Well....

Apparently, I lack focus. I have completely forgotten about blogging! I'm still not sure people noticed, but I think some people have...due to strange comments!

Anywhoo...here's a recap of life since April:

**Decided to become a little crazy and become a Vacation Bible School Director at church (YIKES! HUGE RESPONSIBILITY!!)

**Went to Miami...just me and the hubby...what a wonderful vacation! 4 days on the beach/pool at the Loews Hotel. Also, we ate at some fabulous restaurants too!

**I took a job at Jack and Ainsley's Preschool/Parents Day Out program! I'm helping in the preschool room...this should be interesting! I love staying home, but this opportunity was just too good to pass up!

**Celebrated our 9th anniversary with dinner and a hotel visit in KC...my husband is WAY more romatic than me! That's why I love him!

**Attended my grandma's auction of household stuff...who knew one gal of 97 years had so much stuff...so cool to see, but also sad to see it go away. So many wonderful memories!

**Signed Jack up for swim lessons, Kindermusik, and tball. This kid is busy! Ainsley needs something to do too, but she's just a little too young!

**Visit to the Lake...Jack and Ainsley both tubed and I skiied! Man, I am soooo sore!

I promise to write more! My family bought me a Flip camera and I have already put it to great use! I hope to load some videos up soon!

Much love to you all...

I think that is it!

My baby girl turned 2!

So, here are some of my favorite pictures from Ainsley's 2nd birthday. I can't belieave my little girl is two...and boy does she act like it! She drives me crazy, but I just love her! Even during those hard moments...I love her! and Jack! and Jeff! and every amazing person in my life!

Whoops...

So, I think I forgot that I had a blog. No, the truth is I didn't think I had anything interesting to say. But I have had a couple of people ask me about why I haven't posted so here goes:

Interesting? I don't know but here's a recap of the last 2 months:

1. Went to Phoenix. Okay to start, we decided to save some money and fly out of Springfield, MO airport on a little airline called Alligant Air. Umm...won't do that again. We didn't leave until 10:30 at night (the only flight time!) and arrived 1am our time. My kids were exhausted. Since we really didn't save money, I'll just fly out of KCI. Also, Alligant Air charges for water and food. Well, we spent more money in the airport on food!!! So crazy. But, Phoenix was lovely. We stayed at Valle Del Oro in Mesa, AZ. It is a 55+ active resort! We played in the pool, played tennis, and Bingo! It was a nice week away from Kansas City and the cold, snowy weather we were having! Here are a few pictures: ummm...apparently I deleted some of my favorite pictures from the computer, but they are on snapfish, so I will just order them and put them away in my fancy photo box!

But, we did attend a Royals Spring Training Game and this was an awesome moment. So, we sat about 4 rows back from the Royals dugout. After the 2nd or 3rd inning, Brayan Pena (the catcher) picked Jack out of the crowd (pointed to him and told all of the adults to move!) and threw him the baseball! So, after the game, and being the crazy mom I am, I hunted him down to sign the baseball and get his picture with him. I just love this picture:

Now I can say, Jack loves Royals baseball and Pena is his hero!

Well, after a week, we came home. It was nice to visit, but it was so nice to come home. Phoenix is a great place to visit...now we did way more than I have blogged, so if you want to know more...call me and chat.

Okay Dad...

Enough with the snow. Please talk to God about making it go away. The kids and myself and Jeff are done with the snow. It's nice out in Colorado and it's nice every once and awhile here, but now I can say this is too much. Dad, Jeff has been working hard on shoveling the driveway for the past hour and you can't even tell he has shoveled. Please talk to god about making the weather warmer and nicer. Now, I'm going to post our pictures from Winter Park, but I'd really like to post some pictures of sunshine and warm weather. Please dad...help us out. I'd really appreciate it! Hugs and kisses...Carolyn

Jack and his cool red boots

Jeff and Jack at Ski School

Jeff and Jack skiing down Village Way

My baby boy with skis!

Mr. Basketball

Jack completed his Bitty Basketball program last night. We've done Bitty T-Ball (horrible), Bitty Soccer (better) and now Bitty Basketball (okay). It's just 40 3 to 4 year olds learning to play these games. Poor Jeff, he was a volunteer (because of me) each time. I'm pretty sure he wants me to NEVER volunteer him again, but I also know he was a pretty proud daddy!

Jack sunk TWO baskets last night. One during practice and one during the game! Here are a few pictures from his game last night.

Rough Day...Rougher Night

So, yesterday was a pretty rough day. The day started well. We went to church and my mom came and it was fairly normal. Later that morning we went to lunch with my dad's family at Galvin's in St. Joseph, MO. Lunch was yummy...fried chicken, potatoes, gravy, green beans, corn, bread, soup and my choice, pears with cranberry orange relish. But, then the day went down hill from there. We went to see my dad's grave with Jack and Ainsley. First of all, there isn't grass and it earth has REALLY sunk. I almost felt like I could see his coffin. That wasn't the bad part. We put flowers on his grave...that wasn't the bad part. The bad was when Jack asked to see Papa. He thought we were actually going to see Papa. That was the bad part. That broke my heart. I thought I was going to lose it! I kept it together, but cried in the car. I was pretty sure Jack was going to cry. He was so excited because he thought we were going to see Papa. I guess we kept telling him we were going to see where Papa was buried, but he didn't understand what I meant. Oh...I felt terrible. Ainsley kept saying, "Where's Papa", but of course, she didn't understand. I wish we could see Papa, but we have pictures and memories...but I don't think Jack understands.

