Tanner says the darnedest things

The other night I was cuddling with Tanner and asked him if he loved me.  He hesitated and then said, "Mom I don't like you because you're a girl, I still love you though."

It may have taken Tanner longer to speak then most children his age, but now when he talks he has no filter!

While in an elevator a man with a shaved head walked in and Tanner said "that man has no hair" to which the man replied "watch out, one day this could happen to you."

A couple weeks ago we were at the dentist office.  Tanner was getting his teeth cleaned and had two hygienists.  One was black and the other hispanic.  I was sitting on the bench not too far from them when the two women both start laughing.  They told me that Tanner had just told the black woman she was ugly because her face was so black.  So she asked Tanner "what about her?" (indicating the hispanic woman) in which Tanner said "she's better her skin is lighter."  It was one of those moments you just want to crawl inside a hole.  Where did he come up with that?  We certainly didn't teach him that at home.  He even has a half black cousin!   I'm glad they were laughing about it though and thought it was funny.  I on the other hand was mortified.

I wasn't sure exactly the right way to handle this, but I felt that we had to do something.  After we came home I had a talk with him.  We then went to the store where he picked out a flower and then went back to the dentist office to apologize.

I know he's not willfully being mean.  Kids are inquisitive and say whats are their mind.  He's a great boy and we love him.

Olympic Knight

It was our second annual Mother son activity at Carson's school! The theme this year was Olympic Knight (Carson's school mascot is a Silver Knight) and with the olympics coming this summer the theme was perfect.

We had such an enjoyable night!  Carson and I turned it into a date and went out for dinner at the Rainforest Cafe.

 We then met with our neighbors to get our pictures taken with our friends.  We really do have such amazing neighbors and friends!

 They had some really fun games:  Here is Carson doing the Javelin toss.

 Carson and Jude doing a basketball relay

 Disk throwing

 ping pong

 hula hoop, he's pretty good!

 Bubble soccer for the older kids and the younger kids got to roll around in the ball. Carson loves this.

 Other games included; 500 yard dash, tic tac toe, 3 legged race, limbo, and an egg relay. 

We won!  We completed all the games and won a water bottle :) Couldn't have asked for a better teammate. 

We had so much fun together! So to cap off our night we ended it with snow cones. It was really an amazing night to spend with one of my favorite guys.

1 Year Anniversary

On April 9, I "celebrated" my 1 year anniversary of being diagnosed with Cancer. Its been a crazy ride to say the least since I got that phone call. What a year it has been!  On one hand I can't believe its been a year, and on the other it feels like its been WAY longer then a year! 

So when my friend Sarah asked if I wanted to run the Bluebell race with her this year on April 9, I couldn't think of a more appropriate way to commemorate this day. 

Sarah and I before our race!

It was a perfect day for a run.  It was overcast with a slight breeze.

These were taken by the race photographer.  Here we are at the starting line.

This one is my favorite. It looks like we are having a good time.

At the finish line.  It felt so good to be standing at the finish line 1 year later, stronger, and disease free!

Final Four

The NCAA Final Four game came to Houston, Texas and Brad couldn't pass up this once in a lifetime opportunity to take Carson and go.

The final four teams were Villanova vs. Oklahoma and North Carolina vs. Syracuse.  Unfortunately both games were blowouts so not the most exciting game to watch (especially the Villanova game!), but they had a great entertainment and special effects.  The boys had a blast together!  Carson especially thought it was the coolest thing ever.  Glad they were able to go and have fun!

Tanner gets his tonsils out

We visited Tanners ENT for a routine followup visit for the tubes in his ears.  At the visit I told the doctor that Tanner snores every night.  So she looked into his mouth and said that his tonsils were huge!  So big that they are what they call "kissing tonsils" meaning they almost touch.  She recommend that we get them out immediately and that this will improve his quality of life (he'll be getting a better nights sleep and it will also improve his gag reflex).  Its better to get them out while they're young vs. older she said.  So even though he's never had a sore throat in his life, we were back at the hospital for another procedure.

Tanner getting all warm and cozy in his bed before they start.

Fortunately Tanner remembered what it was like when he had his tubes put in so he wasn't too scared.  He remembered the fireman type mask they use to put over his nose.  He was doing great until they wheeled him away from us.  Then he started panicking.

Waking up from anesthesia was harder this time too.  He cried for me when he first woke up and when he saw me he started sobbing.  They had me get in bed with him to comfort him.  He just laid on my chest and was in and out of sleep.  When he would wake up he cried and asked to go home.  I have to admit although it was sad to see him in pain, I loved the snuggles.

 After resting and having a popsicle we were good to go home.

 I know its a blurry picture, but I still love it.  We have this exact picture from his last surgery.

Unlike when he got his tubes out, Tanner didn't bounce right back up.  He took a few naps and watched lots of TV.  He's on a 2 week soft diet, and he is loving all the ice cream and popsicles although still asks if he can have normal foods.  Its been a little over a week and aside from the diet, we are pretty much back to normal.  Love this little man and all the extra cuddles he's been giving me!

30 in my 30's

I turned 31 on the 31st.  Before I turned 30 last year I wrote a bucket list of things I wanted to do before I hit 30.  With being pregnant and then having a newborn I wasn't able to complete my bucket list.  I promised myself that instead of doing it before I hit 30, I would do 30 things in my 30's.  Then as life does, I got thrown a curveball after I turned 30.  Although I may not have done some things that were originally on my bucket list, I was instead able to do more then I possibly thought I could.

1.  I survived Cancer!  The biggest and most challenging thing I did this past year.

2.  I went on a vacation without the kids.

3.  I started yoga and running to help get my strength back.

4.  I got my first stamp in my passport.

5.  I went back to the beach that Brad proposed to me at.

6.  I ate something new and actually liked it!  I had red snapper (I do not like fish, so this was a big deal) and cooked oysters.

7.  I had 2 surgeries.

8.  I learned about a new culture. We went to Istanbul, Turkey which is a Muslim country.

9.  I ran the Aim for the Cure 5k race with my family

10.  Went to the World's oldest Mosque

11.  I had my cancer story published on a Melanoma website.  A quote from my story was featured on Facebook and had over 427 likes and 140 shares that were not my friends and family.

12.  I did something adventurous.  I got naked and had someone else bathe me (a traditional turkish bath).

13. I kissed my lover on the Spanish Steps.

14.  Had my cell phone pick pocketed.

15.  Went on a little mini shopping spree for myself

16.  Walked the streets of Rome.

17.  Read a book thats out of my usual genre.

18.  Went to the infamous city of Pompeii.

19.   Learned to be humble and ask for help when I needed it.

20. Traveled to Utah by myself with 3 kids.

21.  Have now seen 3 wonders of the world: The Hagia Sophia, Colosseum, and the Grand Canyon.

22.  Endured 3 months of Cancer Treatment.

23.  Ate real Italian Gelato.

24.   Saw the magnificent masterpieces of Bernini.

25.  Gazed up at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

26.  Swam in a natural spring in Austin (Barton Springs)

27.  Saw the breathtaking "city of water", Venice Italy

28.  Went on a cruise down Bosphorus River (the river that separates the European from the Asian Continents).

29.  Wore a hijab.

30.  Making sure Brad and I go on a date night at least once a month, as well as more one on one time with each of my boys.  

Easter

I just love the Easter holiday, with spring in the air and thoughts of our Savior its just a wonderful time of year.  Here are some pictures from that weekend.

All ready for our neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt!

  

 This was Logan's first real time hunting for eggs! He caught on quick.

 We got invited over to our friends house for an Easter BBQ on Saturday night.  The kids loved playing with friends and of course having another Easter Egg hunt to get more candy!

 This was Logan all throughout the Easter holiday, he loved dragging the Easter bunny I made in YW all around the house!

Easter Morning.  I didn't get a picture of their filled Easter baskets.  Oops, but the kids were so excited the Easter bunny came and with the basket another Easter egg hunt.

score!

Logan wasn't interested in finding eggs this time, he just wanted to play with the truck the Easter bunny brought him.

In our Sunday best.  These boys are simply the best and I just love them!

It was a wonderful weekend!  While at church that Easter Sunday the primary sang Happy Birthday to me since my birthday was that coming Thursday.  They gave me a candy bar and after I sat down Tanner asked if I would share with him.  When I told him no that this was my special treat, he said that wasn't fair.  Even though he had 3 Easter egg hunts, an Easter basket with a chocolate Easter bunny and other candy, and yet it wasn't fair that I didn't share my one candy bar.  Kids!