A weekend at the cabin.

I don't have any pictures of this (I forgot the camera) but I do need to document it.

A perfect evening, cool breeze blowing, warm, glowing fire, s'mores, and Svata sitting by the fire...playing with his iphone. Need I say more?

My dad emailed me this picture of the view from our cabin. Not too shabby, eh?

Fun Run

Last week Sofie's school had a Fun Run Fundraiser. The kids walked/ran a little over 2 miles. It was the PERFECT day. The sun was shining, a cool breeze, and there was excitement and anticipation in the air. This was farther than most young kids would normally walk or run on their own, in fact I heard one of Sofie's classmates telling their teacher, "this Fun Run isn't very fun!" So funny, and so cute. Sofie has a little bout of whiny-ness in the middle, but she got over it and ended up having a blast. Thomas had fun too. I pushed him in the stroller for about 2 blocks and then it was, "I run, I run, I run!" like a broken record until I let him out to run. And that he did. For the next 2 miles! After the race there was an assembly where they gave out prizes for those who had raised money. Sofie was one of the top three earners, so got some special recognition, and that was really fun to see.


Sofie, with her friends Keira and Cambree.


Their AMAZING teacher, Mrs. Thayer. And when I say amazing, I'm not kidding!


Thomas running.


Sofie taking care of her little brother. She is such a good sister (except of course, when she is tormenting him:)


All of us.


Sofie with her Principal getting her award.

And have I mentioned how much we are LOVING Kindergarten?!

A Busy Weekend...

I had my first "real" food catering job this weekend (until now, I have only done desserts). It was so much fun...

I will be keeping in the theme of "petite" foods for all of my catering, still compiling a savory foods menu, but here are a few pics.


Fancy Little Cheese Balls


Mini Sandwiches


Tomato and Fresh Thyme Tartlets


Also did some desserts - these are Coconut Macaroon Tarts with a Lemon Curd Filling.

I am having so much fun doing this! I hope you will all keep helping me spread the word! You can see more pictures on my Très Sucré Blog.

Fun With Friends...

What do you think? A match made in heaven?...




Thomas and Lila sittin' in a tree...

We finally went out on the lake (now that it's about to close for the season:) I guess our Summer months were too packed with swimming, sprinklers, friends, and oh yes, BRAIN SURGERY!


Thomas, Lila, Ethan, Sofie


Sofie and Reagan at the school service project making blankets for the fire station.

And this one's for my family (the Service side)...


Went in to get a caramel apple, but ended up getting a picture of a BATBEAR! Gotta love those stories, and ya gotta love Grandpa...

Picture Catch Up...

I have been a blog slacker, so now it's time to play catch up...

From Gymnastics 2008

Sofie had a gymnastics recital.

From Gymnastics 2008

She did a great job!

From September 2008

My cousin, Breck, brought us dinner and let us play with her ADORABLE baby, Quinn! Thanks Breck!

From September 2008

WE went to the Dinosaur Museum with another cousin, Ashlie, and her son, Caleb. WE had so much fun! Sofie ran through the whole place and never stopped talking she was so excited about it!

From September 2008

Sofie digging for dinosaur bones!

From September 2008

My mom and I basically kidnapped my hubby and made him get out of the house. But after we got there we realized that lunch with my kids - probably not the best activity for someone who just had brain surgery! They were their loud crazy usual selves...

From September 2008

But he was a good sport about it anyway!

From September 2008

We went to Wheeler Farm with Ashlie, Mack, and Breck. So much fun! (Waiting for Mack to email the pic of all of us;) In this pic Thomas is talking to the "duck". He pretty much thinks all birds are ducks. But he's so cute, he'll get by on his looks, right?

From September 2008

Caleb and Sofie at the farm.

From September 2008

Thomas talking to more "ducks". He kept bending down to each one and saying "Hi guys!"

From September 2008

Thomas, Sofie, and Caleb looking at the turkeys.

From September 2008

I wish I would have caught the look of total amazement at the "truck" but I couldn't get my camera out fast enough. He's a little bit obsessed. In fact, he has some truck books and he wakes up EVERY morning asking not for mommy or daddy or food, but for his "Big Trucks" books.

From September 2008

Mackenzie's cute little girl, Cecelia throwing rocks in the water.

From September 2008

Sofie collecting rocks, over which we would soon after have a big fight when I didn't let her put them all in my purse!

From September 2008

And I baked cupcakes...

From September 2008

And it was so fun to be in the kitchen again!

From September 2008

My kids enjoyed it too!

It's nice to be back to normal life again!! I have even more pics on my camera to download, but that'll have to wait another day!

Oh Happy Day...

I have received letters of acceptance to College, Dance Programs, Study Abroad Programs, Mission Calls, and many exciting ventures throughout my life... But NEVER have I been as thrilled as I was to receive a letter of acceptance to MEDICAID. That's right people, we are officially poor, and I couldn't be happier. This means that Medicaid will pick up 100% of my hubby's hospital bills. That's $80,000 and counting, or 80,000 pounds of weight that has just been lifted from our shoulders... Oh happy day indeed.

A new normal and a pile of paperwork.

Svata has been home from the hospital for 9 days. We are finally beginning to settle in to our normal routine. Or maybe in to what is to be our new "normal" routine. Now that the dust has settled and we have had time to ponder the weight of what we have just been through, I am beginning to realize that life will never be the same for us.
Although it wasn't really on a conscious level, I have always felt invincible. I have never even for a second felt the fear that life is short, or that something tragic might happen to me or to my family. I have always been optimistic and I have always had the undying belief that everything will be ok. It wasn't until I saw my husband lying there in pain crying out of sheer exhaustion that I first realized that maybe things aren't always going to be okay. It's really kind of sad to have to let go of that innocence.
Everyone keeps asking us how we are doing, and I keep saying that we are doing great, considering. My husband is having a hard time dealing with this whole thing. Coming to grips with our own mortality, and realizing that life is out of our control, are hard concepts to embrace. Understand, he is fine. Medically speaking, he will most likely make a complete recovery from this (assuming his vision restores itself). But he will never be the same. He lays down at night and panics, and ends up pacing the floor until the wee hours of morning or falling asleep upright at his computer. I've been reflecting on this whole new chapter of our life for a couple of days now and it's hard. Never again will I have that sense of security that I once had. Never again will I (and I know it was naive to begin with) assume that we will live forever in this peaceful and perfect little life.
On the bright side of this, though, is a new perspective. We have come to realize how much we really mean to each other and what really matters to our happiness. I have a renewed love for my husband (not that I didn't love him before, but maybe in the 9 years of day to day to day... I had forgotten how much I loved him) and a renewed appreciation for this life we have together.
And to my husband, in his words (while in the hospital, pumped full of who-knows-what) I say, "I know I don't say this very often, but I love you so much." (I asked him if he remembered saying that, and he claims that he does, so I'll take it as doctrine:)

And if you all are wondering what prompted this somewhat grim entry... I have been writing letters and filling out paper work all afternoon for financial assistance. Yeah, that's right, since my husband is currently unemployed we have no health insurance. Talk about some (bleep) for luck. We have had insurance our whole lives, and we have always been HEALTHY!!!! We received the first of what I'm sure will be many, many medical bills today (no rest for the weary, right?). A measly $48,000. Pocket change. Ok, maybe many pockets full of change. I'm pretty sure we will qualify for assistance and right now I can do nothing but laugh, because the alternative is to crawl into a cave or maybe fly off to Mexico and hide! Adiós amigos!