Time for an update....

What a busy busy busy life!  We are truly blessed for so many reasons!!  However, we have had some chaos in our life lately.  My mom was diagnosed with a brain bleed and was in the hospital.  She is such a brave, incredible woman....this has brought my family even closer together if possible.  She has rallied and is doing much better.

Next bit of news is that the girls and I were rear ended on Monday night.  I did not realize that whiplash was a real thing...but the "back labor" I feel between my shoulders tells me different.  The true blessing of course is that the girls are okay and I could have been a lot worse. 

As my birthday approaches, I feel incredibly lucky for all in my life.  My birthday also brings a pang in my heart for my Baby Dos that never made his debut here on earth...but always in my heart. :-)  As the holidays pick up the pace, may everyone enjoy their loved ones.  Life is short and uncertain, but if we cherish every day, those moments are not wasted

Love'in the Puyallup fair!

Malia started kindergarten ...and Ava got to visit!!

Chiapa had a blast riding to grandmas house!

The girls got to wear their costumes for our school sock hop!

 Momma....my hero

Bye Bye Summer!

It is so hard to believe that summer is over! We have had so many incredible memories this summer! Chelan twice, ear piercings, Malia learned to ride her bike, potty training...I even got my tonsils out. I cannot believe how our life gets better and better. As our girls get older and more independent, it is such a joy to interact with them. We are surrounded by great family and friends. We truly feel so blessed!!!!

Ava's Birthday!

Ava had her third birthday party at Round Table Pizza in University place. She told us the minute we went there last month that she wanted a Princess Pizza party there! She definitely has her own ideas!

This Round Table is REALLY cool because upstairs is a play area with video games and climbing toys. Parents can see the kids and the kids can play...it is awesome!

These are all the awesome kids that came to share in Ava's special day!!

I love this picture because it shows all the kids on the video games...the best part...they are free!

It is incredible to me how our girls are growing...they are beautiful girls with beautiful hearts!

Ava's 3!!!!

It is so incredible to me that Ava's now 3! She is such an interesting person! She definitely has her own opinions and can be very fiesty.

Ava was allowed into ballet before the age cut off and she couldn't have been happier. She has wanted to do ballet since she could walk. She is beyond excited to join her sister in the wonderful world of ballet!

The incredible Miss Theresa!!

Fun Times!!

We have been having a great time! Aaron and I snuck away to the Skamania lodge/N. Bonneville Hot Springs for some golf and relaxing. It was such a great treat!!!!

On Saint Patricks Day, our family went to the Wilson Show Choir Auction. This is an annual event for us and every year it is such a treat.

It has been SUCH a blessing having Melly home! She is married to such an incredible man and our girls have been so lucky to have them both.

What a great night!

Kathryn's Memorial

Today was my cousin Kathryn's memorial. It was an incredible testament to what a person can accomplish with their life. She was almost 21 when she passed...but she affected more people in that amount of time than most do with 5 times that many years. Kathryn was the most positive person and did not let the fact that she had cancer hold her back. She wrote an incredible piece about cancer being like a rainstorm...you can stay inside and whine about the rain or you can put on your rain coat and splash in the puddles. What an incredible spirit. Please pray for her family...her mother, father, brother, and grandmother especially. I have included this poem because I think it is a perfect representation of Kathryn....

The Dash
By: Linda Ellis
I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke of the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars,
The house,
The cash,

What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard;
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say,
About how you spent your dash?