Happy Birthday to my Sister!!!

This is a picture of me and my sister...I was 4 1/2, and she was 2 months old. Was she a chunker or what?? I love you sis...and I am so glad we are great friends! I just wish we lived closer! See you tomorrow!!! I am guessing here, but I think my sister is about six here. She took ballet and tap lessons and loved it. I always thought it was so neat to go to her recitals. (She will probably kill me for putting this picture on here...) Happy 29th Birthday, Baby Sister!!

Knee update: I go in for a MRI on Monday at 8am. I will go in later in the week for an appointment to get the results. My odds for surgery are pretty high though. My kneecap doesn't lay where it is supposed to, and is constantly rubbing on my femur (which is genetic, and nothing can be done about it). In addition, my knee "catches", so when I extend it to walk, it doesn't extend, which almost always means, there is a tear in the cartilage that needs to be removed. I guess we will just see...

Tomorrow morning early, we are headed to my family's house. We are having a family portrait taken, which I am excited about. I am looking forward to having a updated family picture of everyone. I will post it when we get them.

A HOHO Shoutout!

This is another birthday shoutout--this one is to my Dad...who turned, well, ummmm, 'Ahem' 51 today. I love you Dad. You Rock as a Dad, and the best HOHO ever! Hope you had a great birthday!! This picture of my Dad was taken when he was about 7 years old. Man, does my brother look like him. Sorta scary how much they look alike! This is a picture of my Dad in college...Nice looking guy, huh?? Almost "hottie" status!!

This week is a busy one for us. Today was my "free" day...which was kinda nice. Tomorrow, Bug to preschool in the morning, then back home by 9:30 to be here when the carpet measuring guy comes. We bought new carpet for our basement, so they must get an accurate measurement. Then, after dinner, I have bible study. Wednesday morning I have an appointment with a knee surgeon to see what needs (if anything) to be done to my knee. While Bubby and I are at the knee doctor, Bug will be having a playdate with her friends (THANKS A BUNCH, K!!). Wednesday night I am having a friend over to scrapbook and drink margaritas. I wonder what the ratio of completed scrapbook pages to empty margarita glasses will be. My guess is 1:3...but we could surprise ourselves, and actually get some scrapbooking done! After we complete one, possibly two scrapbook pages, and "T" leaves, I have to go empty the basement of toys. Thursday brings preschool, then back home to have the carpet installers start working on the basement. I guess it takes about 5 hours to lay carpet. Thursday night, I have to pack our stuff to our trip to my parents house. We are making it a one day trip though, due to other scheduling issues on Sunday here. Leaving on Friday morning, coming home Saturday night, then finally rest. Wait...before heading to bed, I have to make some kind of dish to take to church on Sunday. After that, rest. Sunday is the day of rest, right??

Have a good week, everyone!

A birthday shout out!

This is a picture of my Mom (when she was about 4) who celebrated her, um, ahem, 40th birthday yesterday. Wasn't she so cute?? I just love this childhood picture of her. Anyway, Mom, I love you so much. Thank you for all you do. You will always be my Mom AND my Best Friend too! We hope you had a wonderful birthday yesterday!!!

As I type, I have one child watching Curious George (Bug), and one child sleeping (Bubby). Bubby is getting sick. He woke up at 5:45am fussing. When I got him, his entire onesie from the neckline to about his bellybutton, was soaked in snot/slobber. Lovely. I am really hoping it is just his 3 big teeth he has coming in, but I kinda doubt it. We had to cancel our play date today, so we are just going to hang out at home today.

Bug is just loving preschool...despite a crying episode when I dropped her off yesterday(???). Yeah, that pretty much ripped my heart out. She cried, and said she just wanted to be with me. She has also been stuffy/runny nose/itchy throat, but I am thinking that is seasonal allergies. I have started giving her Zyrtec, and it seems to work pretty well for her.

I need to request some prayers. I have two good friends whose children are both going to have serious surgeries in the same week in October. "A" is going to have open heart surgery. She is 4. "G" is going to have surgery on his kidneys. He is 2 1/2. Please pray for both of these families. We love both these families, and are just praying for good results for both these children. Pray for God to heal these children, to guide the surgeons' hands, and especially peace for the parents. I can't imagine having my child go into surgery, let alone, such a serious surgery. Prayers for you all.

Not much else going on. Tomorrow hubby and I have dentist appointments at 7:30am. Yes, you read correctly--7:30am. That should be interesting. We have to leave the house at 7:10am, which means the kids have to be up at 6:30am, which means I have to be up at 5:30am. Lovely start to a day. Bug will probably fall asleep at preschool tomorrow. Friday, Bubby has his 15 month well baby checkup. More shots probably. That will also be fun. O-well, what can you do, right? Saturday, we are going to take the kids to the local "apple festival" for a few hours in the morning. The only other thing we may do this weekend (besides hubby probably working), is to try to get some stuff on our walls. I am sick of having empty walls. Anyway, have a good week everyone!!

Has it really been three years already???

This is a picture of my baby Bug in the NICU--One day old. ...and this is a picture of my "baby" Bug this morning before her first day at preschool! Yikes, how time flies. I have to remember to cherish these moments...before you know it, she will be heading to high school.

Here are some more pictures from her first day at Preschool: Before heading into classBug and her teacher, Mrs. Marth

So, after I dropped her off at school, Bubby and I came back home. It was nice to have two hours with just Bubby and I--playing, reading books, and just having time together. I did miss Bug though, and look forward to tomorrow, when I have them both at home again. Anyway, during lunch, we had a conversation about her first day at preschool. It went something like this:

Mommy: "So, how was your first day at preschool? What did you do?"

