Homemade Slip and Slide

Our neighbor, Hannah, made a homemade slip and slide for the girls the weekend! They had a great time!

Cutting the Grass

Over the weekend, John went to Mom's house to cut grass. He loves going there, and I think a lot of it is because he gets some good alone time. In the past, he's really liked going there because he loved being able to help my mom. The past few times he's been, it's been sad for him because Mom isn't there any more. She loved her house and her yard, especially her yard.

Well, this weekend, the push mower fell apart. The handle disconnected from the body. John reported it could not be fixed, so he had to buy a new one. We've had that lawn mower since we've been married, and it was a hand-me-down. We've gotten great use out of. I've even gotten use of it. I decided a couple of summers ago that I really like to mow the grass in the back yard. I've never been able to cut the grass in the front yard because of the steep hills going down to the back unless I pushed opposite the slope of the hill. Like, I would go back and forth "against the grain" of the hill. That was pretty rough, too. I could only make it through one of the hills before I was worn out.

The new mower is a self propelled mower! Holy Moses!! I can cut the grass for the entire yard all by myself now! the mower pulls me right along behind it. In fact, it went so fast at one point that I had to run to keep up with it. Now that I have the speed figured out and I don't have to chase it, I'm totally hooked. I'm ready for the grass to grow again so that I can get back out there! The only thing I still have to conquer is the edging, and I'm scared I'll edge my toes if I'm not careful.

Emma Rose & Anabelle: Dance!

Today is the girls' dance recital. They had rehearsal this past Tuesday, and I was able to video each of them practicing their tap and ballet routines. I am so grateful that they are able to have so much fun with this! Both girls love going to dance, and they adore their teachers. They are healthy, happy little girls, and I am one proud mommy!!

Emma Rose's vidoes: ballet and tap

Anabelle's videos: ballet and tap

Anabelle's Preschool Graduation

Yesterday, Anabelle graduated from preschool! During the ceremony, I couldn't help but think in too few years, I would be watching her take her high school diploma. That's mostly thanks to all of the sappy commercials on the radio for high school graduates!

I can't believe my Princess Baby has achieved yet another milestone in her life. Although she is growing up beautifully, she is growing up way too fast.

I took a few pictures of the graduation and the after party in her classroom. She had to have a picture by the classroom kitchen, her favorite area!

My Mom

In January, Mom found out that the melanoma she had in her finger came back. It came back with a vengence. There were 6 lesions in her brain and more than a dozen melanoma lumps all over her body. Everything seemed to materialize in about a six month period before January.

We began radiation treatments for her brain in January. In February, the largest lesion was irritated by the radiation, and it bled out. The bleeding and swelling caused her to lose most of the mobility in the right side of her body. She appeared to be recovering for several weeks but had a focal seizure on the first Saturday in March. After a hospital stay at Emory, she again appeared to be getting stronger, and we were planning to begin treatment for the melanoma in her body. We celebrated her 64th birthday on March 31st, and the last time she was able to get out of bed was April 1st.

From April 2nd until April 20th, she continued to get weaker and weaker. We had no idea how strong she really was and how much she wanted to stay with us. My sister, her family, my brother, and my family were here with her. I know she could hear her children, our spouses, and her grandbabies throughout the house. I'm sure it made her that much more determined to hang on as long as she could.

On April 20th at 8:21 am, she went to Heaven. We cried for her during her illness. Now we are crying for us because we miss her so much.

Mom's Page

I Am a Proud Mommy!

At the beginning of the month, the Vice Principal called me in the middle of the morning. He had Emma Rose in his office, and she had somerhing to tell me. "Uh-oh" was my response, and he did nothing to contradict me! Emma Rose got on the phone, and she told me that she had been chosen to be the student of the month!

I am so proud of her! She is pretty excited about it, too! The principal announced that she was chosen the day during the morning announcements, and she led the school in the pledge the next week. She has her own bulletin board right outside the Media Center, and her name is on the marquee outside the school.

Hooray Emma Rose!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

My Princess Baby is 4!

Anabelle became a 4 year old today. I have no idea how it could have been four years ago that we saw her pretty little face for the first time. She is growing up to be such a fun, sweet little girl. And a sassy one sometimes, too! She is growing and maturing entirely too fast for me.

We had a fun little party for her at the pool yesterday. She was very happy to play with her friends and her daddy (especially) and to have cake and ice cream! I have more pictures from the party, and I'll post them as soon as I have time to upload them to Shutterfly and share the link.