The 3rd Of July!

That's right...the 3rd of July! :)  Danny had promised the kids they could set up the tent and camp out in the backyard on the 4th of July.  For reasons I can't now remember, Danny decided it would be fun to do it the night before.  And somehow, that ballooned into quite the family affair!  And it turned out to be the best idea ever.

We bought our tent probably two years ago, but it has never made it out of the box.  The kids were so excited to help set it up!  And Danny is the best Dad ever, and actually put them to work.

 

While they worked on the tent, Luke enjoyed some time outside in his walker!  He absolutely loved it.  He ran all around the patio, touching everything he could reach.  He especially enjoyed opening and shutting the windows on the playhouse.  It makes our hearts full to see him enjoying life!

 

The kids' attention spans didn't quiet match up with the time it took to get the tent set up. :)  Johnny found some of the rods and instantly they were weapons.  He showed Luke all the karate moves he could think of.  It was hilarious to watch!

 

Finally, the tent was done!  Danny even hauled in the queen mattress from our guest bed for him and Johnny to sleep on, and the two extra crib mattresses for the girls.  They were going to be sleeping in comfort...and splendor.  Our tent has a neat feature.  The roof is open to the stars, with a nice fine mesh to keep the bugs out.  Awesome for a starry night!  Danny asked me just as he was finishing if I thought he should set up the rain fly.  I told him not to bother...there was no rain in the forecast, and the kids would love the stars.  Danny packed up the rain fly and we didn't give it a second thought.

 

With the tent finished and ready for a campout, we let the kids play until it had become sufficiently dark for fireworks.  In the backyard!  I think that is so cool. :)  We called Grandma and Papa to see if they wanted to join us, and they came right over...of course!  The kids got their blanket and were ready for the show.

 

 

I absolutely LOVE how big and deep our backyard is.  It was so fun to have a private fireworks show!  We didn't have to worry about cars or bothering the neighbors.  It was awesome.

 

When we got down to the second half of the fireworks, Danny let the kids pick what firework they wanted to see next.  They thought this was the coolest thing ever!  They took their selections very seriously, and were all the more amazed when it went off.  They had a blast...literally! :)

 

Some of the fireworks were quite big and noisy, and made the kids a little nervous.  They sought safety with Papa, and that made it much better.

 

But then Johnny picked the biggest one in the box!  And for that, only Daddy's hand would make it okay. :)

 

And what 3rd of July campout would be complete without s'mores?!  Not this one, that's for sure!  Danny stoked up the grill while the kids found suitable marshmallow sticks in the yard. 

 

 

And the results were good enough to put you in a sugar coma!  No seriously, they were the richest things I have ever eaten!  We wanted to try the new s'mores marshmallows, which are thick square marshmallows...perfect for fitting on a square graham cracker.  Then, in an effort to not have to buy so many chocolate bars, I bought the king size Hershey's bar...not realizing that it wasn't only bigger, but thicker too!  We ended up with some seriously giant s'mores!

 

 

I don't think anyone but Danny actually finished an entire s'more. :)  And it still took quite the effort to get the marshmallow off of everyone and get them cleaned up for bed.  The kids were so tired, but excited for their campout.  Luke and I were going to be sleeping in the house, but we made sure everyone was tucked in nice and snug.  Then we went in and got into bed ourselves.

 

 

At about 2:30 in the morning, I was woken by a bright light.  I laid there awake for a few seconds, and then it flashed again.  That's when I realized it was lightening.  Uh-oh!  As I lay there, I listened and heard the wind a-howlin'.  It wasn't 10 minutes later that Claire was by my bedside saying she was coming inside to sleep because it was "way too windy".  I got Claire tucked in and situated, then was just picking up my phone to text Danny and see if either Sophie or Johnny needed to come in when I received a text from him saying that it had been raining for two hours and they were soaked!  I ran outside and Danny and I started the process of bringing wet kids and blankets in the house.  We left the mattresses, hoping the rain would stop soon and they wouldn't get too wet.  So much for not needing the rain fly! :)  Danny and I had to laugh when we checked the weather app on our phone and it still said it was a clear night.  Thanks for nothing, weather app!

 

Even with the unanticipated rain, our 3rd of July celebration was awesome.  But it was awesome for more than just the fun we had.  This was the first holiday we had celebrated as a family that wasn't affected by Luke being sick.  It was almost like we were just a normal family again!  I remember thinking at one point that I sure hoped this wasn't a gift, because it would be the last 4th of July we'd have together as a family.  I didn't know at the time that we would be facing that possibility in just a few weeks.  But no matter what comes next year, this night was a gift.  We don't take for granted anymore the time we have to play and make memories together.  This family that Danny and I have made together is what it is all about.  And we're so blessed that we can all have so much fun being together!

June...Best. Month. Ever!

June was the best month.  Luke was home for the whole month, and was doing so well!  As far as we were concerned, he was cancer-free and we were well on our way to a normal life again.  Ignorance can indeed be bliss.  Having our family together again, just living our life, was amazing.  Danny was back to work, Claire was out of school, the weather was beautiful...life was good! 

