Family, Fun and Lots of Memories!

The Christmas week started off with a trip to Chicago for me.  It was a very last minute trip for a very short meeting.  I made the most of the trip by taking in all of the sites on the walk to my meeting.  I took a picture with "the bean", strolled by Trump Tower, the Public Library, City Hall and so many other cool sites.  It was a very nice downtown, and it was beautifully decorated for the holidays.

 

The girls had no school on Friday, and I had one last day of work.  I was trying to pack a lot of stuff in that day.  Grandma asked if the cousins wanted to go ice skating.  Of course they did.  They skated for nearly 4 hours and were thoroughly exhausted by the end of it. 

 

We woke up Saturday morning to a bunch of snow.  It was the "pretty perfect" kind for building a snow man.  The girls were super excited and rushed outside to build Frosty.  After that, they helped me shovel the driveway.  They are pretty good eggs!

 

Our church had a Christmas program this year.  They do not have one every year.  Kendall was super excited to participate.  Sidney initially opted out, but after attending a few practices and seeing how much fun they were all having, she decided to jump in.  The play was three acts and VERY funny.  One of Sidney's friends, Rose, did an exceptional job in delivering her hysterical lines. 

 

 

 After church, the cousins got together to help Grandma make Krumkake.

We spent the day visiting and enjoying each other.

Before we knew it, the time to get ready for Christmas Eve dinner had arrived.  Sidney decided to make our place cards this year.  She had concocted this idea in her head (or so she tells me).  I think they turned out pretty cute!

After a delicious Lutefisk dinner (can you hear the sarcasm in my voice), the girls each entertained us.  Sidney read a book to everyone, and Kendall played a few Christmas songs on the piano.

Cody was Santa this year, and the girls were his mischievous elves passing out presents.

After opening gifts, we let the BINGO games begin.  This has become a favorite tradition with lots of fun and surprises. 

Christmas day was pizza and present time.  I skipped over the part in which we had zero to no sleep Christmas Eve night.  Kevin and I went to bed shortly after midnight.  Kendall woke up screaming at 3am, because Sidney had rolled on top of her (they were sharing an air mattress while family was here).  After we (or me) got that situation under control, we got about one more hour of sleep until Kendall woke up screaming again because Sidney had vomited on her.  I suspect the vomiting was a result of all the junk food she ate.  By the time we had the girls out of the shower and the bedding in the washing machine, it was 4:30 am.  We all tried to lay our heads back down, but after about 15 minutes we figured we might as well get up. 

Santa had brought the girls each brand new bikes.  Grandma and Papa had bought them each one of those polaroid cameras (just like the "old days").  They were busy taking pictures all day long.  After dinner, everyone drove out to see the lights at Indian Creek.  Sidney, Grandma and I held the fort down at home. 

I took the week off work and have been having a lot of fun.  Kendall and I have been planning her birthday celebration. We have watched a ton of movies, shopped a bit and visited Jump Time.  Kendall mastered the Ninja warrior course several times over.

Sidney opted for the trampolines. 

It was another amazing Christmas.  We count each of these as a blessing and a miracle.  Kevin finished his last day of radiation today.  He continues the immunotherapy tomorrow.  I will admit that there are times we have to be remind ourselves not to let the little things get us down and to appreciate each other even when we are tired or angry.  Through it all, we continue to be thankful for each and every day.  Onward to 2018!

Caroling at the Garden Aglow.

Kendall and her choir group were invited to sing Christmas carols at the Winter Garden Aglow again this year.  Sid and Hannah decided to join us.  Hannah had caroling on her 'wish list', so I told them it would be fine if Hannah crashed their caroling group.  Kendall thought that was hilariously covert and said Miss McBean gave them the side eye a couple of times trying to figure out who Hannah was.  While they were caroling, Sid and I took in the lights.  The first thing that she asked was if Santa was there.  She walked toward the Santa tent fully determined to visit the old man.  As we approached, she asked to take a peak at him and promptly decided she did not need to see him.

