what to do...

brad and i had our usual sunday afternoon date today, saw a movie and then grabbed dinner...it is always the most relaxing way to spend the afternoon! he normally gets to pick the movie & today he picked "body of lies", it was an interesting movie about the war in the middle east and so on. i could have done without it - too much violence, but it got me thinking - it is something that is a serious issue for the middle east and us as we are in the middle of it. it makes you think of all those people over there giving up their lives to fight for our freedom, makes me feel pretty lucky. especially knowing that someone close to me might be headed over there soon and someone i know and love is currently in officer training...scary thoughts...but, it got me thinking about who i am going to vote for, i still don't know. i was home sick from "school" (that is what i am calling work these days) for two days. it was interesting as i was watching countless hours of tv how crazy election years are. i don't think that anyone really tells me what they believe in, stand for and will do for this country. all they do is tell us what the other person did, how wrong they are for the job and that is really it. well, how do you know all of that stuff is true, who do you believe and how do you decide? i was always raised republican, well my family isn't the most political in the world. when grandma was around it was, but my parents really aren't that crazy. so, do i vote republican because that is what i know - because even after being online tonight and looking for what the two people stand for - i am split - i don't know who to vote for - should it be Nader? i guess i only have a week to decide...here is to countless hours trying to figure it out!

this past week, we attended the funeral for my sister-in-laws father, Rick. it was hands down the most beautiful service I have ever heard. Rick was an incredible man, he made everyone laugh, he was always interested in what you were doing and how you were doing...he rarely ever talked about himself and was such an incredible father to Heather and her siblings - you could see the love that they all had for him. Rick will be missed more than anyone can ever imagine...he truly blessed this world in a way that not many do. i knew him, but not well by any means - I learned more about him on friday than I thought I would and all of it was amazing. He made people feel like a part of his family, he always had the best jokes and a laugh that was unlike anything else. my heart goes out to the Websters and everyone that was involved in Rick's life. He was truly an amazing person. When listening to the service, the minister made a comment that in Rick's prayer list, he said "pray for the guy who needs gas" it made me think - what if we were all like Rick, all praying for the guy that needed gas or food on the table or a job...i can imagine that this world would be a better place. Rick was helping this world be a better place and i challenge us all to follow in his footprints...

catching up...

Been a little while since I have posted anything...time has gotten away - AGAIN!

This past week went by so fast, I am starting to wonder where the time goes & how it always seems to pass me by.

We had a fun weekend though - so at least that worked out! :)

Friday night, I had dinner with my good friend Lauren, while Brad went up to OWU for homecoming weekend. He watched the soccer team play and I caught up with Lauren. We had a great time - we went to Green Olive in the short north, great little place, reviews have been a little bit good and bad, but I thought it was great! We had a wonderful conversation - talked about love, life, the election coming up and everything else we could think of! I just love chatting with Lauren - she has some of the most amazing outlooks on life & they are very inspiring!

After dinner I plugged in take me home into Pappa (my car, yes he has a name). He took me thru the GHETTO! I was so scared for most of the drive - seeing what was going on around me and then having no clue where I was - I was a little scared! When I told Brad where I was all he said was "oh no, that isn't good"! I made it though...thank goodness! Added figuring out how to get home from downtown to my list of things to do! :)

Oh this is important too - OWU won 1 to 0. I have to say I am with my grandpa on this one - soccer gets boring! Did a girl who is married to someone obsessed with Soccer just say that?? YUP!

Saturday we watched the Buckeyes win another game...then we headed over to Kevin and Courtney's to have dinner and play poker. Brad has so much to learn - so much - once again he lost to Courtney - someday he will figure out that she never bets unless she can win - oh and she did win! She beat us all! The Foos' came over and we got to see little Remi - she is getting so big! I can't believe it! She wasn't even here last year - so crazy to think about! Now that school has started we don't get to see Cam to much anymore, so catching up with her was a much needed thing!

Courtney and little Remi

The most popular girl of the evening!

Kevin making his veggies

The Foos - what an ADORABLE family

Me and my chips - notice who is already out!!

