36!

Happy Anniversary to my parents! Today would be the 36 year mark of marriage for them. Even though my dad passed away just over 4 years ago, my sister, mom and I make it a point to make sure that February 7 is still a day of happiness and celebration. My parents were in love and I LOVED that they showed how a marriage should be in front of my sister and I. They were not afraid to say sweet things in front of us and I loved how they bragged on the other when out and about. They also simply: just took care of one another. Most especially, I loved when my dad would tell me or my sister 'your mom is so beautiful.' Amazing. Trav and I will celebrate 36 years in 2046. That seems SO far away, but I look forward to seeing what's going on around us but most importantly being able to share our affection for each other in front of our kiddos and family. Thank you mom and dad for being such an incredible example. I wanna share a couple photos from their wedding day.. I think it's crazy cool that my dad wore a blue tuxedo at their wedding. Love that personality. :)

I love the look my mom is giving my dad in this photo. T and I have one that is actually similar. <3

;)

LOVE.

California Girl at Heart

simply put. :)

Around the Halloween weekend and for a few days after, Travis, my mom and I were down in Southern California. And I loved every second of it! We started out in Redondo Beach (SW Los Angeles and next to Palos Verdes). My dad grew up in Redondo Beach and basically lived in the same house his whole childhood and until recently, my Grandpa was still in that house! That's over 50 years people in the SAME house (remember my house commitment phobia? I think this helps my case.). Do to some unexpected health setbacks and such, my Grandpa now lives in quite the community among a few other older folk (he has a girlfriend?!) in a cute home not far from his 'before' house. While it has been hard to adjust for us up here 800+ miles away to the changes that feel like they have happened so fast, it seems that life really is not that bad for my Grandpa. The staff is super sweet and make good food and watch college football. I'm a-okay with that.

The above photo was taken outside his new place after a lovely fall walk in the neighborhood with my Grandpa. I hope that when I am a few years into my 90's that I still have the humor and stories that Harold Self has. What a cool guy. :)

Moving onward and further south - it was off to San Diego. Travis and I rattled off many Anchorman quotes on the 1.5 hour drive down. We stayed with my mom's sister - Kea. Love my aunt! She is so cute, spunky and intelligent. I hope that Emmanuel, Carmen and Leandra think of me that way one day.. (between you and I - I think they think I'm the 'fun' one)! 

seeesters. So cute.

The big event while in San Diego was to get to Sea World (for the obvious being that dad - and mom and Kea and my O'pa worked there). But this is where my parents met, worked while dating and worked as they were newlyweds. Sea World was such a huge accomplishment for my dad. I am so proud of everything he did there. And it was even more incredible to share it with Travis and allow him to experience many of the activities that my dad did and helped get started in the animal training down there.

we have a photo nearly identical to this, but my dad is in a red jacket.

I love sea lions. :)

they still ride the dolphins like dad did!

gorgeous.

We look so fresh and cute in the first photo, then just 3 minutes into the whale show and sitting in the 2nd row of the Soak Zone.. take a look at the next photo.. 

 

mom and me. (pre-soak zone)

I loved that day. It was beautifully sunny, 80 degrees, we enjoyed a place super near and dear to my family's heart, the food was delicious, the roller coaster a blast and at the end of the day - I wanted to do it all over again!! But - we didn't. We celebrated Halloween by going to the beach. We walked around the Carlsbad area and enjoyed a scrumptious breakfast at the Daily News Cafe (which I kept calling the Daily Planet). They have a red telephone booth a la Superman too.

;)

As we searched for a cozy spot on the beach we saw a pod of dolphins!! Look close below, see the little dark spot? That is one of their fins. It was super hard to capture it on our digital camera (they swim waaay faster than "little Shelby" ever did at 7 years old). 

At the end of the trip, I realized just how much family means to me and what I want to be able to teach our future family what it's all about. Of course, we will see 'where' our home is - whether that's in a house that we live in until we're gray and wrinkly or one of many homes we'll have. Wherever he is that's where I want to be. <3

lattes, flops and the ocean = perfect.

Until next time - love you California!

4 Years Later

love this photo of him riding dolpins.

in my Dad's Sea World days. :)  look at him waaay up there!

my Dad built the huge fence that goes around my parents backyard.

I remember it like it happened yesterday. On Oct. 21st my Dad called me to ask how work was going and if I was watching the World Series. Dad and I loved watching baseball together - he taught me everything I know about baseball! After a great conversation and asking him how he was feeling - he just said "well I'm getting through it, but your mom is great at taking care of me." After "love you" and "g'bye" - I didn't realize that was the last time I would have a conversation with my Dad. After work on Oct. 22nd, I had an internal feeling that something was wrong at home (being Salem where my parents lived). I shook it off and made some dinner and started to relax watching tv. I got a phone call from a number I didn't know and it was the neighbors across the street from my parents saying that I needed to come home as soon as I could. Of course this sent a huge panic through my entire body. I gathered a bag very quickly and after another phone call from the neighbors and hearing my mom crying I knew something very bad had just happened. My boyfriend at the time was able to drive me home (the 45 minute drive felt like 20 minutes). Driving up to your house and seeing an ambulance and a car marked "chaplain" makes it incredibly hard to keep it together. As I tried to walk up the driveway past everyone to see what was going on, I was stopped by the chaplain saying that my Dad had passed away. That night was the most scary, sad and odd nights I've ever had.

my Dad is third from the right. He was on the tennis team in the '60s.

