Flying through the desert

While we were out in Arizona for the Sigma conference, Terry and Tony took to the skies to fly around the dessert.  They found an airplane junkyard that the military uses for their out of service plans.  it was over 100 degrees that day and the plane felt like 120...I was laying by the pool!

I am the mother of a future Kindergartner

Well it's official, my baby is heading off to Kindergarten. When Cam graduated Pre-School, I didn't shed a tear because I was holding Cait as Cam walked across the stage with diploma in hand. When you watch someone you love more then the whole universe not be a toddler anymore I felt comfort in knowing that I had this one year old who still looked at me as their whole universe. This time was definitely different as all I had was my camera, and because of that tears rolled down my cheeks, I wiped them away because I was so excited to see that big smile that was ever present on her face.

With Cait we have went through so much: bacterial menigitis at 1, adenoids, tonsils, tubes at 2 then more surgeries to follow to correct her hearing that was damaged by the adenoids, broken femur at 2 1/2...she taught me what I needed to be as a parent. When Cait would be taken from me as she went in for another surgery, I would almost feel like I was going to lose my grip...tears building up behind my eyes wanting to pour out but if I did that, she would have felt fear and been scared. So I would stand there and smile, tell her how much I loved her and that I would see her before she knew it. As soon as she was out of sight, I would break apart as I would give anything to switch spots with her.

I always thought that my main job was to make sure that my child turns out to be this great adult...but in reality being a parent is holding their hand through the rough times and letting them know that it is going to be all right. To clap, smile and cheer when they accomplish something and above all to tell them you love them everyday. I believe in my heart that if you do those little things then the future can't be anything but amazing.

I am so proud of this little one, she is loving and caring, sooo smart, beautiful and bashful, loud and sometimes shy...I have been blessed to LIVE with her, she makes me LAUGH everyday, and I couldn't LOVE her more!

Last night in Arizona :-(

The last night in Arizona was spent at a good old fashioned BBQ. We got to bring Cait and Cam to the party and as you can tell by their faces that the time was amazing. There is nothing like Smores, watching people shoot each other and trying to rope a fake calf. As you can tell by prior posts I kind of like the West, the dirt, cowboy boots, hats and the FOOD! It was a beautiful evening spent relaxing, telling stories, laughing at drunk Josh (I opted not to post the pics of him line dancing...didn't want to create an enemy) realizing that I can't rope a calf and in a gunfight I should just drop to the ground. As we left Arizona I was so glad to have my kids and my parents there as the trip was packed full of memories.