Countdown

It's been a while since we have had a good countdown on the blog. And now...we are in the last days of a good countdown! We are going on our first big flight required family vacation. We are taking a week and going down to  Dallas and Corpus. We are going to see my friends and family in Dallas for a couple days and stay with my best friend like I always do. We are planning on having an adult double date night out on the town the first night we are there. The second night we are having a BBQ birthday bash for ME with a bunch of my different friends, along with some of my family. Our Sunday and Monday are totally wide open and I am hoping to get some visiting time in with my good friend, Julie. And then we are heading down to Corpus and Padre to get our beach on. We are taking my nephews with us for their first ever vacation. They have only ever been away from the house two nights in their whole lives and they are 7 & 9 years old. Lorelli is sooo looking forward to hanging out with her cousins and going to the beach and swimming in the ocean. We are also planning on catching a baseball game while we're down there. It is a pretty low-key vacation with not too many big plans. Mostly just relaxing and hanging with friends.

But MAN - Could it JUST get here ALREADY?!?!

Letters to the world

So, today I think I am just going to post a few letters to the world. Just a few notes to a few "people" that are getting on my nerves. And I will share them with you for your bemusement. Why? 'Cuz I'm awesome like that. Here goes. Feel free to chime in with your own letter to the world or whatever.

Dear Aunt Flo,
Must my bobbies SERIOUSLY hurt this bad? I mean, really? I did nothing painful to you. I look forward to your visit to know that things are right with my body. I deal with the heaviness you bring me. I let Lorelli say, "That's what happens when you're on your period" to me when I am cranky. But seriously...this sore booby business...I am not a happy camper!!
See you soon,
Sore on the TopSide

Dear Email Powers That Be,
Why do I have emails in my inbox regarding how to acquire Viagra from Canada and hip replacement medicine? I don't look at anything with boy parts on it. Is it because I have been looking at the Frederick's website and motorcycle websites? Does that scream middle aged man that needs to keep it up? And the hip replacements? I am guessing that is because I have been talking about physical therapy? It's FOR MY ARM people. SHEESH!
Sincerely,
Perplexed box

Dear Wifey's Ex-GF,
Please do not engage me in conversation when our paths cross randomly in town. We do not need to be friends. I know that we chat it up at softball games, but those are forced social interactions that only occur so that we do not look rude. But really, yesterday morning was not necessary. I didn't even have my makeup on. Or my hair done. I don't like talking to myself like that. Yet less others. Yet less exes of my loverly wife.
Just saying,
Mortified on a Monday Morning

Dear Right Arm,
Enough is enough. I am pretty much over this pain you have dealt me. While the massage at physical therapy is nice, you know what would be better? Not. Needing. Physical. Therapy. That would be awesome. Your pain came from out of the blue and I don't understand it. But you are seriously hampering my positive outlook on life right now.
Thanks,
Pained parts

Dear Five Year Old,
You do not have Mean Moms. You have moms that make you behave and follow the rules and live up to expectations. Mean moms would not take you on vacations to the beach. Mean moms would not paint you an awesome room. Mean moms would not buy you awesome new clothes. Or let you partake in Saturday morning sports at the Y. You do, however, have moms that will not be talked ugly to. You do have moms that will not sit back and let you rule the house.
Love,
Not-So Mean Moms

Dear MIL,
I love all the clothes that you have so graciously given me. SERIOUSLY!! They rock my socks. And I am sooo grateful that you let us live here with you. It allows us to do so many things that we wouldn't be able to do otherwise. I TRULY enjoy our family vacations and spending money. What I do NOT enjoy is constantly having to clean the kitchen. I do not enjoy listening to you coddle the doggers in this house like they are children. And I really don't enjoy you butting in when Jennifer and I are already taking care of a situation with aforementioned five year old.
Ever so graciously yours,
DIL

Dear 24 hour days,
Do you think you could talk to your friends and maybe come up with a couple more hours for me? I just can not possibly get everything done in the limited time that you give me. I can't cook, clean, read, sleep, enjoy, eat, pee, shower, love, cuddle, entertain, work, chat, and relax in the few short hours that you provide me. Granted, if you gave me more hours, I would probably use them for sleeping right now....but still...Look into that for me, please?
Patiently awaiting your response,
Stretched Thin

