2009 Christmas Card

I had so much fun playing on my new CS4 Photoshop. I decided that I could do our Christmas Card this year. And I must say, I think that it didnt turn out too bad. : )

We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May each and everyone one of you be blessed in 2010 with much laughter and love.

Celebrate...

:::Today I Celebrate my Mom:::

I have been thinking a lot about what I would do if I would have one more day with my Mom and I decided I would spend my day thanking her. Something I have realized that I didn't do enough of. So Mom....I Thank You.....

I would thank you for always supporting our endeavors. You were always our biggest fan. No matter what we were involved in you were always there for us.

I would thank you for your kindness and gentleness. You had an amazing ability to always make it better with a kiss and a hug.

I would thank you for your sense if humor. You had an ornery streak in you that wouldn't quit. As a little girl I never understood why you had to be "weird".....BUT....as a grown UP I get it. And I love you for that.

I would thank you for your Patience. WOW! Mom some days I don't know how you did it. You always held it together.

I would thank you for teaching us That no matter how old we are we are still your babies....OH AND YOU WERE STILL THE MOM. How many times did I hear "You will always be my little girl?"

Thank you for putting up with my sassiness and stubborness. I know that I was quite a handful in my teen years. And looking back I don't know how we made it, I know that you were right about it ALL. I would take all that ugliness back if I could. But then again, I guess that's why we have the wonderful relationship we do.

Thank you for giving the fundamentals for being a good wife. You and Dad had a very strong marriage, and I am so blessed to have been brought up in the strong family dynamic that I did.

Thank you for showing me that life is too short to be a Party Pooper.....it's much better when you can laugh and have a good time. You were always the life of the party.

Thank you for the strong foundation of motherhood. I am so glad that I got to learn from the best. I look back and wonder how you did it all when Michael and I were growing up. You were always organized and on top of your A game. You not worked full time, you were a full time Mom and always made sure we came first.

Thank you for your love of the Fourth of July. I will never be able to look at the American Flag quite the same. I can only imagine what fireworks look like from Heaven.

I would thank you for your Courage. When you were diagnosed with Breast cancer......you never once questioned the diagnosis with "Why Me?" You fought with ALL your will, never complaining. You made sure that it was known that YOU had cancer.....cancer DID NOT HAVE YOU. You did not have an expiration date stamped on your foot. You continued to live life to the fullest everyday considering the struggles that you were facing.

I would thank you for being YOU. You are an amazing person Mom. I hope that I can grow up to be half the Mom you are.

I would thank you for NOT only being my Mom but my Best Friend.

If I would've have the chance to have picked a Mom....I would have picked YOU.

And for that I CELEBRATE YOU MOM.

I LOVE YOU

and

I MISS YOU MOM.

