daddy day 2012

First of all; thank you all so much for all the comments and suggestions on yesterday's post. I'm still going through and answering those by email, but I wanted to let y'all know I have already read them. And we're trying some of the suggestions out. We still aren't having much luck with the patch going well, but here's hoping.

Our Father's Day weekend was pretty low key. Which? is sort of how we do things. And we love it.

I keep thinking that one day we'll be the type of people that make these big, grandiose plans for special days, but so far, that doesn't appear to be happening. So we do small, simple things. And we do them together. Which is kind of what the days about right?

Mr. P had to go into work early that Saturday, so BG and I got to work putting the finishing touches on his present.


This collage was much easier to do last year when she wasn't mobile.

And for comparison's sake..


Oh my stars.

Back on track girl. Once Mr. P returned home, we decided to head out to the local state park.

I had read that there was a half mile walking trail out there that we figured even BG could handle, so we packed up and headed out. Once we got there, we quickly found the trail and were on our way.


It didn't take long at all for BG to decide that she's not the hiking type and to quickly demand another means of transportation.


We both swapped carrying around the little one for a while until we realized that we clearly weren't on a half mile track. We had been walking for over and hour and couldn't see an end in sight.

So we trekked it back up to the road where we quickly discovered that this girl had actually put us on the three mile bike track instead of the nice, short walking trail. So that was fun.

Then we walked drove on down to the playground and waterfront area. BG could not understand why she couldn't get in the water (hello red clay no way), so Mr. P distracted her by teaching her the basics of fly fishing.

I'm sure she got it. ;)


When she lost interest, I took her back up the playground area so that Mr. P could have some time to himself. Well, time with the fish. However, you want to look at it. That was probably his favorite Father's Day gift.

Kidding.


But he quickly joined us at the playground because lets face it; we're way more fun than fishing.


The afternoon was perfection. Perfection.

I cannot think of anything else I'd rather than do than listen to her laugh all afternoon. Those two slay me.

After picking up dinner, we settled in for a low key evening at home.

Sunday was spent giving Daddy gifts early in the day and then church and napping that afternoon.


BG and I went to a baby shower that afternoon and left Mr. P at home. He was then able to take a nap completely uninterrupted. That was actually probably his best gift.

Mr. P deserves a great Father's Day. Because that man is one great Dad. And every day that goes by, he gets even better at this job. So I hope you had a great Father's Day love. Your girls love you tons.

happy birthday!!

Today is my favorite guy on the planets (35th shhhh) birthday. And I couldn't be happier to be celebrating another year with him.


There isn't a day that goes by that I don't want you to know how special you are, but especially today, I just want to say a huge thank you for who you are and what you do for our family.

So thank you for being the spiritual leader of the house. Thank you for enforcing Grace before meals and prayers before bed. Thank you for showing BG that a quiet time is a must each day.

Thank you for putting up with my highs and lows. Thank you for always making me laugh. For being strong for me when I can't be strong for myself. For loving me unconditionally even when I do everything in my power to not deserve it.

Thank you for being the best Dad on the planet. For playing with dolls and ribbons and bows and tea parties. For laughing with her constantly. For dancing around the kitchen with her and making bath time a high of her day.

Thank you for loving us. Most of the time we don't deserve it (especially when we keep you up all night the day before your birthday, ahem BG), but isn't that always how a father loves?

Your girls adore you. And we look forward to celebrating you today. Love you forever babe.

seven.

Seven years ago, I married my best friend.

Looking back on that day, I had no idea what to expect when I said "I do".

The two of us had no idea the journey we were fixing to embark on. No clue.

It hasn't always been easy. Some days? it's downright hard and frustrating.

But most days? it's just right. We flow perfectly together and things work out just right.

Seven years seems like such a long time, but also so short. Some days I know him better than anyone on the planet and then some days every single thing he does baffles me. The good thing is, even after seven years, I still enjoy his company. He still makes me laugh. And he still makes me absolutely crazy and keeps things fresh.


I can't think of anyone on the planet I would rather do life with. I adore him. And as the years go by and I see him in new roles (most recently as a Daddy), I somehow find a way to love him even more.


It is never going to be easy, but then what worth fighting for is?


I love you babe. I love your corny jokes, your silly dance moves, and your amazing singing voice. I love how you are with BG. I love how at the end of a long work day, you still have time to cook us dinner, walk with us around the neighborhood, and give her a bath.

I love that you bring home chocolate for me with a look like "you need this" (even if that presumption tends to piss me off!). I love that you pulled out a drawing board in your office for your daughter. I love that you keep my stuff together for me and that you still roll your eyes and seem surprised when I do something dumb or flaky.

I love you babe. I can't wait to see what's in store for the next seven years.

Our Love Story

So I've seen this floating around le blog land for a while now and being in the spirit of Love Day and all, I thought I'd give it a whirl. I'm linking up with Becky from Mrs. to Mama for this link up. Without further adieu, our love story...

