One of the Happiest Places On Earth

My apologies if you get tired of all the Jeep pictures I post...  Truth is that our Jeep is one of my happiest places on Earth.  It reminds me of when Richard and I were dating.  We fell in love on country back roads, just cruising around with the top down, sipping on Starbucks, and belting out some of our favorite songs. 

I remember being pregnant with Mason and imagining family Jeep rides, just as my family did when we were kids.

I remember this winter, driving to chemo, when Richard and I decided to trade the Tahoe in for yet another Jeep because we realized life was just too short to not make memories.  Yes, the Tahoe was extremely comfortable, but Jeeps are where memories made.  It took all of one day for Richard to make the switch (as you can see, I really had to twist his arm!! HA!).

And yesterday, as we celebrated Father's Day, I loved feeling the wind in my hair, the sun on my head, our kiddo laughing in the back and seeing my handsome husband lead our family down gravel roads, taking in the moment.  We still fall in love on our Jeep rides.  In love with each other.  In love with our family.  And in love with the life we have been given.

Speaking of Father's Day, I asked Mason a few questions about his Daddy on Father's Day. 

Q: What makes Dad happy?

A: Water

Q: What does Dad do when you aren't around?

A: He works and goes poop.

Q: What is Dad really good at?

A: Tying my shoes.

Q: What does Dad do for a job?

A: He works.

Q: How do you know your dad loves you?

A: Because he gets me fish.

Q: How old is Daddy?

A: 100

Spring 2015

SpiderMan

Nannie giving Mason loves.

Mase's first trip to the dentist.  He did great!  And no cavities!

Easter 2015

It's time to play ball!

Julie and Mason visited the Halsey's in Florida.  We had a great time! 

I asked Mason if he wanted to sign up for golf lessons.  We ended up at the park to hit some balls around.  I'll take that as a yes.  Blessed that he has a daddy who worked all day and didn't think twice about packing up some clubs and driving across town to hit some balls.  

Mother's Day 2015

Mase and his buddy Liam

We've spent lots of time at the park with friends

Yay for family Jeep rides.  My favorite thing in the world! 

Mase loves family Jeep rides too 

Richard and Mase had guy time during one of my treatments.  They ended up with a $75 Build-A-Bear.

Mase & Mommy date.  Cruising around with the top down.  We had a kids golf clinic, played at the park, hit up the pool, then the son-cone shack, Miner Mikes, hit up another park, got a donut and then met Daddy for dinner.  

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Birthday cake made by Mason

Richard's birthday falls on Mother's Day this year, so instead of both of us scrambling around buying gifts neither of us need or want, we decided to forego gifts.  Honestly, I hate that his birthday falls on Mother's Day.  He has been beyond amazing this past year and he deserves a day all to himself to be celebrated.

Mason and I decided to make him a chocolate (cheese) cake.  Mase refuses to eat anything with the word cheese in it (who's kid is this??), so we are calling it a chocolate cake.  In fact, it's a triple chocolate cheese cake.  Shhh! Just don't tell Mason.  

My little helper doing some quality control.

Counting out the cookies for the crust very carefully.

More quality control.

We ended up with cocoa powder everywhere!

So proud of himself!

Mommy/Son Trip to Florida

Julie sure missed her sister!  Great to get to hang out together for a few days.

We had such a great time hanging with Jack and Jill

LegoLand!

Cousin's being silly

Tuckered out 

A few family snuggles before bed

Mason absolutely loved swimming at the Halsey's pool

Florida was great.  But Mom's favorite part was getting to spend some very special one-on-one time with Mase. 

Beach bum 

Stud

Because if you are on vacation, you can dress up (even if it's just a random day in April)

A little treat to cool down after playing at the park

Mom spent her mornings sipping coffee by the pool

Mase dominated at go karts!

Good byes are so hard, so we do "See you laters".  There are tears under those glasses.  

KC Road Trip

This weekend we decided to take a little road trip to the Kansas City Aquarium and LegoLand.  Mase was so excited!  Truth be told, Richard and I had a great time too.  Seeing Mason's face light up at all the fish was priceless. 

Kansas City Sea Life Aquarium

Fritz's
It's a train themed restaurant and your food is delivered to your table by a train.  Mase loved it!  

Winter 2014-2015

This was one of my sick days... But some snuggles lifted my spirits.

A little finger painting for Dad

More snuggles... Cherishing these times.

Love this kid!

The first time Mase wrote his own name.

An unseasonably warm day at the end of winter.  Someone is ready for summer!

Winter Soldier and Thor

Enjoying the Dance

Enjoying the dance.  Garth Brooks concert in Tulsa, OK with some great friends.
Brian and Marisa Blackford and Brett and Sara Wilson

A few weeks after I started my chemo treatments, Richard surprised me with tickets to see Garth Brooks in Tulsa, OK along with some of our friends.  As I went through my treatments, this was a trip that kept me looking forward.  I was so excited for the concert and to spend some time relaxing.  The concert was this past weekend.  We had an amazing time, listening to some great music, and hanging out with our fantastic friends.

We also ate at the Cheesecake Factory, where along with dinner, I ordered not one, but two pieces of cheesecake (lemon meringue and Oreo explosion), because I have cancer.  And I can.

Living life to the fullest and celebrating the dance.