Spring is here and fun with the family!

We had a really fun last couple of weeks with Quinn's birthday and all of our visitors. We had our 2nd Annual "Strike Out PWS" with the Texas Rangers in which Megan, Garret and Owen joined us for.  We had a wonderful day at the ballpark and a great turnout.  My friend CJ visited for a few days, in which I don't think I even thought to get the camera out.  However, I think he and I have millions of pictures from back in the day that the loss of a few this last time probably won't hurt us!  Grandpa, Aunt Jenna, Uncle Dan, and Aunt Steph all visited last week and we had a blast.  We didn't do anything special other then play, go to a Cubs game, our traditional In N Out and Pei Wei vists, and enjoyed each other's company.  It's always so sad to see them go but we had a wonderful time and look forward to Grandma, Aunt Stacy, Jake, Anneke and Drew all visiting in a few weeks.

Happy Spring!

A Very Special 3 Year Old

Well, it's time I do some catching up.  We had a very busy, fun past 2 weeks of family and friend's visiting.  Now it's back to a quiet household :( 

Quinn turned 3 on March 13 and I just can't believe it.  He's such a little boy, although still loves to play "I'm a baby" when it's convenient for him.  He's fully potty-trained (if you don't count the times he just "forgot to go to the potty" anyway), he eats as much as a 15 year old boy, he's very smart and manipulative, and he's got the most contagious personality ever.  I just love it.  It's been so fun to see him transform from a sweet, innocent little baby into a very outgoing, so not shy at all, rambunctious little man.  He adores his two big brothers and holds his own when he feels like it, if he doesn't, he just whines and tattles :) 

We had a pretty laid back birthday for him - spent it at the good old Ostrich Festival with the family eating nothing but junk food, riding trains, and enjoying the sunny weather. 

Here's to another wonderful year with this adorable little man.  Mommy loves you soooo much, Quinn! 

Falling behind!

So I guess I'm not going so good at keeping up with this blog like I intended.  We've been so busy with birthday's, school activities, visitors and such I haven't had time to myself which is when I really enjoy blogging.  I'll take the visitors over time to myself any day though! 

I will post pictures soon - we have Grandpa here visiting as well as Uncle Dan and Aunt Jenna who are here visiting and home searching!  So exciting.  Aunt Stephanie arrives tomorrow and we have a weekend full of fun ahead.  A little late birthday celebration for Quinn hopefully, a Spring training game, and just enjoying the family.  Can't wait. 

Life is good :) 

Let's Play Ball!

Nice People.

I love nice people.  I know most people would say "well, of course, I do too" but really, I.love.nice.people.  Nice people make my day.  I actually seek nice people.  They can really make your day.  Just as I can really make someone's day by being nice myself.

I was out running a few weeks ago - I knew it was going to rain soon and I knew I wasn't going to beat the rain.  It wasn't just going to rain, it was going to pour.  I initially ran away from where the clouds were going but they came fast, quicker then I expected.  I thought the end of my run would be in the rain but pretty much, the whole hour was in a downpour.  I was drenched.  I was frozen.  I was ill-prepared to be running in the rain.  BUT, I loved it.  Every second of it.  It made me run harder, faster, and made me appreciate the weather here in Arizona. 

Anyway, about 1/2 way through my run, about to head downhill, I noticed a car slowly pulling up beside me but I wasn't sure what was going on, if I should stop or if she was really stopping for me.  I slowed down a bit and she rolled her window down, huge smile on her face, "Do you need a ride?"  I wanted to keep running b/c I was in the groove - but my heart melted.  Wow.  Some strange lady who probably had better things to do then stop to offer a moronic woman running in the rain still stopped to ask if I needed a ride.  I smiled, said "thank you sooo much but I'm doing just great!"  I think she thought I was nuts, but she then slowly went on her merry way.  I wanted to get her license plate number to tell her how much I appreciated it, although a small gesture for her, it was huge for me.  Huge to know there are still some really nice people in this world.  She did a U-turn though and I didn't want to look nuts following her back up the hill :)

