The Children's Museum

Last week we had our school field trip to the Children's Museum. Ryan was nice enough to take Caleb, with his class, since I had just been the day before with my class.

He had fun painting his face.

What a masterpiece!

Enjoying a yummy sandwich.

He had lots of fun with his best buddy Tyler.

A little too much fun in the dig pit



Watch out daddy!




It was nice enough to check out the park afterward.

Big Changes

Well, we're finally moving! We just have a little change to our destination. Ryan's work is opening a new restaurant in Denver, Colorado and a little over a month ago, they asked him if he would consider relocating to open the restaurant for them. He of course said "I doubt my wife would go for it, but I'll run it by her." Of course, when he told me, I instantly said "I don't think so." I told him that I'd do a little research to give it a chance. That night I did a lot of reading and I suddenly got an overwhelming feeling that that's where we needed to be. I told Ryan that I thought we should do it. He of course gave me a bewildered look. For those of you who know me, you know that I'm NOT an impulsive person. I like to have every aspect of every little detail planned out. So, this whole thing is WAY out of my comfort zone. I do feel like it's the right decision though. We have been wanting to move to a different climate for years now and all our moving expenses will be paid for. So, it looks like we will probably be heading out there sometime in July. We don't have a specific date yet. We are wanting to buy a house in one of the suburbs south/southeast of Denver.

It's kind of been a whirlwind of emotions this past month. So, I really have tried not to think about the emotional side of moving away from most of my family. I know it's going to be VERY hard. I really just can't think about it. I wish they could just all come with us!:)

Busy, Busy, Busy!!!

I know that I have been a bad blogger lately. Life has been so busy. My last month of school is always quite full with Mother's Day, final projects, and trying to squeeze everything in. It's so hard to believe that we only have one more week of school left. Where has this year gone?!? It's been really hard this week, going through all of my (MANY) school supplies that I have collected over the past 8 years and packing them up.(More to come on that in another post.) Words can't even describe what a wonderful experience this job has been. It's been such a wonderful working environment, it almost hasn't felt like work. I've been blessed to work with such wonderful women. They have become such great friends to me, over the years. We've had a lot of fun. Of course we've all had a couple of classes that make us want to pull our hair out, but that's when it's great, when the year flies by!:) I'm truly going to miss teaching at Berry Bright. It really doesn't help that I've had a fantastic class this year. They are all near and dear to my heart. It's going to be hard to let them go!


Well, it's been a wet, cold spring, but now we've gone straight to summer.
Despite the snow in the foothills, we've had record breaking temperatures this week. The past four days have been in the 90's! The kid's have been cooling off on the slip and slide.

I don't know what's appealing about this bucket of grassy water, but they couldn't stay out of it!

Caitlin had her school program this week. She was a carrot. She is turning into quite a little actress. I've gotta try to get the video up. She's a hoot to listen to.

What a Sick Feeling!

I have had overwhelming thankfulness, this afternoon, for my dear children.

Today, I let Cailtin ride the school bus home.(I only let her do this every once in a while, since it takes her 40 minutes to get home and we can see the school from our house.) She thinks it is quite fun though. Anyway, I went for a walk on the side street next to us. As I was walking back towards home to meet the bus, I kept hearing police sirens and then a solid flow of traffic down this little rural road I was walking on. I knew there must have been an accident that closed the highway. Of course the thought crossed my mind that I hoped Caitlin was okay. I picked up the pace a little as I trudged through the grass on the shoulder, since my quiet walk had turned into highway traffic. The bus was able to get to me, and Caitlin was safe and sound. When we got home, I looked online to see what was going on, on the highway. My heart just dropped, when I read there was an accident involving a fatality and a full school bus from Caitlin's school. Thankfully there weren't any serious injuries on the bus.
Still a little too close to home though.

As the helicopters hover around our house, I'm so thankful for my family. It's easy to forget how quickly things could change. I'm so very glad it wasn't me getting that phone call that my daughter's school bus had been in a head on collision. And I'm so glad that there weren't any major injuries on the bus.

A Celebration of Life

Yesterday was my grandma's memorial service. It was a very emotional day. It was nice to remember her with so many family and friends, but it felt like we were saying that final "goodbye."

