Can't win 'em all

My favorite ball player on my favorite team, I had thought, was supposed to pitch in yesterday's game against Texas. Of course I had expected a win to follow that too. As soon as I saw the wrong pitcher on the mound, I knew someone else got their birthday wish in ahead of mine. As painful of a game as it was to watch, I couldn't help but feel good for Texas winning their way into their first World Series playoff.

Hugs and kisses always make it better, and there's always next year.

Happy Birthday Dylan! Hope you have a great day!

Robot Zach

We didn't think Zach was going to be able to dress up as a robot for Halloween. The costume we ordered over a month ago for him didn't look like it would show up. Yesterday, a few hours after ordering him something different, I got a tracking update on the costume. It made it here and was waiting at the Post Office.

You think he likes it just a little? I don't think it's coming off any time soon.

Shell

I haven't been back to my parent's old house here for a couple of weeks now. I think subconsciously I've been avoiding it because it makes me sad. I took the boys over today to let them run around and see it empty. It was sad, but strangely enough the only thing that got me a little choked up was the work/utility room...go figure. There used to be so much stuff in that space and now it's just an empty shell. I guess it's just the type of room you never expect to see completely empty.

I set the boys up with a little picnic in the living room, and then we went outside to play. The boys played around the house and then hit all their favorite puddles along the street on their way to the park and again on the way back. After that we went for an unexpected walk around town.

I don't think I've mentioned the huge staircase that's close to the house. We call it the "cheese grater staircase," and it is very long and very steep. It's the type that you can't help but visualize yourself beefing it on, or hoping like hell that you never do, every time you climb or descend it. I know my boys are growing up on me because they've managed this very long staircase several times now without incident.

The stairs drop you down to the street the elementary school is on. There's been construction going on with it since last summer, and it's almost finished. The boys love checking out all the construction trucks and machinery parked along the street.

We took our time wandering around town for a little while and enjoyed the break from the rain. Sundays are good for walking around because a lot of businesses are closed. All the places the boys wanted to wreak havoc on were locked up tight, which makes for a much more enjoyable stroll, or at least for me anyway. I did, however, brave the grocery store for a few minutes. Ben promptly picked up a package of cupcakes. The boys had been so good for me, so I couldn't refuse. I also used the treat as bait to get them out of the store.

Until next time....

We said goodbye to Mom/Grandma last month and to Dad/Grandpa yesterday. We had Dad over for one last meat and potatoes dinner before Joy took him to the airport. We've been a little sad today now that it is sinking in that they're both really gone. We're so happy for them, but we'll really miss having them nearby. I know there's a part of them that is sad to leave such a beautiful place. I'm sure we'll have some of the same feelings when our turn comes to go. I'm not Irish but I've always loved this old Irish blessing:

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Thanks for the great experience over the past couple of years, for all the great memories. We were happy to be able to share them with you. We love you Mom & Dad.

Green Thumb

Dad is in the final stretch! His last day of work is this coming Thursday, and I'm so happy for him! Tonight we put together a little surprise retirement party for him. I made a garden themed cake for him which I absolutely loved doing!

Growing up we always had a garden, and since he's been in Cordova it's been one of the things I think Dad has missed the most. Since we all couldn't be together at the party, I asked my siblings to take a few minutes and write something to Dad about his retirement or past memories about Dad and gardening. Here are some of the things they wrote:

Michel: I remember hauling the little red wagon around the neighborhood to sell the extra fruits and vegetables from the garden. We would pile it high with corn, tomatoes, cucumbers and I can't remember what else. I was always so mortified to knock on the neighbors doors, although I loved the money that we earned. Years later I had someone from the old neighborhood tell me how much they had loved it when we brought the little wagon around to their house!

Eric: We had rows upon rows of corn growing in the neighbor’s backyard. One day he sent me over to fertilize the corn. He gave me a bucket of granular nitrogen and told me to go to it. I was clueless as to how this was to be done, so I just started tossing it up onto the tall corn leaves. The next thing I can recall was that Dad was scrambling and to water all the corn so the nitrogen didn’t burn the leaves. From this valuable lesson I learned that plants get their nutrients from the ground.

Clair: One job that was never done was picking up the constant supply of the many rocks found in the soil. This was one of the least favorite of the gardening chores so Dad would use it as a punishment for when we got out of line or started fighting with one another. Fortunately for him he had a small army of naughty kids that were constantly getting in trouble. I in particular created a rock pile at least as tall as I was and 50 times my own weight over the years.

Connie: I remember getting up on Saturday morning and wanting to spend the day reading and playing but you would insist on two rows of weeding before we could do anything else. I may not of appreciated it at the time but through your example I have learned the value of work.

Carrie: What I really loved about Dad and his love of gardening was that twinkle he would get in his eye when it was harvest time. He would grab a salt shaker from the kitchen and head outside towards that garden. I would always follow because I knew something good was about to happen.

What an unbelievably hard working man my father is! He has worked so hard all his life. He taught us all what a good work ethic truly is. He has made sacrifices all his life for the good of his family.

The gardens we had year in and year out are the perfect metaphor for our family. There was always such a diversity of vegetables in our garden, just like the personalities in our family. And just like all the plants needed different things to grow to their full potential, so did we. We were all responsible for helping in the garden, but it was always Dad that worked the hardest. All that time he worked in the garden over the years he was helping us to lay the groundwork in our lives to be good, hardworking people. People with qualities like Dad.

Dad, we all love and appreciate you so much! We're grateful for how hard you worked all these years to provide us with a comfortable and loving home. Happy retirement and happy gardening Dad!