Date Night!!!

My work had a table at the Lancaster Festival and I was invited to go, with a +1.  We had an amazing view of the stage, right up front!  Thompson Square was the headlining act and I must say A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!! The Lancaster Orchestra played with the band for most of their songs and it was such a neat combination.  I can't wait to go back next year.

This was the opening act.  I can't remember his name, but he seriously had the longest, skiniest legs I have every seen.  He did have an amazing voice and is bringing that old country feel back to country. 

A night under that stars isn't complete without fireworks.  

A Fox's Finish (Beginning)

A few years back my Seester got a tattoo.  It's more than a tattoo for us.  It's the symbol of the Michael J. Fox Foundation that supports Parkinson's Disease.  A few years ago our Daddio was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and we've been supports of the foundation every since.

I have wanted to get the same tattoo, but haven't been sure if I should even get it and where.  I also didn't feel that I deserved to spend the money on something when I really didn't do anything to "earn" it.  I told myself over 2 years ago that if I wanted to get this tattoo I need to complete a 5K first.

A year ago, this week, my father was visiting when he suffered a minor heart attack in my living room.  I've always had a close and special relationship with my Dad, but going through that experience with him only pulled us closer.  I held my Dad's hand in the Heart Hospital ICU as he recovered.  A few months prior I held his shaken hands as he prepared to under deep brain stimulation surgery.  I have been there as my dad as went through the thick of things.  I will continue to be there at his side as he goes though the challeneges that lie ahead of him.

I have been thinking for over a year on where I wanted to place my tattoo.  My dad has always wanted to run a 5K.  He was in the process of training for a 5K when he was forced to stop due to a knee injury.  He was never able to complete one.  I needed to do this for him, atleast once....if not more.  With this in mind I decided on my foot.  My reasoning?  This tattoo is for my Dad.  In an way, he is my fox.  He is a part of me, just as this tatoo is now a part of me.  No matter what happens with my Dad's health in the future he will always be walk, running, moving as long as I am.  His heart with never stop beating.

I completed my first 5K last weekend.  Today I got my tattoo.  

"Your heart will always be beating and your legs always moving.  I love, love, love you Daddio!!!!"

I sweat S.P.A.R.K.L.E.S.

The title explains everything.....

Family Fun Monday

Thankfully we had a day of NO RAIN in Ohio!!  What do you do when the sun is finally out??  Go to the water park and zoo, of course!

The gang before we headed for some fun in the sun!

After spending all day on water slides and swimming in the lazy river (yes I said swimming!  This child does not know the meaning of "lazy river") we headed over to the zoo before we headed home.  First stop, ice cream!!

We made a quick pit stop to see the wolves on our way to the African Safari.

These are the rare moments, these two actually being nice to each other.  Glad I was able to capture it.

Our "adopted son", Jacob; Karley and Bub.  If you ask Karley who Jacob is she will tell you he's her boyfriend.  Daddy isn't too happy about this.  ;)

Karley is over taking cheesy photos for Mommy.  She just wanted to see the real polar bears.

Oh these crazy kids!!  They make me laugh.

Karley has a list of animals that she wanted to see.  Polar Bears, Zebra's, and a cheetah.  Unfortunately she was disappointed with the Polar Bears.  They were not in sight.  So we headed off to find some Zebras.  This was out first time at the African Safari.  I was impressed with the layout and can't wait to go back to spend some more time there.

We did find the cheetahs!! 

"Do you know my Daddy is a fast as a Cheetah, Mommy?"

I'm not sure what kind on animal this is, but it did smile for a photo.  Word is this species will eat you out of house and home.

We might not have been able to see the Polar Bears, but Mommy made up for it when we were able to feed a Giraffe.

Everyone meet Scooby.

On our way into the Safari this lion was asleep with his back against the glass.  When we came out he had changed his position to below. 

The paws on this thing were huge! 

We all had a great day together.  Hopefully we will be able to do a full zoo day sometime this fall.  Photos to follow, of course.  ;)

Happy 18th Birthday Bub!!!!!!

It's hard to believe the our oldest is officially a "man"!!!!  It really does seem as if it was just yesterday that I was meeting this lil' 9 year old dude.  *tear*  Your Dad and I (Karley too) are so proud of you.  We love you very much!!

Just a small taste of his lil days.  We have a graduation coming up so I want to save the cheese photos for that.

Super Star

My Daddy keeps saying that he's not a super star of our house, he's just paving the way for the real super star.  

A night of hope & celebration

A few weeks ago I received an email that Michael J. Fox would be coming to Columbus, OH to speak on his life with Parkinson's Disease.  My Seester has ran a marathon in our Dad's honor for Team Fox and as a family we have all rallied around supporting The Michael J. Fox Foundation.  I knew that I couldn't pass up this opportunity, even if I had to go by myself.

I called my parent's that evening to see if my Dad would be able to make the trip to Ohio so that he could come with me.  I was estatic when he didn't have any plans and I knew he would be able to make the trip.  

Our seats were in the balacny, which proved to be a chanllege in itself due to some health issues my Dad was battling at the time, but we managed to enjoy ourselves.  

I was quite taken back by how advanced Mike (as he refers to himself) was with his PD.  He was constantly moving, but I guess I shouldn't have been too shocked as you aren't able to tell how advanded on is just thru photos.  I don't remember the last time that I would of seen an actual performance of MJF (yes, I don't watch The Good Wife).  Despite my shock, I was truely impressed with how well he has taken his diagnosis and the blessings that he sees with having PD.  He truely is an inspiration to me, along with many others.

I walked away learning and feeling inspired by Mike.  One, I learned that he "was Justin Beiber, before Justin Beiber was Justin Beiber.  Also, "if you think about the worst case scenario it actually happens.  You end up living it twice." MJF.  I can hold my hand up high and say that I am beyond guilty of doing this.  I can admit that I've gone throughout my life thinking of the worst case scenarios.  Sometimes I am able to overpower myself and think positive thoughts or not worry about it, but more times than not I'm a worst case scenrio person.  I'm a work in progress, but I never did think of it as living the scenario twice.  It really struck me to my core when Mike said this.  I'm working harder than ever before to not think of the "worst case", but just to live each day.

My seesters was sure to send me her way of being with us.  She tweeted out to the MJF that we were at the engagement.  The MJF org was sure to tweet her back.  She is camerae!