Tuesday's Tribute

I am so happy to share this tribute with you! I have a close friend that has battled cancer, not once, but twice within a year of her initial diagnosis. As hard as that in itself is, she was only 23 when she was diagnosed. In fact, during her second round of treatments, in Ann Arbor , she spent over a month in the pediatrics ward. She and I went through the same program at Western, which is very structured, with classes scheduled for you each semester, making it very hard to miss any thing without falling behind. We had classes with the same people for 3 years, and we became close with several other girls in our cohort, making it even more emotional when they all graduated last spring and she wasn't able too. With the support of wonderful family, and friends, she managed to make it through the program -through two rounds of intensive chemo, radiation, and a stem cell transplant- taking (and passing!) classes through it all.

She has been ridiculously strong and fought so hard through it all. All the while remaining her wonderful, funny, self, and taking care of the Booger for us when I went back to work last year. I wrote about her and the fun they had together a bit here.

In the past month, she has received the wonderful news that her scans are clean, and this weekend, she officially graduated with her bachelor's degree in special education. Congratulations girl, you amaze me.

Today it is all about Piper.

And I think it's not much of a coincidence that she and Tuesday's sweet twin share a name.

Thanks to Angie for reminding us that it's not all about us. Go see who else it's about over at Seven Clown Circus.

Hellllo spring!

The Booger loves playing outside- he stands at the door and yells "ow-si!" And soon, I imagine he will be letting himself out- his penchant for climbing, and his knowledge of how the door handle works will be the end of me.

We ended the week with blue skies and 80 degress! Of course we spent some time "ow-si" to commemorate the end of the week.

He's starting to look like such a big kid! My 'baby' boy is disappearing right in front of my eyes.

building blocks

Hat off?

I LOVE this thing!

Why don't babies do pilates?

The Booger was working on his core....

Then, something happened...

Cr**

Yesterday, I swear to you my house was overrun my cr**. Not the woah-there's-way-too-much-stuff-around-here-cra**. Though currently, that is also the case. But the bodily function kind. And I only wish I could blame the toilet overflowing.

We simultaneously ran out of Diaper Genie bags, and adopted a puppy, of the not yet house trained variety.

And I swear to you, I was surrounded by cr**!

I am in gratitude to Bissell, and a host of smell good candles.

Ahhh.

I swear...

Mom, really, I was just eating dinner. A little thirsty, but all is well. Really. I swear.

Two for Tuesday

We are desperately missing spring break already, and very much looking forward to summer!

We made a second trip to the museum during our week off, but brought my mom along for the fun. While we were there, the Booger worked his charm and managed to pick up not, but two toddler girlfriends! They took turns toddling around with him (and after him) for quite a while. So looking forward to teen age years....

Check out other two-fers over at Deanna's.

Milk

Does a body good


even if it is soy




and empty...

cause it was found sitting on top of the trash can.





I know, kid, I'm surprise your mom would let you play with trash too...

Two for Twosday

Then

April 2008
almost 3 months old

Now

April 2009
almost 15 months old

Swing by Deanna's for a few other less dramatically aged two-somes.

Finger lickin' good

Since the Booger's mastered the ever evasive sippy cup skill, we thought we'd try the next step in tableware... utensils.

So far..... so messy!

What you lookin at Momma?

Remind you of this?

He has eaten cereal and applesauce, with his spoon in hand



and his cereal in the other!

Umm, didn't I pay for a bottomless bowl?

Spring breakin' it!

The Booger and I are so happy to be enjoying my first spring break as a teacher!

I realized this is my first spring break. Ever since I started working, I picked up extra time at work. And once I was college and somehow I had two spring breaks (I worked in a school for several years) and still never seemed to get a break! So this feels all that much more like a reward for working hard to get here. By golly, I EARNED my spring break!

It is all the better because I get extra quality time with my boy.

We visited the Kalamazoo Valley Museum earlier in the week and plan to go see the Easter Bunny today, then some quality family time over the weekend.

The museum was craaaaazzzzy! I'm not a big fan of crowds, so we stuck to the room for little tykes. It was hilarious to see him in action with other kiddos. I realized just how much personality that boy has! He made a few friends quite the girly fan base, I might add, scared a few girls, there was a little girl with beads in her hair and he just couldn't contain himself, and tried to hi-jack toy after toy!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Dear Mother Nature

Not funny.

Baby Picture Sunday

As soon as I saw Debi's theme for this Sunday, I was excited to go back and look through some of the pictures from our photo shoot last year. I really love taking pictures and would be thrilled to do it on the side, if I stumbled upon a little more talent and a way better camera...

Over spring break, I would love to attempt another homemade photo shoot - you know, once I can tie the Booger down, I mean coax him to sit still for more than .98 mili-seconds....

Here are a few of my favorites, doctored a little with a photo program and some cropping creativity.

One of my all-time favorites!

Another...

Stop by Debi's to play along or just check out some more creative creations!