Let Freedom Ring

So much to write about!  So much to share!  It's been a week since my last entry and so much has happened.  I'm going to try my best to keep this short and sweet and to just write about the best of the best!

Makayla finished up her swimming lessons!  The first week was bitter cold outside (in the 70's, maybe high 60s)  and the water temperature was near freezing.  While it didn't seem to stop any of the other kids, we learned that Makayla is just like her mama!  It took her a good 10 minutes just to get her toes dipped in the water.  Once her toes were dipped in and she never got used to the water, she decided she wasn't getting in.  I didn't force her.  The second week of swim lessons, however, was a big improvement.  The temps were in the 90s and the pool water warmed up a bit.  By the end of her two week class, she accomplished the following:

Jumping in, swimming and reaching for the side (the thing that was stressed the most), blowing bubbles, going under water (up to her nose), walking along the wall, and most of all - just becoming more comfortable with the water.

Once swim lessons were done and over with, we headed down to the cabin at Lake of the Ozarks.

We did a lot of playing, swimming, boating, eating... 

It was a great time with the family. 

We continued on with a tradition that I started last year with Makayla.  Every year for the 4th of July, I want to tie-dye shirts with my kids to wear over the holiday.  We did it again this year, but included grandma, grandpa, and Aunt Nina.

One of my favorite quotes:

Tradition is a form of promise from parent to child.  It's a way to say, "I love you", "I'm here for you", and "Some things will not change".

-Lynn Ludwick

We spent some time out on the boat and Makayla and Mason loved it!  They did such a great job on the boat and didn't even seem to be bothered by their life jackets.

We did a lot of swimming, fishing, and relaxing.

We had a wonderful time together and I am so thankful that we have a place to go to with the people we love to make wonderful memories.  Even with the 5 hour drive, it was still good.  My kids did great in the car and Makayla was cracking us up.  It was so funny that she all of a sudden had to "pee so bad it hurts" every time she saw a  McDonalds!  Oooh, she's a smart little girl.

On our way home from the lake, we got to meet and hold baby Evan for the first time!

He's a perfect baby boy and we look so forward to watching our kids grow up with him.  Congratulations to our friends, Kim and Dwayne.

A baby is a bit of stardust blown from the hand of God!

After meeting Evan, we went on to celebrate our Independence with family and friends!  We cooked out, played games, laughed and watched fireworks. 

*Notice the earmuffs on Makayla ~

The loud booms scared her and her "racing" headphones comforted her!  They cracked me up!!

Finally -

To end a lovely long weekend, we spent some time at the pool.  Here's my little Mason loving the water!

Favorite: January 2011

So, I've recently started turning my blog into a book for my kids.  It's taking a lot of time and a lot of work, but it will be an amazing gift for my children to cherish as they grow older.  I'm so excited to be doing this and so excited to have something to hold to remember 'these days'.  As I've started the first book of many, I'm finally done with the entire month of January 2011.  I thought as I finished up each month in the book, I would re-post my favorite blog for that month.  For the month of January (as I'm sure it will be the same for every month) there were a couple of blogs that made me laugh out loud and there were a couple of blogs that just left me there smiling. 

My favorite blog for the month of January 2011 is:

Wednesay, January 12, 2011

When I Lay In Bed At Night

When I finally get to lay down at the end of the day, it usually takes me quite some time to fall asleep because my mind just starts racing.  It's full of the things I did during the day and the things I need to take care of throughout the week.  I start thinking of how lucky I am and everything good in my life.  I start thinking of how blessed we truly are, which then makes me completely focus on my babies. 

I can't imagine my life without Makayla and Mason.  They are everything to me.  They are a good thing to fall asleep to at night as I slowly drift into dreamland.

Here are some things that I love about my babies.  I'll probably randomly be sharing lists of *Things I Love.

• Whenever Makayla wants to tell you a secret, it is ALWAYS "I love you".
• I love how Makayla offers me her blankie whenever she thinks I may be sad or a have a boo-boo. She never hesistates to share with me her favorite thing, her security, her comfort.
• I love how I can kiss my babies over and over and over again...and that they love it as much as I do.
• The way Makayla says quesadilla, adios, and gracias. She even knows to speak spanish when we go to the local mexican restaurant.  The things that make a mommy proud.
• The smell of Mason's breath.  I used to love Makayla's breath, but then she got all of her teeth...That's one of the very first things I did after I gave birth - smelled my newborn's breath.  It was virgin breath.  Something that will never be again. 
• How Makayla thinks each and every blemish on my face is a boo-boo. She looks at me with pain in her eyes and talks with concern in her voice.  She is always so sympathetic and often times kisses my "boo-boo".
• The feel of their soft skin - cheeks, arms, legs.
• How Makayla calls our suitcases our diaper bags. Why not?  It makes sense to her. 

