Here we are again ...

Daddy-less for a few days.  Nick left today for the rest of the week in Houston.  He won't be back until Saturday afternoon.  He extended his trip to spend some time with his family down there.  This trip is bittersweet for me as he isn't really working all that much and going to be having a great deal of fun with some great family members.  For me, I'm still here in Ankeny 100% responsible for everything!  Don't get me wrong, I love my kids to death, love my job, love my house .... but after the last few weeks being a single parent I'm getting pretty burnt out.  I think my kids are even noticing this.  Tonight I picked them up from daycare and Sweet Birk said to me, "Mom, can we just have the big M for dinner (a.k.a. McDonald's) so you don't have to cook?"  To which I gratefully accepted and pulled in for them.  Then I found out it was .99 Chicken Nugget Happy Meal day!  Man, I couldn't have picked a better night!  Then we got home and I told the kids I was running upstairs to throw a load of laundry in and put on my running clothes and Addy ran up the stairs and started to empty the dryer for me.  Could I have any better kids?  Geez!

So while I'm still having a bit of a pitty party, I'm also incredibly grateful that I get this 1-1 time w/ the twins.  I truly thought tonight would be so much work and I would be in a foul mood and amazingly I was able to have some pretty incredible moments tonight.

So, I'm off to finish watching Super Readers and then read some Bible stories with the kids.

Hope everyone's week is going great!

Chicken

Birk (as he is climbing into bed with me on Wednesday morning around 6:45am) "Mom, where is Daddy?"

Me: "You know he is on his work trip."

Birk:  "Oh that's right.  He is in Chicken?"

Me: "Uh, where?"

Birk (sitting up at this point) "Mom!  I don't know where he is going next, but it sounds like Chicken!!"

Me:  "Oh, you mean he is in Michigan!"

Fall

The weather is turning colder, football is in full swing, leaves are changing and we had soup from a crock pot tonight for dinner.   What a wonderful life!  We've been quite busy lately.  So, here is a short summary of some of the things that have kept us as busy as we are.

• Nick has traveled quite a bit.  He has been all the way from Florida to Michigan.  He leaves again this week for Houston.  I'm hoping (for my sanity) this is the last trip of 2012.  We just operate better when he is around. 
• Addy had her 1st ER visit this past week.  She slipped on a volleyball and suffered from a minor concussion.  What a scary deal.  
• We have become a Cyclone Tailgating family.  For the record, I LOVE THE HAWKEYES.  I always will.   But, I also love tailgating with my family and watching some college sports.  So, unless the two are playing each other ... I do love both teams.  
• We got to head up to the farm this weekend and go for tractor rides, play football in the HUGE yard, play in the dirt and collect rocks.  Can you even think of anything more fun that that?  
• Birk and Addy are in a young children's music group called, Little Cherubs, at our church.  They are loving it (for the most part).  They are still a little tentative when it comes to interacting with the other kids, but are doing better each week.  They also started Sunday School this month.  They are REALLY loving that!!!  

Here are a few photos to capture some of these awesome moments.

Long sleeves and flip flops.  Awesome part of Fall!  

Fun Cousin pictures. 

Kid giggles!  

Afternoons' on the farm. 

Collecting Rocks!  

Walks with Grandma.  

Mommy Hugs!  

Tractor Rides with Grandpa!  

Setting the ball up for Dad to kick!  

"I love football." 

Too much fun! 

DIRTY. BOY. 

I love this kid.  

and this one! 

This was Addy being silly @ the ER.  This was right about the time she started to feel better.  

My greatest accomplishment(s).  :-) 

He is riding fast! (check out his hair).  

Hope you are enjoying Fall about as much as we are!  

Photo weekend recap

Nick and Fran at the ISU game.  How cute! 

Brian is just so tired!  Long day of tailgating. 

Cousin Bicycle races. 

Mommy & twin Sunday lunch date at Applebee's.  I love these too so much, sometimes it just hurts.  

Just madness!!!!

Adult Cousin tailgate time!  

Blowing kisses to Aunt Stacy and Uncle Paul.  Man, why do they have to live in Colorado!!!

Racing

I love racing.  I love running a race.  There i've admitted it.  I'm addicted.  I will be the one who will pay $60 to run 13.1 miles.  In fact, I just did this past Saturday.

I do also have to admit, this was one of the first races that I was pretty scared for.  See in the previous 6 weeks before the race I hadn't had time to get much more distance than a 4 mile run.  Which isn't exactly preparing me for the distance of a 1/2.

However, the energy at the race just brings out the best in me.  I loved meeting the new people running their race for the 1st time.  I love watching the seasoned runners.  It just drove me to run better.

So, while I didn't get the time goal that I had ... I still had fun.  I ran.  I finished!

So, now the fever is back and I've been searching tonight for my next race.

Wish me luck!

My dad

NOTE:  Sad, sappy post below!  Consider yourself warned! 

Lately, I've been very much missing my dad.  I miss hearing his voice.  I miss watching Hawkeye sports with him.  I miss watching him sleep in his recliner while I watched TV or talked to my mom.  I missed watching him with his grandkids. I miss his hands.  I used to admire my dad's hands and now thinking back I know its because I looked at them as protecting.  He protected us in his own quiet way.  I miss the smell of Old Spice in the basement bathroom at my parents house.  I miss seeing his black shows sitting in front of the desk.  You see I miss it ALL!  

I know that he is living in the most glorious place ever.  He is watching us every day while he plays golf with his dad (whom he hasn't seen since he was 18), loving every minute of his time with his son, Tim,  who my parents lost when he was only 6 months old, catching up with his friends who passed before he did and just enjoying every minute he spends at the foot of Christ.  How can I be sad that he isn't here when he gets to be there.  The thing is that I feel selfish.  I want him here.  I want him to get to know my kids and how wonderful they are turning out to be.  I want him here to be with our family to see our family, and see how awesome everyone is turning out to be.  I want him to be at Tim's wedding and watch his first grandson marry such an awesome woman whom we all love (and who my dad would love too even though she is a Cyclone).  

I know that one day I will be with my dad again.  I can't wait.  Until then, I will remind my babies just how amazing of a father I had.  He taught me love, friendship, and faith.  In his own quiet way I know that he loved us all, he loved Christ and lived his life the way I want to live.  I'm beyond proud to be his daughter.   Every time I swing a golf club, cheer for the Hawks and say a prayer I know he is looking down and is smiling.  

Dad, I miss you beyond words.  I miss you each and every day.  Thank you for blessing my life the way you did.  I promise to live each day and always try to make you proud.  I love you! 

P.S.  If you're dad (or anyone you love) is still alive, please give him an extra hug or "I love you" today in honor of those of us that can't.  Cherish your loved ones while you can.  There will come a day when you can't to do those things.  It hurts bad to not be able to say those things, see them, hear or hug them.