Cancer

Cancer.  My least favorite word I think.  So 3 years ago when I had Thyroid cancer I thought it was horrible.  I got surgery and did pretty well without that cancerous thyroid.  Every year I celebrated being cancer free.  Happy and cancer free.  I always said that I got my cancer young so I would never get it again.  Cancer should only happen to people once right?  Wrong.  30 years old, and cancer again.  This time it was Dermatofibrosarcoma Protrubrans, or DFSP.  Just a little bump on my left shoulder blade that looked suspicious.  One in a million they tell me.  Well isn't that nice.  I always knew I was one in a million!  So again, under the knife.  Twice actually.  Now I have a lovely 3.5 inch scar on my left shoulder.  They tell me that they got it all, but there is awaly a chance it could come back.  Great.  Now I have to follow up at the dermatologist office every 3 month, the endocrinologist office every year, etc.  I'm really freaking tired of going to doctors.  How many people do you know that have had 2 different kinds of cancer by 30 years old?!  Probably none, except me.  Guess I'm just the lucky one right?  I am of course extremely grateful that both of these cancers were found and treated in a timely manner.  But still, pissed that I have even had to deal with this cancer s*%! TWICE.  Let's hope the second time is for sure the last, and I pray for many more cancer free years to celebrate.

My favorite girls

Have I ever mentioned how much I love these 4 girls?  I love, love, love that I have 2 perfect nieces to go with my 2 perfect daughters.  Cody's parents have 3 grandaughters, my parents have 3 granddaughters.  Cody's parents have two 7 year olds and a 4 year old, and my parents have a 7 year old and two 4 year olds.  It really could not have worked out any better.  Alexis and Trista a closer than any cousins I have ever seen.  I am starting to see the same thing in Avery and Kodie.  I love that both of my girls have a best friend in their cousins, and I love that I have these 2 nieces to love with the other half of my heart.

(Alexis is a week older than Trista and Avery is 3 months older than Kodie.  Could never tell by the sizes though!  :))

Movies in my eyes

The other night I was putting Avey to bed.  She seemed super excited to be going to bed.  I asked her why she was so excited.  She said she couldn't wait to see the "movies in her eyes".  It took me a minute to get it, but I thought it was the cutest thing she has ever said.  She has dreams and remembers them!  She calls them movies.  I asked her what they were about.  She named off a ton of fun stuff, and names of people.  She said her movies are always happy movies.  I love that my little girls have pleasant things to dream of and are excited to experience these sweet "movies".

Easter 2011

This year was the first Easter I have ever had to work!  :(  So sad.  But Cody did a great job having the kids hunt eggs and going to his family Easter party at a park.  The kids loved what the bunny brought them, and had a blast with all their cousins and extended family.  Hopefully next year I won't have to work!

Even Ariel got a present from the Easter Bunny!

Hunting in the backyard

Pretty girls all done hunting the eggs the bunny hid!

Cody and his mom

The girls and their gma and cousin Trista

Cousin Easter egg hunt

Avery flying her kite

Alexis flying her kite

Trista, Alexis and Avery

The girls and their grandparents on Easter

The Easter Bunny 2011

We were at the mall the Friday before Easter and Avery saw the bunny.  She was dying to see him and sit on his lap.  So, we got in line.  Alexis looks at me and says, "Mom?  Do you think I should sit on him?".  I said, "Of course, why?".  She said, "Well, don't you think I am too old?".  And so it begins.  I never thought that at 7 she would be too old to sit on the Easter bunny! Ii explained to her that if she did not sit on his lap, he would not bring her a basket.  She hopped right up on to his lap then, but still thought she was too oldl.  Ugh.  I hate my children growing up!

Coloring Easter Eggs

Every year we color Easter eggs before Easter.  I love traditions like these and think that they are something my girls will always remember.  Traditions and family are what memories are made of.  This year Alexis invited her friend Paris over to color eggs.  The girls had so much fun making all the different colors and drawing on the eggs.  I'm sure the Easter bunny will love them!

60

My dad turned 60 on April 5th.  We had a party for him at his sister's house to celebrate the old man.  :)  I remember thinking how very old my parents were when they were in their 30s. To me they were ancient!  Well, 30s isn't looking so old to me anymore now that I am the one in my 30s!  But seriously my dad looks great for being 60!  Not a gray hair on his head and not even balding a little bit!  Family is very important to us so it was a lot of fun to be able to celebrate this occasion with most of our family there.  Happy Birthday Old Man!

The Birthday Boy Bob

The Birthday Boys beautiful granddaughters

GG and Joe (my mom's parents)

Bob and Jean (my dad's parents)

Papa and his girls :)

The girls and their grandparents

Only missing Mark!

The gang! (but I think Kodie got cut off!)

Lexie Lou is 7!!!

March 22 Alexis turned 7.  Something about her turning 7 really made me sad!  7 is soooo old, and therefore that makes me old!  I just really remember when she was born and I first became a mom.  Now she is 7 and smart as can be, athletic, funny, and the most lovable kid you'll ever meet.  She loves being in school, loves her friends, loves softball, her dog, and her family.  We had a party for her a tour house with a bounce house in the back.  She had friends from school and neighbors and lots of cousins come to party.  As always, a great time.  Happy 7th Birthday Lexie Lou!

Alexis and GG, her favorite person in the world! 

Applebees for dinner, they sang and brought her a smoothie :)

Cousin sleepover, Trista, Teeghan, Kodie, Maddie, Avery and Alexis

The monkeys, Kodie and Avery

She asked for money so she got a ton of cards and plenty of money to buy the Nintendo DSI she wanted! :)

SOFTBALL!!!

Alexis decided to keep playing softball this season, which made her dad and I VERY happy!  We both love softball, and Alexis is very good at it.  This season, Cody is the head coach of her team, so they are having a lot of fun, and we spend a lot of time at practice and games!  Avery loves to watch her sister play.  Avery has become kind of the team mascot!  Her team is called Orange Crush and she plays with Queen Creek Heat.  We are looking forward to hopefully many more years spent at the ball field with our girlies!

 (I made that banner!)

Coach Cody doing a dance at the opening ceremonies :)

Home Run!!  Go Lexis Lou!!