A Fishing Trip to Remember.

Last fall, while Kevin was spending the day in the chemo chair, one of the nurses told him about a retreat that was happening.  It was a fly fishing retreat for men with "life impacting illnesses".  Initially he declined, because he was supposed to host a volleyball tournament the same weekend.  However, after a bit of brainstorming, we found a way for him to go.  Much of the tournament was already set up.  Valerie stepped up and volunteered to coordinate and be there in Kevin's absence.  Terrell, I and the girls also went to help out.  He had a number of staff members that had already signed up to work the tournament, so he had nothing to worry about. 

 

In hindsight, I am so glad that we were able to pull it off.  I truly believe that it was a weekend that changed Kevin forever.  The impact was huge, some of which he has shared.  Other parts of it, he kept to himself and will always be something that remains in his heart. 

 

The organization that put the retreat on was called Idaho 2 Fly.  The retreat took place at Three Rivers Ranch in Warm River, Idaho.  It was a time for the men to escape the realities of what they are going through and share some of the things that they find difficult to share with others.

 

Kevin's smile says it all.

Kevin still keeps in contact with his guide and some of the other men that he met that weekend.  What a blessing!

 

Here is a picture of all of the guests that attended and the fishing guides.

The Interview (Part Deux).

As we were doing Kendall's birthday interview, Sidney informed me that she did not do one this year.  So, here goes...

The Interview
1. What is your favorite toy? Doll.

2. What is your favorite fruit?  Halo.

3. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?  Chicken Nuggets.

4. What is your favorite game? Twister.

5. What is your favorite song? Hey Mama and Cheerleader

6. What is your favorite book? Junie B. Jones

7. Who is your best friend? Elona

8. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Go swimming.

9. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Monkey.

10. What do you want to be when you grow up?  Teacher.

11. I am very proud because… I have a family.

12. If I were President I would… I don't know what to say about this one.

13. I am afraid to ...touch fire.

14. Name one thing you do really well?  Sing.

15. What makes you feel sad?  Someone yelling at me.

16. What makes you feel happy?  My dog.

17. Pretend that you can fly whenever you wanted. Where would you go?  Zoo.

18. If I could choose a different name, I would choose…Nicole.

19. What is your favorite thing to do with Dad?  Hang out.

20. What is your favorite thing to do with Mom?  Snuggle.

21. What is your favorite thing to do with Kendall?  Play school.

Wishes for the Birthday Girl!

Where has the time gone?  Kendall turned nine years old this month.  I love this sweet girl.

 

...and this sweet girl.  

 

Kendall celebrated twice this year.  We had a birthday party with family.  Grandma Karen was able to come down for that.  It was so great to have my mom here for a few days.

Sidney wrapped up some of her most favorite things to give to Kendall for her birthday.

Kendall also had a spa party to celebrate the day with a few of her friends.  The girls had arranged all of the nail polish by color.  See...my crazy organizational skills do not fall far from the tree.

Kendall, with Cortni and Rachel, getting their foot soak.  I do not know what it is about this age, but pictures are not complete without a few goofy signs.

Grandma Terrell came over to help. She did the girls manicures, while I did the pedicures.  Sidney and Hannah soaking their fingers.

Beautiful toes.

Fabulous fingers.

Check out this amazing cake.  Grandma Terrell outdid herself again!

 

The girls had such a blast relaxing, running around the house, playing outside and eating some of their favorite foods.

 

 Kendall took had several opportunities to make Birthday wishes this year.  She took it very seriously.

I hope all of her wishes and dreams come true!

The Interview
1. What is your favorite toy? Ipod.

2. What is your favorite fruit?  Pear.

3. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?  I don't have a favorite.

4. What is your favorite game? Apples to Apples.

5. What is your favorite song? Wildest Dreams (T. Swifty)

6. What is your favorite book? Island by Gordon Korman

7. Who is your best friend? Hannah Nelson

8. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Cartwheels.

9. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? My dog (Chili Bean).