From there, we went to my Aunt's house, so the day got better. I was nice just visiting with everyone.

Then we came home. Everything seemed fine until midnight. From there, Ainsley cried until 6am! I am exhausted. We went to the doctor and she has an ear infection. Luckily, I took her prescription to Target and they filled it within 10 minutes.

I miss my dad and I say I had a rough day, but I really didn't. I was surrounded by family who care. My mom came over today to help me with Ainsley. My dad's family was there to help us feel better. My Aunt Joan even suggested we take a picture out to the cemetery for Jack to see him. I received my Thumbie, which is my necklace that is my dad's thumb print to have. I know it sounds weird, but it is also nice to have something of my dad's, especially for my kids.

Sickie

Apparently I have a pretty bad sinus infection. At least that is what the lady said at CVS on Friday when I went for a visit because my head hurt so bad I was crying!!! She prescribed me some wonderful drugs, which are making me feel better!

So, if I every say I have a headache for a couple of days...tell me to go to the doctor! It was bad enough my teeth hurt, which was a sign of a sinus infection. It was terrible!

So...my mom and I went shopping yesterday at Macy's. I found some great clothes for 60-90% off for everyone in the family. It made me feel better. However, today, I am tretty tired. I did a little shopping at Target and Michael's. I also did a little yoga and balance board action on our Wii. So tonight...I'm going to bed early. I'll read my Nicholas Sparks book and go to bed. That's a good night!

Let it snow!!

So...we are on snow storm number ??? Okay...so I have lost count on the snow storm count. I love the snow, but we are starting to feel a little like we live in Colorado, but without the immediate fun of skiing! The snow in the yard was up to Roxy's belly! There are also spots up to Jeff's knees. That's a lot of snow!

I hate this cold too! I like snow, but not the horrible cold air that is coming with it! I will post pictures soon from our fun in the snow. I think it lasted a whole 15 minutes for me and Ainsley, but we all had fun. Today's temperature at noon: 0 degress! AWESOME!

Anyway...sorry about that last post. I reread it a little bit ago and realized it was pretty harsh. I guess that is part of the grieving process.

Don Russell 1946-2009

Well, I haven't been on for awhile...not that anyone has noticed...but there is a reason. My dad died on December 1, 2009 while riding his bike. One thing we know...he wasn't hit by a car. We still don't know what happened, but we hope that he didn't suffer.

You know, the word my mom used to tell me my dad died was deceased. What kind of word is deceased? She told me she used that word because that is what the police used. I hate that word. It seems that word is the "nice" way of saying dead. Just use dead...don't sugar coat it! And while I am on sugar coating...it's nice to hear the words "sympathy, prayers, thinking about you, condolences" the words we want to hear (in my opinion) were stinks or my favorite "sucks". It just sucks.

You know what else sucks...having to tell people. I wish there was some way of letting people know without having to tell them. I had to call my dad's sisters and tell them what happened...now that sucked. That was the WORST phone call to make...well, it was pretty bad calling Jeff and my brother, but I had to call my aunts (dad's sisters) to let them know their first sibling died. IT JUST SUCKED!!!! IT SUCKED CALLING EVERYONE!!!

Then there is your bodies reaction to death...the naseua, the puking, the pooping. Yup, I said it...your body just does weird things. I hadn't eaten anything for like 24 hours, but I was pooping! It was so disgusting!

Sorry about that last part, but just be forwarned!

I can also tell you it sucked to see your dad's body in the viewing room. We didn't get to see my dad's body for 2 days because it was at the Jackson County Medical Examiner for an autopsy. You know, he just looked like he was sleeping, but it wasn't my dad. I just wanted him to wake up and he wouldn't. THAT SUCKED

It also sucked when you had to plan who to ask to be a pall bearer, what casket to pick, and a headstone. It's also amazing what music they have a funeral homes...I was impressed, but I had to laugh because they asked us if we wanted someone to sing it or if prerecorded music was okay. We thought the prerecorded was just fine.

We went for some nicer headstone because I decided since I was going to look at it for awhile, I wanted it to look a certain way. I like my parents headstone.

Anyway...my dad was loved by many people. It was very apparent at his visitation and funeral. Lots of love from friends and family. I miss my dad. I miss his wrinkles, his smile, his hugs, his everything. I miss hearing his voice, but I have video. I miss him playing with Jack and Ainsley

I'm sure I will have more on this topic later (and I'm sorry), but it's my blog! Death sucks.

December 2009 and Christmas (61 photos), by Carolyn Arnold

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