Off and running ...

Summer has taken off like a shot.  We took the girls to Disneyland the end of April and had a wonderful time.  We drove down and back taking two days each way.  On the way home, I told Dave and the girls that we were flying next time.  Got home and my sister called and asked if I wanted to tag along to my niece, Ashley's, graduation from Cal State Fullerton.  So a week and a half later I repeated the two day drive.  Am so happy that I went though, had a blast on the road trip with my sister and brother-in-law.  Dave was in charge of the girls for six days and did a great job.  Emily really missed me and I was greeted by her jumping into my arms when I got home.  The last couple of weeks of school went by quickly and ended on the 7th.  Rewarded the girls with a mini bike for their awesome grades.  Abbey made honor roll all three trimesters in 7th grade and Emily also excelled in several areas of her grades (they don't give A's etc. in elementary school).  They have been speeding around our property and are having a blast.!  Off to the Oregon Coast (Beverly Beach near Newport and Lincoln City) next month for a week of camping.  Am also hoping to get to Sacramento to visit Ashley's new apartment.

Kitchen Remodel

Our last week has been consumed with a kitchen remodel. We replaced the ugly tile counter tops with granite, installed a new cook top, wall oven and sink. Dave is going to tackle the back splash in a couple of days. A new coat of paint on the ceiling and walls and we will be finished. The kitchen already looks great and I can't wait to see the final result.

Snow!

The first decent snow of the season fell a couple of days ago and I am loving it! We are also replacing our kitchen counters with granite and are replacing the cook top and wall oven. Can't wait to see how it all turns out! The old kitchen was really looking old and tired. The girls are doing well. Abbey turns 13 on the 12th and I can't believe that she is almost a teenager. Time passes way too fast and I am trying to enjoy every minute with both of the girls. We are going to Disneyland the end of April and are heading to the Oregon coast in July to do some camping. Abbey is going to a conference at Shasta College in Redding next weekend. She has signed up for Optometry, Marine Biology, Cooking and Nutrition and Science seminars. There are a bunch of girls from the Junior High going and I think she will have a great time.

Another Year Has Passed!!

I can't believe it but it has been a year since I last posted!! I survived all my medical treatments and am now cancer free. Hopefully, I will never have to repeat the process again but I now know that I can do it! Now, if my hair would grow a little faster...

Went to Emily's band and choir concert tonight. The kids really were great! We are SO lucky to still have a music program in our school district.

Emily's 4th grade teacher was there and when we were talking about the busy week next week she mentioned how three years ago I had said I wasn't sure if I liked the idea of her low-key parties. What is really funny is that three years later, I LOVE her low-key parties!! It is really funny how your perspective changes over time. The school is really lucky to have Mrs. Isbell for a teacher. The kids learn so much in her class and she really prepares them for going on to the upper grades.

All I Want For Christmas.....

Besides a miracle and no chemo on the 27th? A Amazon Kindle. Can't wait to try it out, it looks like there is a new app where you can even cruise the internet with it. How fun, to be able to check email, etc. and not whip out the old laptop!! The girls are acting like royal pains in the neck. They do this every year and turn into possesed monsters right before Christmas. Driving us nuts, I sure hope that they simmer down so we can enjoy the two weeks of their break.

Poked and Proded!

We'll I have finished the last major test ordered by the doctors today. I have been injected with radiation and ultra sounded on every part of my body. The next test is a simple blood test then they start the chemo drugs flowing into my body. I am praying that my body tolerates the drugs with a minimum of side effects. One thing for sure, I am going to lose my hair. Ordered a wig today so I am prepared. I spent so much time growing out the bangs and layers of my hair and it is all going to be gone in the next month or so. Figures that I will be finished with everything the first of July. I made reservations to go camping for a week at the Oregon coast in August. Am so looking forward to having some time to rest and kick back away from the summer heat.

Long Time Gone

Wow, can't believe it has been a whole year since I my last post. Lots of things have happened, some good, some bad. The worst is that I was diagnosed with breast cancer in early October. Now, two surgeries later, I am waiting to see what the chemo doctor has in store. Following chemo I get blasted by radiation. Can't believe that I have cancer, no family history but it is the card that I have been dealt and I am going to deal with it like I deal with every other obstacle in my life, head on and taking no prisoners. There is only one option in my mind and that is to beat the monster and go on with life. I will be here for my girls!!!