Way behind, but turning 9...

Oh goodness, where has the time gotten to with keeping tracking of monumental things in life?  Our lives were blessed for the better when our precious Molly was sent to us on Friday, May 20, 2005.  I can distinctly remember the feeling I had when I found out that our second child was a little girl.  Over the moon I tell you!  Molly has always been a joy and I am so glad to be her Mom.

Such a cutie at 1 year old!

4 year old Cheerleader

School Carnival

Kindergarten

Second grade

Summer 2013

We love you, Molly.  So glad that you are now 9!!!  You are a beautiful girl inside and out!

Happy belated birthday to Molly...

This beautiful little baby now turned 8!!

Very hard to imagine that it's been 8 years since she arrived.  I didn't believe at first that a little girl had been sent to us.  I thought for sure Cameron was getting a brother.  But, alas, it was a mini Me!  Although she's truly more her Daddy.

Always a smile and always big blue eyes.

Fun loving and full of zest.

Serious but yet smiling.

Such a cutie!

A dancer girl.

Doesn't mind a little mud.

A little mother to all.

And a good friend to many.

Always have a big heart my special first girl!

We love you, Molly!

Familiar faces...

Yesterday I ran into Wal-Mart after work.  It was a quick trip with the kids.  A woman was standing by the jewelry counter with a friend and she said hello to me.  I said hi back and kept walking.  Then I stopped and did a double take because I knew that I knew her from somewhere.  She had turned as well and she asked me if she knew me from somewhere as well.  Instantly I knew her face and realized that she was one of the Child Life Specialists we had met on our trips to the Children's Hospital with Molly.  She is a very kind woman with a big smile.  I will never forget her.  That part of this story isn't as important as the part I want to share about my feelings after I saw this familiar woman.

You see, it's been 4 years since Molly had so many set backs from surgery complications.  It's hard to realize that she has doubled her life (she was 3 1/2, she now is 7 1/2) since she was in the hospital.  I don't think about it all the time but certain things trigger memories and especially feelings of that time. 

My reflections on that 6 months 4 years ago is still very strong.  I know with even more time it will soften.  And I will always be so very grateful and recognize how very blessed we were to be a success story.  It was a God moment.  I truly know that. 

I try really hard to not talk about it too much.  But I also realize that it is an important part of who I have become, especially as Molly's mom.  I learned that you ALWAYS speak up for your child, you ALWAYS ask for further explanations on things if you don't understand and you ALWAYS tell your children the truth about what is going to happen.  I know many parents believe that sheltering their children from the harsh realities is best but I do not.  No, I don't give the gory details but I do not lie and I do not withhold information.  Both of my parents had serious surgeries when I was a kid/early teenager and they always told my brother and I what was going to happen.  I have always appreciated that my parents were honest and Mr. Shook and I have done the same.

Last week my girl, Molly, was star of the week in her 2nd grade class.  You get to take in show and tell every day for a week.  On the first day Molly took Josh, the dog you get on the pre-op tour when visiting the Children's Hospital.  Molly has loved that dog from day one.  She sleeps with it almost every night.  I asked Molly what she was going to tell her class about Josh.  She said that she would tell them that she got him from the hospital.  The best part to me is that Josh is a part of her life, but she doesn't actually remember being given Josh.  She was too young to really remember.  When you ask her about her hospital experiences she can't really share many details.  Molly remembers getting to watch movies, getting a new set of Polly Pockets, having a catheter.  That's about it.  I find this absolutely perfect.  I am willing to bear all of the feelings we all had during that time myself.  Molly doesn't remember hurting, being scared or being in any pain.  I remember it all. 

And, I am the most proud of how well Mr. Shook and I handled ourselves through the experience.  If you are reading this blog and you are not our family or from the time we lived in Michigan or Ohio we didn't know you 4 years ago.  We had only lived in Illinois a little over 4 months.  I think God has now put people in our path that we can really call friends, but it was just the two of us, our two other children and thank god, my brother and sister-in-law.  We didn't have many to turn to so we turned to each other.  I am so lucky to have Mr. Shook as my rock.  Not just in this situation but every day. 

4 years ago on Valentine's Day Molly had her third surgery in a week and we ate Avanti's carry out in the hospital as our "romantic" dinner.  I will skip the flowers and candy every year just so I don't have to have Valentine's any where but with my family.  God blessed us that Valentine's Day and I will always remember it. 

