Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts

A little thing called Easter

Did you know that I really like Easter? You probably didn't because I've never really said that out loud. Untitled I'm coming out of the closet... I like Easter! Like, really like it. It's all bright and springy. This year even the weather got the "be awesome!" memo. Untitled Kate is at the perfect age for Easter fun. There were far fewer broken eggs this time. Untitled Speaking of dyed eggs... We colored these with kool-aid! They came out awesome and didn't stink up the house. Untitled *this is Minnie, she belongs to my parents * Untitled My dad is a nut. He felt the need to "re-use" the kool-aid and made himself a drink. He obviously wasn't paying attention when we mixed one entire packet of kool-aid with 2/3cups water to dye the eggs in. For those of you a bit rusty in your kool-aid making, it's one packet of water a cup of sugar and a pitcher of water. Sigh... Only my dad! Untitled Minnie still loves him. Untitled Kate worked so hard on her eggs. Sitting and sounding out everyone's names and making each family member their own egg. Untitled That night while we were talking to Daddy before bed, she apologized to him for forgetting to make him an egg. I assured her that Daddy didn't mind. Untitled I love that she still thinks to incorporate him into her daily life. I wonder at which point she'll have fewer memories with him then without him. Where did her mind start making lasting conscious memories? Was it when she was two? Has she already formed more without him then with him? Will she forget all the memories she has now? Hell, I can't remember what I went into the kitchen for 10 minutes ago. What does she remember and for how long? Untitled Back to Easter.... Untitled We tried a new place for brunch this year. My only criteria for the restaurant was that they had an Easter bunny. Kate just loves the bunny! Untitled We got the bunny and we got a real treat for brunch. I loved the food and it was a nice, relaxed environment. I don't know about the rest of the family but I want to go back next year. Untitled Throughly stuffed, we headed home for Kate's Easter egg hunt and basket opening. I can't decide if Kate would want some consigns to join her in the egg hunting fun or if she would hate sharing. Untitled A quiet afternoon of couch lounging, sports watching and Lego building. Untitled I can think of a lot worse ways to spend the day.... Untitled A few people have asked if I'm going to keep blogging. The truth is I never really quit writing I just quit posting. I needed to find my voice again. I needed to feel confident in how I was moving forward so when the inevitable Internet idiot would email me garbage about all the things I was doing wrong I could easily tell them to "shove it". I needed to find my stride, my mojo, my identity. Untitled This place needs work. It no longer feels like me. I'll be fixing that. This place is my way to show Kate (and myself) just how far we've come. Were still building, life is nothing if not a work in progress but it's a progress worth sharing, even if it is just for me. Untitled

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We give thanks

He's been on my mind, and in my heart all day. All the preparing, cooking, baking, talking, laughing, listening, and eating, never a moment was he far away.
The crowd has left. Our beautiful daughter sleeps. I've wrapped myself in his favorite sweatshirt, wearing his ring.
He is with me... and I am thankful.


I can't possibly begin to list all the things I'm thankful for. I hope you spent your day feeling thankful as well.

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Solitude


Sometimes the body, mind and soul need nothing but solitude. That's what I gave myself yesterday.

I want to thank everyone for the email, texts, messages and phone calls yesterday. To have so many people thinking of me (and Scott) on what would have been our 8th wedding anniversary means more than I can express.
I got through yesterday and I'll find a way to get through the holidays that lay ahead.
Lots of positive changes coming. Changes that I've been resisting. In fact, a little bit of that needs tending to now.

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Princess Butterfly says...


Happy Halloween!!

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Hey Mommy, it's your birthday

We're going to party like it's your birthday. Well, we'll be celebrating tomorrow but that's not how the song goes.

One of my all time favorite pictures was taken last year on Mom's birthday.


God, I miss him.


Lots to catch up on. It's coming soon, promise.

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Memorial Day

I wrote about the real meaning of Memorial Day (to me at least) on the other blog.

Kate's fever last night meant missing a gathering with friends. No sense getting anyone else sick. Sometimes, I really hate being an adult. So, we spent a quiet day at Grandma and Grandpa's. After a long nap Kate woke up fever free and feeling mostly better. Even with the good nap, she's already been asleep for forty minutes.
To the friends we didn't get to see, we missed you and you're welcome.

