Arizona Sunshine

My uncle Carl and aunt Sara are in town from Phoenix. My mom picked them up, along with my aunt Veronica, to come see my home and have lunch (and meet Finn!). They're all my 'great' aunts and uncle, actually. It was such a treat to see them and share my home and new baby with them! Finn loved it!

I have to take a minute to share some history with my Uncle Carl. My parents divorced when I was 12 and we didn't have a lot of money. My brothers were all out of HS, so they were pretty much gone most of the time and busy w/ work, school, etc. Mom always tried to take me somewhere for a summer vacation and AZ (although insanely hot) was our destination. Carl and Sara would open their home and hearts to welcome us. We would buy the plane tickets and they picked us up, showed us around, let us stay (and we would visit 3+ weeks each summer...phew!) and love us when we were going through a really hard time at home.

My aunt Sara would listen to my mom and console and counsel her while I played with Carl. He was such a great sport...as he was upper 50's and would come home from a long day at work...then go down to the community pool and swim/play with me. I would hide his remote control, his glasses, etc. He would tease me just the same. He was a father figure to me through a time that was really hard and I didn't see much of my own dad. Understandably, both my parents were struggling and emotionally upset...and having Carl to play with was a God send for me. We would pen pal through the school year and I could not wait to get on the plane to go see him. I would cry and cry when we had to come home.

Carl has been such a bright spot, mentor and beautiful influence in my life. I will never be able to tell him or thank him enough for the way he poured into my life. Today was one of those moments that made me cry once more...I was able to introduce my little man to my uncle Carl. Watching him play with Finn touched me in ways I cannot express.

So to end on a lighter note...here are some of the wild things we did. He would put my socks on his ears (they'd hang like puppy dogs) and he'd chase me and his grandkids around on all fours. He worked an office job, thus his legs did not have the tan his arms/neck did. So when we went swimming (after work) in the evenings, the pool lights reflected a bright green/yellow tint off his legs. He graciouslly took the name..."lizard legs" which his grandkids caught onto and I continue to call him to this day. We went to Sedona and while mom and Sara shopped, we hit the Slide Rock State Park. He heroically braved the mossed-over boulders and ice cold water! We had a blast! He sends little articles clipped from the paper or little things he finds here and there that are simple little things...that mean the world to me. He takes the time to invest in my life. For that, I will be forever grateful. Thank you, uncle Carl, for loving me. I love you too!

Carl and my mom.

Aunt Veronica (Carl's sister)
Carl playing w/ Finn
Aunt Sara
Finn clutched onto Carl's hand
Tickle monster!
Finn was ready to sleep (that is an understatement), but was kind enough to get a few pictures first.
Kisses from Carl
He was laughing...so stinkin' cute!

Ever since Carl and Sara came to Ohio, it has been bright, sunny, just warm enough, gorgeous weather! He was teasing that when he opened his suitcase...it was wonderful. It has been! Thank you for bringing the AZ sunshine!!! Funny thing is that my mom tends to take the OH rain/clouds wherever she goes! She went to AZ for Memorial Day this year and they were overcast, cool, rainy almost her whole stay! lol