So I had already had these photos ready for the blog before I left for Phoenix, but never got a chance to post them before leaving because I was so strapped for time. About a week before Phoenix, a few of my family from Alin’s side came to visit us for a week in North Carolina and spent that time in Myrtle Beach, SC in their time share. It was so much fun to see everyone and after we were done there we came back to Charlotte to spend their last couple of days there showing them around our turfHere are some images captured during that week.

My kids with their cousins. That’s my husband there. It’s Alin plus 7. (*snicker *snort).

A real man has his own mink.

My beautiful sister-in-law, wonderful mom, and talented photographer Otilia

Charlie running through the water. Doesn’t it look like a travel brochure for some tropical place?

My brother-in-law Cris. He was asking me a question when I snapped this shot. I think he was just trying to show his guns.

I crack up everytime I see this. Caiden is one of my little ones’ cousins and his face here is hilarious!

My little Genevieve with her cousin Karrina and gorgeous aunt Andreea.

I love Oliver. He is such an animated character, that one.

We tried to get a picture with all of the cousins together, but two of them were crying and wouldn’t stay in the shot. So we got the 5 calm ones here. I am honestly shocked that mine just sat there and totally cooperated!

Hehe, I love this!

I love these next three of Oliver. His smiles and faces just melt my heart.

I got this one of Karrina when we were on the way home from Myrtle Beach. I love these fields! And I love her expression. It’s so ‘childhood’ to me.

We stopped by a strawberry field on the way home to get some pics of the kids pickin’ strawberries and these pictures always turn out fun. Jake & Oliver here were born only two days apart.

Tristan.

My princess and my hubby wubby.

Karrina.

I love this shot of Otilia with her little Jake.

Oliver would not stop stuffing his face. I learned this day that he really liked strawberries.

Me & Oliver.

Funny story, since Jake has been on this vacation we would laugh at him because he was always looking for his mama and I don’t think Otilia realized how attached he was to her. So here, Alin snapped a shot of him as soon as he realized he couldn’t see her around him.

Charlie is really enjoying this strawberry…and I think he has to pee.

When we got home, we rested a bit, and then took them to Freedom Park to let the kids run around a little bit. I’ve lived in Charlotte a little over a year and it was my first time there. I can’t believe I missed out on this! It’s a beautiful park!

Karrina & my little sister Gianna.

Alin, me, and the kids.

Those eyes. *sigh

I love this shot of my two boys. They truly are best buddies and they stick together wherever they go.

Then we hit up the library downtown which has a wonderful children’s area. My boy’s were learning the computer and though I have tried to avoid the computer with them every time we go to a library, I finally let them use it. And how can I not? Look at his face.

My next two future editors & employees.

Note to my family who is reading this: You cannot read this entry and not leave a comment.

Well, before I talk about Alin, my husband, I want to say a few things about my childhood and my own father. We’ve had our ups and downs, my dad and I, but I think it’s because we are so alike. Stubborn, hot-tempered, and quick to apologize. I am going to list a few things that I remember growing up with my brothers and the memories we had with my dad. Warning! There are some inside jokes that you won’t get unless you are my brothers. What I remember most about my dad and I growing up is when he used to make me cry every time he called me “darky”…because I would be so dark from being at the local pool every day from open to close during the summer. I also remember when he would make up random stories at night before my brothers and I would go to bed and then before leaving our room he would say in a funny voice “Ciao Bow Amigo Kepaso Mamunos Mogi!” and it would crack us up every time as if we had heard it for the first time. I remember when he would take us to the indoor soccer field one to two nights a week and I would watch him play soccer with the guys. I used to think he was the best soccer player in the world. I remember when I would come down the stairs in the middle of the night during the winter months in Chicago and I would see him next to the fireplace reading and my dog, Max would be right at his feet. He loved that dog. And speaking of dogs, I remember when he would make our German Shepherd, Spike, chase us. Spike would be at the top of the stairs and we would be in the basement. My dad would make him wait until he said “Go get ‘em, Spike!” which would send him running down the stairs after us and my dad would be laughing his head off as Spike would bite at us and even pulled down an underwear or two once in a while. I remember that no matter how little money we had, he would always make sure that somehow we got what we wanted for Christmas…Legos, Gak, and “The Lion King” movie. I remember when we would listen to Jimmy Swaggart music on the way to and from church and how I would complain that I didn’t like the music because it was too “old” but secretly, I would sing along to it. After church we would watch “The Three Stooges” and laugh our faces off even though we’ve watched each episode a bagillion times. We also used to watch Laurel & Hardy (which we called “Stan si Bran”), and Jerry Lewis. We thought Jerry Lewis was funnier in his Black & White days, especially with Dean Martin. I remember when economical times were tough for him, even though we didn’t know it at the time, he always made sure that we lived somewhere where the school system was nothing less than exceptional, even if we lived much more modestly than the kids we went to school with. Lastly, I remember when he turned to Christ again, and from that moment on, we had prayed together as a family almost nightly and spontaneously sang worship songs together in our living room. I appreciate what he had to go through to make our lives, as his kids, easier. I also appreciate the spiritual role model he has been to myself, my brothers & their wives, Alin, my little sister, and our kids. He isn’t the perfect parent and didn’t always make the best decisions, but I think he did the very best he could and I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to be my father. Happy Father’s Day, dad. I love you.

Now on to Alin. My kids aren’t old enough to write anything of their own, so I will do it for them until they can. I have the best father for my children. I mean, really the best. As you can probably tell, I am not the best writer (not even close). I write like I talk, and when I talk, I am all over the place. I am also a list-maker, so with my ode to Alin this Father’s Day, I will make a list of the reasons why my kids have the best dad. And I am going to write it from their point of view:

1. We love you because you give us 200 kisses a day.
2. We love love because you give us SUPER big hugs.
3. You’re the best because you read us 3 books every night.
4. You’re the best because you’re a big kid and you play with us!
5. We love you because you always take us to places.
6. We love you because you put us in time out when we’re bad, but you always forgive us and give us kisses after.
7. You’re the best because you let us splash when we take a bath.
8. We love it when you tickle us!
9. We love you because you love mommy and you always want to kiss her.
10. We love you because we know you love us.

Happy Father’s Day, Tati!