Today, we spent the whole day furniture shopping - we were debating about getting a new couch for the TV room or maybe just a new chair. We couldn't find anything - so we decided to get new pillows and CURTAINS! I was so beyond excited - I believe we bought West Elm out! Brad is spending the evening hanging blocks, curtain rods and putting together our new book shelve! Tomorrow he is hanging our new ceiling fan and curtain rods...hope he can do it! It will be a good thing for him on his day off - stupid bank holidays! I love everything though - so I am really excited about it! I can't wait to see it all put together! YAY! Three years later the house is almost complete! WOOO HOOO!

Brad and his incredible hanging abilities!

Hope everyone is enjoying the fall weather!!!

updated on us...

been a little while since we have written...what a crazy month it has been. we can't believe that it is almost October...how scary fast the year has gone by! It seems like just yesterday was February!

This past year has been a crazy one for us, some of our family moved to NC, we lost many that we loved dearly, we experienced a hurricane in OHIO...what???, I saw parts of the world that I never thought I would, Brad took the Cain cup back, we played golf together many times & brad won all of them, we have been able to spend time with our two adorable nieces, watching them grow into big girls...I could go on and on...what a crazy year - hard to believe it is almost over!!

This past weekend, we decided to take a road trip to visit Brian, Karin and Caroline. It was so good to see them! We miss them so much! We had such a great trip...we decided to drive down and it was an experience from the beginning!

Brad got pulled over in Athens County for going 75 in a 55, made out with a $100 ticket - way to go Cain...we then got lost - nice job navigation, finally 7 hours later we made it down there! I will say the one thing I miss the most about CO is the mountains and being in them all day was just perfect for me! We got down there in time to have dinner with everyone and see Caroline before she went to bed. We were exhausted, so we then all went to bed. Long day of traveling!

Saturday, the guys played golf and the ladies decided to go to the Biltmore in Ashville. We jumped in the car, strapped Caroline in and made our way...the short drive we got there...what a breathtaking place. 8,000 acres of beautiful countryside and you can't see anything else in the distance. We toured the house, walked the gardens and then headed home. Caroline was such a tropper thru it all, she didn't fuss or anything - she was so taken aback by everything in the house...she just kept looking around and around...

We then packed up the car and headed home. Karin had to change Caroline's diapers and I decided to wash my hands with sanitizer...so I put my rings on top of the car...well I noticed the trunk was still open and needed to be shut, so I went to the back of the car and shut the trunk, got in the car and we proceed to leave. Thank goodness Karin had the diaper in her hands and had to stop at a trash can to throw it away - I looked down at my hand which felt a little lighter and no rings...it hit me - they were still on top of the car - I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest - I jumped out of the car and thank goodness they had gotten stuck in the sunroof lip and were still up there! Oh my - I would have cried - well I almost was! How horrible!

We got back to Brian and Karin's had a great dinner and then headed to bed early again - we were all so tired! The next morning we went to brunch and then hit the road...what a great weekend...I wish we could have stayed longer, but we both had to get up and work on Monday!

Here are some pictures from the weekend...mostly of little Caroline...

Caroline having fun at lunch!

The Biltmore - Brad can I move here?!?!?

Caroline in the Gardens

xoxox! More soon!

friends

I have to say that Brad and I are extremely lucky to have the friends that we have, we wouldn't be who we are without them. Both of us are extremely blessed with the people that surround us. There are many of our friends that live so far away from us that we never get the chance to see. We both think about all of them often and always try to keep up with their lives, but so often the daily routine just gets in the way and you loose touch. Luckily, they are the type of friends who months can go by and it seems like you never missed a beat. I had the chance to catch up with one of my closest friends last weekend and it just made me miss her even more. It made me miss the days that I used to walk down the hallway and just say hi, it makes you remember how important those little moments are. Now, I treasure the 2 hour long phone conversations once a month catching up with her on her life and filling her in on mine. Sometimes life gets hard for them and it breaks my heart that I can't be there for them like I could if they lived in the same city or even create new memories now that we are older. I wish I could have it all - everyone I love right here next to me or me near them and my family and my job! It's sad how life works that way - I know that I have been horrible about getting out to visit and keeping in touch, but that is about to change, both Brad and I think and talk about these friends that live away from us! We miss you guys and love you all! We made an agreement that we would get out to see all of you soon! After all, who would we be without these people! Love you all, even our friends that are right here with us!

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!