Dan and Shelley

Dan was able to come out early this Friday since he had switched an early day last week with Shaun.  Not that I was complaining at all, it’s nice to have him out for as long as he possibly can.  Since he was getting there earlier the kids stayed up to see him.  When he got in though we took Nicky to bed then got Shannon ready and into bed herself.  We had some pizza, caught up with each other, being quite inseparable and honestly made it an early night for us as well.  We knew we were going to be up early in the morning and we were both quite tired.

Saturday morning when Nicky woke up at his normal too early for Mommy time so we all got up, had some breakfast, and got dressed and headed off to the Pittsburgh Zoo.  We got there around 10am and honestly had a blast with the kids.  We all took our time, played and watched the animals for a long time… we didn’t leave until 4pm that afternoon.  It honestly wasn’t that crowded for a change and the weather wasn’t terrible either.  It was a little hot in the morning but toward the afternoon the clouds came out a little bit and cooled things off.  We even got to see the polar bears in the water playing.  The children had a blast honestly and I did as well.  The day was made easier by keeping Nicky in his stroller more than we did at the beginning.  I also got them two huge lollipops which they got all over them of course, Nicky worse, but that goes without saying as well.  When we finally left all of us were tired.  Everyone seemed to turn in a bit earlier that night.

Sunday came and I let Shannon and Dan sleep in a little bit that morning, but not too late.  I want to let him sleep in late, but it’s hard when I know he will be leaving soon.  We had another one of our laid back Sundays.  We made breakfast and dinner together, played mainly with Nicky as Shannon is pretty much outside all day.  After three weekends together, parting this time was just a touch more than difficult.  We had gotten used to him being there every weekend… the kids kept asking when he was coming back and it’s hard for me to say not for two weekends and not get upset.  We really do miss you and cannot wait for you to be back with us Dan.

This weekend I felt lucky that we were able to have together.  Not often do we get to have another weekend right after we just had a weekend together.  The only thing I’m afraid of is that it’s going to spoil me being able to be together so much.  That isn’t going to make me stop seeing him for a weekend though.

Friday night came and Dan was running just a touch late, not much, but a little because he stopped to put a part on Henry.  Shannon waited until he was there and then we took her to bed.  I had made some Chinese dumplings and twice baked potatoes (yeah, I know it doesn’t really go together, but it wasn’t that bad) so we ate a little bit of that with some beer that Dan had brought.  Both of us were really tired truthfully so we made it an early night after catching back up with what had happened over the week being apart.

Saturday I let Dan sleep in for quite a while.  He had had a rough week truthfully.  Nicky watched Spongebob and Wall-E a few times, keeping him occupied.  I got his little bit of laundry done and some light cleaning then let Nicky wake him up after I had made some coffee.  Slowly we got around and left the house for South Park.  We went to the duck pond where a bunch of geese were as well to let the kids feed them.  I didn’t know just how much fun they would have there, but they loved it.  They both tried to catch one and rather enjoyed feeding the fowl.  Nicky was more than a little upset that he couldn’t join them in the lake.  After Dan had to pry Nicky away from the pond kicking and screaming we went to the park to let them run around for a while.  It was a very nice time watching them, watching Dan with them and their antics.  Shannon talked Dan into going down the twisty slide that was next to another one with her and even swinging with her (I was able to get a picture of him coming down the slide but he wouldn’t let me get more of him on the swings).  We took turns pushing the children in the swings as they loved being able to go high as we could push them.  After packing up from there we headed to a Chinese buffet that was close to there.  It was Shannon’s pick over pizza.  By the time we got home it honestly had felt like we had been out all day and all of us were really tired.  The kids went to be with little problem and we fell asleep not too long after them.

Sunday me and Nicky curled up on the couch watching his shows while we let Dan and Shannon sleep in for a little bit, not nearly as long as the day before though.  We woke up Dan and Shannon woke up at the same time as well.  We just spent a relaxing day inside because it was going to be way too hot outside to do too much.  Nicky did take a much needed nap and we got to watch Inkheart in relative peace.  Dan helped to make a decent lasagna for dinner with me.  As to be predicted time for him to go came much too soon and even though he was coming back in four days again it still didn’t make it easier.  I was grumpy when he left and I don’t see me being non grumpy until we are back together again. 

This is some sort of anniversary for us.  This weekend together celebrates one year of our dates.  I was even more anxious to have Dan back out here with me than normally… he had told me (after I asked of course) that he was stopping by on the way before coming out to pick up my ring.  I knew he said he was going to go out and look for one, but I didn’t know he had found one.  I don’t know why I was anxious except the fact that I knew Dan was.  So Friday went really slow for me.  When Dan did get here, Nicky was in bed and Shannon was just laying down.  I had popped in a pizza in the oven and much to my happiness Dan had picked up a new beer for us to try.  I was purposely making myself not ask him about the ring.  I figured I had already messed up the surprise of it to me I didn’t want to ruin what he had planned to give it to me.  A little bit after we ate he went and got it out.  I do think he was a bit impressed that I didn’t ask about it as my curiosity is rivaled only by my stubbornness I think.  To say it’s beautiful is a gross understatement.  I love it and it reflects him and I cannot tell you how it makes me feel that he went through all the trouble that he did for me… just for me.  It goes without speaking that we spent the rest of the night together, just enjoying being back in each others arms.

