Boat Ride with Tutu and Grandpa!

Kyle's parents live on a houseboat on the Columbia River, not too far from the Portland Airport.  They moved in late last summer and have been itching to get a boat to fill their garage.  (Yes, their "garage" is a boat dock in the bottom level of their house.)  They finally found one they liked in April.  And in May, we finally found a weekend we could go try it out with them.
 

They gave us a great tour all the way around Hayden Island.  We stopped and had dinner at The Deck, a floating restaurant in one of the Marinas.  Even though it was way too long of a wait, it was fun to pull up at a restaurant in a boat and to eat right on the river.  The kids had a blast, of course, especially when Grandpa let them drive.

Update on Kylene

Kylene finished Second Grade last week!  It is hard to believe I have a third grader.  Here is a brief update on her end of the year events:

Here she is wearing the Japanese backpack my parents got her for Christmas.  She didn't wear it for a couple of months after receiving it (she worried it was too "different"), but when she finally did wear it, all her friends loved it.  They fought over who got to carry it for Kylene on the way out of school.  Kylene got a kick out of it.
 

In May, her class did a "Wax Museum/Biography" project.  Kylene chose Pocahontas to study, then she dressed up and shared what she had learned.  (She is dressed up as Pocahontas after she converted to Christianity and went to England; did you know she did?)  If you want to learn more about Pocahontas, you'll have to "press her button to learn more"!

The end of April was her 2nd Grade Spring Music Program.  She did a great job and had a great time.  I was impressed they all played a song on the guitar (very basic, of course, but neat nonetheless).

On June 14, she had her piano recital.  She played three songs she had memorized and was very nervous but did a great job.  My sister, Jana's sister-in-law. Loriel, was her piano teacher this year.  (Did you follow that?)  So every time she had piano lessons, me and the boys got to go play at the Clark's house for a little while.  It worked out really well.

And here are her last day of school pictures.  The top picture is Kylene with Charlisse and Avery Gwen.  The bottom left is of her crossing over the outdoor bridge that connects the "younger" grades with the "older" grades at her school.  Next year, she is playing with the "big dogs"!  Wow!  The most amazing part is, she is more than ready!

 

We love our Kylene!

My Angel Mother

My wonderful mother has had quite a year thus far.  I wish it was happier news, but at the end of March she was diagnosed with Uterine Cancer.  The decision was made that her and my dad would be released from their mission early and come home to take care of her health.  They arrived home on April 8th.  She had a complete hysterectomy on May 8th.  The post-surgery recovering was much harder than expected.  She got a bad Staph infection and ended up back in the hospital twice, once for five days.  My poor mom was in so much pain.  During the second hospital stay, they received the news that the cancer was more spread than originally thought.  It was also two types of cancer, one of which is quite aggressive.  This was devastating news.  We had been told by the doctors all along, it would just be the surgery and she would be done.  Now she has to endure the process of chemotherapy and potentially radiation. 


My wonderful parents, standing side-by-side, supporting one another through whatever may come.

My mom, with her sister, Ann.

She began her first round of chemotherapy last Tuesday, June 4th.  It has been a hard week, but her and my dad are slowly learning what medications and exercises, etc., work best to help her through the nauseau, pain, and sickness.  She has been on a constant roller coaster since the surgery and the ride is far from over.  She will have six rounds of chemo, each three weeks apart.  So she will finish chemo the end of September.  Then the side effects can last up to a year or longer.  Then possibly radiation.  To put it mildly, it is not fun.

But my sweet mother really is remarkably strong.  She has endured the trials and uncertainties with grace and determination.  She is so full of gratitude for all the help and expressions of support she has received from so many.  It has been such a huge gift to me to be living with her during this time.  I have learned so much from watching her endure so valiantly.  I honor and respect my parents even more.   My dad has given her constant support and tirelessly been her 24-hour nurse.  She has needed a lot of help.  He does it without complaint and is ever the optimist.  It has been neat to watch.

We have come closer together as a family as we have fasted, prayed, and emailed together.  My dad does almost daily updates on how my mom is doing and my siblings call often to check on her and express their love.  I am so grateful to have such a loving, supportive family.

My sister-in-law, Cami and brother, Nate, had the great idea to put together a Chemo care package for my mom.  They compiled a lengthy list of things that can help chemo patients be more comfortable and all of us decided what we wanted to purchase.  We wrote "love notes" to go with each item and Cami typed them all up, wrapped them all together, and mailed them to my mom.  The picture below is right after they had opened it.  She was so touched by it all.

My mom and dad after opening her chemo care package.

 

How Long is a Mission?

(I wish I could say I haven't blogged in a while only because life has slowed way down and there's nothing on which to report, but that just wouldn't be true.)

On April 8th, we excitedly welcomed my mom and dad home from their mission to Nagoya Japan!  It was such a wonderful reunion at the airport.  Their mission was cut a few months short by the surprising and sad diagnosis my mom received that she had Uterine Cancer.  (I say "had" because she has now had surgery; more on that later.)  Because it was just two weeks between finding out about the cancer and their homecoming, they were gracious enough to let us stay in their home upon their return.  (More on that later, too.)  It has been so wonderful having this time with them and hearing so many wonderful experiences of their mission.  They were incredible missionaries and a great support to the Mission President and his wife (President and Sister Baird).  They were saddened that they had to return home a bit early, but found joy in seeing family again.

We took "before" and "after" pictures of my mom and dad with the kids.  As you can see, they didn't age nearly as much as my kids!  Here is how long a mission is, in the eyes of a child.  I love the comparison.

Andon:

Skyler:

Spencer:

Kylene:

 

We love grandma and grandpa so much!  The kids have had a blast being with them so often and being spoiled by their grandparents.  What a gift it has been to have this time with them.

Sunday Pictures