This past weekend was spring commencement at Coastal Carolina University. Our institution staged three ceremonies over the course of two days. I feel our social media coverage improved from prior commencements as we were able to pull off a couple things I had been shooting for since this past summer. But for once, this weekend wasn’t solely about social media strategy to me.

This weekend I had the pleasure of watching several students I grew close to walk across the stage and shake our President’s hand. These particular students happen to be people I pretty much met when I arrived at Coastal three years ago (I celebrated my anniversary on May 1). They served on my #CCUSocialMedia Student Advisory Group and we kept a line of communication open as the days, weeks, semesters, and academic years went by. It is very bittersweet to see them go. Congratulations to all.

Now summer has arrived. Well, I think it is more like “summer.” Students have now left campus. Activity on Prince Lawn will dramatically decrease. Special hours will start this week and I will get off on Fridays at 12:30 p.m. So yes, in a work sense, summer is here!! However, summer doesn’t really start for me in my mind until June rolls around, Sidney’s school year ends, and it starts staying light out past 9 p.m.

But that doesn’t mean I am not going to enjoy the rest of May. It will be extremely nice to have a few weeks at work to recharge, get caught up, and evaluate the past academic year. Outside of the office I get to use the rest of this month to watch Sidney enjoy the remainder of her maternity leave, witness Sloan continue to do one cute thing after the other, catch some baseball games, and enjoy Myrtle Beach before it becomes outright tourist season very soon.

A new phase has definitely started as of 10 a.m. yesterday. Time to ease into it and enjoy it.  This is the calm before the storm as the meat of the summer, June and July, will be action packed months for the Reser family. Don’t Blink.

Last night, I briefly wrote about my parents’ recent trip to Myrtle Beach. I expressed how nice it was to have all of Sloan’s grandparents in one place and how it really hit home to me the crucial role each one played in her existence.

I also addressed the best thing that came out of the journey my parents made to South Carolina: the love and care they bestowed on Sloan. In the same way that I experience a heartwarming feeling when I watch Sidney’s parents around Sloan, I felt the same with my folks. For several days I watched my mom and dad take such loving care of our daughter that it made my soul feel so happy.

The second best thing that came out of my parents’ trip wasn’t the lawn care my dad did, the home cooked meals my mom made, or the baby supplies they bought us. Rather, it was something they said.

Both my mom and dad told us that we are really good parents.

About a month ago, I wrote about my fears regarding whether I would be an adequate parent (I already knew that Sid would be an amazing mom). To have two people who you respect and who are incredible parents themselves give such a ringing endorsement is beyond comforting.

However, I won’t let it go to my head too much. I know I have a lot of work to do and many lessons to learn. But knowing that my parents observed Sidney and I in the same way that I observed them made me think that their comment wasn’t just an obligatory thing that moms and dads say to their kids. They really meant it.

Of course good parenting isn’t something that one can lay claim to simply because others observed it in a single moment or over the span of several days or even over a time period of many years. Rather, it is something that you have to prove day in and day out.

I plan to use the encouragement of my parents as motivation to always do my best for Sloan and never take a day off. With the amazing partner I already have in this “parenting game” I feel confident that if I do my part we will make good on the words of my mom and dad. Don’t Blink.

Earlier this morning my parents said goodbye to Sloan and started their trek back out west. I believe as I write this, they are on a layover in Colorado.

Can’t thank my parents enough for all they did for Sloan over the past several days.

This blog or words themselves won’t do justice to the gratitude I have toward my mom and dad for all they did for us over the past six days so I won’t even try. All I will say is this: they are incredible and selfless grandparents who helped us out incredibly during their time here. The many things they did and the extent they went to do them will not soon be forgotten.

My mom’s eyes express nothing short of true love. She grew very attached to Sloan.

Speaking of awesome grandparents, Sloan has her Gammy and Dada (Sidney’s parents) as well. Over the past week, it was nice to have our daughter’s “western” and “southern” grandparents in the same place. During my parents’ trip, there was ample opportunity for the two couples to interact.

When I saw them together, I couldn’t help but think the vitally important role each grandparent played in the creation of Sloan. If it wasn’t for my mom or if it wasn’t for Sidney’s dad, the light of our world wouldn’t exist. If it wasn’t for Sidney’s mom or for my dad, that special baby girl with the calm demeanor and sweetest little smile would not be around to make Sid and I the luckiest parents ever. It became plainly obvious to me that our parents played just as much of a role in creating Sloan as we did.

But genetic truth aside, as I already mentioned, it was just nice to see our parental units together. There are six people who love Sloan more than anyone else…Sidney, myself, grandma, papa, gammy, and dada. Even though she is only a 6-week-old, I know she could feel the love as she laid surrounded by “the special six.”

Sloan enjoyed meeting her papa.

Mom and dad, thank you SO much for everything. We are so glad you got to meet Sloan and so thankful you had such an impact on her. We love you. Don’t Blink.