I live near a very popular hiking trail.  I've hiked it for several years now and I've noticed that 9 times out of 10 nearly everyone on the trail is not friendly.  It's always bothered me.  Sometimes to the point where I don't even want to hike.  It's a busy trail - you meet people constantly, most don't turn their heads, few smile.  When I took Quinn last week it was a hit or a miss.  One lady walked passed us, I'm quite positive she wasn't hearing impaired or anything, but Quinn said very loudly and sweetly "Hi,you're my friend!"  The lady didn't even turn her head at him.  He said this to nearly everyone we encountered on the way up.  Some smiled, some commented, but many said nothing at all.  To be honest, the two couples that DID notice him and said something had "Iowa" shirts on!  No joke.  Go figure. 

I purposely went into WalMart today (I'm a Target fan) - but I just love those old people who stand at the doors to greet you in WalMart.  I just needed that. I love their zest for life.  I always make sure to look at these people and smile, if they are looking, and always say hello.  Always.  They appreciate it.

I was in line at Hobbly Lobby the other day with just a few items.  An older woman came up behind me with just one tiny little thing of paint or glue or something so I asked her if she wanted to go ahead of me.  She was shocked at my kindness just as I usually am with random acts of kindness others show.  She gladly went ahead and it just so happened she was in a hurry to get home to babysit one of her grandbabies.  It made MY day to know she appreciated it.

I was in Target about a month or so ago with the three boys and we were there to spend some money that my Dad had sent each of the boys.  Konnor and Hunter chose their treats wisely and Quinn of course wanted some gigantic, expensive train table that we already have.  I of course said no.  Quinn, being a 2 year old, threw a fit.  One of those where you literally just want to throw them all in the cart and run out the door hoping you'll never see any of those people again.  I didn't want to cheat Konnor and Hunter out of their finds so we made our way up to the counter to pay, all the while, Quinn being a little turd screaming.  I apologized to the lady checking us out who had no problem with the way Quinn was behaving...and as I was paying I noticed this older woman coming towards us, who, to be quite honest, looked like one of those mean old ladies with nothing but mean things to say, so I thought to myself  "Shannon, just bite your tongue and walk away" and the poor old lady hadn't even said anything yet.  Anyway, she slowly creeped up to us, finally had a small smile on her face, looked at Quinn and said "oh honey, you have the most wonderful Mom ever" in the quietest, sweetest voice.  I just melted.  What a nice lady and how horrible of me to assume she was going to say something ridiculous.  What a random act of kindness.

Moral of the story:  Smile.  Be kind.  Even if you're having a bad day, look up and smile at others.  You never know whose day you just might make and I can guarantee you it will make you feel good about yourself.  It's the little things in life that count.

Olympic Pride

I can't believe the Olympics are over already.  They come and go so quickly.  The boys absolutely loved watching them this year.  We sat on my bed over 2 weeks ago and watched nearly every second of the opening ceremonies - they patiently sat through all the countries walking in so they could see the USA.  They even noticed that India sported only three Olympians - but they were proud.  Proud for their country, proud of where they come from.  Every day we had to check who had the most medals.  They were so sad to watch the closing ceremonies tonight. 

Every night (and I think I speak for both houses) they've been able to stay up late just to watch whatever sport was on.  They loved skiing of course, more specifically the moguls.  They thought the luge was out of this world.  Yesterday they caught a glimpse of curling, whatever the heck that is, and they were flabbergasted that it was an Olympic sport so we had to come "google" it to see what it was all about.  Konnor and Hunter sat at the edge of their seats every time speed skating was on.  Konnor's been practicing on his roller blades. 

We were at Makutu's Island today and for a good portion of that time Konnor and Hunter sat in the Cafe keeping a close eye on the hockey game.  They cheered loudly for the USA, especially after they made their 2nd goal, and very intently watched into overtime when the USA lost.  Konnor was "pissed out." 

It's been so fun to see them so proud and excited for their country.  They've learned a lot over the course of the past two weeks not just about sports but about what the Olympics is really about.  It's always so sad to see them end, to see the world go back to normal.  It's such a great feeling to see everyone come together, if even for such a short period of time. 

