Memorial Day

For Memorial Day we went to the cemetery and put flags on Dad's gravesite. Here are a few pictures.



Happy Memorial Day Dad and thank you for your service to our country.

lunch

I came back from lunch today with that totally stuffed, I couldn't take another bite feeling. Then I was informed that people from Texas Roadhouse brought in a box of warm rolls and a tub of cinnamon butter. Somehow I squeezed a few rolls in.
My waistline and jeans are not happy with me at the moment.
The End.

Noah is 7!

Bubba turned 7 years old on Tuesday! (sniffle) When did that happen? It seems like not that long ago we were all gathered up at the hospital straining our ears to hear his first little cries from the delivery room. Time is flying. Especially when you have a 7 going on 30 year old!

He had a baseball cake and I was sure to get him lots of Cubs gear (shirt, tatoos, and a penant)!

The big present of the night was a new scooter! It even has a motor (he can ride it without the motor too) ! He and his buddy Josh can scoot around the neighborhood together now! Happy Birthday Bubba!

Dancing Queen

McKenna had a dance recital Friday night at Eastlight theater. Her cousins Tristan and Desi were also in it and all three did a fantastic job! McKenna was in two dances, Tristan was in a tumbling routine and Desi danced later on. Great job girls!

This was in the parking lot before she went in. This was her outfit for "A Spoonful of Sugar" (the pink crocs aren't part of the ensemble haha!).

This was after her second dance "I Pledge Allegiance"




"A Spoonful of Sugar"


After with me and my mom, with flowers from her Nana Karen and pink roses from us

My Mom

Just taking a moment on this Mother's Day to appreciate my Mom. Amazing that someone just 4'11" tall and is 80-some-odd pounds is indeed the strongest person I know. She has overcome more in her life than most of us ever have to face. In fact, if I had been challenged with even a fraction of what she has had thrown at her, I would have buckled under the pressure. But not her.
She dealt with polio at age 5. Then the diagnosis that she would never walk again. Then years of physical therapy and training her legs to walk in a new way, using different muscles. Spent her childhood having surgery after surgery. Had two C-sections. Worked. Only took 1/2 hour lunches, eating a sandwich from home rather than spending money on a restaraunt lunch. Dealt with her daughter's lovely teenage years. Deals with MS with dignity and stubbornness. Handled losing the love of her life. Even though she deals with pain and illness on a daily basis, if I so much as sneeze or mention a headache, she is much more worried about me than herself.
I hope that when I am a mom, I have the same elements of compassion, grace, stubbornness, priorities, and most of all love, that she has.
Happy Mothers Day to my mom and to all of the moms, grandmas, aunts, sisters, and moms-to-be!

It's Morel Season!!!

It's time for Morel Mushrooms again! This season was delayed a bit by the weather (normally it's long over by May) but the wait was well worth it! Jeff went turkey hunting yesterday morning and decided to look for mushrooms while he was out. He ended up finding about 5 lbs including this whopper in the picture (the quarter is there for size reference). While it's certainly not a record setter it is the biggest one he's ever found. So tonight we feast! Can't wait to get the little gems all breaded and fried... mmmmm.....