I love being Aunt Emmy!

I never knew how much fun being an aunt was until about 2 years ago when Karter was born! I just LOVE spending time with him whether it is reading, singing, playing, eating, etc. And then in February I became an aunt again (if that is possible) to Kaden and man he is SOOO sweet! This past Friday they were at my parent's house and I couldn't pass up spending time with the two cutest boys in the whole world (and of course my fun sister-in law Dana). Below are some pics of the day courtesy of my mom.

Karter loves to read and he loves his Elmo. It is so cute when he kisses Elmo throughout the book! It is just so fun when Karter sits on your lap and enjoys every book you read.

After lunch it was time for a nap. Dana told Karter to pick out a good book to read while she got his blanket and his elephant. Karter picked out an "I SPY" book and said "Emmy read it please." How could one resist?!? So I held Kaden and Karter (along with his Elmo backpack) and we read the book together. Let me tell you that boy knows his stuff! He is definitely SO smart for a 2 year old (not that I'm biased or anything)!

Never knew it could be so fun to hold two kids and read a book to them! Aren't they adorable?!? Dana, I admire your patience and how much time you have spent teaching Karter.

Isn't Kaden sweet after a nap...or all the time!!!

Love this little guy!

After naptime it was time to play on the "Toys". Karter loved every second of it!

Thanks Dana for driving over so that I had a chance to spend a day with my two sweet nephews. I just love being Aunt Emmy! Can't wait to spend a week with them at the beach!

Friday Night Fun/Fiasco

This past Friday Zach had planned for us to go the the Hancock County 4-H Fair. Since we haven't gone in the past 2 summers we've lived in Greenfield I thought it would be a fun free evening. For my Middletown family, it is a combo of the Middletown Fair and the Henry County 4-H Fair...so very trashy in a lot of aspects. The Hancock County Memorial Hospital had a booth so I got to meet some of Zach's coworkers and then we walked around.

Photo #1...do you notice what is in the background?!?

That's right...it's a mechanical bull! You can ride this for $6 but Zach and I passed. I've just never seen one of these before that weren't in movies. Thought it was interesting.

After we had looked around at everything (we weren't into riding rides) I thought we needed a lemon shake up and a lion paw (Lion's Club version of an elephant ear). While we were eating, Kara and Kyler called and said they were headed to Greenfield and thought we could meet up.

So we told them we'd meet them at O'Charley's for dinner and then just come back and watch a movie. Well here is where the fiasco part of the story comes in. I ordered a panini and the waiter brought out a pasta dish (it looked disgusting too). He took it back and then brought out the same thing and said it was a panini...it OBVIOUSLY wasn't. He finally agreed and said he'd bring my order right out. Fifteen minutes later and everyone else finished, I got my meal which I proceeded to take home and eat later!

It is definitely hilarious looking back on it and Zach and I had a great Friday night at the fair and with family! Thanks Kyler and Kara for making our night extra interesting!

Love Hurts

On Saturday after it stormed for about an hour, our friends Brandon and Amy asked us if we wanted to go to the pool. Zach thought we were crazy but went because I wanted him to go. The water was warmer than we anticipated and had a good time until...Zach got hurt!

Zach was tossing Brandon using his hands as a lift. Everyone has done this before so I never thought it would cause such a painful injury. Zach had his fingers interlocked and when Brandon was launching off his hands, Zach's finger got stuck under his wedding ring and ripped the skin off and pretty deep. The first picture above is of the injury and the second picture is of the skin that was ripped off (gross I know but when we first found it it was wrapped around his wedding ring and I had to take a picture).

I knew I needed to document pictures, so Brandon and Amy helped Zach cover his wound with the first aid kit while I took some pictures with my phone. I knew it must have hurt when I saw Zach's face in the pool but I didn't know it would be as bad as it was.

He's such a trooper but he told me later that "love hurts". He went to the pool out of "love" and the symbol of love, his wedding ring, is what ripped his skin off with. Sorry Zach and I hope it feels better soon!

Yes It's True...I Have A Tattoo

Last August I did something I never thought I would...I got a tattoo. I had always thought they were interesting, but never something for me. My dad got one many years ago when he was in the service, my brother...he is a living mural (so many tattoos I have lost count). So needless to say my family does not oppose the idea of body art.

I had always said, "If I get one, it will be for a reason." I believe all tattoos, no matter how silly, have a story to the person wearing it. My story is about where I come from and what I believe in... my family.

My dad and I share a special bond, and for awhile talked about getting matching tattoos, but nothing ever came of it. Partially because I was scared and partially because I wanted it to mean something.

My family is the most important thing to me...and my last name is a reminder of where I come from. Whaley may not be the most famous name in history, maybe it is even tarnished in parts of the world, but it is the name I have carried throughout my life. The family crest has 3 black whales, and the name is believed to be traced back to whaling origins. So the whale has always been a symbol of importance to my family. So what better image to carry with me...

The above picture is the whale I now have on my back, it is a humpback whale. I hand drew the picture taking ideas from other pictures I found, until I had something I felt was my personality.

A whale is an important symbol in many Indian cultures and stands for strength and wisdom. The whale is also considered the "great healer" in Indian legend. Whales are also one of the few animals that stays with the same partner for life, and always stays in pods with family. To me that is what I value...strength, wisdom, to be a good healer (physical therapist), and of course a family man.

To tie it all together, my dad and I got the same tattoo. Mine is larger and on my back, my dad's is on his forearm. It is a family bond we will always share, but the whale to me was always about family.

The Silver Bullet

Here's "The Silver Bullet"! I wish I had a picture or two of it back in its hayday but you'd have to see my mom for those. I had just turned 17 and we were out to get me a new car. I knew what I wanted and even though someone else was about to purchase it, they let me buy it because it was my first "new car". As you can tell, it's not that new anymore!

In November of this year, I will have had my car for 9 years and let me tell you...I'm ready for a new one! It definitely has character though. I have had a cracked windshield for almost 4 years, my air/heat fan for low levels hasn't worked for 2 years, my passenger seat is broken (the springs and the level to adjust it), the trunk doesn't like to close very easily, and my car is starting to rust along the bottom. (See two pictures below..sorry they're not the best because the were taken at dusk with my phone)

This past week was a biggie for "The Silver Bullet". I have never heard of hub bearings but my car needed 2 of them. And if you're wondering they are about $160 a piece...apparently my car has expensive taste! I noticed my car was making very loud roaring noises when I went above 35 mph so Zach and I decided it would be better to take it in then for it to stop working altogether.

Neither one of us like to do these kinds of things, but the cars are "boy jobs" around our house. My loving husband looked around and found a good place and got my car taken care of. It now runs as good as new (or as good as my car can run at its age) and hopefully it can get me through 3 more years! It's been a big part of my life so far and I love "The Silver Bullet" but I won't be sad when it's gone. I need an automatic car (automatic as in windows and doors), a 4 door vehicle, one that Zach is willing to drive, and an armrest that two people can use without touching each other! Until then, "The Silver Bullet" and I will be good friends and hopefully she won't cost me too much more money or hassle!