Tomorrow is the big day... I am having my breast reduction! I have been waiting for years to do this. I've said for a long time that once we are done having kids, I am going to have a breast reduction. So, yes, we are done having kids (sniff sniff). I know, sad right?
At my last bra fitting, I was a 36 GG. Hence, the nickname my mom gave me, Gigi.
My back hurts most of the time; I go to the chiropractor almost weekly. I can't bra shop in a store... I always have to order them online. I can't find shirts that fit me. And I am just too damn short to be a size G!
So, it is finally time to do something about it!
After about a week and a half of dreaming that my boobs are lopsided, still too huge, tiny little barely there boobs, or my that my nipples are in the wrong places, I am ready to get this surgery OVER with. Up until today I wasn't too nervous, but subconsciously I must have been with all of the crazy dreams.
But I am off to bed now because I have to get up at 4:30 am to get to the hospital by 6!
So Mom, as of tomorrow, you may call me Cici. :)
.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
the coolest new thing in my 8 year olds world...
.
is the set of braces he got today. Isn't it funny how kids are actually excited about getting braces?! I suppose until he realizes that they actually do hurt! He is so excited to show all of his friends!
Kinzie says it's no fair that Malichi gets to get braces and she doesn't. Oh dear, you just wait....sadly, your perfect baby teeth might not be straight when they are adult teeth! Your time will come! :P
before:
Malichi has 2 teeth in crossbite; two top left teeth going behind the bottom teeth when he bites. So they had to put glue on his back bottom molars to open up his bite so the top teeth have room to push out in front of the bottom ones, and so when he bites he doesn't hit the top braces with the bottom teeth that go in front. With that glue on there, his teeth don't touch when he bites so it's pretty uncomfortable for him right now, not to mention, hard to chew!
After:
So there he is sporting his new braces, with bands in gold, silver, blue, and green, all metallic. Isn't he adorable!?
is the set of braces he got today. Isn't it funny how kids are actually excited about getting braces?! I suppose until he realizes that they actually do hurt! He is so excited to show all of his friends!
Kinzie says it's no fair that Malichi gets to get braces and she doesn't. Oh dear, you just wait....sadly, your perfect baby teeth might not be straight when they are adult teeth! Your time will come! :P
before:
Malichi has 2 teeth in crossbite; two top left teeth going behind the bottom teeth when he bites. So they had to put glue on his back bottom molars to open up his bite so the top teeth have room to push out in front of the bottom ones, and so when he bites he doesn't hit the top braces with the bottom teeth that go in front. With that glue on there, his teeth don't touch when he bites so it's pretty uncomfortable for him right now, not to mention, hard to chew!
After:
So there he is sporting his new braces, with bands in gold, silver, blue, and green, all metallic. Isn't he adorable!?
Out on Grammy's farm
♥ ♥ ♥
Sunday afternoon we headed out to Grammy's farm.
I remember riding to Grammy's house when I was a kid, and remembering how long the drive seemed. But once the turkey barns came into site, we'd get so excited! My kids exclaim the same thing I remember saying as a child, "I can see the turkey barns! We are almost there!" The drive down the long gravel driveway to grandma's house was always filled with anticipation.
The kids had fun running wild on the farm, chasing Grammy's cats, and playing baseball.
The cats kept hiding out under the van, and the twins were very intrigued by this.
I think the twins enjoyed being able to run free. There was plenty of room and no where to go. I didn't have to worry about where each one was, and if they ran in separate directions, that was OKAY! Actually, I may have enjoyed it more than they did!
Monday, Memorial Day, we spend the day with Todd and Jaden and most of the rest of the family.
We grilled out for lunch, and spend the afternoon outside. The twins enjoyed their first ice cream cone!
After spending the afternoon relaxing, we helped Todd hang pictures and do some decorating around his house. This is what you end up with when you run out of decorating funds:
Now that's one nice piece of decor isn't it!?
The new house looks really great. It made me so sad that we were all there decorating 'Todd and Kelly's' house, but without Kelly. We all miss her so much. Memorial Day would have been Todd and Kelly's 13th Anniversary.