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

Mr. P and I met way back in September of 2004 so almost eight years ago. I feel like that makes me old..
2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

I had a job working for a big retailer at the time and was chosen to go help open another store in Myrtle Beach. After a few days there, I got into an "argument" of sorts with one of the new stores managers. Turned out, it was Mr. P. Apparently that argument caught his attention. We went out one time while I was still at the beach where he took me on a tour of some of the more haunted areas in town (right up my alley). I left the beach not really expecting to hear from him again. And I didn't. Finally I got the nerve to call him and call him out on not calling. He ended up driving the four hours down to Savannah with his buddy that very night and spending my birthday weekend in town with me. The rest is history.

3. If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry? {do tell}

We got married in May of 2005 so we've been married almost seven years.
4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding? If not, where would you like to get married? And will it be big or small?

We got married in Savannah on the bluff overlooking the river at my grandparent's house. I didn't have a church home at the moment and honestly couldn't think of another place I wanted that memory to be held at. It was a smallish wedding. Just family and my closest friends. It was perfect.

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!

I mainly call him "B". There's the occasional "babes" and stuff like that. Nothing too crazy.
6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

He's an amazing family man. Family comes first. He's a great spiritual leader for us. I know that he's doing his best to lead his family the way God has called him too. Oh, and he's hilarious. Love me a funny man.

7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?

So funny story. About a month after we started dating, we were rearranging some things in his closet when he asked me to marry him. It just happened. He says he knew right away that he was going to marry me and at that moment, he already had a ring. I said yes, but then told him that it was very important to me that he ask my Dad first. So he did and then we got engaged "for real" on Christmas Eve. Quick? absolutely but just plain right.

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

He's a card and some chocolates kind of guy. And it took me years to train him to realize that a gift is basically null and void without a card (I LOVE cards). I don't do flowers so he knows better than that.
9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

Completely a movie in kind of girl. Occasionally I'm for going all out, but most of the time I want my comfy clothes and my couch. I'm a homebody.
10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?

I'd like to travel overseas. Greece or Ireland preferably. But I don't really have too many crazy travel dreams. I really don't. Someday I want to just be sitting on my wraparound porch with my babe and absolutely no worries. Oh, and grandkids running around. Duh.

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.

We had a special lunch while the kiddo was at school. Then we skipped the movie we picked in favor of an afternoon on the couch watching Sons of Anarchy. Seriously obsessed.
12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

I wasn't. But I got chocolate. The way to this girl's heart...

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.

You've got to talk to each other. One secret, one bad thought; it can boil and fester until it's a disaster. You're going to argue. Not every argument is cause for dismissal. Basically make the decision that it's going to work and then make it happen. Oh, and laugh. A lot. Don't lose yourselves in your kids. You were two first.
14. Show us a picture of what love means to you.

the hike.

So Tuesday Mr. P took the day off so that he and I could have some "one on one time".

Get yo minds out of the gutter kids. We just needed a daggum date.

So we packed up the little and took her to her sitters for the day and we decided to hit the trail.

Well, after I made him stop by Target to check out the new Missoni collection. He was super stoked about that.

Eventually we made it out to the trail. I almost made him turn around when I realized I had zero cell phone service (not okay), but we kept going. Gulp.


He picked the trail. It was supposed to be "moderate". Ba. The very beginning was pretty downhill to which I remarked "you know this is going to be all uphill on the way back when we're exhausted right?!".

Ever the optimist she is.


I should say that I am about the jumpiest person in America. I can't help it. For some reason Mr. P let me lead down the trail (okay I was walking too fast, not enjoying the view and all so he made me go in front, whatevs) and I almost jumped off the mountain when I stumbled upon this wild animal...

Scary right? I almost killed myself trying to avoid him. What is wrong with me?!

Eventually I stepped over him (very carefully in case he go go gadgeted out of there and bit me) and we made it further up the trail. I kid you not when I worried we were lost because the trail was so overgrown. I actually had no sooner got the statement "I don't think anyone has been here in years", when we stumbled on an older couple (not out of breath at all) on their way down. They informed us that we were only fourteen minutes from the top and "such an awesome view!" so we kept on trucking.

So tired y'all. We were so tired.

Thirty minutes later (LIARS!), we were at the top. It was totally worth it.

We sat up there and ate lunch and tried to breathe relaxed. It was gorgeous.
I feel like I should've been thanking God just for letting us make it to the top, but instead I found myself thanking God for letting us make it to the top together.

In the craziness that is our lives, I am so glad that I can still spend a day with my husband, no, my best friend and it is just like old times.

We talked about our kid of course, but we also talked about so many other things. We are still best friends. And days like this remind me why we chose to do life together.

Such a great day.

Don't worry though. I drama queened it up on the way back down and broke the cheesy spell. ;)



We were almost back to the car when I heard it; that distinct "bzzz" that belongs to a stingy thing. You know what I mean.

Immediately I tensed up. I am terrified of bees. Terrified. I start to walk faster but the buzzing got louder. Then...

Yep. It got me. Yep. I cried like a little baby. No shame. I HATE them.

I made it to the truck still crying. Call me ridiculous, I don't care. It hurt and it pissed me off. Freaking yellow jacket. In true form, the hubs made fun of me (after he made sure I was okay) and we laughed about how our day had been. There is no way we could keep it simple and easy. That's just not us.

The best thing about spending the day with your best friend?

Ending it at the park with the other love of your life. My life is perfect. Seriously.