HOW I MET YOUR FATHER~

Me & Bob at a friends wedding in '97

It was 13 years ago this night that Bob and I re-met. 

We were both home from college, me OSU and Bobby RIT.  The night before Thanksgiving is the best party night for college kids and 20-somethings, as everyone is home from school and it's like a huge reunion wherever you go.

Back in 1995, the Flats in Cleveland was a hot spot.  I was at Oconner's Irish Pub (underage, but my friends Mom owned the bar.)  I still remember what I was wearing...black pants and a white belly shirt.  I had just done a shot of Jager and in typical Amanda style, I spilled half of the shot on my shirt.  So there I was, in a white shirt with a dark liquor spilled all over the front of it.

I saw Bob as I was walking back from the ladies room.  I had not seen him since I was in high school, so it had been a few years.  I was now 19 and he was 22.  

He walked over to me with his big, gorgeous smile and said "Hey, remember me?"

I acted like I didn't because I was playin' the game.  After he "reminded" me how I knew him, we spent the rest of the night catching up.

As I was leaving, he walked me outside and gave me a kiss.  My heart melted.

For the rest of the Holiday break, we hung out as much as possible.  I was falling hard and fast and I knew it.  But I never knew we would make it through the years of separate colleges in different states, Army life and deployments, and lots of stupid mistakes in between it all.  We did a lot of growing up together.

Now here we are 13 years later.  We have eight years of marriage under our belts and two kids.  It is still hard to believe it all.  

So now that I am a 30-something wife and momma, this night is still one of my favorites.  Thankfully I don't hit the bars anymore.  Instead, I spend it with my hubby and kids, prepping everything for Thanksgiving, drinking some wine, listening to music and being truly thankful for what we have.  

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!  

Our 1st New Years together...we went to Times Square

THIS IS WHY I RARELY LEAVE THE HOUSE~

Monday evening I went over Jess's for a little bit.  When I came home, Bob and the kids are anxiously telling me I have to look in Grace's room b/c they hung up a new picture on her wall.  I was thinking that while I was away, they did some art and hung it in her room.

I walk into Grace's room and what do I see? 

Oh yeah, that is me and the Nelson brothers, circa 1987.  

My Dad didn't think it was good enough to just have the picture framed, he had to have it made into a giant glossy poster.   

The funniest part of it all is that Grace is begging Bob to take it down from her wall.  She said she will not sleep, CAN NOT SLEEP, in her room with that goofy picture hanging there.  I don't blame her.  That photo can give anyone nightmares, especially a 4-year-old girl.  

She also wants to know who the three girls in the picture are.  She refuses to believe that it is me in the picture and the other two are dudes.  

The cool thing for me is that I now remember what my natural hair color is.

GLORY DAYS~

Here are my babies wearing Bob's high school letter man jacket. I took a bunch of shots and framed them for him for Dad's day.

Speaking of Dads, today Bob's Dad is coming in town from Florida. And, it is Tim's birthday. So today we are going to cook out and enjoy some family time.

On the home front, Bob and I have been re-doing our living room. We ripped the carpet out, cleaned up the original hard wood floors, and moved some things around. The days and nights are so busy, I feel like everything is one big blur.

Did I mention my Sister (in-law) is getting married next weekend?

I know I am all over the place, but my mind is going a mile a minute.

I just wanted to check in with all my bloggie buds and share these adorable pics of G&D~