Fish Stories Told Here....

And some are even true! :)

Poppy, Drew, and Andrew took a fishing trip Friday afternoon and they fished until they dropped...well at least until Andrew did!  He was worn out!  Some of my favorite memories were made on the side of a pond and sometimes in them!  I'm so excited that Andrew will have many fishing memories of his own.

The Day Legacy :)

Drew's 2, 3, and 4

The Honey Hole

Sweet Success!

My tired little fisherman

I'm going to miss my "kool-aid lip" kisses!  :(

Time to clean some fish!

Daddy's little helper.

Nice one!

I love this little face. <3

And man were they yummy!

Head vs. Heart

Our Bud is going back to Tennessee next week…and it hurts, it already hurts and he hasn’t even left yet. He may not be my flesh and blood but he is definitely a part of me and who I am. I keep trying to prepare myself for the void that is about to come but I can’t seem to wrap my heart around it, but then again my head and my heart have never been capable of working together. My head tells me to get ready, to try to remember the times when he’s not here and that the sun does still come up…but my heart says, “It’s different this time.” No more monthly furloughs, school is starting and he is growing up…so many days between visits, so many missed memories, there and here. It’s been many years since my heart has grieved like this and yet it always seems to be over a boy named Andrew.

I know that Drew and I will be becoming very familiar with Tennessee over the next umpteen years and I know that the holidays will mean more to us now than they ever have…my head tries to soothe my heart by bringing these thoughts to mind over and over again. But then my heart counters with the feeling of his hand in mine or how I feel when his little voice says “I need to tell you somefing…I love you.” My heart reminds me that for the last 2 months I haven’t left the house without giving him a kiss while he sleeps, it reminds me that I’ve watched the same Ice Age movie 20 times in the last two days and loved every minute of it, if reminds me that I wouldn’t do this for just any kid…but only for a kid I love as my own.

And this is where I falter and my head goes on the defensive, “Why put yourself through the pain? Why did you make this choice? This is the life YOU chose.” And while my heart is barely treading the waters of self pity, somehow it always finds its optimistic voice and I see a slideshow of memories: the first time I realized I loved Drew, letting Drew go, growing on my own, the pride in Drew’s voice the day Andrew was born, the first time I held little Andrew, the first time I realized Drew loved me, the first time little Andrew told me he loved me, the Christmas morning Drew asked me to marry him, the first time my Dad hugged Drew, the first time my parents met little Andrew, the 100,000th time Andrew told me he loved me- I look at my two Andrews, who mean so much to me, with the same blue eyes, the same goofy ears; they catch me staring and they smile, a smile with the same Day grin…and in unison, my head and my heart think and feel, “This. This is why you chose this life, this is your past, this is your future…and yes the pain was, is, and will be worth it.”

You act just like your Dad!!

Drew and I both act a lot like our dads, so this is a statement/exclamatory that is said ALOT in our household. :)  And what do we both say in response?  "Thank you!"  This is definitely one of my favorite compliments. 

Drew and I not only act like our dads we also look like them!

(2 & 3 have both cut their hair since this picture.)

Reason number 713,475 of Why I Love Drew Day:  He is an amazing, patient, loving, and caring Daddy.  So for Fathers' Day gifts Andrew and I went to paint pottery for both Drew and Poppy.

At first Andrew had "artist block" and couldn't decide what to paint. So I asked him what his favorite times have been with his Daddy and with Poppy.

"Um, with my Daddy I like...I like just to be with him. So I guess I'll draw me and him on this one. And then with Poppy I like to go fishing, but you'll have to help me 'cause I can't draw a boat."

No Problem-o!

Andrew's imagination is really starting to take off!  We had so much fun painting!  He was very adamant about doing everything himself (except the boat), he even had to include "lures" on his and Poppy's fishing poles.  He's all about details!

Andrew and I woke up and got breakfast going Fathers' Day morning. When Drew came into the room Andrew screamed as loud as he could "Happy Fathers' Day!!!"

Of course my Bud had to "help" his Daddy open his present, he was so excited!

"I made it all by myself, just for you!  This is me with the yellow hair and that's you with no hair!"

Oh the things kids say. :)

Thank you, Love you kisses.

Between my own Pops, Drew, and Andrew I have some pretty amazing, talented, loving, heartwarming men in my life and I thank God everyday for them. 

God has blessed me with an incredible Dad, from whom I have acquired many similar qualities-not just the nose and ankles!- but the ones that really count: loyalty, honesty, leadership, steadfast, and strength.  But above all he has given me the foundation to trust, depend, and live with a faith in God, and what could a father give that is better than that?

- Little Larry :)

In The Loop

Collecting a hard earned paycheck isn't the only perk of having a career,  a girl must always remember the one thing that might possibly get her through a manic Monday....BUSINESS TRAVEL!!  Ah, yes continuing ed is the real purpose but when you get to travel to different places compliments of the corporation it makes those hectic days a little more bearable.   This August I'll be taking some classes in none other than the Windy City!!  I booked our trip today, of course Drew wants to tag along, and I can't wait for August to be here!  Magnificent Mile, Navy Pier, The Rookery, The El, Millennium Park, Viennese Hot Dogs (never with ketchup), Deep Dish Pizzas, Wrigley Field...my oh my so many things to see and do.  I picked up my Fodor's 25 Best a few weeks ago when I first got the word and brushed up on Chicago's nooks and crannies and I can't wait to soak up some of the Second City's sights!

Everywhere we go people want to know who we are ...

Our little man had his first t-ball game today!!  He was so excited.  Once he had his little baseball pants and cleats on he was raring to go, go, go!  "I've never had a real t-ball game before!"

GEAUX METS!!

Good Luck Kisses XOXO

Andrew's #1 Fans

Divine #9

Monkeying around with his cousin Trent

Coach Sonny's Pep-talk

Pregame Warm-up

The hat is on backwards, now he means business!

Batter Up!!

This is pretty much where I forgot completely about my camera and commenced cheering with the Team Andrew Fan Club.  Andrew had 3 great hits and says he had a blast!  Thanks to all of our friends and family who came out to support our little ball player, we hope to see you at the ballpark again soon!  

H-O-M-E
That's the place for me
We've got the bases loaded
And we're goin', goin', goin
H-O-M-E
Yes that's the place for me, you'll see!

Sandcastles & Sunscreen

The brain activity of a jellyfish.

That was the state of mind Drew and I wanted to achieve over the long Memorial Day weekend- well at least as far as the house was concerned.  We promised ourselves no talk of paint, flooring, cabinetry, or appliances for the entire weekend!  And we actually did pretty well, until Sunday when we realized it was a tax free weekend! :)  On our way home we bought our refrigerator and our new ridiculously large TV.

But that isn't today's subject, today's subject is FUN in the SUN!

 Ready for the beach!

Sandcastle Building 101

Mmmm...My kind of wonderful.

Sitting Sandy

Aunt Syd-a-Rue

Do-Dah, Daddy, and Mr. Easily Distracted

I've been to the beach hundreds of times and I still stand in amazement at the wonders God has given us.  

We had a great and relaxing weekend!  We are truly blessed to have such readily available access to a beautiful beach, thanks Poppy!