September 11th, 2011

Me and my boys at their Birthday pool party, at Bicentennial Pool in Crystal River. We had it the day before E's b'day on September 11th. What a perfect day it turned out to be!!

Miles (L) and Evan (R) snorkler cakes I made:) turned out pretty good i thought.

cupcakes w/ homemade toppers i made. It was so blasted hot that the icing was glistening
and melting like crazy! but all still tasted really good, thank goodness!

All the gang. well, all but Megan, Mya and Bellah. Everyone had such a blast:)

Wow, TEN years. I will never forget what happened on this day ten years ago. Seems like yesterday that it happened. I don't think i've ever been the same since that day. Just simple things, like taking the boys to see Monster Trucks at the big O-rena, i sit and think, wow, what if they tried to do another 9/11 here. Just crosses my mind y'know. Just always have that realization, since that day, that you never know what can happen, anywhere you are. However, for me, i've seen a shift in the coverage of 9/11 and the stories that have emerged over time. the stories of the heros that stepped up on that day. Survivors who have told of men appearing and leading them out. Just goes to show that nothing is a coincidence and God orchestrated alot of those miracles. Even amidst the chaos and fear and pure evil going on, He allowed good to come from it.

Whew....just things that have been bouncing around my head all day. I felt like my run tonight was so meditative. Just thinking of all those families that lost loved ones that day and how beautiful today was, just like that day 10 yrs ago. I prayed for the families left behind, fractured now, yet moving on in their lives. I can't imagine losing someone in such a horrific way. But as i ran, i was thankful for so many things. My life, my family, my health, and today. God is good, all the time. He has been working on me alot lately. Seems like I am trying to buck the system as he stretches and grows me. change doesn't come easy for me. Change isn't easy, but it's necessary. and God knows i've been needing to change in so many ways for real.

well, this is a heavy post. didn't intend to post all this, but i guess that's what happens when you watch 9/11 coverage on 3 diff stations for a couple hours. I feel like i owe it to those ppl, to take the time out to remember, if only once a year. Sept is a rough month for me, between the 11th, then 2 birthdays for both my boys (just the stress of the parties, shopping etc), and the 24th, which is the anniversary of G'ma's death. I do the same on her b'day. take some time out of my day just to remember her and allow myself to be sad. have a good cry and just miss her. course i think of all the awesome memories of her too, but it's really the only time of the year i set aside to be sad, if that makes sense.

On a brighter note, we celebrated the boys' b'day's today. We had their party at the pool in Crystal River, instead of at the house, and it was SO nice and so much easier! All the kids had such a ball swimming and diving and playing w/ the dive sticks i got (2 for $1 at the dollar store! HA). It was the most beautiful day, BLUEst of blue skies and big puffy white clouds. I just thanked God all day for the weather. yes, for the party, but also bc i think it's so awesome He allowed it to be so nice on such a sad day in history. nothing woulda been worse than a dreary day for the 10 yr mark, huh?! anywho, back to the party.....
Every so often the lifeguards would blow the whistle and tell all the kids to get outta the pool for a break time, so each time they did we would do cake, and then the next we'd do gifts. worked out perfectly!! The boys got so many amazing gifts, and alot of creative things, learning things, and of course trains (from us and Mom). Mom got them each a sweet cute outfit and E some undies which he desperately needed. They got a really great easel  from Ikea w/ the paper roll/markers/chalk etc. wow, that will be nice w/ school. Using R's old white board just leaning against the wall is so ghetto and i'd not wanted to put holes in the wall to mount it. They got some fishing poles, lots of color wonder stuff and some cute little backpacks w/ wheels, a Thomas B'day game and dinosaur train stuff. They loved their cakes, or should i say the candy that was all over the cakes. Course Miles had to take 10 yrs to eat, so all the kids ran off to swim and didn't hang around for gifts. had to do them on the next lifeguard break:) The boys just had a ball. E's eyes were so bloodshot and each got a little pink on their face. It was so windy out, which was annoying w/ balloons and tablecloths, but made it SO nice under the pavilion! it felt so nice and breezy.seems like the coolest b'day we've ever had w/ the boys. Mom and Dad also came over and Dad swam with Evan a ton, taking him underwater w/ Evan piggy back riding him:) he was impressed w/ how far E had come w/ his swimming:) so cute to see them playing together. and R had about 3 kids on his back at any given time. hhaa. so funny. So, another year, another party. i'm so freaking tired. i swear i won't do the cakes next year but we'll see. i do enjoy it, but if i do, i hafta make the icing beforehand or something. just always seems like such an unorganized mess done at the last minute. not really last minute this year, but felt rushed as i had to work everything around 2 other b'day parties on Saturday (Sean's and Ryan's). man, so many born this time of year.

well, i'm off for now. more pics to come. haven't been doing good on the pics as of late.