Update from the Last Month

So much has been going on this last month since my last post.  I have to play catch up and try to remember it all.

The end of May we celebrated Madi's 5th Birthday.  I guess we started something new this year.  What ever age you are turning, that's the number of birthday parties you get.  Madi had 5 birthday parties this year, she is so spoiled.  First she celebrated her birthday at school, we then had a family birthday party on the 22nd because Uncle Jon was going to be in town, but since Uncle Jason and Aunt Tabatha and Jaxson couldn't make it that weekend, we had another birthday party at the lake the following weekend.  (That takes us up to number 3 if you lost count.)  We celebrated just the four of us on her actual birthday with a supper out and then we had a friends party on June 4th, which was her Princess Party.  Yikes, lots of running around and lots of cake!

Luckily the Princess Party was all planned, put together, executed and cleaned up by someone else.  Now that was a party!  The girls had so much fun getting their hair done, nails polished, lipstick applied, tiaras placed, fairy wings adorned, all topped off with a princess fashion show from five of the cutest little girls I have ever seen.  Thank you to Carolee Jones and friends from CAPS who put on an amazing party.

The week of her birthday we also made a trip out to Rolling Hills.  It was a gorgeous day.  Not too hot so it made a very nice morning out.  We wanted to go say goodbye to Robbie, the orangutan.  This was his last week at RH before moving to the St. Louis Zoo.  We have been visiting him for the last four years and is always the highlight of our trips out there.

The first week of June we had Vacation Bible School.  It was an amazing week and we met lots of new friends and got to do some really cool activities and crafts.

June 7th, Chris and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary.  The four of us went out for supper and had a nice evening together.

Wednesday, June 8th, first thing in the morning, we got a call that Grandpa Tom had passed away.  He passed away from a blood clot that had developed after having heart surgery the week before.  At the same time, Grandma Betty was being admitted back into the hospital with severe stomach pains.  She has been very ill as well since February after having her third bypass surgery.  Her kidney's and liver were still not right and she has been having complications with all of that since.

We left Salina at 4 pm Wednesday evening and headed to Mobile, Alabama.  We got into town at 8:45 Thursday morning after driving straight through.  We went up to the hospital and we got to go in briefly and see Grandma.  She was in a lot of pain and just didn't look like herself at all.  They were getting ready to take her into surgery to have a pacemaker put in, port for dialysis, and to repair the blockage in her colon.  Surgery went well but they would have to go back in the next morning to finish the repair on the colon.  Unfortunately, she didn't make it and the next morning (Friday, June 10) while we were all at the hospital, she passed away as well.  It was so very sad losing them both so close together but also grateful knowing that they are both in heaven, able to walk together and speak together again.  No more hurt and no more pain.

Sunday June 12, we had a memorial for them both.  It was a wonderful tribute to their lives and to the wonderful family that they raised.  They will be sorely missed.

But along with the tragedy of death we also were able to spend some wonderful time together as a family.  And I know that Grandpa and Grandma got a kick being able to watch all of the little ones playing together and having a good time.

We left Mobile on Tuesday morning and took our time getting home.  We were going to spend some extra time in St. Louis.  Have a little family vacation.  But after one day, we were all done and ready to be home.  We toured the Budweiser Plant and went to Grant's Farm, which was a little zoo.  Free and a wonderful place to go.  And we were home late Wednesday night.  It was time to get back into our regular routine.

We had a lot at home waiting on us to get done.  Work, house, fields and now we are getting things planned and ready for our big 4th of July party.  Madi has gymnastics, nature center and art center next week, sleep over Friday night, harvest at the Flywheels Saturday.  Back to our busy, busy lives!

I put a slide show together from the last months activities.  Too much for single photos.



It was so great seeing all of our Helm family and a big thank you to Aunt Linda.  For opening up your home and everything you did for all of us while we were there.  I hope that we can all get together again and have more happy times together.

And for anybody in the Salina area, come see us Sunday, July 3rd for the big fireworks show.  It's going to be great!!  Chris spent all of last night watching video clips of fireworks and making a huge order.  Can't wait to see it all!

Love, Amy