Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Visiting Friends

The girls and I recently visited our friends the Hoffmasters, who moved from Fairmont to Elkridge, MD.  We had a wonderful visit.  I had two favorite things about our visit.  First, the kids just picked up playing like they had just seen each other the day.  Second, when it was time to leave, they all were like, see you later.  I mean of course there were hugs and kisses, but they acted like it was no big deal and they would see each other again real soon. 

Sometimes it is good to see the perspective of a child or in this case children.  The kids don't look at the distance and the time apart as a big deal.  They know they are friends and those things don't matter to them.  The only thing that does matter is their friendship.  I think there is value in thinking like that.  Sure life happens, you grow up and negative things happen that affect us and change our view, but sometimes its good to view life like a kid and enjoy it because it is way better.

Here are the happy kids, Elijah, Isak, Drea, & Charlotte

Group Hug

On the first day we were there the weather was fantastic....we took advantage and went to the park

Char holding on for her life

Elijah posing for the camera....or just getting back up after falling

These two ran around this playground like crazy.  The were inseparable.

Charlotte holding on for her life again.  She kept saying, "Dad, help me!"  I kept saying, "Let me take your picture!"

Isak and Drea just playing.  This park was pretty amazing.  There were so many pieces the kids could play on, it was tough to keep track of them.  I wish I had more pictures from this trip to the park, but I had battery problems all weekend.

Look at us!

Isak, not wanting his picture taken

Jumping on the bed!


OK, I lied.....my real favorite part of the trip was seeing this guy

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Cooper's Rock

The girls and I got lucky and had another great weekend of weather.  As we went about last weekend's trip to Richard's Farm, I thought it might be fun to take the girls to Cooper's Rock.  The weather was perfect.   It couldn't be more obvious by the crowd of people because there was less parking available then at SRC on a Sunday.  The only draw back was I was afraid Charlotte was going to fall over the overlook.  She is a complete daredevil.  Drea used to be the one that scared me, not so much any more as she has become a little bit more reserved.  Either way we had an enjoyable trip.

A beautiful view from the overlook

The girls enjoying another view
 
Drea not scaring me

Charlotte scaring me...notice my arm holding on tight to her...she kept saying Daddy why are you holding me.  This was my favorite picture from this weekend, so I guess it was worth losing a couple of years off of my life

More scary pictures


Finally just sitting and smiling

Just exploring the trail

The girls stopped to play in the sand.  This was their favorite part...

...They both said this is the best trip ever (keep in mind they say that all the time, I know their tricks)

That's the railing Charlotte was leaning on...

More exploring

Drea wouldn't go on this rock first...

...but when she did, she had to get her picture taken

FYI, they were looking at a Bear

Drea promptly hopped up on the stump and claimed to be the Queen of the...well, stump

Can you say Winter Park Tour


They were cracking up the whole time they rode this seesaw

3 and half swing rating

Shh...the cooper's rock giant is sleeping

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Richard's Farm

Okay, so it is really Rich's Farm, but Drea keeps calling it Richard's Farm and I think it is cute.  The girls and I took our annual trip to the Farm for Kids Day.  Personally, I don't think it is worth the cost of admission, but Drea really wanted to go and kept talking about it.  Then, I debated going because of the weather, it was supposed to be in the 50s.  Anyway, I rolled the dice and we ventured to Smithfield, PA and hoped for the best.  One thing I have learned over the years is it gets really cold, so I made sure to bring hats, gloves, and warm clothes.  We started the day bundled up, but then something happen....the sun came out and it became one of the nicest days and trips to the farm.

This picture was at the beginning of the day, notice how dark it is and the girls are bundled up

This is the end of the day....sunny and no hats!
The wigwam

The wigwam with two cute girls
Bouncing on the tires


Still bouncing

All done
This is absolutely my favorite picture from the day

Charlotte would not look at the camera

Daddy and Drea

Charlotte still not looking at the camera
Swinging on the horses

Queens of the hay mountain

Look at the sky in this picture...also see if you can see the girls

Someone really looks like a scarecrow

Marching around the barn

Painting her pumpkin

Still marching

Still painting

Finally painting
The girls also traveled though a corn maze, pet some animals, and bounced in a bouncy house.  Overall, it was a enjoyable visit and I think I have changed my mind, it was worth every penny.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Sometimes the In Between Causes Confusion


Sometimes good things come to an end.  A good book, a good movie, even friendships.  For me and Stacey it’s our marriage. I know for  some of our blog readers this might come as a shock and devastating  blow—know  this though: It has been a long uphill battle with many emotions and tough decisions—lots of prayer and support, questions and tears.  And after all this time honestly I am still not sure why.  I mean, I know the reason why, but really what’s the reason?
God had a great plan.  He made a love story.  His plan was the best plan, but  things happen, people change.  The reality is this:  God wins.  The devil loses.  It’s all pretty simple.  The story is already written.  It’s the in between that causes confusion.   

We are going to be okay.  I know that.  I know my relationship with God has never been better.  I know we’ve both made mistakes, but the cool part: God knows it all and he is still here with us.  He is still a part of me--and part of Stacey, too.
I wish I understood what happened. Maybe I never will.  I have some theories and things I am choosing to believe in order to help me heal, cope and forgive. I know I never saw my life heading in this direction—not our marriage—not our life—probably because it wasn’t the plan. Not God’s plan. Not our plan.  During this time I was reminded by a friend about a scene in the movie Lord of the Rings... where Frodo is lamenting that the burden of the ring has fallen on him.  “I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.  "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”  I hope I handled my time and my decisions in the best way that I could.   