BBQ at Buttermilk

Lorelli had been talking all weekend about how Monday is about the soldiers. We told her this is true but that it is a day for soldiers that have passed, whether in life, war, combat, or anything and that we pray for them and honor them on Monday. Well, recently, we got an American flag to hang in our front yard. So, every time she passed our front window (the whole weekend) she would bow her little head and put her hands together and say some kind of little prayer for the soldiers. It was pretty much one of the cutest things she has done in a while. One time she told me that her little prayer was, "Dear God, I am sorry that the soldiers had to die. I hope they are happy now and that their moms and kids are not so sad."

Monday Lorelli and I were both off and Jennifer had to work a little bit. But we planned on attending this awesome BBQ out at Buttermilk Falls with a bunch of friends from her old job site. It was HOT HOT HOT on Monday. Like seriously...95 degrees or something. That's pretty darn hot for up here. And there was no cool breeze. If I have your phone number, you probably received a text saying something along the lines of, "Days like today make me rejoice for the feminist movement. No way would we survive in hoop skirts, petticoats, and full body bustiers!" But, I digress. We went to the falls and had a FANTASTIC time hanging out and chatting.

At first, there was only Lorelli in the kid age group. And then two other little kids, and then 3 more, then 1 more....you get the picture. By the end of the picnic there was a group of 25+ people and lots of kiddos. We had brought some Crayola color bubbles and some sidewalk chalk for her to play with in case she was the only kid. She's pretty good at entertaining herself most of the time. She took her sidewalk chalk down to the bottom of the hill and started drawing. A kid from the picnic came down and drew with her. And  then another. And then a random kid from the park. And another. Pretty soon, I think that every child in Ithaca was there coloring on the sidewalk at the park. It was SOO great!

A waterfall to the lake

hard at work

A whole town's effort

And of course....since we were at the falls....there was some water play. There were plenty of signs that said NO SWIMMING!!! But that didn't stop us from sticking our feet in.

Her co-worker's young daughter

3 happy girls

The afternoon turned out to be a huge success and everyone there had a a blast!

Intolerance

I am feeling kind of blah today. I let something really get to me yesterday when I probably shouldn't have. A high school friend of mine posted a link to a website as his Facebook status and asked his friends to join him in boycotting Home Depot. I was not angered by his post...everyone is welcome to have their own opinions...BUT I WAS UPSET by the page that he posted. It was just....filth.

I have been so lucky to be supported by such amazing people in my life since meeting Jennifer and falling in love with her and marrying her. I know that there are VERY anti-gay people and groups out there. But, thankfully, I have not had to face them too often. I was not raised in that kind of judgmental family. And none of my friends have ever been that hateful. And here in Ithaca, people are very open and friendly and liberal, so Lorelli has not had to face other people's hatred and judging.

I DO know it is out there. I read about it from afar. You see it on the internet. I know about it from the work that we do on the Crisisline. I am not SO unicorns and rainbows that I think that the world has changed and grown so much that all people will accept all other people. I DO pray for that day, though.

Because I was so upset, I went back and re-visited some of the things that my amazing friends have said to me in the last year and I wanted to share them with you.

"I LOVE YOU. I LOVE THAT YOU ARE HAPPY. I ALWAYS WILL......it doesn't make me care about you or your happiness any less. It doesn't mean that I don't want to continue to be your friend, or be part of a four headed goddess with you.....But I am truly glad that she gives you what you've needed for so long, and I want you to be happy, loved, valued, all those things that you deserve!!!"


"Girl or boy, lady, i am glad you are happy. It is super cool that you found what you want!"

"I am glad you're happy - well I guess to be honest, it would be more like spaz-out joyful - the way one is when one is in the thores of love. "

"And, as I said, I care about YOU and your sexual orientation, who you are married to or your religion are not factors in our friendship.......I think loving ALL people is important and don't go around making public stances against people for any reason"


Those are just a few of the amazing things that the people I surround myself with have said to show me that they love me and are behind me. I just needed to get this out of my head. Thanks for sticking around and reading. 

