Family Tribute Series: Benjamin Grant

So, my wonderful husband has left me. That didn't come out right. Ben is working in Abilene this summer at a law firm so, technically he has left me but it's for a good cause. We really want to return to Texas after Ben graduates from law school so this is the best way to make that happen. Ben will be in Abilene until August 1st which TOTALLY sucks but I have several trips planned this summer to see him so, we'll make it work. May 8th we traveled 16 hours (one way) by car to Abilene but made a stop in Atlanta that night for a Radiohead concert. Radiohead rocks my world and apparently all 20-something, pot smoking, hippies worlds as well. I have no problem with the hippies. I have always loved hippie men with long hair. Throw in some dreadlocks and maybe even a little grundge under their armpits and that would perfectly describe all of my boyfriends from age 18 to say 25 (yes, you finally have your answer as to why I was not married until I was almost 27). But I digress. When I first met Ben, he was playing in a band at a small folk festival in Abilene, TX. The band was named "Ben Blake and the Latter Day Saints" and the reason I came to hear them play, you might ask? Well, I was told by my good friend Amanda Musick that they, and I quote "Are really, really bad. You have to come and hear this!" So, 11:00 a.m. on the second stage, I came to hear "Ben Blake and the Latter Day Saints." They weren't terrible which made me quite disappointed but they weren't good either. There was an exceptionally bad piano solo by the lead singer (not Ben Grant) which made me laugh (at them, not with them). After the concert ended Amanda introduced me to Ben. He had long hair and that "hippie vibe" so I, of course, thought he was really good looking. Fast forward a couple of months later and I was at a party with Amanda and, again, saw Ben. I remembered him and still thought he was really cute. Someone asked if we knew each other and I said "yeah, we've met" at the same time Ben said "No, we've never met." In my mind, I'm thinking "Who does he think he is??" Ben swears to this day that he does not remember meeting me at the folk festival. Anyway, we talked for a good 30 minutes that night and then went our separate ways. Fast forward ONE MONTH. I meet Ben again at a going away party for a mutual friend. Ben, once again, does not know who I am. This time, I'm thinking "This dude is just plain stupid because he has got to at least recognize my face!" Ben says he did remember my face but couldn't place where he met me and even if he did meet me. So, his pick up line at the going away party? "How's your Christmas?" And the rest is history.

Now, since this is a tribute to Ben I will get into the "nice" part of my blog. Let me say, I loved being single before meeting Ben. I dated a lot but still liked my independence and I was always a little scared of marriage. I don't know why I felt that way since my parents have a great marriage but I would see everyone around me divorcing and, since I don't believe in divorce, I knew the man I married had to be incredible before I would take that major step. Here is a Top Ten List of some of my favorite things about Ben.

10. Ben can answer just about any "Golden Girl" trivia question I throw at him.
9. Ben has a voice for our dog and our cat.
8. Ben will sit and watch Golden Girls, Step It Up and Dance, Project Runway, and Small People, Big World and NEVER complain.
7. Ben loves my family as though it was the family he was born into. He is especially good with my nieces and nephews who have always been very important to me. I think they love him now more then they love me (and they love me a lot).
6. Ben is funny. I don't think many people are funny but he makes me laugh everyday.
5. When I throw cold water on him in the shower, he rarely tries to get me back.
4. Ben worries about our cat Fitzgerald when he goes outside. When Fitz won't come back in, I say "screw him" but Ben will worry and wait up until Fitz finally decides to come in the house.
3. Ben dances for me. Ballet, jazz, hip-hop, you name it, he's got a dance for it.
2. Before Ben started law school and had free time at night, he would blow dry my hair for me when I didn't feel like it.
1. Ben is a good Christian man who I know will be an amazing father to our kids if we ever have any. If we are not blessed to have them, he will be an amazing father to Eleanor, Fitzgerald and the 10 cats we will end up with to fill the void...

These pictures are to show my readers how happy Ben is and has always been. Even his baby pictures show him smiling. So cute!

Ben and I on a cruise with my mom and dad


See, he's smiling and didn't even know the pictures was being taken


Wearing glasses and still smiling


A little evil but a smile still


"I drink out of a green sippy cup. (smile)."


"We wear matching sailor outfits. (smile)"


"My dad's shirt is so busy I feel cross-eyed (smile)"


I got nothing for this one. I just thought he looked really cute.


Me, Ben, Tucker and Erika at the Radiohead concert. That's right, full body ponchos.


Ben and I at the Radiohead concert


And now for your listening pleasure, just a sample of the greatness we got to experience.

Family Tribute Series: Taylor Tidmore

This is my brother-in-law. Today is his birthday.

Taylor thinks he's real smart because he's a doctor.

He likes to say he's as smart as this guy:

Doogie Howser, M.D.

However, we think he's more comparable to this little fella:

Dr. Bunsen Honeydew

Taylor sure does love cupcakes...


And he sweats in the most inconvenient places.

He is a great husband to my sister, Heather and a great father to our niece and nephew, Anna and Mason.

Ben and I enjoy Taylor so much. He is one of the funniest people we know and we love spending time with him. Taylor is one of "those people" who can successfully juggle family, work, church, friends and time for himself. I am so glad he has been part of my family for the last 10 years and we look forward to the time when we are all back in Texas and can see each other more often.

My mom used to always call Taylor the "Cream of the Crop;" a nickname he has always bragged about and cherished. However, upon being caught cheating in a heated game of Skip-Bo, my mom took away this status and has since given it to Ben. Taylor, you'll always be "Cream of the Crop" in our eyes. We love you and hope you have a wonderful birthday!

Family Tribute Series: Jim Watts

This is my Dad!

My dad loves to tell…and retell…and in case you forgot, tell you again how cool it was when common everyday objects began to be made out of plastic. For example, did you know that toothpaste used to be made out of metal tubes? Dashboards in cars were also made out of metal...

The man loves plastic and I would bet, if possible, he would even buy plastic socks to eliminate this problem.

My dad can and will sleep anywhere at any time. No place or event is off limits: church, opening presents at Christmas time, mid sentence...

My dad has a good sense of a humor. He always said when he was younger, he was “pimples on a toothpick.” I always thought he was joking until I saw this picture:

In all seriousness, my dad is awesome. My dad is extremely giving and does so without wanting or needing recognition. He used to put money in my wallet without me knowing until I was halfway back home in Dallas. My computer crashed and with a husband in law school, we couldn’t really afford to buy a new one so he bought one without telling us. He gave Ben a truck when we first got married because Ben’s car was on its last leg and, with Ben going to law school and only me working, there was no way we could buy a new one. He is a lot of fun and Ben and I love hanging out with him and my mom. They took Ben and I on a cruise a couple of years ago and while we were getting ready for bed, wondering where they were at 12:30 in the morning, dad and mom were out dancing and then made fun of us for being in the room before them! Dad, this first family tribute is for you! We love you!