5 Years Can Seem Like a Very Long time...

So we just passed a very interesting anniversary for our family...one that has been challenging and triumphal all at the same time!  Five years ago, on April 15th, 2006, Alan collapsed into his first grand mal seizure and it was the beginning of the most difficult yet most character shaping period of our lives together to date.  As I think back on all that we have been through, that day seems like a life time ago and just as mothers tend to forget the pains of delivering children, I think the same phenomenom has occured to soften the blow of that fateful morning...when two words forever changed the path we were headed on...brain tumor.  But I have to say that as I focus on all the good that has come from these experiences, I am grateful for all the tools and support and love I have been given to help us along the way.  A dear friend battling breast cancer (diagnosed shortly before Alan) once wisely shared with me that although she may not ever be able to say she is grateful for cancer, she is grateful for the growth it has inspired and unlocked (sometimes forcefully!) as would not have otherwise come about.  I also am too human to bring myself to say that I am grateful for Alan's condition, and would even go so far to say that I probably still would not choose to live through it if given the choice, what I can admit is that as I look back on this "ride", I know that there are specific moments and experiences that I wouldn't trade for the clearest MRI!  I love my family and especially my sweetheart for all he has endured, knowing that at times it was only just for us that he kept fighting and still does!  (The picture above is the morning of Alan's first surgery :)

It's salsa...gringo style!

So I got asked to participate in an iron chef mutual night where the girls made salsa and the boys made smoothies.  My idea of good salsa has usually been a jarred version from trader joe's as I don't usually like what I have tried to make in the past.  So in a panic, I called my sister, Heather (I promised to give credit where credit was due!) and asked for a salsa recipe in hopes that I could save face and at least make something presentable.  My focus then became presentation...for those of you that know me well, does this really come as a surprise to you?!  I shamelessly searched the internet for ideas and came across what inspired what you see above...blooming salsa!  I figured I wasn't going to win for taste but I sure was shooting for taking the prize for presentation.  Much to my surprise...we also won for taste, thanks Heather!:)

Opposition has curly hair...

What can upset the tranquil setting of a Sunday afternoon...a barking dog and a rambunctious 6 year old!  It has been an interesting combo from the get go.  Nathan loves to have her attention and will stoop to very obnoxious levels to obtain it which in turn gets everyone else all wound up.  And then there is the dog, who is more like a toddler in the house again! The question now is...which will outgrow it first?!

What a beautiful day for a trip to the zoo!

We have been having such beautiful weather here in az, more spring like than winter! Nathan and I got a chance to visit the local wild animal park on a 1st grade field trip and had a great day! Life has slowed down a bit and it was nice to be "Mom" again and get to spend the day with one of my favorite little peoples! The zoo has been updated and remodeled since I was last there so it felt kinda like a new adventure. Nathan loved the new aquarium (although it has nothin on Sea World!) and of course all the kids couldn't wait to play on the playground (because they don't get enough of it at the school everyday!) What a great day :)

Breathing a little easier...

So we got news last week from the dermatologist that a biopsy of a small spot on Alan's nose indicated he had a sqaumis cell carcinoma (spelling?)  Great...more cancer :O  They scheduled him right away for removal, we went in today and the good news is that they got it all in one sampling.  So now he gets to wear a bandage on his nose for the next month or so while it heals.  He has decided that this will be a great way to take the attention away from his hair that is so desperately trying to grow back from his radiation treatments and now people will look at his face again :)  He will always be tall, dark and handsome to me!

Whatever possessed me to do this...

So Christmas was around the corner and with my heart set on making it a memorable one for the kids, Alan and I (I refuse to take full credit!) decided it was time to introduce a new addition to our family...no I am not expecting :O.  Meet Darci, our chewing, pooping, peeing puppy (do you see where this is going?!)  All I could think about was how happy the kids would be christmas morning when they found that Santa had deposited a cute little dog with a big red bow on our doorstep.  Now I am wishing I had been hit over the head when even thinking this thought as I clean the rug for the umpteenth time (thank heavens for tile throughout the downstairs) and gather the pieces of chewed up paper and protractor and whatever else has been left on the floor inadvertantly!

OK...nuff said!  I will admit that the big smiles I was anticipating from the children were as enjoyable as I had hoped for, in fact even better!  And she (the dog) can invoke a definate warm feeling when cuddling up on your lap, she is a cuddle bunny :)  I guess we all need a friend that loves us unconditionally! So everyone tells me just to hang in there and the other stuff will work itself out and I will come to love her as one of my children...does that mean I can train her to do chores?!