10. What do you want to be when you grow up?  Popstar.

11. I am very proud because… of my grades.

12. If I were President I would… do nothing.  BTW...I am not the President.

13. I am afraid to ...ride wooden roller coasters.

14. Name one thing you do really well?  Math.

15. What makes you feel sad?  When people die.

16. What makes you feel happy?  Taylor Swift's music.

17. Pretend that you can fly whenever you wanted. Where would you go?  Florida.

18. If I could choose a different name, I would choose…Ariana.

19. What is your favorite thing to do with Dad?  Play Basketball.

20. What is your favorite thing to do with Mom?  Exercise with weights.

21. What is your favorite thing to do with Sidney?  Play school.

A Very Blessed Christmas.

We had an amazing Christmas.  It was filled with lots of food, family, rest and fun.  The girls organized most of the event.  Kendall was quite the planner.  She had a schedule of events with several "tips".

The girls made these place markers for each person.

They each decorated one of the tables for Christmas Eve Dinner.

We had a Norwegian dinner with Lutefisk and Potato Sausage (and a spiral ham of course).

The evening was filled with lots of love and hugs. 

 

Kevin received lots of fly fishing gear for Christmas this year.  He is ready to hit the streams.

Sidney played the little elf all day.  What a cutie!

The girls had fun opening a very tiny gift that was wrapped inside several large boxes.  What was the tiny gift?  An Ipod!  They were ecstatic.

 

The holiday was filled with a number of special gifts.  Kevin and the girls got me this handmade wooden box.  It is engraved "Family is Forever".  The wood shop at one of Kevin's schools made it.

Kevin and I got the girls these beautiful family necklaces.  They are engraved to each of the girls and say "A Father's Love Lasts Forever".

Each of the necklaces came with this engraved jewelry box.

 

We are so grateful to have been able to spend this holiday together!

Holiday Fun.

The girls had a number of different holiday activities at their school this year.  The first graders did an amazing Christmas musical.  I am always amazed at how well the music teachers can get the kids to perform.  The first graders told a story through song about a little girl and her snowman. 

 

Here are a few of the cast of characters.  I expect to see the little girl on the left on the big screen someday.  She was amazing.  She was able to memorize all of her lines.

The school had a writing night a few weeks back, complete with milk and cookies.  Sidney was not able to go, since she had come down with Strep Throat (ugh!).  Kendall and I were able to make it.  The kids had written some zany holiday stories. 

 

Kendall's story was about her and Taylor Swift.

During the writing night, the kids brought their stories to life.  Kendall took a picture of her sitting down and drew a picture of Taylor Swift.  The pictures were put inside of  "snow globe" that showed the two of them riding in a limo.  

 Each of the girls had holiday parties, which I was fortunate enough to attend both.  They were back to back with 5 minutes in between.  I could not have planned that better myself.  The first graders made gingerbread houses.  Each of the kids received a plate of goodies to decorate their house with.  I can say with certainty that Sidney did not have a chance with those chocolate covered pretzels.  They ended up in my belly.  Making houses is hard work, a girl needs her nourishment!

Sidney made a candy cane castle with her goodies.

 Of course, she needed some nourishment too.  Her substance of choice...vanilla wafers.

Kendall's class had a number of different activities going on.  First stop...cookie decorating.

Next stop, the munchie station.  Leave it to Kendall, to find a way to make eating entertaining.

The whole crew got in on the action.

Leaving the Chocolate Room...

Kendall's reading group has been reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  They were tasked with completing an assignment at the end.  Kendall chose to do a diorama of the Chocolate Room. 

 

Here is a closer look at her diorama.

I asked Kendall to describe what she did:

"The chocolate tube was taken from one of the Christmas tubes that hold candy.  I put paper towels in it and I stuck Augustus Gloop inside of it.  The people are made of baking clay that I painted.  The Oompa Loompas are also made of baking clay.  The ground is made of miniature marshmallows that I glued then painted.  The chocolate river is made of Nutella.  The boats are made of the ends of candy canes that kept falling off.  The path is made of Starburst candy.  In the picture Mr. Willy Wonka is tipped over."