I came to the realization today that while I was looking forward to the change of seasons, I was wrong. Changing seasons brings a whole round of, "wish he was here" "who's going to shuck the corn, it was Scott's job?" and remembering "what's that I hear? Is it the ice cream truck? Bran, you got money for ice cream?"

Mom shucked the corn, I made sure I had money and Kate waited patiently for the ice cream truck.



It was an epic battle but in the end the smile and laughter beat the tears and sadness... mostly.

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Mothers Day 2011

Let's face it, we all have needed mothers at least once in our lives. They are the givers of life. Giving birth is not the only way to become a mother though. You can be a mom just by loving and caring for a child (or adult that acts like a child).
My mom has "mothered" many a child. Anyone of my high school friends will tell you there was no escaping "Sherri". She was there with praise but she was also there to discipline you. It really kept me out of trouble. I would always say "if Sherri hears that she'll kick all our asses". Everyone would agree and we would find something more suitable to do with out time. It served us well. I am forever grateful for my mom, for many, many things.


Kate and I have had a great past couple days. We spent Kate's birthday doing what we've done every year since her first birthday, we went to Main Beach. Being by the lake, thinking about past years, brought both comfort and heartache. I guess it's like everything else.



I took many of the same pictures that I have in years past. Well, except they are all missing Scott's proud, warm, loving smile. But I think Kate's eyes shine a little brighter this year. I'll show them to you soon.
Wanting to add to the tradition Kate and I went down the street to the ice cream store. A chocolate and vanilla ice cream cone later and we were pretty happy campers. The rain stayed away just long enough for Kate and I to enjoy being outside.
Seeing my baby girl on her new big girl bike that she got as a gift from my BFF (best friend forever) really showed me how much she's grown. She took to it immediately. I predict the training wheels will be off by the end of summer.


She just didn't get the concept of "going to Disney". Went right over her head. She's starting to get it now but I don't think she'll really get it until we're standing in front of the castle looking up. Then I think she'll freak out.


I ran away yesterday. Taking some time to go to my happy place. I needed to get my head in a good space, or try to at least. This past week with Kate's birthday and now mother's day has been a real test of my sanity. All week long, I've been twenty steps behind and I just don't care. I have planned next to nothing for our trip, I'm not packed, I don't have my to-do list done (hell, I don't have one started) and I'm pretty sure I will forget half of what I need once we get to Disney.


Nothing else really matters to me right now. I just want to take care of my baby girl and do the few things that make me happy. I guess it's just all part of this grieving process. It's just plain sucky. As I sat in my bed Thursday night sobbing that "nobody else knew Kate's story" it dawned on me that maybe I need to take that grief and turn it into something. I needed to stop sobbing and start writing. I needed to do something I haven't done before and write the story of Kate's birth down. I needed to "tell" Kate's story so somebody else knows it.


Writing it has been a slow process. I thought I would sit down and a few paragraphs later I would have the broad strokes out of my head and I would feel better. Well, that just didn't happen. I've been writing for three days now and I'm no where near finished. But I've finally stopped sobbing every ten minutes. I've even started laughing and smiling. I guess it's doing it's job.


That's the crazy thing, life happens. Doesn't matter if you want it to or not.

You'll do a lot better if you just jump right in.

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Happy 4th Birthday Katherine

From then...





Until now


She doesn't even know about Disney yet. That will be after dinner.

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So I'm not a total downer

Here are the long awaited pictures from Kate's party.
We really did have a great time. It was so great to have everyone around to celebrate.
People that traveled from the city.

Scott's Aunt and Uncle made the trip.

As did great Aunt Edna.

Newer friends

Old friends

Happy kids

Slightly less happy kids

The dentist that supplies me with all the wonderful stories.

A handsome bachelor (yes Ladies, Josh is available. I'm screaning potential dates.)

Lots of food.

Lots of laughs.

A birthday pan"cake".


Lots of wonderful gifts.

A few that made me cry.

Parts of the man harem.

And so much love.

It doesn't get much better... unless....

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