In The Funk

Well this is day 1 without Andrew and it already stinks.  I woke up earlier than usual this morning and as I lay awake the fact that summer is over and Andrew is gone started to sink in.  I love that Andrew is home for his summer breaks but having him for that amount of consecutive time makes it really hard, not only say goodbye, but also to get back into a "non-Andrew schedule."  Drew worked late yesterday since he took off Friday and Monday to spend Andrew's last days with him.  I found myself not wanting to go home after work since I knew the house would be empty.  And if it's this hard on me I can only imagine what Drew is going through.  95% of Andrew's summer is spent with his Dad.  They go to work together, they eat three meals a day together, they brush their teeth together, his day-to-day schedule revolves around Andrew...so even though he doesn't really say it out loud I know trying to get back in the swing of things is hard.  But Drew wouldn't have it any other way.  He makes the most of the time he has with Andrew and I love him so much for that and Andrew does too.  I did a little interview of Andrew on Monday, I'll post later in the week, and some of his answers where all about how his Dad does this for him or his Dad does that for him or how his Dad can do this and that.  I'm so grateful that Andrew notices how different his Dad is compared to other Dads.  And what's more is that Drew realizes how precious their time is together and doesn't take it for granted.  I love my boys so much as individuals, but when they are together, if it's possible I love them even more. 

A Nashville Kind of Weekend

Andrew was off of school for MLK Day, which was one of our holidays.  But instead of him traveling so much on his long weekend we decided to fly to Nashville.  I took off of work Friday and Monday so we could all spend the weekend together.

Thursday is snowed in TN!  I couldn't wait to get there and see snow for the first time all year.  Of course it was almost gone by Friday, but none the less I saw snow!  Andrew was off of school on Friday for a snow day which worked out great for us.  We first went to meet his teacher, Mrs. Floyd, at his school for a parent-teacher conference where she went over Andrew progress so far this year.  He is of course doing great.  He's on a third grade math level already and is above the standard in reading also.  She even asked Drew if he had any mathematicians in his family, lol!  Math is in his blood so I wasn't very worried about that, but he just doesn't like to read very much so I was worried about how he was doing in that area.  She put our worries to rest and told us to keep doing what we're doing when he's with us.  And we went over a few things we could work on this summer.  Once we went over his score we were talking about his love for math and that he loves word problems, which is funny since he doesn't like to read.  She said Andrew says when he's reading about math, it's NOT reading.  Then Mrs. Floyd said, "I think he's going to do big things.  I'm betting on him being a chemist."  Drew and I busted out laughing.  And she was like, "What?"  Then Drew told her my degree is in chemistry.  Made my day!

She said he's a happy boy and while he takes a little while to warm-up to new people he eventually does and is very outgoing.  I asked her if she had any other kids in her class who have a blended family and one of his friends he tells us about, Ethan, is also from a blended family.  She said they talk about what's different in their families with each other ie two Christmases, their parents are better with different people, etc.  I'm so glad he has someone he can talk to that is his age, so he doesn't feel alone or different.  Drew and I are very thankful and relieved Andrew has a teacher who is very dedicated to her students, who took time to meet us on a snow day, and who was very supportive of our situation.  We asked her how we could support her classroom from Louisiana and she gave us some great ideas!  We loved her!

Then we went and pick up our little man to start a fun-filled weekend!

 We started with grabbing some hot dogs at Corey's Doghouse in Mt. Juliet.  I definitely recommend you stop there if you are ever in Nashville.  Then we went to see The Adventures of Tin Tin, I loved it!  And Andrew was pretty excited that there is going to be a second Tin Tin movie.  Then we went back to the hotel to relax before dinner at one of Andrew's favorite restaurants, Los Compadres.  After dinner we played board games that Drew and I had brought with us.  Daddy kicked my butt at Battleship.

 Andrew made his Dad a first place ribbon, for winning! :)

 My boys.  I love this picture!

Saturday we Saints geared up for the game and headed over to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

 I can't wait until Music City is finished!

 Chet Atkins' guitar collection.

 We found some Louisiana influence, the Hackberry Ramblers from Hackberry, LA.

We saw Webb Pierce's Silver Dollar Convertible and Elvis' Solid Gold Cadilac.  

Tons of gold and platinum albums from all of our favorites.  Andrew loved listening to the interactive records. 

 One of my favorite Dolly songs, Jolene.

 Andrew asked us to read about every guitar in the place!  He loved Alabama's double-necked neon guitar.  

