Let the healing begin....

I must start this out by apologizing for not updating more often! I had big plans for this blog when I first got it, but for some reason I can never find the time to nurture it. And I LOVE nurturing it!!!;-) So, I guess I will try my hardest to stay on top of it as best I can.

That being said, I just got back from a trip to Tennessee. My grandmother and aunt bought a house there (they both live in Florida) to fix up and have as a "retreat". Well, in the midst of putting the final touches on the house my grandmother became extremely ill and had to have emergency surgery. So of course I went to visit her. She is such a strong woman and she is so incredibly spunky and full of life that it was so difficult to see her helpless. And it was even more difficult to know that there was nothing I could do to help her....but just be there. So, there I was for as long as time would allow, which wasn't long enough. She has been in the hospital for almost a month and she has had an yet another surgery. No one seems to know what is wrong. There's a general idea, but no specific conclusion and I know it's driving her insane. I just pray that she remains so strong and optimistic. She's been quite the trooper thus far.....I just pray she continues. And I pray that she sees hope...and lots of it!

While in Tennessee I got to spend time with my cousin and her gorgeous children that had come up from Florida to be with my grandmother. You might remember Daynie (pink tutu and cowgirl hat)and Foster (holy big blue eyes!). Well, unfortunately Foster was sick and not feeling too up to my shenanigans with the camera, but his older sister Daynie was!!! She is just the cutest and liveliest little girl and I've never met any kid smarter than her. She's amazing. And she sure made things a whole lot sweeter and a lot more cheerful. Anyways....I have a TON of incredible images of her and I can't even begin to decide which are my favorites so I'll just show you a few...



Such a sweet emotion....



As she was jumping she was chanting, "Go Daynie, Go Daynie, GO!" What a little diva!



Being a supermodel is exhausting!



In conclusion....I'd like to say to my grandmother, "Let the healing begin!". You'll be back on your feet before you know it, Mops! And if you need a little help when you first get on your feet, well...you have plenty of "crutches"! You're so very loved!

YAY!

What an exciting day I had today (minus the part where I cleaned this morning)! I got an email from the editor of Kodak's photo of the day and she told me that TWO of my photos are going to be potd's next month!!!! September 1 and September 18! AND one of those photos is going to actually be featured for the entire month on their website on the "printers" page! How cool is that? I was so very excited! Anyways...here's what she sent me that will be showing on their website. What a cutie little Kate is, huh???

Altogether Now!!!!

It's officially over....."Date Day", that is. Every once in a while I take my oldest son out so we can go on a date. It's HIS time. Time for me to focus only on him with no distractions...like a younger brother!!! I feel like so many times when you have an older child (in his case, 8 years older) that they don't get as much attention as a.)they would like and b.) you would like to give them. Even though Judah is absolutely the best big brother EVER and understands his role as big brother, I think it's important to make him feel like he's the "only one", if even for a day. So, we established "Date Day".

Today I took him ice skating. He LOVES it. Let me tell ya, it's kind of funny to see a kid all dressed up in long pants, a sweatshirt and a sock hat in the dead of summer! It's also so fulfilling to watch him skate his little heart out on the rink.

We also played some games in the arcade and won a lot of tickets. Kids were standing around us jealous of the tickets we had!!! We were soooo excited too, that is until we went to redeem them and saw the prizes you wouldn't even be able to purchase at the dollar store they were so cheap! Oh well, can't win them all!

Then he went rock climbing. He's really great at this....it's amazing. BUT I swear, it's every kid's goal to try and make it to the top as QUICKLY AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE!!!! Well, he DOES sort of remind me of Spiderman when he's climbing, so how human is THAT?!?!?! ;-)

As we were driving off, I said to him, "Well, our date is officially over...". He then replied with, "Why do you always call it a date, Mom?". And I said, "Well, it's OUR time....together.....ALONE. He had no more questions after that and completely understood the day was all about him. We then went on to joke about our special day afterwards by combining the words "Alone" and "Together".........."Altogether" now!!! And we laughed together....it was good!

And NO he didn't spend the entire time wiping out! He is actually a really great ice skater.....these are just the pics I liked the best artistically.



Here he is almost to the top!



Aaaaahhhh.....success! On his way back down after reaching his goal!