Cheers to the Olympics from the Gopal Boys - they are already counting down the days until the Summer Olympics in 2012.

Once upon a time....

 

there was a boy who wanted to go for a hike

so he and his mom gathered their backpacks

trekked up to the trails

 

the boy got tired so he opted for a ride.....took a break halfway up to take in the view

 

attempted to use the cleanest porta potty on earth and failed....so they continued up a long winding path

needed a break to accidentally pee in his pants......hopped back in the pack pantless....yet insisted on continuing on up

 to the fort at the top....close to heaven....to take in the sights....look for Mom's house....take enough time to wave and say I'm ready to go down....

 

while the mom prays she doesn't fall into one of these with a 50 pound load on her back...and she didn't....

 

and the boy who promised he'd walk a little on the way down so mom didn't slip.....fell asleep within seconds of starting their decent....

and the mom hiked it back down 

met lots of nice people

who thought she was amazing

when all she was doing

was carrying her boy

sleeping and cute

whom she'd carry any load big or small for

because she loved him 

to the heavens and back

and back again 

and again.....

The End .

Question of the Day

"Mom, why are hot dogs called hot dogs and not hot pigs?"

I moderate the comments and don't post most, if any, but if there's any good answers I'll be sure to post! 

A sister, a brother-in-law and a dog named Bernie

Last Wednesday was one of those hit rock bottom days.  Everyone has to have them on occasion just to wake them up.  My day had come and it has most certainly gone.  I'll spare the logistics of what made me hit rock bottom but I was driving to work just thinking deep thoughts - I turned up the music and tried to refresh/regroup myself before arriving to work.  I needed to get it together because working with autistic kids on low patience just is not an option.  Well, working with typical kids with no patience is not an option either, but anyway.  I was at the airport picking someone up wishing I could just hop on the next airplane to a deserted island on a one way pass.  That clearly wasn't an option at the time so I just kept on going.  I'm not typically one of those people that stays in a slump for much longer then an hour or two because, well, what's the point?  What good does it do? 

I got to work, pasted a smile on my face, and realized as always how fortunate I am just to have kids who can talk to me, speak how much they love me (or don't some days).  Just the fact that they can communicate to me is wonderful in itself regardless of what it is they have to say.  My job reminds me of this daily and the minute I arrived I started my way out of my slump instantly.  I just knew something good was coming my way, but what?  I was anxious to find out. 

No more then an hour or so later I was driving and my phone rang.  It was my little sister Jenna whom I had been playing phone tag with for days so I jumped at the chance to answer.  For all I knew, she was just calling to chat like her voicemails had been saying for days prior.  I think we exchanged "how are you's" or something simple, I might have expressed a little frustration but I didn't elaborate and no more then a minute or so into the conversation just jumped in and said "well, i was just calling to tell you that..." (at this point my head had already heard 'Dan and I are expecting our first baby') but it all went so fast and I remember in my head thinking "pinch me, what?  Huh?"  and I heard her voice ringing back in my head "Dan and I are moving to Phoenix!"  WAIT, what?  Really, pinch me.  I've heard this before but I know she wouldn't mess with my mind this time!!  I wanted to scream but I couldn't at the time.  I remember at that point just feeling this huge weight lifted off my shoulders.  Wow. 

Meet Jenna, Dan and Bernie.......

You see, we were hoping they'd move last summer already but with other opportunities Dan had come up along with the economy in general, they decided to take another year to ponder this huge decision in their life.  So, we've patiently or not so patiently been waiting to see what they decided.  I just basically prepared myself that they wouldn't.  Konnor's been saving the house for sale around the Konnor for them (although I noticed today there was a whole swarm of people showing up to it). 

This was music to my ears in so many ways.  My sister Steph had moved from Phoenix to Denver last September and although I played it cool, it was super tough for all of us.  She was the only family I've ever had here.  Her move didn't really hit me hard until a two week stretch in January when Sanjog needed me to have the kids so he could take a fast-trak course for a license he needed.  I'll take any time with the kids that I can, but 13 days straight is a lot to have them on my own with no breaks of any sort.  I could always count on Steph to come by and read them a book, take them outside, or just allow me some time to take one of the boys out for some one on one time.  It hit me really hard on day 9 or so how desperately I missed her. I miss the support or just the comfort of having someone so close by.  I have great friends but nothing compares to having family close.  Nothing compares at all. 

