The Senior Year Celebratory Trip- The Bahamas

During Spring Break of Allison's senior year in high school we celebrated with a Carnival Cruise to the Bahamas! Here you all are lounging on the deck!

We took a snorkeling excursion, but you did not like it at all!

I can't believe Mom let you do this!

For your senior year Spring Break, we went back to the Bahamas! This time we flew and stayed at a very nice resort, Our Lucaya. Here you and I are out exploring the few shops.

Here we all are enjoying some island drinks! (rum swizzles?)

This was my favorite place for lunch, Billy Joe's. I must have had 1 too many conch burgers because if you will remember, the week after we got back I had a triple bypass!

What are your favorite memories from our Bahama vacations?

Go West!

One of our great family vacations was the trip west where we (mom) drove to Utah and saw tons of sites in between! It started with Mom driving all night because we did not have a reservation for that first night. When we all woke up we were in Mitchell, South Dakota (home of the Corn Palace!)

Next we drove on to Wall Drugs!

Then on to the Badlands (below), Mt. Rushmore and Little Big Horn!

Next was Yellowstone(The Yellowstone River)

Then Jackson Hole, the Tetons (Inspiration Point)

and the Snake River (family river rafting)

Then on to Utah, Salt Lake City (very stinky) and Dinosaur National Park (you wanted to be a paleontologist at that time). We started the trip back home through Colorado - Denver, Colorado Springs and the Garden of The Gods, and then across the endless prairies of Kansas, with a final stop in St. Louis. We spent a lot of time in the car! (Remember the white Dodge Caravan?)

What was your highlight of that vacation? For me it was Yellowstone: the animals (bear, elk, buffalo and prairie dogs!), the natural wonders (hot springs, waterfalls and geysers) and the spectacular scenery (forests,lakes and mountains.)

Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day to you and Jared! Labor Day has traditionally meant, for me, the end of summer and the beginning of football! What does it mean to you? I do not remember a Labor Day without football practice until 1982! We always had practice, typically multiple sessions. Your mom's birthday always conflicted with practice. We always celebrated it, but often it was late at night and often ended with me falling asleep at the restaurant table. So I have always found Labor Day as a work day not a holiday. Since 1982 our Labor Days have been football practice "free". I hope that when we get back East we can begin a new tradition to end the summer! If we all were in Ohio perhaps we could have a poolside barbecue! For now I will have to settle for a beer with Mom, poolside. Still pretty nice!

Happy Birthday Jane and Emma!

Two of the most important women in the wedding share birthdays today. Jane, the Mother of the Bride, is shown below at birthday brunch today at Brio.

And Emma Jane Joyce, the flower girl, and your niece/goddaughter, with Peppa Pig Birthday cake on her lips and thumb, showing off her new age of 5!

They, with you and Allison make up the women in my life! I am so blessed. Emma whose middle name, Jane, is after her Grandma, have been birthday buddies since the day she was born! (Jane and I were at the hospital for her birth.) Here is a picture of the first birthday celebration!

I know they both are so excited for your wedding! Jane has been doing projects all spring and summer! Thank you for involving her/us! It really makes us feel apart of this important moment in your and Jared's lives! Less than 2 weeks to go now! Oh boy!

4 years and 2 weeks!

Four years ago you and Jared had your first date in NYC at Pepolino's Restaurant. Every year you have gone back to celebrate! This first picture is from 2014.

The next one is from this year! You will notice the big rock on your finger!

In case you are wondering, the 2 weeks in the title refers to the fact, that 2 weeks from now, we will be celebrating your wedding on Block Island! I cannot wait! But it is coming fast and will be here before we know it. I know you both are going to a wedding tomorrow. Enjoy! The next one is yours!

"Bridemares!"

You know it must be getting close to the wedding when the "Bridemares" start. Actually today is just two weeks from the rehearsal dinner! That is a big YIKES!! You have told me of two bridemares, one of which I actually share with you. The first one revolves around the father-daughter dance to Paul Simon's "You Can Call Me Al." 4 minutes and 40 seconds!!!! (I checked!) Holy moly! That is a long time! In your version of the dream you keep telling the band to "abbreviate". I guess to no results! My version is quite vivid! I'm out there with no rhythm, no balance and no clue! But regardless it will be a very special moment. I just hope the band heeds your request to abbreviate! The second bridemare you mentioned involved logistics and when to do the welcome speech. I have no problem giving that speech wherever/whenever you believe is best! Just two weeks to go! Sweet Dreams! It could be worse! "Diamonds on her Shoes" is 5 minutes and 50 seconds long!

A Fashion Tip from the Father of the Bride?

I know this must sound strange but I actually have a suggestion for those wearing boat/deck shoes. I just received, from Zappos, my deck shoes for the rehearsal dinner. They are traditional Sperry Topsiders, oatmeal in color with the traditional white non-marking soles. But they also have the traditional leather laces, which are a problem, always coming undone!

My new shoes I have tied in a new way! 1. Reverse each lace end through the top eyelet. 2. Tie a knot right behind the top eyelets with each end. 3 Using a hanger thread the extra lace in the pocket on each side of the shoe. Voila! You have a neat boat shoe tie that won't come untied!

There you have it. Who would have believed it? A fashion tip from the Father of the Bride!