Part of My Heart

My beloved Uncle Gene passed away last week. I am saddened beyond words and I pray for his kids, Pam, and my parents. Gene was not only my Dad's brother, but also his best friend. There was absolutely nothing Gene wouldn't do for Pam or his family, myself included. I don't doubt my father for one second when he told me that part of his heart was also buried that day with my Uncle Gene. I think what I will miss the most is the story telling. I could sit for hours (and have) and listen to Gene and the rest of the family just talking. He was a wonderful man that I loved very much and I will miss him for the rest of my life.

Hannah was baptized Saturday night in a beautiful ceremony. Afterwards we had a dinner at our house to celebrate. Scott and I are so fortunate to have two beautiful healthy children and a wonderful supportive family.

I want to take a moment to thank my beautiful and wonderful aunts (and Alice, Shirley, and MaryLee)for what they have done for my family. I will never forget and always be grateful for the work they did for the dinner after the funeral. Thank you so much for creating a meal to honor Gene. I love you guys and I KNOW that I have the best aunts in the world.

When I got up on Sunday, I checked on Luke's Mom's caring bridge site. Here I found that Beth has developed an infection and had to have emergency surgery on Thanksgiving Day and has been told that more surgery is required in the future. Please pray for Luke and Beth as they keep having one thing after the other happen to them. Thank Goodness that baby Marshall is breathing fine and now home from the hospital.

We have been up to a lot of fun things lately! Last week, Erica and the boys came up to stay with us for a few days. The kids had so much fun together. It was crazy at times, but worth seeing the fun they had.

Last Friday, Jane and Bill stopped by for a visit. Sydney was thrilled that they were here. She still calls Jane "Yain" and says Bi-il in two syllables. Very cute. They took us out to Montana Mike's and it was delicious.

Scott had class all weekend in Terre Haute. Mom drove up and stayed with us. We had a wonderful visit just staying around the house. Sydney asked Mammaw to play with her. I think that she is talking more and more everyday. Hannah also enjoys getting snuggled and held by her Mammaw.

On the way home from class on Sunday, Dave called Scott and asked him to go to the game. So Scott was actually there! He loved it. Hannah and I stayed up to watch the game.

Also, our friends, Luke and Beth had their baby on Sunday!! A BIG boy! Marshal Matz weighed 9lbs 10oz which is big for a first baby!! He swallowed meconium in utero, so he has to spend his first three days in the NICU. Beth held him as soon as he was born, but they haven't got to hold him since then. I think Scott says that Marshall is doing fine, but that the meconium could give him a lung infection so that they are watching him closely and being cautious. I think he is fine but please pray for little Marshall and Luke and Beth so that they can be home soon!

The girls both have runny noses. I plan on going down to visit Gene as soon as I can. The doctors don't want anybody who is sick or even around sick people to go near him so as soon as the girls are over their sniffles I will be down there!

And right around the corner is Hannah's baptism. She is so excited. I still have to decide on the menu for the party. And I need to see if she can fit into Sydney's baptismal gown. I better go dig it out of the cedar chest while I am thinking about it.

Big blue eyes.

Decorating cookies.

Movie night.

Luke sitting up by himself!

Evan and the dinosaur walking down the road.

Sweet Hannah.

Photo Update

Hannah chilling on the deck.
Sydney playing in a pile of leaves.

Sydney in her Dora fairy outfit.

My gorgeous girl.

Both of my gorgeous girls!!! Sydney loves it when Hannah plays on the ground so that she can get very close to her.

Last weekend, we traveled to Warsaw, Indiana. Scott's best friend, Luke and his wife Beth, are expecting their first child any day now. Her due date is this Friday. Her doctor is thinking that her baby is large so doesn't want her to go over too much. They are both so excited and the baby's room is all set up cute. They didn't find out what they were having so it will be a total surprise!! Please keep them in your prayers as they are having so many things go on at once in their lives!

Luke and Beth have several large old trees in their yard, so we raked up some big piles of leaves for Sydney to play in. She loved it. But then she found an ash pile from someone burning leaves and was in it before I could catch her. Kind of a mess! Their house sits on Lake Chapman. This time of year the water was a dark, intense blue...it was beautiful.

Sydney has been fighting nap time lately. According to baby magazines, children need naps until they are about 5. So, it isn't that she doesn't need a nap, it is that she doesn't want to stop during the day and take a nap. And now that she is in a toddler bed, she is all over the place. She does great at night in her bed, but struggles during the day.

Erica and the boys are coming up for a visit today and we are all excited. We have a list of activities planned such as playing with play dough, paints, decorating cookies, movie night, etc. I will be sure to take many pictures.

Halloween!!

Little Miss Pea pod.
She didn't mind it too much, but it was very warm!


Sydney and I sitting around the campfire.

Sydney jumping up and down begging for a sucker.

Me and my girls.

Scott and the girls.

Hannah sitting on Aunt Sis.

Kitty cat.

Sydney playing with all of the treat pails at Aunt Polly's house.

Hannah with Kayla.

We had a wonderful Halloween. I wish Halloween was on Saturday every year. On Friday night, we drove up to Huntington and stayed with Aunt Polly. We visited with Aunt Polly, Kayla, and Karlee. The next morning, we dressed up the girls and took them trick or treating at Aunt Polly's, Aunt Sis', Aunt Lori's, and Scott's cousin Judy's house. In those few stops, Sydney managed to get her pail filled with candy. She loved it and said trick or treat! at every stop.

When we got home, Sydney helped Scott hand out candy and I think she liked that just as much as trick or treating herself. After we ran out of candy, we went across the street to sit around a campfire and hang out. Sydney ran around with the big kids and finally pooped out around 10. When we got home she went right to bed and was asleep in no time. Miss Hannah on the other hand took a nice nap snuggled with Rose around the campfire and was up until after 1. Scott let me sleep in this morning and we gained an hour!! Terrific. Now we are making hotwings, getting ready for naptime, and the Colts game!