Friends

Yesterday was a day full of spending time with my friends. To start the day, Emily brought over her crew over for a while so we could spend some time together. I would not call it a play date .

Playdate: a forced get together with another women and her children. You don't necessarily like the women, but it is nice to let your kids get together and blow off some steam.

Now I know that not everyone uses the term as I do, but yesterday it was 2 friends getting together to just talk and hang out. It is a BIG bonus that our kids can play together and grow up knowing one another. Aaron was so adorable and tender with Austin. Lets just hope that when he has a little brother or sister that he is that way. (And no Emily I am NOT pregnant)

Emily brought me a birthday gift. First was a heart locket broken in 2 with our names inscribed. We have been through a lot so it is really meaningful to me. Then it was a plaque about Faith, Family and Love that I love and is in our kitchen for eternity now. It rather sums up our family life to a "T", which she understand and knows so well about me.

Then it was onto a nap to get ready for the evening. I met Elisa, Gallagher, Dana, Tracy, LKJ and Melissa at Classics and then we went to the Japanese Steakhouse. Yum it was so good and we had so much fun. I miss working with them, but it is really nice to know that we have remained friends even after all the years (Melissa was adopted in). After dinner we went searching for somewhere to dance and finally ended up at the Arlington Cafe. Alex picked me up and I was SO glad to get home and take a bath. I'll tell you, I am getting so old. It was so funny to watch all the people and try to figure out their motive for being there. I miss the old fun and crazy times, but I wouldn't trade my life today for anything. I am really happy and thankful that those crazy days led me to a few lifelong friends, some of my most cherished memories and even better-my husband.

Girls Night Out

The day was wonderful and it felt so good so spend time with friends. It really made me treasure the moments where I miss Don even more and made me realize that although there will never be another Don in my life, there are really important, neat and special people for me to share my life with.

P.S. Missy and Colleen can you PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE move here??? This is an urgent request!

Phriday Photo Phiesta!

I think I am cheating by posting more than one picture...sorry Candid Carrie.

This is Aaron's most recent professional picture and I am in love with it. He shows his personality to a "T". He never wears a hat, but from some reason I took the hat to the session and he loved it.

Along with Monster Trucks another GREAT love in our home is Superman. Although to Daddy's disliking Aaron sometimes calls him Spiderman-a big NO NO!

This is 4 months and one of my favorite pictures. My husband is an amazing Father and this shoes his love for his children perfectly. He is so gentle, yet stern with them. I am so blessed to have him in my life.
This is 2 months and the favorite picture of Alex and all Grandparents.

This is Aaron's first picture although after this day he was named Baby Bean. We had an ultrasound really early due to campling and all that jazz. Wow! So long ago.

The Diagnosis

Hand, foot and mouth

New family picture

2 weeks ago we went and had our pictures taken. Here is one of the Rodriguez family. Great isn't it? I cannot wait to go back and have more pictures taken-real soon.

I am home with Aaron today. Ladt night I realized he had these small bumps on his cheek and them his arm and now they are on his feet and head. We go to the doctor @ 2:30 so I will let you know.

Vacation pictures

Better late than never...

Ashley and her wiggle worm. Collin bought one of these at the fair years ago and he couldn't get it to work...Ashley did!
Aaron's first night in a "big boy" bed. When we got home we moved him to his.
I love this picture of Alex. He is so handsome! Admit it!
Me and Ashley in the early morning looking for seashells.
I couldn't resist posting this. At least this one doesn't show his nether regions!
The boys! Aaron LOVES Andy so much and Andy is the most amazing big brother! Aaron is really blessed to have someone so great to look up to.
Here we are going out to dinner-the only time. After that we made dinner at the house. It was Krissy's birthday dinner.
Auny Krissy and Aaron with the frog.
Ashley, Grandma and Grandpa at dinner-notive the Grave Digger shirt she has on.
Daddy and Andy on the PSP or pisp as they call it!

The house from the road

Aaron and me our first night there looking at the ocean
Aaron and Aunt Krissy snuggling!
Feeding the birda with Mamaw!
Me, Andy and Ashley-there was sand everywhere!

PHRIDAY PHOTO PHIESTA!!!!

