the last weekend of summer...

I can't believe how fast this summer has gone by - it seems like every year gets faster and faster! I guess that is what happens when you grow up!

We have had a crazy weekend to say the least. Friday night we celebrated our friend, Cindy's birthday at Brazenhead. What a fun night...some funny stories came out of it! Happy Birthday Cindy!!! Saturday I spent the day with my niece, Gracyn. We went to the zoo, it was so hot and the smell just got to me! GROSS! It was fun to see all the kids and little Gracyn waving at the fish as they swam by...she is so precious! Saturday night we went to dinner with our friends, Kevin and Courtney and then proceed to our usual...video bowling at the Goat. Brad and I usually end up in a fight, because I am not pulling my weight on the team and then we loose and he gets upset, but we actually won this time! Go us! I had three strikes in a row to give us a nice little lead! We also played cornhole and courtney and i won, like always! :) Today, Brad is playing golf and helping his sister move while I get things done around the house. I am going to go to Home Depot and see if they have any end of the summer sales on white rocking chairs for the front porch! Maybe we will finally use it if we have them! I went to the grocery and put everything away and did some laundry...it feels good to have some time to myself! Tonight we are headed to my moms for dinner, it will be nice to have a home cooked meal and not have to worry about cooking!!! Tomorrow is just relaxing and nothing more! Can't wait!

Here are some pictures from this weekend!

The Birthday Girl and some of the crew

Had to put one of B and I in

So many choices, so little time!!

The zoo makes me so tired!!!

happy birthday, grandpa

Today would have been my grandfather's 88th birthday. He passed away 7 months ago Tuesday, I can't believe how fast the 7 months have gone by, it feels like just yesterday he was here with us. I guess that is a good thing, it means his memory is living on, I still just wish he was here with us. My family and I went to dinner to celebrate my uncle's 60th and then to also have a toast to my grandpa. My Aunt made these amazing notebooks of my grandpa's life for us to have. I couldn't even look at it - it made me cry, but was the sweetest thing ever. It makes you realize what an amazing life he had and all the accomplishments he made...he did so many amazing things, but yet, he never let you know. I learned a lot about him thru that notebook...it still made me super sad he is still not here to do more accomplishments or to hear about all the things we have done. He was always so proud of us and so excited to share what we were up to. He always let us know too...he was such an amazing grandpa! I know Scott wishes that he could have told Grandpa that they are expecting their second child in March. He would have had some funny reaction to it!

In the notebook there was a copy of his eulogy that I had the privilege to read 7 months ago...I wanted to share the "if Heaven" part again as it completely sums up my grandfathers life...

If Heaven were a meal, it would be chili, Grandma's tomatoes only please.

If Heaven were a voice, it would be Rush Limbaugh or Paul Harvey at 110 decibels on 610

If Heaven were a project, it would be a wood project that his granddaughters would treasure for the rest of their lives

If Heaven were a candy, it would be a butterscotch, fresh out of the state car

If Heaven were a tree, it would be a Christmas tree, not his favorite tree, but they did all for the collections of social security payments

If Heaven were a dessert, it would be a tin roof sundae, not ordered by scoops, but by fistfuls

If Heaven were a sign, it would be a sign made out of Pabst Blue Ribbon box - $21 for Christmas trees, prices rarely change...tax of course included - don't tip my grandkids to much for hauling it to the car or they might quit

If heaven were a lost and found, his pants lost in Selarno Italy would be on top

If Heaven were a smell, it would be the odor of a good bonfire in the fall, weenie roast ready

If Heaven were a town, it would be Amlin - his town, any sunny summer day with a view of his garden would be fine

If Heaven were a store, it would be Patch's store with house accounts and bills that were kept in lard jars

If Heaven were a neighbor, it would be Judy, bikini and all

If Heaven were a drink, it would be a martini, cheap vodka is fine...and extra one if the game was close

If Heaven were a lucky charm, it would be a buckeye

If Heaven were a symbol, it would be the stars and stripes, flying high above US Naval Vessels in the bay of Okinawa

If Heaven were a vacation it would be Vermont, last two weeks of September or first two weeks of October, the only time to go

If Heaven were a game, it would Jeopardy, winning every time

It makes me sad to sit here and think of all the people he will never meet, his great grandchildren, his soon to be grandkids-in-law. He loved us all the same and we all loved him so much! It breaks my heart that our children will have never known him, but we will keep him alive in our hearts, so he will live on. What an incredible man he was! I love him and miss him!