And, I will try my hardest not to talk about it too much.  But, I make no promises.  It's a part of who I am. 

Enjoy this week of love and family! 

Smile!...

It was been over a month since I did a blog post.  I felt like I needed to give my writing and posting a break. It's a long story, but I felt like my blog had been violated.  Someone or something was linking some of my blog posts to a site without my permission.  I had to ask for them to be removed and luckily, the person obliged.  I really don't understand their need to link my posts but the hits on my blog when crazy.  There really isn't anything here to read, unless you want to know about what my kids did on a boring summer day, or what we had for dinner one night.  I censor myself ON MY OWN BLOG with the fear of offending someone or something.  This is truly boring reading.  But, don't stop reading, please!!

Since I last posted I've had a birthday, which was very nice.  My parents have moved apartments within their complex (which was no minor undertaking!), we've had Halloween (very fun!).  The regular mundane things.  

Tomorrow we elect a new president or re-elect the one we already have.  I can't remember feeling like any other election has meant or mattered more.  I don't know what to wish for in the outcome.  I just know that I will be glad to have an end to the campaign ads, literature and phone calls.  I pray for our country and it's leadership.

Probably the biggest thing to happen here in a while is this...

The first loss of a front tooth at our house!

This is big news and I marvel at what a cute smile!

Maybe we'll be singing the famous Christmas song after all...

Funny-isms...

Do you jot down the funny things your kids say and do?  We had one of those moments today and I thought it might be worth sharing, especially if you have a sense of humor.

School has started and we are one week into it which also means we have started homework and bringing home the 2nd grade reading book.  It is one HEAVY book.  Molly was telling me that today they learned about people who are blind and able to read braille.  She was explaining to me how they are talented to learn how to feel the bumps, which are letters, so they can read.

I asked Molly if she shared with her class that her Grandma was blind.  Molly told me no, she didn't share that.  I said maybe your classmates would like to hear about someone who is blind.  Molly said that Grandma was the only person she knows who is blind and she didn't know anyone else who was.  I told her that it was OK to only know one blind person and that although Grandma doesn't know braille her classmates might like to hear about her Grandma and how she listens to book on CD's.

Molly told me that Grandma can't read braille because she isn't talented.

Apparently talented and braille are one in the same. :)

From the mouths of babes...

Thank goodness my Mom would agree with her lack of talent and thank goodness my Mom would also find Molly's comment funny.  Because when you lose your sight or have something debilitating happen to you laughter helps you get through many tougher times.  Believe me we've had our share and we laugh about them all the time!  Even when one isn't talented! 

America's Favorite Pastime...

We have finished another year of baseball and we have finished our first year of softball.  

But, I sadly am a horrible softball Mom and forgot my camera for EVERY SINGLE GAME and have zero softball pictures.  I feel awful because Molly really loved it and did pretty well, if I may say so.  Imagine a really cute girl in an obnoxious orange Morton Rotary shirt with a batting helmet that was WAY too big, and bobbled back and forth when she ran the bases.  Yep, that was my girl.

Here are some pics from Cameron's last game where it was no less than 95 degrees at 9 AM.  We were ALL hot.  That's what you've gotta love about baseball.  You start in April in sweatshirts and end in July in the thinnest possible clothing you own.

Here's my Cleveland Indian...appropriate I know :)

Here's our favorite coach...

Here's the sister cheering section...

Thank you to my guy for stepping up and being Cameron's coach.  It takes a lot of time and dedication but we are so blessed that you want to spend this time with our kids.  We can now close the chapter on coach pitch ball. 

Kid's Muddy Madness!

Today we (the kids) participated in the coolest event.  It was called Kid's Muddy Madness for St. Jude's.  It was held in a local park and the pictures will not do it justice.  

But before I share about it I want to say what a great community we get to live in and what great friends we have.  The kids wanted to raise money to turn in as part of the race donation that would go to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.  We decided to sell popsicles and water at our friend's house.  They live on a busier street then we do.  I advertised it on Facebook, texted some friends and the kids held up signs as cars passed.  What an awesome response!  In a little over 2 hours they raised $90!!  We donated it all today to St. Jude's!  It was a great learning experience for the kids.

