A Day at the Park

So where do I begin with yesterday's festivities? hmmmm...I have a lot to tell! (And if you didn't read the blog over the weekend, you need to scroll down and read your way back up because I posted on Saturday AND Sunday.)

Sunday morning after AxMan woke up, I asked him if they would like to do something together for the day. So we decided on an afternoon at the park (at this point it was 10:30am and the girls were still asleep). I set about getting myself ready after exercising, had a quick bite to eat, and gathered some park supplies. Quilts to lay out in the grass, scratch sets (you know the velcro catch game), a frisbee, my old cheerleading pom-poms (cause the girls asked to see them the night before but I had to dig them out of a box), and a cooler with our favorite drinks. I met them at the park around 1:30pm and the fun began!

The girls played...and played...and played some more. We really had a great time! I also had packed my iPod and speakers, so we listened to music while laying on the quilts. AxMan ran to grab a pizza since him and the girls hadn't eaten. The girls and I talked about all sorts of things...I just let them lead the conversation. I'm glad they feel comfortable enough with me to confide in me. (It surprised their daddy later when I told him too.) The girls made themselves dizzy on the merry-go-round, climbed on the geo-dome, went down the slides, and I joined them on the swings. Lorraine even found time to bury herself in the sandbox. Oi. The girl had sand EVERYWHERE. haha It was really the perfect day weather-wise! I would plan a day like that again in a heartbeat!

DORK! He didn't think I snapped this fast enough...bahaha

Around and around they go!

Sand, anyone?

Kiddie swing

After about 2.5 hours the girls were starting to get restless. You know how it is...sooooo BORING. hahaha We packed everything back in my car and then went over to the place AxMan is staying right now because I hadn't been there and the girls wanted me to see it. We all piled onto the bed and watched a movie...but mostly chatted. All too soon it seemed like our day was coming to a close. At 7pm, I rode along for the "drop off" of the kiddos to their mom. I did see her, but we did not meet. Can anyone say awkward?!?

After dropping the girls off, we went back to the park and sat on the big bench swing under a shade tree. It was nice just being able to sit there and enjoy some quiet time with AxMan. After some talking there, we went back to where he's staying. He really wanted to watch the movie (cause it was already a day late), but of course, we missed most of it again due to a conversation that got started between us. He is VERY adamant about open communication...and I love that, but at the same time, it's almost to the point it makes me uncomfortable. Why? Well....he's been there done that and I haven't. It's really as simple as that. I would be lying if I didn't say the situation can intimidate me at times, but I'm working really hard not to let it. Sometimes that feeling comes across as me rejecting him. I hate that he feels that way, but it's because of his history. We were kind of giving each other some thinking space when my dear, sweet, wonderful friend O texted. The girl has some crazy connection to me! She always seems to hit the right day and the right moment when I need a true friend's advice. She was texting about reading my latest blog post....and of course she has lots of backstory via text because she's a) local and b) one of my best friends since HS. It was the reminder I needed to put myself out there...so I asked him to read the text. That was all it took to open the lines of communication. There was some pretty serious conversation...and at times I felt like he could reach out and crush my heart at any moment...but in the end, we're okay. We both have lots of baggage/fears we bring into the relationship, but we both want to make it work. He really pushes me to lay those fears to rest. I know I'm pushing him as well. It will no doubt continue to be a struggle. I just know I'm willing to keep "laying it on the line" as long as he does.

Yesterday I had planned to ask him how he felt about us being "Facebook official." hahaha Stupid, I know. Forgive me. On the way home, I texted him to ask. He was all for it. So when I got home and got some stuff done, I finally had a moment to sit down and change my status on FB. His computer screen is shattered and good ol' FB won't let the world change their relationship on the mobile app (I mean...really? How dumb is that logic??), so he is hoping to get to a computer tonight or tomorrow to "approve" our pending relationship. He does however still get all the notifications from every time someone has liked my changed status. hahaha ;) I really never knew so many cared about my status until last night when 14 people Liked my relationship status change within 10 minutes of posting it...at midnight!! Good grief. It does make me laugh though. And I do like being his. And him being mine. :)

OH...he also now knows about the blog, but hasn't seen it. I told him about his moniker and let's just say...I think he would've done the "me Tarzan" beating on his chest thing had I been standing with him when we talked about it later on the phone (after I got home). His biggest question was why I felt the need to hide his name and call him something else. I explained to him that the moniker started before we'd started officially dating and it was to protect his privacy. So...AxMan is actually a wonderful man named Eric. If you're FB friends with me...you probably figured that out by his comment on my status change and the fact that he also Liked it. hahaha Eventually it'll say that he's the one I'm in a relationship with, but ya know that whole approval thing via an actual computer! :p I will most likely continue to call him AxMan, but don't be surprised if I slip up from time to time and you see Eric. I almost typed it earlier in a paragraph and went back to change it!

My Heart is Happy

So, as you all know from reading my gibberish everyday...there's a wonderful guy in my life (aka AxMan). Yesterday I met his daughters (aka Katniss & Lorraine - more on these monikers in the following paragraphs!). If you read yesterday morning's post, you'll know I woke up feeling like everything was right in my world. Such a good feeling! :) That feeling only intensified throughout the day. Last night, AxMan and I were texting after he went home...and I told him that for the first time, I felt complete. He replied that he did as well...and that his girls were the happiest he'd seen them in a long time. *melt my heart* I had a lot of those heart melting moments yesterday...I've always known in my heart (since I was very young), that I was born to be a mother and a wife. Crazy? Maybe. Yesterday just cemented that for me. No matter what form it comes as in the future.


