Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back!

It's that time of year again!  We packed up the car and headed west.  There were lots of things on our to-do list, but it all revolved around the main event:  My mom's 3rd survivor lap at the Relay for Life!

If given the chance, she'd tell you it's no big deal.  But those of us who love her most will tell you it's the BIGGEST deal!  And we were thrilled to be able to be there for it!





Their shirts read:  Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back



Dad escorting Mom and a fellow Wildrose Survivor in the Survivor Lap

Pinky and Grandma dressed in Pink!

23 Hooters (+1) in the team lap

The 23 Hooters Relay for Life Team
Couldn't be prouder of these ladies!!!!!

Selling bottles to raise money for the American Cancer Society
There's a few left if anyone wants to place an order!!!!

Pinky and her daddy taking a lap.

Pinky and I are "Hootier Groupies"!

Notice the guys didn't join us in PINK!   (Next year!)

Remembering . . . .

Praying for healing . . .

Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back!!!!

It's a fun night!  Good food (especially the cotton candy!); good company; and all for a good cause!  Join us there next year!  Wear pink and bring cash!  You never know what the Hooters will be selling! 

Feeding the Pig

It's been hanging  over our heads all summer.....

To potty train, or not to potty train????

She hasn't seemed ready, although we knew she could do it.

So, we found an incentive that seemed interesting to her, bought what her daddy thought was WAY TOO MANY pairs of underpants, and we're giving it a try.

Heaven help us!!!!

Every time she uses the potty . . . that's right . . . she get's a penny for her piggy bank!

Fortunately she has 2 and they both get very hungry!

A hug and a kiss after every penny!  That's our sweet girl!

We're on day 3 . . . And so far, knock on wood, we've gone through way fewer changes of clothes compared to days 1 and 2.  I'd say that's progress!  We have ventured to the pool, the store and out for lunch without any accidents.  We'll see how she does on an upcoming car-trip!  (I think we'll bring at least 1 pig!!!)  Prayers welcome! 

"Best Lake Weekend Ever"

My husband deemed it the "best lake weekend ever" ~ and who am I to argue with the man?  He was right!  We left Thursday night after work and stayed until Sunday morning.  Every minute in between was wonderful!  The weather was perfect.  We brought lots of yummy food and drinks.  Pinky enjoyed the the beach outside and her tee-pee inside (not to mention all of the lemonade she could handle!).  We took naps. Slept in.  Enjoyed the water. Enjoyed time with "Uncle Jim and Aunt Linda".  And experienced a few "Pinky-Firsts"!

Here's what the "best lake weekend ever" looks like:

She loved the tee-pee. 
(A bday gift from Sharon and Tiffany.)

First time golfing ever for Pinky and this summer for me.

Lunch on the deck.

First time fishing.
(She loved feeding the fish hotdogs!)

Our captain!

A little dancing after dinner.

It was too breezy for a fire, but we still had s'mores! 
Delishes!

beach bum



She chose to go without her suit!

The faces of the "Best Lake Weekend Ever!"

A great big thank you to Uncle Mark for sharing the cabin with us!!!!  The cabin has had a make-over this summer and it looks awesome!  What a treat!  

Take Me Out to the Ball Game, 2012

Last night was Microsoft night at the RedHawks game, and also Carman's official 30th Birthday.

We got a little soggy at first, and left just before a storm rolled in, but had a great night and enjoyed lots of yummy treats! 

Daddy's Girl

Any guesses who drank every last drop of her pop (and most of mine)?

WITH THE BIRTHDAY GIRL!



What's got her all fired up?

Oh yeah, she made the big screen! 

Thanks to her bro!
Love you, Carm!

30 Rocks!

Pinky's Auntie Carman turned 30 yesterday.  We celebrated Saturday with a "30 Rocks" party on her patio.  Each family decorated 5 rocks, so in the end she had 30+ rocks for her garden.  What girl wouldn't want 30 rocks for her birthday?  After all, turning 30 is definitely a mile "stone"!  Get it?  (Couldn't resist.)