 



Sid seemed to really enjoy the night.  She did not remember going there as a wee one.  She finally believed me when I showed her the spot that we had taken a family picture years ago.  The picture had turned out such that Kevin looked like he had a lighted Christmas tree on his head.  We always laugh at that.  Once she saw the spot, she was convinced she had been there.

We caught up with the carolers and enjoyed listening to a few Christmas songs.

Sidney was anxious to get some hot cocoa and cookies, so we headed over to do that.

Soon after, her friend Mia arrived.  After that, I was an after thought.  The two of them took off to do some exploring of their own.

The last caroling spot was the Garden Cottage. 

Once the carolers were done, they also went for hot cocoa.  Leave it to these two girls to stage some crazy antics.

Last week, I took a day trip to Denver.  I met up with Janelle for a few meetings.  The city was beautiful.  No snow, but still beautiful.

Larimer square was all lit up.  It was a great trip!



Sidney Drama and the Chocolate Room.

Sidney has been taking Drama Club after school for the last couple of years.  It has helped her so much.  This week, her class will be doing a parent presentation to finish off before winter break.  I will be heading out of town for a work trip, so I decided to crash her dress rehearsal last week.  They did three different skits.  The first was a silent skit in which the kids acted out a corn field scene in which the crows attack.  The entire theme had to be communicated through actions instead of words.

The second act involved each student pairing up with another student to perform a small stand up comedy routine. 

The last act was a short play that took place in an assisted living facility.  Each of the kids played elderly people.  It was a very funny comedy that involved Wheel of Fortune and hearing aids that were not quite working.

The third graders have a tradition of reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  As part of the unit, each student can choose from a list of projects.  Kendall had chosen to do a diorama.  Sidney thought it was so cool that she chose to do a diorama as well.  She depicted the chocolate room out of fully edible materials.  She and I ate quite a bit of junk as we put this together.  Since we only needed the green M&M's, the red ones were fair game!

She used candy canes and marshmallows for the mushrooms and a Hershey kiss to represent the tree.  She made hills out of gum strips.  There was a boat full of Oompa Loompa's made of flattened starburst and sour patch kids.  Augustus Gloop was entering the chocolate tube, with Willy Wonka (in red) waiting at the bottom.

She was so excited to start the project.  She drew a picture of the project and made a list of all the supplies she would need.  She spent an afternoon putting it together and writing the narrative. 

Christmas Piano Recital.

Kendall had a Christmas piano recital last Sunday.  It was such a nice event.  Each student played two Christmas songs (bonus:  no repeats). 

Kendall practices her recital songs to the degree that she nearly has them memorized.  That coupled with nerves often result in a very 'fast' version of the song.  Kevin and I reminded her to slow down.  In fact, to almost intentionally play slower.  Enjoy the moment. 

 

When it was her turn, she heeded our advice.  She played beautifully.  She was relaxed and did an incredible job.

The recital hall has a camera above the piano keys, which I just love.  It allows us to see the pianists hands while they perform.

Miss Margaret does a great job of hosting the recital.  She always closes with a song of her own.  She teaches such a wide variety of students from young to old and barely experienced to concert pianists.  I love watching each of them play.  It also gives such vision and inspiration to the other students.

Idaho Steelheads Hockey, the Elf and the Angels.

Kendall's choir group was invited to sing the National Anthem at an Idaho Steelhead's hockey game again this year.  I was on a work trip last year and missed the game, so I was super excited to go this year.  Kendall went to the game early with her friend Rayah.  The choir caroled on the Grove beforehand.  Kevin, Terrell, Sid and I had a bit of fun ourselves taking selfies in front of the Grove Christmas tree.

Miss McBean always does a great job of preparing the kids.  They did not disappoint.  The kids were clear and on key.  Way to go!

Sid found Mia and hung out with her most of the game.

 She did manage to stop by for a quick snuggle!

The game was pretty tame.  It was tied going into the last period.  With only 39 seconds left in the game, the opposing team scored.  WHAT?!?!?

