Thanks for the Memories

This week was spent at Myrtle Beach with my father and my brother and his family.  All week I've been repeating "Remember When."

Nana and Grandpa Clark have been hosting beach vacations for the past 8 years, and with only a couple exceptions, we've all attended. I hadn't even realized all the traditions we'd already created until all our events this week reminded me of past years.  

I used to plop my little baby on my lap in the lazy river and we'd float down in a tube together. This year when Alex road with me he flopped on top of me, all arms and legs hanging over.  

We didn't leave any babies behind this year when we visited the water park or the amusement park. We've even got one older one who's tall enough to ride the "big" rides all by himself. 

There was no planning around naps, diaper changes, feedings, and early bedtimes.  All five kids are big enough to play all day, stay up at the amusement park until it closes, and sleep late each morning, ready to do it all again. 

There were five kids who were perfectly happy to make their own sand creations and perfectly capable of navigating the surf all by themselves.  We took books and magazines and actually read them, had adult conversations, and lounged around. 

We used to take my grandmother to the beach. She had her own room and was content to stay at the condo, reading the paper and taking naps and staying out of the sun.  Now the elder is my father. 

And almost all five kids can swim on their own. 

This is really getting to me, this growing up with the kids thing. I am only pleased that I am here to watch it go by and appreciate every minute of it. Thanks Nana and Grandpa Clark for all the fun beach trips.  It's wonderful and we love it.

Dear Ric,

Thank you.

When we said our vows almost 14 years ago, I really had no idea what I was getting into. Young, immature, hopeful, in love. But really, completely clueless. Thank goodness it was you that I chose to marry. Thank you.

Fourteen years and three kids later, you are the one I look to. You are mine and our kids' compass. There have been lots of times that you were not present- training, deployments, overseas wars- but you were always here. I know it's hard sometimes to engage your kids from far away, to capture their attention. But their ability to move on while you are not here is not a reflection of your absence, but rather a reflection of your presence. You are always with them in their hearts. They are stable because you and I are stable. Their little lives move on because you and I, apart, are still together. We are a strong, secure family and you are raising healthy kids who look to you.

You are a father of integrity and strength and I am happy and proud that you are my kids' Dad. We love you near and far. And know this: we are a better family with you at the head. Thank you for showing your love to us every day.

We love you, Ric. Missing you, Happy Father's Day.

The Thing About Garage Sales....

is that, when your girlfriend wants you to price like 120 little shirts and you disagree on whether they should be $3 or $3.50, it's better to proceed with wine.

That Stinker-Dog!

So she jumps out of my car window today while I'm at the dentist. This is what I get for making sure she has a breeze. More than 2 hours of searching, hours of off-and-on crying, sad, sad kids.

wtf. Really. wtf. I take her to fun training classes, I treat her with sausage and hamburger and cheese. She gets brushed almost daily, walked almost daily and loved endlessly. She even gets to sleep on my bed sometimes!! And this is what I get. She runs away the first chance she gets. wtf.

Anyway, a 1/2 day later, she's found on the 10 Most Wanted.

I decided to let her spend the night in jail just to teach her a lesson. (or maybe that lesson needs to be for me.) whatever.

I found my dog.

Weekend Getaway Day 3

(Yea, I know. It's been 4 days since that day 3- I'm busy.)

As is my usual way of overestimating my kids' abilities and tolerances, I ventured for a family bike ride in Breckenridge. Rented a bike for myelf, a trailer for Evelyn to lounge in, Ethan and Alex on their bikes and we were off. Beautiful, sunny day.

About 4 miles down I kind of thought that the way out was particularly easy (this flat trail) and maybe we'd better start heading back. That's when I realized that we had been going slightly downhill with a tailwind. As soon as we started back (uphill, headwind), Alex's legs were too tired to go on.

Now with Evelyn and Alex in the trailer, Alex's bike fitted into the large back pocket of the trailer, we were off again. Me pulling about 150 pounds. At least there was no more whining.

After a long break to thow rocks in the river, a typically touristy lunch at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., more throwing rocks in the river, we headed back home to Keystone. Swimming, dinner, movie wrapped up the night. Tucked the kids in and....

whining and crying and smacking from the living room. Ethan and Alex finished off the night with a rendition of "I will be kind to my brother" written 10 times at 10:15 at night under the stark light of the kitchen and the stark gaze of their mother.

Ok, so the long days were getting to them and it was time to pack it in. But it was still a fun weekend. And I did hear from more than one kid on the way home, "I wished we lived in Keystone all the time."