We went back and forth about what picture and when to do it.  Dan would throw out there that he thought it hilarious to get a cougar… or paw prints.  I have to admit as hilarious as that is, I was concerned because I am a bit touchy about the ‘age’ thing.  However, that is the one thing he kept coming back to over and over and the idea grew on me.  Cougars are very protective of their families, devoted and loving.  So he ended up with a peaceful cougar in shades of black and white with green eyes on his left shoulder.  It turned out absolutely beautiful.  I personally thought about a phoenix early on… that or a swallow.  The phoenix drew me in though for a few reasons.  One, Dan loves fire.  Simple enough.  Two, I wanted to get one with it’s wings stretched upwards, rising if you will, as from the ashes to a new life.  Dan is my new life.  I got burned and was left to roll in the ashes for a while and Dan is who showed me how wonderful love and life can be.  So I have a phoenix along my spine, close to the top colored in reds, oranges, and yellows as a real flame.

All there is left to tell is the when I guess.  We thought about after we got married but were talking a couple months ago and the idea of eloping on Valentine’s Day came up.  Just one of our more random thoughts of something to do.  However we decided that even though it would be a day that Dan could remember our families would be upset and if we are truthful with ourselves, we admit that we both want a little wedding day.  Dan said the decision making ‘I would like to see you walk down the isle toward me’.  Yeah, I cannot deny him that, so somehow we decided it should be the day for our tattoos.  Don’t ask… the less you think about our mental processes the better or you will hurt your head.  A lady that I work with (Martha) and who has watched our children suggested where her son works, Attatooed in Westerville.  Nadine did our tattoos and I cannot compliment her work enough.  Going to her shop was a wonderful experience, super clean and her art is fantastic.  She’s a wonderful person to talk to and I would suggest people go to her anytime.  We made an appointment for 2/13 and Martha and her family even watched the children for us.

All in all it was a wonderful experience and I don’t have any second thoughts about it.  I love letting people know who owns me and it never fails to make me smile that Dan loves me so much to have his on his back.   Best Valentine’s Day ever!

After the drive out here, which was Dan in his car, Ron in the Penske truck, Me and the kids in my car, and Mom in her car followed a bit further behind by Eric and company in the truck, we started to unload with the help of Jann.  Well, we did after Jimmy got there with the keys for the lock on the Penske truck.  It really didn’t take long to unload everything… and it went a lot smoother than it did packing it.  Dan and Jann then went to get the rest of Dan’s things, or at least his bed, but forgot the key he needed back here, so that didn’t go well at all.  After a long day, we all passed out.  The next day Dan met up with Tim and got everything out of his old place.  Then it was just the job of unpacking everything… that took a while.  I think I still have a box in our closet.  Suppose if I haven’t needed the stuff by now, I won’t.

On the whole everything has went rather smoothly.  Everyone adjusted well to our new surroundings.  My new job is going well, I only had orientation for two days and 5 night shifts.  The children are very happy, they have their own play room now.  Honestly, in ways things have just clicked into place and it seems almost like we have been living together for a long time now.  As for me, I’ve never been so spoiled in my life.

I will keep updating here with the wedding plans as I make them.  Yeah, I know… nothing like waiting to the last minute to figure everything out.  Procrastination at it’s best!  Truthfully, I’m nervous about making everything fit the way it’s supposed to fit.  Maybe more so because I’ve never planned out anything like this… I didn’t even have baby showers with the children.  Being center of attention is not in my comfort zone.  I know it will work out just fine though and I’m more than ready for me to trip at some point.  So if I expect the worse, maybe the worse will not happen.

Dan came out Friday night as usual.  Originally he was going to be out earlier, but there was somethings that needed finishing up before he left.  When he got there Nicky was already asleep, but Shannon wanted to wait up for him so I let her.  She had colored him a special picture beforehand and we were in the middle of a book when he called when he was getting close.  So we stopped reading and went to wait for him at the door.  After he got in, we started to finish her book then take her to bed.  We honestly were not too long to follow her to bed and didn’t even bother to eat dinner.

Saturday I woke up with Nicky and having heard about the Pittsburgh Raddical days they had I decided to look them up and see what was going on around us that was free.  Turns out that the Boyce Mayview Park was having some little things for the children going on, like a bug nature walk, crafts and a hike.  It sounded interesting so I took the chance and woke up Dan asking him what he thought.  Of course he said alright so we got around and made our way there.  I will admit I missed the turnoff into the Park, parked in the wrong place two times, but we still found it relatively in time.  I thought it was a nice day even if Nicky was a bit grumpy and Shannon seemed to have a good time.  From there we went back home and Dan took a little nap on the couch while I cleaned up the breakfast dishes.  After another look on the free days we saw that the zoo was free on Sunday so we decided that even if we had to be up and moving early we would go.  Again, after the kids were in bed we were not far to follow.

Sunday morning came early for us, but that’s how Nicky wakes up normally.  We got ready quickly and off we went to the zoo to get there right when they opened.  The day was really rather nice and the animals more active than they were last time we were there.  Nicky of course go restless toward the end.  I took about eighty pictures of the day and some of Dan even though he was grumpy about that.  After leaving there we went back to the apartment to get Dan’s things before going over to my Mom’s house.  Over there we spent a nice afternoon talking and then eating dinner.  As always time for him to leave came way too soon, but it wasn’t that bad.  I think because we knew it wasn’t going to be but a few more days before this separation is over.  Honestly though, I still hate to see him leave.  So, there you have it, our last full weekend at the apartment here.  I know it should be a sad sort of thing to think of, but it’s not.  I’m so excited about starting our life together… about not having to be apart so very much.  I truly cannot wait.

