Nicole's 30th & Rainy Day Fun!

This year my sis turned 30 on May 12th and Sean & I threw her a surprise party in celebration the Saturday after her birthday. Throwing a surprise party for Nicole is no easy task!  She definitely knew something was going on that weekend, but I like to believe that she wasn't aware of every aspect of her party. Some of her closest friends and family members joined us to celebrate her birthday with food, drinks and lots of dancing. The highlight was the D.J. we hired to play music all night. Hannah had a blast dancing (and kicking around balloons) on the dance floor, until Nonnie and Nonne took her home for bed. :)

Family pic



So happy to be with her Auntie



Ready to get the party started on the dance floor with Uncle Sean

World's Best Auntie and Uncle!!!

Cheers! Love ya sis!

The week after heading up to Fortuna for Nicole's birthday was followed by two days of rain. Josh, Hannah and I decided to take advantage of what we thought was going to be the last rain of the season (who really thought it'd still be raining at this time of year?!?). We put on our rain gear and headed out to hunt for puddles in our neighborhood. Hannah was apprehensive at first when it came to jumping in puddles, but after a few demonstrations from mom and dad she quickly got the hang of it! She also loved walking down the creek path across the street from our house. Needless to say when it was time to come in for a bath and bed, she was not ready for it.  :)  As fun as that rainy day was, I'm ready for some SUN!!!!

She was soooo excited to go play in the rain

Heading down the driveway

Jumping in her first puddle

Give mom a BIG "Cheeeeese!"

Exploring the trail across from our house...gotta love the kitty tails on the back of her kitty rain boots

With Dad :)

Heidi

I hesitated about writing this post because honestly I tend to use my blog as more storyboard for what's going on in our lives for family and friends that live far away to read. The more I've thought about it however, the more I feel that writing this post might help me get one step closer to coming to terms with the death of my close friend Heidi. As I sit here and type, the tears won't stop flowing because I still can't believe she is gone and I'm writing a blog post about it.

3 weeks ago today I found out my close friend and coworker Heidi was diagnosed with Leukemia, this came as a complete shock to everyone (especially since she had blood work done the month before for something unrelated and it came back normal). We found out two days later that she had a type of Leukemia that has a 95% cure rate was not expected to be life threatening. Despite the devastating news, we were all extremely hopeful and thought that nothing but the best would be her final outcome. She immediately started chemo and did everything in her power to as she said, "get an A+" when it came to following the regimen necessary in order to beat it. She finished her treatment one week later, however the following day developed an infection. Due to that infection her body went into septic shock and she passed away the following day.

 Heidi has been part of my life since Day 1 of my teaching career. It was she that rallied others together to get my classroom ready when I was hired just two days before school started; it was she who was my beginning teacher support provider my first two years of my career......this time one year ago we were planning her wedding..... and now her memorial?!? I still just can't wrap my mind around it.

If I could talk to you Heidi I would tell you that not a day has gone by that I don't think about you. The past 12 days have been some of the hardest of my life. I miss my friend, my fellow teacher, my mentor... Teaching 2nd grade with you 2 years ago was one of the best years of my career so far. I'll miss your hugs, your infectious smile, your thoughtfulness....I took for granted your back rubs on our lunch break and thoughtful notes or little surprises in my box for Hannah. You were one of the most giving, caring, loving, amazing women I've ever had the pleasure to know. Going through your classroom today with Tracy, Mandy and Nancy to find pictures and memories of you for your service Friday was so difficult, it sent a flood of emotions through me once again. Saturday night at Ramona's annual end of summer dance party, I just kept waiting for you to show up "fashionably late" like you always do. What I would give for one more hug, to have one more laugh, a chance to give YOU a back rub..... I love you and miss you....

 first year teaching ~Our 4th/5th grade teaching team

Annual Walk-A-Thon

One of our group Halloween costumes (the students always loved it when we did this)

At the Asilomar conference grounds in Pacific Grove

Team Evergreen ~Annual Bowling Event



One of my last "Girls Dance Parties" with you



Happiness is being a mother....

As Hannah grows, changes and blossoms I can't help but be filled with pure joy and happiness by virtually everything that she does. Her laugh is contagious; her smile is infectious; her innocence makes me look at things differently; her thoughtfulness amazes me and her hugs & kisses melt my heart. Sometimes I feel like I tell her "I love you" a million times a day and it's still not enough. I never tire of reading her books, singing her songs and rocking her before bed. I can see a glimpse into the young lady she'll become...her cautious nature; silly personality; loving ways and beauty inside & out make her one of a kind... I am so blessed she is mine. Hannah Nicole Heald I am so lucky to be your Mommy!!!

Easter

Easter weekend started out with Nonnie, Nonne, Auntie Cole and Uncle Sean getting into town. I had the Friday before Easter off....Josh had to work =( So my family and I took Hannah to Howarth Park. She had a blast riding the train, carousel (multiple times) and loved her pony ride as well. The weather was gorgeous! Howarth Park was followed by shopping at the Petaluma Outlets and a trip to Juice Shack on the way home. =)

That afternoon Grandma, Papa, Uncle Dustin, Aunt Mel, Mazzy and Ellory came over for dinner and dying Easter Eggs. Hannah had fun dying eggs with her family and was very careful to not get her fingers in the dye. (It was pretty funny watching her be so "neat" about dying her eggs.) 

Patiently waiting for her pink egg

coloring eggs

dying eggs with Nonnie

adding sparkles to her egg with Grandma

"cheese" with Auntie

The guys playing an intense game of "Horse" =)

Easter morning we loaded up in the car and headed over to Mel and Dustin's for Easter brunch and an egg hunt.  Brunch was delicious and the girls were very eager for their egg hunt. They kept running to the window to see if the Easter bunny was outside. This was Hannah's 3rd Easter (she was born just one week before Easter) and it was by far the most fun! She enjoyed actually "hunting" for eggs and putting them in her basket, however was distracted just a couple minutes in by her cousin's bike that she really wanted to ride. I look forward to the fun we'll have with her on Easter egg hunts in years to come!

on our way to brunch

with her Auntie and Uncle





Love him :)

 Looking for the Easter bunny

Easter Egg Hunt!!

opening one of her baskets with dad

Hugs and Kisses for Grandma and Papa before bed