Dan and Shelley

So this one was actually planned some time ago.  Since Shelley had a Christmas party for her work, we had planned this weekend some time back.  As it turned out, since the party was on Friday, it was just as easy for me to take Friday off and actually get out there Thursday.  So I left Thursday right after work, and I literally ran to my car.  I made fairly good time really and got there before 9.  We curled up on the couch for a while and had some pizza for dinner.  We stayed up a bit but both of us were quite tired so we turned in.

Friday we got up, Shelley did before I, Nicky was up and moving.  She was nice enough to let me and Shannon sleep in a bit though.  After we were all up, Shelley made breakfast then after a shower, we headed over to her Mom’s house.  We went on the trolley downtown for a bit with the children then went back to her Mom’s were stayed until it was time to go to the party.  We actually stopped at the hospital on the way so that I could meet some of the people that she worked with.  We were there for about a half hour then headed to the party.  It started off a bit slow, basically just eating dinner, but then things got a bit more wild and there was dancing and drinking and it was a lot of fun.  After we’d had our fun, we headed back to her house for the night.  After getting home, and putting away her hermit crabs (they were her secret Santa gift) we turned in for the night.

We both slept in on Saturday morning and I don’t think we made it out of bed until like 11.  We had a shower and got ready to go back to her Mom’s.  We got detoured by a parade and stopped briefly for something to eat but still made it there before it got too late.  We were there for a few hours before heading out to see some Christmas lights.  We made the mistake of letting Ron (Shelley’s Step-dad) use his new Garmin GPS to get us there….  After something like 2 hours, and driving in circles, we finally made it.  It was only later we discovered that it should have been a short 20 minute drive.  We then (once again) let him use the GPS to get us home….  Another 2 hours of driving and again going in circles a number of time, we made it….well somewhere.  We stopped at an Eat-n-Park and had dinner.  After that, we parted ways with Ron and his GPS.  They had to take Shelley’s sister’s kids home so we just headed back to Shelley’s moms house.  We got back rather late and Nicky didn’t take long to be ready for bed.  Shannon had gone with Ron so she got home later and we pretty much straight to bed as well.  What should have taken maybe 2 hours all together took somewhere on the order of 6….  Shelley and I didn’t stay up much later that night.

We woke up Sunday and as always, Shelley let me sleep in.  She was up a bit earlier with the children.  We hung around her Mom’s house all day playing with the kids and watching TV.  We had some of the best soup I think I have ever had as an early dinner.  As the afternoon drew on, it became more and more apparent that I was going to have to leave soon.  I didn’t want to be home too late so I decided on a 5PM departure time….  Shelley decided to leave at the same time so after helping her get everything packed up, we left around 5:30.  I think we drug it out as much as possible because neither of us wanted to go.  As we pulled out of her Mom’s house, we drove together for a short distance then I turned off to head for home….  I tried so very hard not to but as soon as her car was out of sight, I couldn’t help it and broke down crying.  I love our time together but I hate when it has to end.  All in all though, it was a wonderful weekend and it was very nice to be able to spend some time with the children.  I love you my dear Shelley and nothing will ever be able to change that.

Yeah, so here we are again with an unplanned date.  Weird, random and kinda silly I know but that really describes us doesn’t it?  Dan left me a message before I got to work on Thanksgiving night asking me if I would want to go out there for the weekend.  We would have to stay at his Mom and Dad’s though.  Mind you he asked me before he asked them if the children and I could go.  Of course hearing how excited he was and knowing myself, I went.  There really wasn’t another choice.  I finished up work Friday morning, got the car inspected that afternoon, which took forever and a day, picked up the children from their one grandmother’s house and left.  I met him outside an Office Max around 7ish I do believe.

So saying I was nervous as hell, really doesn’t quite describe it.  Not only was I meeting them for the first time, but also staying with them for two nights.  I knew I would have to meet all of them sooner rather than later, but that didn’t make it any easier.  I cannot tell you how sweet and wonderful though I found all of his family.  Everyone was exceptionally nice to me and loved the children.  People I didn’t know was coming up to me hugging me and his Grandmother even had an ornament for me and the children, but I get ahead of myself a little.

I followed Dan to his parent’s house.  It’s an absolutely beautiful house.  As soon as I was there and met everyone I felt instantly at ease.  We were only up for a little while, playing around with the children on the floor, before we took them upstairs and to bed.  Nicky put in a rough night, but that’s not too unusual after spending nights away from me.  Dan stayed with me, helping me to relax and get the children to sleep.  He didn’t have to, but it was wonderful to actually get help.  Of course him and I were inseparable that night, though I sent him away in the wee hours of the morning because of Nicky’s night terrors.  I knew he was exhausted and not used to only getting a little bit of sleep a night.  I the early morning I heard an alarm clock beeping for a long time.  I of course had to investigate and found that it was his brother, Tim’s.  I was tempted to wake him, but thought better of it.  I just didn’t know how he would take to being woken up by me.  The kids woke up and could only ask me where Dan was since he wasn’t right there when they woke up…

After a relaxed morning we got ready and went to his paternal Grandmother’s house.  I let Dan drive my car and I didn’t find out later just how nervous he was to do that with the children in the back.  Again, everyone was as sweet as they could be.  The children even had some other children to play with.  They took a family portrait and made sure to include me and the children.  That really touched me, it really did.  Then after sitting down to a delicious dinner a present was handed out to every one.  I didn’t expect to be in the picture and I really didn’t expect to be included in that, but we were.  There was one for all three of us, which of course got hung on the tree as soon as we got home by the children.  There was even a time where I kinda went off to the side like I tend to do and Dan came to find me.  We spent all afternoon there and left after dark.  Of course I let Dan drive home.  Nicky was asleep in the car before too long so when we got back to Dan’s parent’s house I laid him down.  He defiantly put in a much better night than the one before.  By the way, Shannon passed out both nights and again, Dan and I were inseparable and he stayed where the kids could see them when they woke up.

Sunday we got ready for church in the morning.  They couldn’t find a stopper for the one tub so Dan’s mom told us to give them a bath in her huge tub.  The kids thought they had died and gone to heaven I’m sure.  I was almost as big as their little pool for outside.  Dan helped me wrestle with them and we eventually all got cleaned up and went to church.  At first I had the children with me, but then I was told of a nursery so I let them go in there and have fun.  Dan’s Mom played the flute for the service along with what I take is the regular players which included his Dad on guitar.  She played quite well, though you could tell she was nervous.  The service was actually quite nice and it’s been a long time since I can remember going to church and enjoying it.  From there we went back to their house for his Mom’s side Thanksgiving.  Again, everyone was completely wonderful to me and the children and it was such a wonderful evening with them.  I knew I would have to leave soon, so that put a damper on things, but I was welcomed as one of them.

I had to leave, but I still hate doing it.  Dan lead us out to the highway and I of course cried when he got off at the first exit.  I wanted to turn around and go back to him.  The ride back was fine, except that it rained all the way.  The children wanted to go back, truthfully they didn’t want to leave and I felt the exact same way.  I know that he is going to be back in just a few short days to my arms, but it never helps.  I just know it doesn’t feel right not being with him.  I’ve told you a million times by now Dan and I plan on telling you many times a million throughout our lives, I love you.  I love you with all my heart.  The children love you too and you are more their father than you think.  I love you.