Saturday I let Dan sleep in a little bit… that was until the kids had a different idea.  They were a bit rambunctious that morning and Nicky is obsessed with the need to make him some coffee so we can go wake him up.  So after he was awake and drinking some coffee I made breakfast.  We went to Frick park again and after the kids were good and soaking wet we walked back to the car, changed their clothes and then headed over to my Mom’s.  Taran and Cameron (my two nephews) were there and my Mom was having a little dinner.  Dinner was excellent of course.  We took the kids down to the little park right down from her house and let them run around.  It was nice to watch them run around and at one point Dan was hanging upside down from one of the poles.  We went back to my Mom’s and I washed up the the three youngest ones in an assembly line fashion.  After we got home I realized that there was going to be fireworks that night that we could see from the yard.  As we sat out there with our drinks and popcorn, Nicky fell asleep in Dan’s arms before the fireworks began so Dan took him to bed.  It was nice to see Nicky curled up in Dan’s arms and to see the smile on Dan’s face.  Well, after a bit Dan joined Shannon and I back outside while we waited for the very late fireworks.  After the slightly unimpressive show was over we took Shannon to bed.  Before Dan and I could fall asleep on the couch (though I think I might have dozed a bit) we turned in as well.

Sunday morning brought a morning that Dan could actually sleep in just a little bit.  We didn’t do too much of anything really but relax around the house with the children.  Dan helped me make fajitas for dinner.  It is always nice to have him help me in the kitchen and I love watching him cook truthfully even if he doesn’t see it as that.   Much too soon it was time for Dan to leave and the only thing that remotely helped was to know he would be back in four days.  Not much of a consolation, but four days is better than our four weeks apart.  The children keep asking me when he is going to be back.  We truly all do miss you when you are not with us Dan.

So here we are again and finally another weekend back together.  It felt like we were apart forever truthfully even though it was only about 4 weeks.  Dan had a lovely trip with his father out to Yellowstone and a bunch of other places out that way and his pictures can be seen on his picture site.  I would highly recommend them as they are very good.  I spent my time working so I wouldn’t think too much of us not being together… didn’t work, but I did it.

Dan got out here Friday night and I walked up to the parking lot to meet him.  One because I had paced the house more than enough times and two because I wanted to see his new license plate.  He got a new one but wouldn’t tell me what it said… he knows how that drives my curiosity through the roof and I know that’s why he did it.  (‘IT Guy 86′ by the way)  We walked down to the house after just a little bit.  I had taken the kids to Michele’s house so we could have some time to ourselves after being apart for a while.  I had put away the dinner I was cooking because Dan had emailed me telling me he didn’t feel much like eating that night.  Honestly we just spent the night inseparable and catching back up.

After sleeping in just a bit longer than I wished, under cooking some cinnamon rolls, we left to go pick up Shannon.  We had decided it would be nice for the three of us to go see the new Harry Potter movie.  I was completely excited about going as I love the books but personally the movie was a let down.  Shannon kept saying that it didn’t look like the Harry Potter movie.  We played some few games before hand and had gotten a few snacks before watching the movie.  After then we went to pick up Nicky who was more than ready to go and after much deliberation we decided to just go home and order some pizza.  I think it was a good call as the kids were a bit grumpy and I was afraid it would just completely ruin dinner out in a restaurant.  We watched Wall-E for the I don’t know how many times since I got it for Nicky since it’s now his favorite movie.  Nicky wanted Dan to wash him up in the tub and the little booger actually sat still for him to do it.  After getting the kids off to bed we were not that far behind them.  I had been spending time all day off and on peeling Dan’s arms where he had been sunburned on the trip but was peeling.  It’s an obsession… what can I say?

Sunday was dawned a beautiful day as we had breakfast then headed out to South Park’s wave pool.  It took the kids a little while to get used to it, but after they did they loved it.  We took turns with swimming with the on our backs and holding them, always going to the shallow end when the waves came.  I did get to hear Dan sing a little bit of some songs he liked as there was a guy there singing so that is always nice.  Nicky got a bit bold and escaped to the ladder, but thankfully Dan was a bit quicker.  Not too long after that we decided to pack up, but there was a play set that the kids wanted to play on first so we did.  Dan and I sat in the shade as I peeled him some more.  After changing we headed out to my Mom’s for some dinner.  We just cooked out some hot dogs and hamburgers truthfully, but it was nice to spend some time with her.  Too soon it was time for Dan to get ready to leave.  At that point we could tell that we were both sunburned to the hilt… the tops of Dan’s feet looked awful.  I put some lotion on his back and chest where he looked like he was going to burn because he has a farmer’s tan.  A pretty decent farmer’s tan, but a farmer’s tan nonetheless.  The funny thing is Nicky and I had on 60 SPF waterproof sunblock on… so that got thrown out as I was burnt to a crisp.  I honestly hate saying goodbye to Dan, knowing that it will be almost 2 weeks before I see him again, but the upside is knowing that it won’t be for too much longer.  Not much of a consolation prize now, but I will be happy when we can be with each other every day.