I can't wait for him to take lessons this summer.

"Hey that's Daddy's guitar!"  Sure enough a Gibson Les Paul.

 I loved the floors in the Hall of Fame room, if you look close you may be able to figure out what it's made of:  It's the end of wooden beams.

 My all time favorite country singer, Mr. Johnny Cash.

Then we went to the Big River Brewery to watch a heartbreaking Saints game...but we still had a blast.

 Trading "Wet Willies" during the game. :)

Then we surprised Andrew with tickets to the Predators vs. Philly Flyers for doing so well in school.  He was ecstatic!  We had a great time at the game.

 Smashville!

Andrew wanted our picture taken with the Gnash blow up.

 Geaux Preds!

 Preds won 4 to 2, whoop whoop!

Sunday we headed over the the Opryland Hotel.  It was beautiful!

 Love Chihuly's glass works of art!

 Gorgeous stained glass in the lobby.

The gardens were splendid!

My handsome boys!

 "I wish you and Do-Dah lived in TN." wishes.  

(Happy and sad tears.)

After the hotel we headed over to Dave and Busters for some arcade fun!  Drew and Andrew had a blast and I laughed by behind off at the two of them.  Sunday night we ate dinner at Andrew's other favorite place Buffalo Wild Wings.  And Monday we spent the morning loving on each other watching cartoons.  Then went for a drive in the countryside.  

It was a great weekend filled with, as usual, great memories.  It was nice  to visit and do some of the things he does on a regular basis with him, so that hopefully when he's there again he'll remember the times we were there with him.  I miss him so much, but we'll be seeing him again in 3 short weeks!

Day 11 Thankful Project

Today I am most thankful for the birth day of my little man, Andrew B. Day IV!!  It's a special birthday this year, turning 7 on 11/11/11, so make a birthday wish for him at 11:11am!  He has brought so much joy and love into my life and I just can't even imagine the world as I know it without him.  I'm so thankful for him and his Daddy and the love that we all share.  We talked to him this morning and he was pretty pumped about his day!  I can't wait to celebrate with him when he's home in ten days.  Nothing says "Happy Birthday" like a Power Ranger Pizza Party!

Andrew,
I hope you have the best birthday ever!  I know your TN family is going to do it up right.  It's your day and your Dad and I will be thinking about you every minute of the day.  You are so special to us and we are so thankful God blessed us with you.  You are at the top of my Reasons Worth Living For list!  Your sixth year on this earth as been a blast and we know year seven will be even better.  I am so proud of you for doing so well in school, for always minding your manners, for enjoying life, and because you love the people who love and care about you, no matter what anyone tells you.  You are wise beyond your years and you teach me things I never thought a little boy could.  I love you so much and I am so happy I am apart of your life.

Love- Your Do-Dah

Picture of Random or Random Pictures

•  A few random pics to get your morning started off right!

Andrew made a "crab" card for Brady because "Brady is probably going to miss me this weekend while I'm gone."

 He has read it out loud over and over again because he thinks the "have a crabby day" part is absolutely hilarious and he loves cracking himself up which cracks us up!  He's so hilarious!
The stuff he says amazes us, Drew is constantly saying "Where does he get this stuff?!" 

 

Andrew has also made about 50 paper airplanes since he's been home...

 "This is Dad flying our plane, that's you and me looking out the window at the clouds."

 

 Aunt Erin, my Bud, and Mimi after the "How I Became a Pirate" play! Arrrr matey!

• Junk Food!  Man it is so hard to have an adult diet with a 6 year old little boy in the house!

 Abita Root Beer Floats

 Cupcakes 'n Cream cupcakes!

One of the guys I work with sent this to Andrew.  My office has tons of pictures of us and with all of the stories I tell they feel like they know my little boy. :)  Thanks Mr. Al!
"That's the biggest Hershey's I've ever seen in my whole, whole life!"

Drew and I sure are going to miss our little man this weekend.  His mom & stepdad are coming into town for a visit.  I don't know what we're going to do without our Ben 10 running around.  Since Monday, Andrew started telling us, "I'm going to miss you in 4 days."  "I'm going to miss you the day after tomorrow."  He's so sweet and I know he's excited to see his other set of parents after being away for a month.  Goodbyes are hard for both sides and I'm glad that we only have to say goodbye today for 2 days.  The next goodbye won't be nearly as easy for us.  (Bleck!  I don't even want to think about it!)

Hope you all have a great Thursday!