Things I love Thursday (Thanks Rebecca)

My good bloggy friend Rebecca did "Things I Love Thursday" today and because I liked the idea, I stole borrowed it from her.  So feel free to check out what she loves today too.

Conan O'Brien.  I love Conan.  It's irrational and ridiculous, but I love him.  We DVR him every night.  And last night, upon showing PJ who he was on my t-shirt, turned on one of the episodes and asked PJ who it was and he said "Conan!"  Yup, that's my boy.

Quesadillas and my quesadilla maker.  To be fair, I love all Mexican food, but this is what I am making for dinner tonight and I am super excited.

This is the dress I got for John's holiday party.  I love it so!!  I also love that we get to get dressed up and go out for a fancy night on someone else's dime.

Now, I know this show is ALL KINDS OF FUCKED UP, but I can't help it.  It's so intriguing.  And puzzling.  I keep trying to put the pieces together.

Of Course.  DA BEARS.

Um, the Game of the Century is Sunday

So.   The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup last year.   PJ was born during a Hawks game and just a little over a year later, they won the Stanley Cup.

Maggie was born on the day of a Bears game.  A game they won.  So the Bears are going to win the Super Bowl just a few months later.  Why?  Because it's the 25th Anniversary of Super Bowl XX.  Because beating the PACKERS en route to a Super Bowl Championship is the sweetest taste of victory one can have.

Oh, and because we need a little happiness in the O'Gara Family.  And this would bring MOUNDS of happiness.

Anyway, PJ's added a couple two word sentences to his vocabulary.  Hi Mama! Hi Dog!  Shoes off!  Mama Yum!  Kee-kees! (Cookies).  He's so fricking adorable I can't stand it.  My happiness. 

Miss Maggie is by far one of the happiest babies ever.  You just look at her and she smiles.  She's so cute.  She's so strong holding her head up like such a big girl.  My happiness.

So we will be watching the Bears erase the Packers on Sunday.  Bringing it on home to Chicago.  Bearing down.  With that 12th player on the field.

RIP, FIL

Johnny's dad passed away on Friday.  His body simply couldn't fight anymore.  We lost him at 12:44 p.m.

My husband has been a symbol of strength for his sister, his grandmother, for himself.  He says he feels weak, but he is strong.  He is devastated and having a hard time accepting that he can't joke about the weather with his dad, that he can't call them when the Bears beat the Packers on Sunday (which they will), that he can't ask for advice when he needs it.  However, he says he feels that his dad is still guiding him, and helping him and I feel that he is too.

The past few days have been rough.  The outpouring of love and support from our friends, family, and extended family has been overwhelming.  There was never a lull in the people paying their respects to Pop.  Our friends have stepped up in ways I could  not even begin to explain.  And althoug they will never read this, John Blair, Steve Blair, and Mike Simmons -- you have no idea how much you have helped Johnny through this.  You are fantastic friends and we are forever lucky to have you as part of our lives.

Myself, I am having a hard time.  It hurts me to see Johnny hurting so much.  Especially since I can't take the pain away or make it better.  I am also having all kinds of thoughts about my mom and things that are going to be happen with her.  Terry came to the funeral, and it was weird to see him without my mom -- this was the first time I'd seen him somewhere without her.  And it was rough.

Johnny finally understands how I feel when I say my mom is gone.  She's physically still here, but she's not here.  I can't call her for advice, or do anything with her anymore.  If anything, I think this will  help him help me get through the inevitable end that is coming soon.

PJ and Maggie have been the reason we have been able to get through this. No matter how sad John was, PJ would giggle or Maggie would smile and they would put a smile on his face.  Children are the best way to cheer you up.

Pop, thank you for raising the wonderful man I married.  Thank you for treating me as a daughter and for loving our children with all you  had.  I know the pride and love you had for all of us and I will never, ever forget that.

I hope you keep looking down on us.  And make sure you're hanging out over Soldier Field on Sunday.

Good-bye, Pop.