DOVE FAMILY

Monday August 30th is my dad's birthday. My dad passed away almost 4 years ago and we celebrated his birthday and his life as a family this past Sunday. We took the kids to Chuck E Cheese to play, run and release some energy. Then we had a wonderful lunch at Cracker Barrell. It was perfect- we were together and we celebrated my dad.

Monday August 30th a mass is dedicated to him. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about my dad or a night that I pray and talk to him. I know they say it gets easier, but I think it gets harder. I know how much my mom, sister and brother miss him. Its hard to know that he is missing the tender moments with us, the silly moments with the grandchildren, our talks, the singing, his advice and how he was always right....but I know he is looking down on all of us, guiding us and I think he would be very proud of his family.

Me & Julia at Chuck E Cheese before lunch





















Dave, Matthew & Julia




















Matthew practicing his
Quarterback skills!

One of the things my dad and mom started a long long time ago (ok..I know I am not that old) is having Sunday lunches together. When we were little, we would go to church Sunday morning as a family. Immediately after church, we had Sunday lunch. Then we spent the rest of the day watching movies, reading, finishing homework, playing outside and more. As we got older it did get more difficult to do things together on Sundays- as we started having jobs, going out with friends, we learned how to drive so we wanted to drive around, we had even more homework to do, go to the mall, shop and more. That didn't stop my parents though- they continued to cook a big Sunday lunch and no matter where my sister, brother and I were on a Sunday...it was a silent understanding that our parents were home on a Sunday and had Sunday lunch/dinner for our family. They invited our friends to share the lunch on Sundays, if we were working, they waited for us in the evenings, sat and ate dinner with us. No matter how busy we were during the week with school, work, friends, sports- we always had our family Sundays.


We continue to do this til this day. Some Sundays are a bit crazier then others, we take turns cooking now (my brother graduated from doing take-outs since he now has a wife), and there are some Sundays that we go out and eat. My brother, sister and I know that as our children grow up they will be running around with friends, working, sports and more. But on Sundays, no matter how busy we are, we try to still have our Sundays as much as we can- we cook, we eat, we talk, we laugh and we are together. Every day is so busy for us- rushing to school, work, rushing play time, quick dinners and errands. Sundays I get to breathe even if its just for a few hours. Sundays we let the children play lazily, play all day, eat a big breakfast. I hope that as our children get older, as their lives get busier they know that Sundays are the days we come together, eat, laugh, talk and be together. You make your Sunday how you wish it to be.

Yes, it is a little dramatic to start a post. However, this is extremely important. Do you see this face?

Yes, this one.

He started Pre-K and I'm having a tough time with this. You probably think that I am nuts (so does Dave), but he is my first born! By the way I am acting, you probably think he started a new school or is riding the bus or in another county, but really...he is still at the same daycare. Just in a Pre-K program. See this book?

I started this book when he was 2 and in daycare- I kept every activity that may include a foot or hand print, a mother's day activity he created for me, pictures from daycare activities, his first letter he wrote, progress reports. I have done this every year and I will continue to do this as he goes into PreK, Kindergarten, 5th grade and when he graduates high school, I will show this to him and I can't wait for him to say, "Mom. I can't believe you kept this...after all these years! Put it away so my friends don't see it!"

My two nephews go to camp at a local community college each summer. At the end of summer camp they put together a huge production. This year for all you "GLEEKS" and Glee fans...they did a production from Glee. The boys sang & danced with their class and they put on a great show. I am so proud of them!

Here are the stars of the show! dylan on the left & Daniel on the right!

Waiting for the curtain to come up and for the show to begin!

Dylan is 1st one on the left in the 2nd row

All of the campers & counselors coming out at the end of the show!

Where has the summer gone? From swimming, eating crabs, the BEACH, enjoying this extremely hot weather...the summer is gone. Just like that. College kids have invaded my campus once again. My quiet street now has kids on the corners waiting for their buses. I see kids with bookbags that are filled and seem so heavy and it's only the first week of school!

Although fall is knocking on our back door- we do have a few more weeks to enjoy this weather. We have been very busy but have had a wonderful summer. Here are some random pics the past few weeks! We got rained out when we planned to go to a local waterpark so we decided to go to Chuck E Cheese at the last minute....I hope we can make it to the beach or waterpark one more time before the summer ends.

Julia wearing superstar sunglasses!

Lola (mom) and Dylan playing one of the games.

Dave- trying out for the QB position for the Redskins. Sorry, I think McNabb already got the job!