What an overwhelming 2ish months!

Let me preface this by saying it's been a crazy 2-ish months. Read along and hopefully you'll make it to the bottom at some point!

Life in the Buzek home has been quite the whirlwind.  Ben has been very busy with work, learning about his new job and making lots of trips here and there.  Overall we've been doing really well and are learning more about each other as well as ourselves as individuals daily.  We're learning to cherish each moment we have together and as a family, and we feel really lucky to be where we are.  We have an amazing son who makes us smile and laugh and we absolutely love each new phase he enters in his little life.  Ben gives his all in trying to balance work/home/marriage/fatherhood and sometimes I forget and neglect all that he does.  So..honey, thank you. :) I love you!

Now that the barf session is over....

At the end of March/beginning of April, we started the proceedings for the purchase of our 'dream' home.  [I say 'dream' because after some work, it will be our DREAM home. :)]  Everything kind of fell into perfect place with this house.  The owner was quite ready to get it sold since he'd already moved out to the West Coast [and I'm sure you know life isn't cheap out there!].  We got a FANTASTIC deal, amazing interest rate, and everything ran smoothly.  It was now the waiting game for inspections, closing procedures and finally- move in.  We were set for an end of May closing.

At the end of April we learned about the death of a friend back at Fort Campbell.  He collapsed after running the Country Music Half Marathon and reportedly suffered a "sudden cardiac event".  It's still beyond me how a seemingly healthy 25-year-old combat Veteran dies doing something he enjoyed, but I guess life is funny that way.  I took it really hard, even though I wasn't exactly close with him.  As wierd as it sounds, I think I might have understood more had he passed overseas.  In the military, the understanding that it IS, indeed, possible to lose a loved one overseas is constantly in the back of your head.  Ben considered him a good friend, had recently talked with him and we had plans to see him during our trip to TN at the end of May.  This guy, Levi, was a great person/soldier/friend and would take the shirt off his back for anyone he loved.  He told the most elaborate stories and was a blast to be around.  He lived down the street from us when we were in Clarksville, and we had a few good times together last summer.  He'll truly be missed. :( 

Around Mother's Day weekend Ben received a call from his Mom indicating that his Grandmother, Jane, wasn't doing well. After a series of phone calls we decided it was best to head down to NC to be with Ben's family.  It was determined that the best decision for Jane would be to keep her comfortable and let her time pass as it would.  Ben spent most of the weekend at the hospital with his Mom, comforting her and following/making paper trails to ensure that Jane's care was the best she could get.  We stayed until Ben felt like we did all we could for them.  The same day we returned to Virginia, Jane passed on peacefully.  At 84, she was a tough cookie and gave this life all she had.  I'll really miss her witty little comments and stubborn personality...but we all know she's in a better place. 

Onto some happier news.  At the end of May we travelled over to TN to assist with/attend the wedding of our super-close, dear friends Rebecca & Andy.  The road trip itself went great, overall.  We made awesome time (10-11 hours) and Aiden did fantastic.  At the end the poor kid put his hands up and signed "done" over and over...with the most pathetic look on his face, too.  It was so sad!!!  The entire weekend was a blur of wedding events.  The wedding took place on Friday and we spent much of the day prepping/decorating the venue.  I made it back to Rebecca's house/showered/returned to the wedding site barely on time. I really think there was 5 minutes between our arrival and the ceremony.  Rebecca and Andy had a beautiful/quick ceremony and a stellar party afterward.  Aiden partied hard until he had no more to give.  He passed out just around 11 o'clock before we even left the parking lot. :)  The next morning we were quick to get the venue cleaned up and finish up other post-wedding duties.  Ben got there super early to help with what he could before leaving to participate in his former unit's Memorial Ride.  He borrowed his best-good friend's Harley and was beyond grateful for the opportunity. [Thanks Jeffy!!!]  Afterward he said the ride meant so much to him, especially after losing Levi last month.  

We didn't get to spend time with as many people as we'd hoped while there.  We really only had Friday/Saturday since we traveled Thursday and returned Sunday.  I hate that I didn't get to see some of my Clarksville friends, but hopefully the stars will align and we'll find ourselves out that way again soon. For those I neglected, I'm sorry!!!!

We traveled back to VA on Sunday and were up early Monday morning for the final walk-through before closing on Tuesday.  Much of Monday was spent packing since we'd neglected it up to this point.  The closing came and went and before I knew it, Tuesday night we were all moved in.  Things were everywhere, but we are now in our new home. :) :) :) YAY!!!!  I'm so grateful for the guys at Ben's work who helped us get all the crap here.  Mom and Dad Graham came down Wednesday-Sunday to help with house things/Aiden.  They helped more than they know!  Mom & Dad Buzek came down Saturday for a big family get-together.  We hoped to attend the Greek Festival out in Newport News but Aiden was getting over some kind of bug that hit him like a ton of bricks on Friday.  Ben & my Mom took him to the nearby urgent care while I [seemingly selfishly] attended my belated Mother's Day gift (a day at the spa!).  I didn't even realize just how much I needed that time away.  I told Ben to feel free to skip every other Mother's day and make up for it with another Spa day like that! :)  

So...those are my reasons for being so neglectful!  Oh yea, the most important reason!!  Aiden!! He is getting busier and busier and harder and harder to entertain!  He is a riot though and I wouldn't trade him for anything. :)  His sense of humor is starting to come out and I think we have a little trickster on our hands. :) He's all about Cars [the movie and the objects haha] and spends hours just driving his cars all over the place.  We're excited that he now has a yard to run and catch bubbles in and room to grow. :)  He's officially 21 months today, but I'd swear he's already 2!!!

Hmm....that's all I can think of at the moment....but here's a few quick pictures of the big guy!  I'll put up some pictures of the house when it's finally in order (hopefully that'll happen soon!).

Love to all- keep in touch & come visit us out in the sticks!!!! :)