Tomorrow, something Sloan has eagerly anticipated her whole life (which is one month) will become reality. At around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, she will meet her West Coast grandparents. Sloan isn’t the only one excited.

My parents will embark on a typical Washington state to South Carolina airline itinerary starting tonight. Hopping on a place this evening at around 8 p.m., they will crisscross the country via different connections before landing in Myrtle Beach around 10:23 a.m. tomorrow. Any symptoms of jet lag will most likely be erased once they hold Sloan for the first time.

My parents will arrive in Myrtle Beach tomorrow.

I have never seen my mom so excited for a trip. Since Sloan was born, she has sent daily text messages expressing how she can’t wait to finally come face to face with her granddaughter. Observing how my dad’s eyes water up the second he sees Sloan on FaceTime, I am going to guess he is looking forward to his time in Myrtle Beach as well.

My parents booked their travel with the original April 7 due date in mind. Of course by now most of you know that Sloan came three weeks early. My mom and dad were able to contain their pure joy and exuberance by not adjusting their original travel plans. As it turns out, their discipline will pay off. Sidney’s mom had to sadly return to work today, ending a selfless run where she helped out so much around the house and with Sloan. But her return to her position comes just one day before my parents arrival. That means Sidney, the baby, and myself won’t be without assistance, homemade meals, and solid parental experience for long.

Giving us strict instructions not to worry about entertaining them or feeding them, my mom is making it clear that she doesn’t want us to feel any pressure with their arrival. Rather, just like my mother-in-law, she wants to do anything she can to lessen the load on us. We will be lucky to have them with us through next Tuesday.

Prayers for my parents that they may have safe travels through tonight and tomorrow. I am so excited to show them what Sidney and I created! Don’t Blink.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. In the days leading up to yesterday’s holiday, I heard on the radio about a seasonal food dish that was making national news. A pizza place in Boston was offering a Peepza, or, in other words, a pizza topped with melted Peeps. This does not meet the classification of a dessert pizza because it has a base of tomato sauce and is topped with mozzarella cheese, making it fit more in line with the requirements of a traditional pizza. It didn’t appeal to me.

However, just because I wouldn’t go for a slice of Peepza does not mean I won’t eat pizza that has other toppings that some people might find unconventional. If you are thinking I am talking about anchovies you are crazy but there are other adventurous options that I sometimes opt for. Let me list five…

Pineapple – I get so tired of the “I don’t want fruit on my pizza” B.S. In my opinion, pineapple is as much a pizza topping as pepperoni. I mean come on, Canadian bacon and pineapple is one of the most popular pizza combinations. But people still get really sketched out about it. I grew up eating plain pineapple pizza (sans Canadian bacon) so I embraced the topping early. When I was between the ages of 7-13, my favorite pizza combo was sausage and pineapple. Yep, the person taking the order would always have to confirm that. Again though, pineapple can stand alone on a pizza just fine and I see nothing wrong with it.

Mac & Cheese – If you ever visit CiCi’s Pizza, a national all-you-can-eat pizza chain, this option is always out on the buffet. Sure, noodles do look a little funny on pizza but how can you go wrong combining two of the best foods out there? Although the mac and cheese pizza might be targeted more for a younger audience, I have no shame. In my opinion, it is delicious.

Fritos – I have written about the infamous Papa John’s Fritos chili pizza before but for obvious reasons I must bring it up for this blog post. As long as you eat a pizza topped with Fritos right after it comes out of the oven it is very tasty. Put it in the refrigerator or eat it the next day and you will be in trouble, but a pie topped with fresh Fritos won’t leave you disappointed. The crunch seems natural enough and it provides a unique taste.

Me holding the Fritos Chili Pizza from Papa John’s.

Peanuts – Maybe out of all the toppings on this list, I like nothing more than chopped peanuts on my pizza. Popular on Thai style pies, there is no better nut to put on your pizza. You do get the crunch just like you do with the Fritos but I think peanuts pack a flavor that tastes a little exotic, especially if it is paired with the right sauce. But when it all comes down to it, sauce be damned, I will happily take chopped peanuts on a traditional red sauce pizza.

Corn – When you think of vegetables on your pizza, your mind probably conjures up peppers, tomatoes, and onions…not corn. However, thanks to the artisan build-your-own personal pizza craze, the options for other vegetable toppings has opened up. To me, corn is just a good fit on pizza. Each kernel is small and easily rests on the surface, it adds some color to the presentation, and it provides good texture. When I visit MOD Pizza, I am getting a healthy dose of corn each time.

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So although I really enjoy the five above toppings, I have never had a pineapple-mac & cheese-Fritos-peanuts-corn pizza before. Whipping that up would be quite a blog post, don’t you agree? Oh, man. Do you have any eclectic pizza topping choices? Let me know. Don’t Blink.