Before dinner we went out to the cemetery. Kelly has so many beautiful flowers on her grave, and her Grandpa wrote a beautiful poem and left it there that morning. We visited Grandpa's memorial and Great Grandma's Grace's as well.
♥ We Love You and Miss You Kelly & Grandpa ♥
Sunday afternoon we headed out to Grammy's farm.
I remember riding to Grammy's house when I was a kid, and remembering how long the drive seemed. But once the turkey barns came into site, we'd get so excited! My kids exclaim the same thing I remember saying as a child, "I can see the turkey barns! We are almost there!" The drive down the long gravel driveway to grandma's house was always filled with anticipation.
The kids had fun running wild on the farm, chasing Grammy's cats, and playing baseball.
The cats kept hiding out under the van, and the twins were very intrigued by this.
I think the twins enjoyed being able to run free. There was plenty of room and no where to go. I didn't have to worry about where each one was, and if they ran in separate directions, that was OKAY! Actually, I may have enjoyed it more than they did!
Monday, Memorial Day, we spend the day with Todd and Jaden and most of the rest of the family.
We grilled out for lunch, and spend the afternoon outside. The twins enjoyed their first ice cream cone!
After spending the afternoon relaxing, we helped Todd hang pictures and do some decorating around his house. This is what you end up with when you run out of decorating funds:
Now that's one nice piece of decor isn't it!?
The new house looks really great. It made me so sad that we were all there decorating 'Todd and Kelly's' house, but without Kelly. We all miss her so much. Memorial Day would have been Todd and Kelly's 13th Anniversary.
Before dinner we went out to the cemetery. Kelly has so many beautiful flowers on her grave, and her Grandpa wrote a beautiful poem and left it there that morning. We visited Grandpa's memorial and Great Grandma's Grace's as well.
♥ We Love You and Miss You Kelly & Grandpa ♥
Track and Field Day
Malichi had his track and field day last week. We were rebels and skipped the twins' naps so we could attend. :)
We made it to school just in time to watch the tug-o-war finals. Unfortunately Malichi's class didn't make it to the finals, but they were still fun to watch. After the finals, we got to eat lunch in Malichi's classroom with him. We brought in subway for a special lunch. I think Kinzie thought it was pretty awesome that she got to eat in Malichi's classroom with him!
After lunch we spent the rest of the day watching Malichi participate in all the track and field events. He said his favorite was jump roping, which he did quite well in! My personal favorite was watching all the kids try to do the high jump!
The twins did great hanging out at school all afternoon, but by the end of the day they were exhausted, and Kinzie and Malichi were tired, hot and thirsty! After watching the 4 grade relays, they let school out a bit early and we came home and cooled off with some popsicles!
We made it to school just in time to watch the tug-o-war finals. Unfortunately Malichi's class didn't make it to the finals, but they were still fun to watch. After the finals, we got to eat lunch in Malichi's classroom with him. We brought in subway for a special lunch. I think Kinzie thought it was pretty awesome that she got to eat in Malichi's classroom with him!
After lunch we spent the rest of the day watching Malichi participate in all the track and field events. He said his favorite was jump roping, which he did quite well in! My personal favorite was watching all the kids try to do the high jump!
The twins did great hanging out at school all afternoon, but by the end of the day they were exhausted, and Kinzie and Malichi were tired, hot and thirsty! After watching the 4 grade relays, they let school out a bit early and we came home and cooled off with some popsicles!
Let's Dance!
♥
Dance has come to an end for the year, which meant Kinzie's big dance recital was upon us! It was an exciting day for Kinzie. We started our day out with taking her to get her nails done with her girls, Kennedie and Campbell.
Kinzie chose pink with blue glitter for her fingernails, and pink for her toenails with a white flower on her big toe. By the time we left she had smudged them all and had to have her nails fixed, but she had fun. After that we went home to finish pampering for the recital.
Her class danced 2 performances and she did awesome! I am so proud of her!
