Day at the Park

This past Saturday we spent the day at the Riverfront Park in Spokane. My mom wanted to have one last get together before my sister, Leisha headed back home to New York with her family. So we met at the big red wagon, had some pictures taken and then ate a picnic lunch.

My sister, Shaila took pictures of the whole family and she also took individual family pictures and pictures of the grandkids. This is the one I took with my camera so I'm guessing that none of the kids really knew where to look.

After pictures and lunch we headed to the amusement rides and let the kids (young and old) ride the rides. It was fun to see the reactions of the little ones. Mason rode the dragon roller coaster four times! He would ride it and then get right back in line, yet every time he would look like he was beyond scared. Jayni kept asking to ride the ferris wheel and when we got there she was adamant about not riding with me and chose to ride with Uncle Milo.

All in all we had a good day and I wish I took more pictures but didn't. I've been really bad about this lately! Before heading home Tom and I drove to Tomato Street, which is one of my favorite restaurants. Mason was asleep before we even got there and so we just ordered to go and stopped at McDonald's since Jayni wanted that more than anything else. It was a long day but worth it!!

Hopefully I'll get a copy of the whole family and my little family soon so that I can post them (hint, hint).

Anyway, I'm grateful for the time I was able to spend with family. I appreciate every moment I'm able to spend with each one of them because they mean more to me than they realize. I feel at times we take things for granted and we need to try harder to strengthen our bonds because we never know what life it going to throw our way. Life is fragile!!

Weekend Festivities

For the 4th of July we headed to the Grand Coulee Dam for their laser light show and fireworks. We met up with my Mom and Pop, Grandma Bette, my brother Milo, and my sister Shaila and her family. Here's a picture of Jayni with GraMimi, Poppy and cousin Malcolm.

We had a great time spending time there with family and enjoying the yummy fair type food. The laser light show was the same one I saw when I was a teenager so it wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be. The fireworks were great and were fun to see over the dam. I thought Mason wouldn't enjoy the loud noise from the fireworks but he kept oohing and aahing and Jayni kept asking if we could go home while plugging her ears.

Saturday the 5th we enjoyed getting together with more family and friends and went to the Hardy boys birthday party at Shaila's inlaws. The kids had a great time playing in the water while the adults enjoyed a yummy barbecue. Hope you had a great birthday Malcolm and Quinn!

On Sunday we were back in Tri-Cities and were able to attend baby Ender's baby blessing. He's the newest addition on the Perkes' side. I wish I thought to take a picture of him in his cute blessing outfit but I didn't even think about it. He's very adorable and we're happy to have him as part of our family!

What?...No!

My Jayni just turned 5 this last Sunday on the 29th! I can't believe it. Time goes by way too fast. We didn't do anything for her on her b-day because we were in Spokane for Hoopfest and we traveled home. My friend, Lisa did make pancakes for us that morning and we sang Happy Birthday and Jayni was able to blow out a candle on her pancake. Thanks Lisa for letting us stay with you and spending time with us. We had a great time visiting and I had a great time with you Saturday night!

Yesterday I asked Jayni what she wanted to do to celebrate her birthday and she said she wanted to go to Red Robin and go see Wall-E. Jayni, Mason, and I met Tom at Red Robin and enjoyed a meal together although they didn't come sing to Jayni like Tom had arranged. Thank goodness she didn't care even though they sang to another little girl close by.

After dinner, Tom and Mason headed home and Jayni and I went to see Wall-E together. It was such a good movie and it was nice to spend the time together. We ate way too much snacks and towards the end Jayni wanted to snuggle with me on my lap. I loved that she did that! She's so sweet and although she drives me bonkers with her million questions all through the day, it was nice to have quality time as mother and daughter. I love her so much and am so glad I have her in my life!

Sorry, I have no pictures! I've been really bad about taking them lately.

...it's official!!

haha...you all thought I was going to announce that I'm pregnant. Well, I'm not, and have no plans...my two keep me busy enough!

We had a consultation with a surgeon for Mason today and the inevitable became a reality today. Mason is scheduled to have surgery. For those who don't know, Mason was born with an umbilical hernia. It hasn't healed itself, which we knew at two months that it wouldn't.

 

The hole is a centimeter in diameter and his belly button pokes out a good inch.

 

Don't you love the pictures! Anyway, the surgery is scheduled for the 5th of September at Sacred Heart Children's Hospital in Spokane. I wanted to wait until the summer festivities died down so that we have ample time for recovery.

I have mixed emotions. I'm scared to death, but at the same time I want to fix things now so that he hopefully won't remember it and also so he doesn't get teased about it later in life. I just hope all will go well with the surgery and he recovers fully, and doesn't catch something like MRSA!! Of course I'm over paranoid and because of things life has thrown my way, my motto has become, "Assume the worst!" That way I'm prepared for the worst as much as I can be and feel blessed when the outcome is a positive.

I love you my baby boy! You are my miracle baby and I thank my Heavenly Father everyday for you.