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!

Easter

What a glorious weekend we had!  Easter is one of my favorite holidays...how can you go wrong when you combine family, spring flowers, green grass, great food and Easter egg hunts around a celebration of Christ, the risen Lord?!?! 

We spent Easter weekend at Mom and Dad's and had a great time.  Although the ground was soaked, we certainly didn't let it dampen our celebration.  Andy's parents were able to come to Easter for the third straight year, and Ben couldn't have been happier to have "Gan-pa, Gan-ma Debbie, Papaw and Gannie" all in the same location...what a treat for him!

Here are some pictures from the festivities...

 

Our future golfer!

It was so exciting to watch Ben actually get into the Easter egg hunt this year :)

Picking up a few pieces of candy!!!

Time for a swim...the kiddos needed to relax after all that hard work of hunting eggs!

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter with your family and friends.  Above all, I hope you were able to take some time away from work and worries to celebrate our risen Lord! 

Friday nights!

There used to be a time, not that long ago, that our Friday nights were filled with fun and excitement!  If I let my mind wander, I can remember back to planning evenings out with my husband (I think we called those dates...it's a little fuzzy).  We would sit in a nice restaurant (child free) and TALK!  It would be nothing for us to have a 2 hour dinner conversation and not be interupted or lose our train of thought...boy, those were the days...OR, were they???

Now, our Friday nights are completely different.  We still find ourselves wanting to go out with friends and do fun and interesting things.  The only difference is now we are excited to have Ben join us.  Those quiet dinners (a.k.a. dates) are few and far between, but surprisingly this doesn't bother us.  Late nights out have turned into early nights in that we look forward to all week.  Fancy restaurants have been traded in for the local Pizza Hut; usually with our friends and all of their kiddos!

Last night, around 9:30, I came around the corner to this:

Is this what our Friday nights used to look like?  Absolutely not...but, I wouldn't trade our "new" Friday nights for anything!!! 

Spring Break!!!

This past week has been jam-packed!  We've traveled, spent time with family, worked around the house, and tried to relax a little too!  We started Spring Break with a quick trip to the Wisconsin Dells with my sister and her family and Andy's sister and her family.  We went for four days and had a blast.  The water parks are not the best place for a toddler, so Ben was able to spend the days with Grandma Debbie and Grandpa Jim.  Here are a few pictures of our water park adventure!

 Andy, Jason and Max coming out of the Hurricane

 Katie and Ellie in the lazy river

 Ellie exiting a water slide

Katie at Cubbie's Cove



We left for Wisconsin in cold, rainy weather and came home to sunshine!  This meant that we could work on some projects around our house.  I was able to mow the yard (twice!) and Andy was able to roll it...moles seem to have taken up residence in our yard!!!  Ben, of course, was right in the heart of the action.  He spent most of his time moving from tractor to mower to four-wheeler (it all depended on what mood he was in and which parent he preferred).  Here are some pictures of our little helper :)

 Ben and Daddy rolling the yard (Ben needed to have his hard hat on apparently)

Our little modification for the mower.  I'm sure parents everywhere are cringing, but just remember, we did a lot worse when we were little :)

We ended our week of vacation with a sunny, 80 degree Sunday.  We topped off the evening by grilling out and enjoying some relaxation before starting back to work.  I hate to see Spring Break end, but on the upside, summer vacation starts in seven weeks (I can do it, I can do it)!!!