When the alarm sounded Saturday morning around noon, neither of us wanted to get up.  We laid in bed for a while before finally realizing that a full hour had passed and that we were running late.  We quickly showered, dressed, and headed out.  Shannon was in a wedding and needed her hair done among other things.  I don’t really understand this process, Nicky and I simply played with his cars for a while.  After things were all done, and everyone was ready, Shelley and I departed with Nicky for the “man store” (Home Depot) and Burger King.  Since he is finally potty trained, this was his reward.  After getting a table from Shelley’s grandmother, we went home only to have to make a trip to WalMart for some drain unclogger….the shower was plugged.  The trip was for nothing though, as it did not work.  After getting home, we got Nicky ready for bed and he was asleep straight away.  Shannon called around 22:30 and wanted to come home.  She was done at the wedding so Shelley went and got her while I moved Nicky and made sure everything else was in order.  When Shannon got home, she went to bed rather quickly.  Shelley and I were fairly quick to follow being very tired ourselves.

As is usual, Nicky woke us up more than once throughout the night before Shelley took him back to his bed.  Finally he fell asleep with us for a while.  When he finally got up, Shelley got up as well and let me sleep for a bit longer.  Since the shower/bathtub was still clogged, when I got up I did not take a shower either.  After getting dressed Shelley started laundry.  I ended up running to the store for a pipe snake and money order for the apartment we are going to move into.  After and hour or so with the pipe snake, however, we were not able to break the clog loose.  We ate breakfast (or really lunch at this point) then Shannon went outside.  Nicky ended up laying down for a nap while Shelley and I worked on the drain.  Finally, the solution presented itself, in the form of a butter container lid.  After making a small hole in it, and driving the screw for the overflow though it, we created enough of a seal to plunge the clog through.  We got it running again then ran the drain unclogger down it again just to make sure it was gone.  According to Shelley, it has never flowed this well since she moved it.  After our fun with the clog, Shelley and I both took a Shower and woke Nicky up so that he wouldn’t sleep too long.  After a very good dinner of some sort of chicken casserole I won’t even try to pronounce, which was very good, I had to had back to Columbus.  Our parting was long, as it always is, but not sad.  I think the knowledge of the fact that less that 3 weeks separate out move in and our living together.  As always my Shelley, I love you more than words and always will.

Friday I let him sleep in some while I got the kids together and did Shannon’s school work.  By the time she was done she wanted to wake him up so he could take the training wheels off of her bike.  Yes, I know how to do it, but lacked the tools to do it.  Plus, it was nice to see how happy they were doing it and then to watch her being so very proud that she doesn’t need them anymore.  We even went for a little walk, her on her bike and Nicky on his little scooter.  We sat out in the yard for a decent amount of time that afternoon, letting them play outside while we talked.  The evening passed by in calm easy going way.

Saturday, after sleeping in and having some breakfast we made our way down to the library again… well, we tried.  I don’t know what was going on then, but Oakland was a mad house and there was no where to park.  So we went on to the park there and had a blast.  By the end of the day, Dan was worn out just as much as the children  because Shannon had him chasing her throughout the park and all over the equipment.  Everyone was ready for bed that night.  Dan and I stayed up for a while as he was teaching me more about coding… I think I understand it better when we are having a few beers.

Sunday we again attempted to go to the library and again failed miserably.  I really detest having to try and park in Oakland.  We went back to the park, took a few pictures of all of us together that didn’t turn out all that well primarily because the kids just really wanted to go play and they were still more than a little tired.  I did cave in to the ice cream truck… I really hate that guy.  We spent a comfortable afternoon at home talking about a lot of different things truthfully about the move coming up.  I had Dan cook dinner that night, even if he wants to argue and say that I did it.  He made spaghetti with a meat sauce and garlic bread.  His idea was to throw in some sliced jalapeno peppers in at the last minute (after getting some out for the children) and it was excellent.  Most likely the best spaghetti diner I ever had.  I will definitely have to remember to do that again in the future.  However like always we had to part.  Somehow though, this one wasn’t that bad.  Primarily I think because we know that we will be living together soon, though not soon enough.

Saturday was fairly laid back.  As we headed out Shelley’s car was making an awful grinding noise from the passenger front tire.  After tearing it all the way apart and removing the break caliper, I put it back together, released a bit of the pressure from the brake line, and checked it.  It seemed to be fine at this point so we headed out.  We went to the library to get Shannon’s books then to the park to let them play for a while.  We then headed home and stayed there the rest of the day.

Sunday passed as it usually does, far to quickly.  Shelley let me sleep in though I continue to tell he that she doesn’t have to.  She also did my laundry for me, which I am very grateful for.  Nicky actually laid down for a nap and Shelley and I watched Robin Hood – Men in Tights.  Still a funny movie, no matter how many times I have see in.  Time to leave arrived far too son, as it usually does.  I made sure I had what I needed, said goodbye to Shannon, Nicky, and Shelley, then set off.  I always hate driving away….I wish I didn’t ever have to.  Shelley, I truly cannot wait to be back in your arms, where I truly belong.  I love you.

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.

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. 

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.

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.