Bug: "I had a beer, Mom."

Mommy: (laughing hysterically) "WHAT?? What do you mean you had a beer?"

Bug: "Well, we pretended to have a beer. Me and ____ were pretending at the kitchen, and he asked me if I wanted a pretend beer...so I said "SURE".

Ugh...omigosh. Do you think it is too late to pull her out, and keep her home?!? Just kidding...kinda. What the heck??? It is starting already. Yikes. I am already dreading the teen years.

On a unrelated note, we have pretty much unpacked and have everything organized. The only thing we have left to do is put our stuff on the walls. For now, we aren't going to do anymore major improvements till after Christmas. We need time to relax, and enjoy the rest of the summer. This is what almost brought tears to my eyes: We finally got the garage cleaned out enough to get two cars in. Finally, some progress!!

That's about all for now--I am going to make a conscious effort to blog at least once a week, now that things have settled down a bit around here. Enjoy the short week!

For you.....

Grandma--

I was trying to figure out how to honor you, one year after you left this world. I still haven't figured it out, but it will be good...you watch from above. You will be proud of me. I think I am going to do something for/with the local Hospice, since that is where your passion was. I miss you more than words can say, and honestly, some days are pretty bad. I have the days where I fight back tears most of the day...and Chloe will ask if I still miss you (which breaks my heart even more). Then I have my good days, when I know that you wouldn't be happy with me crying about you...and I put my chin up and a smile on my face, and enjoy the awesome gifts I have been given. But, honestly...it isn't always that easy. I just wish for one moment, I could talk to you one last time. It has been a hard year...just like you always used to tell us after Grandpa passed away, you grieved for both Grandpa AND Leo. I feel like it is sorta the same for me: When you died, we just had a new baby and a 2yr old. How can one grieve when you have to care for two babies that need you? I am working through it, though, and it does give me peace that when I am having my real bad days....almost always, a hummingbird will make an appearance. Just the other day, I was thinking about you (and dreading this day...the one year anniversary of your passing), and was having a "moment", and just then I looked out the window, and there it was--a hummingbird just circling around. The thing is--these hummingbirds I see, they NEVER stay and eat from the feeder! They always just fly around for a few seconds, and off they go.

It is going to be real hard to never go back into your house. Mom is going to sell the house soon....and I think we are all dreading it. Life just won't be the same--coming to town and not stopping/staying at your house. Just the memories, I guess.

I kept your favorite peach shirt...a year later, it still smells like you. Hopefully, you don't think I am crazy!! Those first few weeks, I had a lot of bad days, and I really just needed to have something that was you. Everyday, I see that shirt, and it always makes me smile! Thank you for all you kindness, unconditional love, and faith that you taught us all. The love you taught us, will live on forever. I will always miss you--until we meet again in heaven....

~Love you, Grams....from your "favorite"

"Grief that is out of control can destroy your happiness and health.Grief is about losing, but also can be about growth. Grief is part of healing. Working through grief effectively is not done alone. Grief is NOT a sign of weakness or lack of faith. The presence of your grief just means it was significant to you. After a major loss, take special care of yourself--be GOOD to yourself!"

(notes in Grandma's handwriting from a Grief/Loss support group she attended after the loss of her second husband, my Grandpa in 1980. I found these notes when I was cleaning out her bedroom. Today, the notes are on my fridge--for me to glance at each day to remind me of the strength she taught all of us to have.)

Grandma when she was about a year old, with her older brother, James

Grandma's high school graduation picture One of my most favorite pictures of me and my Grams...the running joke with the bonnet is: it could have been 90 degrees outside, and if there was a breeze, I had a bonnet on. Posing with Grams on my first birthday At my sister's wedding, three years ago In a goofy way, this too, is a favorite picture. It says..."No, I am not here to give you hugs, chat with you on the phone, or eat chocolate malts with you, but I am in heaven with Jesus, where I want to be. I miss you too, and I will always be in your heart-- so grieve, and miss me, but then for Heaven's sake, sweetie, move on!! UFF DA!! There will always be a little part of me in you...and we will ALWAYS have the memories."

So...that is what I try to do...each day.

Welcome to the world, Sweetheart!

Welcome to the world, sweetheart! This is a picture of our new niece, "JR". She was born on Thursday, August 6th at 12:05pm. She weighed 8lbs 12oz, and was 21 inches long. Both baby and Momma are doing awesome. Mom was a superwoman...and had an amazing birth story. We can't wait to meet "JR"!! Hopefully, we will be able to get there this weekend.

Our move is done, thank goodness. It went pretty smoothly, and we are glad to be fairly settled. DH is heading out for a few days this week on a business trip. I also have a "helper" this week too--our old neighbors 10yr old daughter. She is a dear, and is so wonderful keeping the kids entertained, while I work on unpacking the garage. She will literally do anything I ask ("this goes to the kids bathroom, this goes to the living room, etc"). It is nice to have someone to do whatever you ask without complaining....Ahem.

The weekend before our move (Aug 1st), we attended a family wedding a few hours away. It was nice to have a fun weekend before the big move. We did alot of swimming in the hotel pool, did a fair amount of dancing, and of course had a few drinks at the wedding dance too...Mmmm. It felt nice to let loose, and just have a fun time. It was nice to see all of our family from the coast too...Congrats Steve and Chris!! We are so happy for both of you!

Pictures of the wedding, and new house to follow soon...

A vase....

When my dear husband brought me flowers the other day, this is the best we could do for a vase...everything else is packed away somewhere in a pile in the garage. 7 days till the big move...