At the actual race kids were assigned to different waves to run.  Ages 4-6 (Amanda's age group) did a 100 yard dash and Cameron and Molly's age groups did a one mile run.  The one mile run went through some woods which had obstacles in it like going over mounds of dirt, running through tires, jumping over logs and climbing over a large stack of hay bails.

  

But, the best part was the end!!

The kids got to run through a mud pit!!!

It was a riot and the kids loved it (except for Amanda)!

Here's what everyone looked like at the end...

And then you got sprayed off by the fire department!

I read on Facebook that the kids run today raised $26,000.  How awesome is that!!!

We loved it and can't wait to do it again next year!

And, I feel so blessed today that we were a small part of such a good cause.  Especially when you have 3 healthy children.  Our prayers are with those who we helped today!

A sneak preview...

Oh my goodness, the days since school has been out have flown by!

How could I forget to post that my beautiful daughter turned 7!!!

Here's a sneak preview of the weekend we are having...dance recital!!

One costume of three...school girls dancing their jazz number to the Jackson Five hit ABC.

It is super, super cute!!

Molly,

We are so proud of the girl that you are becoming.  You have very little fear and will try anything once.  Keep up your self confidence and don't let anyone take away your spirit.  

We love you always!!

And p.s.  

Who doesn't think that the jazz picture above, with Molly's hair pulled back, makes her even more look like her Daddy.  She is ALL him! 

And I love it!

Lucky Day...

How lucky am I?

I got to go on two field trips this week with both of my elementary kiddos.  They were both nature related and had outdoor things to do.  Cameron REALLY wanted me to go on his field trip, Molly not so much.  In fact, I wasn't going to go on Molly's but her sweet teacher put out not one, but two requests for one more parent to come along and I couldn't say no.  Grandma and Grandpa Choo were more than happy to hang with Miss Amanda so it was all good.

Here's a couple of pictures I snapped with my camera phone.

My group in the second grade...Matt, Bradley, Jaxon and Mr. Cameron.  

They were a great group and very well behaved!

More second graders!

Molly and her BFF :)

Some gals from the first grade!

Molly's first grade class!

I am so blessed to have a chance to get to go on the field trips and also get to know my kiddos friends.  Although summer is quickly approaching and I'm ready for a break it has been a great school year!

Queen of the Jungle...

Does your school have a Star of the Week? Well, in Molly's first grade class you are either Queen of the Jungle or King of the Jungle. It's a very cute idea and Molly was the Queen of the Jungle last week.

On Monday you take in pictures of yourself and finish sentences about yourself.

My favorite sport is...Soccer

My family...Dad, Mom, Cameron and Amanda

My hobbies...Legos, Ballet, Tap and Jazz

Someday I want to be a...teacher

My favorite food...hot dogs and pizza

Something I'm good at...I'm a good friend

On Tuesday you take a treat and a show and tell item. We made trail mix and Molly took in her Lego camper. Quite a hit, especially with the fellows of the class.

On Wednesday your classmates write letters to you. This is what I really wanted to share about her special week. Here are some of the things that her friends wrote about my girl. I'll leave the first grade spelling and writing the way it was done.

Dear Molly,

I like you because you are nice.

Your friend,

Dax

Dear Molly,

I like you because you are my bust frust and you like me and I like you!

Your friend,

Anika

Dear Molly,

I like you because you are nies and you like me. Whet is yor brurrs (brother's) name?

Your friend,

Connor

Dear Molly,

I like you because you are funny and you are a very nice. I realy liked your show and tell. Thank you for the snacks.

Your friend,

Becca

Dear Molly,

I like you because you are a funny cool and nice.

Your friend,

Garrett

Dear Molly,

I like you because you are nice, cool, nice, fun, funny, good and you never ever move your number or cube's.

Your friend,

Will

Aren't these great things to hear from your friends?

I think we all need to have a day where everyone writes us letters and tells us a thing or two that they like about us. It's very good for the ego!!

Molly's 100's Day poem...

My 100 Book by Molly Shook (with first grade grammatical errors included)

I wish I had 100 money

I would not want 100 brothers

I could eat 100 pieces of grapes

I could never eat 100 bananas

I could lift 100 toys

If I had $100 I would buy A American Girl Doll

On the first day of school I couldn't rite my best

But on the 100th day of school I can now rite good.

Ready or not, here we are....

First and Second grade!!!

We had a fun summer but now it's time to hit the books!

Happy School Year!!!