Patsy Ann Corner

June 9, 1947-June 4, 2007

~~~~~~~~~~~~

A needed Lesson from Heaven~

This story needs a little background info first...Ryan Michael LOVED his pacifier when he was a Baby. He mastered having 2 and sometimes 3 of them in his mouth at one time. He was just like his Daddy--and I have pictures to prove that. My Mom, was a Speech and Language Pathologist and tried and tried to get Ryan away from his "baba" as he called them. She diagnosed him early on with having Tongue Thrust (thanks to having a pacifier too long)...where his tongue pushes forward when he talks and swallows as opposed to going to the top of his mouth. Anyway, she had worked with him some before she got sick...and had some Info at school that would help me at home. (WELL...I am still waiting for that info from Heaven to arrive.)
A little bird in my ear (my Mom from Heaven) kept telling me to look into services and talk to the SLP at school. I did..and because the Tongue Thrust wasn't effecting his speech...her hands were tied. (Which was NOT her fault, just the way SPED stuff works in the state of OK.) After a little research I found out that if I had a prescription from his dentist to see an SLP, services would be provided. DONE.
I told Ryan that he would get to go see Mrs. West at school and she would be able to help him do some exercises with his tongue. OH BOY. Ryan refused. Mrs. West helped special people and HE WAS NOT A SPECIAL PERSON. He didn't need to see her. We talked and talked and talked about going to see her. (This problem completely swept me off my feet...my Mom was an SLP, Jason's Aunt is also an SLP, as well as Jason's sister.) Believe me I pulled out ALL the stops. He finally agreed.
Ryan now LOVES going to see Mrs. West. He looks forward to seeing her each week and even is doing his tongue exercises faithfully at home.
Growing up, whenever Michael and I would outgrow a toy or book or what not, Mom would always put it in her treasure box at school...which WE NEVER UNDERSTOOD. Not that we minded donating it to kids....but who would want that in a treasure box. I mean c'mon Mom.
WELLLLLLL.....
Yesterday, Ryan pulls out several "NEW" books out of his backpack. He proudly tells me that he got them from Mrs. West's prize box. "Mommy, they aren't really new...her son read them when he was a kid, and didn't want them anymore, AREN'T THEY COOL!!!!!"

OKAY MOM I GET IT NOW!!!! YOU REALLY DID KNOW WHAT YOU WERE DOING!!!

Thanks for sending me that Lesson from Heaven...I needed it.

SAC museum...

SAC Museum

Grandpa George took Wednesday off and took the boys to the SAC museum in Ashland. SAC stands for Strategic Air Command. The boys had a blast. The highlight of the trip was when they found the B-25. This was the plane that my Grandpa Jim was in, in WWII. Dad showed them where Grandpa sat. Both the boys came home with die-cast planes. They can't stop talking about the museum, it was really a special day. for them.

The American Astronaut with the boys.

Posing for yet another snapshot.

Inside the jet. WOW--would you get in a plane if these two were flying it?

Grandpa George and the boys in the B-25 plane. Just like where Great Granpda Jim sat.

Uncle Michael and his monkeys inside a fighter jet.

While the boys were checking out the museum, my Grandma and I had a wonderful Girls Day Out. We had lunch together, and spent the afternoon shopping. The highlight of the day was when I got the Senior Citizen's discount at Kohls because I was shopping with her. HA.

He's 8...

Ryan Michael Lohr~

Ryan Michael. I can't believe that you are 8 today. It seems like just yesterday that Daddy and I found out that we were having a baby. We were so excited. We couldn't wait to find out if you were a boy or a girl....but you wouldn't cooperate....so we had to wait. Dr. Gibbens told us you were going to be born in April, and we couldn't wait. Only you had a different plan and you wanted to come early.

Mommy wasn't feeling well...so she and Daddy stayed with Grandma and Grandpa that night. Daddy tried to wake Mommy up early Monday morning, but he couldn't. I was shaking and having a seizure. Grandpa called 911. Grandma and Daddy told Mommy that I woke up when the firemen and paramedics were around her I didn't go with them. I told them I was fine. After Grandma talked to Dr. Gibbens Daddy drove us to the Hospital. Once we got there you and I were rushed into the operating room, Mommy's Blood Pressure was so high they were scared I might have another seizure. Daddy couldn't even go with us. You were born on Monday March 19, 2001 at 8:59 am. Dr. Gibbens gave Mommy some special medicine so that my body could rest and get better. Three days later I woke up and Grandma Patsy was telling me "Mommy you have a Ryan." Once I opened my eyes I wanted to hold you and see you. Daddy told me you weighed 6 lbs. 9 oz, and were 19 inches tall. You had the most beautiful blue eyes. We had to stay in the hospital for 7 days. Before we left Dr. Gibbens told Mommy and Daddy that we were very lucky to be alive, he said you and I had a Guardian Angel on our shoulders. If Mommy would have waited a few minutes more to get to the hospital, we might not be here today.

Ryan you are a miracle. Daddy and Mommy are so proud of you. You are one of a kind. You are such a kind and compassionate friend. You are a great big brother. You are so caring towards others. You are a Husker Fan and bleed Husker Red. You love to cuddle. You love to kick the covers off of you at night. You love to be read too. You are a natural performer, and will sing and dance for anybody who will watch you. You love the outdoors, You love science. You love pink, and will wear it with pride, it reminds you of Mama Patsy. Mama is looking down from Heaven with a smile on her face Ryan, she loves you SO much. You are a planner, and will make a great cruise director some day. Daddy and I can't wait to see what the future has in store for you Ryan. We love you SO much.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN

Outside FUN~

What do you do on St. Patrick's Day when its Sunny and 78 degrees???? You PLAY outside. And you have LOTS of fun. The boys were ready to go outside at 8:00am--Mommy was mean and made them eat breakfast before they went out. (There went my Mother of the Year Award AGAIN !!!)
Dad lives on a circle with a sidewalk--so the boys went 'round and 'round on their scooters aka razors, most of the day. They did come in, and at lunch then it was right back outside.

Grant on his scooter. He even scares me riding this. He is such a dare-devil. Notice the grin.

Ryan loved soaring down Dad's sloped driveway. The coolest part was switching feet when we were coasting down. Yes....it did about give my Grandma and I a heart attack. BOYS.

My dirty little PIGGY. He played SO hard he had dirt all over his face. Which to a little boy meant he had a VERY FUN day.

The boys loved shooting hoops at Grandpa's neighbors. The hoop was just the right height for a 6 yr old and an 8 yr old. Ryan was TOO fast for me to snap a picture of him. And besides "why do you need a picture of me anyway MOM????" KIDS. : )

All in all the boys had a wonderful St. Paddy's Day enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. I was able to sneak out and have dinner with my best friends, Nicki and Gretchen. It was SO good to catch up and have a relaxing dinner with the girls. I miss them SO much and wish we lived closer. Gretchen brought her son Gavin, who just turned one. WHAT A CUTIE. He is SUCH a good baby.
The boys were ready for bed when I got home....always a good sign that they played hard.

Day 3---Monday Madness....

There is NO sleeping in on Spring Break.
Grant opened the curtains for me this morning to show me that the birds were singing and the sun was shining....so it was time to get up. Mind you, this was probably at oh 630ish. UGH.

GG made us her famous macaroni and cheese for lunch. Ryan LOVED it. It was a HUGE hit. My new goal in life is to make mac and cheese like her. No matter what I do, or how I follow her recipe to a "t" it still doesn't taste like hers.

Our afternoon Park-Hopping Adventure started at Antelope Park.
Here is my monkey hanging on the monkey bars.

Ryan loved the slides...there were SO many to choose from.
The park soon became VERY crowded so it was off to the next park. We headed to Keech Park. Which turned out to be a flop. The boys used to play at this park when they were little and it looked HUGE. We pulled up and they said "Mom, c'mon this park is for babies." Sadly they were right...the equipment looked pretty tiny.
SO..back in the car we went and headed to good ol Bethany Park. And they loved it.

Ryan brought the football and he and Grant played catch.

They really do love each other....SEE here's proof.

My little Monkey. He loves climbing and hanging around.

I tried to get more pictures of Ryan..but I was told that it was UNCOOL to take pictures of kids at the park...so there you have that.

Grant shaving in the tub. He said his whiskers were getting long...so we had to take care of that. He was very proud of his close shave. He had to be careful the razor had sharp "blazers" as he called them. Little did he know it WAS A PLASTIC RAZOR. : )

The boys rounded out the evening by watching an old silent movie with Grandpa. The boys were really entertained by this. They were laughing and giggling. They were very tired out from our day of parks...and hoops at Grandpa's neighbors house. They were sound asleep by 900 tonight.

WHEW.