Here are some pictures of him that just make me laugh...

Grandpa on his Big Green Machine

Grandpa just being Grandpa..

Grandpa and his friend/nap buddy, Palmer

The Family after dinner - Becca and Jason had to make a run for it - so they are missing...

Also, wanted to say Happy Birthday to Kathy, my mother in law...she shares a birthday with a very special man!

up at 4am home at 10pm

I used to be able to do day trips to new york and really not have a huge effect on me - I am getting old, officially. This is week two of day trips and I decided on the plane ride home that I am not a fan! Oh well, done for the month and then they start up again in September. Pays the bills I guess though!

Brad and I have been obsessed with the Olympics...we can't get enough of them - even if we know the outcome we have to watch them. I am somewhat excited for them to be over, so I can start to go to bed earlier! I just watched Shawn Johnson get her first gold medal - I creid seeing her parents so excited! What an accomplishment for her - I can't even imagine the work that has to go into something like that!

Well, I am off to bed...brad is already asleep on the couch! Kisses!

three years down, forever to go!!!

Brad and I celebrated our three year anniversary last night...we were both sitting there having a hard time believing that three years ago last night we said "i do" - time flies when you are having fun! We didn't get to do much celebrating last night as i arrived home late from new york - had to travel for work! Sad day, but someone has to pay the bills, right brad??? I got home around 10 and Brad had dessert from Cheesecake factory and a big smile waiting for me! he was so sweet to pick it up! We are going to head to dinner tonight to celebrate some more.

We continued the trend of the "family" gift...last year was a new patio and this year we both got Iphones! How exciting! August 21st will be the official roll-over to the new phone! Can't wait! We then decided to be a little more traditional and do the yearly gift that Hallmark gives a certain gift for, this year - leather, glass or crystal...Brad got a new wallet and i got replacement wine glasses that brad broke two years ago and my favorite bottle of wine! I was so excited for them to be back in my house - plan on breaking them out Friday night!!! Brad isn't allowed to touch them! It was a fun night - I wish we could have spent more time together, but we have forever to do that, right???

Thanks to everyone for the Happy Anniversary wishes...without you all - we wouldn't be here! The support we have as a couple is beyond amazing!!

Promise not too much time between posts! We have a crazy weekend ahead of us - will share all about it next week!

XOXOXOX

been awhile...

Hello!

It has been sometime since we were last on here! Kind of crazy how life can get away from you at a moments notice! We have been very busy...well when aren't we!?!?!

Let's see what the summer has brought us since our last post...we went to Cincy to visit brad's family...we watched his younger brother play sand volleyball and joined in with him on a pick up game...it was a good time...always love a good game of sand volleyball. We then had lunch with his family the next day and then headed to the Reds/Mets game with Kevin and Courtney. We had some great seats and watched the Reds beat the Mets...go REDS! Sorry Kev! We then headed out downtown cincy...I have to say - I was pretty impressed with downtown cincy - i think they are starting to turn it around down there...the next day we headed back to c-bus and went back to my Aunt's house to hang out with my family...it has been so long since I have seen most of them...all of our schedules it gets too crazy to meet up! I am glad that we were able to catch up with them and here what everyone was up to! I almost forgot - our sand volleyball team won the championship the Thursday before all of this! Exciting stuff - did anyone expect anything different??? :) It was a fun time...so glad we didn't have to play the team that we fight with all the time - that was a blessing in disguise...:) Brad swears that I am more competitive than him!

