Another Loss

I got another one of those calls last night. Just like that call that came January 5 to tell us about Jimmy's plane crash. This time it was my friend. Tragic circumstances.

Thank goodness Bill is home today working in the yard with the kids because I am walking around with my mind in a daze and constant tears. I sit here trying to think of how I'm going to tell them about their friend.

You see, Stephanie and I have known each other almost since we were born. Our birthdays are 5 weeks apart and we met when I moved to the neighborhood in July of 1973. I had just turned one (we literally moved ON my first birthday) and she was lived down the street. Steph's mom, Connie, and my mom became best friends and still are today. We used to trick-or-treat together.

Stephie moved a few years later, but our families still kept in touch. I used to love to go to their house in Perry. It had a great yard and lots of room to run and play.

You remember that Duran Duran concert? The one where my Dad drove us and sat in the parking lot in a giant snowstorm? Steph and Connie were with us.

In high school and college we didn't keep in touch much, but I always knew what she was up to since Connie and my mom remained close.

Steph was at my wedding shower, my wedding, my baby shower. She held my kids when they were just days old.

 She would come over with her mom and my mom and babysit for us. She cleaned up my kids "kitty barf" the night my mom gave one of them too much candy. My kids loved her and she them. She has pictures of them all over her office and house.

We bumped into each other at Old Navy in December. We talked about getting together some Friday for lunch when the weather got better. What were we waiting for and why should the weather have stopped us? Regrets, I've had a few. Add that one to the pile.

I sit and think of how I'm going to explain this to my kids. Steph,along with her two beloved cats, died from carbon monoxide inhalation from a kitchen fire. The fire put itself out and no one knew anything until the next day when she didn't show up for Easter dinner.

Ironically, for the past few weeks my kids have been into talking about fire safety. They know stop-drop-roll, call 911, feel the door before opening, they have a ladder in their room, we check the batteries in our smoke detector and they know the family meeting spot outside. Nolan worries about fire and sometimes at night asks me if we will ever have a fire in our house.

There is a lesson here, but I have no idea how to teach it through the pain.

Yesterday while we were cooking dinner, some bread got left under the broiler for too long and the alarm went off. Nolan was heading for the door until we reassured him that it was OK to stay in the house. Maybe that was Steph on her way to the other side, stopping by one more time to say goodbye.

Friends, and you all are my friends if you are reading this.....please check the batteries in your smoke detector. If you don't have one, call your local fire dept. Ours will come and install them for you FOR FREE. They will even give you reminder calls to check your batteries. No one needs to go through this pain.

Hoppin Our Way Towards Easter

I have been lax in blogging, so thanks Ash for the email to get me back on track!

Here's what we've been up to:

Nolan likes the bunny this year!!!!! We went to the mall last week and he was cuddlin' up to the bunny telling him that he wanted a forklift and a Grave Digger monster truck. They also got to ride the track-less train with Grammy.

We also visited Peter Rabbit's Egg Factory (a program put on by Lake Metroparks). There are lots of games, a chance to visit the Easter Bunny, an egg hunt, and a really cool egg factory where you get an egg to start and you wash it, color it, dry it, weigh it, and send it through the pipes to see if you are a "good egg." It's a really cute set-up and a lot of work, especially when the egg hunt has to be inside due to rain & wind. It was fun to see so many of our Moms of Multiples friends, too.

The bunny giving Reagan's egg an x-ray.

 Oh, I hope it comes down this chute!

 Indoor egg hunt.

 decorating cookies.

They gave the bunny a great big squeeze and it looked like Nolan was going to take a bite out of him!

Then it was on to an ice skating birthday party for their friend, Cora. The twinadoes have never been ice skating and where very excited to give it a try. Nolan took to it like a duck takes to water. Reagan; not so much. She did finally give it a try about 30 minutes before the end of the party with a little bribery from cousin Taylor. To all of our surprises, she liked it! I hope she learned the lesson about not giving up and giving new things a try. She did great!

Miss Jen giving Nolan a little help for his first time on the ice. It was cousin Taylors first time, too!

 Nolan and his new "best friend" Michael.

 Reagan giving it a try!

The kids also figured out how to get their bikes "stuck" so the back wheel would just spin and spin. Of course, they figured this out right over a big puddle. What they did not figure out was that they should not be behind the bike when the rider starts peddling. Or maybe I am wrong and that was the most fun part!

We took in an "eggstravganza" at the local library. There was lots of singing, stories, and a craft. I had to laugh when we got there.....there is all this space to sit down and this is how they ended up.

I love that they have each other. It makes this only-child so happy to know that (when they want it and even when they don't) they will have a playmate, a friend, a sibling. It was just one of those moments to remind me how grateful I am that things worked the way they did for us.

Bill and I are very lucky parents.



Ka-Chow

We got to see the life size versions of Lightning McQueen & Tow-Mater. I'm not sure if the kids were more excited or if I was. I really, really like the movie Cars. It is the only Disney movie my kids will watch, so it means I only have Cars merch all over the house and not a million princess' or robots.

The tour stopped at Great Northern Mall, which might as well be in Indiana as far as I'm concerned. The weather was awful, driving rain and gusty winds, but that didn't stop us! Luckily, Aunt Jan and Aunt Deb went along for the ride.

The mall has a cute (brown as opposed to the Great Lakes Mall's white bunny) Easter bunny and a train that goes through the mall; no track. It is $3pp and about a 10 minute ride, but it beats 3 times around the oval at other holiday events that cost the same.

Since we were on that side of town, a stop at Fatheads for lunch was in order.....meaning Bill got his growler (that he so kindly left in my car this morning as a hint) filled with Imperial Headhunter IPA. No matter what he says, I am a good wife ;)