Sometimes there are no words

My Dear Aunt Becky lost her battle with cancer last Wednesday. Thank God she didn't suffer for a long time, and was surrounded by people that loved her at her home that she loved. My Mom and her parents did not make it to be with her before she passed, but did get a chance to love on her and say good-bye. Like my title, there are no words to describe the sadness we feel. I feel sad that she was taken from us too soon, I feel sad for my Uncle and cousin, Emma.

We celebrated the amazing woman she was over the weekend in Arizona with a celebration of life ceremony. It was at the gym of the school that she worked at for over a decade. It was PERFECT, her beautiful pictures, flowers from loved ones, homeade crafts from some of her kids, and you could just feel Her. There were hundreds of people that loved her there. Her daughter, my cousin, Emma chose several of her closest friends and family to talk about her, and then it was opened up for other people to talk if they wanted to. Each person had incredible things to say about her, funny and touching stories, and how special she made them feel. I felt lucky to have known her, lucky to have loved her. Please keep her husband and her daughter in your thoughts and prayers, as this continues to be very hard for them. Tanner, Kamryn, Trey, and Katie feeding the ducks
The Keilbey family pool....in the 100 degree heat.

The celebration of Becky's life continues at a party in her honor at her house.

The "Outlaws"...see the circle above their heads, it's the only picture that it's in...she was there with us that day.

My Dear Aunt Becky, how I and so many others will miss you so!

I love you!

Family

I have been thinking about family a lot lately and how it means something different for so many of us. For me it makes me smile just thinking of my family and what they mean to me. In times of trouble, heartache, or joy family will step in where friends might not (this is not the case with me, as my friends are amazing and are like family also).

My family means to me...
Sunday night dinners, every week.
Being there in times of heartache, celebration, and every minute in between
Sending cards on holidays and birthdays
Making us laugh so hard we cry
Helping us raise our child and future children
Going to Church together
Dropping everything in a moments notice when it is needed to be at our side
Being a friend
Being an angel

Those are just a few things that come to mind when I think of my family. I hope that when our children grow up they think of these things about their family also....

Please continue to pray for my Aunt Becky, and her husband and daughter. They could use many prayers.

My wonderful husband

I came home the other night to a scavenger hunt! A very sweet note from Andy on the garage door and then I had to go all throughout the house to find.....NEW SUNGLASSES! So, I lost my other sunglasses awhile ago (opps). I had those for several years (a miracle). I have had a couple of really cheap ones since, but found some that I really like the other day at a eyeglass store. Andy knew this because I was talking about them and looking for replicas at a knock off store.

So the other day I guess he went all the way out to Overland Park on his lunch break and got them! They are aviators and I LOVE them! I am so lucky and blessed that he is so good to me.

If I lose or break these, I'm sure I will never get another pair...haha.

With all my heart, I pray.

My Uncle Joe and cousin Emma.

My Mom and my Aunt Becky....with their "outlaw" cowboy hats!

This is a post about a person very dear to me, my Aunt Becky. Several years ago, she battled breast cancer with the best of them...winning, at the time. It has come back to fight against her bones and liver. Once again, she is fighting with her all. She is undergoing chemo, has done radiation, and is doing natural healing methods as well. News several days ago is that the latest chemo is not working as well as they would like. She is going for more tests, but that is the news as of now. She isn't feeling as well as she has been feeling, which makes this all so much worse.





See, let me give you a picture of my Aunt Becky. She has worked out almost daily for as long as I can remember. She is spunky and full of energy. She works at a elementary school. She is one of my Mom's best friends, like the sister she never had. She is an amazing cook, always without recipes. She writes lovely letters and sends thoughtful cards. She is a great Aunt, amazing Mother, awesome Wife, and Friend.





Please set aside a minute and say some prayers for her. Prayers specifically for her cancer to be shrinking, for her energy and spirit to come back to where it was a few short weeks ago, and for her husband and daughter.





I thank you, and I know she would as well. God bless

Taking a breath...

So after an ear infection on the poor kids birthday and then a reaction to the MMR? (rash everywhere) along with a viral sore throat, and basically not feeling good. We are finally better than ever. The child is practically running, so the video at the bottom of this isn't really how he walks anymore, but I cannot keep up, so oh well.

This week, Andy is home, I worked the weekend, so I am off more this week. We are going to enjoy it! Eat dinner at home, go on walks, etc. Tanner seems to be getting a SLIGHT less busy because he just wants to walk everywhere so he isn't getting into as much stuff. That to say, we still run around ALL day long, but we wouldn't have it any other way.

-God bless

Tanner playing with no pants on...with his Uncle Dustin.
Walking around the golf course at the Waterloo Open with his Daddy...

Loving his 1st Birthday cake!

A little timid.

Going on a ride in Grandma and Grandpa K's boat...looks a little smashed huh?

Our little man walking (about a week or so ago).

Happy Birthday to you..cha cha cha!

So Tanner's FIRST Birthday has come and gone....too fast for my liking. It started off with a bang. Daycare called that he had a temp of 101.7...so we had to do some re-arranging to pick him up. The next day (his birthday) I took him to the Dr., his first ear infection. I cannot believe that he went a year without one, or that he got sick for the first time on his birthday. Oh well. He was feeling pretty crummy, but we took him to a special Birthday lunch anyways! It was special with balloons and a present and a birthday hat...plus surprise visits from Aunt Katie and Grandma Keilbey! Later, the Hoffman family came in town for his big day!

We had the good food, family, blow-up bouncer in the backyard, balloons everywear, and lots of smiles First Birthday Party on Saturday. It went by too fast, and despite Tanner getting over an ear infection and skipping his afternoon nap, he was a great little man! He did not dig into his cake....this is crazy, only because this child eats everything in site and shoves it in his mouth! Oh well.

I cannot believe he is one. My BABY is ONE! He is such a little boy, and I love him more and more every single minute.

Last, but certainly NOT LEAST...he is WALKING, I mean everywhere. Last week it was a couple steps, etc. Now he walks everywhere and doesn't really fall too much either. It is so incredible to see this little person walking, he looks way too little to walk. I love walking next to him holding his little hand...my new favorite thing in life.

I will post pics of his party and a video of his walking real soon!
Lots of love and blessings....

You have a what?

Tanner has a MOLAR...ya who would've thought? I guess when you start getting teeth at 4 months, you are bound to have molars by a year! My poor baby, just must be hurting...he's still the happiest guy around though.

We went to Iowa this weekend for our neice's 2nd birthday. It was great family time, but went too fast. It's really cute how her and Tanner have started playing with each other. I can't wait until they are older to see how their relationship becomes. Man, do they look alike or what?
Grandma Hoffman helping Tanner with some snacks!

Grandpa Hoffman playing with Tanner at the pool!

Tanner and Molly playing at her new picnic table...This picture was caught in about 1 second before Tanner almost fell off the chair and Molly was ready to do other things!

Da duda daaaa!!! Tanner walking behind a walker for the first time. Now that we've got to borrow the walker, with just a few days he is way better. He will now run into anything, then scoot it over and start walking again.

2 more weeks until the big 1 for Tanner. I can't believe it....we got his pictures taken and he looks like such a BIG boy!