Dad

A week or two ago marked two years since my dad died. I think about my dad everyday. Although I didn't always get along with my dad, it makes me sad that I can't call him up anymore and tell him about my travels (which he would love to hear about). Dad loved to travel. He passed on that love of traveling to all of his children. 

My dad was an outgoing person and would talk to pretty much anyone who would listen. (Sometimes it was a little awkward as a silent observer of some of these conversations.🤷😂) He always tried to make a connection with that person whether it be knowing the same person or having a common interest. 

I remember one time when we lived in Minnesota, we visited NYC. We were on the Staten Island Ferry and Dad struck up a conversation with one of our fellow passengers. They quickly ended up finding someone they knew in common. How crazy is that?! Talking to a random stranger far away from where we lived at the time and finding someone they both knew. Although I am not one to talk to random strangers on most days, I do think it's cool some of the connections my dad made because he talked to people.

My dad also enjoyed eating at Taco Bell. He liked getting one of the dinner boxes and a Mtn Dew Baja Blast Freeze. To honor him on his death remembrance day, a few of us family members in Virginia and Utah got some Taco Bell.

Most of us who were at Taco Bell in Virginia on that day!

Those who got Taco Bell in Utah on that Saturday!

Some more pictures from the Virginia Taco Bell peeps!

Ben thought it was funny to photo bomb us. 😂

 

 

After we finished eating at Taco Bell (in Virginia), we went back to my apartment where I had cookie dough ready to be baked.

Since Matt had called before they came over to ask if his family could visit, I decided it was a perfect time to make cookies. So I made the dough before they came and then we baked it after we got back from Taco Bell.

Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies!  I love this recipe.

 

This picture of my dad and I was from a cruise I went on my with my mom, dad, and sister, Heather in 2018.

I am grateful for my dad and all of things he and my mom taught us kids growing up. I am glad for the time I got to spend with him as an adult whether it be when I visited my parents, they visited me, or when we got to travel together.

I think it will now be my new tradition to eat Taco Bell on Dad's remembrance day.

Surprise in Tennessee

My oldest brother, Nate, turned 50 this year. One of my sisters suggested that us siblings and Mom should surprise him for his birthday and show up at his home in Tennessee.We found a weekend that all of us could go (after his birthday) and then we had Peter say he was coming into town for work and was wondering if Nate was going to be in town that week. 

Once Nate confirmed he would be in town, we all bought our tickets to Tennessee. I wasn't there for the part where they actually surprised Nate, but Nate said he had no idea that all of us would show up at his house. Thankfully none of us had spoiled it beforehand. :) 

Although we were all only together for about 24 hours, it was a great time! I love my family.

Enjoy lots of pictures of my siblings, my mom and me!

On that Saturday that we were all there, we went to Fort Donelson National Battlefield, (a Civil War battlefield). I had been there a couple of times before and I love that place. The grounds are beautiful and the views of the river gorgeous!

We had a mini photo shoot at Fort Donelson. Although you can't tell in the photo, we were all sitting on a cannon. ;)

Selfie of all of us!

Siblings!

Mamachka!

We also went to a bird refuge. We hung out at this viewpoint for a while looked for birds, chatted, and then left. It was a really pretty area!

It was hot and humid this day but we went on a short hike. Thankfully, the hike was pretty shady so that helped make it tolerable (even though I still got hot and sweaty). ;)

We ate lunch at Subway and then headed back to Nate's house to hang out, take naps, and get ready for the rest of the day.

For dinner, we went to a place in downtown Clarksville called The Mailroom. I thought the food was pretty tasty!

In front of the restaurant we ate at that night (with Peter in the picture)!

(With Lara in the picture)!

After dinner, we needed ice cream! We found a place close to the restaurant we ate at so we went there.

I must admit, I was a little disappointed in my ice cream. I got Key Lime Pie ice cream. I had had Key Lime Pie ice cream elsewhere a few weeks before and loved that one! 

But this one did not compare at all. The lime flavor tasted fake, there were no chunks of pie inside, and the ice cream wasn't very creamy. Oh well. 🤷

Sisters!

Across the street from the ice cream place was this fountain. It was a cute part of town!

Before we went to dinner, we had had a little photo shoot at a nearby park. Although we had a photo shoot that morning, we wanted one where we looked a bit nicer too.

I am so glad that we were all able to make this surprise happen! It was a great time and I am thankful for the time we got to spend together (even if it was a short amount of time).