Don’t worry about me.  All I ask is that you just pray.  Pray for Drea and Charlotte.  Pray for me.  Pray for our friends.  Pray for our families.  Pray for Stacey.  It will be different and it isn’t going to look like some think it should.  Like I said, God had a great plan.  Even after all we’ve been through I fully trust that God is in control and He created our stories. I am confident he will restore and bring healing to all this brokenness. And certainly this was never part of my plan—and didn’t end the way I had hoped—but my faith in a good God remains.

Monday, September 17, 2012

The Queen of Silliness

Charlotte cracks me up.  She is always doing something that makes us laugh.  Sometimes the stories and the things she does, don't translate well into a blog post.  Sometimes I forget.  However, rarely a day goes by that she doesn't do something that makes me laugh.  Charlotte can be sweet and caring,  loving and kind, but there are times she does stuff that quite honestly I don't imagine girls doing.  For example, tonight she was getting a bath and all of a sudden, she starts blowing snot rockets.  Really?

Look at that face...that is not innocence
The other night I was reading the girls books and Charlotte says to me, "Daddy, smell my fingers."  So I do.  Big mistake.  I say, "Char, eww, what was that?"  She giggles, and says, "I put my fingers in my butt!"  What three year old girl does that?  The next morning, as we are driving to school, Charlotte says, "Daddy, remember when you said I could poop on Drea."  Seriously, I never said that.

Another thing she does is she asks, "Do you want to fight?" Then she hits me, and sometimes she gets me when I am not prepared.  She also makes this mean face when she does it, too.  I wish I could get a picture of it, because it is pretty funny.

One last thing she has been doing lately is blowing raspberries.  In case you don't know what that is, it is when you stick out your tongue and basically spit on someone.  The thing about all of these things is she seems to do them at a time when a good laugh is needed.  Of course, sometimes you want to be mad at her, but she is just to much.  And like every good comedian, if you laugh she just wants to make you laugh more.  She is the queen of silliness.  I am sure, I will be getting called to the principal's office. 

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Randon Thoughts, Feelings, and Opinions

  • I hate folding laundry...towels are okay, but the rest of it sucks.

  • I love college football...this is my favorite time of year.  It is even better that WVU is ranked so high and has high expectations.  I would watch college football over anything on television at any time. 

  • I talked to Charlotte on the phone the other day and I was asking her a bunch of questions....anyway, she answered every question, by saying "Nah"....it made me think of my Grandfather.  He was never a big talker and would always answer with a "Nah".  It was pretty cool to hear Char answer that way and it made me chuckle.

  • Recently I celebrated my 38th birthday and it was one of the best birthdays I could remember.  I know I'm old and that's probably why, but the best part of my birthday was Drea running up to me at school and screaming happy birthday.

  • Beer is proof that God loves us.

  • I watched the movie, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and I highly recommend it.  It was probably one of the most therapeutic movies I have ever watched.  There is a scene in which Sandra Bullock is talking to her son, Oscar.  He is mad that is father was killed during the attacks of 9/11.  He tells her that he wishes it was her that died and not his father.  She replies saying, she wish it was her too.  I clearly remember my mom saying the same thing after my father died.  It's tough being the one left behind.  More on this movie later.

  • Who needs the Outback when you can make steak like this....


  • ....and Yes I ate the whole thing.

  • I think I have finally gotten over the whole Rich Rodriguez leaving WVU thing...sometimes things happen for a reason.  If he didn't leave we wouldn't have this guy...

  • I love completing a task, it doesn't matter what it is painting, cutting the grass, lesson plans, whatever....task completion is always a good thing.

  • If I didn't live in WV I would definitely live in the Baltimore/DC area....or the beach. 

  • I know I am a man and I am not supposed to cry, but nothing is better then a good cry.  I am not afraid to share my feelings or cry.  God made me that way, so why fight it.

  • So there has been some debate as to whether I should keep this look or not...

  • ...of course I mean the beard not the stance...I don't know what that is about...my theory on the beard is this, if it is good enough for Jesus, Santa Claus, and the Mountaineer, it's good enough for me...plus Drea likes it.

  • Back to the movie Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, like I said it was very therapeutic...there was a scene where the boy in the movie admits he didn't answer the phone when his Dad called to speak to him one last time.  It reminded me of my father's death. My sister Laura came to get me after my father had fallen from his heart attack and I failed to do anything.  I guess I didn't realize there was something I could do or had to do.  I don't know if I feel guilty or if I feel anything at all...it just seemed very familiar.

  •  The movie, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,  is about a family dealing with life after the 9/11 attacks on the NY trade center.  It also got me to thinking about that day.  I clearly remember that day.  Stacey and I, as well as, our friend Dave, sat in the Mountainlair and just watched.  You could have heard a pin drop in the Mountainlair that day.

  • Finally, in another scene in the movie, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Oscar talks about making his Dad proud.  Isn't that what we all want and hope....to make our parents proud.  I hope that I do and continue too.