A few weeks ago I wrote a little post about Uncle Jack (you can read that here). After that post he gave me a call on the phone and told me how much all I had said meant to him, and if he had known how much I liked giving his brother (my father-in-law) a hard time he would have put me in training much sooner. So he wanted me to do something for him. He wanted me to tell his brother how young he was looking lately. He did not give me the details as to why he wanted me to say this, he just wanted me to randomly tell Jackie’s dad that he was looking young today, and to do this every time I could remember to do so. So over the next few weeks I would just out of the blue say “you know Bob, you are looking young today” or “there must be something in the water at this new house, because you are looking mighty young today”. I do not know if this was an inside joke between them, or what, but Jackie’s dad would just chuckle.

Saturday evening Uncle Jack passed away peacefully. We already miss him, but take a huge amount of comforting in knowing he is no longer suffering, and is now home.

Sunday morning when I went outside, Jackie’s dad was working on the breaks of the car, and I said “you know Bob you are looking mighty young today” I almost didn’t get the words out of my mouth, because I started to tear up. I bent down and I hugged him and told him that his brother told me to tell him that, and that was why I had been telling him that for the last few weeks. He laughed, and smiled and we both agreed that that Uncle Jack was something else, and from now on, this was how we would remember him.

I meant to put this video up last week with the other post, but felt the post got a little long, so here is a short clip of the little guy having a big time in the back yard.

Aww the sweet smell of Irish stew for breakfast, that’s a glorious smell I am not smelling at the moment. I mean really lets get serious, who would eat stew at 7am in the morning, no thanks. Today is as you know St. Paddy’s day. Today I wear my green, wear my new hat, and enjoy being Irish, but honestly I get to do that every day, so here is a goofy picture of me just for fun. Yes I look this ridiculous everyday, its a gift.

I think it is so funny how we play this little game of put the shoes on, pull the socks off. Each day before we go out, we get you dressed and put your shoes on, load you into the car, and drive down the road. When I look into the rear view mirror I see a shoe fly through the air, followed by a sock. I will give you this though, you are consistent dear Desmond. It is ALWAYS the right shoe and sock, and the right shoe and sock only. In the evenings you will run around the house with one shoe and sock on, and the other off. You wobble from side to side as you run because of the unevenness. You already wobble, but the missing shoe just adds to the effect.

The three of us go on walks at night in the evening, you sit in the stroller, and not 5 minutes into the walk, off comes the shoe, and there it goes flying into the air into a ditch or under the wheels of the stroller. Which shoe is it? The right one of course, followed by a sock. Always the right one, never the left.

We planted a tree the other night in the garden. Your Mamo gave to us, you loved the dirt, loved it so much you ate some! You patted the dirt so nice and neat, but then got excited and flung some into the air and eyes. Covered in mud I think was a secret plan of yours to get into the bathtub, because that is where you ended up. I have never seen a boy love water as much as you do.

You also have just started to say “bedtime” your mom is so good about reading one of your favorite books, “bah bah bedtime” and each night before she puts you down, its always “bah bah bedtime!” the other night you said exactly that, which is pretty awesome. I feel the words are coming to you easier, I am excited to hear what you have to say.

You are so much fun these days, 13 months now, its pretty incredible to see you grow so much so fast. Your personality is so big, I see a little bit of everyone close to me in you. You are the best of all of us, all wrapped up in this cute little man, and there is no denying how cute you are.

love you, Dad.

It’s your birthday! W00t! So because I love you ginormous, I want to share with you and everybody, three of what I consider (some of) your best traits:

You are extremely funny. Nobody can touch your Sean Connery impression, the SNL version or the one where he is singing how he left his heart in San Francisco. Plus, you just make up stuff that’s real funny.

You are incredibly sweet. I have never know a father that has spent as many nights as you have trying to calm their crying baby (while the mama slept like a log) or spent a night on the floor with their wife’s sick dog. And it’s not a strain for you, it just comes natural.

And your best trait, as it applies to me, would be an encourager who has pushed me (and sometimes dragged if it was necessary) through college, pregnancy, labor, and LOTS of not pleasant stuff. I have given you lots of experience on this one and you have mastered the art of encouragement in my book. You calm me with your gentle and loving spirit.

You are an excellent son, brother, husband, uncle, and now father (might I add friend) making great strides at figuring it all out AND always providing a laugh for others along the way.

I hope you have a wonderful day and it begins one of the best years of your life.

When she was al ittle girl they would call her Jacko-Lantern Colslaw. I call her J. She is my best friend, my wife, and the mother of my beautiful son. She is the only person in the world who “gets” me. Today my J turns 30 years old. I have now known her half her life now. The day she walked off the big yellow school bus and walked down the hall of WRHS, was the day my stomach jumped a little, and my heart skipped a beat. I thought it was because she had a cute butt, but in fact it was because my soul knew before I did that she was the one for me.

Today is her Birthday! So your mission is to leave a comment for her This is her facebook. I am still working on her.

Happy Birthday Honey, I love you.

Greg.

p.s Head over to www.easycheese.net and wish Kelly Happy Birthday too! Happy Birthday Kelly!

One of my new favorite pictures that Jackie took, she says I look like the Emperor from
Star Wars, but that’s not why I like it so much.

I took this one myself with the timer. I love how much snow is falling.