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!

Walt Disney World 2009

It is true…there is something truly magical about WDW….and it is the happiest place on earth. And I love the Mouse so much, I have a tattoo of him on my right ankle.

My sister Shelly, who is also a widow, came with us….having also lost her husband, she has provided me with a lot of wisdom as I go through my grief journey, as she is still going through her own. She said I needed something to look forward to through this first year….Thus I came up with the idea of WDW over Luke’s Fall Break.

Now my love of all things Disney can be traced directly back to my BFF Amy and the trip after our HS graduation. It was my first time to Disney…and who better to go with then Amy and her mom Bonnie (who are the ultimate WDW fanatics). Since then I have been back 4 more times, three of which were with Mark. So Disney holds a lot of memories for me with Mark. We last went together as a family in Feb 2007 (Luke’s second trip to WDW and Kate’s first).

It felt like every corner I turned on this trip, a flood of memories came back to me of Mark. But being in the ‘happiest place on earth’ I was able to embrace those memories with a smile on my face, though I did loose it a few times, but I am allowed to!

Out of the blue as we were just about to enter the Magic Kingdom on the last night of our stay, Kate says to Aunt Sha-Sha (aka my sister Shelly), “Aunt Sha-Sha, did you know that my Daddy died? And that he is up in the sky? And that he cannot come back down? I really miss him”. Definetly one of those moements when we both did our best to hold back the tears….

But it was a wonderful trip. All of us had a great time. The kids did great, though there were a few meltdowns. They loved the pool at the hotel. And if you ask Luke, the best part of WDW: LEGO LAND!! (Seriously). And the one splurge on the trip was breakfast at Cinderella’s Castle in Magic Kingdom to celebrate Kate’s 3rd Birthday….OMG. It was truly magical and the food was delicious (It better be for the price!)

Anyway, we are back in the Land of Hooisers and already trying to figure out our next trip to WDW. I am going to post pics in a seperate post....I have so many great ones, I need to try put up the "Best of the Best"

Not to rub it in....

However, at 7 AM on Wed, Oct 21st, the kids, myself and my sister Shelly (aka Aunt Sha Sha) will be getting on a plane to Walt Disney World!!! To say that we are excited is a complete understatment. I promise to post lots and lots of pictures....I also promise to give Mickey a hug for you. And I cannot wait to show Mickey my tattoo of him (again!)