4 years ago, my Dad passed away. He was an amazing man. I'm still trying to figure out how to convert the slide show we did for his funeral to file that is able to upload to YouTube. It's a pretty awesome collaboration of photos and music revolving around him. Below is the letter I wrote and read aloud at my Dad's service and somehow through ugly crying and kleenex I made it and was able to get through it. (Not exactly an easy thing for anyone but especially at 22 in front of a church full of people.)

my Dad with my Mom early in their marriage. :)

"In thinking of my Dad the memories that quickly come to mind are my first tennis lessons, fun trips to the zoo as well as spending time at the beach. I remember the numerous episodes of Coach we would watch together, learning new silly jokes and listening to The Beach Boys music on repeat many afternoons when I was a kid. Not only is my father my inspiration for studying the health field, but my Dad is an admirable example of strength, courage and bravery. Unafraid to try new things and unexpected adventures he set forth goals and determination for himself. ~ And he did achieve those ambitions and dreams! Dad was always his best self – he was honest, true and always a first class man. No matter what obstacle would appear in his life, Dad always found a way to overcome it and be prepared for another challenge. My dad always faced these challenges and gave more of him to get through the hard times as it became more essential. He never gave up and I will always remember him presenting himself as a strong, protective and incredible father! 

Most of all – Dad you are my hero and I love you so much!"

Enjoy the day today and always always always tell those you care about how much you love them. I think of my Dad everyday and so wish that Travis could have met him, that my Dad could have walked me down the aisle, and that my Dad could see the day (far in the future) that I am a mom and hold his grandchild. But I hold on to what my Dad did see me do. He saw me graduate college, he taught me how to drive, he taught me how to hit a softball, he taught me how to speak in front of people, he taught (tried to at least) me how to swim and he taught me how I should be loved by a husband through his actions to my mom. What an incredible guy. Miss you Dad and love you oh-so-mucho.

It's all about Dad today: Happy Birthday!!

Sigh.. I knew that I would write a post (or many many more in the future) dedicated to my Dad and what better timing than his birthday to write one for him! My dad passed away almost 4 years ago (I was 22 at the time) and it is so hard to put it into words exactly what it is like to lose a parent. But - I want to keep this post light and happy, I have already had a few tears today and I want to be able to smile a little more tonight and enjoy the day a little bit like he would have. 

So without further ado: Happy Birthday to my Dad - THE David Lee Self.

 

Yes, before I was born my dad was an animal trainer at Sea World. He looks pretty fabulous riding on that whale! :)  He always had the dream growing up to work at Sea World and he made it happen! He started out selling balloons around the park at 15 years old and in a few years was training to work with killer whales, dolphins, sea lions and other marine life. I love this photo of my Dad. We have it blown up and framed in our living room and it is so cool to see what my dad was like and the things he got to do. 

Below are a few of my favorite photos of my dad. He was an amazing man!

this must have been in the early 1950's. I love that cardigan!

barefoot, surfboard, sun tanned. that was my dad in a nutshell. He grew up living in southern California.

My dad invented this move that many animal trainers still use today at Sea World. It's called the Roman Ride when you ride on the backs of 2 dolphins. How cool. I would love to swim along a little dolphin one day. 

Moving to the 80's (aka I was brought into this world!), this is one of my favorite pics of my Dad and I. Him complete with a windbreaker, baseball hat and making sure I was snug and secure with him - and outside. (Most photos of my dad and I are taken outside.) He taught me how to throw a softball, play tennis and didn't miss any opportunity to listen to the questions I had. And I had many questions about the world, sports, life and school. Maybe that's why he got me the Greatest Answers book as a kiddo?

At my college graduation in 2007, I was so happy that he got to be there to share in the moment that I had graduated college. He was so proud and although he didn't feel 100% that day, he was not about to let that stop him from seeing his youngest graduate with a degree. 4 months later he passed away but my prayer was answered 1 year before I graduated. I wanted my Dad to see me graduate and know that I achieved what him and I had talked about all during my high school years. Graduating with a college degree. 

Happy Birthday Dad. I love you so much and I love to brag about you and know that I had the best dad. Thank you for staying up until the wee hours of the morning to make sure I made it home (late) but safely.

Thank you for asking the boyfriends of the past many questions to make sure they treated your daughter right.

Thank you for setting such an incredible example of how a husband should love a wife. 

Thank you for being my Coach, Counselor, Security Guard and driving instructor (who knew the car went that fast down Kuebler road?!).

You are the greatest and I always love telling Travis about you and can't wait to tell future little Waltzes all about their cool Grandpa and what he was like. 

"I love my girls. I'm so lucky!" - David Self talking about his wife and 2 daughters on lots of occassions. :)

But we all knew we were the lucky ones! :)