Happy Belated Father's Day

I know I'm late but I want to say Happy Father's Day to my two favorite dads! They are everything to me!

"Dadda" was my first word, my first love, and forever the yardstick I measured my future boyfriends against. See I always knew my dad's love was unconditional and I loved how he talked to my siblings and I. He treated us all like we were his favorite, he still does. He never forgets a birthday, an anniversary, and never misses a recital or a baptism. He baptized each of my siblings, including myself, he baptized all his grandchildren, except Kevin; and he has always managed to keep food on the table and a roof over our heads. He does what's needed to make his children and grandchildren safe. In a world where morals and standards are disappearing I'm grateful for Ronald Erwin Fish. He has taught me everything that I needed to know to look for in a respectable husband and I'm grateful for that as well as his unconditional love, support, talks, prayers, and late ice cream runs; and breakfast runs after my blood work at Lab Corp.

Jim, the first day I met you I was in awe at how easy it was to talk to you. Usually I'm socially awkward and I don't make friends easily because no one can follow my train of thought but our trains have always been on the same track. You have never talked down to me or made me feel anything less than perfect. After 7 years of being together you still make me feel very loved and like I'm the luckiest woman in the world. You still read my mind, we finish each others sentences, and long for the end of the day when we're all home together; when we can watch movies, play games, and just enjoy each other's company.

I love you for everything that you are and for everything that you do for our boys. I appreciate your hard work so that we can have food on our table, pay bills, and live in a nice house. I appreciate you so much and so does Kevin and James. You have always been there for them! Whether it be paying for something, taking us to Disney, making dinner, seeing Kevin through a meltdown, or surprising Kevin at his Spring Performance! I know he loves and appreciates you too! Thank you for your unconditional love and support for not only me but also my son! I know it hasn't always been easy but I want you to know that we appreciate you and we love you more than we could ever put into words. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I'm so grateful to be your wife! I hope you had a great Father's Day! And I hope you did too, Daddo! I love you both very much!

His Father's Day shirt

Such a daddy's boy ❤

Matching shirts ❤

My dad with his youngest
grandson

My parents when my dad retired in '94

Goodbye Elementary Years

I'm feeling a little nostalgic today. Kevin graduates from elementary school and will be going to middle school in the Fall. I've seen him really come out of his shell these past few years and make new friends as he became more comfortable with who he is ❤ I love this boy so much ❤ He makes me proud each and every day ❤ I really hope these next seven years go a lot slower ❤ I love you, Kevo ❤ I hope you love Middle School and it's everything you wish it to be ❤

First day of Kindergarten

Last day of Kindergarten with his
teacher, Mrs. Brown

First day of First grade

Kevin and Oliver; Snoopy and Charlie
Brown; Winter performance

Graduated from 2nd grade

Kevin's LegoLand field trip; 3rd grade

The Scarecrow and Tin Man in their
3rd grade Wizard of Oz performance

At the end of 3rd grade

First day of 4th grade

His project on our favorite professional dancer

First day of 5th grade

Ski instructor for Winter
Performance

Kevin and Nick after Spring
Performance

5th grade Science Fair

Kevin with Ms. Drager

Nathan, Zane, and Kevin;
5th grade field trip to Sea World

Last day of 5th grade

So goodbye elementary school years... At least until James starts Kindergarten in two years.

For My Mom on Mother's Day

With another Mother's Day passed I can't help but feel grateful for my mom, a mom to celebrate. I read blogs about women who didn't or don't have a good relationship with their mother or perhaps their mother is dead to them. How blessed I am to have Terri Angela Fish as my mother!

She never chose a man over her kids, she never had a drug addiction, and she chose a good man to be her husband and the father of her children!

As I got older I learned that her childhood was similar to mine; we both had a traumatic experience in our youth, and when my mom learned of mine she didn't tell me I was lying, she didn't make an excuse for the pervert, instead she put me in counseling and gave me the best advice that she could.

She parented the only way she knew how. To be a helicopter-mom. Some might look down on her for that, but my siblings and I knew that she always was in our corner. When we were being bullied she did whatever she could so that we'd be safe, when we were having an unfair discipline at school she was in our corner helping us fight our battle!

Not to say her kids were perfect and that we were never disciplined. When we messed up we definitely knew it! She'd tell us and we'd be grounded. She knew what her kids liked and how to punish us; for me it was my music so when I messed up she took my music away. Her kids were challenging! I am the youngest of four and I was rebellious. I didn't want to attend church on Sunday, I snuck out of the house, I had my tongue pierced by a friend in high school...  Things I knew she disapproved of. I know I was the cause for sleepless nights and quite a few gray hairs on my mother's head... However, she still loved her only brown haired, brown eyed daughter unconditionally, and saw her potential even when I couldn't see it.

