Livin Life

A couple of weeks ago we were riding in the car and Ryan asked me what I liked most about life.  I wasn't really sure how to answer - There are so many great things about our life, but I was also curious what his thoughts were, so i turned the question back around to him and asked him what HE liked most about life. he thought for a moment and then said "I just like that I get to live it."

Heaven

Recently Ryan has been asking a lot of questions about God, and heaven.  These concepts are difficult for adults to comprehend, and I find it even hard to explain to him.  "What does she look like? (He thinks God is a woman!) What does Heaven look like?  What do you do there?"  He fired a bunch of questions at me and I did my best to answer them.  he thought for a minute, and then ended the conversation with  "I hope Big Nana gets to meet God."  I just looked at him and said in a shaky voice "I hope so too, Bud."

Saying goodbye to the Sagamore

I never like saying goodbye, and this time it was especially hard. We had an AMAZING time at the Sagamore with my family. The hotel is wonderful, and the staff took such great care of us. I am so proud of my brother and all he has accomplished in South Beach, and of course we don't mind reaping the benefits! In all seriousness though, they treated us like gold and we are so appreciative of their generosity. And all of us being together is something that doesn't happen too often, so we enjoyed every second! Of course some more pictures were taken before we left!

 

Date night!

For Ryan and Nana...

and me and Tim!



Just relaxing in Miami

Just add lemonade...

Tonight we all went to watch the Red Sox take on the Miami Marlins.  I wasn't sure how Ryan would do at the game, considering it was a 7:30 PM start and we have been playing in the ocean and pool for a couple days so I expected him to be more tired than usual.  I didn't need to worry - One giant lemonade seemed to erase any signs of fatigue and he actually lasted the whole 9 innings!  The Red Sox lost but I think the real show was the effect that lemonade had on our 5 year old!

Happy 60th and Happy 40 years!

Tonight, after a nice day of playing at the beach and pool, we all got dressed up and went out for a wonderful steak dinner at Smith and Wollensky's, a very nice steakhouse in a great location in Miami, right on the water at the end of the pier. Dinner was delicious! During a lull in the conversation, Ryan randomly commented that "That guy kind of looks like Kermit the Frog!" We asked who he meant and he said "The one who brought me my Shirley Temple!" And then he scrunched up his face like Kermit often does...and we all realized he was right, the waiter did resemble Kermit! This kid doesn't miss a trick....

 After dinner, Ryan went back to the hotel with Nana and Grandpa, and Tim and I were able to continue the night with Jim and Kim at another local bar.  A good time was had by all!

Hanging with Uncle Jim

Surprise trip!

Today was a VERY exciting day, one I have been planning for MONTHS!!  My mom turns 60 in October, and my parents are also celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary in July, so we wanted to find a way to have an extra special celebration for both events.  With my brother Jim living in Miami, the entire family is rarely together...and when my mom told me that she and my Dad were planning a trip to Miami in June to visit Jim and his girlfriend, Kim and see the Red Sox play the Marlins, I got an idea.  What if we went to Miami at the same time...and surprised my Mom...I knew I would have to let my Dad in on the plan so he could help us coordinate, but we were able to keep the entire trip a secret from my Mom AND from Ryan!  Keeping secrets is not exactly something that 4 year olds do well, and with the amount of time Ryan spends on the ;hone with his Nana, I knew that details of the trip might slip out.  So didn't tell him either!  We woke him up today and told him we were going on a surprise trip - Luckily he loves surprises and is a great traveler who goes with the flow.  We packed up, headed to the airport, all the while STILL not telling him.  At one point I asked him if he wanted a clue or wanted to know where we were going and he just calmly replied "I'll find out when we get there!"

 

When we arrived at the airport and Ryan finally told me he thought we were going to Cleveland!  I asked him where he thought we were and he replied "Well, we can't be in Miami because that's where Nana and Grandpa are going!"  He was very excited to learn that we WERE in Miami and that we were surprising his Nana.  We had a few hours to kill before my parents arrived and the big surprise was revealed, so we did what anyone else would do...relaxed by the pool with a few drinks...

 

After our time at the pool, we cleaned up, out on the celebratory birthday shirts, and waited in my parents hotel room with champagne..

and I think these pictures say it all...