Family Day ~ Fort Jackson, SC

What a long drive it was down to Columbia, SC! We finally made it late on Wednesday and we arrived on the base bright and early Thursday morning. After what seemed like an eternity, and too many people getting up to speak, it was finally time. Some smoke bombs came from the woods across the field, and while Toby Keith's song played, the six companies of almost 800 soldiers emerged from the smoke. It was very moving. Finally, they gave us the go ahead to "Go find your soldier!" What a madhouse. The soldiers had to stay in formation until the family found them. Ricky actually saw us first, we would never have recognized him. He looked so good.

He had to stay on post, so we spent the day exploring. We had lunch by a lake under a gazebo. There was a special dinner at 5 that night and he had to be back at his barracks at 8pm. It went by so fast, but it was wonderful listening to all his stories. I don't think I've heard him talk that much in his entire life! Brent, Ashley and I went back to our room anxiously awaiting the next morning, his graduation, and getting to take him off base.

Rest In Peace, Dad

We had a memorial service for my dad yesterday in Kalamazoo. He is now buried with his parents in Mt. Olivet cemetary. When we left Ft. Wayne early in the morning, the sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. Just before the service, the sky turned very dark and cloudy. Just before Father Larry began the brief service, the rain came straight down, hard. Father Larry said it was the angels crying tears of joy. Just as he finished speaking, the rain subsided.

Hmmmm.......I'm sure Father Larry was right.

I still miss my dad so much. For the last two years, I went next door to talk to him every day. For most of the last year, he could only sit in his chair in the front library room where I could see him through the window from the street. The light was on in the room very early in the morning and very late at night while he sat there watching tv when he couldn't sleep - which was very often. It was so comforting to me to see him there. Sometimes, when he didn't even know, I would go next door and stand on the porch and watch him, praying a miracle would happen and the ALS would stop and reverse.

My dad was such a great man. I am who I am because of my dad (and my mom, of course). He was honest, hard working, and truly loved his wife and children. He would have done anything in the world for us. I sure hope he knew how much I loved him, even when I didn't say it that much.

To anyone reading this, go....RIGHT NOW...and tell someone you love that you love them. Don't put it off and don't think you'll have tomorrow, because you just might not.

I'll see you, Dad.

Our Anniversary

Sunday is our seventh anniversary. Feels like a lifetime. I sure wish there were more than just these 20 pictures of us together. We have had such a great life together and I cannot wait until our 50th anniversary (like the couple's party we went to this weekend). We'll be so old and so still in love.

I love you Brentday!!!

Soccer!

Brent and I went to watch Maddison and Mackenzee learn to play soccer tonight. This was their second night. They go on Tuesday's and Thursday's. It is SO darn cute. They are in a 3-4 year old class. They took Maddison because she just now turned five and because Mackenzee just turned four. Mackenzee is too young to go in the 5-7 group. The coaches are very patient with these little kids. They have learned that you don't touch the ball with your hands, how to stop the ball (squish it like a bug!) and how to pass the ball (use the inside of your foot). They had remembered that from Tuesday. It was kind of like a deja vu - seems like yesterday I was out there watching Ricky play his first soccer game - running the wrong way and making his very first every goal - for the other team!

City Wide Chicken Dance

Wednesday was the Germanfest Kick-Off at Headwaters Park and I played hooky from work for a few hours (long lunch!) to take Maddison and Mackenzee. I took them last year and they ended up in the Journal Gazette! This year they are only published on my blog.

Maddison remembers going last year, she told me every detail as we arrived yesterday. Mackenzee says she doesn't remember ever going.

We got there minutes before noon and the 101.7 City Wide Chicken Dance. The idea was the radio station played the chicken dance and people throughout the city would stop what they were doing to participate. The girls really got into it this year!

We then, following EXACTLY what we did last year, went to get our hot dogs, chips and milk. We ate our lunch then went over to the little kiddie ride area. The girls rode everything, from the teeny, tiny merry-go-round, to the teeny, tiny (no so tiny to them, though) ferris wheel. They finished up on the moon walk. The two people running the rides (a family owned business - the men went from ride to ride as needed to run them!) really liked the girls and let them ride extra long. Each time they got off a ride they both made sure to tell the guys (several times) " Thank you...thank you so much....that was fun!" I was so proud of them.

We proceeded back to the festival area to get our cup of ice cream. Just like last year!

We all had so much fun! We stood in a very long line for the girls to get balloon animals. Maddison asked for a purple turtle. The man made the cutest little purple turtle, complete with a little strap for her to wear on her wrist. As he was making Mackenzee's yellow pig, Maddison's turtle rubbed up against a table edge and the shell popped. She patiently watied and said nothing while Mackenzee's pig was being constructed. When it was complete, Maddison's eye's implored the man to fix her turtle. He had a line a mile long behind us and I could see he was wrestling with what he should do. It only took a few seconds and he grabbed another balloon and told her, "Here, let me fix you up". He constructed another little shell and added it to her balloon. All was well!

