missing you daddy...

Today's post is more for me than for anyone else, so, I'm just warning you ahead of time, it may be too sad/depressing to read and please don't feel that you need to. Today, my daddy would have been 59 years old. He battled cancer for about a year before the Lord decided it was time to end his pain and suffering and take him Home. I had the best relationship with my dad during this past year than I had probably my whole life. It is never fun to watch someone you love go through what he endured his last year, but I believe a lot of good came out of his sickness. The greatest outcome of his illness was that I know he was sure (and now I am too) of where he was (and now is) spending eternity. Another blessing is just how much closer to two of us became during that time. My dad and I never lived together, which is something that was both good and bad (I won't go into all that here). But, the best part of that, was that we only really ever saw each other at our best. Throughout this past year (well, 2008), we saw each other more than we ever really had, spent more quality time together, he came to visit me twice at our home, and once with my wonderful little (BIG =)) brother, John, and just had some really special moments that I will never forget. I am just REALLY thankful that the Lord blessed us with a year to say goodbye. I am well aware that there are so many families that don't get that opportunity, and I have no idea why HE chose to bless us this way, but I will be forever thankful.
I really just needed a way to express how much I loved (and still love) my Daddy, and wanted to remember him on his birthday. I love you so much, Daddy and I miss you!! But, I am filled with joy in knowing that I will see you again someday, and that we'll be together in eternity!

McKenna's Birthday

McKenna's birthday (May 12) is right around Mother's Day every year. So, this year, we combined the two and celebrated together...just us girls! There is a store near us called Sweet and Sassy, it's like every little girls fantasy store! =) I made us an appointment to get mini-manis and mini-pedis together.
On our big day, I decided not to tell McKenna where we were going...I wanted it to be a suprise, plus she'd never been there before, so she wouldn't have known what to expect anyways =) Once we got in, she was so excited...it's like pink world (which is her favorite color...at least it was that day). First, they wrapped her up in a luxuriously soft and pink robe. Then, they let her pick out some nail polish for her toes, they put her feet in the spa tub full of bubbly warm water, propped her up with several big, puffy pillows, massaged her legs and feet with sparkly lotion, gave her a magazine to "read". After her mini-pedi, she got the same royal treatment for her mini-mani too...what an experience! Mind you, I got all of this too, but it was just sooo fun for me to watch her just loving every minute of it! I hope the pictures, even slightly, capture what a fun day we had!! =) Happy Birthday baby girl! =)

If You Give a Caleb a Chip...

...he is going to want a jar of salsa to go with it. Seeing the cactus on the salsa will remind him of where he was born. So, you will have to take him to Montana. When you take him to Montana, it will remind him of his family. Being reminded of his family, he will want to visit his old house. When you take him to his old house, he will want to visit the refrigerator. When you take him to the refrigerator, he will ask you for some salsa. And chances are, if you give him some salsa, he's gonna want some chips to go with it! :)

This is a story Caleb came up with this afternoon. He really likes to make up his own stories (sometimes, he even illustrates them too). Today, he had some chips and salsa with his lunch (he really takes after daddy in a LOT of ways)! =) All of a sudden, he says, "we should write a story about if you give a Caleb a chip..." He and McKenna both really enjoy the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (as well as, If You Give a Pig a Pancake, If You Give a Moose a Muffin, If You Take a Mouse to School, pretty much all of the other books in this series--thanks Annie =) ). Anyway, this story is what he came up with. I thought it was too cute...just had to share =)

**Beth, sorry I couldn't underline the titles...it bugs me too =)**

Friendship

I just saw the sweetest thing this morning when we dropped Caleb off at school!! As Caleb, McKenna and I approached his school, I saw some gitty little kids coming toward us down the sidewalk. It was 3 of Caleb's friends from his class...they must have seen us when their bus drove by, and they waited for him so they could all walk in together. They were just so sweet and excited to see him (and McKenna). Maybe it was a "you had to be there" moment, but it really warmed my heart, so I thought I'd share!! =)

New Pictures

Here is a slideshow of some recent pictures of the kiddos. If you just want to see them all, you can go to our Picasa page and view them. The link is: http://picasaweb.google.com/aaronsarahp/May2009?feat=directlink

Little Ballerina

McKenna and I have no set routine to what we do with our time while Caleb is in school. One day last week though, she decided she wanted to wear her ballerina tutu =) Neither she, nor Caleb, are usually ones for playing dress-up, so I decided to have a photo shoot while she was all decked out. Enjoy!!

There are 3 new posts, so keep looking =)

Jump Rope for Heart

Last week, McKenna and I got to go participate with Caleb in his gym class. It was Jump Rope for Heart day and they invited all of the family to come and join in the fun. We had a blast!! All of the kids in Caleb's class love to see McKenna. The girls all become "little mommies" to her...it is soooo cute! She just has so much fun being with Caleb and the other kids, she feels like a one of the big kids.

Caleb has really improved in his jumping and jump roping skills and it was fun to get to watch him. After they jump roped, they did stretching and other exercises, then played "Jump the River." We all had so much fun, it actually made me miss teaching PE =) Here are a few pictures of our fun day: