Something so right....A father.

So I have been wanting to write this post since Fathers Day, and after reading a few of your posts about your husbands and fathers I decided to sit down and do it.

I really do have such wonderful fathers all around me. First is my own dad. He is always doing something for us. He is a doer. He likes to always be on the move fixing something or working on a project. I have been the benefit of many of those "projects" such as the time when he came out to visit when Parker was born and decided to redo my bathroom. Of course my mom was there to help but my dad instigated the whole thing. He is so giving and is a great example to me of serving others. I love you dad.

I also have the joy of saying that my Father in law is really a father to me. I really could leave of the whole in law thing. This man is amazingly loving. He just loves people, and you feel it when you are around him. One example of this love is when I had knee surgery a few years ago. He decided to fly out by himself to take care of me!!! Isn't that amazing. He spent all his time getting me things and taking care of Brielle. No one asked him. He just knew Doug was so busy with his first year of law school so he decided to help. I just think about that and I cry. He is wonderful.

And of course, my own most amazing, wonderful, smart, talented, loving charitable, husband. He really is the greatest dad in the world. I never knew what true love was until I saw Doug with our kids. His love for them radiates out of him. He makes them feel so important and loved all the time. They race for the door every time he comes home, and when we are away from him, they always cry and say how much they miss there dad. Especially Benson. When Doug is home Bens follows him everywhere. I hope both our boys grow up to be just like him, and that Brielle is lucky enough to find a man as wonderful as he is to marry.

I am so blessed. I am more in love with him today than I was yesterday. Thank you Doug for being the kind of dad and husband I have always dreamed of. This is a picture of us right after Parker was born. I love this picture. I look a little scary, but I love that we are holding hands, I love that the kids look so happy, and I love that Doug looks completely content, as if that is where he always wants to be. Because that IS where he always wants to be.

Spray on!

It is amazing that two .99 cent squirt bottles can equal hours of fun!

Oh I love Summer.

He's got style!

Benson walked out of his room the other day and said, "Okay Mom I am ready for school."

This is what he was wearing, Brielle's rain boots, and a build-a-bear shirt for a hat.

He looks good.

Our Memorial Day

Memorial day is a great time to reflect and think about those who have served and still serve our country so faithfully. I am so grateful for our freedom and all those who sacrifice so much to make it that way. We have three very good friends serving in the army, and two of them are stationed in Iraq! We love you both and our prayers are with you and your families here at home!


Our Memorial Day was great. It was a huge surprise, but Doug found out on Friday that he had Monday off! I couldn't believe it and I was SO excited! We decided to pack our day full of fun. We started off at the IJAMS NATURE CENTER. It is this neat little place tucked away downtown and it is beautiful. We went hiking on a few of the different trails they have there and it was the perfect day to hike. We saw birds, spiders, butterflies, amazing plants, and we even found a turtle. The kiddos loved it.


After hiking, we took the kids out to lunch. We had a gift card to Olive Garden and the kids never get to eat at restaurants, so they really enjoyed it. Then we came back home and watched a movie, and worked in the yard. Then it was off to the swimming pool for some cooling off. Later we came back home and went to our next door neighbors for a little volleyball and a cookout! It was such a wonderful day. I feel so spoiled getting to be with Doug so much. The kids have been loving every second with him, and I have too!


IJAMS NATURE CENTER

They really do love each other most of the time!

This is our friendly turtle that we found. We scared him
so he tucked himself in his shell.

These beautiful spotted butterflies were everywhere, and Brielle loved them.
Look close and you can see this really cool spider and web, Doug made me
take the picture! YIKES!

Isn't this beautiful!?

Chimney Rock State Park

Before we took Grandma and Grandpa back to the airport we decided to do a little exploring. They were flying out of Asheville North Carolina so we thought we would stop at Chimney Rock State Park. For any of you planning a family vacation, whether you live in the South or not, this is one great place! The main attraction is of course, Chimney Rock. It is about 2, 800 feet above the ground and it is a huge rock that juts out the side of the mountainside. The view from the top is remarkable, and pictures just don't do it justice! You can either get there by riding an elevator that takes you up 26 stories, and then you walk up a flight of stairs, or you can hike up over 400 stairs to the top. The boys were adventurous and took the stairs. Doug second guessed this idea when he ended up carrying Benson. I knew that Brielle would not want to do it, so the gals took the elevator. Either way you get there and it is so worth it. You can also hike up a little further and stand in the Opera box. This gives you a great view of Chimney Rock.

After Chimney Rock we took a hike to see Hickory Nut falls. It is a beautiful waterfall well worth the short hike. This was actually the waterfall filmed in the movie "Last of the Mohican's." The hike was a blast and the kids did so great. We saw beautiful trees, wildlife, and we even saw a snake.

Chimney Rock Pictures
A view of Chimney Rock from the ground

The adventurous hikers Daddy and Benson....

Grandpa Larry and Parker

A view of the stairs from the top
The whole Rose Family

Grandma Lyda and Brielle

The spectacular view!
this is the view from the Opera Box

Grandma and Parker
Our Little Benson
I love this picture of Grandma and Grandpa

Hickory Nut Falls pictures

This is what Parker was doing the whole entire hike!

AHHHHHHH! Watch out for the snake!

The super fast hikers!

Overall, this was one of my favorite new places to visit. We will definitely be going back! We miss you Grandma and Grandpa, we hope you come back soon!!