Here are a couple quotes from grandma that do embody who she was.

~My greatest wish is to see my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren make good choices, set goals, and do their best.~

~Remember to be kind to one another.~

~You may be sad today, but also be happy for the long life I have lived. Life is too short to waste on unhappy events. They become small and trivial. Time seems to take care of so many things.~

~Don't remember me for being perfect. Remember me for who I was.~

Caleb has really been thinking about grandma this week. I think that he's finally realizing that she's gone.

Here are a couple quotes from his mouth this week.

We were driving in the car and he was looking intently out the window. All of a sudden he says "Mom, I can't see grandma's legs hanging down from heaven, but I bet she's sure having fun walking on the moon."

Oh the mind of a child.:)

Today, we were cuddling outside on the swing and he looks at me and says "I sure love grandma. What is she doing up in heaven? I miss her."

What a legacy she has left. That smile will be etched in our minds and hearts forever!

~In the rising of the Sun and in its going down, we will remember her. In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter, we will remember her. In the opening of buds and in the rebirth of spring, we will remember her. In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of summer, we will remember her. In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn, we will remember her. In the beginning of the year and when it ends, we will remember her. When we are weary and in need of strength, we will remember her. When we are lost and sick at heart, we will remember her. When we have joys we yearn to share, we will remember her. So long as we live, she too shall live, For she is now a part of us.

We will remember her.~

Happy Birthday To Me!

Yesterday we celebrated my 28th birthday(Man, that's getting WAY too close to 30!) It was a nice day. Cailtin got up early and made me a wonderful breakfast, while I got ready for work.

When I got home, I received flowers from my grandpa. That one brought tears to my eyes. Grandma NEVER missed a birthday and grandpa filled that hole a little bit with flowers. I thought that was just too sweet. I'm going to well up, just thinking about it now. It doesn't take much to make me cry these days!

Ryan took me out for an early dinner and it was a nice break. We finished the night off with mom's peanut butter pie. YUM!!!

I'm looking forward to trying out my new Dance Dance Revolution. I decided maybe I could stick to that for a work out plan. I know, I'm pathetic. I just can't get motivated. And all of my comfort eating is not helping!

Thank You!

I wanted to thank all of my dear friends and family for all of your words of encouragement. Your extra kindness has meant so much to me, through this hard time.

My sweet teacher friends even sent me flowers! They were beautiful!

What An Amazing woman

My dear, sweet grandma passed away last night. It has been a rough 24 hours. I'm so glad that we were able to spend yet another full weekend out there with her a few days ago. Her mind was still there, even though her body was deteriorating rapidly. I got the call that things had taken a turn, late Tuesday morning. I'm so thankful that my mom was able to take care of the kids so I could go right away. The transformation was quite startling though. I'm so glad that I was able to be there with her, but it was very hard to watch. She was finally feeling the pain and was very uncomfortable. Her poor body looked like it had been through a boxing match. She was also unable to communicate clearly. I will always remember her final words to me. They were the only ones that I understood that day. I told her I loved her and she said "I love you too and thank you for all of your help." I feel so blessed to have had that last conversation, especially when her words were so few and undecipherable.

After the pain meds arrived, she was much more at peace. She was surrounded by family as she took her last breaths and I know that's how she would have wanted it. It was a night filled with tears, but I'm so thankful that I have had such a wonderful family. We were all able to share some laughs through the tears, in rememberance of this wonderful woman.

After getting home around midnight, 5:30 this morning came way too fast. It was a very long, puffy eyed day!

What a privilege to know this sweet lady!

This is what I think of, when I think of grandma. She was never without her rosey cheeks and that contagious smile.

All of the cousins.

They have all been wonderful through this diffucult time.

She was diagnosed with 2 different kinds of Leukemia a few weeks before this gathering. Her disease was almost as amazing as she was. She was recorded in the medical journals with this rare form of Leukemia that had only been recorded 4 other times.

This great grandma will be missed.
August 2006

Christmas 2006

These two make a cute couple, even after 62 years.

Christmas 2007

What a wonderful weekend at the beach, earlier this year.

Grandma, you will be greatly missed. What a legacy you have left!

We love you!