Elise and I were).  After that excitement, we headed to the Belle Meade plantation, which was absolutely beautiful.  Again, it was a very interesting tour and one I would definitely recommend!

After that we headed over to the Grand Ole' Opry to do some sightseeing.



We decided to skip the opry show and go down to the strip.  I'm glad we did because we ended up at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville, listening to an amazing band!  We planned on just staying for a little bit, and ended up staying for 4 hours!!!!  Zach got a special birthday tribute on stage (complete with a kiss from Amanda...you'll notice her on the left)! 

It was a GREAT evening, and a fun mini-vacation!  Once again, Nashville did not disappoint!  It such a great city, and one that is close enough for quick get-aways!  Hopefully we'll be returning again soon!

Grandpa

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011 will always be in my mind as the day that my grandpa passed away.  While this will always be a memory, I'm so thankful that it won't be my only one of this wonderful man...my grandpa.

Not many people are lucky enough to live 2 miles from their grandparents, but I am one that is.  I don't have many memories that don't include my grandma or grandpa.  From birthday parties at our house, to opening Christmas presents with them on Christmas morning.  I remember chili dinners after basketball games and riding my bicycle over to their house almost daily in the summers.

After my grandma passed away in 2000, a whole new set of memories began.  Spending the weekends with Grandpa because I just didn't want him to be lonely, traveling to Las Vegas when I turned 21 because he wanted to show me the sights.  Our 19 day trip out West...I can't even begin to share all of the memories made then, but that was truly the trip of a lifetime.  All of the many evenings I just sat in his living room watching RFD TV.  Our conversation one day when he told me that he really liked it when I came over because, "you treat me like Grandma did...you just tell me how it's gonna be".

I sure won't forget being at Mom's and seeing his white van driving down the road, turning in, and him just walking in to visit (he wouldn't stay long though because he had a "comfy chair back home", but he came over all the time).  Or seeing him light up when "Benny" came for a visit, which we tried to do often.  Just today, I showed Ben a photo of Grandpa, and he immediately smiled and said "Gampa Gate"...those are the memories that will never fade.

I could write for days about all of the little moments that I shared with my grandpa, but I don't need to.  I have so many memories that will live on in my heart for the rest of my life.  I have books full of photographs that I will be able to share with Ben and our future children, video footage of Disney, birthdays, Christmases, and just ordinary days.

While I can't imagine my life without my grandpa, I know that I'll have to live it.  It will be sad to drive by his home and not see him sitting by the window, I'll always be looking out Mom's window to see that white van driving down the road, I'll be heartbroken to not hear him call me Meggie or hear him argue with me just for the heck of it, but I'll be overjoyed in the fact that I know he and Grandma are together again...something he's waited many, many years for.

I love you Grandpa, and I always will...
Meggie

Mother's Day

Today, Mother's Day, is such a special day for many reasons.  First, I get to celebrate the fact that I am a mother to Ben, my 8 lb. 14 oz. bundle of joy that entered my life in August of 2009!  With all the trials and worries that come with parenting, I still wouldn't trade it for anything.  Parenthood is so much more than I expected...I am truly blessed to have Ben!
Second, I get to celebrate MY mother on this day...the one who taught me how to be a wife and mother.  I may be biased, but I feel that I have the best mother in the world!  Not only is my mom my best friend, but she is my mentor.  There is not a day that goes by that I don't ask her for advice, share a story with her, or just call her up to talk about nothing.  When I need parenting advice...Mom's my go-to person.  When I need help with gardening, cooking, decorating, and anything else I could ever think of...she's my first call! 

So, today I want to wish my mom a very happy Mother's Day!!!  I love you Mom!