Happy Birthday Dad!

It seems unreal to me that it has only been a year and a half since you left this earthly world.  It seems like so much longer.  Today you would have been 63 years young.  I can just imagine picking up the phone to call you and tell you happy birthday and it would last just a few minutes talking about what you would be doing for the day, you would probably cuss at the dogs a little bit and then we would launch into what I was up to for the day and you would probably tell me to work hard for my boss and be an accountable employee.  Then after that you would rant on about something that seems so trivial like the computer not working right or the lawn mower needing fixed and that would last 10 minutes at LEAST.  I would probably roll my eyes and say "okay Dad, I really need to get going, you know, work hard for my boss and all".  You would end by telling me to hug my honey and hug those babies (you ALWAYS did this, every conversation) and that would be it.  Seems like such a simple conversation but it is one that I miss deeply.  I would give anything to hear you rant on and on and on and on about Grand Island government, I would really love to get your take on what you thought about the Mayor getting his slap on the wrist for his recent DUI stop, what the idiots at Fox News are talking about, how Mom needs to quit working so hard and whatever else was Larry rant worthy. 

I continue to hold up on my end and enlighten my kids with reminding them of you every day and every moment that I can.  Henry wrote you a note today that will be coming to heaven in a balloon this afternoon that said "you make my heart feel good" and Julia says that she "wants you down from heaven".  We will celebrate today by our balloon letting and a birthday song to you, eating Fried Egg Sandwiches and Lays Potato Chips, rounding it out with some Orange Crush Soda (I tried to convince the kids to get some Sasparilla instead) and some popcorn. 

There are so many special things and qualities that you had about you that no one will ever quite understand or know.  Even Michelle sent me a text today saying that outside of her Dad and PJ that you were the best man that she knew.  She doesn't put her feelings out on her sleeve too much and I know she means it when she says it.  There are many people that I am sure long to call you and hear your voice and hear a Larry story.  I am so thankful to have had you as my Dad for 28 years.  Privileged.  Really really privileged.  I hope to be a glimmer of what you were as a parent to me to my kids.  

I hope your day in heaven is filled with the amazing things that I think of when I look towards the skies.  I remind the kids that even though we miss you and I am sure that you miss us there is no greater reward or happiness than being in heaven with Jesus and the glorious wonders that await us.  Happy Birthday Dad.  Your light still shines brightly in my world.   

Spring already SPRING!

When oh when is this winter going to be over?  I swear and it is not because I am pregnant that this has been THE longest winter EVER!  I have been ready for it to be over since December.  Thank goodness for small distractions.

 

 

This fella has been building legos and playing with legos by himself lately.  You may think that he probably should have been doing this for a while now but you just don't understand him like I do.  Henry has always been a little clinger.  He loves to be in the same room as someone (most of the time me), doesn't freely go play by himself too easily without having to push him in there and lock the door.  Kidding.  He really just loves to have company and I can't blame him for that.  He was super proud of himself for putting this little set together and has ventured onto the bigger ones he got for Christmas.  He didn't need much help at all and he was so proud of himself.  Me too since I didn't have to put legos together.    

 

How often do your kids get baths?  Mine are lucky to get one every other day.  Lucky.  I suck at it. 

He had a basketball clinic this winter and I am so glad he did it.  Lets just say that prior to this he didn't know how to dribble a basketball, shoot or probably even catch a basketball.  We signed him up just to get familiar with a ball in hopes to get him a little coordination under his belt.  Well....After his first day at the clinic Erin and I pretty much threw him under the bus and said "man, he did horrible".  Henry however felt pretty good about himself saying that it was fun but dribbling just hurt his hand a little.  We felt like failures as parents that we hadn't been playing ball with him sooner.  I vowed that we would practice for 10 minutes every day after school just dribbling around in the kitchen.  And you know what?  He totally caught on!  He had 4 more Sundays of basketball and by the last one he was making hoops.  He loves to play in the kitchen and asks everyday if he can get a hoop for this summer.  Good boy Henry!  You are da man.

 

School buddies. 

 

 

 When I tell Julia to go get a pair of socks in the morning it usually results in finding the most mismatched socks in the "no matches sock bag"  She likes to put on baby socks and she also likes Henry's socks the best. I used to care, now I don't.

