bittersweet symphony

may 2011

May in the Marquette household ( and I think I can speak for the other Marquette households) is known as: crazy insane busy are you kidding me another concert will it ever end birthdays oh and 3 parades month. And the other marquette households might add more words such as: tests, state regulations, anniversary, retreats, homework, report cards, dress rehearsal, recital, costumes...

This May will be a little different.  It gets to be a month of recovery for me. My surgery is over and it went well and my sweet doctor called me with the test results today.  Everything is normal, average, fine. The cancer is gone and didn't spread.  So this May I find myself at rest.  (Let me say it's kinda of hard staying busy at doing nothing). But thanks to my amazing husband and amazing in laws I get to rest and heal and take my time.

I have a few lists and beautification household projects (thank you missy). But right now I am enjoying the quiet. Sitting with the windows open tonight at the dinner table.  Eating leftovers of wonderful meals brought by wonderful people.   Brady is already asleep (he fell asleep at 6:00 after one too many time outs). Eddie and Riley are outside enjoying the weather. Eddie was teaching Riley the fine art of catch. Eddie is such a patient father.  And then off to ride bikes. Oh and yesterday? Riley thought it was time to take off the training wheels and learn to ride a 2 wheeler. After about 30 minutes- eddie called me from the parking lot where they were riding (I am thinking okay how many band aids do I need?) instead I heard: Do you want to see your son riding a bike with no training wheels? So at 6.5 years old Riley is riding a 2 wheeler. And he rides FAST.

FAST that is where the time is going. This month Brady will also be 4. And he just knows Santa will come on his birthday and bring him a monster truck. He is still figuring out how the holidays work.  Other cousins will be 10, 5 and 7. How did this happen? I am hoping to take this may to catch up on some little details so I don't forget.

I want to breathe in the fresh spring air and breathe out the worry, the stress, the aniexty.  I need to talk to Sue again about that breath prayer. If you were in my sunday school class - right now your are remembering craig's funny response - well I have cold...

So hopefully I will be here more with pictures and memories and the goings on (and of course coupon deals! ) I have thought about taking this blog down - the pressure to post sometimes is too much. But then I figured - it's my journal of our lives right now. So I am going to leave it. But what I am stepping back from: Rachel Marquette Photography. I am hanging up the camera for a year or maybe more. I just want to focus on my family. I am just not feeling in my heart right now. And there are so many talented photogs out there - if you need one check out missy or marie - coming soon to a zip code near you...:)

I hope you got to enjoy the sunshine today!

 

10 on tuesday

1. I love that the boys are still singing Christmas songs and it's almost March. favorites: jingle bells, we wish you a merry christmas, santa claus is coming to town. And Brady asks for Trans-Siberian Orchestra whenever the ipod touch is on. he loves christmas eve (sarajevo). He'll say: mama play the doot-dot-dot-dot-dot song.

2. I love that on Valentine's Day my boys surprised me with a box of chocolate covered strawberries, 4 heart shaped balloons, and a note: will you be our valentine? love the marquette boys.  We made a spaghetti & meatballs for dinner. And they found valentines candy & beef stick treats (what boy doesn't love processed meat snacks?!) at their places at the kitchen table. I am a very lucky girl to have 3 boys loves me so much. 

 

3. I am grateful for our wonderful neighbors Greg & Linda. not only are they the nicest people in town, they are always happy to see the boys, even brought them christmas presents. But Greg snow blows our driveway whenever we have a big snow.  A couple weekends ago - when it was kinda warm - eddie and riley spent 3 hours chipping ice off of the driveway. Riley then started helping mr. greg chip the ice off of his. I think Riley just wanted to climb the giant snow pile in their front yard-  but he really did some damage on the ice and is learning we should help other people because it's the right thing to do.  

4. Last night, I rocked Brady to sleep. This hasn't happened since he was 1. He was sad all weekend, melt downs about everything. We suspected he just didn't feel good. He was having a melt down after dinner, I scooped him up (despite his protests) and headed for our rocker. I turned off the light, and just started rocking. He immediately snuggled up and started those long, slow blinks. As we rocked, I could hear eddie & riley flying around their new paper airplanes - hoping to break the 23 second record flight for a paper airplane - and my heart just starting bursting with love for these boys. I looked down at brady's sweet long lashes as his eyes closed, taking in the chubby still toddler cheeks and button nose and sweet little mouth.  These moments are so precious and amaze me that I get to be their mama.

