Getting back into a routine.... The past few weeks

Wow! Since late June our family has been going nonstop. I am just going to recap everything in this post and I know that I have to also do my pregnancy part III story of pregnancy #3.

Sunday June 22nd 2008: We attended church in the morning and then had the kick off to vacation Bible school

Monday June 23rd: Jeff left to go out of town. The kids and I were at vacation Bible school. I was a volunteer and helped with elementary games

Tuesday June 24th: Vacation Bible School. Helped my sister with her kids. Tee-ball practice. Out for ice cream and then my nephew spent the night

Wednesday June 25th: Vacation Bible school

Thursday June 26th: Last day of vacation Bible school. Jeff came home. Gabrielle’s 3rd birthday. Had birthday dinner and cake as well as Little Leapers

Friday June 27th: Started preparing the home and going to grocery to get ready for Gabrielle’s family birthday party. Tinkerbelle theme.

Saturday June 28th: Soccer and Tee-ball. Clean house

Sunday June 29th: Gabrielle’s Tinkerbelle party with family and friends. Received call from Courtney about her father falling and being transported to the hospital.

I asked Jeff to go out and get some pics of Gabby with her sign. Above is what she gave him. I was not thrilled with the result.

Miss "Tink"

"Make a wish"

Monday June 30th: Spent the day on the phone with Courtney. Said many prayers for Mr. D

Tuesday July 1st: Joey had summer camp. Spent time with Gabby and on the phone with Courtney. Cleaned house from the party

Wednesday July 2nd: Courtney came into town. Went to the hospital. Spent time with Mr. D and family. Jeff and the kids drove to Chicago for the 4th of July to spend time with friends of ours. I stayed home to help Courtney and her family anyway I could. We did a lot of shopping for outfits for the services. I must say that Courtney, Joyce, and Tempa all looked very pretty.

Thursday July 3rd: Shopping for the services

Friday July 4th: Shopping and errands

Saturday July 5th: Ran errands and last minute things. Jeff and the kids drove back from Chicago

Sunday July 6th: Calling hours for Mr. D

Monday July 7th: Service for Mr. D

Tuesday July 8th- Friday July 11th: My cousin’s kids were here and spent time with us. They just left and now I am cleaning, unmaking beds, doing laundry, making beds again, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning and took a break for some blog time.

My cousin, Megan has four children. She is 33. They all love in Michigan. She is a wonderful mother and has been through some very tough things with her relationship with the father of the kids. She met Dave in high school. She was in high school when she got pregnant with her first child. She then had 3 more with him. The kids are 13, 12, 10, and 9. Dave was into some bad things in high school. At one point he was starting to change things for himself and he and Megan did get married. Things did not work and he went back to his old ways. They ended up getting a divorce. I am proud of her for being so strong and always putting the girls and Nick the oldest first. The kids did not have much of a relationship with him. He would make promises and not follow through. To make a sad story even sadder this past May Dave’s body was found in an abandoned warehouse by a homeless man. The kids did attend the funeral and I am sure as they get older this may have more of an effect on them. Dave had problems, but there are two things I try to keep in mind when I think of him. The first is that Megan must have seen something good in him or she would have never started dating him. Second, is that without him these 4 beautiful, fun, intelligent, caring kids would not be here. The third child Taylor came down over her winter break and wanted to come back down to spend time with us. This time the other two girls wanted to come also. MY home has been filled with many voices, laughing, running, games, smiles, and good times. We all had a great time and the kids did not want to leave to go back to Michigan. So they may be coming back in August.

Bailey & Paige (sisters) ~ABOVE

Taylor, Paige, & Bailey~ BELOW

Cousins. Poor Joey was surrounded by GIRLS! He LOVED it!!

As much fun as it has been to have the girls here I am now ready for things to slow down a bit. We all have been running at a pretty fast pace around here and I like it when things are a bit calmer and we are not constantly rushing around. I am now happy to welcome some normalcy.

To Beaver. From Cakes

Court this one’s for you!! Let me tell you about my best friend. Her name is Courtney and I have known her longer than I have been married to my husband and know n my husband. Crazy thing to think about for me, but the truth. I have known Courtney since we were little girls. Maybe 7? Her family moved into the empty home across the street that was for sale. I think that God knew what he was doing when her family bought that house. She and I have been through everything together. (grade school, middle school, high school, college years, and now grown women raising families of our own)yes, we have had our fair share of fights as all teenage girls and girls in general do, but we have always been able to overcome our differences and remain the best of friends. We have a great friendship. I can talk to her about any and everything. Husbands, kids, even the hard times, Samantha, Sydney, God, girl stuff, ANYTHING! She was a treasure to have after the loss of the twins and I could not have made it though without her.

One thing that stinks about our relationship is the distance. She lives in Texas. But where hasn’t she lived. J She has moved several times due to the fact that her husband is a pilot. The nice thing though is that she has lived in some pretty awesome states. (Hawaii, Florida, Carolinas) I wish that we were closer in distance, but it works. When she does come into town it can be hard because I know that she wants to spend time with her family. (Mom, dad, sister, brother in law, etc)

She is hysterical. She has a wonderful personality and is the life of the party. She is always looking her best and dressed to the nines. In contrast I am the introvert and the one who has been known to brush my hair and teeth and walk out the door in sweats and a tee. So even though we have many similarities we also have many differences.

This past week has been not only a very difficult one, but also a very sad one. Sadly on Wednesday her daddy passed away. He leaves behind a wife that he has been married to for 45 years, 2 daughters, and 6 grandchildren. (+2 adopted daughters)

Courtney had a very close and unique relationship with her dad. They were able to talk to each other about anything and everything, laugh, tell jokes, and had a bond that never judged or criticized. I have in many ways been in awe of their friendship and relationship. This is going to be very difficult for her and her family. Tomorrow is the calling hours and Monday will be the service. I am asking for any and all prayers to be said for the family. Joyce (wife), Tempa (daughter), Courtney (daughter), Hannah, Avery, Christian, Aiden, Isabella, and Analeigh (grandchildren), Scott (son-in-law), Chris (son-in-law).

Like I said Court this one is for you. I know that when I told you about my blog you were asking when you would be posted in it. I hoped to do it on your birthday. I want to thank you for the past few days. I cannot thank you enough for allowing me to see your dad and kiss him one last time. It meant the world to me.




Mr. D~
I am so sad that you are no longer here on earth, but I know that you are up above and watching over your precious family. Maybe you are up there relaxing, playing golf, or dancing with your mom. You have always been a very special person to me. You were one of the hardest working men I have ever known. I will always remember having to keep it down because you were sleeping, how you worked the night shift, how you were always there for your girls all three of them, how you always had a joke, a way to make anyone smile and feel welcome and comfortable, and just for being you. There are so many childhood memories that I have with you in them. You will be missed by many. I will do whatever I can for all three of your girls and to always help them out when needed. I hope that I was able to moisten your lips and nose and that you felt no pain as you entered Heaven. I will always think of you with fond memories and love.
Please watch over Joyce tomorrow and Monday. They will be tough days for her, but I know she will pull through it just fine and with your love surrounding her.
We will all love and miss you!
CAKES