 

Borrowed Superman costume.  She has been a total tomboy as of late.  She doesn't like dresses, she only likes to wear Henry's clothes, coming home to put them on after we drop him off at school so he doesn't get mad.  She plays with his toys and just generally doesn't care about being overly girly.  She came into the kitchen carrying this baby doll the other night.  I was just a little shocked.  Either she still deep down has a girl side to her that she doesn't want me to see or she is just excited to have a new baby in the house.  Whatever the case, SHE is my favorite and just how I envisioned MY GIRL being. 

 

I had a little self portrait sesh with myself the other morning.  I think this was 23 weeks.  I don't feel like I had any pictures of myself being pregnant with Henry and Julia.  I find the self portrait pretty akward but I do know that it is something that is important.  I really do want to have pictures of myself to look back at, you know, to see how I have aged, how fat I was, how skinny I was, where I was in life at that time.  Some of my favorite pictures of my Grandma are just pictures of my Grandma alone.  Not studio pictures but pictures that someone captured of her and are just beautiful.  It is REALLY weird asking Erin to take a picture of me, so I guess I will just keep doing it myself.     

20 weeks and 3.5

Hip Hooray, today marks 20 weeks into this pregnancy!  So far so good!  I have a feeling the poundage is going to sneak up on me here in the next weeks.  I have somehow managed to only gain 5 pounds which I don't think is much for being halfway there.  Baby is doing good and we have had enough ultrasounds (5) to have known the sex by now but we are not going to find out until that screaming mimi makes a break for it in late June.    I have been feeling kicks and thought I felt maybe some hiccups today.  It is the most wonderful feeling and I find myself with my hands constantly on my belly at night and when I am laying down.  Life has been uneventful and I am loving it that way.  Julia and Henry always can make everything eventful, especially Julia lately.  Man, her OUTFITS!  I don't really have much say in what she wears except for to church on Sunday mornings.  She changes clothes about 4 times a day and comes up with some serious doozies.  I love it.  When Henry was this age, it was hard for him to even keep pants on.  He loved running around in his undies. 

 

 

 

20 weeks!  Eeeks!  Thanks Henry for the pic!

 

Fashion choice #1.  This was what she came up with after gymnastics one day.

 DANCE

 

 

PARTAY!

 

BAM!

 

 

Fashion Choice #2-Henry's Super Grover pants, sunglasses and a marathon medal.  Pure awesome.

 And I leave you with her bedtime outfit last night.  Henry's pants, tucked in Mickey Mouse nightgown and Henry's shoes.  So cute she is. 

 

Tonight I called her "Julia Dirt Hair" and she quickly responded, "Don't EVER call me that again"

 

So, that is us in a wrap!  

Scared Shitless

It's a fun phrase to use but I am not sure how many times I have actually been able to use it in proper context.  This week may have been the first time to pull it out in proper context. A couple Thursday's ago I waltzed in to my regularly scheduled OB appointment eager to see the little muffin on the ultrasound machine and knew I had to do the as scheduled 16 week quad screen, a test that screens for Down Syndrome and Spina Bifida.  This is just a simple blood test, easy beans and out the door I went.  Off we went to the Broncos game in Colorado without any hesitation, remembrance of the dumb blood draw I had that Thursday before.  Shit hit the fan, thunder crashed through my roof when I had a call from my OB nurse on Tuesday that she wanted to tell me that my quad screen came back with a positive screen for Down Syndrome.  Instantly tears flushed my ducts and I was in full shock and awe.  I had to phone the specialists office to see if I could get a earlier appointment scheduled.  Luckily we were able to get scheduled for the following morning for an ultrasound that included full anatomy to measure and examine how the little muffin is growing.  The night before there were many tears shed and a bunch of WTF's were thrown out.  We trudged through the doors of the office that morning expecting to end a little bit of the worry that caused us to flip flop the entire night before.  I prayed for a professional and knowledgeable ultrasound tech and that is exactly what we got.  We had a really good ultrasound and the baby didn't show anything that caused any alarm to reveal down syndrome.  We then met with the Doctor who came in and rained on the parade and gave me the lovely odds that my screening tipped off.  1 in 8 chance that the baby has DS.  1 in 8. 
 

EERRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEECK----------------------------------------------------follow up on all of that...I wrote the beginning of this post last week when I really was scared shitless and had to stop because I scared myself so much with my reality of my writing.  I cannot think of a more stressful time in my life.  After we met with the Dr. we went and had a lab test done called Maternti21.  This blood test would give us a 99.1% answer whether or not our baby would have DS.  We waited for 1 long week before we got our results back.  I made Erin come home so we could call together.  The results: NEGATIVE for DS!  I throw that exclamation point in there very gingerly but also with gusto.  I was fully preparing myself that I would have a baby with DS and that no matter what, NO MATTER what, I would love love love this baby for life.  Fear flashes through your mind and all kinds of scenarios buzz in and out and you come to a point where you just know that you will make it through because above all the worry and anxiety, you know that you have the best thing on your side and that is LOVE. Love and God.   

I learned more about Down Syndrome last week than I probably needed to learn but it helped me immensely.  I read blogs, Kelle Hampton's Bloom book, and visited message boards where women were going through similar experiences.  The one thing that I took away more than anything is how babies and children with Down Syndrome can completely bring the sunshine into the lives of these parents.  Their personalities are radiating and parents and families feel that they are better equipped in life because of their children.  I didn't feel as scared reading these real life accounts and I have a much greater respect and awareness of Down Syndrome through this all.   

I have weathered this tiny storm and realize that this is just the tip of the iceberg in this thing called life.  Life is crazy and life is hairy at times but I have never been so grateful for what I have been given at this stage in the game. 

Eeeps! New Year, New Look

I did it again, took the plunge and did a little blog makeover.  My gal Vanessa at Butterfly Sparks did me right again.  She has made it real easy to fork over the money to gain a sense of refreshment to ease into the new year.  I love it.  Well, most of it came from my ideas so why wouldn't I love it?!  Thanks Vanessa for putting up with me and putting it all together.  It is exactly like I had hoped. 

I have been totally and utterly soaking up life since my last posts from Get The Craft Out.  I got really burned out of crafting in general and really wanted nothing but to be lazy and not engage myself with anything or anyone except for what I really had to.  My body is also enjoying the chill out mode since I am GROWING A BABY in my belly after all!  

We are expecting bouncing baby number 3 to arrive on June 27th or somewhere around there.  I found out I was pregnant on my Grandma Dorothy's birthday, Oct. 24th.  I feel like it has already been forever but really, I am just being anxious Kaitlyn and I better simmer down, I am only 16 weeks!  All has been well and I have not really ever felt better with a pregnancy.  

Life has been good, easy, lovely and full of laughter especially from two knucklehead kids whose love radiates through the walls of this house. I am looking forward to a wonderful year of simplicity and continued happiness.  Grow baby grow.      

Get the Craft Out Sponsors

This year I thought I would amp it up a notch and get the girls some really cool free stuff to make their Get The Craft Out experience all the more lovely.  I had some wonderful response from companies online and local.  You should have seen me when I went to the door and picked the boxes off my porch. 

SQQQEEEAAALING with delight!

First stop was Porridge Papers, our local letterpress shop where I would love to work/just hang out everyday.  Christopher the owner is pretty much the man and totally hooked me up with the opportunity to come in and set my own design up and make my print.  It was quite the experience and I don't envy typesetters from years past.  It is a tedious process. 

So I picked my type, then all of that blank space needs filled in with spacers.  This was the most dreadful and time consuming part I thought. 

There it is on the press machine! 

All inked up and ready to roll with a fabulous shade of pink. 

 All printed up and drying. 

 In all, printing 35 posters took me 4+ hours.  It may look like it was just printed off on a printer on some nice cardstock but really, I did it and it was so much fun!  Christopher said that after the New Year they will begin some intro into letterpress classes.  Sign me up! 

Pick Your Plum was one of my first contributors.  They sent 20 blank wooden earring sets, 20 4 piece punched wooden boards that could be used to make a mini book or a super cute bunting.  They also sent some very functional kraft tags, super for Christmas tags.  Thanks Pick Your Plum!  You were truly generous. 

