Holidays 2009

Well, we made it…or more like I made it....somehow... The kids of course loved the Christmas season. Me on the other hand, realizing it is the second one without Mark….wow….it was very hard. Since it has been a long time since I posted, I am resorting to bullet points to what we have been up to over the past couple of months.

* Thanksgiving: we went up to A’town (Antioch) for several days to spend it with my family. While there we went to TWO Christmas parades. I am telling you, they just do not have parades in Indiana like they do up there!
* Polar Express: Meet up with my SIL Cathy, her husband Mike, and their kids Makenna, Alex, and Sami (L and K’s cousins) in Connersville, IN to go on the Polar Express train ride. It was AWESOME!!! Better then any breakfast with Santa you could go to and just like the book. The kids are already asking if we are doing this again next year!
* Got through my third class for school….~~whew~~. The toughest one by far as it was a class to help was a class to help students with reading disabilities. I thoroughly enjoyed working with my student who taught me more then I think I taught her!
* Had a “Mommy and Kate” afternoon…went to McD’s for lunch and then went to see “The Princess and the Frog”. Got together with my “Purdue” girls for a GNO and to celebrate Christmas. We all dared each other, and some how we are all signed up to run/walk the Indy Mini-Marathon in May!?!?
* Kate had a Christmas program for her school and she actually let me put a bow in her hair!
* Poor Luke had to have some dental work done under GA at the local hospital on an out-patient basis. He was such a trooper and such a brave boy. It took him several days to get back to normal though L
* Made our annual ‘trek’ to Danville for the lights in Ellis Park, though we did not get to go to the Indy Zoo for the Christmas lights like we normally do because it was too cold when we planned to go.
* Made TWO round trips to A’town and back from Dec 23 to Dec 28 so my Mom could spend Christmas with us here in Plainfield. The kids had an absolutely, wonderful Christmas and loved having Nana here Christmas morning. L got his Wii and K got nailpolish- just like they asked for from Santa. While up in A’town to see my family after Christmas, took the kids to Lego Land in Schaumburg, which of course L thought was the coolest place on earth, next to the one in Orlando!
* Got to see my dear friend Amy, who had us over for dinner, and her handsome boys, Dane, Chase and of course Shelby.
* Went to Columbus, OH to see Cathy, Mike and their kids for NYE. The kids had a wonderful time playing with their cousins. Luke and Alex loved playing the Wii and talking about Transformers, while Kate relished in playing with her only girl cousins! We also got to see the “Chipmunk” movie at a dinner/restaurant (had all you can eat pancakes)…very cool!
* School started back up for all of us….ROUGH WEEK... it has been tough for all of us to get back into the routine!
* Finally got a decent snow here in Indy. The kids have been outside playing in it everyday though it is very chilly!

Funk...Funky Funk...

I just realized that I have not posted anything in the past month. Jeeze! Mainly because I have been super swamped with the class I just finished for school and I have been in a funk. It is the winter blues for sure, and given all that is going on in my life, it is to be expected.

But my class is now done! Yippie! No more class till Jan 8th!!!

There have been some bright spots over the past month. We went up to A'town for Thanksgiving and had a wonderful visit.

We went on the Polar Express ride in Connersville, IN (just like the movie) and it was the most amazing time! Better then any breakfest with Santa you could ever go to!!!

The kids of course are super excited about Christmas and are counting down the days. Me..ah...Christmas. It is certainly harder the second time around. But thankfully I have taken full advantage of on-line shopping and websites that provide free shipping. So I can say I am done shopping....now onto the wrapping.

Kate has her school Christmas party today, and Christmas program tonight. Luke's last day is tomorrow and though he loves school is ready for the break.

So if my good mood continues, I'll try to post some pics of our recent adventures soon.

Reflective Mood....

This past week, 3 different people’s death have hit close to home.

First, a guy named Matt “Doc” Keim that I went to Illinois College with, died at the age of 36 of an apparent heart attack. I did not know him extremely well, but we were friends. We hung out with some of the same people, and partied together a few times. I remember going to STL while still in college with some friends to see him at this bar he worked at. I haven’t seen him over 10 years, but I will remember that he always had a smile on his face and never had bad word to say about anyone. As far as I know, he never married, and did not have kids, however he was an only child and both of his parents are still alive.

Second, is a friend that I went to junior high and high school with, named Erik McCormick. Erik was traveling with his wife Erin and their two young kids from IL through IN on their way to Walt Disney World on Friday, Nov 6th when they were in a horrendous car crash. Erik’s 4 yr old daughter, Gwenna, was seriously injured and was taken to Riley Hospital in Indy. Turns out I was just minutes ahead of this crash as it happened in Indy. Gwenna succumbed to her injuries on the 11th. Erik and Erin donated Gwenna’s organs, which I think is the most selfless act anyone can do. There are so many ironies here with their situation; it makes me ill to think about. My heart breaks for them and their loss.

