Christmas Cards

There was a Christmas photoshoot. It included a shiny red chair that Dave painted especially for this reason. It was a gorgeous day ... perfect sun & warm. Caeden was actually OK with me snapping his picture and Claire was good natured as usual.

I still broke-out in a sweat, knowing I'd have 5 minutes to capture what I needed.

The pictures turned out adorable and I knew I had more than a couple of keepers for our Christmas card. However, once I realized Claire had fractured her arm in 2 places because of it, I haven't looked at the pictures since my inital download off my camera. It makes me sick, actually.

So, this year, I was going to skip it. Skip sending cards ... who would really miss it as I post almost daily here anyway?

And then I got Melissa Lanes' family card in the mail yesterday. Seeing her sweet family's photo and card (the first of the season) was so much fun. And then I immediately realized I still needed to send a card. Holiday mail is very much apart of what makes the holidays ... the holidays.

If you have not received a Christmas card for me before, it is most likely I do not have your address. Please email me at valkoop@mac.com to be put on the official Christmas list, because after all, broken arm or no, the holidays must go on.

Facebook

It is Monday and I have NOT:

1. Caught up on Laundry
2. Cleaned the house (from T-Day week)
3. Taken a shower
4. Checked Facebook in a gazillion years

Facebook is always on my to-do list. Whenever I get an email notification that someone has commented on a picture or left me a message, I LOVE it.

I also feel guilty. I feel guilty because I never log on to FB unless I am sitting in the car waiting for Wayne to come out of: 5 Guys Burgers and Fries, Best Buy, or somewhere else I don't usually go. I log on only because I have an App on my iPhone and it makes me feel so connected. ;)

Anyway, my friends and family post important things (birthdays), day to day things (hilarious stuff), and in-between things (status updates, etc.) and I miss 99% of it.

To all of you out there - I am sorry! I am a miserable Facebooker. But, I am good person and I hope you can forgive my lack of FB'ing and see past all my inadequacies.

You know, so I can be narciassist and blog.

Have a Drink

Enjoying my family. Laughing. Went to mountains. More laughing. Talking to my neices and nephews. Catching up with my brother and sister in law. Cooking. Baking.

I need a drink. :)

Game night tonight ... thinking of throwing down on Rock Band...Guitar Hero, or whatever it is called. Apples to Apples, Scattagories, and Taboo ... we are going to have so much fun tonight!

Heading to grocery store with a list a mile long - and some of the ingredients are to make this cocktail tonight (and probably tomorrow, too!) Amazing Thanksgiving Cocktail.

Have pictures, stories, and lots to tell. Probably after Thanksgiving.

Enjoy your families. These times are so precious!

XO

Val

Children's Table

The other day I came across some tags that had my niece's and nephew's writing on them. It was what they were grateful for  - many, many years ago. One theme they shared was to mention their family. They loved their Mom and Dad and they were smart enough to be grateful for them. They must have known, even back then, how lucky they were to have such devoted and loving parents.

This year they are all making the pilgramage from Atlanta to spend a week in Denver with us. I cannot tell you how excited I am to have them all here. While they have grown up a lot since that last shared Thanksgiving (a tradition I miss so much), I still fret over the "children's table" and how to make it special for my children and our guests.

I came across this idea in Country Living and again on Odeedoh, and it was just too cute not to share. Butcher paper and markers is all it takes to make a cute impression. And look - name tags. It's our craft project this week (and then sugar cookies for sure!).

Have a wonderful weekend. We are going to be busy getting the house ready for guests - so that I can be in the moment at not fret each and every moment about: cleaning, food, entertaining ...
This time around - I am thankful just to be able to enjoy my brother and his family.

More Monday ...

Catching a Break

How ironic the last title post has come to be. Shortly after I took some pictures of the kids, Claire fell off the red chair and landed in the grass. The fall looked soft, and while she cried hard, I thought she was scared and not too hurt.

All through the night baby Claire cried. And cried. I took her to bed with me (something I haven't done since she was 4 months old) and snuggled her close. We stayed up together until 4 am when we both fell asleep completely exhausted.