Her first dance was "A Spoonful of Sugar" from Mary Poppins.
The second dance was to "On Account A I Love You" by Shirley Temple.
She had lots of family and friends come to watch her at the recital, and she got lots of pink roses after the show!
After working so hard we all took her out to dinner at Perkins where she ordered "her usual". Rainbow pancakes :)
Then after a quick outfit change, her and Daddy headed out for their Father Daughter dance they do every year!
She was quite exhausted Saturday night, but I think she enjoyed her big day!
Dance has come to an end for the year, which meant Kinzie's big dance recital was upon us! It was an exciting day for Kinzie. We started our day out with taking her to get her nails done with her girls, Kennedie and Campbell.
Kinzie chose pink with blue glitter for her fingernails, and pink for her toenails with a white flower on her big toe. By the time we left she had smudged them all and had to have her nails fixed, but she had fun. After that we went home to finish pampering for the recital.
Her class danced 2 performances and she did awesome! I am so proud of her!
mary poppins from shannon carlson on Vimeo.
Kinzie's dance recital "on account a I love you" from shannon carlson on Vimeo.
She had lots of family and friends come to watch her at the recital, and she got lots of pink roses after the show!
After working so hard we all took her out to dinner at Perkins where she ordered "her usual". Rainbow pancakes :)
Then after a quick outfit change, her and Daddy headed out for their Father Daughter dance they do every year!
She was quite exhausted Saturday night, but I think she enjoyed her big day!
We're one and a HALF!
♥ ♥ ♥
The Twins have turned 18 months!
Stats from the 18 month check:
Finley:
Height: 30 1/2 inches (5%)
Weight: 23 lb. 2 oz. (15%)
Noggin: 18 3/4 inches(50%)
Still wearing plenty of his 6-9 month and 12 month clothing(from last summer), Finley is still our little peanut. ♥
Scout:
Height: 30 1/4 inches(25%)
Weight: 26 lbs. 6 oz (75%)
Noggin: 18 3/4 inches (80%)
And Scout barely fitting into some of her 18 month clothes...well she still has that round little belly we all love so much! ♥
They have almost always been the same height or very close, and ALWAYS have the same head size. Funny how for a girl 18 3/4" at 18 months is a big head, and the same measurment for a boy at 18 months is an average size head!
They both know where their nose, hair, ears, belly and stinky feet are and will gladly point them out :)
They sign please, more, and eat/hungry (sometimes).
Their vocabulary is starting to expand, and they are both really trying to copy words we are saying.
Scout's words:
Mama
Dada
Hi
Uh Oh
Buh bye
Baa-a-bye (bush-a-bye, which you can only distinguish from bye-bye because of the fact they are rocking a baby doll. when they say it It's the lullaby my Grandma sang to us, and I now sing to them)
pee-boo (peek-a-boo)
baby
bapple (apple)
tay-too (thank you)
Kai-Kai (not real sure how to spell this one but it's how they say Malichi)
puppy (which sounds more like Popeye)
owie
Finley's words:
Mama
Dada
Hi
Uh Oh
Buh bye
Baa-a-bye (Bush-a-bye)
baby
papple (apple)
pappy (puppy)
kai-kai (Malichi)
pew (as he waves his hand in front of his nose)
They'll tell you a lion says "raaaarrr", and a puppy says "wwfff wfff", and sometimes kitties say "raaarrrr" and sometimes they say "mow". Depends on the cat I guess!
Scout is little miss personality. She is super animated all the time. It is the funniest thing. She'll stop to wave anytime she sees someone walking by, or a car drive by. She loves to gasp in total surprise at anything and everything, as she cocks her head to the side, and opens her eyes wide. She also loves to throw her hands up in the air to say "I don't know"!
Finley's new thing is to take the hand mixer for a walk. Our hand mixer is in a cupboard that is within his reach and he'll go take it out and pull it around on the wood floor (without the beaters attatched) by the cord and take it for a walk. He'll stop and turn around often as if to check if his "puppy" is ok!