June cannot come soon enough.  We are so thrilled they are going to become Phoenicians!  We know this is a big move for them and we are so grateful they are taking the leap.  God is going to do wonderful things for them here. 

So cheers to Aunt Jenna and Uncle Dan!  Congratulations on the job Dan and we are thrilled to have you as neighbors :) 

Valuable Life Lesson and My Boys At Their Best

I've been reading a lot lately.  In fact, not books borrowed at my local library, not my textbooks (although yes, Mother, I do read those too) but books I've purchased with my own money, at my own free will, at Barnes and Noble (anyone probably reading this knows I do not typically read, and most certainly could find better things to spend money on then a book).  A few books were ones that my sister recommended to me and one in particular that I found just randomly by the name of "Boys Should Be Boys" by Meg Meeker M.D.  I'll save the book itself for another post because it was one of the best parenting books I've ever read (ok, you're right, I've only read a handful of them) but one thing that totally stuck out to me was to "not tell your child they are the BEST but to tell your child to be his/her best they can be."  I read it and then sitting in church Sunday the Pastor related a story to it as well so it just keeps sticking out in my mind. 

It's so easy to say "Oh Hunter, you are the best baseball player out there."  You would think this would be a good self esteem booster, but it's not.  It's not teaching him anything.  It's telling him he's the best baseball player when he's not.  It's in all reality lying to him.  I often find myself saying "Wow Konnor, you are the best speller on the planet" b/c I want him to think he's the best.  He's not.  He's a great speller, Hunter's a great baseball player, and Quinn really is the best at being cute - but in all reality, again, they aren't the best.  I'm lying to them.  They are the best in my eyes, but they aren't the best.

I'm not the best Mom in the world, but I'm the best Mom I know how to be.  I'm not the best student in the world (probably one of the worst) but I'm the best student I know how to be.  I'm not the best friend in the world but I am the best friend I know how to be.  I'm not the best daughter in the world unless you're my sisters reading this, then I am,  but I strive to be the best daughter I know how to be.  I'm far from the best runner in the world but I run as best as I possibly can. 

Let's face it - most of us probably will never be the best at anything, but we all are truly capable of  being the best of whatever it is we know how to be the best of.

Truly.Madly.Deeply.In Love.

I don't know what it is lately, but I'm constantly thinking about how madly in love with these three little boys I am.  I've had so many ups and downs in life over the course of the past three years and I don't know if I've finally reached the plateau where I feel totally at ease with things, but something has come over me just in the past week that has made me realize what my life truly is all about at this point.  My boys. 

 

(Yes, we are still working on a picture to send out for Christmas.  So far, we've missed a Happy Valentine's opportunity, and are now working on Happy Spring)

It's not that I never realized it before, but just the past few days I can't keep my hands off them, I can't stop hugging and kissing them, I'm losing sleep at this point thinking of how much I love them.  I think I've stayed fairly focused on them during the past few years and have made them my number one priority. I know at times I probably fell short of being exactly what I wanted to be, but man, these guys are incredible.  The love and joy they bring me is indescribable.  They truly are what life is all about at this point in my journey. 

They've won me over.  They've made me see the world in ways I never would've ever thought twice about before.  Each of them owns my heart in their own special way. 

I remember asking Sanjog one day while driving in the car to the mall, I was pregnant with Hunter at the time, how it would be possible for this next baby to be as cute as Konnor.  I never questioned if I'd love him/her as much, I just wondered how it would be possible for that baby to be as cute as Konnor.  I mean, come on, if you remember Konnor as a baby, he was gorgeous.  He still is.  But then came Hunter - equally as gorgeous, and he still is.  And then came Quinn, just as equally as gorgeous as the other two, and he still is.  It's my blog, I'm allowed to brag, right?!  In all honesty though, they each won my heart the minute they arrived...and I'm convinced they'll own my heart indefinitely. 

