Two Years and Counting!

Two years ago today at 910am the Dr put Mr Ethan Martin Pressgrove into my arms.  And they let me take him home!  He has grown so much.  He loves to sing and is usually smiling.  He is learning so much each day and amazes me at the amount of energy that he has.  he loves to read books and the movie Cars, and has started to enjoy the Toy Story series.  He is even starting to like his brother.  He gives the best hugs and kisses and is always willing to share them.  Here is to you Ethan!  We love you!

Chunk or Treat!

So here is the only picture we have of the boys in their Halloween costumes.  We were at the Trunk or Treat at church.  Seconds after this was taken Ethan started puking in the back of Mandy's car.  Sorry Mandy, I hope the smell came out.  Can't you tell they are just thrilled to be in their costumes.

So on actual Halloween day, I decided that we would make cupcakes.  So here is Ethan helping me frost them.  I had turned my back to get something from the fridge, and he had decided to finish sprinkling the cupcakes for me, he knows he did a great job!  just look at that cute smile

Saying goodbye

So when Kevin left for Korea (the 1st time) Delta was kind enough to give us passes to clear security so we could spend more time with him before he left.  So here are a couple of pictures of that.  Keep im mind these were taken around 4AM

Bitter Sweet

So as you all know, we lost Mom unexpectedly this past September.  It is hard to believe that it has been two and a half months already.  There are days that it seems so long ago, and there are days that it seems as if just happened the day before.  But we continue on.  Here are some photos of  the viewing in TX (there were some family pictures taken that I would like a copy of for those who have them please), the road trip to UT, and some of the graveside (after the services).  My cousin Syd, was kind enough to take pictures during the graveside services, I just have to see if she would be willing to email some of them for me.  I do have to mention how greatful I am for Kevin's mom for coming in the middle of the night so i would not be alone and staying with us until we returned from UT.  She dropped everything and stayed with us for two weeks with out hesitation.

more growing

Here are some more random pictures of what we have been up to.  I still have to download pictures off my cell phone for the airshow and what ever else is on there.

As Time Goes by

So over the last couple of months life hasgone on.  What can I say kids grow they play bills still need to be paid.  Unfortunatly, we can't just hide under the covers all day and pretend that the events of the last couple of months never happened, but they did.
So her are some random photos of what we have been up to. (They are in no particular order)

cousin Heath's 1st birthday party

double the bubbles

 

why cry over spilled milkshakes

what's for dinner hot stuff?



This is my chair...



This is my brain on Diet Coke.....any questions?

Well, the last couple of months I have kind of been in a funk.  Between Mom passing, Mandy's father-in-law passing 3 1/2 weeks later, Kevin going back to Korea (only 46 more weeks to go), and 2 kids that decide to get sick two days after Kevin leaves i haven't felt like doing much of anything.  I don't remember what it is like to sleep through the night or to wake up with what sleep i was able to get with out two small children in bed (one of which i don't remember taking out of the crib and bringing to bed with me).  I doesn't look like much is getting done, even though i spend most of my days doing laundry, dishes, and changing diapers.  Can i just tell you how much I miss the cleaning lady.
I crave nap time for the boys, the trick is to get them back on the same nap schedule so i might get a nap.  Ethan sadly has begun to out grow naps.  It is becoming a rare occasion that i can get him to go down, and it never fails with in minutes of him going down, Blayne is awake.   And if i can get Ethan down, it is no longer the 2 1/2 hr naps he once took, but more around an hour. 
 Then there is dealing with Mom's "stuff". That is a catagory all it's own, and there are days I just want to pull my hair out.
My goal of quiting diet coke is now on the back burner, it is what get's me to the end of the day most days.
This week I have started going back to the gym.  With the supervised play room for the kids, i think this will be part of an almost daily routine.  If for no other reason than to keep my sanity and for some mommy time.  It has been about two months, and i can tell when i get on the treadmill that i can't jog or run as long as i used to, but i can now run/jog for 2 1/2 minutes without holding on for dear life and wanting to pass out or cry.  I can then finish my time by walking, now up to 35min. ( i was up to 60min).
All I know is that it is going to be a very LONG year.

With love...

I think this is the most perfect picture that shows Mom's personality.  She loved her chunky jewelry and always had her glasses sitting on her head (and could never find them).

Sadly, Mom unexpectedly passed away on 9 Sept 2010 due to complications from her treatment in her fight against breast cancer.  She was an amazing woman who always found something positive in everything she did.  She even considered this bought with cancer as an inconvenience.  She was the best mom, and an even better grandmother.  She loved life and all it had to offer (good bad or ugly).  Where do I begin?  There is so much to share.  All I know is that I am blessed to have been able to come home and live with Mom for a couple of months and that my boys had the opportunity to know what fun she was and how much she loved them.  I am grateful for the family that I have and the love and support that they have shown to me and my sister and our families during this time.  I know that through our Heavenly Father's plan, this separation is temporary, and that we have been blessed to be an eternal family and we WILL see her again.  I know that she is whole and without pain and is surrounded by her parents and her brother that went before her.

She will be missed.

Day at the beach

We wanted to do as much as we possibly could before Kevin leaves for Korea.  One of the things was to go to Corpus Christi to the beach, and while we were there see the USS Lexington and the Aquarium.  I found a hotel right on the beach and next to the USS Lexington and on the other side of the Lexington was the Aquarium. It was the perfect spot and we had a room of the beach side.  It was great! again no pictures of us in the water, was not going to get sand and salt water all over the camera.

Shaving of the head!

No, not my head.  So mom is undergoing Chemo for Breast Cancer.  It was a big shock to us all when they found it.  She was told of all the side effects that she would have including that her hair WOULD fall out.  So far she gets a bit queasy, and tires easily.  So she didn't believe that her hair would fall out.  Little by littler her hair started to break off, then it started to fall out more and more each day.  She started to look like the refugee with mange.  At that time it was time to shave it off.  So we gathered everyone together especially the grandkids to shave off the remainder of her hair.  We were trying to make it a fun thing so the kids could see it was Grandma who chose to take it off and try and make it fun.  So the kids wanted to see Grandma with a mohawk, so they got their wish (even if just long enought for a photo opp.).  Jared did the honors of shaving it all off.