Cora and Carson's photo shoot

Cora's friend Carson has been spending an afternoon a week with us the past month or so because her grandma/babysitter has been very sick. Carson is probably the one of Cora's friends who is almost as sassy as she is. I say almost because Carson is a Southern Belle (you would know this if you heard her talk, ya'll) and Southern Belle's don't come with a temper nearly as strong as a Georgia peach who has Italian blood. Carson's actually much more pleasant. Anyway, these two were dying for REAL make up yesterday. So we went above and beyond. We did make up, costumes, and a photoshoot. Please note that these expressions were their so called "model faces."




for the love!

dinner + bathtime!

Celebrating 7 at Camp Garola

For Cade's birthday this year I really wasn't sure I wanted to do anything at our house. His friends are super sweet, but super boyish and I was pretty sure any cute party I tried to do may turn into WWF. So I tried to con him into taking a few friends bowling, but he wouldn't bite! He really wanted an at home party. So I made him limit the number of boys to keep it small and we did a camping party. It was very cute and very fun! It didn't turn into WWF until the last 20 minutes and we kept that part away from the campfire! :)


Campfire cupcakes!

roasting hot dogs, we followed this with marshmallows and spooky campfire stories!

nature scavenger hunt

we tossed plastic picnic food through this bear's mouth! (btw, I'm not artist!)

cute friends

cade and cora trying out a gift (nerf dart tag!)

Cora's 2 year Cancerversary

Two years ago tonight we sat in a hospital room digesting the news that our 2 year old had cancer. Here we are 2 years later still with the same questions. How did this happen? Why did this happen? It just seems to defy the laws of childhood. But now we are "used" to it. We're accustomed to the terminology that once seemed so confusing, the list of medications that seemed so overwhelming, and the side effects that seemed so impossible to deal with. We are dealing with it daily. We are now well aware of the world that is childhood cancer. We still HATE it, but we're not as afraid of it. Leukemia and cancer are common everyday words at our house. It doesn't freak me out when I'm giving Cora a bath and I see her scar or feel her port under the surface of her skin. When I see bald kids with no eyebrows at clinic I think they're cute, not scary or unnatural. We've learned a lot, and in many ways, I think we're better off for it.

I will never know why, but that's OK with me. I do know that God never promises us an easy life. He never promises that there won't be bumps in our path. He does however promise us eternal life if we seek Him first. (Matthew 6:33) He promises that he will never leave us and never forsake us. (Hebrews 13: 5-6) So I don't understand cancer, it's much bigger and more complicated than me. But I have a God who is much bigger and more complicated than cancer! He loves me and my daughter. Knowing that helps me sleep at night :).

We've only got 3 more months of treatment and then Cora is officially a SURVIVOR! That is something to be thankful for!

happy birthday to the sweetest 7 year old boy I know!

i LOVE this guy!

Big Girl's "Indie" with Justin Bieber Video

OK Ladies and Gentlemen,
As you know, Cora is obsessed with "being a big girl" although she is only 4. This inspiration come primarily from my friend's two young teenage girl whom Cora idolizes. They were the inspiration for much of her dancing and at home daily she makes me call her either "addison" or "emma." She also knows, loves, and admires Addi and Em's cousins, Sunny and Evie. These 4 ultra creative girls made this video with no help. They did costumes, make up, filming, and editing. It's funny, but super creative. It proves to me that when it comes to technology I've got NOTHING on this younger generation....enjoy!

i love this!