Grandma Jack Good-bye

Grandma Jack was tired and a bit incoherent when we visited her on Wednesday afternoon. I was never 100% sure if she knew me. I washed her hands, filed her nails and loved on her. CJ and I took her clothes to wash at Aunt Kathy's house.

On Thursday morning CJ fixed us little quiches and after breakfast we packed up some food to take to Grandma's. Grandma had a busy morning, but she was dressed, alert and ready for our visit. She was a somewhat uncomfortable, but she was calm and talked with Cadie about school and asked about her brothers. Cadie drew Grandma a number of pictures and we borrowed some tape from the nurses station and taped them up around Grandma's room.

After about an hour, Grandma was really very poorly. She had begun to throw up and she was very tired. We said our good-byes and both Cadie and I hugged and kissed her. As we were walking out the door Grandma called to us and asked us to give Grant, Jack Ranger and Colton Alexander her love.

I started crying as we walked out of her room because I knew that would be the last time I saw her. I was crying pretty good and so Cadie and I went into the bathroom. Cadie said, "I know why you are crying Mom, but it is only good-bye for now." Of course, that made me start crying even harder.

Grandma died exactly one week later. I was in Argentina this past Thursday and I had a feeling that I needed to call my Mom. I called and after a few minutes my Mom decided it was ok to tell me that Grandma had passed away around 9am that morning. My Mom had been worried about giving me the news when I was by myself and far away, but I was grateful to know and I had already said my good-bye. We prayed on the phone together and we both cried.

I am beyond thankful that God spoke in his still, small voice and prompted me to visit Kansas City. Grandma's services are this coming Saturday and while they will be hard, I told Grandma one last time how much I loved her and how much she meant to me and that will make all the difference.

I love you Grandma Jack. I miss you already.

KC Pumpkin Patch

About two weeks ago I felt a stirring that I needed to go to Kansas City and visit my Grandma Jack. She fell and broke her hip about two months ago and while X-rays showed that her hip was healing, it is very difficult to recovery when you are 90+. I was going to be in Argentina the week of Oct. 5 for work, so I shuffled by schedule around and Cadie and I took a super quick trip to KC on Wed. Sept. 30 and Thurs. Oct. 1.

We arrived on Wednesday morning and drove my parents car from the airport to Aunt Kathy's house. My parents had left for Seattle that morning and we had missed them by only hours. CJ was off work for both days and my main goals were to visit with Grandma Jack and be with CJ.

It was an absolutely gorgeous day so CJ, Aunt Kathy, Cadie and I had a light lunch at Aunt Kathy's house and then headed directly to the KC Pumpkin Patch which is one of my favorite KC events. It was practically empty and we had the best time!

After the pumpkin patch, we headed back to Aunt Kathy's house and Cadie stayed with Aunt Kathy while CJ and I went to visit Grandma Jack. Aunt Kathy and Cadie had a wonderful time together watching Peter Pan and snuggling. It the the perfect start to our whirlwind KC trip.

Kids at PepsiCo

As a reward for their good behavior while I was in Argentina, I took the big kids to work with me! We ate in the cafeteria and then they played in my office while I responded to emails. I didn't have any conference calls because it was Columbus Day so the office was quieter than usual. The kids did really well and had fun drawing on the white-board, getting candy from Susan Williams office and meeting people at my office. I loved having them around!

Cadie is 7!

Cadie designed her whole birthday party! We talked about a lot of different options and she ultimately decided to have a small party with her best friends at Build-a-Bear. She invited Carter, Taylor, Anna, Sutton and her brothers. We had the party on Sunday at 2pm after church.

The Build-a-Bear party was really sweet and included the kids picking out their animals, stuffing the animals, decorating their houses/boxes, dressing them and Cadie ringing a bell. Cadie really enjoyed it and said it was just what she wanted it to be. After Build-a-Bear all the kids picked out a cookie at the cookie store in the mall and then we went to the patio outside the food court to eat our cookies and open gifts. I am so proud of her for planning her party and for being a great hostess. She was inclusive of all her friends and she made sure to tell everyone that she was thankful that they were able to come to her party.

After the party we headed home and I packed up to catch my flight to Argentina! Never a dull moment.

This is a page that Cadie wrote in Sunday school about why she is special. She is definitely special and we love her SO much! I love that she creeps into our bed and snuggles me EVERY morning. I love her bangs and her sweet dimples. I love how she takes care of her brothers and is willing to help me with anything including dishes and vacuuming. She is intuitive, kind, opinionated and sweet. I am beyond thankful to be her Mom.

I am special because I am sensitive.
I am special because I am very good at art.
I am special because I love to nap.
I am special because I was the first kid in my family to be born.

Florida: Shane's Colonel Promotion

Shane's promotion ceremony was incredibly meaningful. There was a lot of Air Force tradition including the singing of the Star Spangled Banner and the Pledge of Alligiance. The general made very sincere remarks and Shane gave a speech thanking each of us personally and giving us gifts. Afterwards, there was a nice reception and then got to tour a few things around the base like McKinley Climatic Laboratory. It was very impressive and I was honored to be a part of the special day.

Florida: Tubbing

Grant and I spent the weekend in Niceville, Florida with his wonderful Culhane Meadows founding partners. Shane Haughian's promotion ceremony to Colonel in the Air Force was on Monday and so the Haughian's invited us all to their house for a weekend of celebrating.

It was a great break and so much fun! Shane and Heather are awesome hosts. Grant and I flew down early on Saturday morning (thanks to DD and Big John for keeping our rug rats!). I had to crash early on Sat. evening because I was exhausted. I woke up feeling refreshed on Sunday and we had a lazy day at the house and then we took out the boat for some tubbing. Grant and I did better than expected, although Grant had to haul me up onto the tub because I was laughing so hard I couldn't get up by myself.

After tubbing we met the family back at the house and took the boat across the bay for dinner looking out over the water. I sat by Luke and Lexi and we had a fun time talking and Grant mesmerized them with magic tricks.

My Baby Boy is Getting So Big!

I seriously want to hug and kiss him ALL THE TIME! Those sparkly eyes, blond curls, sweet cheeks, little plump hands, button nose... He is 100% boy and 100% joy. He yells and runs to me when I walk in the door. He repeats everything we say and he has zero problems communicating. He talks in almost complete sentences. He is scared of nothing and no one. He isn't pushy, but he has no problem pushing back and setting boundaries with Cadie and JR. His favorites are JR making him cars and planes with legos, Cadie making him tents and playing hot wheels and trains with anyone who will play with him.

I loved taking him to JC Penny for his 2-year photos. None of my kids have every enjoyed getting their photos taken, but Colton hammed it up! Baby boy, I love you so much!