It's been two years...

So two years ago today I was sitting by my mom's side as she said her final goodbyes to family and friends. I haven't been able to write down my experiences or feelings about the event and I still don't feel like I can do it. Tomorrow is the official day she passed, but she's been on my mind all day today.

As I was going through my pictures today looking for one of my mom I noticed a theme...She up to the end smiled her true smile for her grandkids.

Holding Drew's hand.

Getting to know his Grandma Cherry.

Giving Nate old sugar-free candy from her purse...

My mom lived her life to be a Grandma. I wish she could still do this...

And the grandkids favorite...The Grandma Train.

We all miss you. More than you know.

But I know I'll see you again soon...like this. Free from pain and suffering and smiling with your whole being. I love you Mom.

Maggie's photo shoot

Thank you Joni!

Here are just a few of the favorites:

Janet's Visit

We had such a wonderful time with Janet and Claire and I can't even begin to tell you what help it was to have them both here with us. Thank you Blake for letting them come! We got to go to the Museum of Nature and Science and Janet and her cousin Melanie took Drew and Claire to a horse ranch. (Nathan was already sick with Strep at this point).

At the museum the kids got to play in the dinosaur pit, blow really big bubbles and have fun downstairs in the kids area.

We ended our trip from the museum with this site:


Andrew and Claire throughly enjoyed themselves with the horses at the ranch until they both fell off of a horse that was turning. It sounds like it was quite an adventure for them and for poor Janet and Melanie...at least we had just had a bunch of rain and they fell into a squishy mud patch rather than a hard, dry dust patch.

Nathan turned 4...

And I haven't blogged about it until now. I feel horrible about that little man. But let me tell you what Nate, Mom loves you more than you know. You are my first born. And I appreciate that so much right now as we go through the growing pains of having a new baby in the home. You are so helpful and bring me diapers and wipes and burp cloths and the phone when it's ringing and you try really hard to get carrots out of the fridge so I don't have to get up and do it for you. Oh, someday you'll be able to pour yourself milk but for now it's just a mommy's job okay?

On his actual birthday we were able to celebrate with some friends for a quick inpromptu party at the tubes. Thank you, thank you, thank you Janet for all your help!

Later that night we opened presents with Dad...



And blew out the candles on Nate's birthday cookies.

The joys of family...

My sister Kristi and her daughter Elizabeth and my father were able to come out and meet Maggie. We did lots of fun things with the kids and they were such a help to me emotionally and physically. I will forever be grateful that they made the trip out here and to Jason and Norma for making it possible that Kris could be here. I'm running out of steam and so here are a few slideshows and pictures of our week together.

We got to go to the pumpkin patch:

And play at the Grapevine Mill's Mall Carosel:

And play at the McDonald's play tubes:







And it was beyond special to have them here for my birthday and the blessing and giving of a name to Margaret Lynn Haws:



Why is it that you can't combine three pictures into one? I wish I could've taken parts of each of these to make a decent family photo, but ya'll just have to use your imagination.

The crew minus Grandpa Haws who was home with a migraine...Poor Dad!

Abby's Playhouse

Nana T took Nate and Drew to Abby's Playhouse while we were busy with baby and they had a blast:









Thank you again and again Aunt Tracy for all you did for us...You were truly amazing and I feel honored to be your namesake. I'm so grateful that you were there with me as I went through it all. I love you.