Nicole and the trip of a life time ...

Just a quick bit about Nicole and her Washington trip ....

Nicole returned on Thursday night, exhausted, excited, changed & full of stories ....

I love the experience she just had and I'm very proud of her for the responsibilities she learned on

taking care of herself. And, I love she shared the whole thing with her bestie... Lauren...

in the words of Nicole .... Washington was a huge "History" lesson ... and i loved it

Nic and Laruen in Ford's Theatre where Lincoln was shot, she loved this whole story and how it unfolded

Nicole, Laruen and Travis in front of the Washington Monument

The Statue of Liberty was so cool.......

Dancing on the Big Piano in New York City

Absolutely ... loved seeing Lion King on Broadway ....

They had so much fun and so many experiences ... I'm so happy for her!!!



Easter .....

A great Easter ....

We are so blessed with an amazing family ... we do have a so much fun together and

today was no exception, complete with a great dinner and lots of chocolate marshmellows all done by

gram ( who is just rockin 91 1/2 ) .... she is amazing

They may think they are growing up ... but fun still wins out ....

Austin's marshmellow kiss ... by mommy and coley

Ryan had a fabulous afternoon, but according to him it started out a bit off...
He is so so much like his mother, traaditions and the "Norm" are so important and this morning
things were a bit different. For me 2 weeks post op and Mark returning to work on Easter sunday, Easter
morning was not the same, no hidden eggs, a lame attempt by me to hide a basket, quiet and mom not moving to fast
made for a very "different" Easter. He was a bit sad.. I know how he feels, I DO NOT like when things change.
So funny you wouldn't think this of him, my crazy sweet boy ...
but as it continued
 a great "normal" day was had by all ... Easter was blessed.

Our Easter is never complete without birthday cake and wishes ....
April is our month .. so many birthdays, since i can remember ..
Easter and April Birthdays go together ...
Happy Birthday Mom, Aunt Joanie, Sheri, Mario & Heidi
oh and throw in anniversary wishes for Ron and Leigh Ann ...
Happy Easter !!!!

He is Risen....

He is Risen ......

What a glorious day ....

Today is a day to celebrate ... new life, new gifts, new hope and the future ...

Nicole is home, i'm healing, Mark, Ryan & I enjoyed a great week together & life is just exciting ...

Praise God!!!

DC .. here she comes !!!!

11 months of waiting and planning and the morning finally arrived .... off she flew on one of the first "Big" steps of my amazing daughters life..........

WASHINGTON D.C. &  NEW YORK CITY ....here she comes.

Coach Anderson .... is already getting them organized!!!!

A once in a life experience sharred by best friends ..... so happy for them

28 kids off for a fabulous trip

JT  & Travis ...... 2 of their best buds

They're off .....have the time of your life ....
Nicole we love you

My so so cute ... nurse of the day!!!

The last step .....

Can it be ... one can hope and pray ....

Last week I had my hysterectomy .... My uterus and cervix were removed and we received the

amazing news that it is "Cancer Free" ... pre cancer ... doesn't matter .. just the fact that it is NOT cancer...

So as I sit here in what seems like a long long week.... I get better a bit every day. This journey just continues. Surgery is not fun, recovery stinks, but ... I sit here so blessed. Mark is just amazing, sweet, helpful and just fabulous in taking care of me. My BFF's just pouring so much love on me, my sweet great family here day after day helping in so many ways, and then my support group (AKA PTA friends) showering me with love and food... More food then I could make in a month, in just the first week. God is great and more and more thru this journey I see his love and guidance.

Only time will tell .... will this be the answer to my anemia?? Maybe ... but i do know that my anemia has saved my life more than once. Yes, how amazing is that. If not for my anemia I would have Uterine cancer in the next year and wouldnt be on the look out for Multiple Myeloma... God works in mysterious ways...

a "Debit Card"??????

Another big step  !!!

Nicole is growing up, and each week seems to come with a new adventure!!!

In preparation for DC ... Nic opened her own checking account and got her own ATM card...

Just remember honey it only works when you put money into your account ....

my baby sure is growing up!!!

where did the last few weeks go!!!!

Mom (grandma) got a new knee

I spent hours a week getting Iron ..via I.V.'s into by body ( look the bags even have my name on them)

After 5 days in the hospital, we checked mom into a rehab facility just until she got a little more
comfortable moving around and got used to her work out schedule

spend a lot of fun times just hanging out with the family while mom recovered

The kids were encouraging as Grandma was on her "torture machine"

Nicole had her physical to get ready for High School (how did that get here so fast... High School ???)

A quick glance back wards at the last 3 weeks !!! Wow life is busy......