These are only a few things that were running through my mind tonight, but I'm sure I'll be sharing more lists in the future, for this is my life and it's what is on my mind all of the time!

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Now, if you want something to make you laugh, read this one:

Making Tents



Imagination Grove

On the other side of the covered bridge is this little piece of land for kids.

Imagination Grove

It's a place where kids can explore, dig, hunt, search, run, play...

It was our first visit there today and it's a place that I'm sure we'll visit again soon.

Once you walk into Imagination Grove, there are buckets filled with plastic containers to collect bugs, tweezers to pick up bugs or move leaves and sticks, and nets of all sizes to catch critters. 

 Immediately, Makayla wanted to walk and play in the creek. 

I think the creek was my favorite part.  It was pretty, provided soothing sounds, and was an area to cool off at when the air got too hot and muggy. 

Daddy and Makayla searching for critters and peeking up over the wall of the creek.

Zip-lining!

Little Mason enjoyed most of his time in the sandbox.  When he finally had eaten too much sand, I had to take him out.  He still had a great time watching and riding in his stroller.  He is such a wonderful baby boy.  He is very laid back and goes with the flow, no matter what we're doing or where we're at. He was so content today being outside and taking in the world around him. 

...just hanging around

Laughing on the tire swing.  I think this was Makayla's favorite part of Imagination Grove.  She could have spent the entire day on this swing.  Swinging and spinning.

Climbing up to the tree house

Playing on the big tree. 

 We had a great time at Imagination Grove today.  We played, took a hike, and got dirty.  We look forward to going back again!!

 Click here to visit the website for Imagination Grove.

Shampoo, Shoes, Art, & Frogs...It's My Life

The nearest thing to Heaven is a child...

Makayla gave us the role of parents.  She showed us what it means to enjoy life.  She's extremely intelligent and has a hunger for learning.  She amazes me and leaves me in awe every day.

Mason is our little boy that we are head over heals for.  He's sweet as pie and has the best smile I've ever seen and felt. 

The only thing worth stealing is a kiss from a sleeping child.

-One of my favorite things to do is lay in bed with Makayla right before I end my day and just lay with her while she's in a deep sleep.  I kiss her cheeks, play with her hair, hold her hands, and watch her sleep.  I soak her in.

The first time ever I saw your face...

-Even though I can't climb into bed with Mason, I still make my rounds to his room.  I'll stand over his crib, and watch him sleep in the blue glow illuminating from his night light.  I stroke his soft cheeks and hold his tiny fingers in my hand.  I soak him in.

A tiny foot makes a deep impression

I love this feeling that I have.  I know that I am exactly where I am supposed to be in life right now. 

Dora shampoo

Baby shoes

Art on the refrigerator

Baby frogs...

It's my life.

It's perfect.

1, 2, 3...!

1, 2, 3...!

It's only Tuesday, but we've already done three exciting things this week.

1.  Swim Lessons

 Makayla is in the "Mommy and Me" class, but now it's called the "Mommy and Daddy and Me" class.  I do not like cold water and I knew I wouldn't be very instrumental in teaching Makayla how to swim this early on in summer.  There haven't been enough scorching hot days to make the water warm enough for me! I'd be clenched up in an ice cold ball!  Kevin gets in the water with her for the class and I sit on the edge with Mason and a video camera.  Yep - I'm the dorky mom, but I definitely want lots of pictures and videos of my kids so that they have something to look back on as they grow up.  We cheer her on and clap when she does something new and exciting.  Last night was her first night in class and her Grandma and Grandpa Allen came to cheer her on, encourage her, and bring her bravery and confidence.  So far, she's done really well and I think it's going to be a great two weeks.  Look forward to an update in two weeks when her classes are done to find out all of the great things she has learned!

~I love watching her learn~

2.  Time spent with Tyler

Makayla got to see her cousin Tyler this week!  They haven't seen each other since Christmas and they had a great time playing together.  They played together as if they have been friends forever.  They bounced on balls, looked at Makayla's new baby frog, and ate popsicles together.  It definitely put a smile on my face to be able to watch them play together and spend time together, even if it was for just a little bit.

3.  Horse Races

 It's becoming a tradition!  At the beginning of summer, on a Tuesday, we'll spend an afternoon at the race track with grandma and grandpa.  Last year, Makayla LOVED the horse races!  She cheered them on like she was going to win a million dollars for being the biggest, loudest, best cheerleader at the track. 

 Here are two pictures from last year:

This year was a different story:

She was "into" the races and concentrated so hard on the horses and their running.  She was very serious this year and maybe cracked a little smile just once.

 

Makayla is excited about her winning ticket!

And Mason is excited to just be sitting in his diaper!

  

 So, three exciting things in two days!!  The start of swim lessons, seeing family that we don't get to see enough, and going to the horse races!!