As far as getting a long, they do, but they definitely fight too. They are pretty good at screaming at each other when need be! Which is apparently often these days.
They are always very aware of each other, and what the other is getting or doing.
They are also very aware of making sure the other gets whatever they are getting, especially when it it comes to food/milk/blankies/babies. If one comes in the kitchen for a sippy of milk, he/she will stand there with their hand out waiting for a second one to give to the other twin. It is the sweetest thing to see them lookin' out for each other like that!
Scout has become very into hugging and lovin' on Finley lately, but I am pretty sure he remembers the days she used to torment him, and usually pushes her away.
He does love to give others hugs and kisses. He puckers up and gives the best little smooches.
The bedtime routine has gotten so much easier for us. Thinking back to one year ago, they would be fussy all night until about midnight, then finally go to sleep only to wake up at 2, 4, and 6 am to eat. I am not sure how I made it through those days, but I am thankful they are no longer.
Now we bring them up to bed, give them their nuks, blankies, and giraffes, lay them down, and then we sing a couple of songs with them before tucking them in for the night. They usually lay right down, and we usually don't hear a peep out of them all night. Quite a contrast from the fussy, non-sleeping babies we once had!
We are trying to break them of their nuks during the day. I have no problem with them having them at night or at naptime. They are still little, and I like my sleep! But during the day, we've taken them away for the most part. They are doing pretty well with it, unless they are getting tired or not feeling well. Most of the time if I say to Scout "give me your nukie", she'll hand it right over. Finley on the other hand doesn't give it up quite as easily. Which is strange because he was NEVER a nuk baby... until like 14 months old. I swear we were like begging him to take one when he was a baby hoping it would calm him when he was so frantic!
Well, here we are,18 months old, and I have yet to finish (or should I say start) their baby books, so this blog has served that purpose until I take the time to copy everything from here to there :) (however, I DID finish their first year calendar though! woohoo)
I can't believe they can already be a year and a half. This summer is going to be a fun one. They are to the age that they can really start enjoying the activities we do. They are also to the age that they are VERY clumsy, and accident prone. I think more than the average toddler maybe! I swear, we have had more accidents and goose eggs on the head..... the most recent being Finley falling into the 3.5' hole in our yard with cement chunks on the bottom of it. He got a nice big cut on the back of his head, no stitches, thank goodness! Also, Scout somehow needs to learn that when it looks like things drop off, they actually DO drop off. Like the openings on the play structures at parks, and stairs, and slides. She just tries to walk right off things like that. Perhaps they should wear helmets all summer?
Anyway, I can't wait to do things like the zoo, picnics, parks, camping, and dare I try...the beach a couple times! :)
I am constantly amazed at these 2 little people, and I couldn't be more proud of them!
♥ ♥ ♥
The Twins have turned 18 months!
Stats from the 18 month check:
Finley:
Height: 30 1/2 inches (5%)
Weight: 23 lb. 2 oz. (15%)
Noggin: 18 3/4 inches(50%)
Still wearing plenty of his 6-9 month and 12 month clothing(from last summer), Finley is still our little peanut. ♥
Scout:
Height: 30 1/4 inches(25%)
Weight: 26 lbs. 6 oz (75%)
Noggin: 18 3/4 inches (80%)
And Scout barely fitting into some of her 18 month clothes...well she still has that round little belly we all love so much! ♥
They have almost always been the same height or very close, and ALWAYS have the same head size. Funny how for a girl 18 3/4" at 18 months is a big head, and the same measurment for a boy at 18 months is an average size head!
They both know where their nose, hair, ears, belly and stinky feet are and will gladly point them out :)
They sign please, more, and eat/hungry (sometimes).
Their vocabulary is starting to expand, and they are both really trying to copy words we are saying.