The next morning, she nursed her arm and was unable to crawl. I called her pediatrician in Rapid City and took in for an XRay.

Claire has 2 fractures in her left arm and is in a cast. :(

I can't bring myself to post a picture as it just breaks my heart that I did not immediately take her to the ER the night it happened.

She is scooting around on her bum, unable to walk or crawl. She is mostly on my hip (even as I painted a wall and desk this morning) through out the day and seems to be doing OK.

Dang it anyway. It is always something around here.

Hanging On

We're still in South Dakota. So much to share but please forgive the blogging vacation. Family gatherings, 2 funerals, siblings arriving and leaving ... we are busy, emotional, tired, and reflective.

But we are all hanging in there! Back to regular programming next week...

Wayne Update

Wayne just met with his Oncologist to go over the results of the 2 days worth of scans he has just undergone down in Houston.

1. Tumors are stable. Some have shrunk.
2. The cancer has not spread to any other part of his body.
3. He is officially on break for 3 months.
4. His CVC is coming out (will be able to swim, shower, and hold Claire without her trying to rip it from his chest).
5. He will be home tonight.
6. I am so happy that I am having a hard time articulating myself. My heart is squeezed so tight right now that I can hardly talk.


 I told Caeden that Daddy's cancer bugs are not growing and he is going to be feeling good for a long time, and he said, "Ooooh. That is wonderful. Do you think he will be able to play with me now...?"
I couldn't answer him, but I did cry.

Now She Can See.

My grandmother passed away last night at the age of 93. Ninety three years of living, of raising her family, and worshiping our Lord.

Last night I slept with her Bible on my bedside. It's soft, black leather cover a comfort of the promises within. I fell asleep thinking of her and all she has been through ... of how her body slowly wore out - her eye sight the first to go... and I knew this is how it is supposed to be. In Heaven, she is where she belongs.

She is home... and she can see us all once again.


*Edited to add: We are heading to Rapid City tomorrow morning and will there through sometime next week. The service will be Saturday afternoon with visitation Friday evening.

My Grandma Parks

My cousin Lori is an amazing writer. Her blog, Fingerprints, is on my sidebar. Today her entry is about our Grandma Parks (paternal side). Read it here.

She wrote something that brings me to tears each time I think of it:
"...93 years of living, and Grandma is growing weary."

We've been on the phone numerous times over the past couple of days, talking about the details of Grandma's life. I cannot learn enough about her and wish so much that I knew more. Or that I could be the one to provide details that have slipped through others' memories. But I am not that person. I am the one who spent summer days running through their fields, swimming in the ditches, eating warm bread. The one who never sat down and asked Grandma to tell me her stories ... until it was too late.

There are many stories and questions I had for her over the years of visiting her in assisted living. I'd ask her about when she was a girl. What made her fall in love with Grandpa (she raised her hand to her neck and gave a nervous laugh and said, "Honestly, Valerie.") - She was always private and I have always found that endearing and sweet because I am not (obviously).

I remember when Grandpa passed away, and we sat around her kitchen table at the farm and she told me so many things that I didn't know. That she had lost a son, that she loved Chinese culture, that she loved when we'd eat out without Grandpa so that she could try new things.

Today she sleeps in a nursing home in Rapid, with her blood sugar and oxygen levels swingly widely. We will be heading up there when Wayne returns from Houston and I pray that I am able to hold her hand and tell her how much I love her and how much she means to me before it is too late.

To tell her,  like Lori, I bake Schwann's bread because the smell takes me back to her kitchen. That each and every time I make chocolate chip cookies with Caeden, I think of how Grandma and I spent many afternoons doing the same thing. Tell her that I wish I had had her teach me to sew. That I wish I would have had the ear for the piano. That I wish I would have taken her out to eat more often. Tell her that a picture she took - of Grandpa and I (as a baby) - is framed in Claire's room. That I think of her each time I look at it.

Mostly, I just want to tell her I love her. My Grandma is growing weary.