Weekend with Family

Like I mentioned in the previous post, Brad's mom and sister's family came for the weekend.  It's always so great to have time to spend with them and it always goes way too fast.  This weekend was no exception and we were all so sad to see them go.  

Jill and I have alternated having kids since Tate was born in 2006.  So there are six between us, plus the seventh on the way.  Tate and Jill's oldest, Cade (4 years), are the best of buddies (most of the time).  Colton (2 years) is in the middle.  And Knox is about seven months older than her youngest, Jensen (the only girl of the bunch!).  So needless to say, we've got our hands full.  I'm sure we look like quite the family when we pile out of TWO Yukon XLs to go to dinner...

 Bath Time with the Babies - Jensen and Knox

 The Big Boys... Tate, Cade, and Colton

 Colton's mean face

 Silly Boys... Jill forgot to teach Cade how to put on his underwear

Anyway, we all "marched" on Saturday and then that afternoon Grandma Sievers and Grandma Smith watched the five kids as the mommies and daddies went to the Kenny Chesney concert at Cowboys Stadium.  For all you country fans out there, I advise you to GO if he's coming to a city near you.  He put on a fantastic show and had a great line up ahead of him (Uncle Kracker, Billy Currington -my personal favorite, and Zach Brown Band).  

 Kenny, here we come!!!

Sister-in-laws Rule!

Sunday morning came way too soon and the Millers and Brad's mom headed back north for their long trip home.  And as of today, we learned that Jensen and Colton both have strep... I wonder how long before we all get it... Ah, the joys of family.

Love to y'all,
Tracy

We Came, We Saw, We Marched

Yesterday we walked in our third March For Babies sponsored by the March of Dimes.  As many of you know, we've been raising money for the past three months for this event and I'm so pleased (and in shock) to say that, as a team, we raised over $10,000!!!

This is one of the special days throughout the year that is "set aside" to remember Nash... all that he was and all that he still is to so many.  We had forty people there with us yesterday in Dallas to walk five miles in memory of our sweet boy.  That, in itself, means so much more than I can possibly write.  Brad's mom and sister's family drove in from Kansas City.  In addition, my parents, our coworkers, friends, old coworkers, and even some parents of our friends walked right there beside us.  

It really is symbolic to have all these people rally around us on such an important day.  This is the way it has been since that horrible July day.  Never once has anyone faltered.  In fact, we have been overwhelmed by the arms of those who catch us when we fall.  So really, I'm not surprised that we had so much support and love with us yesterday.  I never would expect it, but I'm not surprised... 

Thank you to all who supported this amazing day with your generous donations.  And thank you to all of you who walked with us.  We love you and are so blessed to have you in our lives.

Love to y'all,

Tracy

Escape Artist

Ever since we had kids, our poor dog, McCarney, has been what some would call "neglected." She's a sweet, sweet dog... but gets in trouble daily for barking when the kids are sleeping or for eating something that belongs to one of them... not food... I mean toys, socks, underwear, etc.


But I think yesterday, she did something that warranted a special post just about her...


The boys and I went on a walk around 9am. It was Brad's morning to sleep in, so he was still in bed. When we were done and coming up the driveway, our nextdoor neighbor stopped us and said she was pretty sure that our dog got out. HUH???


As were raced in through the back fence we noticed this...

We were rushing inside to get Brad up and to start searching the neighborhood, when McCarney came zooming out the doggy door that leads to our backyard.  HUH???

We were so confused... We went inside and I listened to a message on the answering machine.  It was a neighbor down the street, who said her son found our dog and helped her get back in the house.  She said to call if I had any questions.  I quickly dialed her number.  Of course I thanked her over and over again for getting our dog back home.  After our conversation, here's what we're pretty sure happened:

McCarney was sitting in her usual post, looking out the office window (which is only 8 inches above the ground).  She must've saw something that got her excited (my guess would be a squirrel).  She jumped up on the screen - because the window was wide open - and POP!  The screen popped out.  She jumped - or fell - through the window and ended up outside and free as a bird. 

Then she panicked and found her way to the back of the house where the gate to our fence is.  This is where she went to town, trying to claw her way in.  When she realized that wasn't going to work, she headed back to the front, where the neighbor's son saw her.  He asked our nextdoor neighbor if she knew whose dog it was, and the neighbor told him it was ours. 

The boy knocked on the door, but no one answered (no, Brad didn't get up when he heard the door).  This is when the boy noticed the screen was punched out of the front window.  He took McCarney home with him.  His mom called and left us a message and then he and his dad brought her back to our house.  They had her jump back through the window and shut the window from the outside, leaving McCarney safe and sound in our house.

PHEW!!! 

Can you believe that?!  What a crazy story!  And poor McCarney was probably terrified.  We're all just so relieved to have her back.  I would be sick if she were still out there somewhere.  Thank goodness for sweet neighbors and a lot of good luck!

Love to y'all,
Tracy