I stumbled on October Afternoon by asking my scrapbooking and photographer friend, Becky Novacek if she had any good contacts for me.  After a few speedy emails, this package arrived on my porch chalk full of goodies for Christmas!  There were trims and twine, stickers, pins, buttons, scrapbooking paper and the list goes on.  There is so much potential here for an awesome project, present decorations, just a good ol' scrapbook project, it is crazy!  This was by far the mother load and I about was in tears with generosity when I opened the box.  Thank you October Afternoon! 

  

I have long been a fan of Pink Chalk Studio.  I have no idea how I ever stumbled on them but they have a great online fabric store that has some great modern fabrics and they put out of of the only newsletters that I read on email.  You can tell when you are buying from them they are appreciative of your support in their small business. Everything that I have bought has been bundled in wonderful strips of fabric.  Kathy was very generous to put this bundle of fabric together to help us with our pennants.  Thanks Pink Chalk Studio!

Last but not least Fat Quarter Shop sent some nice little charm packs, the girls were appreciative of the coordinated and already cut project before them!  Fat Quarter Shop is another place that I have bought fabric from time to time.  They have tons of awesome patterns and fabrics available.  Very down to earth people and aim for customer service and satisfaction.  Thank you!!!  

Thank you to all who contributed to help make it just a little more wonderful of an event for the girls! 

Get The Craft Out-#5th Edition

Well, another Get The Craft Out has been put to bed.  This year was probably the most epic of all the GTCO's so far.  We had 20 girls in attendance from the most experienced crafter to the least experienced crafter!  What is most awesome to me about this event is that everyone seems to have fun, let loose, meet others and craft on.

I can't say enough nice things about the Rogers House Bed and Breakfast.  Nora, the owner, really stepped it up for me this year and I am so very appreciative.  We moved to a bigger house this year to accomodate more gals and the staff at Rogers House really went to town moving tables, moving beds and just generally being gracious hosts.  

Swag for all!  We had some great great companies donate their services and products to the girls this year.  I had donations from October Afternoon, Pick Your Plum, Fat Quarter Shop, Pink Chalk Studio and Porridge Papers.  The girls all left with some awesome things I have to say! 

Such a fun place to decorate!  Really makes me wish I had a mantel! 

 

Some of our GTCO crafters...

The idea with this retreat is for the girls to bring their own craft projects to work on.  Everyone was really busy until people started dropping off at 12:30/1:00 a.m for bed.  Julie and Dawn made some really cool paper baskets out of newspaper and magazines.  This thing looked like a space ship when they were building it.  So cool. 



photo credit: Julie Kundhi



Heather and Whitney worked on these Amy Butler gum drop pillows.  This was Whitney's first time using a sewing machine and she totally rocked it.  I think my first sewing project was something lame like a curtain.  Amazing skills these girls just somehow pump out when they least expect!

I made Julia this cute little hooded scarf that I found on Pinterest.  Can't wait to see it on her little face!  It looks a little funny on me.  Everyone made something different and unique.  There were girls winding yarn on some crazy contraption, knitters, crocheters, hand painted wooden princess dolls, canvases, stick horses, Christmas ornaments, jewelry, curtains, photo transfers, glitter shirts, hoop art and I am sure I am forgetting plenty of others.  I wish I had a picture of everyone and their awesomeness. 

I attempted another group project this year.  Benzie gave us a little deal on some felt and we made some nice little pennants.  Though I am not sure everyone got to theirs!  Aheeem...

It was a fun project but doubtful that I will do anything like this again.  I really think that this is a retreat that girls feverishly want to work on their own projects more than anything else.  Anyway, I loved everyone's touch and seeing personality and design come through. 

It was one for the books and I can't say that I am already looking forward to next year because that would be a bold face lie!  It took a lot of planning, stress and work.  I am learning my lessons as each one comes along and the main thing I am taking away is that I need to enjoy this as much as the attendees do.  The pleasure that I get from everyone who comes voicing their appreciation of the weekend can't be measured. It is really a fun thing to do, just a little stressful!  Talk to me next October to see if I am ready to tackle another one!  I bet I will be!