To Konnor, Hunter, and Quinn:  No one can ever replace the love I feel for each of you.  You are my everything.  Yes, I still love you even if you permanent markered the drawers, or wrote your name in ink all over the seat of the car, or threw the bouncy ball just where I told you NOT to throw it and broke that frame I was in love with. I love you more then anything in the whole wide world, to the moon and back, and yes, to infinity and beyond.  I am truly, madly, deeply in love with each of you.

Thankful.

I know I've blogged about this in the past, I think at the time it was a post about being "blessed."  This topic is actually not even on my list sitting next to me.  I was lying with the boys tonight in my bed, watching the Olympics before lights out time for them.  I couldn't help but think of how thankful I am for them, their health, and their happiness.  All 3 have been battling colds, croupy coughs, and fevers over the course of the past week - Quinn's head had a major run in with the cement yesterday and looks like he just fought a UFC fight - but all in all, I'm so thankful this is all we've ever had to deal with.  Just minor things, normal things. 

Each night at bedtime the boys say their "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep" prayers and then at the end I have them say something they're thankful for.  I've heard everything from being thankful for Nemo, chips, TV so we can watch the Olympics, friends, dirt, sausage, Subway, Mom, Dad, etc. you name it - I've heard a lot.  Every night they also ask me what I'm thankful for and I always say I'm thankful for them and then add an additional thing, like say, maybe good health or wonderful grandparents.  Konnor chimed in and asked why I'm thankful for good health, and I had a very honest, sincere conversation with him about how some children live in hospitals, some children don't have hair, some children have never been able to run or walk or play baseball or eat brownies, some children have never known their Moms or their Dads, and he just couldn't fathom it.  I think he actually genuinely felt like he understood and was also now thankful for what he had. 

I'm constantly reading other women's blogs on the internet, I tend to gear towards Christian ones and sometimes fall upon blogs of children who need prayers.  Children who are fighting cancer. Children who have passed away.  Children who have suffered from Shaken Baby Syndrome.  A few months ago I stumbled across this blog http://bandssullivan.blogspot.com/.  It's a blog written by a dad of a little girl who's mom just passed away last Fall.  Sarah was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after finding out they were pregnant with their first daughter, Chloe.  Long story short, Sarah had chemo treatments during her pregnancy, seemed to have been ahead in her battle against cancer when she gave birth, went home days after and had a major brain relapse of some sorts.  She spent a few short days with her husband and new baby at home and then was declared brain dead and passed away.  This dad has such an amazing faith and this baby is absolutely amazing. 

As I was lying in bed with the boys tonight I thought of how thankful I've been to experience nearly seven years of motherhood so far, with no major bumps.  Not that I'm ready to leave this world anytime soon but I'm so thankful for what I've been given thus far and the experiences and memories I've been able to create with the boys so far.  I'm so thankful for more then just health.  Thankful for the days we've spent hour after hour at the park just digging in the dirt, thankful for the days we've been able to go out and do something we normally wouldn't do like experience part of the Superbowl, or a Major League baseball game, or DisneyWorld.  I'm so thankful for the flexibility to be able to volunteer at school, drop in and have lunch with Konnor, spend some one on one time at Target with Quinn, sit on a hard tile floor and play ten games of Handy Manny Memory with Hunter - losing EVERY singe time.  I'm thankful for sleepless nights.  I'm thankful for some of the rougher days we've had b/c I've learned from them.  I've taken not so fun experiences and dug hard to find the good in them and strive to find ways to not have to deal with those rough days again.  I'm thankful for sticky floors because the kids spill all over them, I'm thankful for pee all over the toilet.  I'm thankful at the end of the day that I can look over and see all three of my beautiful, healthy boys, sleeping soundly on my bed - even if it leaves me with the floor.  I've had so many people question me "don't you wish you had a girl?" or "here's this book on how to make girls."  You know what?  I'm incredibly thankful for my three boys, I've never wished any of them were a girl.  I know some Moms say that and probably don't mean it, but to be completely honest, I am very thankful for three boys and have never wished any of them were a girl.  That's not to say I've never had a thought of wanting a girl - I mean, come on, look at all the adorable stuff you can dress little girls in, but really, having health is truly all that matters to me.  It really is. 

