Field of Heros

This weekend marked the 6th year that Westerville has hosted the Field of Heros.  This is an opportunity to honor one's heros by purchasing one of 3.000 flags that are on display for the Memorial Day weekend.  In the past we have bought a flag to honor my grandfather who passed away in August 2009.  He served in the Air Force during World War II.  And Justin's mom bought him a flag three years ago to commemorate his rookie year as a Westerville Police Officer. 

Memorial Day 2009-Grandpa's Flag

My sister and I decided to honor Tammy who has always been one that we have looked up to as we have grown up.  She was always the most positive person around.  She is our personal hero, and one that we miss every day. 

Mom, the kids and I with Tammy's flag

This year's Field of Heros included a special tribute to Public Safety Personnel.  Kamden and I decided this was an appropriate year to honor our personal hero, my husband and Daddy to our two Ks.  And, my in-laws decided it was a good year to honor me, the wife of a police officer....Thank You!

Our hero!

If you have never been to the Field of Heros, make sure you check it out next Memorial Day weekend.  It is awesome to see the 3,000 flags. 

Corporal Greg LeValley's rendition of Amazing Grace on the bagpipes brought me to tears at the Closing Ceremony.

Kadence is 9-months old!

This petite princess turns 9-months old today!  

Weight=17 pounds, 5 ounces

Height=27.5 inches

She has had a busy three months since our last update on her.  Mommy has made her home-made baby food and she likes anything I give her.  She has eaten advocado, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, pears, bananas, and mangos.  She is also getting good at picking little pieces of food up with her finger and thumb.  The doctor gave us the okay today to basically give her whatever we are eating (though we are still gradually introducing the high allergen food like berries, eggs, fish, and peanut butter).  I am hoping to make her a better eater than Kamden. 

In the past month, Kadence has figured out how to get around.  At just over 8 months old, she was creeping around with her feet and elbows, and on Mother's Day she started to really crawl.  And just this week she has figured out how to sit up on her own!  She loves to play with whatever Kamden is playing with, especially his Nascars!

Just like many girls, Kadence is also a talker.  She constantly babbles, and will imitate sounds like Da-Da.  And she loves to shake her head no.  Today, she actually waved to Kamden and to Daddy before she went down for her nap!

Saying Good-bye to Spark Preschool

Kamden's teachers, Mrs. Kaiser and Mrs. Willison

After two fun years of learning at Spark Preschool, I can't believe the time has come to say good-bye to them.  This was the last week for Kamden to be in Preschool.  We saw him go from being the clingy boy who cried every morning at drop-off at the beginning of last year to walking in confident, ready to learn and play with his friends.

He has learned to write his first and last names, and he knows how to write every letter of the alphabet.  He can easily count beyond 100, and amazes us with the adding and subtracting that he already knows.  And he has picked up on reading simple words (and every NASCAR race track name). 

As we drove by Spark Preschool tonight, Kamden mentioned that he was sad that he no longer went there.  When I asked him why, he said he was going to miss all of his friends.  But we reminded him that he will be meeting new friends at his new school.  We have already been invited to our first elementary school function....the Kindergarten Ice Cream Social is next week at Mark Twain!  And Kadence will be at Spark in two short years!

Kamden, Noelle, Ainsley, Emerson, Layla, and James

Kamden and his best buddy Ainlsey

Hibbitt Park

 

 

Cherished reminders

Friday marked the 3-month anniversary from when Tammy took her last breath.  I can't believe she hasn't been around to ask for a hug.  I actually had a dream with her in it the other night, and I remember going up to her an just embracing her and not letting go.  I wish I could really do that!

Yesterday, while Scott was away on his annual golfing trip, we went to their house to clean out some of the visual reminders of Tammy.  It was a cleansing time as Tammy's two besties, Jennifer and Michelle, and her mom, sister, and two nieces went through her closet and drawers.

For someone who hated to go shopping, she had a lot of clothes.  Now, granted many of the clothes were hand-me-downs from me, but there were still a lot that still had tags on them.  We packed bag after bag of her jeans, shorts, and shirts and took them to the Free Store on Parsons Avenue.  We also packed a couple bags full of her work attire, and Jenny is donating them to New Directions.  New Directions is a career center designed to help women get back on their feet by teaching them important job skills and helping them acquire a job.  And I believe each of us took our own bag or two home too! Actually, today I am wearing one of the cardigan sweaters we found that still had tags on it!  We even convinced Michelle (a die-hard Notre Dame fan) to take home one of Tammy's OSU sweatshirts. Tammy, we are determined to make her a fan!

We found her junior bowling shirt.  Wow!  Was it tiny!  I think it may have been too small for Kamden. My grandma found her class ring from Brookhaven.  And I told a story about a pair of black boots found in her closet.  They originally were mine, and I told her she could have them. She must have really needed them because those FREE boots ended up costing her over $100.  She got a speeding ticket on her way to meet me at work to pick them up!

The huge walk-in closet is mostly bare now.  Some empty hangers and a few of Scott's clothes is all we left in that closet.  I hope it is less of a reminder to Scott every morning as he gets ready for work. Though, I am sure he thinks of her daily, if not hourly, just as we all do.  She was a joyful member of our family,  We dearly miss her!

Friends

"I wouldn't change it for anything,

Never, no, never.

Your friendship is the best present ever!"

-Tigger 

Kamden's cousin Brooks, who is 4-months older, was his first friend.  And I hope it will be his forever friend.  They went from playing side by side not really realizing the other was there, to playing together with the help of their parents, to now being able to play on their own for several hours.  They both have a competitive streak in them that sometimes causes arguments and tears.  But they always look forward to the day that they can see each other again to race cars or play cops and robbers. 

 

 Kamden has other kids that he enjoys hanging out with and playing with, but their friendship is built upon the mommies and daddies being friends.  He has grown up with Jude since they were both babies.  Jude is 4-months older than him.  Ellie is the granddaughter of my uncle's girlfriend.  They enjoy swimming together!  He has made friends with the children of some of daddy's co-workers.  Mykolas and Kamden love playing basketball together. 

But this past year, Kamden has had a friendship develop all on his own.  His best buddy at school is Ainsley.  They also play soccer together.  They have been to each other's birthday parties.  And he pretends to talk to her everyday on the phone.  I have enjoyed seeing their friendship blossom.  They are constantly giggling and smiling at each other.  And, Ainsley seems to come out of her shy shell when Kamden is around.  I am saddened that they will not be in the same school together next year.  It will be up to the parents to help them keep this friendship growing.