5. I know why I am so sentimental this week - sorry for the all the gooey love stuff. But I got to hold 2 newborns last week.  Emma Renee - just hours old. Proud parents: Big D & Tara. And baby Jackson - proud parents Marie & BJ.  Such sweet little reminders that God loves us. His precious pure gift of life. After I handed these babies back to their mamas, my arms literally ached to hold my babies. I never want to forget how it felt to hold their little bodies in my arms. From their tiny little newborn weights, to 6 month chubby weights, to toddler weights all wiggly. I want to remember how it feels to have the weight of their little body on my lap. To feel their little heads snuggle under my chin or their heads lay on my shoulder. Or even better when they hug back - little arms wrapped around my neck.

6. Does anybody think Lady Gaga's new song sounds like early Madonna? 

7. Ahh tuesday night tv: glee & Parenthood

8. My quick trip to CVS today: Spent $6.40, saved $26.62, got $5.75 back in extra bucks.

 
Purex $1.99 each - had 2 $1.00 off coupons. They didn't have the purex 3-1 sheets. 1/2 gallon milk $1.89 (i would have gotten a whole gallon - but this was a quick trip and I didn't have a cart) Starbucks $1.99 used $1.00 off cvs coupon, cadbury egg. 75 cents - got back .75 in extra bucks. colgate $2.99 - had 2 $1.00 off coupons -got back $ 2.00 each in extra bucks. Filippo olive oil - $3.99 - had $1.00 coupon and used $6.00 in extra bucks from a previous CVS shopping trip.   
 

9. Don't cook dinner thursday night - go here http://thejebbers.com/wp/2011/02/food-to-fuel-the-soul/  help support a local family and get your big mac fix. I know the boys and I will be going. Eddie works late on thursdays, and it might be my birthday and I know I won't feel like cooking.

10. Whenever I need some mindless celeb news I go to www.gofugyourself.com. I love Gwen Stefani - but she might need a new look- the harsh blonde hair, dark eye make up and blood red lips is so 1998. 

 

wordless wednesday

 

 

 

10 on tuesday

1.  do you love heluva good cheese & chip dip? go to www.heluvagood.com and print out 2 coupons for .50 cents off any heluva good product. giant eagle has cheese blocks on sale 2 for $4.00 until tomorrow. I grabbed some for $1.00 each.

2. Speaking of Giant Eagle - I spent $59.88 and save $70.91. ask me how: coupons

3. This week is beginning to have too many bittersweet memories attached.

4. Today would have been my parents 49th wedding anniversary.

5. Today we lost a member of our church. He was eddie's sunday school teacher and youth advisor in high school.  Wade will be missed.

6. Tomorrow is my dear mother in law's birthday! She is so precious to me. I really don't know where I would be without her. I love that she sends me daily texts, emails and pictures of what is happening during the day with Riley & brady. I love that she collects stuff ( stamps, dishes, cookbooks, to name a few) I love when she hands me a book to read, because I know it will be good. And I know she will have the others waiting for me if it happens to be a series. She is talented & crafty. She is passionate about life and her family. And I am thankful I am in her family. I am so thankful she was born!

7. Friday is Riley's 6th birthday!  What? I know. He keeps telling me he is 5 and 1/2.  He can't wait to be six - I think he's just excited for more legos! He is loving school so much! I am taking Friday off to spend the day with him and Brady. I think we will go have pancakes for breakfast, then maybe pick up some donuts with sprinkles for an after school snack.

8. Friday is also my mentor/guru Sue Morgan's birthday. I love that Riley shares his day of birth with this force of nature. Sue has such natural gift of getting to the good stuff. To digging in and finding out what's really going on. Sue asks the tough questions. She always makes me cry (in a good way) I love that our friendship has an ebb and flow - sometimes - life experiences bridging the gap and vunerabities leave space for breath and safe spaces.  Her whole family is going through such transition right now, jobs taking them far away from each other, waiting for word on job leads. And all the while she gives up her sunday morning and teaches us about faith, Jesus, and what was he thinking. I hope she has a wonderful birthday and gets to soak up her family this weekend.