Don't get me wrong, I do have my days where I'm constantly cleaning up behind every move they make, getting frustrated that they've carelessly dumped a glass of orange juice all over the floor which splattered all over the windows, heck, sometimes I even get frustrated if they get handprints on the car windows, but I've learned over time that those are all things that even if I get frustrated about at times, are things I'm so thankful for.  Things I've been able to experience that other parents would give ANYTHING to experience just a little of if given the chance.  Little baby Chloe will never know her mother physically, but her Daddy has already made sure she will know her mother and where she came from.  There are so many parents who's child's innocence and youth have been robbed from them by a daycare provider, or by cancer, or a drunk driver's careless decision.  Can you just imagine what some of these parents might regret?  These are the parents that now say "I wish I never wished for early bedtimes, I wish I never thought to myself, 'would you just be quiet for 10 minutes so Mommy can think', I wish I never put my 2 year old in front of the TV for 30 minutes just so she'd stay out of my hair...."  I don't want regrets.  Although I know I'm not perfect, and I know I'm still at times going to fret over spilled milk or hand prints on clean windows, I'm so incredibly blessed and I don't ever want to take a bit of it for granted. 

Dear God, I'm so thankful.

The Joys of Boys and Sports

Hunter's Team (forgive me, they all have a new name every season, I have no clue what they were this time around!)

Konnor doing a throw-in

Hunter kickin' some butt!

Double header day - enjoying McD's burger in their 15 minute break!

Notice Hunter's hair flying in the wind :)

This organization always has the parents make a tunnel for the kids to run through after the game - great idea. You'd think they were in DisneyWorld! So adorable.

He looks so grown up in this picture - where has the time gone?

You can be sure he's doing some sort of dance here - he's not really going after that ball!! This is one of my favorites of Hunter.

Ok, so now that I've re-committed to doing this whole blog thing, my list has gotten longer and longer! The more I look at it, the more I keep telling myself "sit down and blog or the list is going to get even longer!" Isn't that the truth with all lists?

Konnor has been playing soccer for a little over a year now and also decided he wanted to try baseball out. We decided to skip soccer last season and let him do baseball. Hunter then, of course, chose soccer. Hunter was very good at soccer the first few games and then he decided it was more of a "social" thing for him - we'd see him hopping around chatting with the girls, cracking jokes with his buddy Jude, or just simply daydreaming about whatever it is little 4 year old boys daydream out. In a nutshell, he started doing anything but paying a whole lot of attention to the game he was playing! (However, in every picture I have, he's very active and into the game!)

This season, Konnor and Hunter both decided to play baseball. Hunter, bored with soccer, decided to do only baseball while Konnor decided to do baseball and soccer. We let him of course. He seems to be enjoying both equally - but I think he gets bored with a 1.5 hour baseball game in which he only gets to bat 3 times at most, and probably gets about a total of 5 balls hit or thrown to him. He needs action. He is learning the game, as is Hunter, which is great b/c the game of baseball requires a lot of thinking ahead and knowing the rules of the game. Hunter just seems to have a love for anything he's semi-good at. He'll run his little heart out to get to first base - and was one of the first ones to receive a "game ball" from Coach b/c he made 3 plays at first base in one game. Konnor, a little discouraged that Hunter got a game ball before he did, worked his little tail off and earned his game ball a few weeks later for some incredible hits - including a grand slam - and some great catches. He was thrilled. It was great to see his pride when he realized that this was in fact, his day for a game ball and that his hard work and persistence paid off.

I sometimes find myself a little stressed trying to keep up with both boys and all their positive energy, but I wouldn't change it for the world. Sports are so great for kids in all aspects. Should they choose to play 3 sports at once, we'll let them try. Should they turn around and say they want to take a break next season, we'll allow them. It's been so fun to see them learn the game and make new friends, some in which I'm positive will be lifelong friends. Brings back great childhood memories - and reminds me that you can do anything you put your mind to and that you're also allowed to "take a break" from all the hustle and bustle just to enjoy some extra time digging in the dirt, playing the game of Memory, or cuddling on the couch reading "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" for the 178th time.

