Party Day in Monroe

We are hanging in Monroe today. Two important graduation parties. Sarah's brother Jason and my cousin Kaileigh are celebrating their entry into adulthood. I spent the morning preparing my famous baked spaghetti for J's party. Almost 30 pounds of it. I try to over-cook for events like this, because it is usually a big hit.

Kaileigh's party is at Grandpa and Mary's house. That will be a relaxing and fun time with the girls. They will both want to enjoy the pool most of the whole party, and I'm more than happy to oblige.

Today is also my Grandpa's 69th birthday. Amazing, he still looks 55 and has the work ethic of someone who has never asked for a handout in his life. I set up a breakfast meeting with him last week, and after about 25 minutes, he popped up and said, "Well, I'm sorry, but I've got to get back to work at the farm." Keep in mind that he retired from 39 years at Ford Motor about 10 years ago. He still has it in him though.

My girls are dressed up in matching outfits today. I love it when Sarah does that. I'll try to snap a shot today and will post it on http://www.sillyparents.com

Hide Away

Where I wish I was hiding out, right this minute, with the sexiest woman on the planet. (Who I just happen to be married to...Bonus!)

Missing You

I've been working 3 days a week out of town now for about 4 months. I talk to Sarah and the girls several times a day while I'm gone though. Always great fun to talk to Ashy and Emer, they make me do the voice of the Old Tree and such. This week though every time Ashy gets on the phone, she is wimpering and demanding that I come home now and play with her, not in two days. She said today, "I really miss my boy."

Heartbreaking, Anyone who knows me knows that I'm just crazy about my girls, all 3.5 of them at this point. So you know how hard it is to have Ashtyn missing me so much. It's hard to explain that daddy's have to work, and some daddy's have to travel a bit. She doesn't get that I'm keeping a food on the table and all that, she just knows that every evening that I'm away is an evening without playing dodgeball or christmas in the basement, and that makes her sad.

I'm excited to be working from home most all of July though. (That is when the baby is due.) That will give everyone a break from me being gone in the middle of the week.

Sarah, tell the girls how much I miss you all!

4 Year Old

My first born baby turns 4 tomorrow and for some reason this milestone is tugging my emotional strings pretty hard. It seems silly to say, but I really do remember Sarah and I laying in bed at our little house on Spring Arbor Rd., staying up late and trying to figure out if it was the right time to start having kids...does Sarah fill her BC prescription the next day. We had been married about 4 years and Sarah was ready. I was too, except like most guys, I had financial concerns, and worried about stability.

That next day though I had a strange clarity and peace. As soon as I got to work, I ordered flowers to be delivered to Sarah with a simple message that went something like this, "Don't pick up the pills, were ready!" Almost exactly 9 months later Ashtyn Greer Ansel came screaming into the world, and life has never been the same.

You never really know how deeply your parents love you until you are blessed with a child. Seriously, every day, I am in awe of the bond that is there between us and our kids. Through good times and temper tantrums, it is constant and never changes. It is a powerful force that words really can't even come close to describing...so I'm not even going to try.

Anyways, I'm so thankful for this love and the way that it changes and expands with time and with the addition of siblings. I wonder if God feels the same way about us through the ages? It sure gives me hope to think that God does.