LauraStories: July 2011

Jul 28, 2011

She Swims!!

and all that’s left is her bubbles…..

Goooooo Kathleen!!!!

Jul 26, 2011

The Renaissance Man and I should have won some sort of prize for most obnoxious DJ ever at our wedding reception. I almost don’t know how to describe the man. Besides not playing a.single.song from the playlist that we worked really hard on, he had a strange affection for the word “slip.” We slipped into our first dance, slipped into dinner, slipped into cake cutting. Slipped all night long. He also felt a need to announce all the food as it came out and just make weird statements in general. In any event, he was entertaining to the guests {unfortunately at his own expense} and makes for lots of funny wedding reminiscing.

We did not know it at the time, but my dad was taking careful notes of this D.J. This summer he was the announcer for my little brother & sister’s swim team at swim meets. Despite his retired naval commander-defense contractor-type A man that he is, the job seemed to be a good fit. My mom left me a voicemail after a swim meet… Laura, the kids and I are moving to Canada TODAY. Your father was the announcer at the swim meet today and completely embarrassed himself & our family. He apparently is trying to follow in the footsteps of the DJ at your wedding. You are so lucky you just got married and changed your name. I never knew the man was a closet DJ personality. This message was followed by a sigh and a click.

Because I know my father and I know he is not an attention-hogging, joke-making-goofy remarks type of guy, I brushed off her voicemail. Last weekend I went to watch my little sister at her swim meet. And my mom wasn’t lying. My dad truly had some sort of repressed DJ talents. He was charming..

Although I don’t know if that is the term my mother would use..

Summer Eats

Guess what we had for dinner last weekend?

I could have eaten him up too ;)

Jul 25, 2011

Cecilia.

You’re breaking our hearts…

Love that she scrunches up her nose just like her Aunt Laura.

dreaming of blonde, curly babies,

Laura

Jul 17, 2011

yellow

How I love you. Especially when you come in the form of roses from a very sweet husband.

chris homecoming 010

Jul 15, 2011

A Homecoming!!!

Some months seemed to fly by, others crawling, but finally..the 6 months are over! I’m pretty sure everyone in Hampton Roads was aware of the USS Enterprise homecoming this morning. And if you didn’t know, I’m sure the traffic gave you a clue. Well, there was a pretty special someone on that big carrier, making it’s way in this morning. Lieutenant Chris Danley looked for his family from the hangar bay, as we waved and shouted and carried on. My Dad had to work, my little brother Patrick was sick, my sister Mindy & her husband were out of town, as was My Renaissance Man…so it was just me, my mom, Kathleen, Patrick & Brian out to meet the ship today. It wasn’t the typical homecoming; however, as Chris had duty and would not be able to come off the ship. Being the veteran military family that we are, we knew better than to go to the pier with all the crazy crowds where you don’t even get to see the ship drive in. Nope, not us. Instead, 10 am this morning found the Danley clan at the sailing center, watching as the ship crossed the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. We walked along the marina on the rocks as it slowly made it’s way in. We headed towards the fishing pier right along with the Enterprise. Finally, we followed it to the last point before it made it’s slow left turn to the pier. We had an amazing view, no crowds, reporters, loud music, bad traffic. It was just us and the ship for about 20 minutes. On the same naval base where we grew up and watched my dad come home from deployments. Chris came on the hangar bay and was able to spot us {Thanks to my red dress & big straw hat} We all cheered when he sent the text reading “I see you!!”

Incredible.

These big smiles came after Chris called & said he could see us!

The USS Enterprise is the world’s FIRST nuclear powered carrier. I believe it is the biggest navy ship in the world, as well as the oldest. {Double checked my facts on wikipedia..the longest ship & the second oldest} still AMAZING!

See this woman?

She has had her fair share of homecomings.

But instead of waving to her son, she would be waving to her red-headed husband. And instead of holding tight to her little blonde grandaughter- she would be holding on to one of her her curly-topped daughters.