Dad. Grandpa.

I was having my daily conversation with my Dad the other night - you know, the ones that usually consist of:

Dad: "Hi, how are you doing"
Me: "great thanks"
Dad: "how's the weather there"
Me: "Dad, warm as usual"
Dad: "Oh, we're supposed to have a high of 15, low of 0"
Me: "Surprise surprise"
Dad: "How are the boys?"
Me: "Good...I don't know anything new really"
Dad: "OK, me either"
Me: "Have a good night, thanks for calling"
Dad: "You too, we'll talk to you again in a day or so"
Me: "I love you, Dad. Tell Mom 'hi'"
Dad: "I love you too"

The End.

Although our conversations are often times short and simple, especially when I don't have the boys around to chat his ear off, I always hang up knowing that I am so lucky, so blessed, to have the.best.dad.in.the.world. I do. Don't argue with me. We may not always have a whole lot to talk about, but what I do know is that my bond with my Dad will never grow weary. I love my Dad, I know he loves me, and I've never questioned that. I know for certain I've tested him millions of times - but I also know that in the midst of all of those tests, he's never thought twice. Not once. And unless you're my Dad, or anyone else in my family - you have not a clue some of the things my Dad's had to put up with from me.

Back to our conversation the other night - it went beyond the "how was your day" norm. He made mention of his computer not working right (surprise, it never does) - and that he hadn't been getting pictures from me. I told him maybe his junk mail folder was getting them to which he told me his junk folder is always empty. Ok ok, I think I've fallen short of sharing pictures lately. For several reasons, the boys are no longer as photogenic as they used to be...and also b/c I used to pressure myself to always get a few pictures in which often times made me feel like maybe I was missing out on time with them. Sounds silly, I know, but when I only have them 50% of the time, well, having a camera in their face might actually consume a lot of the time I could be sitting on the floor playing a game, out in the front yard kicking a football, or baking some messy concoction. All that along with my standard camera that doesn't take the greatest pictures, especially of active children, I just haven't been good about the camera.

Then my Dad mentioned something about "and you haven't written on your blog for a long time, I used to check that every couple of days." Darn. I was really disappointed in myself. You see, the only reason I really started this blog was basically for my family to see and read about some of the things we do along with it just being a journal of my "new life" as a single Mom with 3 little boys. One that I could someday have made into a book and look back onto. Another reason I quit was because blogging had become really popular - I have some friend's and some stranger's blogs that I keep up on and I just don't have the capability to write like they do. I've never been a writer. I have A LOT to say but it never comes out right. All this mixed with just feeling exhausted by the end of the day, I failed to blog anymore. One thing after another last summer just lead me to fall short of updating.

I actually have a list on my desk from over the months about things to blog about. If you know me, you know I have lists everywhere. In my purse, in my diaper bag, in my shower, in my Bible, the console of my car, you name it - I probably have a list for something started there.

So, here's to keeping up with my blog - if not for any other reason than so my wonderful father can read and enjoy - or not enjoy. I know sometimes I post things that Dad's probably don't want to hear. BUT my Dad's a great one - and I can have any conversation in the world with my Dad and I know he's always listening. In fact, I just had one with him last week in which I couldn't keep my composure and he so gracefully listened and responded. I am sure no Dad likes to hear his daughter call and cry her eyes out but my Dad handles it with such grace, just as he does everything else.

My Dad is the best. He's also the best Grandfather in the world no doubt. I have a new computer and didn't have access to past pictures of my Dad - but this one struck a chord. You will see his arms are wide open, he's on the floor with Quinn and my niece Anneke - looks as though they're dancing. My dad doesn't dance. However, he'll do anything for his grandkids, with arms wide open - just as he would for any of his daughters.

Can I also mention that my dad is about 9 months away from turning 60?? Most would think he's maybe turning the corner into his 40's. He hasn't changed a bit - his energy and jazz for life hasn't either.

"Dad - I love you. We can't wait to see you in a few weeks."