I am hoping that I do this right. This is my first time trying to play along.

Here are the Rodriguez kids. Aaron the little one, Andy the tall, dark and handsome one and little miss thing Ashley. This was taken on our way to the Outher Banks at the Grave Digger store. Monster trucks are very near and dear to our hearts. I have always loved them and when I met Alex he got hooked too. He proposed to me at a Monster Nationals event in front of 10,000 people at the Jerome Shottenstein Area on 2/19/2005. Now we go overy year and in January it will be Aaron's first time.

Life...

Well we are trying to get back to our "other" normal. The kids are both home safe and sound. Alex is into the swing of the new job. Aaron is back at Denise's. It will be a few weeks before we get into a routine. Thank you all for your prayers-they mean a lot.

Michael has been moved to a rehalibitation facility, but keep praying for him.

There should be a Melendez baby in the nexy week! Woohoo!! Beth goes to the doctor tomorrow to find out when the little man will be arriving.

Pray for Bill (Missy's husband) who is hacing a mass on his shoulder removed Monday.

Good night!

We can pretend right?

That life isn't sad, that terrible things don't happen, that we make choices that we have to live with forever, that the day is normal even though later it will bring pain?

We are up and normal today at the Rodriguez house. I made french toast with sweet italian bread sticks (a special Ashley request) and then Andy did the dishes. There is only an hour left until we have to go to the airport. This really really sucks. It is so had on my heart and I cannot imagine the pain that Alex is feeling.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

Beth-2 comments in 2 days. I am so excited!

sad sad day

It is hard to believe that today is my birthday. I am most saddened becasue Alex is working right now so my day has been spent without him. Yes, I am thankful that he is working, but man I wish he were home with me. It stinks to spend my birthday without him.

My Dad came up last night and spent the day with the kids which is always nice. Aaron gets excited when Pa comes. I worked a 1/2 day and went to the cemetary for the first time. I had to do it today. I have been putting it off for far too long and I needed to feel Don today. It was really hard going there, but quite simple once I got there. It is rather simple...I love him and miss him terribly and it hurts to not hear his voice today.

The kids leave tomorrow so I will ask all of those who read this to please pray for our family as a whole and each of us individually. It is really easy for them to go back and get into the swing of their lives there, but we have a really hard time. Even Abbie will seem lost once they are gone. No matter what we try to do with our time it just isn't the same when they are gone. Mostly, I ask that you pray for Alex. He is such a strong and grounded person, but this is different. It is more than difficult and I ask for your support, prayers and phone calls to check in. We need our friends-it is that simple.

I am off to have cake...without my husband...THAT SUCKS!

long weekend

I am so tired and sad. I am not looking forward to the next few days-they are going to suck.

know what else sucks?

Pop Goes The Wiggles Live!
Don't ever waste your money folks. We went tonight-Me, Aaron, Mom and Alex and it was less than impressive. We left let down, $90 in the hole for tickets, $70 in the hole for Wiggles garb and $30 in the hole fpr crappy food. However, Aaron smiled quite a few times and when he waved bye to Dorothy I cried-go figure.

I do have to admit that this show was smarter than taking him to Monsters Inc. on ice when he was 6 months old. Genius idea I know.

Next up is Elmo Grows Up as long as Daddy buys tickets next week at 10am on Wednesday when they go on sale. (wink, wink)

Oh and when we got home the garage door was left open-thank you Andy, Ashley and John and the hose was left on full force-thank you Andy!

Do you know that sucks?

Summer does! Yes, that is right! Why you ask? Well becasue for 60 days our family is complete and then for 295 days it hurts like hell.


The dreaded countdown begins for all of us. Please keep our entire family in your prayers, especially Alex and the kids.

Uncle Walt

Alex's uncle is having surgery tomorrow to remove cancer from his tongue. Please pray for him first thing...along with Michael.


Good night, Shutterfly is going to break me!

Updates on Michael and Don

I keep saying that God is good all the time and all the time God is good. For those non-believers below is proof.