Birdhouses and Burgers

Besides spending time at The Relay For Life this weekend, we also celebrated Father's Day.  To read about our experience at the Relay, you can click here.

Makayla preparing for Father's Day.  She's painting bird houses for her daddy and grandpas.

 Daddy got the one in the middle.

 Once Makayla and Mason presented their birdhouse to Kevin, we headed out for lunch.  We went to one of Kevin's favorite places for lunch - The Burger Barge. 

Click here for the unique menu at the Burger Barge.  I got the Beach-Boy Burger.  It's their burger, cheese blobs, lettuce, tomato, onion, guacamole, and salsa.  Life's a beach.  Kevin got the Tavern Burger.  It's their burger with bacon, ham, grilled onions, cheese, and a fried egg.

 Mason must be laughing at his sister who was making a big fun mess with the sand at The Barge.

We had a great lunch at Burger Barge with my dad and then joined Kevin's dad at dinner for tacos. 

We had a wonderful time celebrating fathers!

The night you were born I ceased being my father's boy and became my child's father.  That night I began a new life.

-Henry Gregor Felson

The Tears At Relay 2011

Relay For Life 2011.

I was a hot, blubbering, wet mess last night. 

There's something about friends and family uniting, coming together for a purpose.  What I experienced last night is indescribable.  No words or pictures could do it justice.  Being there is something you just have to experience for yourself.  Being there to see everybody come together to set up camp and become family for one night. 

Compassion. 

Peace. 

Love. 

Support. 

And lots of tears.  Happy tears and sad tears. 

There's so much I love about Relay.  Let's start out with the the Survivor's lap.  The night started out with our teams lining the track.  (Our team, The Kangaroo Crew, raised over $2000!) Once all the teams were announced and lined up, the survivors gathered and took the first lap of the night, together, while the crowd cheered them on.  It was a sea of purple. 

They walked and we clapped. 

They held hands and we clapped. 

They cried and we cried. 

Like I said, I can't describe this event.  I was bawling.  Thank goodness, I held Makayla in my arms.  Distracting her and holding her helped me to keep my composure at a normal level!  Why was I crying so hard?  First of all, I was so happy to see so many people I knew walking around that track.  They are survivors!  My heart goes out to them for what they have gone through in their lives.  The pain, being scared, the fight.  But they are here and they are alive! I cried because I played the "what if" game.  What if I ever got cancer and ultimately it took my life.  I would leave my babies here on this Earth without their mother.  I thought about that and everything that goes along with that.  It made me stop breathing for a little bit.  Then I thought what if one of my babies ever got cancer.  I wanted to drop to my knees.  I squeezed Makayla a little tighter, cried a little harder, and thanked God for my life right here, right now.   I know a lot of people who have had and do have cancer.  I am also in the healthcare field.  I see cancer everyday.  It's real.  It's scary.  It happens and there's nothing we can do about it but fight, pray, hope, and believe.  So, during the Survivor's lap, my mind was busy!!  Although I was a crying mess, I wasn't the only one.  I'm sure there wasn't a dry eye in the building.  Seeing all of the purple shirts is your only clue that they are cancer survivors -- each one having their own incredible journey of recovering from, fighting or surviving cancer.

After the Survivor's lap, it was time to have some fun.

Makayla:  Mission Ready

Getting her face painted like a kitty cat. It was her first time getting her face painted and she loved it.  She was quite dramatic as it was being done.  Every time the brush touched her face, she dramatically jerked her back and blinked her eyes 50 times.  I was laughing so hard, I had tears rolling down my cheeks.   

 Notice the whiskers are smudged!  She scratched them immediately as she was getting out of the seat!

Mason just woke up from a 45 minute nap in his wagon.

This was actually a site to throw wet sponges at Bob's face.  After Makayla attempted her three throws, we just decided to get a picture of her as a kangaroo.

After a little fun of walking, playing games, winning prizes, eating, visiting, and laughing

...along came my second breakdown of the night.

The Luminary Ceremony

 All of the lights were turned out and the track was lit up with luminaries honoring those who have won their fight or are still fighting and remember those we lost.  The first lap was led with the bagpipe, playing "Amazing Grace".  That alone is enough to bring me to tears, but to add the reason why we were united together - to find a cure for cancer - made it even worse.  Thank goodness the lights were out.  After the lap of "Amazing Grace", there was a second lap of PURE SILENCE.  The luminary ceremony had an incredible impact.  Once again, I can't even begin to describe this and the feelings I had.

It feels good inside to know that, in some little way, my participation has helped improve the life and health of at least one cancer survivor - someone who struggles and fights for their life every single day. It's "that" feeling I get, that makes me want to participate in Relay For Life. 

It was a great time celebrating together and I hope that our efforts will one day make cancer a stranger to all of us...that we can one day raise our families in a cancer-free world.

We will be back again next year to celebrate, to remember, and to fight back!