So, um, yeah...just the usual Saturday night activities around here...



Drew taking laptops apart just for giggles and putting them back together...

Living with a Computer Engineer: it's always a party!

-Em

Today, Drew got a big surprise. My Baby turns 30 on July 6th, but we'll be on vacation with my family at that time, so Drew's family came up from K'Zoo to celebrate with us today. But Drew didn't know about it. You see, Drew's Dad had decided a while ago that he wanted to give Drew his 1969 Stingray Corvette for his 30th Birthday. So, Drew's Mom called me, and we set up a little surprise. What makes the gift even more special is that Drew's Dad first became the owner of the car on his own 30th Birthday. How neat is that?



So today, he passed on the only "toy" he's had for more than 30 years to his (soon-to-be) 30-year-old son. *tear* Drew was really moved by the gesture and absolutely thrilled. The car is in drivable shape right now, but it will need quite a bit of work in the not-so-distant future. Good thing Drew likes projects!

We had a great time today celebrating with Drew's parents, sisters, and their families. The nieces and nephew kept us entertained as always (they even performed their own rendition of the Cupid Shuffle for us...I have a video that I'll need to post, so check back). Drew also gave the four young'uns a ride in the Jeep, and they all loved it...squealing the whole way. We had a yummy lunch, ate cake and ice cream, and Drew also opened his "other" presents: a Corvette hat and shirt, a couple manuals (which will be helpful once the restoration begins), new floor mats, and a personalized keychain that says "Drew's Dream."

I hope you had the best Birthday ever, Baby (even if it was celebrated a little early)! Love you!

Here's a bunch more pictures from today.

--

***And here's that video of the little ones dancing, as promised. Soon, we'll have a 5th niece or nephew on Drew's side to add to the clan...congrats Luanne and Tim on your baby-to-be and Lucas on your brother- or sister-to-be!

-Em

Afterwards, I went back to bed…too scared to sit and wait for the result myself. He checked the test for me. Negative, again. He broke the bad news to me gently, held me, said he was sorry. Inside, all I could think was, “No, I’m sorry. I’m sorry I’ve failed again at making you a Father. I so wanted to have a special present for you this Father’s Day.”

He responded to my thoughts before I could even utter them aloud.

“As far as I'm concerned, we've got two beautiful children waiting for us in heaven, and in my mind, they are the best kids ever. They may not be with us physically, but I'm still fortunate to have had even the few weeks we did with each of them. So, I am a Daddy and you are a Mommy to our two beautiful kids, and we are good parents because we still love them, always will…”

He had to stop then, as the tears came.

This weekend, I want to wish you a Happy Father’s Day, Drew. Even on this day when it feels impossible to be happy.

Thank you for loving us so deeply,

Mama, LJ, and BB (and Molly and Sammy, too)

Here...

1) It has been a very busy week at "both" jobs. Editing all the content for our annual report and helping design an interactive "new superintendent" CSS-based tutorial, both with tight deadlines. Trying to get the rosters set for both classes (this past week there were adds/drops and things have been a little chaotic trying to figure out who's coming and going), trying to be consistent in my communication with students and flexible yet firm (is this possible?) for grading assignments ("I mentioned the due date no less than 5 times...no, I cannot accept it two days late...I'm sorry.") I have some absolutely amazing students in both of my classes, and (as is typical), a few who already (at only 3 weeks into class) are trying desperately to skirt the system as much as humanly possible. *Sigh.* I just have to remember it is the same story anywhere you go...in school or at work.

2) Sammy has taken to sleeping by the front door or at the top of the stairs, in anticipation of Drew's arrival home "from work" at any moment. She has been doing this since Sunday afternoon...when I dropped Drew off at the airport. I keep wondering if she'll give in one of these days and come back to the bedroom at night to sleep with Molly and me, or if this will continue until Drew returns home from Europe Sunday night.

3) I am feeling a little better this week. Many of you knew I was struggling with allergies, which then developed into a really nasty cold. I was home from work at the end of last week trying to rest and knock it out of my system. I am still coughy and phlegmy, but I think I'm past the worst of it. It's hard to tell if part of my sickness was brought on by the bad news we received last week or not. I am starting to to feel a lot better since that whole situation blew up in my face a week ago today. The remedy? Don't try to make sense of what happened--it is illogical, unchangeable, unconscionable. I cannot change what happened. So, that's that.

There...

1) Drew started off his work week abroad in Germany and is now in France until Thursday night. His first day there was crazy as his flight arrived in the morning and he immediately had to work a full day without any sleep followed by a ride-and-drive that night (had to occur in the dark). Poor guy was delirious when I talked to him on Monday.

2) I haven't been able to feel too badly for him since that first phone conversation, however. He keeps telling me about these awesome restaurants they're going to, all the fancy, delectable fare he gets to consume. I have just one thing to say to you, dear: . (I am just a little jealous.) Last night, he told me they ordered a bottle of red wine with dinner. Drew is more of a sweet white wine person, so I was intrigued. "It was REALLY good," he confided. "Thanks, sweetie," I replied. "Good to know." Big surprise. Good wine in France? P-shaw!

3) Drew has been and plans to continue taking pictures while he's over there. Hopefully we'll have a post with pictures when he returns.

-Em

In case the title didn't give it away, we are now owners of a 1993 Jeep Wrangler S.  It should be a fun summer toy :)