Still kicking

I have not posted in a bit and I know I promised a Mother's Day post. I just have not had time to sit down and write lengthy posts. I am so sorry.

Mother's Day was actually pretty great.

We had reservations at this amazing little bistro on the outskirts of town. The food was....DIVINE. That's the only word I have for it. Jennifer had some absolutely delicious oatmeal crusted french toast that just melted in your mouth. Lorelli had these awesome pancakes (that she shared with me) that had this delicious little citrus butter and strawberries on top. I have never had citrus butter, but MAN it was GOOOD! My breakfast was a simple eggs and bacon with roasted potatoes (which I shared with Lorelli). My eggs were so good that I did not even salt or pepper them. I just ate them. They had been cooked in that same citrus butter that was on Lorelli's pancakes. Jennifer and I both had mimosas. Our breakfast came with a basket of pastries and a choice of a fruit cup or a parfait. I can not even tell you how good it all was. Seriously, it was completely drool worthy.

We left breakfast satiated and ready to take on the beauty of the day. We went to Home Depot and Lowe's and bought a bunch of stuff to get our garden going. Flowers, dirt, mulch, rocks, ground cover plants, hanging pots, a bird feeder. TONS. OF. STUFF

We spent the afternoon, Lorelli included, digging up and weeding and willing the two GOOD SIZED flower beds in the back yard. In these we planted phlox and poppies which are BEAUTIFUL!!! Our phlox is not doing so well now, but after we planted it, it went three days because someone (me) forgot to water it. OOPS!!! I am hoping that it perks up, but if it doesn't, I am taking it back to Home Depot and getting my money back. (Did you know you can do that?)

We got to take a nap while Lorelli played and hung out with Grandma.

We worked in the front garden beds, clearing them of the debris from the fall decorations. Then we weeded and planted in them and covered them back with little white marble chips.

We got a little bit of sunburn. But mostly...we just enjoyed the day together. The sun was shining. The birds were singing. And we didn't have to do anything except BE.

Easter - QUITE late

So, I have been lackadaisical about posting here and I am sorry. Work got crazy busy. I started a new blogging project. We were sick {as a family} almost ALL April. And just...UGH!!! I really wanted to post about Easter, but Jennifer and I got Salmonella poisoning from her baby chicks at work. So, even though we had a wonderful day - I never got around to posting about it because we felt horrible.

So here are a few pictures from Easter to tide you over while I finish my post about the wonderful FIRST Mother's Day as a complete family, which I hope to have posted tomorrow.

Positive thoughts

I was just reading something the other day about how we are more vocal when it comes to our complaints than to our compliments....I want to post positive thoughts on here for the next couple posts. Today...I want you to know why I love my wife. It's not about the money she spends. Or the things we have. It's about much more than that. It's about HOW she shows me she loves me. Check out my list below and let me know what your loved one does to show you how much they love you. Try and think of something small that you noticed or something maybe they think that you don't notice. And then...hey...why not tell them thank you for that specific thing. :)


She knows I hate sweet potatoes.
She knows I love all things lemon.
She recognizes when I have lost some weight.
She helps motivate me to stay healthy so that I can live a long fun-filled life with her.
She listens when I talk and hates to make me sad.
She calls to say I love you.
She texts or calls to say she is running late.
She sits at the table at a restaurant, and enjoys the conversation after we are done eating instead of rushing to get us up and out and on to something else.
She tells me I am beautiful.
She helps to hang up the laundry.
She takes out the trash - sometimes.
She reads our daughter bedtime stories.
She showers with me.
She works with me on saving money so that we can plan fun things to do with our family.
She gives me a salad fork at dinner because I think dinner forks are too big.
She takes care of Lorelli's morning routine two mornings a week when she could be sleeping.
She accepts that I am not always as "pretty" as I seem to be.
She is honest and straight forward with me, whether I like it or not.
We have fun together.
We laugh. A lot!
She holds my hair when I throw up - even if it is on the side of the road and my own darned fault!!
She likes me.
She loves me.
She married me.