One of the best things about the amazing weather was the fact that we now have an awesome backyard, and awesome neighbors!  The kids spent so much time just playing with their friends outside, which I have determined may be the greatest part of summer.

Well, maybe second only to the pool at the school!  Papa worked hard and got the pool up and running for everyone.  We so appreciate all his hard work!  Since Luke is sensitive to the sun, we waited until late afternoon one day to make our inaugural trip to the pool.  It was awesome!  

The kids loved the water, and started working on their swimming skills right away.  Claire ditched her water wings, and gave the noodles a try.  

And Sophie mastered going under water!  Way to go, Sophie!

The only thing the kids love more than swimming in Grandma and Papa's pool is taking a bath in their bathtub!  And we love that we can get them cleaned up from swimming before taking them home. :)

The last weekend in June is Syracuse Heritage Days.  We went to the carnival for the first time last year, and we loved it.  We very much looked forward to going again, but between Luke and our exhaustion and the incredibly high temperature that weekend, we never made it. :(   But we did watch the fireworks!  It's easy for us, since we can just put chairs out in Grandma and Papa's back yard.  Syracuse puts on a pretty good show, and this year's Grand Finale was pretty grand!

Luke loved the fireworks!  Things like that are so amazing to him.  We forget how little he's been exposed to.  Most of his memory consists of those small hospital rooms and our homes.  No more, little man!  The world better get ready for you, Lukey! :)

June was a great month.  Little did we know that our lives would be turned upside down in July.  But I suppose we're getting used to some significant bumps in the road.  We're getting better about enjoying the present and counting our blessings.  And we definitely count June as a blessing! 

Father's Day

Well, I'm behind enough on this blog now that my memory is starting to fade!  I remember parts of Father's Day, but a lot of it is a blur now. :(  I will do my best to do the day justice. :)

I do remember that my memory wasn't very good then, either.  I realized pretty late on Saturday night, the night before Father's Day, that I had nothing for Danny's special breakfast!  I ran out and got some of his favorites...orange juice, potatoes, sausage, and cinnamon rolls!  I managed a pretty decent man-breakfast for our favorite man.  And while I made breakfast, Claire and Sophie wrapped up the present.

Daddy got an exercise armband for his iPhone!  Fun!  Now he just has to start running. :)  Daddy loved his present, but most of all he loved having all his kids at home with him on Father's Day.

This is where my memory starts to fade.  We obviously did church, which I'm sure was fantastic.  It always is!  And I remember inviting my Dad and Danny's Dad over for dinner.  But what we had has totally slipped my mind.  I know, right?!  Katie...forget the food?  Check the skies, people.  Pigs might be flying. :)  I think we might have had Chipotle Corn Sliders, but whatever the dinner was, I'm sure it was delicious.  We quite enjoyed having both of our Dads there as well.  And Luke was loving walking around in his walker.  His favorite part was being able to walk up to the kids table!  More than a couple plates ended up on the floor at the hands of our little guy.  And we were all happy to clean up the mess, because it meant that our Luke was just being a kid!

Grandpa Richard and Grandma Ruth Ann brought cupcakes for the kids, which was a big hit.  

Johnny obviously thoroughly enjoyed his.  Seriously, could this boy be any cuter?!

When I thought about it, I think it had been about 15 years since I had spent time with my Dad on Father's Day.  We were grateful for their willingness to drive all the way to our house to celebrate the day.  I'm grateful for my Dad and how much effort he has gone to in order to be involved with us, especially with Luke being sick.  Danny, the kids, and I have all enjoyed the opportunity to build a relationship with Grandpa Richard and Grandma Ruth Ann.  

Obviously, I was a total space cadet this Father's Day.  I didn't get a picture of Danny and his Dad!  I feel horrible...totally dropped the ball on that one.  But let me take a minute and talk about my amazing Father-in-law.  Never in a million years could I find one better.  He is the most patient and giving father, and grandfather.  He has spent countless days and nights with Luke, allowing Danny and I the chance to sleep and go to church together.  He comes by often to visit and just spend some time with us.  I personally loved my time at the hospital when it was just he and I and Luke, or on Sunday afternoons when we would just chat.  I can definitely say he's one of my best friends.  I know that Danny feels the same way.  And our children absolutely adore him.  We love you , Papa!

After dinner and dessert, it was back to life as usual.  I think this is a testament to the amazing father that Danny is.  Even on his day-off, he was sure to help me with Luke.  I could never manage all that needs to be done if Danny wasn't always so willing to help.  He's awesome...

I know, without the slightest hesitation, that I picked the best man to be the father of my children.  Danny excels at fatherhood, and he makes it look easy.  Not to mention good-looking. :)  Our girls love their Daddy, and most importantly they know their Daddy loves them.  He's always excited to hear about their day and see their latest creations.  And Johnny loves to wrestle and play with his Dad.  And Luke?  Well, I'm pretty sure Luke's world revolves around his Daddy!  And I wouldn't have it any other way.

We love you, Danny!  Happy Father's Day!!

Megan's Marathon!

