{love, love, love}

PS - Wearing your sunglasses upside down is totally the new fad...didn't ya know!? Ha!

{fore!}

Karl has today off, so he and Addison embarked on some adventures. They stopped by the airport to check out the planes...and it was apparently quite a hit. I must add his awesome idea to my list of things to do when we're bored!

Their next stop was the Golf Course. I know Karl has been waiting for this day for a looooooooong time! He bought her a set of clubs when she was merely weeks old! Off to the putting green they went!

He told me when they came to pick me up for a lunch date that she did pretty well...considering she's 2 and all. I hope she learns to love the game as much as her Daddy. I'm still very much a beginner golfer (I haven't golfed since I was 17 weeks pregnant), but I hope one day it's an activity that we can do as a family.

{dress up}

Someone has recently discovered the fun of dress up. Luckily for her, her Aunties gifted her an awesome box of dress up clothes for her birthday. We busted it out the other evening and had a blast!

{wordless wednesday}

{a day out with thomas}

Yesterday we headed out to Fillmore to spend A Day Out With Thomas. Addison is no where near a Thomas fanatic, but the prospect of riding a train was over the top. She was so giddy and excited, and add her cousin Jake in to the mix and the girl could hardly keep it together.

We went on a little 25 minute ride...nice and slow...and even though a tunnel!

The weather was fantastic (80*) and Fillmore's Central Park is nice and shady. After our ride we wandered through all of the different play areas and then settled on the grass for a bit of relaxation while listening to some music.

I think it's safe to say that she had a great time. We headed home and all took a much needed nap. Yay for awesome Sundays!

{check up}

Addie had her belated 2 year check up today. All I can say is WOW! She weighed in at 35lbs and is 36 1/2" tall. Her projected height by age 18 is.....are you ready for this?! 5' 11" WOW! My jaw is still on the floor.

Other than that, she also had a very important message for you all again...

{wordless wednesday}

You know where to go with a doubt

{our little gymnast}

Addison started Gymnastics yesterday. We had a lukewarm reception in the beginning, but she did not want to leave after her class was over. I can't wait to see how she does next week! Auntie Anaya came along with us and played photographer. I can't thank her enough for capturing these precious moments. Be prepared for photo overload!

{a very important message}

Addison has a very important message out there for all of you!



Here's a crappy YouTube video of the song she's singing...

{easter recap}

I was a bad Mom this year. I didn't buy Addison an Easter dress, nor did I dress her up at all for the day. I think she'll survive and hopefully not hold a grudge against me in the future.

We spent our holiday out in Ventura. The Easter Bunny was nice and visited our hotel room and left a basket full of goodies for the little miss. We made the 'rounds and then all met up at my sister-in-law's house for dinner and egg hunting. It was a really nice & low-key day.

I wasn't all that great with snapping all kinds of pictures like I normally do...so bear with me.

{she's got it}

After eating dinner out on this gorgeous evening, Addie took to her tricycle. She's got the pedaling down now! Watch out world!

{for maddie}

It's been an entire year...365 days...525,600 minutes...31,556,926 seconds...since Maddie Spohr left this world. Her parents, Heather and Mike, have shown nothing but grace throughout.

Their little girl has changed the world. So many people that have never even met her (me included) have fallen in love with her and have wrapped their arms around her family.

Since Maddie's passing, Heather has continued to blog her raw emotions daily. She's even started an amazing foundation in her late daughter's honor called Friends of Maddie that provides support packs to families in the NICU.

As we mark one year since that gorgeous little girl left us, she remains in our hearts forever. Please consider making a donation to Friends of Maddie today in her honor.

{wordless wednesday x 2}

{hide & seek}

Last night Addison & I got to finally go to one of Karl's softball games. All this season his games have been late in the evening (after 8pm), but yesterday's 6:15 game time was a winner so we loaded up and tagged along. The game didn't hold her attention for very long and her standing at the fence and continually yelling "Hi Daddy" while he was trying to pitch wasn't ideal. So...off to the playground we went.

{life with a 2 year old}

{wordless wednesday}

{grief}

Grief is a dance that I've never danced before. My closest relative (my Aunt Kimberly) passed when I was 4 years old. I don't remember much about it, but I think that's because my parents did a lot of sheltering of me at that time since I was so young.

I've got all sorts of different emotions brewing inside that it's hard to express them. I've yet to break down over my Grandpa's passing, but I know it'll happen soon. Tomorrow is my Grandpa's Memorial Service. My eyes welled up with tears when I read his obituary because it made it seem a tad more real. I know it's probably going to hit me like a ton of bricks tomorrow while sitting in that church.

I know he lived a wonderful life. I know he was content, but it's just really hard facing the fact that he's not going to be there the next time I go out to visit. I just have to keep reminding myself that he's in a better place and is free of pain and suffering. A part of me is angry because Addison's not going to remember him. She's not going to know the way his face lit up when he smiled. How how much he loved his God. How much he loved his milkshakes. None of it. And I think that's the hardest part. She's going to have to settle for the stories that we tell. And thankfully there are lots of them.

___________________

Kenneth Yeager Hower
1929 - 2010
July 25, 1929 to March 19, 2010 Kenneth Y. Hower born July 25, 1929 to Clem Hower and Arlene Yeager Hower in Roaring Creek, Pennsylvania passed away Friday March 19, 2010 at 12:05 p.m. after complications brought on by Pneumonia. Kenneth had courageously battled many obstacles with his health over the past 5 years since overcoming cancer of the throat in 2005. At age 17, he enlisted in The United States Navy as UT in the Seabees, and rose to rank of Chief Petty Officer. He was well respected and retired on his birthday, July 25, 1968 after having served his country for 20 years. He then went to work for the City of Oxnard in the Facility Maintenance Department that same year and retired on July 25, 1989 after 20 years of service. Kenneth betrothed Beatrice June Dirck on May 9, 1953 and they were married 56 years. Kenneth and Beatrice had two sons, Kenneth and Bruce. Kenneth spent his retirement years traveling the country with wife in their motor home, seeing all the wonderful things this beautiful country had to offer and all the things he had read about as a child growing up. Those that knew Kenneth know him as a wonderful person, always quick with a joke, and a willing helpful hand when in need. We will all surely miss him. His wife Beatrice June Hower, their two sons and their spouses, Kenneth and Robin Hower, Bruce and Gail Hower survive Kenneth. Kenneth had four grandchildren, Katrina, Kenneth Nicolas, Ronne, and Brandon Hower. He also had two great grandchildren Addison Whitnall and Kegan Hower. Kenneth was an active member in good standing with Masonic Lodge #341 as well as a member of the Scottish Rites Valley of Ventura 32nd degree, KCCH, and the High Twelve. He was also a long time member of the Elks, Foresters, Fleet Reserve, and a devout member of the Grace Bible Church in Oxnard. He was preceded in death by his father Clem and mother Arlene. There will be a Memorial Service held for Kenneth on Saturday March 27, 2010 at 2 p.m. at the Grace Bible Church 936 W. 5th Street Oxnard, Ca. The family would like to request no flowers be sent and that any memorial donations be made in Kenneth's name to: The American Cancer Society or The American Heart Association.

{wordless wednesday}