Scout's words:
Mama
Dada
Hi
Uh Oh
Buh bye
Baa-a-bye (bush-a-bye, which you can only distinguish from bye-bye because of the fact they are rocking a baby doll. when they say it It's the lullaby my Grandma sang to us, and I now sing to them)
pee-boo (peek-a-boo)
baby
bapple (apple)
tay-too (thank you)
Kai-Kai (not real sure how to spell this one but it's how they say Malichi)
puppy (which sounds more like Popeye)
owie
Finley's words:
Mama
Dada
Hi
Uh Oh
Buh bye
Baa-a-bye (Bush-a-bye)
baby
papple (apple)
pappy (puppy)
kai-kai (Malichi)
pew (as he waves his hand in front of his nose)
They'll tell you a lion says "raaaarrr", and a puppy says "wwfff wfff", and sometimes kitties say "raaarrrr" and sometimes they say "mow". Depends on the cat I guess!
Scout is little miss personality. She is super animated all the time. It is the funniest thing. She'll stop to wave anytime she sees someone walking by, or a car drive by. She loves to gasp in total surprise at anything and everything, as she cocks her head to the side, and opens her eyes wide. She also loves to throw her hands up in the air to say "I don't know"!
Finley's new thing is to take the hand mixer for a walk. Our hand mixer is in a cupboard that is within his reach and he'll go take it out and pull it around on the wood floor (without the beaters attatched) by the cord and take it for a walk. He'll stop and turn around often as if to check if his "puppy" is ok!
As far as getting a long, they do, but they definitely fight too. They are pretty good at screaming at each other when need be! Which is apparently often these days.
They are always very aware of each other, and what the other is getting or doing.
They are also very aware of making sure the other gets whatever they are getting, especially when it it comes to food/milk/blankies/babies. If one comes in the kitchen for a sippy of milk, he/she will stand there with their hand out waiting for a second one to give to the other twin. It is the sweetest thing to see them lookin' out for each other like that!
Scout has become very into hugging and lovin' on Finley lately, but I am pretty sure he remembers the days she used to torment him, and usually pushes her away.
He does love to give others hugs and kisses. He puckers up and gives the best little smooches.
The bedtime routine has gotten so much easier for us. Thinking back to one year ago, they would be fussy all night until about midnight, then finally go to sleep only to wake up at 2, 4, and 6 am to eat. I am not sure how I made it through those days, but I am thankful they are no longer.
Now we bring them up to bed, give them their nuks, blankies, and giraffes, lay them down, and then we sing a couple of songs with them before tucking them in for the night. They usually lay right down, and we usually don't hear a peep out of them all night. Quite a contrast from the fussy, non-sleeping babies we once had!
We are trying to break them of their nuks during the day. I have no problem with them having them at night or at naptime. They are still little, and I like my sleep! But during the day, we've taken them away for the most part. They are doing pretty well with it, unless they are getting tired or not feeling well. Most of the time if I say to Scout "give me your nukie", she'll hand it right over. Finley on the other hand doesn't give it up quite as easily. Which is strange because he was NEVER a nuk baby... until like 14 months old. I swear we were like begging him to take one when he was a baby hoping it would calm him when he was so frantic!
Well, here we are,18 months old, and I have yet to finish (or should I say start) their baby books, so this blog has served that purpose until I take the time to copy everything from here to there :) (however, I DID finish their first year calendar though! woohoo)
I can't believe they can already be a year and a half. This summer is going to be a fun one. They are to the age that they can really start enjoying the activities we do. They are also to the age that they are VERY clumsy, and accident prone. I think more than the average toddler maybe! I swear, we have had more accidents and goose eggs on the head..... the most recent being Finley falling into the 3.5' hole in our yard with cement chunks on the bottom of it. He got a nice big cut on the back of his head, no stitches, thank goodness! Also, Scout somehow needs to learn that when it looks like things drop off, they actually DO drop off. Like the openings on the play structures at parks, and stairs, and slides. She just tries to walk right off things like that. Perhaps they should wear helmets all summer?
Anyway, I can't wait to do things like the zoo, picnics, parks, camping, and dare I try...the beach a couple times! :)
I am constantly amazed at these 2 little people, and I couldn't be more proud of them!
♥ ♥ ♥
Sunday, May 09, 2010
Happy Mother's Day!