I had plans to meet AxMan and his daughters in Greensburg for lunch when mom and I were up there getting groceries for the week. I got a text while I was getting ready asking if he could just stop by and say hi real quick and pick up the mini fridge. (He's borrowing our mini fridge.) I was sort of confused because I thought he was panicking and pulling a stunt like I dealt with before (with Electrician). I told him I wasn't quite ready yet (I was dressed, but no makeup and wet hair up in a towel...yowza), but he said I'd like beautiful no matter what and the girls wanted to meet me. I combed my hair and put on a smile...and they were here! I took Toby outside with me to meet the girls and he soaked up all their attention. What a ham! We stood there talking and carrying on for about 30 minutes. When the girls were off playing with Toby and petting our other dogs, he told me he hadn't really had the money for lunch (it's been tough for him lately), to which I replied that I had planned to treat them all to lunch anyway. I hadn't told him because he's a man and very prideful. ha He had a hard time accepting it, but eventually said if the offer still stood, the girls would love to spend more time with me (as would he) and they'd still join us. So, after he ran to his sister's to pick up some of his yard equipment (he does landscaping on the side), they met mom and I at Storie's for a delicious...and quite funny lunch. I don't think we lacked for conversation at all. The girls are bright, funny, and sweet. They seemed comfortable with me and mom. I even sat by the girls and AxMan sat on the other side of me. The younger one was having trouble cutting up her chicken strips (kids are so funny with their habits, but then so are adults!), so I asked if she wanted help and she handed me her plate so I could do it. He looked kinda funny at me and asked if it was okay, that he could do it. I told him it was fine, I wouldn't have offered if I didn't wanna do it. ha Men! :p Sometimes they just don't get we show our affection in a million different ways. Lunch lasted about 1.5 hours! Craziness. It flew by and I'm so glad I got that time with them.

Mom and I went on our merry way to get groceries and AxMan took the girls to his mom's while he mowed a few yards nearby there. I was standing in line to pay (you know good ol' Wal-Mart can only have 3 lines open when there are a BILLION people trying to check out...grrrr) when I got tackled! hahaha There was Katniss & Lorraine! And here came their daddy...smiling and laughing. He needed a few things and didn't think they would see me, but the girls were apparently on the lookout for me. ;) So I got to talk to them a few more minutes while we waited in line.

That evening he picked up a pizza and brought the girls over to watch a movie. On the way over...our text convo looked a bit like this:

AxMan: I plan on some hugs and kisses tonight. Just so you know.
Me: Are we allowed to cuddle during the movie?
AxMan: I just asked the girls and they said yes to cuddling. ha
Me: How about those kisses? ;)
AxMan: I asked. I got eye rolling and smiles. Yes, we've got the green light. ;)
Me: Glad to know we have approval! haha


I have never had to get permission to hug or kiss a boyfriend before...but I'm glad the girls approve. The pizza & movie were actually their idea. They wanted to see me again! AWWWWWWWWW How cute is that?? If you can't tell, I'm just as smitten with them as with their dad. The girls quickly ended up being bored with the movie and they wanted to talk. So they sat on the floor amidst the pile of pillows and blankets I had out for them, playing with Toby and asking me questions while I was curled up on the couch in AxMan's arms (per usual). At about 10:30, the girls said they were tired, but they didn't wanna leave me. So AxMan told them to lay down and when they were ready to go home, he'd get them up. ha They enthusiastically covered up with my Purdue blanket (did I mention his major flaw is that he's an IU fan? hahaha). He jokingly told them they were grounded. haha The girls then asked me to take a picture and post in on Facebook. I didn't post it on FB cause I didn't know if he was ready for that, but I am gonna post it here and I did text him the pic! Katniss ended up falling asleep on my bed, but Lorraine was wound for sound the entire night! They ended up waking Katniss and going home around midnight. Not an exciting night by any means, but a perfect one in my book. :)

Okay...so the reasons for the girls names. The oldest girl is 12 and is completely obsessed with Hunger Games. She has dark hair, is learning to shoot a bow, and has boots like Katniss wore in the movie. AxMan has a picture of her on his phone with her hair pulled back, shooting the bow, with her boots on...she looks very much like a young Katniss! The youngest girl is 9 and quirky sweet. ha She is blonde and precocious, much like the character Lorraine (that Dakota Fanning plays) in Uptown Girls. And there you have it...Katniss & Lorraine. He told me throughout the day that the girls NEVER stopped talking about me. Before they left last night, they even hugged me!! Seriously, how can you not get attached when it's like that? And yes, I know I could be setting myself up for huge disappointment, but for once, I'm not going to let any doubts or fear of getting hurt stop me from giving all of myself. They were already asking AxMan when they would get to see me again. The girls were trying to wrangle an invite for today...and of course, that would be fine with me. He admonished them for inviting themselves over, but of course, I know he loves it just as much as they do, so it wasn't too firm on that. ;)

And now for some pictures. Sorry, AxMan and I have not yet taken a picture together because I usually have no makeup on when he comes over to hang out. Honestly, I'm lazy after a day at work, exercising and showering...so I don't bother putting makeup on for the second time in the day...and he prefers me without it. I plan to remedy that this week/upcoming weekend. So, for now you have to settle for a picture from Easter that his cousin took of him watching the kids play in the yard at their family get-together. He looks much younger in person when he's smiling and joking around. But for the most part, this is him. And then the rest of the pics are of the girls from last night.