Hello!

Man ... the weekends go way too fast these days. Friday, Aiden had his play date with Brent S. They had a ball. The first thing Brent's mom said to me was that Aiden had wonderful manners. Man ... that makes me so proud. Earlier in the week a person at the daycare told me the same thing about Logan. I love when our parenting methods actually take! Anyway, Logan wasn't feeling well that day (I'll spare you the details) so we just vegged on the couch that evening. We watched Frosty, Frosty Returns and The Flight Before Christmas while all snuggled up on the couch. I love that. Saturday we didn't do too much as we were waiting for my parents to arrive.

I was scheduled to ring bells at W*l-M*rt for the Salvation Army that afternoon. Mom and dad hadn't arrived, so the boys got to join me for awhile. They were too cute! Logan was not thrilled, he just stood there saying, "I am CooooooooLLLLLLd!" But Aiden was having a great time! He was singing Jingle Bells and talking to anyone and everyone that walked in. At one point, he looked at his reflection and said, "Mom ... I kinda look like a dork (and he did ... no one looks great in a toboggan even if it is a Colts one). So, he decided to sing Jingle Bells with his own lyrics: Jingle dork ... Jingle dork ... Jingle dork today. It was too funny. Where does he get it? After we thawed out, we went to a 50th bday party for some friends and then to the park in CC to see the lights. It was a fun night.

Today we just hung around the house. Mom and Aiden organized his closed and clothes while Papaw, Logan and I just vegged. The above pics are the boys wrestling with Papaw. The top one Logan is kissing his nose. So cute.

Side note ... to anyone and everyone that has received a Christmas card from us ... I am soooooooooooooooooooo sorry if you now owe the USPS a penny. I just realized that I sent at least 20 cards out with the 41 cent stamp ... oops. I am such a dork sometimes! I am really not that cheap! Again, I am sorry.

Have a wonderful week!

Carrie

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my dad's 52nd birthday. He is coming up to our place for the weekend. I am very excited. The boys and I are going to make his favorite birthday cake (white cake with milk chocolate icing) and we have some really cool gifts for him.

This birthday seems a bit more special to me this year. On July 17th, dad had a small stroke. Luckily he was only away from work for 6 weeks and seems to have made a full recovery although the dr.'s still are unsure as to why he had the stroke. Anyway, the experience made it all to clear how precious life is and how I should cherish my time with him. So, with all that said, here are 52 that I love most about my dad (or remember doing with him when I was little).

*Sunday afternoon wrestling matches.

*The smell of hamburger and onions (the only thing he can cook).

*The time he warmed up frozen waffles for me ... in the microwave.

*Our phone conversations.

*Watching him play baseball with my boys.

*The way his hands felt when I was little. They were always rough from boxes, but they were still comforting.

*His laugh.

*His baseball card collection.

*The way he loved (and still does) his mom.

*His organizational skills. Seriously, if I had half of them I would be in good shape!

*His work ethic. The man never calls in sick (ok, other than for a stroke or back surgery! HA).

*Playing catch with him in the middle of Chipaway Drive.

*Driving around looking at Christmas lights after he got home from work.

*He was the only one I would go trick-or-treating with.

*Daddy walking me down the isle.

*His face when he held his newborn grandsons.

*He taught me to mow the grass.

*He taught me to change a tire (I do neither of the last two now, but I could at one point in my life).

*The drives to Toledo every third weekend.

*He treated his three daughters as fairly as possible.

*He didn't judge when I brought a drunk friend home.

*The fact that I'll have to print this blog entry off so that he can read it. He's never used a computer!

*He is forgiving.

*He recognizes me for the woman I am today.

*He made it to as many sporting events as he could ... even for cheerleading!

*He's a Detroit Tigers fan.

*He's a Green Bay Packers fan.

*He a Colts fan.

*He's a Pacer's fan.

*He's a Nolan Ryan fan.

*He's a Brett Favre fan.

*He's my fan.

*He's Aiden and Logan's fan.

*He took us sledding ... down the driveway.

*Building snowmen.

*Snowball fights.

*Good's donuts and Sunday night with the Oldies on the radio.

*He's Pepsi addiction. Really ... it's a problem.

*Watching hockey with him when I was little.

*Being his bat girl when he coached the church softball teams.

*His strength.

*His faith.

*Watching him rock with my boys.

*Hearing him try to sing, "My Girl."

*Seeing his face light up when he is singing "My Girl."

*His record and 8 track collection!

*His discipline.

*His sense of humor (well, most of the time).

*The fact that he's proud of me even though I know I didn't make things that easy sometimes.

*He cares about my friends.

*He prays for me and my family.

*Watching him do anything with my boys.

*And the number one reason ... because he's my Daddy and I will always be a Daddy's girl.

I love you Daddy!

Carrie