I hope all you Mama's out there had a wonderful Mother's Day!
My kids gave me beautiful handmade cards, gifts and pictures.
I spent my Mother's Day taking a nice long afternoon nap, then walking around the MN Landscape Arboretum and taking pictures with my kids and husband, and then going to the Olive Garden for dinner. We got the best compliments at dinner. This cute little older couple sitting across the room came over to us as we were getting ready to leave. The man says "I just had to come over and congratulate you. Us old grandparents have been sitting over there enjoying watching you and your family. Your children are so well behaved, they were such a joy to watch!" The kids really must have been good because 2 waitresses also came over and commented on how good are kids were in the restaurant,and one of them tells us the older couple commented to her about our kids saying "they are energetic, but well behaved and respectful". :) That definitely brightened my Mother's Day!
Happy Mother's Day!
My kids gave me beautiful handmade cards, gifts and pictures.
I spent my Mother's Day taking a nice long afternoon nap, then walking around the MN Landscape Arboretum and taking pictures with my kids and husband, and then going to the Olive Garden for dinner. We got the best compliments at dinner. This cute little older couple sitting across the room came over to us as we were getting ready to leave. The man says "I just had to come over and congratulate you. Us old grandparents have been sitting over there enjoying watching you and your family. Your children are so well behaved, they were such a joy to watch!" The kids really must have been good because 2 waitresses also came over and commented on how good are kids were in the restaurant,and one of them tells us the older couple commented to her about our kids saying "they are energetic, but well behaved and respectful". :) That definitely brightened my Mother's Day!
Happy Mother's Day!
Saturday, May 01, 2010
the surprise visit to texas.
.
Tiffany and Eric didn't know that me and Grammy were joining Mom and Rachel on their trip to Texas! It was such a fun surprise.
The trip was much too short, just Friday through Sunday. But we crammed in lots of fun stuff in that short time.
Genghi's Mongolian grill and Grammy deciding to throw her pop all over us!:P
Shopping and I didn't even buy ONE thing!
Being introduced to the famous Kirklands my mom always talks about
Visiting Katie
Surprising Eric
Touring Fort Hood and the area Tiff and Eric live and work
Eating at Dead Fish restaurant on the lake and sharing our table with lots of bugs!
Piling up on Tiff and Eric's ONE couch to watch The Fourth Kind
Garage Saling
The 2 1/2 hour squishy trip to San Antonio....with just a few complications...
Maggianos in San Antonio
The River Walk in San Antonio
Ripley's Believe it or Not haunted house (complete with a man and a chainsaw, much to my family's amusement)
Guiness Book of World Records Museum and practicing our drumming skills, of which I have NONE.
Tomb Rider 3D ride
Hard Rock Cafe on the River Walk
Driving home from San Antonio in the middle of the night
Lots and lots of girl talk (sorry Eric)and lots and lots of over-tired laughter
Taking lots of photos
Cramming in last minute souvenir shopping for the kids
Tiffany and Eric didn't know that me and Grammy were joining Mom and Rachel on their trip to Texas! It was such a fun surprise.
surprise trip to texas from shannon carlson on Vimeo.
The trip was much too short, just Friday through Sunday. But we crammed in lots of fun stuff in that short time.
Genghi's Mongolian grill and Grammy deciding to throw her pop all over us!:P
Shopping and I didn't even buy ONE thing!
Being introduced to the famous Kirklands my mom always talks about
Visiting Katie
Surprising Eric
Touring Fort Hood and the area Tiff and Eric live and work
Eating at Dead Fish restaurant on the lake and sharing our table with lots of bugs!
Piling up on Tiff and Eric's ONE couch to watch The Fourth Kind
Garage Saling
The 2 1/2 hour squishy trip to San Antonio....with just a few complications...
Maggianos in San Antonio
The River Walk in San Antonio
Ripley's Believe it or Not haunted house (complete with a man and a chainsaw, much to my family's amusement)
Guiness Book of World Records Museum and practicing our drumming skills, of which I have NONE.