Lastly, a 15 year old boy from Plainfield (Ben Kempf) was killed last night in a freak accident….he was riding a moped when a truck pulled out in front of him. The accident happened right by where the kid’s sitter lives. I do not know the Kempf family well, however I do know of them as they also go to St. Susanna Catholic Church. Another family looses a child….

As I go through my own grief journey, it is moments like this that remind me that life is too short to hold grudges but one must life their own life with their held up high. Though I am sad for the families, I am reminded that though they lost a loved one, it should be celebrated that 3 people have met Jesus.

No Training Wheels!!!

After spending most of the summer trying to convince Luke he could ride his bike without training wheels (when he rode his bike the training wheels were not even touching the ground!!), on this cold, November day, he finally let me take them off....and he was off like he has been riding a bike his whole life! He only fell once but got up and kept going. I am sooooo stinkin' proud of him!!!

I must say this was a rather emotional moment....cheesy, I know....but it is moments like this that I wish Mark was here....I know he is here, but I mean physically here. This is a moment that makes a Daddy (and Mommy) proud. I know my childhood, and Mark's too, was filled with great memories riding our bikes ALL the time and all over our neighborhood's.. It is just one of those rites of passages of childhood.....

Luke riding his bike....Check it out, he is STANDING while he is riding?!?!

Halloween 2009

Luke being silly at the Indy "Zoo Boo"

Luke and Kate at the "Zoo Boo"

Kate being silly with some candy 'eye balls'


Kate and her friend, Chelsy, (a neighbor) before Trick or Treating.

Luke and Kate already to go Trick or Treating.

Luke on his bike.

Bippty, Boppity, BOOP!!

Luke with his bud, "Blue School" Jake, Trick or Treating in our neighborhood.

Luke, Kate and Jake Trick or Treating.

Our neighbor's, Gracie and Sam. Kate and Gracie are best buds and go to preschool together.

The Month of November....

Sorry I haven’t posted much on here lately. Partly due to being EXTEREMLY busy, especially now that I have started the ‘field experience’ portion of my schooling. So on top of the time I normally volunteer in Luke’s classroom, I am going into a separate classroom several times a week to do one-on-one work with a student. I LOVE being in the classroom and the student I have is a 'diamond in the rough'. While this class is very challenging and time consuming, I am learning so much.

Then on top of that, I have been in a funk. Maybe it is due to the fact winter is coming. Maybe it is due to the fact I have made it through the first year and I was on auto pilot. Maybe it is due to the fact the holidays are coming and my auto pilot has stopped working. Maybe it is due to all the family drama that is going on (I’ll spare you the details) that has opened up one on the few wounds I finally had healed from Mark’s death. Maybe it is due to the fact I am trying my best daily to keep things normal for Luke and Kate while trying to find our ‘new’ normal?

Luckily the kids are doing great. They both love going to school and are doing well in school. They love being able to play with the neighbor kids when at home. At this point they have adjusted well, and of course I worry that further down the road, that is when it will be hard for them. And as any mother, I want to prevent any pain and hurt, so I worry about that.

Oh, and on top of that, I had Gilbert (the cat) declawed last week because he has been scratching the kids. Oh, it has not turned out like I imagined at all! Within a couple hours of coming home, he ripped open three of the stitches (surgical glue). I won’t even describe the horrible mess it left all over the house. Of course it was AFTER the Vet was closed, so we made a trip to the East side of Indy to the 24 hour vet….so the declaw bill now doubled after both paws were stitched up. He is actually BACK at the Vet because his paws are still bleeding. At least this overnight visit is ‘free’ of charge…

Best of the Best (WDW Pics)

All of our Mickey Ears from previous trips....

Luke in front of Lego Land in Downtown Disney...He LOVED it here!

Kate in front of Magic Kingdom before it opened.

Princess Kate at "Cinderella's Royal Table" for breakfest inside Cinderella's Castle. All the princesses signed a birthday card for her. (Check out the plate...cool huh?)

Kate having fun on the "Tea Cups" (I love this picture of her!!)

Luke on the bus back from Magic Kingdom.

Kate having fun at the 'gituar' pool at our resort. Luke made a friend with a boy named James from England that he played with every day!


Princess Kate after a long day at the parks...so lady-like huh?

Mickey, Minnie, me and Kate (Luke was being camera shy most of the trip)

My sister Shelly falling in the Muppet's fountain at Hollywood Studio!

Aunt Sha-Sha with Luke and Kate.

Kate's princess dresses and her dolls.

Cinderella's Castle at night...I finally got a night picture to work on my camera!!

Kate just before we left WDW....

Our last meal at our resort....YUMMY Mickey Waffels!!

And yes, I do not have a picture the four of us....the only one we got was taken by a Disney photographer "Disney Photo Pass". I haven't decided if it is worth the $15 yet!