Sid and Mia wanted to check the arena out.  I volunteered to take them, but it was clear they wanted me to stay at least five steps behind.  Sidney embarrasses so easy.  I do feel that it is my duty to embarrass her, so I periodically break out in song or dance.  No wonder she tries to keep her distance:)

 

Kendall and her choir friends were the "where's waldo" of the night.  They were featured on the jumbo Tron a handful of times.

Their selfies were also posted on the digital board.  They could also be found on the ice, clearing pucks between periods.

For the past several years, Sidney has been pleading for an Elf of the Shelf.  I have given her a resounding "NO".  Why would I subject myself to a daily task of antics from this little elf?  Kevin was having a weak moment and decided to get her one.  As I mentioned before, I am SO not responsible for this little elf's behavior.  I am not exactly sure who keeps moving him each day, maybe it really is magical.  This is how I found our nutty little elf this morning. 

 

I collect Willow Tree Angels.  I always try to get a new one for my collection to commemorate special occasions.  While Kevin was being fitted for his radiation mask last week, I took a stroll down to the hospital gift shop.  I had been looking for a Willow Tree to remember the trip my mom and I took to Magnolia Farms.  I could not believe my eyes when I saw the newest angel, "Magnolia". 

 

While I was at the gift shop, the ladies that worked there told me it was their open house.  They offered me some yummy cookies and asked me to enter my name into the drawing.  That evening, I received a call that I had won the Grand Prize, a Willow Tree Angel signed by the artist Susan Lordi.  She is called Beautiful Wishes.  A gathering of Beautiful Wishes for you - love, health, happiness.

Happy Birthday Kevin!

Kevin celebrated his 47th birthday this week.  Each year brings extra special meaning.  Terrell made a dinner with all of his favorites.  The Eason's joined us for the celebration.

Our favorite presents are always the ones that the girls make for us.  Sidney made her dad a stress ball.

Kendall drew him an awesome picture!

The girls were great hostesses for the evening.  They showered lots of love on Kevin.

Kevin's birthday was preceded by quite an eventful week for our family.  We had all been very sick over the Thanksgiving holiday.  Just as I was recovering from the flu, I got a major respiratory cold.  I was scheduled to fly to Chicago Wednesday morning and return late Friday night.  The Sunday before, I was feeling horrible, and my gut was telling me I should not make the trip.  I called my boss to discuss my options.  We decided that I would participate in the meeting remotely. 

I am very grateful that I listened to my gut, because the week turned out to be nuts.  I remained very sick throughout the week, but was at least able to function.  Kevin was scheduled for a quick outpatient knee surgery on Tuesday afternoon (another story).  He was supposed to head home about one hour after the surgery.  About 6 hours after they surgery, they were unable to take him off oxygen without his levels dropping.  They decided to admit him overnight.  He was pretty sick, and they continued to keep him on oxygen.  The following morning, they released him and kept him on oxygen at home.  They coordinated with his oncologist for follow up, as we had appointments scheduled with him on Friday.

Early Friday morning, Kevin had his first CT scan in 3 months.  We were given the results Friday afternoon.  The cancer had started to progress.  The doctor presented Kevin with a number of options, all of which included going back to chemotherapy.  Several of the chemotherapies were formations that he had already been on and had discontinued either due to ineffectiveness or toxicity.  Kevin was not fired up about this.  Mentally and physically this did not seem like a good option.  After some thought, the doctor gave us an additional option, which we agreed to do.  It is a course of action that is still being studied.  They decided to radiate one of the lymph nodes that had grown.  It was located in an area away from his previous radiation.  It was also far enough away from the lungs that they could do it relatively safely.  There are 3-4 other tumors that are growing that will not be radiated.  The notion is that radiating the one lymph node will activate the immune system and allow the immunotherapy drugs to start working again, hopefully triggering it to go after the other tumors. 

Kevin was fitted for a radiation mask yesterday.  Super cool process.  He has decided that it was similar to a Hans Solo, Star Wars scene.  He has also determined that he is asking to keep the mask once radiation is done.  He will start 13 consecutive days of radiation next Monday.  He will finish before Christmas - woot woot!  In the meantime, they will continue with the immunotherapy infusions.  Here is to another adventure in the world of medicine.  Keep us in your prayers!