Tomb Rider 3D ride
Hard Rock Cafe on the River Walk
Driving home from San Antonio in the middle of the night
Lots and lots of girl talk (sorry Eric)and lots and lots of over-tired laughter
Taking lots of photos
Cramming in last minute souvenir shopping for the kids
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The brave little girl...
got her 2 front teeth pulled! She was so brave and did so awesome! Her adult teeth were growing in behind the baby teeth, just like Malichi's did, so they weren't pushing the baby teeth out like they should be.
I love this photo of Kinzie and her gap toothed smile! (Although it's really not a gap toothed smile because the adult teeth are already grown in and you can kind of see them in this shot)
I love this photo of Kinzie and her gap toothed smile! (Although it's really not a gap toothed smile because the adult teeth are already grown in and you can kind of see them in this shot)
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
In loving memory of Kelly...
.
It's been just over a week since my Aunt Kelly passed away very unexpectedly.
I have been having dreams almost nightly of her. Some of the dreams are about what actually happened and about the day she passed away. Some of the dreams are of us at a family event and I am talking to her. When I wake up from those, it takes me a minute to come to the realization that she is really not here anymore. It's almost like I feel the shock again for a moment, just as I felt when my mom called me sobbing, saying "She didn't make it". I can still hear the shock and pain in her voice. Those words keep replaying in my head.
Last Wednesday was the visitation, and the funeral was on Thursday. The visitation was amazing. There were so many people, and so many flowers sent. It was very apparent that Kelly was loved by many. The funeral was a beautiful service celebrating Kelly's life.
I had decided I wanted to make a memorial scrapbook album for Todd and Jaden like I did for my Grandpa's funeral. I printed a copy for Kelly's parents and her sister as well. And all of my family will be getting a copy too.
When I gave the book to Mary Ann, Kelly's mom, she cried and said "How did you know? How did you know I wanted to ask you to make this? I saw the one you did for your Grandpa, and I wanted to ask you to make one for Kelly". What an honor that she wanted to ask me to make a memorial album about her daughter. I hope they can find some sort of comfort in it.
One of the first memories I have of Kelly was when she and Todd were dating. I am only 7 years younger than Todd and Kelly, so growing up, Todd felt more like a cousin than an Uncle to me. I was always the annoying little cousin that "should be out playing in traffic" to Todd (don't worry...now that I am grown up we get along great). I remember him bringing Kelly to Grandma's house and they would be up in his bedroom and I would just "pop in" to say "hi! wanna hang out". Needless to say, they didn't think I was so funny, but I apparently did!
I will always remember going out to the farm in the summer with the kids. Kelly would bring Jaden out and the kids would all play while we sat outside or in the gazebo and talked. Grammy would make her famous grilled cheese and tomato soup because it was Kelly's favorite.
I will always remember the trip to the Clay county fair in Spencer Iowa. Grammy, me, Kinzie, Malichi, Todd, Kelly and Jaden went down for the day during one of our stays out on the farm. We took the kids on rides and spent the day walking around the fair. At some point, Kelly and I found a spot to sit and have a snack and had a really great conversation, just the 2 of us. A conversation I will remember forever.
Our family vacation up at the cabin won't be the same this year without Kelly. I remember last year making jokes about how Kelly would be reading a book and Todd would be glued to his US Weekly magazine...usually the roles are reversed! We would tease them about how Kelly didn't like to shop and Todd did, Kelly didn't care if there were curtains on the windows, but Todd wanted something frilly or lacy for window treatments. They truly were so cute together.
Todd and Jaden loved Kelly so much, and I can't imagine what they are going through right now. The days ahead are going to be hard as they grieve and as they try to find a new "normal".
Kelly, we loved you and miss you so much. Tell Grandpa I said "hi".
It's been just over a week since my Aunt Kelly passed away very unexpectedly.