9. Friday also marks the one year passing of our Meemaw. Oh, there are no words. She has left behind her legacy of love in her husband, her daughter, her grandsons, her granddaughter, her great granddaughters and great grandsons. ( I didn't put grandson in law & granddaughter in laws - because she never called us that). I miss her laugh. I miss her stories. I miss the way she would grab your hand when talking to you. And she never missed a chance to say I love you. I love you meemaw. I saw 2 dragonflies today, I wonder how many I will see on Friday.

10. okay, I didn't realize how emotionally loaded this week was! Sorry about that! I am editing some pictures from the 4th of July. The D'Amicos, The Lees, and 1/2 of the Gerbers came over for a very laid back picnic. I love that this year we have 6 and 1 on the way kids between us. How did this happen? I remember many a picnics before kids when our only goal was to make sure we floated the keg.  These are some of my favorite people and I love these kids like my own. I will be posting a lot more on facebook to Denny can see them - he is still serving over seas. 

this could be: anytown, usa.  

I love this snapshot of our picnic. The guys close to the grill, go browns, beer in hand, water in hand. american flag, lawn chairs, roller coaster.

my boys. I love that riley is squishing brady so close. I love that they look so completely different. I am so glad they have each other.
 
 

10 on tuesday- weekend edition

1. yes 3 posts in one night. I have some catching up to do.

2. Announcing: Anthony James D'Amico! He was born 3-19-10. I forget his stats - but how about some pictures? We got to meet him Saturday night. We met the Lees at Akron General and went to Spaghetti Warehouse after wards...

jd, eddie & anthony. Joanie says baby anthony has a dimple like his daddy! Congrats D'Amico family! I hope you are adjusting to being a family of four! 

3. saturday was a busy day! i had my 1st session of the 2010 season (see below). eddie and the boys fixed our gutter on the back of the house. snowoverkill 2010 took it's toll and ripped the gutter from the house. snapping some pictures in the spring sunshine

4. while i was taking the above picture - our next door neighbors came out of their house - on their way to a wedding - their daughter's - brittany. she looked so beautiful! but i could totally see the stress on her face as they were trying to rush to the church, grab all of their stuff and get into 3 cars - so i snuck this one 
love her shoes  - crystal bows.

5.  i found a new website...www.crockpot365.blogspot.com. A year of cooking in a crockpot. I have lots of recipes to try - an easy way to have dinner ready during the week.

6. I love coupons. I am going to link my favorite coupon & shopping sites.

7. sunday was church & family day. I love my sunday school class.  We came home to make a quick dinner - sloppy Joe's - riley has been asking for them a week. Then eddie & riley went outside to put the last part on the gutter. I took a nap with a very sad Brady. He has had a cough for 3 weeks & congestion. He is just not himself all the time. He curled up next to me and we took a 1.5 hour nap. Eddie even got a work out in at the Nat.

8. Sunday night was margaritas with my sisters and trying to figure out family stuff.  I am part of a sister trifecta too! (hi willis sisters!) Whenever I hang out with my sister - it makes me want to hang out with them more! We never get enough time together- but are happy to share in the time we do get together. Debbie made some yummy snacks. We laughed A LOT. a couple ritas. some brownies. some you tube. I showed them my blog & post secret. So if you are reading this: Chris: High five! Debbie: did you just make a sound...that sounded like "____" . love you girls and look forward to the next rita night!

9. 

my niece katie. (sigh) she kills me with her big brown eyes. my boys are crazy for her.she is a great baby sitter! she watched the boys for us Saturday night. all day saturday  -brady kept asking:  KT here yet? He would run to the window and watch for her. She is so patient with them and plays transformers, cars, horses, guys, etc. And she gets them to say in bed!

10. Our taxes are (this close) to being ready to drop off at the accountant's office.

 
  
  

  
  

i heart faces

 
 here is my i heart faces entry. (thanks missy for the tip) this week's theme is hands. this is a part of a series of pictures I did with the great grandkids and our meemaw (who passed away last year). I love this picture for so many reasons...that is my youngest brady's hand, meem's and her daughter's jill (brady's grammie) 3 generations. i love that meem kept busy -you can see her crochet needles, her book, and notepad close at hand. I am sure her Bible wasn't too far either.

10 on tuesday

1. December 1st?! How did that happen? I just put the halloween/fall decorations away, threw away the last bit of harvest mix that I couldn't finish and put up Christmas decorations this weekend!

