Bravery

Ayden, and his mom, are traumatized from his Covid vaccination.  Needles are a HUGE fear of Ayden's and he was in denial about getting his "poke."  But, he did it!! ...and will have to do it all over again in 3 weeks.  Allie?  Easy-breezy!  

Hallo-WEIRD

Is has been a LONG Halloween weekend. Allie escaped a haunted pumpkin patch at her Girl Scout Halloween Party (earning her engineering badge). We punched out our pumpkins and the little did it all on their OWN! I roasted pumpkin seeds turned out pretty well this year and mummy dogs for dinner were a hit with the kids, except Ayden who only wanted the dog. We continued the tradition of trick-or-treating with our faves in our neighborhood one last time, seeing lots of old neighbors…and visiting our old house that’s just not the same. It's very weird to see our house...not being our house.

My Peck of Pumpkins

 

 

 

I Want My MTV

 Allie and I time-warped back to my childhood....neon colors, leg warmers, varsity jackets, and all!

Rest in Peace, Papa Ralph

Today we celebrated Papa Ralph…another Papa that has left us here on Earth this year…up to Heaven to watch over us, keeping us safe (because that’s what Papa did). Our family embraced ANOTHER flag this year, a flag when we will look at it, will flood our hearts with memories. I’m not sure we will have enough shelf space for all these flags.

Papa Ralph was a kind, gentle, and smart man. He loved sports, dancing, and desserts, but most of all he loved his family. Supporting Todd throughout his childhood by teaching him how to play baseball, basketball, and tennis...Ralph coached many sports for his son, and he even created a tennis team at Todd's high school when there wasn't one just so he could play. We will miss our Papa Ralph dearly, but know he is watching over us keeping us safe.

Ayden is 8!

Ayden is 48 inches tall and weighs 48 pounds.  He loves playing Minecraft and Roblox.  Ayden is a maker.  He loves to create with cardboard and duck tape and he is a pro at making paper airplanes.  Ayden is a fire master and can start and keep a campfire burning for hours.  He attends ninja class and is an expert on the rings.  This year we learned Ayden is not a fan of roller coasters or vegetables, but he LOVES the snow.  He can play outside in the wintertime all day long.  Recently, Ayden began tinkering with Daddy's guitar and now is learning to play a multitude of songs.  Ayden's favorite foods are frozen Cokes, hamburgers, and yogurt.  Ayden is our compassionate, sensitive, and very creative little man that loves with his whole heart.

20 Years in Arkansas

Our 20th Anniversary trip did not disappoint! Hot Springs AR is filled with rich culture and some amazing history. Known as the “American Spa” getting its name from the thermal healing spring waters emerging from the earth at 143 degrees and Bathhouse Row that runs right in the middle of downtown. Hot Springs is the original spring training of baseball and was also the largest illegal gambling racket in the country almost 100 years ago. Every establishment including our hotel (which used to be a doctor’s office building where people would visit after drinking the spring water to see if they were getting healthy) had beautiful vintage charm. We had cocktails in the oldest bar in Arkansas where many famous gangsters and MLB players frequented (Babe Ruth). We hiked both sides of the Hot Springs National Park walking over 10 miles and climbing up 800 ft. We toured the Fordyce Bathhouse learning what spas from 100 years ago looked like…and we indulged in a hot spring mineral bath in one of the historical bathhouses. The food was AMAZING, the cocktails were tasty, and the company was spot on. I may pick totally random places to explore…but we have so much fun together. Here’s to more anniversary trips to the middle of nowhere, together.

 

 

 

 

 

I do…for another 20 years. Happy Anniversary to us. I’ve always wanted to visit this chapel.