Changes

First of all, some of you may have received an invitation to view this blog...that was not my intention as google seems to have a mind of its own, so if I spammed you, I am sorry.

Secondly, due to the reasons from the previous post I have reverted all my posts to draft.  I will be moving this blog to a different host where I can password protect some of the posts and not others. I will let you know when that happens and how to get the password.

People Suck

So - for a while now I have been dealing with the unauthorized use of a picture I took of Nathan, looking out a window.  The legitimate blog, The Big Picture, of Boston.com asked me to include the picture for a childhood cancer awareness post.  I agreed but people then stole the picture and someone has even created a meme and attributed a quote and attached a url onto that photo.  I see it pop up onto my Facebook feed regularly and it is not a good feeling.  It is not regarded somehow as a generic childhood cancer photo for free use.  It is not.

Then I received a message on Facebook that pictures from here and Picasaweb and such are being used in someone else's blog.  I have not hear back where that might be.  I suspect the person who sent me the message was using a pseudonym.  If that person is reading this - I really would appreciate more information.  I have since made a bunch of things private and unpublished a bunch of posts here.  I hope to make things public again at some point.  If I make this blog private I will give you a warning and ability to log in.

If any of you reading this know of other uses of Nathan's photo - please let me know.

February 2013 Pictures

February was a pretty good month!

We started it with a winter hike to Mueller State Park.  I think there was one other car up there with us. We went on a trail that had a frozen lake and spent most of our time playing on that.  It got warm enough to take our coats off by the end.  There was also a friends and family music recital with the four of us got to play "Chorus from Judas Maccabeus" Lauren on violin, Julia and I on cellos and Luke on his guitar.  It was fun!  I am hesitant to post the video because I was sick and tired and I look sick and tired...quite unattractive...you will see...but just look at my beautiful daughters instead.

We also had a nice big snow at the house, finally.  The last pictures of significance are of Julia's new glasses and Julia and I before we went to the opera.  Enjoy!  (slideshow posted below)

January 2013 Pictures

January is always light on pictures as we recover from the holidays!  Julia's birthday is the highlight as usual!

Seven

Lauren turned seven on November 16.  On December 30 she became older than Nathan was.  I was aware this was happening..since he was also born on the 16th it didn't take much math to figure it out.  Mercifully it didn't occur to me on the the day...I think we were actually driving home from Illinois all day.

Lately I have become acutely aware of the sameness of age.  Lauren is probably around the same size as Nathan.  He was, of course, thin and had not grown very tall with all the chemo.  When I cuddle her I am reminded of him.

I cherish being able to cuddle her at seven and think I will feel some sadness when she turns 8 and I will not have any more seven year olds to cuddle.

I help in her class on Thursdays and when I help the seven year old boys in her class I am reminded of my seven year old boy.  It is both sweet and sour...but I do enjoy it.

It just saddens me as time slips away and for whatever reason it just feels to me when Lauren moves on to second grade and turns 8 I will somehow be yet much further down and road and further away from Nathan.

2012

Time keeps flying by... Here are some highlights of 2012

 January  - Julia turned 10 years old and got her ears pierced

February - We had a snow day, hung around the house said goodbye to the old kitchen and Julia had a cello recital

March - We continued work on the kitchen while using the dining room as a makeshift kitchen.  We went on a fun hike to Castlewood Canyon.

April - The kitchen is finally done!  There was Easter, many semester end shows and activities, a visit from the Grandpa Mike and Grandma Kathy, and a fun visit to the Florissant Fossil Beds.

May - Lots of playing outside, more end of school activities and a visit from the Craddocks!

June - Julia went to camp and then we went to Hilton Head for two weeks to visit Grandma C and Grandpa Bill.  We enjoyed watching the owl family living in their tree and playing in the pool and ocean with cousins.

July - Fourth of July, violin recital, a visit from Brady, playing in the sprinklers, Luke's birthday and a fun getaway to Buena Vista for Luke and I

August - Aunt Annie came to visit, more recitals, first day of school, a trip to Santa's Workshop, a fun weekend in Copper Mountain which included Luke's first guitar gig

September - Field Day at school, a choir banquet for Luke and I, more recitals, Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Mike and their friends Sue and Terry come to take care of the girls while Luke and I go to Europe with my parents.  Josh, Jae and cousin James also came to visit while we were away.  Oh and I celebrated the big 4-0.

October - enjoyed the beautiful weather, more recitals, fun day at the Science Museum with cousins, and Halloween.

November - more recitals, Julia's musical, Lauren's birthday, kids choir concert, went to a wedding and had a birthday party for Lauren

December - Pageant for Julia, decorating the tree, more recitals Christmas jam with a neighbor, a brief visit to our good friends The Shades, atrip to Illinois for Christmas which included; a Christmas Eve bonfire, the girls playing in church, spending time with Anna(sister-in-law) and Chris, visits by my brother and my cousin and his family, and finally home for New Years