I have been having dreams almost nightly of her. Some of the dreams are about what actually happened and about the day she passed away. Some of the dreams are of us at a family event and I am talking to her. When I wake up from those, it takes me a minute to come to the realization that she is really not here anymore. It's almost like I feel the shock again for a moment, just as I felt when my mom called me sobbing, saying "She didn't make it". I can still hear the shock and pain in her voice. Those words keep replaying in my head.
Last Wednesday was the visitation, and the funeral was on Thursday. The visitation was amazing. There were so many people, and so many flowers sent. It was very apparent that Kelly was loved by many. The funeral was a beautiful service celebrating Kelly's life.
I had decided I wanted to make a memorial scrapbook album for Todd and Jaden like I did for my Grandpa's funeral. I printed a copy for Kelly's parents and her sister as well. And all of my family will be getting a copy too.
When I gave the book to Mary Ann, Kelly's mom, she cried and said "How did you know? How did you know I wanted to ask you to make this? I saw the one you did for your Grandpa, and I wanted to ask you to make one for Kelly". What an honor that she wanted to ask me to make a memorial album about her daughter. I hope they can find some sort of comfort in it.
One of the first memories I have of Kelly was when she and Todd were dating. I am only 7 years younger than Todd and Kelly, so growing up, Todd felt more like a cousin than an Uncle to me. I was always the annoying little cousin that "should be out playing in traffic" to Todd (don't worry...now that I am grown up we get along great). I remember him bringing Kelly to Grandma's house and they would be up in his bedroom and I would just "pop in" to say "hi! wanna hang out". Needless to say, they didn't think I was so funny, but I apparently did!
I will always remember going out to the farm in the summer with the kids. Kelly would bring Jaden out and the kids would all play while we sat outside or in the gazebo and talked. Grammy would make her famous grilled cheese and tomato soup because it was Kelly's favorite.
I will always remember the trip to the Clay county fair in Spencer Iowa. Grammy, me, Kinzie, Malichi, Todd, Kelly and Jaden went down for the day during one of our stays out on the farm. We took the kids on rides and spent the day walking around the fair. At some point, Kelly and I found a spot to sit and have a snack and had a really great conversation, just the 2 of us. A conversation I will remember forever.
Our family vacation up at the cabin won't be the same this year without Kelly. I remember last year making jokes about how Kelly would be reading a book and Todd would be glued to his US Weekly magazine...usually the roles are reversed! We would tease them about how Kelly didn't like to shop and Todd did, Kelly didn't care if there were curtains on the windows, but Todd wanted something frilly or lacy for window treatments. They truly were so cute together.
Todd and Jaden loved Kelly so much, and I can't imagine what they are going through right now. The days ahead are going to be hard as they grieve and as they try to find a new "normal".
Kelly, we loved you and miss you so much. Tell Grandpa I said "hi".
Friday, April 09, 2010
Happy Easter!
Then we headed to Owatonna saturday night. I was supposed to meet up with a dear friend of mine at Perkins for dinner, but she was not feeling well, so we had to cancel. Such a bummer!
We stayed the night at Mom and Randy's so we'd be there for Sunrise Service on Sunday at the church Aaron and I grew up in. I got up at 4:15 on Sunday to start getting ready for church. I got everyone else up around 5:10. Church was at 6:00am and we made it on time!! All six of us! The kids were absolute angels during church too! I am not sure if it was the fact that they were not fully awake yet or what, but it went great! I love going back to our home church. It brings back wonderful memories, and I feel at home there.
After church, we had breakfast at Perkins and then went back to Mom and Randy's to see what the Easter Bunny brought for the kids, and Grandma Tammy and Randy gave the kids their souvenirs from the Mexico trip they just got back from!
Little Miss Scout has such personality! The Easter bunny brought a bubble machine for her and Mr. Finley and she thought it was GREAT! The second photo, is her lovin' on cousin Thor. She was so into him. She'd go up and hug him, or go right up to him and smile and say "hi" as she gently patted his arm. It was darling. Although I am not so sure he thought it was cute...?
In the afternoon we went to Aaron's parents where we flew kites, played at the park, and grilled burgers for dinner. It was a perfect day to be outside!
I hope you all had a Great Easter too!
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