"No, no, that's mine!"

Not surprising for an almost 1.5 year old, Nolan likes to tell you that everything is his.  His favorite "toy" is the iPhone, so the moment that anyone breaks one out, he immediately pounces for it.

Today, as Jenn used her cell phone, Nolan goes to grab it and says, "No, no, that's mine!!"

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today would have been my Dad's 64th birthday.  It has been almost 6 years since he passed away, and there isn't a birthday or any day that I don't think about him.

Each year that passes by without my dad just reminds me of all the amazing experiences he has missed with our family.  And, even more so, how incomplete these experiences have been because he wasn't there.

My dad never got to meet any one of his grandchildren.  He never got to meet my husband.  He never got to walk me down the aisle.  He never got to be a part of so many of the occasions that I desperately wanted him to be a part of.

But what he did get to do:  he was able to make my family and my life an AMAZING one.  He was the one of the most caring, outgoing, sweet, funny, smartest men I have ever met.  He had such an amazing imprint on our lives (and so many others), that Robert, Connor, and Nolan already met my father...through us.

I love you, Dad!!!  Happy Birthday!!!

Daddy's Shoes

Lately Nolan has had a real fascination with trying on Francis's shoes.