Here are some of the pictures from the party.

Pre-party on the patio

Helping decorate.  She loved painting the rocks!

Rocks from her mom and dad, including a piece of petrified wood!

Rocks from Jen and Ryan.

Tony and Rachel had fun with paint and Gorilla Glue! 

Their rocks were "outside the box"!

Rocks from our family.

Montana Rocks!!!!

Trying to figure out the rock from her brother:
"Rock around the Clock"

Cake time!

Happy 30th Birthday, Carman!
You Rock!

2.5

Well, Pinky is officially closer to 2 than 3.  How did that happen?  She's 2 and a half.  Crazy!

Here's her 2.5 update:

Height:  about 3 feet (she's so tall!!!)

Weight:  31ish pounds (due to recent picky eating habits, she's actually down a pound or 2!)

Size: 3T clothes; 7-8 shoe


Favorite Foods:  hotdogs, chicken nuggets, french fries, goldfish, string cheese, fresh from the garden peas, and fruit snacks. 

Least Favorite Foods:  macaroni/pasta, most fruits and vegetables

Favorite activities:
Books - She has even started "reading" some herself! 
Watching Elmo videos
Playing Play Dough
Putting together 12 pc puzzles (the cardboard kind)
Playing at the park
Singing songs - it's quite possible she knows at least 100 songs! 
Playing with her cousins

Favorite Pinky Lines:
Mom, I'm talking to you!
Let me show you how to do it.
Why?
Sing the bear/turtle/frog/hot dog/butterfly/boat/etc. song! 
I want you!
No, mommy, I want daddy to do it!

Big Girl Accomplishments:
She can say the Lord's Prayer!  It's so cute!  She may not get all the words exactly right, but you can certainly tell what she is saying.  She occasionally misses "the power and the glory" so we have to "back up" and do it again! 

I wish I could put potty training on the list, but she's just not interested.....YET! 

School:
Pinky is still in the toddler room at "school".  She hasn't been there much this summer.  Many of her friends have transitioned to the "pre-3" room, and she will too at the end of August.  She loves school, loves her teachers and friends!  (But we love days she can stay home with us more!)

Here she is, Miss 2 and a Half: 

Helping make blueberry pancakes. 

Puzzles with Grandma Margo

"loclate" donut for breakfast

Tea party with Grandma Karen

Did I mention how much she loves shoes?
Especially "lip lops"! 

I miss my Gram!

Today, I miss my Grandma J.  A year ago today, we gathered to say good-bye.  And I miss her.  I miss going to visit her.  I miss calling her.  I miss getting mail from her.  I miss helping her with projects.  I miss celebrations with her. 

My grandma had a way of making every day special, but she loved holidays:  May Day, Easter, Halloween, and everything in between. 

It seems ironic that we spent the 4th of July weekend last year preparing for her funeral.  My granmda loved the 4th of July.  More than that, I think she loved any reason for her family to be together.  She cut the watermelon, baked the pie and cookies, made the sandwiches (some with butter, some without, some with cheese, some without - and she knew who would want which one!), and wasn't happy until everyone was completely stuffed!  Then she served ice cream!

What a blessing to get "29" years with my grandma!  As I got older, I certainly appreciated every chance I got to visit with her.  As she got older, her memory started to fail and she didn't remember much about her last 5+ years.  But get her talking about the "old day" and she didn't skip a beat! 

I enjoyed getting to know my grandma as an adult.  I can appreciate all of the things she did for her family and for me.  She taught us about family.  About love.  About hard work.  About dedication.  And about butter! 

I love and miss you today, Gram! 

Christmas on the farm. 

"Ladies Trip" to Bismarck!  It was the first time my sister and I were
included in a trip with my aunts and grandma!  We had so much fun together!

Cutting the watermelon at one of our family gatherings. 
This one in Medora. 

One of my favorite pics of Grandma and Pinky.  Grandma made that "doll quilt"
for me when I was young.  Pinky enjoyed snuggling with it too. 
We sent it with Gram last year.  <3

~The road home~