2. How was your thanksgiving? Hope you had lots of your favorite foods and got to share time with loved ones.

3. Is it wrong to hid green beans in spaghetti sauce? Brady, who basically only eats carbs and meat (goldfish and chickens), needs his veggies. So I used my Pampered Chef food chopper to chop up a whole can of green beans and put it in my spaghetti sauce last night and Brady ate 2 bowls!! I figured everybody was getting their veggies that way. Now how can I hide some fruit?

4. I love reading blogs and commenting but I forget that I have a blog to post too! I figured I better update soon before I lose my 5 readers! I know www.lovethesimplethings.typepad.com will be happy to look at a new post!

5. Still busy editing a last minute halloween wedding and my last shoot of the season. Two things I need to do in 2010...get a new camera (mine is doing the slow death, it doesn't want to focus all the time). I am thinking Nikon...only because of Ashton Kutcher's commercials and Karen Russell shoots Nikon now. Maybe I could sell my lenses and flash on craigslist. And the laptop needs overhauled. It has never been right since Face book but I need it through the holidays.

6. Eddie spent the better part of the day yesterday loading more CD's onto our IPod touch. Now here's a question - what do you do with your CD's once they are loaded onto the ipod or mp3 player? Do you resell them? Pack them away in boxes?

7. After our thanksgiving cabin getaway, we put up our christmas tree on saturday. The boys couldn't wait! then on Sunday we got another tree! We put that one up too. why 2 trees? Well when we were hanging up ornaments, we kept coming to meemaw's ornaments that she made all the kids growing up, and we didn't want them to get lost on our big tree. So we decided to decorate a smaller tree with just things that meem made eddie growing up. Lots of ornaments,an elf candy cane holder, carolers, a plane, a train with cars and even the Santa towel holder she made after we were married.  It's eddie's favorite tree. I think Meem would have gotten a kick out of it. 

8. After seeing New Moon. I am team Abs Jacob. There was something oh so wrong about it all, but I couldn't stop watching. I was so excited to see Tara's Team Jacob shirt she was sporting on turkey day! the boys called us Twilight geeks- but we didn't care!  Anybody watching True Blood on HBO? tara brought some of the episodes - it's about vampires -but it's SO GRAPHIC, in your face. I would not recommend it, I am still recovering from seeing one episode.  I will stick with Twilight, thank you very much.

9. what's up with romantic comedies lately? The last 2 that I have seen: Couples Retreat & 4 Christmases (both with Vince Vaughn) They were okay. Couples Retreat - funny with a LOT of serious, almost awkward moments. 4 Christmases with Reese Witherspoon also. it was just okay. And Reese is my girl. But I just couldn't like it. One thing her hair kept changing from her hair to a really bad wig or hairpiece. So I started watching for that. But more serious than comedy. Have you seen any good movies lately?

10. I think I am going to do the Ali Edward's christmas book. But maybe put it together in January - just keep my journaling and bits in a little notebook. I still have time to take a picture today so I am not already behind.  Okay I have an hour and 1 minute left, better get this posted and go take my picture!

good night!

grateful

While running some errands at lunch today, I was waiting at a traffic light and I was about to start crying due to the crushing sadness weighing on my heart , then I looked up...

In the clear blue bright cloudless November sky, I saw a flock of birds. They were flying in formations, little birds twisting and turning in the sky. A couple smaller groups joined in the big group, a couple of little solo birds joined too until they were all swooping and turning in one big flight.  No doubt they were training for their upcoming southern migration...but it meant more to me in that moment...

It reminded me:

when I need Him, just look up. 

I am not alone. I have lots of "birdies" I can turn to. My sadness is not all my own. I am grieving for my parents what should have been, and for what's left in it's place. 

I am grateful for this reminder today. I am grateful for changes in schedules, grateful for a husband that is home at nights to help with dinner/laundry/dishes/bath time/bedtime, grateful for our health, grateful for my 2 happy healthy boys.  Grateful for my life.

what are you grateful for today?

year 4

In 2 days, my baby will turn 5.  I can hardly stand it.  I don't want to forget what happened over the past year.  Since it's Erin's week over at www.writeclickscrapbook.com I am going to write it down so I can use this as journaling on some layouts about Riley.

Riley Joseph at age 4...

