Beautiful Weekend

Wow...what a whirlwind the past 5 days came and went. It wasn't all craziness but i didn't want to see the weekend end either. My birthday was thursday...all i have to say is i have some of the best friends, family members, and kids in the world! When Zada saw me that morning she said "happy happy birthday" (if your kids watch sprout you know where that comes from!), Zoe gave me an extra long hug when i dropped her off at my moms (this never happens!), my sister in law surprised me with a bouquet of red roses, my boss was gone most of the day and only came in for about an hour right before i left to bring me my birthday gift ($100 to the Keg Steakhouse!! he must really love me!), my good friend Mari got me 2...that is right 2!! dozen roses and a tres leches cake (yummy!), one of my drivers got me another cake (yes i did share all of this...well at least the cakes), and my husband got me a dozen long stem roses with lilies (my fav!)...and he got me tickets to Kenny Chesney for May 31!! Of course we can't forget my mom...she gave me a gift card,, flowers and ordered in LOBSTER FROM MAINE!! It was the best lobster i have ever had...and chowder...and steamers...i was in heaven!

Mothers day was very low key in our house this year...it wasn't a good day for me. My dad whom i lost 7 years ago in June would have been 59 on Sunday. I was totally a daddy's girl...here are a few of my most vivid memories of him...

*He would take me to his poker parties for me to make money from his buddies
*He always had time to help me with my homework
*He was always there for me when i got my heart broke
*He (almost) always came to my defense when i was in trouble
*He would take me and my brother to the race track
*I never missed a softball game that he was in
*I was with him when he had his first heart attack
*I always went with him to the golf course
*He married my mom on a cold winter night in front of my aunt's fireplace
*He always made sure that us kids never did without
*He bought me a new trapper keeper every year (when they were instyle)
*His best friend gave me the only nickname i ever had
*He always bought me pink roses for Valentines day
*He told me that i never had to learn to drive a manual...that rule still stands
*He couldn't wait to be a grandpa...he never lived to meet the grandbabies
*He wasn't my biological father but he was the best daddy i could have ever asked for
*I still smell my dad's cologne when i am having a rough time...and when i had both
of the girls

I would trade may things in this world to bring my daddy back...it was my true lesson in life that you must take care of yourself. Not just for yourself but for those people that love you and will grieve year after year because of your loss.

And to end this...a few pictures from the weekend: