How Sweet It Is

...that's what the sign reads as you enter Brooklyn via the Verrazano Bridge. And last night, after driving over eight hours it was soooo sweet to see that sign.We had been down in North Carolina for almost two weeks...two wonderful weeks, filled with nothing but absolute joy- and lots of amazing food. As you can see from the flickr pictures on the right, Little Miss B got to go horseback riding several times- and learned several new words during our visit...one of them being "Daisy"- the name of her favorite horse, the other one being "Gan'Daddy". (Luckily, she said "Gan'Daddy" first!) My dad's face just beamed when he heard such a big word come out of that little mouth.
Since we were fortunate enough to spend so much time in NC this time, we had the opportunity to see damn near everyone in the county. The first weekend we were there we ventured down to Swan Quarter to see my Grandmom, Aunt, Uncle and my cousins. Almost a month ago, my grandmom, Mama Clair, fell in her driveway and has had a hard time recuperating. Since she lived alone (well, with her 30lb cat) at the time, she is staying with my Aunt and Uncle until she feels more like herself. It was hard to see her not moving around. I was amazed at how much she looked like her mother- something that I never really noticed before. We spent the day with her- and she couldn't have been happier to have all of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchild all together. It was great to see all my cousins- but this was really the first time my cousin, Mandy and I had gotten a chance to just chat it up with each other in quite some time. Aside from looking shockingly alike...to the point that both Mama Clair and Aunt Donna called me Mandy at least twice- we have such similar personalities, I just love her.
Christmas day Mom fixed enough food for a small army and it was all so good. It was sad to look around at our one full table of people eating Christmas dinner. I thought back to when I was little...our house was always packed with family. We had multiple tables full of people stuffing their faces inside our house and outside. This Christmas had its own excitement, watching Little Miss eat her turkey and squish the jello salad through her fingers...but it also had memories of Christmas pasts- with loved ones who have gone on. I had to fight back tears when I took pictures of my aunt playing with Little Miss's Christmas toys with her. I'm amazed at her strength each day- but especially on days like Christmas.
After Christmas we got to visit with another set of cousins that I hadn't seen since last Christmas...and that turned into a reunion down at the marina in Wanchese. (There is no place like the Wanchese Marina for burgers...or chicken sandwiches, mmm) It was great to visit with Tabb- I just wish we would've had more time together. We bonded over babies, blogging and those incredible chicken sandwiches, haha. I could not believe how tall Dawson has gotten...one thing that never changes about that little one is how sweet he is. He is the most respectable little boy I have ever been around. Again, I just wish I had gotten to spend more time with them...but hopefully that will just push them on up to NYC for a visit!! ;) (hint, hint)
It was such an enjoyable trip. Even though the drive home was long- it was fun as well. We spent most of the trip just talking, while the munchkin napped and watched her movies. I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful family...both here and in NC. (and VA ;))

Sharks & Otters & Alligators...Oh MY!

Welcome to the Roanoke Island Aquarium! (Featuring one of the largest ocean tanks on the East Coast!)

Little Miss Alligator Mama (left)

The otter tank- they were so happy to see people, they were showing off for us. (We were the ONLY people in the entire aquarium!) (right)

Snapping turtles- I bet you didn't know that they can attack an alligator, and win! (left)

A Cottonmouth-water moccasin having dinner. (These poisonous fellas are commonly found in wetlands...ie: my parents backyard.) (right)

 

I'm not sure who had more fun...us or the little one.

 

Shark tank!

Sting Ray/Horseshoe crab petting tank. Don't fall in!

Time

We don't have enough time.

How many times a day do we say "I just don't have time to do that today. I'll do it tomorrow...I'll call her tomorrow."? I catch myself saying these things all the time. We have become so busy in our everyday lives, that special moments and special people are literally passing us by.

I received a call from my dad this morning- letting me know that a friend of our family had passed away. My dad had known him since they were both young boys...they'd both moved from Hyde County to Dare County to better their children(s) education. Not only was this man a friend of our family, but he was the father of a classmate from grade school.

As I listened to my dad, through tears, explain to me what had happened. He told me that his friend's son was lucky enough to hold his hand as he "went home." He told me that he knew his son would take care of his mother, just as his father did. He told me how bad he felt for this man, who'd worked so hard his entire life- only to die at such a young age.

"For what?" he asked me, "Why do we work so hard- only to have no time to enjoy life? We miss so much."

My dad isn't the type to say things like that. I thought about how hard he works. Every day, of every week, he wakes up (at the latest) by 4am and doesn't return home until (at the earliest) 6pm. He fights traffic and gas prices on a daily basis. I hope so much that when he comes home at night, he's able to relax and enjoy his time. I want him to feel like he didn't miss a thing in life. And I want people to say "He lived such a full life..."

Don't get me wrong- my dad works hard, but he was there for every special moment in my childhood. Every Sunday we went horseback riding, no matter how hot or how cold the weather. He would pick me up from middle school in the dump truck- all of my friends were jealous that I got to ride in the big truck. I remember him rushing home from work to go to my middle school graduation- he just made it. We were all dressed up and in line to go inside the auditorium...and I heard the dump truck. I broke out of the line and ran up to my daddy, and hugged him like I hadn't seen him in a month. I was so happy he was there. The memories I'm able to make with my dad now are completely different. I'm able to see his reaction to Riya...and it's such a special thing to be able to witness.

I cherish all of the memories with my dad...they mean more to me than anything. I hope that every child is able to look back on memories of times with their father's and smile, just like I am right now. :)

Love you, Daddy. See you Christmas!!