To pick up where I left off...

This is a picture of my dad and me on my wedding day. The only time he wore a tux. Which was a shame really, because look how handsome he was in it! My sweet dad went to heaven almost a month ago. Between lung cancer and his heart attack, I lost the desire to blog much because nothing was really fun to write about. Sure, the kids and I were doing "life", because that's what you do when you're a mom, but the joy in recapping was far overshadowed by a constant reminder of his condition. Chemo and radiation had been completed and we were waiting until he could safely have bypass surgery. It was the Friday before Thanksgiving that the doctor told us the cancer was not gone, in fact, it had spread to his heart. The doctor replied "weeks" when asked how long he thought my dad had to live. Three weeks to the day, December 10th, he went to be with the Lord. I try to focus on that part; the part of him being in heaven. Restored and whole, healthy and peaceful! Probably like he looks in this picture, wouldn't you think? But I doubt he's running around in a tux; he was more of a jeans guy!

Remember the baby?

The one I had five years ago today? The one who use to sit in high chairs and eat vegetables?



Well, today she is five. 5. Cinco. Half-way to 10!!??!!



She likes cupcakes more than veggies...especially her birthday cupcakes!



Do you think she likes her present? I couldn't really tell since she didn't smile.



We spent the afternoon at the mall with her friend. I let the girls bring their build-a-bear "babies" in their strollers. We shopped for them, had lunch, had ice cream sundaes, visited the candy store, rode the carousel, and skinned a lot of innocent heals and ankles. And boy, did we have fun!

Father's Day

We had a great Father's Day hanging out by the pool at our friends house after church. DJ loved his gifts and the girls loved giving them. It was just fun to spend time together. On Saturday, I had gone to visit my own dad. That's him pictured above with his newly re-done classic Impala. He loves that car! In the background is the chicken farm that he recently sold and moved from. He did not love that farm, so being done with that was definitely a good thing!

We found out a couple days before Father's Day, that his cancer has returned. What we thought were repercussions from his recent heart attack and pneumonia were actually signs of the cancer in his lungs. What a crapper, ya know? I wanted to feel sorry for myself and cry about the news that had come so close to the day we celebrate fathers. I wanted to dwell on the evil irony of it all. But I didn't. We visited like nothing was wrong with him. We talked light heartedly about the garage he's having built (for the car!) and the other projects around his new house. I thought of DJ, who lost his own dad to cancer when he was just 12. I decided to focus on the fact that I do still have my dad. His name is Verlin and he's the greatest. I am believing for a miracle. Cancer is certainly not bigger than God! Thank you for agreeing with me and lifting him up in prayer as he begins this battle.

Slip-n-Slide

Bless her heart, she saved her own money and bought a slip and slide and didn't even get to use it for five days! Can you imagine? Anyway, when the blessed event finally happened she was so excited and took off running and did this...




But it was at least further than little sister. This was as far as she managed to go.



so she tried again...



and again...



and again...



And even though I was too tired to keep taking pictures, she did eventually make it to the end of the slip-n-slide. After some intense coaching from Dad, that is.

Ya know who I miss?

Teachers. Those wonderful people who care for and teach your children when you're not around. And don't just think I miss them because I have had two weeks of non-stop kid activities with nary a moment for myself.



Don't think I miss them just because I have answered 4 million random questions in those two weeks.



Don't think I miss them because I have yet to use the restroom without someone knocking on my door to tell me something that couldn't wait two minutes



or because even though we have gone to the water park, basketball camp, the library several times, grandma's house, taco bueno, the park, and two different friend's houses they've said they are bored.



No. I miss them because...well, because...I'll get back with you on that.

Jordan River or YMCA

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Matthew 3:16-17"

DJ and Big Sister were baptized last weekend! The indoor YMCA pool was lined with people around the edges, cheering and clapping - it was so cool! When it was her turn, instead of wading out to the pastor, she took off swimming underwater...as her head came up out of the water, he said "hey, that's my job!" It was so funny.

Field Day

Do you remember Field Days? A great rite of passage into summertime for elementary aged kids. Or a muddy mess of laundry for a parent - it depends on the weather.



Big Sister got a little sunshine toward the end of the day. Perfect to harden and dry the mud splatters that a cloudy morning following two days of rain will create. There were relay races, team competitions and classmates to spend one last grand day with!



Little sister got the indoor gym version - but it was okay because there was an inflatable slide, face painting, snow cones and friends!