The Sunshine State Maliszewski Family

Saying goodbye to a friend

2009-03-05T11:07:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

It has been a long time since I last posted anything on here. I apologize for being away so long. Unfortunately, this will not be a happy post. On Sunday, our friend Chris Haynes was in a terrible snowmobile accident. Last night he passed away. Chris was a great guy with a sarcastic sense of humor which complimented the rest of "the circle" perfectly. Don and I have known Chris since the good old days of hanging around in Port Plaza parking lot.

It's hard to believe that when I said goodbye to him to move to Florida it was the last time that I would ever see him. Below I am posting the lyrics to a song which I am sure many of you know. This won't be an A for originality because I have also posted this for our friends on Myspace and Facebook. I just think this is how Chris would want us to think of him.

"When I Get Where I'm Going"

When I get where I'm going
On the far side of the sky
The first thing that I'm gonna do
Is spread my wings and fly

I'm gonna land beside a lion
And run my fingers through his mane
Or I might find out what it's like
To ride a drop of rain

[Chorus]
Yeah when I get where I'm going
There'll be only happy tears
I will shed the sins and struggles
I have carried all these years
And I'll leave my heart wide open
I will love and have no fear
Yeah when I get where I'm going
Don't cry for me down here

I'm gonna walk with my grand daddy
And he'll match me step for step
And I'll tell him how I missed him
Every minute since he left
Then I'll hug his neck

Yeah when I get where I'm going
There'll be only happy tears
I will shed the sins and struggles
I have carried all these years
And I'll leave my heart wide open
I will love and have no fear
Yeah when I get where I'm going
Don't cry for me down here

So much pain and so much darkness
In this world we stumble through
All these questions I can't answer
So much work to do

But when I get where I'm going
And I see my maker's face
I'll stand forever in the light
Of his amazing grace
Yeah when I get where I'm going
There'll be only happy tears
Hallelujah
I will love and have no fear
When I get where I'm going
Yeah when I get where I'm going

R.I.P Chris.

2008 in review (the last few months anyways)

2008-12-30T16:43:00.000-08:00

Wow...what a year. We said goodbye to our friends up north and made the trek south, made great new friends (never forgetting or replacing the old ones of course) and had our first Christmas (or Christams if you prefer) without snow.

This year my parents came down for Thanksgiving. We did our Christmas with them on Thanksgiving morning so that they could watch Robby open his gifts

While our friends were digging out from all the snow we were enjoying our first boat parade!

We had also did our first Christmas Eve with the Furteks and the Kochakians.

Of course some things. no matter where you are, never change.

It's been interesting and fun. Lots of love to our family and friends. We hope to see some of you down here real soon!

Auntie Traci's Kitchen

2008-10-13T14:30:00.000-07:00

Every Friday night we go to Ed and Traci's. Traci cooks wonderful meals every week and feeds a ton of us! No one is allowed in her kitchen. That is except Robby. Traci makes quite the exception for her little man. She always has something set up for him to do. It started up with simple things. She explained all of the tools to him in a manner that blew me away. I don't think I ever could have explained what something as simple as a pair of tongs does in a way that would make him get excited about cooking. Next, he was allowed to grate some cheese and help make her fabulous chili dip. After that he started cutting vegetables and even made his own platter for everybody. This week he cooked rice. It was so cool and he was so proud of himself.

It's not just that Traci gave him use of her kitchen, it's more that she gave him her heart. I don't even know if she has noticed the special bond that has formed between the two of them but I have and I am so grateful for it. She makes Robby feel very special and in our new life that is quite an amazing gift.

Look at the mess he creates!

This is Rob trying to duck out of a picture.

You can't really see but there is rice cooking in that microwave!

The Bravest Man I've Ever Known

2008-09-12T05:44:00.000-07:00

Today I am at a loss for what to write here although I still feel compelled to do so. This particular blog has been put off for a long time for two reasons. First, because I know it is hard for Michelle to read all this and second because I cannot do it without crying.

The picture you see to your left is of me and Kage. I love my husband and dad but Kage is hands down the bravest man I have ever known. He is also an amazing father, husband and friend. He loves his wife and children with a fervor that cannot be duplicated. Kage is also one of the most "real" people I know. He stands by his convictions and is not afraid to let you know it.