Started his 1st year of preschool on his birthday 9-03-08.  Grew by leaps and bounds and almost 2 shoe sizes.  Learned to write letters and numbers,  spell & write his name, phone number & address.

 

Always the shy guy, but from the 1st day of preschool, ran into the door without a glance over his shoulder, gained more confidence. Played his 1st organized sport, T-ball. Team Number 5, the Royal blue Lions, and daddy was his first coach.

Loves egg salad sandwiches, chicken bones (wings), lettuce, apples, cheese, ramen soup, lucky charms & cinnamon toast crunch, bananas, oatmeal with brown sugar, waffles, grammie's rice, donuts with sprinkles, potatoes, mac & cheese, fish sticks & pierogies, tacos, wraps, PB&J, chips & dip, ice cream sandwiches, green beans, noodles & sauce. You are a good eater and will try "no thank you" helpings even.

Loves to help me cook or make anything in the kitchen. The other day I asked if you wanted to help me make egg salad, to which you pulled a chair over and said: I would LOVE to help you make egg salad, mama!". Still a daddy's boy. Still loves to play ball on the stairs and go for bike rides in the parking lot.

Asks to say prayer. Sometimes consists of: Praise Jesus, Praise god, Praise the Lord, Praise Uncle Kenny, Praise Daddy. Amen. Clears plates after dinner, helps me load & unload the dishwasher. helps himself to snacks/dip in the refrig. Or can get his own fork/spoon/knife.

Slowly over the year, plays less with thomas the train and all the guys from cars.  Played more with legos (building ships from Star Wars) transformers (loves to draw Optimus Prime), Buzz (with his broken hand - he is now Buzz the Robot). But will build a track out of the blue track for Brady. Or play hot wheels with the racetrack.

Enter the world of webkinz. Gary the Gecko. You can play chess & checkers online and whatever else games are on daddy's laptop. Mama's is too slow because it has too many pictures on it. Your words not mine. You play Tonka & Lego Land @ Grammie & Papa's.  When my camera is out, you want to take the pictures.

Loves to sit and do "work". Drawing Optimus, coloring or writing your letters and lately wanting me to spell out words so you can write them down.

shoe size 11 1/2, 4t pants (they are getting a little short) 5t shirts. weighs 43 pounds

Can buckle his own seat belt, zips his coat.  Can still sleep 10 hours. Bedtime is still 7:30.  Still helps empty laundry baskets - but now Brady gets in on it and they take turns trying to push each other around in the baskets.  Wants to " read" books on your own, I will find at least 3 books in your bed in the morning along with various stuffed animals, cars or transformers.

Sweet, silly & sensitive boy.  Loves to give me "loud" kisses to make me laugh.  Will hug me randomly and say I love you mama. Will still come into our room sometimes, he comes to my side of the bed, when he has a bad dream or hears a bad noise. Knows I will let him snuggle for a few minutes then it's back to his bed.  This past year has generous with hugs and kisses when he knows mama is sad or when my belly hurts.

On the flip side - we have seen our fair shares of time outs. For shouting, kicking, screaming, fighting, not sharing, refusal to do something. We try to give you choices but if you still don't like your options, you will try to add another one or say: I don't like your words. 

Is turning into a pretty awesome big brother. Brady loves his big brother "ridey". Tries to reason with brady in the mornings "Brady -listen to my words - it's too early - go back to sleep" Brady, no jumping on the bed or you will have to the hospital like me" Brady -say English! Brady - if you do that one more time, you will get a 45 minute time out!  the other day - he actually put brady in time out and told him he could NEVER play trains again.  Yeah, mama put a stop to that. But the funny part? Brady actually listened and went to time out!

 

Has been to the ER 3 times over the year. Once for strep throat, once for an allergic reaction to penicillin, and once for the gash above his lip (no stitches) that he got when he "fell" out of bed which turned out he was jumping on the bed when he fessed up to Brady days later.

Went thru a phase of adding "right?" at the end of every sentence. That changed to correct!  correctomundo!  affirmative!  Got to travel to Hocking Hills, OH & Outer Banks, SC.

And there is so much more. I just want to remember some little things about you at this age. You are still my peanut, even though you remind me you are a big boy and Brady is the peanut now. You are the one that made me a mama. Daddy and I are constantly amazed by your growing personality each day. I love you Riley Joe and can't wait to see what year 5 brings!

weekend recap

With a new season quickly approaching, I feel a shift in myself. I love fall. I love the fresh crisp in the air, I love everything that comes with this season. (Except when the Highland Hornets go to playoffs!)With that said, I am still trying.  I just want to be happy, healthy and mindful. 

