A New Day

Good Morning Baby Girls!

It seems like just yesterday that Sam was the size of Addy.

Where has the time gone?

I'm not ready for my babies to grow up.

One day I won't be able to sneak into their room to watch them sleep,

or be the one to wake them up in the morning with kisses and hugs.

Sam is almost seven now. With how fast the first seven went, the next seven years will probably go by just as fast as the first.

I can't remember everything that happened, at least I'll have these blogs to sit down on the couch and embrace, when my children won't be home anymore to embrace.

Summer Adventures

Summer is approaching faster than ever. While picking the kids up from RCC I saw their new billboard showing all of the fun the kids who attend Summer RCC have.

If it wasn't for these pictures I wouldn't have a clue as to what my children do in a given day.

I ask them everyday how their day was and what they did.

The typical response is "played". I ask for more details and I get "ya know... outside"

The Secret Life of Seth and Samantha

Reversi

Reversi is not an easy game. Nick tried to teach me how to play it but I hvaen't been too successful at winning. I don't have the problem solving skills that Nick does because when he is done with the game he either has control of every circle or he has blocked the computer from having any possible moves.

This is the best I've been able to do.

and yes, I named the computer 'Cheater'.

Student of the Month

The month of April is almost over. I was picking up papers off the office floor when I noticed a bunch of stars peeking out from under some other papers, inches from being thrown into the burning bag. I pulled it out from the stack to find this...

You would think it would have been exciting news. When I asked her why she didn't tell us she said

"I forgot"

"You forgot!? They take your picture with all of the other students across the grades. They make a big deal of it - You forgot?" How are we supposed to celebrate if we don't know.

Maybe it was just modesty.

Whether it was or wasn't a big deal to Sam - I am very proud of her for how smart she is.

Now... if I could only get her to clean her room.



Picture found in the school bulletin.



Car Crash in Randolph

Nick took the day off work to participate in the school's car crash. I decided to work from home so I could walk over to the school to watch my husband in action. It will probably be the only time I can watch him deal with an accident. The 7th through 12th graders gathered in the North Lot to watch what all goes on when kids drink and drive. I remember watching a similar scenario when I was a student at Burnsville High School. I got there just in time for the buses to reveal the hidden accident and the call from Empire Dispatch to all medics, troopers, sherrifs and the Randolph/Hampton Fire Department. Even though you know it is not a real accident, it was very hard listening to dispatch and all of the voices on the radio; the screams from the car. It didn't help that I was standing close to one of the speakers.

One victim was laying across the hood - pronounced dead at the scene.

A hearse was called to the scene.

 The roof of the car needed to be cut off to get the driver out and onto a backboard.

The Rochester Mayo One helicopter was called to the scene.

The body of the deceased teenager was covered in a white sheet.

The driver, best friend of the deceased teenager, was given a field sobriety test next to the hearse.

She failed the test and was placed under arrest for vehicular homocide.

Afterwards parents of a teenager who died due to a friend drinking and driving April 2010 spoke to the school. They were informed by a sheriff that their daughter was in an accident and is missing. Missing because the car went into the Cannon River and their daughter couldn't be found. They search for their daughter's body for 87 days. Eighty-Seven day! My heart sank listening to them recount those events; listening as they did their best to hold themselves together. She read a letter that their daughter's best friend wrote a year after the accident. That was pretty powerful.

10 hours later - it still gives me the shivers. I can only pray that my children will know right from wrong when it comes to drinking and driving, texting and driving, or being inattentive while driving.

In Memory of Grace

On November 18, 2003 Grace Burlage was born.

Grace is a wonderful little girl who has a Meningioma brain tumor. She had her first brain surgery when she was 2. Then radiation for 7 weeks when she was three. At five, she had two different forms of Chemo, and two more brain surgeries. At six Grace had Proton Therapy Radiation in Indiana. On Dec. 30th we found out that her tumor is growing again, and the doctor's cannot do anything else.
(Taken from CaringBridge.com)



On November 12, 2011 Grace lost her battle and became an angel.

Today is the last day of Church School and as a way to remember Grace the children helped plant a tree for her. I'm pretty sure it's a crabapple tree - the same one we have in our front yard. It will be beautiful!

You will never be forgotten Little Gracie Burlage.

Triple Trouble

Sam: "Here Momma - let's do something."
Me: "What's that?"
Sam: "Mackenzie's Mom did this - see watch."
Me: "Oh - neat..." confused as to what was so special.
Sam: "Take our picture now."

Yup - My three cuties - Triple Trouble!