This past weekend we played in a mud volleyball tournament for charity...starting to drink at 8am is not a good idea for someone our age...that was the only way I was going to be able to get in that mud - beer...it was so much fun though - well until we lost...oh well - it was for charity...what can you say? It was so funny to see Kevin and Jared diving thru the mud for balls that there was no way of getting - they just wanted to get dirty...gotta love the effort. I got taken down to the mid on game three after I was too clean...It was funny...but I could have done without the mud everywhere! I think I am still finding it in my ears after about 10 showers of trying to get rid of it. Brad and I were also talking - at this stage in the game, one would think we would be a little smarter too - we left the house, knowing we were going to be in the sun all day and forgot to put sunscreen on - needless to say - we are a little sunburt! One day we will become smarter - one day! Sunday we relaxed and saw the dark knight...it was a really good movie - I was actually surprised...i would have thought it would have seemed longer...but it didn't. Heath Ledgers performance was just amazing...I do hope he wins something for it!

Well, that is about all we have been up to...nothing too exciting! We will be celebrating our 3 year anniversary on 8/12...I can't believe it has already been 3 years! So crazy to think about! :)

Oh - I can't believe I almost forgot - three weeks ago - Courtney and I won the cornhole championship - once again - we rock! What a great team we are! Go us! Unstopable!

back from vacation...

So, we finally arrived back from vacation. I can't say that I am happy to be back, I miss biking to the beach, taking a walk on the beach at night, taking naps and not having anything to do. I miss it all. I miss hanging out with the family during the day and fun dinners at night. It was a good time...I miss it. However, it does feel good to sleep in my own bed. Why is your own bed the most amazing thing ever? I slept like I never have on Saturday night - it was like sleeping on clouds!

So, here is a recap of vacation...Brad ended up winning the Cain Cup - well done Honey - so proud of you! Can't wait for next year!

Our little, beautiful, cheerful niece turned 1 on July 3rd...it was so fun to be part of your birthday little lady...dad turned 60, okay 57 - on July 4th...ha ha - here is to 60 years!! We went out to dinner with Brian and Karin one night and had some AMAZING crab legs and some even better conversation - we miss you guys so much! We spent the week feeding our turtle friends...they were so cute - I wish I had a picture! We played 9 holes and I was horrible - but we used my tee ball more often than Brads - what a day! I miss vacation already! Here are some pictures of the week....

CAROLINE AND HER 1st BEACH TRIP

The Cain's

Caroline w/ Grandpa and Grandma Char

We LOVE you Caroline!!!!

The ride home was a pretty emotional ride home. I found out that I needed to put my kitty of 15 years down...she was really sick and wasn't going to be able to make it another week, so today we put her down...RIP pretty Cali - RIP...

An hour later, we said "talk to you soon" to Brian, Karin & Caroline, I don't do "good-byes" so it was a "talk to you soon" for me...that was an emotional ride home!

Here is my pretty kitty...I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU SOOO MUCH ALREADY!!!! Tell Grandpa, Grandma and Palmer I love them and miss then and I miss you too pretty kitty!

Cain Cup - Day 2

Dan cacme out with a big win today, decreasing his lead from 14 strokes over Brad to 12 strokes. Brad didn't have the best of days - he took some big numbers on 17 & 18. Hopefully today will be a good day for him - I know he anxiously wants the cup back!

The weather has been amazing...brad and I have been biking everyday - looking at all the amazing houses around here that we can't afford, but would love to! The one I love is just $3M...not too much right - maybe 5 years from now??
We are playing golf this afternoon with Brian and Karin - hopefully I won't be horrible! Then we are going to head to dinner - and hopefully a walk on the beach! Until then I am debating going to the pool or the beach - probably the pool considering that the sand would be all over the place and I have to play this afternoon so not as much time!

Well, that is about it - hopefully we will have some big news in 2 days that Brad is once again the champ!

miss everyone and can't wait to see everyone again - back home on Sunday!