Back to catch up blogging! :)  Back in June, June 8th to be exact, my oldest niece Megan ran her first marathon!  Since she was at school in Rexburg, attending BYU-I, we were only 3 1/2 short hours away.  We knew we just HAD to be there when she crossed the finish line!  Especially after her Mom called to tell me that no one in there family would be able to be there, and Grandma Candy was traveling.  So we were the only family close enough to support Megan.  That sealed the deal!  Danny and I had a bit of trepidation about leaving Luke all day, but we thought it was worth it.  We knew Grandma Call would keep Luke very happy while we went.  We got up early, loaded the kids in the Camry, and set off on our first road trip in over a year.  Turns out, the kids have gotten a bit out of practice during our travel-hiatus.  The drive was a bit rough at times, but we made it to Rexburg in plenty of time to see Megan cross the finish line.

 

It was an absolutely beautiful day for a 26 mile run, if you're into that sort of thing. :)  The weather was also perfect for a picnic, which is the kind of thing I am definitely into!  The kids were happy to get out of the car, and we sent them running around the park to work out their wiggles.

 

 

Jami and I decided it was best to keep Megan uninformed of our travel plans.  She didn't want Megan to be disappointed if for some reason (Luke!) we wouldn't be able to make it.  Plus, we thought the impact would be pretty cool if she wasn't expecting us.  So Jami kept me apprised as to Megan's location, and how close she was to finishing.  When we thought she was getting close, Claire and Sophie practiced holding out the banner that Jami and Jeff had made and sent for Megan to see as she finished the race. 

 

But as it would turn out, Megan hit a serious wall around Mile 20.  She was tired, but worse, she was all alone!  There was no one running beside her, or in front of her, or in back of her!  In her words, there wasn't a cow or bird to keep her company.  Just field after field of potatoes.  She was not prepared for how discouraging this would be for her, so she called her Mom for support.  Jami, having run a marathon herself, was able to talk her through tough spot.  She told her that there were some very special people waiting at the finish line for her, so she had to keep going.  Megan asked hopefully if it was Danny and me.  She was so happy to hear that we were there!  It ruined the surprise, but it was what Megan needed to keep going.  Jami kept informing me of where Megan was at, but at some point she gave me the wrong mile marker.  We thought Megan still had a few miles to go, so we sent the kids to the playground to play and Danny and I sat at a picnic table and chatted.  There were very few runners left to finish, so whenever one came into view we would check to see if it was our Megan.  At one point, I checked an upcoming runner and was sure it wasn't Megan.  But as she got closer, Danny said..."Wait!  That's Megan!"  There was no time to get the kids set up with the banner at the finish line, so Danny ran with the banner and I ran after him with the camera.  I made it to Megan just as she came up to the finish line.  Megan told us later that when she saw Danny and I, she almost started to cry.  Which is a big deal, cause Megan isn't a crier!

 

What an incredible accomplishment!  I can definitely say I have absolutely no desire to ever run a marathon...ever...but I have great respect for those that do!  I can't fathom the physical preparation and the sheer will power it would take to complete a race of that length.  And Megan prepared while being busy with classes and friends.  I was so very proud to cheer for her as she completed this momentous goal! 

 

 

 

After finishing the marathon, Megan was understandably exhausted. :)  We told her we'd love to do dinner later that evening, and she thought that sounded fun.  So we left her in the competent care of her wonderful roommates.  Then we suddenly had the whole afternoon ahead of us.  Whatever should we do?  Go to the cabin in Island Park, of course!  It is only a 45 minute drive, and it's a pretty drive.  Plus, the kids were excited to see Great Grandma Lovell and play at the cabin.  It's definitely one of our favorite places to be.

 

Once we got there, Danny went straight up to the loft for an afternoon nap...his favorite cabin activity.  The kids pulled out the toys while I chatted with Great Grandma.  We all enjoyed the chance to just hang out.  Especially Johnny, who built his biggest, most elaborate block tower EVER!

 

 

 

 

All to soon, as is always the case, we had to leave the precious cabin and head back to civilization.  It was at least as hard for us to leave Great Grandma as it was for her to watch us go! :)

 

 

  We picked Megan up at her apartment, and helped her hobble to the car. :)  We decided to grab some dinner at The Pizza Café, since Danny's little sister Katie had just been hired on back at home.  We'd thought we'd get a little preview. :)  The selection of pizza certainly didn't disappoint, and the salad bar was pretty good, too!  After dinner, it was pretty much time for us to head back home...plus we were missing our Lukey-Son pretty bad!  But we decided to leave Megan with one last treat before we left.  Rexburg recently added a Nielsen's Frozen Custard to its repertoire of eateries, so we introduced Megan to the incomparable joy that is a raspberry concrete.  She is still thanking us today. :)

 

Eventually, we just had to pull ourselves away and head home.  It was so fun to see Megan in her college life, all grown up and running marathons!  It reminded Danny and I of our college days...dare I say youth? :)  Especially Danny, since he rocked BYU-I before heading to Provo.  I'm so proud of Megan and how she is living her life.  I'm impressed with the woman she has become.  My goal is to raise my girls to be as prepared to lead their lives as Megan is to lead hers. 

 

We love you, Megan!  Way to go!