When Jim and Karla and the kids moved to Canada 3 (almost 4) years ago it broke our hearts. We know its the best place for them to live and they are so happy there, but for our own selfish reasons, we wish they were still here. Its not often that there are two families where the parents and kids can all get along so seamlessly!
A few years ago Jim came back to visit his parents and he brought Naomi with him. We got to visit them and it was great! This year he brought Nathan with him and we got to spend the day with them yesterday.
Karla and I were thrilled when we found out we were pregnant at the same time. Then we found out we were having a boy and a girl and we obviously started planning their wedding! Well yesterday gave me reason to believe that this arranged marriage could maybe actually happen some day! Nathan and Lyla got along so wonderfully!
I started Saturday morning with Ashley doing the Color Run 5K. When we signed up we had all sorts of plans to train and run or at least jog it..... then Ash got pregnant and I got lazy.... so we walked it! But it was still a blast!
After that I had to hurry and get cleaned up to go to Hendrick's 2nd birthday party!
Then we headed over to Ashley's parents for their annual pig roast!
Its hard to wrap my mind around the fact that it was two years ago that I got that life shattering phone call. Lexi's memory has just become a part of our lives now, like she's always been in that spot of our souls. We have all found our own ways of continuing to live our lives, but they are not the same lives we had before she came. I see things differently now. I think about the things I say to people differently now. Its like you are a part of a club that nobody wants to be in. We've experienced something so horrific that nobody wants to talk about it. Nobody wants to believe that it can happen.
Almost all of my girlfriends are currently pregnant. I'm ecstatic for them. But I'm tarnished now. I know firsthand that things don't always go the way you plan and it terrifies me. I don't want to watch another person I love go through that. Waiting in that hospital while Em gave birth to Lexi, knowing that she was already gone just about broke me.
Its amazing to me that two years later whenever most of the time I'm ok - it can hit me in the oddest moment. It will just floor me with an overwhelming sense of disbelief. I just go right back to that day and that feeling of being helpless. Not being able to do ANYTHING to change the situation that was playing out in front of me.
So today - I ask you all to LOVE. Love in memory of Lexi. Love your family. Love your kids. Just hold everyone a little closer because today that is something you can do. Loving the people in your life is something that you can control.
Friday after work Lyla and I met her friend Alexis and her mom at the park. The girls played for a couple hours then Lyla and I went and got subs for dinner.
Saturday morning we got up and Lyla and I met Amanda and the girls at the park. They did the spray park and the playground. After that Lyla and I went and got haircuts then she went over to Amanda's for the rest of the afternoon. They did water balloons and swam in the pool. Before bed Saturday night we set off fireworks at the house.
Sunday morning Lyla and I took her bike (minus her training wheels!) and went to practice! She is thisclose to doing it on her own! She can do it, she just isn't confident in it yet. We are working at it though and I got a serious workout helping her!
After that we went home and got ready and headed to Indiana County for a festival that ended with a Clarks concert and fireworks. Lyla was in her glory - there were tons of bounce houses!
Then it was time for the concert! I was so excited to take Lyla to see the Clarks. They are my favorite group to go see! She asked me how many times I have seen them and I honestly don't know. I would guess around 20 times. And it made me so happy that she loved them too! It was nice because it wasn't super crowded so her and I were able to go down front and dance the whole time! After the show we hung around and I got her picture taken with Greg from the band! She's my little groupie in training! After the concert we stayed for the fireworks then headed home. It was a late night, but totally worth it!
Today Lyla and I got up and got ready and went back to the park (again - I might as well set up a tent and start sleeping there) and met her friend Hailey, her mom and little sister to play for a few hours. The girls had a blast playing and the moms really enjoyed chatting! ;)
Then we came home and spent the rest of the day with Gary!
And just to end the weekend with a giggle - this is my favorite picture from the weekend. I like to call it "How my family REALLY feels about the selfie stick"
This past Saturday I finally gave my mom her Christmas present... six months after the fact!
For Christmas I got her tickets to see Chicago at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh. Mom and I took advantage of the reason to be downtown and went down early to walk around and explore. We walked down to the point and took a selfie in front of the fountain. Mom can cross the point off of her Burgh Bucket List now! :)
We had such a fun day together. Its not very often that we get to hang out just the two of us anymore and it was a really special day!
