Happy Blogiversary!

Five years ago today Frank Notes was born!  Up until today I’ve had 501 posts; 347,088 views; 2,935 views on the busiest day (August 19, 2008 the day I did a sewing tutorial on how to make a carseat cover!), and I’ve had 8,449 comments!  Whew!

Unfortunately it’s been fried, dried, and laid aside due to an active 4 year old and a busy salon.  And I’m alright with that.  AND I’m not going to promise to be better at posting.  It is what it is.

However, there is one bit of exciting news!  You can read all about it here: http://frenchfrank.tumblr.com/

But back to the subject at hand: Happy Blogiversary Frank Notes!

Oliver’s Fourth Year

It chokes me up to think that my baby is actually FOUR YEARS OLD!  (or four months old if Oliver is saying it…)  It’s amazing to think of all the things he’s done in the last year: he’s gone the mountains in California to go sledding, he visited Madeline and her family (my best friend Kathy and her husband Rich in Minneapolis), he got to feed a day old baby calf at Gramma’s house in Wisconsin, he traveled to North Carolina to be the ring bearer in Tia Vanesa and Tio John’s wedding, he saw the Grand Canyon with his cousins Delphine and Jean, he learned how to ride a bike, he went on a couple of camping trips to Kern River (one with Daddy and another with Daddy & Papa and Gramma and Grandpa Kenny), and he started a new school that is doing an amazing job at nurturing him and helping him grow.

What an amazing year it’s been.  I’m honored to be called “Daddy”.  He is my baby, my monster, my angel, my dream come true.  Here is the video of highlights from the past year, starting with his last birthday.

 

Having a Bad Day?

Perhaps you should listen to this!

I know I may be biased, but it totally brightened up my day! <3

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

And the winner is: Erin!  Congrats!

What she wins is another story.  What would you like to win, Erin?

3 Years Ago Today

“Daddy’s fishie” arrived and changed my life in so many ways that I can’t even begin to list them.

The Angel that delivered Oliver to us, Papa, Oliver, and Daddy moments after his arrival.

I had no idea how my life was going to change from that day forward, all because we were chosen to be the parents of this amazing little guy.

I wish I could say that I haven’t had any regrets since that day three years ago, but unfortunately I have had many.  Thankfully none of them have to do with my desire nor decision to become a Daddy.

Instead, all of my regrets stem from my wish that I could be the Daddy that Oliver deserves.  All I can say is that each day I try the best I can with what I have.  Unfortunately I go to bed every evening aware that I have fallen short, but optimistic that I will be a better Daddy the next day and the next day after that.

I have learned the truth in a saying that Hubby taught me long ago.  “I love you more today than yesterday, but not nearly as much as I will love you tomorrow.”

Four!

Wow, here it is, the FOURTH BLOGIVERSARY of FrankNotes!  I can’t hardly believe I’ve been sharing, or rather, attempting to share the ups and downs of my life for FOUR YEARS!

In that time I have made 496 blogs posts, have received 8,454 comments, have had 331, 696 total views!

And every year on my blogiversary (well, except the first, which I apparently missed!) I do a giveaway of some sort.

So to commemorate 4 years of being together, let’s do a giveaway!

Leave a comment telling me why you started reading FrankNotes or your favorite story or whatever, and you’ll be entered into a drawing for…  for…  well, something!  I’d love to whip up a handmand something or other but at this stage in my life, that may not be very realistic.  But it will be something wonderful and filled with love from me.

Thanks for sticking with me for the last FOURS YEARS!

UPDATE: I randomly chose a winner, but feel free to comment.

Changes In 2011

In an attempt to assuage my guilt from ignoring and otherwise neglecting my blog, I am trying to find a way stay connected with all of you lovely readers (all 4 of you that remain!).

Before I get to the solution, let me explain the ‘problem’, which is that Facebook has become my default social website for connecting.  It’s super easy to post photos, videos, and updates throughout my day, especially because I have an app on my iPhone.  So for those of you who are so inclined, you can friend me on Facebook (just please put a note that you’re a reader of FrankNotes).

The downfall with Facebook is that many of you may not be members.  So to remedy that, I’ve added a new box in my sidebar to the right that is connected to my new Twitter account.  At present I’m using it mostly for my Project 365 posts (every day I take a photo of an event that happens during the day and post it), so you’ll see a Twitpic link that leads you to the photo I posted for that day.  (You can also see see a monthly composite photo here, a link to which will be in the sidebar.)

I’ll also try to stop in to post info about what’s going on in my crazy life, but with an average of 3 posts per month last year, that’s not saying much.  But I’ll do my best.

So Happy 2011 to everyone and I’ll “see” you around!

Happy New Year!

Oliver Watches His Message From Santa

Santa’s Message to Oliver

(Thanks to http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/home !)

(Crossing my fingers that THIS one works, after about an hour of monkeying around with it!)