1. Michael is going to be OK. He has a broken pelvis and will have surgery tomorrow at 9:30. Please pray for him, his family and especially his wife Ashley and son Colton. I told Colleen to tell Michael that him running away was easier than this! (hehe)

2. There is a chance that justice will be served. For you Don, I have nothing mean or hateful to say, just that I pray God will do what he needs to do to make sense of this tragedy. Click on the link to read the story.

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/08/09/zthompson.ART_ART_08-09-08_B3_N5AVSI0.html?sid=101

ABSOLUTELY URGENT PRAYER REQUEST!!!

I received a call from Colleen this morning before 8:30 with news that her brother Michael was in a 4 wheeler accident. He was rushed to Morgantown, WV this morning in bad shape. Right now I know that he has a fractured pelvis and a punctured kidney and abdomen. I will keep everyone posted, in the meantime please pray for Michael to be strong and for his family to be brave in their support.

one more thing...

I received a rather sweet gift from my husband today. I was getting out of the tub and noticed something on the bed and was so shocked when I realized what it was. For our anniversary Alex had a painting framed for me. This is not an ordinary painting. We got the painting on our honeymoon and it is beautiful. He is so thoughtful and I am so blessed to have him!

However, there is debate now over where to put the painting so we will see who wins out!

exhausted...

Today was our Block Party at church and we just got home. Ashley and I got dropped off at 10 this morning and got home after 5. Pooped, I am just so darn pooped. It went off without a hitch, everything was perfect except that very few people showed up. Bummer!

We had a great time. There was corn hole, a bounce house, food, face painting and the Columbus Zoo was there as well. I am on the Family Life Committee which planned the event so I am sure we will be meeting to talk about what to do different next time, if there even is one. We also plan Trunk or Treat (my favorite) and the Easter Egg Hunt.

I am off to lay down!

Busy weekend

What a busy weekend we have had... Friday night Alex's best friend Dave and his family came into town. He and Alex have been best friends for about 15 years so there is a ton if history there. They have been through marriage, divorce, girlfriends a plenty I'm sure, children, tears and joy. Their connection is amazing and it is so incredible to see the smile in Alex's soul when Dave is here. We haven't seen him since the night before our wedding so this visit is long overdue. We also had some friends over Friday night to celebrate Alex's job and our anniversary, it was a really nice time.

Yesterday was the memorial service for my grandma and then the Strean family picnic followed. The service was really nice although I am not sure how my Dad held it together. He amazed me and everyone else. The picnic was the absolute best ever. There were new faces there this year that I hope are there every single year. My Dad's cousins Drew and Brooke came, along with Drew's husband Chris and his 2 daughters Rachel and Crista. Andy took quite a liking to Crista and I cannot say that I blame considering she is beautiful inside and out. Rachel is literally a walking miracle. She is the young girl that was shot 2 years ago in Worthington. She wasn't expected to live, let alone walk and live a great life. She has the most amazing spirit and attitude. She walks and talks and has amazed everyone. She has handled everything that has been dealt to her with such in such a positive way that you cannot help but know that there is a God when you see and hear her. Like I said it was a great day. My Aunt Kelly was there which always makes me happy and her husband Calvin is great. I was so excited when I met him and every time I am around him I like him even more. It is nice to see my aunt smiling on the inside. The Strean Family Christmas is just a few months away, but I think we will have to plan something in the middle of it all so we can see them all more.

We ended the night by going to Easton and eating at BD's. Andy stayed with me (alterative motives do you think?) so we met everyone else at the restaurant and then went to Wal-Mart. We got home after 11 and we all went to bed for church today. Currently Alex is making lunch, the kids are playing and we are going to THE OHIO STATE FAIR when Aaron wakes up. We are all really excited. We have gone every year. Last year Beth, Chimy and Kelsey came with us and this year Dave and his family are coming too. Beth is passing since she is a little more than pregnant right now, but I think Kelsey gave Chimy enough grief that they are coming.

I love Sundays becasue we get up early and go to church. I love to sing and praise God and follow it up with chatting to everyone. The rest of the day is spent together just us or with family or friends that we consider our family. I hope you all have a wonderful day!!

Ashley's blog

So today while I was at work and Alex was busy around the house little miss Ashley created a blog. It has a link on my home page...