We had such a good weekend. It came on the heels of a crazy busy week so I think that made it so much more great. It was just a weekend full of friends and being together and laughing and talking about nothing and talking about everything.

I have realized that I have sold relationships short. I just thought I/my fam could exist as the Murphys with some friends on the side. Over the last few years I have found that there is something so huge to being with people who know you and that you know and you still all like each other anyway, your whole fam knows their whole fam, they can give you the business if you need it. There have always been pockets of people in my life that are the good ones but moving back to the Cincinnati has taken me some time to get there with people. I sometimes think in our parts the assumption is that we are in relationships with people and they are all good, healthy relationships that don't require a lot of work. It took us a long time to find a batch of people that felt good and easy.

Blah blah blah, I just love these ones...

Cincinnati looks good on them.

The Murphy household had a rousing game of 20 questions last night. Cooper doesn't quite understand it yet or has it way figured out.

Sean: OK, I am thinking of an animal.

Cooper Question 1: What is it?
Cooper Question 2: Does it have 18 tails?

I could not be more excited for today. 'Tis the start of a busy weekend, 4 baseball games - which only seems right as it is Lou Gehrigs birthday today, some family coming to town and a blind date Sunday night. I think Cupid is in the air and I enjoy helping him. I may have a problem with thinking about fixing people up but this one is going to be good, I'll let you know how it goes.

There will be some celebrating...many moons ago on this day the Statue of Liberty was delivered to the USofA. Of course its Fathers Day in a few as well. I dare you to find a better father, a more fun dad, a better encourager to his kids, a harder worker, a funnier, a more patient, kinder dad than this one.

He also happens to be having a bday today. I think this is the first birthday of his in the entire time I've known him that he isn't at a camp of some sort on this day. And I love, love, love it. But today its work and games instead. I think I may pretend its raining, pretend games get rained out and pretend he and I get to hang out. We will try but how can we pretend that the real reason of our joy is not that he shares his day with the one and only Miss Paula Abdul.

The cutest girl in the history of girls has a birthday today. It is her Golden Birthday, she is turning 3 on the 3rd. So far this morning, she has asked for birthday cereal with birthday milk, her birthday clothes, some birthday juice and asked for the birthday sun so she can play outside. I like to refer most of my emotions to Kelly Clarkson lyrics. My life would suck without her.

Don't forget to reserve your tickets for the hottest show in town. June 7th, 5 funny boys will be funny at Riley's in Springdale. You can pick the 5 pm or the 7 pm show and pay $15 for either. That's for dinner and everything. Hit up 771-3361 and tell them your coming. I think they are slated to be funny about Lake Erie. And there will be back bends.

How can I sum up a darn near perfect weekend? Let's just say I think I have cornered the market on friends. Mine are dynamite. Until I can come up with more than that, here is my new fave pic..."Summer Life for Littles".

I went to IKEA today for a quick second but got there before it was officially open. The greeter lady told me that the restaurant was open and that I could head up there until the showrooms open. So Parker and walk the 4.7 miles to the restaurant and arrive 3 minutes before the guy guarding the steps gets out of the way.

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I decided a cuppa joe sounded good while we waited. So I tell the little gal what I'd like and she pointed and sort of looked to where the cups were kept. I waited a sec and then another sec and another sec and when I realized she was done talking/pointing to me, I asked how much the cup of coffee was. Do you know? Guess. It was free. It wasn't that good but it was still free. Did you know that? So I tell the girl to get out of town and she said no but that everyday from 9:30 - 11:00 am the coffee is free. And that one of the employee benefits is they always get free coffee and that was why she was so wired. Then she told me that, "yep Sunday through Saturday we have free coffee so...pretty much every day." I do not claim rocket scientry but...

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I love Swedish stuff as much as the next girl, well mostly the fish but add the gratis kaffe to the list.