At the age of 19 Kage joined the Coast Guard. He spent many months at sea in places that you and I would never want to go to. Places like Haiti where there is no humanity. He was away from his wife and son for sometimes 6 months at a time. He saw things by age 20 that no human being should have to see in their lifetime. And yet he is not bitter or angry. He instead chose to embrace life and cherish the ones he loves.

Tomorrow, he leaves for training in Virginia. On December 1 he will go to Iraq. Words cannot describe what a true hero and friend this man is. I love him as if he were my brother. As if we were flesh and blood. His wife, as most of you know, is my best friend and has been since the first grade. Her strength and faith should not be overlooked in all of this either. She is an amazing woman who loves like no other and faces adversity with a strength she does not even know she has.

There is nothing left to write exept that Don, Robby and I love you Kage. Be safe buddy.

Wizard's first swim

2008-09-10T05:50:00.000-07:00

Wizard went for his first swim this weekend at Scott and Teresa's house. We were very excited to get him in the water and see what he would do. The general consensus from the day was that Wizard is not a water dog. He was able to do the doggie paddle but as Scott pointed out it was a paddle of desperation to get out of the pool and not anything he was enjoying. We even tried putting Maggie's old hunting vest on him. He looked really cute in it at least.

He actually looks happy in this one below. Don pretty much held him the whole time he was in the pool.

Here he is on the float.

The paddle of desperation to the stairs

P.S. If you haven't seen all the blogs we have posted make sure to visit www.donpattyrobby.blogspot.com

The Flying Maliszewskis

2008-08-31T12:13:00.001-07:00

This Labor Day weekend the weather is not so great due to the outer bands of Gustav giving us some wind and rain. However that doesn't keep this family down! We spend the day at Ed & Traci's house having a wonderful time and taking advantage of the pool when the weather lightened up for awhile. The thing about Florida is there is always a part of any day where you can get outside and enjoy yourself. Don started the fun by deciding to take a baby pool and using it as a landing spot for high flying fun in the pool. After that it was game on!

Look at me fly!

There goes Don

The Flying Maliszewskis

P.S. A big thanks to Traci for the awesome picures.

2008-08-27T08:34:00.000-07:00

First day of school!

The Mote Aquarium

2008-08-26T09:25:00.000-07:00

The Friday before school started Robby and I went to the Mote Aquarium in Sarasota with Margaret and Ed. We had an awesome time and it was so fun to spend the day with Margaret and Ed.

Margret and Robby

Robby checking out the sharks

Robby and Ed

Robby and I petting the stingrays. Poor Robby could not get his hand in the tank far enough to touch one.

Robby, Margret and I

Giant dead squid

Charlie's Pass

2008-07-22T06:07:00.001-07:00

On Saturday we went to a place called Charlie's pass. It is actually part of the island of North Captiva. North Captiva is part of the island chain that also contains Sanibel and Captiva. North Captiva is only accessible by boat. When hurricane Charlie came through it took a portion of the island with it creating the strip of beach you see to the left. North Captiva is basically split in two now by the pass. It is a beautiful place to go. We went on Ed's boat and had a great time floating in the beautfiul water and chatting away.

Don relaxing in the water!

Robby checking out the floats

and the Hucksam girls kick ass too!

2008-07-18T13:19:00.001-07:00

The Maliszewski men don't make ugly chidren

2008-07-18T13:09:00.000-07:00

New Beginnings

2008-07-18T06:38:00.000-07:00

I am getting a late start on creating a blog so let me give the run down. Driving 1600 miles in a U-Haul with two adults, a seven year old boy, dog and a cat is not fun my friends..not fun at all. When you finally reach Florida your so excited to be there you practically jump out of your seat! Only to find that you have to drive for 6 (yes I said 6) more hours. I remember when we pulled off the highway and started down a backroad I got so jealous as we passed the houses with their lights on and the families inside all nice and comfy. When we finally got to our place (which we will be leaving shortly to move into our brand new home) we had all we could do to drag the beds out and pass out on them.

The next day we woke up and immediatley went over to Margaret and Eddie's house. They are two of the best people in the world and I will soon dedicate an entire blog to them. Eddie, Traci and Ken showed up right after we did. After all of the craziness and sadness of leaving my friends behind it was nice to be surrounded by loving supportive people. Not to mention the assistance they rendered in helping us get everything else out of the U-Haul!

That night, we went to Ed & Traci's for their usual Friday night get together. It was a great time and we were made to feel right at home. Robby was immediately attached to Ed and felt comfortable and at home immediately.

So that's our first 24 hours in FL...more to come in the future!!!