Saturday, June 19, 2010

Happy First Father's Day!

Daddy,
Happy Father's Day!
Enjoy this poem and read away:

You make me laugh and giggle,
when you dance and jiggle.

You work hard and more than enough
so that mommy and I can eat the good stuff.
You love unconditionally, for real
and I know you like it when I squeal.

I like to cuddle and sleep right nearby.
So when you wake, we are eye-to-eye.
Please know that though I seem to want mommy more,
Your time will come and her I'll ignore.


Learn from me and listen up:
My love for you will fill up your heart's cup!


Friday, June 18, 2010

Mini-Vacation

Ari and I went to Florida for a short trip to the gorgeous [rare] weather for June. (Special thanks to US Airways for direct flights from CLT to MLB, and thanks to Grandpa).

There was a lot of pool playing in this three-person centipede. Ari loves watching her cousins Allie and Zach. She laughs at their dances and their silliness and she reaches out for their toys.
The sun and water wiped Ari out and she fell asleep on her tummy (for the first time). Another first, she started eating rice cereal before we went to Florida and ate pretty well while we were there.
Cousin Allie and baby Ari, super cute buddies!

We sure missed Daddy!! He completes our trilogy and we were a little out of whack, but he encouraged us to have fun. We did! Ari is a little water baby like me and she loved the beach.

Monday, June 14, 2010

the truth of things

Cars abundant in quantity are NOT the same as cars abundant in quality.

Lately, we've seen a black cloud in a lot of financial situation but we were blessed with a great deal on this new [used] car... a Subaru Forester; in great shape and dreams of camping trips in Pisgah (our favorite forest).
However, our new black beauty needs new tires and was (on the first day of driving) recently blessed with a tiny crack in the bottom right corner; special thanks to a dump truck. The check engine light came on yesterday (we've had her for 5 days)... we hope its an oil change problem only.
-Price for repair: $300+ for tires, iffy$ on windshield, $30 oil change and $? check engine light.

Oh, the Buick beauty. Such a great deal (free!, Thanks Grandma!). It has been a record 92 or higher for a few days here in Charlotte and who wouldn't want to ride with No AC and a falling ceiling? Oh, dont forget to check out the sweet dummy spare up there on the right.
-Price for fixing: $500+ for AC, $100+ for Interior design, $300+ for 4 new tires
(I forget to mention the Buick's worth: around $500 total)

The [un] trusty Honda. We've had her for three years now and though Hondas have a reliable reputation, she has failed to live up to it. A new transmission that leaks, needs new boots, new tires and rotation, a cracked windshield across the middle (2 or more feet) and new windshield wipers, something about a timing belt.... oh, the list continues.
-Price for repair: $250 new windshield, $450+ for parts, $300+ for labor to fix the insides.

Did someone say the lottery is $262 million?

I'll be right back. . .

Friday, June 11, 2010

Peace

My cousin Eric came home last night. After seven months in Afghanistan, Emily received the best birthday present ever: a hug from her brother. I feel relief and joy as I view this picture below. He is safe and in the arms of the ones who love him most.
Thank you, soldiers, for giving your lives to sacrifice for my freedom. I pray for the families and friends of those who serve. I've always been patriotic, proud to be an American... but today, the feeling is a little bit stronger.
Ari is proud to be the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of men who served.

May peace come soon, even if it means the return of the Peacemaker.