Drew was sick in Benson this past weekend. Max woke up throwing up on Sunday night and was sick all day Monday and much of Tuesday. This morning Jack woke up sick. He was laying on the sofa this morning moaning, and crying and he then said "Can't someone just get me some pain relief? I just need pain relief." Now what 8 year old says they want pain relief? crack me up
Sweet Jack...still not feeling well. But sweet all the same.
Today was a big day, Max had his first haircut. Before you panic and think we had his curls all cut off, relax...it's me, and if you have seen Jack you KNOW that I do not cut curls off. He just had a slight trim, he had some hair in his eyes, and the back needed a little layering. But it was slight. So slight I am not sure most will notice the haircut, which was my plan.
BEFORE
AFTER
Love his curls...
Proof she cut some off for his baby book...
The goldfish were a BIG highlight
Max and Miss Christina, who has been cutting our boys' hair for many years.
Fast forward to this year, and we are in a different spot. Stephanie is the wife of our good friend Gailen, who has been battling cancer. You can see him in the video above. He planned this birthday party for her last year, we were busy helping him store the birthday stuff in our garage, we were busy talking to him about it all. He would pop in and out of our garage for a couple of weeks to drop stuff off, we would exchange quick words and smiles and see ya laters.
This year we are cherishing every phone call we get from him, every single email and text we are saving. We are kissing him goodbye when we see him, we don't hang up without I love you's....we weren't doing that a year ago.
It makes me sad, sad that it took his illness for us to freely express how very much we love him. How very much we love each of them. I never told Steph I loved her before this, I never had hugged their kids, I had never wept with her in her garage while praying. I was too busy doing other things. Oh how a year can bring change.
I started this post yesterday and didn't know how to word things. My friend Jen wrote it well in her blog, She writes
"Don't put it off. Whatever you've been wanting to do or say or change or make better. Today is the day because there's just no guarantee for tomorrow."
Such good wisdom in those words. Last night, it was pouring rain, and we filled their front yard with friends and kids all with rain coats, and umbrellas to surprise her by singing happy birthday. I didn't count but it seemed like there were 100 people there. And as the door opened there stood Steph...with a smile holding Gailen's hand. Helping him stand...and as we started singing she sobbed. She leaned her head onto her weak husbands shoulder and I could see his strength still there. Not in his physical body, but in who he is as her husband. He stood there proud and strong. He kissed her on the forehead while she sobbed.
I hope it showed them a small glimpse into the love we all have for them. In the support that Steph has in friends.... Later in the night I received an email from Gailen...and in it he spoke of how he knows we will be there for Steph and his family for many years to come. And he is right, we will continue to sing her happy birthdays, even if God does take him home to heaven.
Friday, the boys didn't have school so we headed to Benson, MN, where my Grandma Lu lives. She is our only Grandparent left, between Scott and I and she will be 90 in September, Although you would never know it by how active she is...
We arrived dinner time and met at the hotel. We did a quick bday celebration with my Mom since we weren't with her on her bday.
Jack gave her a cookie scoop...
Tommy gave her cherry pie filling and crust...
Drew wasn't feeling well so he was up in our room at the time.
Alice had ridden up with my parents so she was there too...Grandma Lu hadn't seen Max since LAST Easter, so she was SO happy to see his smiling little face.
The next morning we headed to my Grandma's house...Alice all decked out in her new hat made by my friend Sarah.
We played and played, Drew is missing from these photos, he was at the hotel with Scott under the weather.
Then the kids were all sent away while the eggs were hidden for the annual Easter Egg Hunt.
Here they are all set to hunt...
15 of Grandma's Great Grandchildren were there. She was only missing 4 of her 19.
my Dad and big brother Mike
Alice in her new glasses
Alice loving on Max
We then headed over to Uncle Mick's farm which is a HUGE highlight for ALL of the boys. This is the same farm my Grandma lived on when we were little, so it is FULL of memories. We swung by the hotel and Drew was feeling better and didn't want to MISS the farm and the TOYS on the farm.
Jack and Charlie on the 4 wheelers
Max sitting on a dirt bike
Drew on the left, Scott and Tommy on the right, yes no helmets. NOT my choice. ahem
Charlie's first year driving solo
Someone else I love reliving his younger years and yes without a helmet...
Alice even tried out the bike with training wheels
A peek at some of the action..
Scott and my sweet cousin Annette
Cousin Eric driving the Ranger, I took a turn driving for awhile. Most of the kids not on the other toys rode in circles on this while awaiting their turns.
This was about Max's speed. He loved it.
Much to his Momma's dismay, Max went for a 4 wheeler ride with his Daddy. Uncle Mike took the photos, I was not real excited about this idea ...and ummmm Oh and I may have just been sitting in a heated pick up truck by now staying out of the cold.
Charlie and Jack are the best of friends...classic photo of them
And Jack and Soren, some of you may remember Soren is our sweet cousin who was born with many heart problems and has had several heart surgeries in his lifetime. His Mom Gitte left for heaven very suddenly, 6 years ago and how we ALL miss her. Soren is a walking miracle.
"Good times, Good times"...is the motto he and Jack always say when they are together.
One of my favorite things about going to Benson, besides seeing my Grandma is seeing my cousins, and all of their kids. There were 9 of us and we were very close growing up, spent almost every holiday together. I know that is rare. We are also all very close in age. I think there are 4 of us born within 12 months and the others aren't that far apart. We always pick up right where we left off. Kids are running everywhere, you never know which car your kids are going to choose to ride in, kids sit by random relatives at meals. They are all so connected. It's really amazing. My cousin Eric, who is a widow, had a new girlfriend there with her daughter, I joked to her that she would need a flow chart to try to figure out who went with who since the kids all go to whoever, they are not usually with their own parents or siblings.
The Easter bunny showed up early at our house...Thursday morning Jack woke up and told us there were eggs all over the steps. He then got his brothers out of bed and off the went for their hunt. NOT before we snapped this traditional photo.
It was fun, the boys LOVE to search for the eggs all over the house. I think there were over 150 hid, some in trickier spots than others. Each of the boys had a basket to find as well.
Hard to see, but there is a yellow egg inside the tulip :)
Max got a little basketball hoop that didn't quite fit in his basket
