Happy Birthday, Daddy!

For those of you that don't know my father, you are truly missing out. He is unlike anyone else on this planet. To start, he is the nicest giant you'll ever meet. At 6'6" and 'X' amount of pounds, he is the best hugger I know, but beware, he could very well pop your head off if he squeezes too hard, which is highly likely. He is full of more knowledge -- both useful and pointless -- than Wikipedia and his beliefs and opinions are no one else's but his own. I love that he plays by his own rules and doesn't let anyone drag him down, for too long at least. I am very proud of him for who he is and that he is constantly striving to be better. A better father, grandfather, brother, son, husband, workerman, person.  

There are so many things about my Daddy for which I am grateful. For providing a childhood full of laughter, meals, memories, experiences, etc. For providing for us. For taking us on countless trips to places that were full of history and culture and reality. For opening our eyes to the world. For not killing me as a teenager. I am grateful that he tried his hardest to be the best dad he knew to be and he truly was. Looking back I wouldn't trade any of it for anything.

I am learning who I am more and more every day and I wouldn't be able to say that if it weren't for you, Dad. I am lucky to be your daughter, and happy to be able to call you my best friend. 

I love you so much. Thank you for being you.

Happy 50th birthday?!?!? (It's official, you're old.) ;P

//\\//ash\\//\\

Christmas en la playa -- Pt. 1

Only once in my whole life have I ever spent a Christmas at home. Christmas is one of the many excuses my family finds to venture down to my grandparents' house on the panhandle of Florida. There you will find my home away from home and a treasure trove of many of my favorite childhood memories. It is one of the few places I am genuinely content and comfortable, although I used to very much take it for granted as a teenager, but what else is new. Countless holidays have been spent down there including multiple 4ths of July, Thanksgivings, and Christmases. To be honest, while most people don't feel like it's Christmas without snow on the ground, I need to feel sand between my toes to really believe it's Christmas.

These last couple of years, though, have been pretty wacky, given that I have gotten married and added two little ones to the mix. Kids make holidays a bit more complicated than they were prior to their arrivals, we've learned. Casen's first Christmas was spent in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico on a cruise ship (ain't complainin') and last year we spent Christmas with Fico's family. We've decided to do the whole your-family-this-year-my-family-next arrangement between Thanksgiving and Christmas. So long story short, I am so glad we were able to go down to the beach and spend Christmas with so many of the people that I love the most. It was a great time spent relaxing and stuffing our faces with the most delectable meals you can imagine. (I am so fortunate to be from a family that has mad cooking skills -- now if only someone can rub off on me.)

I really didn't get many pictures of us opening presents since one of my hands was a little full with a hungry baby and the other was unwrapping for myself and Casen. These are a few from Christmas Eve and Christmas morning.

I am going to post a few more pictures tomorrow of us playing at the beach, but I'm not trying to win any awards for the most photos ever in a blog post so they will just have to wait!!!

Hope you all had a very merry Christmas!

Stay safe tonight and H A P P Y  N E W  Y E A R!!!

Silly tongues. 

Someone was not happy. 

Fico's awesome new watch from UO.

Helping Mimi pump up the tires on his new bike! 

//\\// ash \\//\\