Alas, as we were walking back to the car, Mackenzee tripped on her flip-flop and fell to the pavement. She did not scream, rather, sobbed quietly as I carried her the rest of the way. She had a couple of bloody scrapes on her wrist and arm. Her pig was okay though! I was just opening the car when I heard a man say "Ma'am, is your daughter alright?" I turned to see a policeman coming our way. I told him she would be alright, and he pulled a cute pink teddy bear from behind his back and knelt on the ground in front of Mackenzee. He told her the teddy bear would make her feel better, and she could keep it, but she had to give it a good home and a good name. Kenzee was so solemn about it! He got up to leave and she told him "Thank you SO much!" She got in the car and the look on Maddison's face almost broke my heart. She saw the policeman leaving and SHE hadn't gotten a teddy bear. She didn't cry, but sure looked like she wanted to. She said, "Oh well, maybe I'll trip next time". Poor baby. After telling her how proud I was of her that she was happy for her sister (she wasn't!) and that she was happy that Mackenzee didn't get hurt real bad and how caring both girls are for each other and that I knew Mackenzee would be proud to share her bear with Maddison, neither one knew what to say. Maddi asked Mackenzee if she could hold it for a little while. "Sure", Mackenzee said. Maddi held it for about two minutes and gave it back to Mackenzee saying, "Here, you need to hug him for a while". All was well again and they both were sound asleep within three minutes!

They woke up at home and Sara said the first thing Mackenzee told her about was the policeman. Kenzee started laughing and told her mom "...and he thought I was her DAUGHTER!" She spoke this very indignantly, as if she can't believe ANYONE would think that. Then she laughed and laughed. Okay, Kenz, it's not THAT far fetched and it's not as if this were the first time any of us ever heard that from someone! She's at the age where she understands daughter, granddaughter, etc. While we were in Florida, everytime someone would tell her to ask her mom or something like that, she would just deadpan back "I can't...she's at home". The speaker would get such a confused look on their face while staring at ME....Kenzee would grab my arm and tell them, "THIS is my grandma!" Too funny!

I can't wait for next year's City Wide Chicken Dance. The girls and I decided we are going to go every single year until they are 100!

Mackenzee's "REAL" Birthday

Monday, June 2 was Mackenzee's actual birthday. I called her early in the morning and sang Happy Birthday to her. She stopped me and said that she wasn't getting a birthday. I told her that it was her real birthday and Saturday was her party to celebrate. She went to the doctor for her "sheck-up" and told me that the doctor hadn't even told her happy birthday. Sara and Mitchell told me later that he mentioned her "big day" to her. When I arrived home from work, I saw their car next door and before I even put my car in park, Kenzee was knocking on my window. I grabbed her and told her happy birthday again. She said "Grandma, stop saying that! I don't get a birthday today" Apparently, she had been waiting all day for a present! She got all her presents on Saturday, but it didn't make sense to her to have a birthday and no presents. Grandma Great took them all to Chuck E Cheeses and then to the dollar store to pick something out. That just didn't register with Mackenzee. Sara accidently left her purse at my housse when they left so we had "Aunt Lurel" take it to her, stopping at the store to get Mackenzee a present (Aunt Laurel was working on Saturday and couldn't make it to the party). Mackenzee loved her new puppy (not real of course) and "wapchick" (chapstick). So, at ten o'clock at night, it was finally her birthday.

I'm including a picture of her doing the chicken dance with Chuck E Cheese. This is a monumental moment, because all of the girl's lives they have been absolutely TERRIFIED of Chuck E Cheese. They like going there to play, but the second they see him anywhere, they both disappear beneath the table. Well, Sara was amazed, while Maddison was off playing, Mackenzee joined a few kids to do the chicken dance with Chuck E Cheese and actually held his hand!

Mackenzee's 4th Birthday

Mackenzee's birthday is actually Monday, June 2, but Sara and Mitchell had her birthday party on Saturday. The day dawned a little rainy and breezy, but cleared beautifully by noon. Still a little chilly for the water toy to anyone over eight years old! Mackenzee, Maddison and their cousins Buddy and Kimmy absolutely LOVED playing in the water. Mackenzee, to the delight of her parents, chose the Tootsie Roll theme like her sister. Fortunately,they still had the decorations, plates, napkins, etc. Mitchell grilled hamburgers and hot dogs.

Maddison was having a little trouble with the fact that it wasn't her birthday too. Sara tried explaining that when it WAS her birthday, Mackenzee was very happy for her and it is only right that Maddison, in turn, be happy for Mackenzee. Again, Sara and the grandmas had presents for all the kids.

Wow, Mackenzee really is my youngest baby, baby girl and she is growing up way too fast. Four going on 21!

We all had a wonderful time. Thanks, Sara and Mitchell!