She never squashed our dreams or told us that our dreams were out of reach. She did her best at reminding us of what our strengths were and that she loved us.

I know I was not an easy kid but I am so grateful that she never gave up on me! It's because of her that I know what kind of mom I want to be! Now her love goes beyond her children and extends to her grandchildren!

I love you, mom! I'm so grateful for everything you've done for our family and everything you continue to do for us as well! You are one of the most selfless mothers I know and I'm so grateful you're mine ❤ I love you ❤ I wish we were rich so I could've spoiled you for Mother's Day and every day like you deserve ❤ Happy Mother's Day ❤

Our Baby James ❤

Looking back to his day of arrival...

As you can see his first day was quite emotional. Jim had to record our baby on his phone then bring it to me so I could see him, but I still ached to hold my baby. When they brought him to me I only got to hold him for about 15 minutes :(

Ready to go home ❤

So after a long emotional roller coaster
we took our baby home 3 days later

We love our little guy and are so thankful he's a part of our family ❤ He's such a happy, outgoing, lovable little guy!

For his birthday we went to Pappa's Pizza with the neighbors. Then on Saturday we had a cookout with our family and neighbors. We had such a good turn out and everyone got along and had fun.

Hard to believe our little guy is 3! He loves Thomas the Train, Curious George, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, and Clifford's Puppy Days. He still loves water too so we're going to see about putting him in swimming classes. He hasn't had his 3rd year checkup yet, but he wears size 4 clothes! He's definitely tall for his age, so we'll see who will be the "bigger" brother.

James and his Birthday Donut

He loves trains

He loves playing with the kitties

We love you, James❤ Happy Birthday, little dude ❤

Raising Awareness for Sex/Human Trafficking

On April 20th Kennedy, my niece, and her dance team raised awareness for sex/human trafficking. It's such a scary topic as this happens more than we'd like to admit and can happen so quickly! It's just not being kidnapped but also making friends with the wrong people. The dancers did a beautiful job as they danced to raise awareness for such an ugly problem that continues to get worse. Please watch the video and feel free to share it with friends and family to help continue to raise awareness for an ongoing problem that's going on all over the world.

11th Birthday Extravaganza!

I don't know what I would do without my little Kevo. He fills my world with fun, happiness, laughter, adventure, and kindness ❤ I don't remember much of my life before him. It was boring, I can tell you that. Anyway, this birthday was special. Everything worked out so that we could do something fun and unforgettable. We took Kevin to Daytona Lagoon where we did only inside activities: laser tag, arcade games, rock wall, and they also provided a room to eat pizza, cake, and open presents. He really wanted boys only to be there but two of his girl cousins came. Everything worked out though. His friends made it, everyone got along, and everyone had fun.

Group shot

Deadpool cake made by Grandma Anna ❤

The Birthday boy ❤

He got a lot of Nerf guns

Getting ready to play laser tag

Climbing the rock wall

James played games too

Kevin and Nick

Alex and Kevin

They make my heart so happy ❤

Birthday Icee

Oliver and Kevin

Amina and Kevin

Kevin and Ethan

Chase and Kevin

So if you're reading this and wondering did I let him pick out his birthday dinner like I usually do? The answer is yes. Not only did I make him dinner but we had the neighbors over. It was a lot of fun! Kevin chose lasagna for dinner because it's what we had with our neighbors when they first moved next door. Kevin said it would recreating that night. For dessert I made vanilla cupcakes and Jim brought home a chocolate ice cream cake from DQ. It was amazing!

Kevin and my Granny share a birthday so sadly my parents and family were unable to come because they were celebrating with her. However, I met with my dad beforehand so that he could give Kevin a pair of roller blades that they had bought him for his birthday! (One less thing to lug around Daytona Lagoon).

Anyway, would I recommend Daytona Lagoon for a birthday party? I would. We got a room for an hour to eat pizza and cake. Afterward we paid and the kids were given cards to use for the arcade and indoor festivities. The only downside was that they are only good for an hour, so choose your activities wisely. We let the kids call the shots and do whatever they wanted to do when they wanted to do it. The first thing they did was play arcade games (there was five dollars on each of their cards), after that they did laser tag, and then the rock wall. However, time went by so quickly they never got to do the go-carts or miniature golf. Many of the boys were bummed about that, but oh well. You live and learn. All in all I am pretty pleased with the turn out, how friendly the staff was, the atmosphere, and the fact that they all had fun... Now I get to cry about my son being another year older 😭 ... and relax for 12 days until it's James's birthday 😭 Then he'll be 3!!! My goodness time doth fleetly fly! 😫

Kevin said he loves his birthday because he always feels like a celebrity! Another added bonus was that Field Day happened to fall on his birthday too! He was so excited!

We love you, Kev! ❤ We're glad that you enjoyed your birthday!! May all your wishes come true this year and in the years that follow ❤