I don't want to forget this weekend.  I want to remember the little things, each step along the way. Seeing the light in everything.

Friday night: A quick dinner at Applebee's with my family (because I didn't feel like cooking). The last family dinner we will have on a Friday night for at least 12 weeks due to friday night football games. Sure I will take the boys and we will go visit eddie at one of the home games. Riley will follow Daddy around, while I try to keep Brady off of the football field and the sweet band moms will try to distract him with homemade cookies.  I can't wait to hear the band play some Bon Jovi.   After dinner, it was home for bedtime.  Eddie put the boys to bed while I packed up some brownies and went to grab my sister in law missy.  We went to Sarah's vineyard. Oh my goodness! Such fun and good wine! thank you Cec, Nancy, Mis, and Karen (we missed you Courtney!) I can't wait to go back! And get the table with the fire pit.

Saturday, cereal with the boys, early morning grocery shopping. Tag teaming, eddie off to do his errands - he needed some back to school ties and a visit to the butcher. Playing outside with the boys, coming inside to make riley's favorite lunch: Egg salad. To which he says" I would LOVE to help you mama!  Getting a text: the D'Amicos are coming over for dinner @ 5:30! Get lunch cleaned up and start the mad dash in getting the house cleaned up! (why do we only clean when company is coming over? anyone else do this?)  Eddie getting chicken to grill. Making salad & mac and cheese. Sitting down with friends who have had a whirlwind 2 months.  Getting to see & hug JD for the 1st time since June. Getting him a Sunkist. So good to see him up and about. And he was grateful for the change of scenery. He is a changed man, not just physically - he will bear those scars for the rest of his life, but changed in heart, mind, spirit.  As he was talking, I got goosebumps. I just love that guy and (joanie and Jordie too!) and so thankful my boys get to  call him Uncle Jim. And watching Jordie play with our bubble machine? delightful in her bare toes. After the boys went to bed, Eddie went back over to their house to watch the Browns trounce on another team. I watched some DVR'd shows with a brownie ice cream sundae, looked at my scrap table.

sunday. An interesting sunday school lesson about leaders. As our fearless leader was gone, another church member stepped up and lead our class. It was fitting.  We made it through church (well riley and I did) Brady couldn't handle it after being left behind at the children's message.  Dinner at Grammie & Papa's. Such a tender place to be as Meem continues the good fight.  Aware of the need for everyone to kiss and touch meem and tell her hello. Lifting Brady up so he could kiss her cheek. Feeling her hand reach for you knowing she might not know who you are, but she knows you are there. For her. For Pop. For her daughter. For her son. For her grand kids. For her great grand kids.  Sitting next to my sister in law observing the insane chaos that is now family dinners. Can you pass the butter, Cec?  To others this might be too much to take- but this is family, Ohana,  and I wouldn't change it.  And besides after dinner, you can always send at least 9 of kids downstairs to play!  Laney is the only one on this side of the gate, but not for long.  Going home putting Brady down for a lap. Listening to Eddie and riley play ball on the stairs, or take a break and watch some James Bond movie (with Roger Moore as Bond). Sitting down to my scrap table and actually work on some pages. working on easter 2008. Brady wakes up.  All the boys go outside to play. Get lost in laundry and paper and glue while I enjoy some quiet time. Boys come back in - get the full report from Riley - we played 4 sports mama: soccer, football, baseball and rode bikes! Washing dirty feet and a dirty baby.  Nothing beats a baby fresh from the tub in some jammies sitting on your lap. Even if this baby is 2 years old, 31 pounds and has a stuffed bear and cow in his lap. Cuddle next to riley watching the last of the James bond movie while Eddie checks on fantasy football and Gary the Gecko on his laptop. Putting the boys to bed with books and prayers. Looking at older pictures and can't believe they were ever that little, cute, tiny, happy and sweet. Our cup runneth over. Putting newer pictures in Eddie's frames to take to work. turning off my scrap light at 11:00pm realizing it's time to sleep and start the week all over again.

I don't have many pictures that go with this post. But if you are still out there, I promise to post lots of pictures this week and a lot less words...