Dan and Shelley

This one took a little bit of prep and work, primarily just because I really wanted to surprise Dan this weekend.  It started back in February around his brother’s birthday.  Dan and I were talking and Dan had said something about not really wanting to have a birthday party this year like they usually have for him.  I had told his Mom this and me and her started talking.  I knew I wanted to surprise him by me and the children coming out so we went from there.  I went through the whole week leading up to it trying to make sure he thought I would be there on Saturday and not Friday and having the kids constantly ask when we would be able to go out there to him.  It was completely worth it though.

Friday I had everything packed up (actually all our bags had been packed on Thursday) and in the car with me and the children on the road by noon.  Anxious to be there wouldn’t quite describe how I was feeling.  The trip out was uneventful, but we did get there early so I stopped at Burger King to let the kids have a stretch and eat something.  They hadn’t had really anything to eat from being excited and I knew that the earliest they would eat would most likely be around 1800.  We got to his Mom’s house to find his Mom and Dad there.  There was much talking about where we should go… we had had his brother Tim and his girlfriend Devon talk him into going out to dinner with them two that night.  Though, the way it worked out because of Tim’s schedule was that we just had Dan come out to his Mom’s house.  Me and the kids were trying to wait patiently in the living room and his Dad took the car to a neighbor’s house while we waited.  Next thing I knew I heard Dan coming down the little hall saying hey… I got up and went to him where we just stayed for a few moments.  After that his Dad came back and they ordered pizza which he went to get.  When dinner was finished I got the kids ready for bed while Dan went and got his clothes… we had tried to hint that maybe he could bring them with him, but that didn’t work obviously.  We just spent the night talking and being inseparable.

Saturday we woke up, got dressed and headed out to Hocking Hills in Henry.  It’s was simply beautiful and wonderful at the same time.  I have seen all his lovely pictures from there, but to see it myself made it all the more special.  The kids and I loved the hiking, though it’s going to take a bit for them to really get used to it I think… especially Nicky, but he will.  I took some nice pictures, though not nearly as pretty as his.  We stopped at Buffalo Wild Wings for lunch and went back to his parents house.  He changed the oil in Henry, but the wind was blowing so much that the oil did go a bit wild and all over him.  The kids and I played outside for a while before taking them inside at Nicky’s request to get washed up in the ‘big tub’.  Dan got Nicky dressed and he fell asleep shortly after dinner truthfully.  The wind finally calmed down enough so Dan could make up a rather nice bonfire using the oil splattered cardboard and the old oil as a starter.  I know, it goes against everything I know as well, but it worked well.  Shannon loved it and we even made some smores.. not many, but some.  I took Shannon to bed and Dan’s Mom went to bed, leaving us out there for a bit by ourselves.  It honestly was quite nice.  I wish we would have thought about taking a blanket out and just laying there, but it was still a nice evening.  We did drink maybe one too many beers though…

Sunday we woke up and got dressed for church.  I let Dan drive the Mazda to show him just how bad it really was, which I was correct by the way.  He didn’t like it.  It’s slow even for a 4 cylinder.  My Ella has more power to it.  Church was fine then we went to Wendy’s with his Mom because she wanted to take us to get a bite to eat.  After that we went to a park, but it was closed so we went to another one that was quite nice.  Honestly we had beautiful weather this whole weekend.  The kids loved the park.  After we went to Mejier’s to get the kids some medicine and then to a little ice cream parlor.  Now, the line was quite long and the kids were  a bit hard to control but the ice cream was completely worth it.  We went back to his parent’s house and played outside for a bit.  I gave him a decent massage and he laid in the grass for a bit.  Again, Nicky wanted to go in early so we repeated the ‘big tub’ procedure.  Dan’s Dad cooked out on the grill and the food was excellent.  Nicky went to bed early again… poor thing was exhausted.  We all then went outside while Tim and Devon did a bit of archery and Dan even tried once and was rather good at it.  Of couse, him and I started playing around and wound up wrestling in the grass.  I would call it a draw between us… believe it or not we are pretty evenly matched or I would say well matched in everything about us.  Honestly though, he’s a scrappy thing… It was really fun though.  Shortly then Shannon went to bed and we both cleaned up a bit and I packed up the car.  We knew it was our last night together and neither one of us liked it.  We talked for a while and then decided to just head on up to bed.

Monday is Dan’s early day and he had to be up and out the door quickly.  I was up with him and we said our goodbyes… promising not to cry and for me to trust him.  (I kept my promise Dan.)  After he left, slowly his entire family did and I did with the kids shortly after.  The kids complained, whined and cried about wanting to stay.  Not that I could say much, I wanted to stay as well and felt like doing the same thing.  Besides us being tired and missing Dan I suppose we are fine.  If it was possible I know we would be packing now to go back.  It was a wonderful weekend and we cannot wait to be able to be there everyday.  Dan, I honestly cannot wait until we can spend every night in each others arms and though I know we will be together forever, forever cannot come fast enough.  I will always love you.