Chiefs pregame....from the field

McKenzie....our little Hero

As I had posted a while ago, we have a second cousin, McKenzie Brownlee who has been fighting AML leukemia. She is the sweetest, most active 2 year old that anyone will every meet! She is three months older than Owen. As she has such a brave little girl going thru chemo at children's mercy, no treatment was working. She was never in remission so that a bone marrow transplant could take place. So her parents decided to take Kenzie home and enjoy the time they had with her. And boy, did they have a great time! Her days were spent jumping on a trampoline, playing with her sisters and be as active as ever! She got to meet Chiefs cheerleaders, ride on a bus, and ride on a boat....a Disney Cruise Boat :)

The last week of August, Kenzie started to get a fever and started to be in pain. Hospice was involved and measures were taken to make her comfortable. It was very fast, which we are so blessed that it was. Kenzie really only seemed "sick" her last few days she was here. On August 28th, McKenzie received her angel wings....her mommy holding her tight in her arms til the very end.

Tiffany, Kenzie's mom.....I can't say enough about her strength and courage she provided to Kenzie. She is the best mom ever! She has been so strong thru this all. I don't know how God has been able to give her the strength to get thru. McKenzie's celebration of life was beautiful. So many wonderful pictures, played to music. The pastor did a wonderful job. The funny stories that were told of Kenzer....well, they speak for themselves....such a beautiful girl who loved her life and loved her family.

How do you explain death to a 4 year old. How do you do it without scaring them. Kenzie passed away on a saturday and it wasn't til tuesday afternoon that i finally told Ryan. Our converstaion went like this:

Me: Ryan, remember that Kenzie was sick. she had ouchies in her blood. she was at the hospital alot. they gave her medicine and that is why she lost her hair. well, the medicine didn't work and she died.

Ryan: she died??!!

Me: she did and now she is with jesus.

Ryan: well, when i was kenzie's age, did i die.

Me: no ryan you didn't

Ryan: when will kenzie open her eyes again and talk to us.

Me: well, ryan, she won't. she is with Jesus now. She does not hurt anymore. Jesus made her better. she is i heaven.

Ryan: oh, you mean the angels came down and took her up to heaven.

Me: yes, ryan that is exactly what i mean.

Leave it to a 4 year old to explain it to you! We talk about kenzie alot. ryan still brings up questions about death. He is scared to take motrin and tylenol b/c he is afraid he will lose his hair....but we are slowly working on it.

Our heart breaks that Kenzie is not here with us, but we know she is in a better place, running and playing with Mormo, her best friend who also lost her battle to leukemia in May. Kenzie, we love you to the moon and back!!!!

Owen's 2nd birthday and weekend fun

8.12.10: Happy 2nd Birthday, Owen!!!!


Oh my gosh, this may be an all time favorite picture. How adorable! My sweet little Owen.
Well, the previous pic was from Owen's bday party this past weekend. On Owen's birthday, Ryan, Owen, and I had breakfast at McDonald's. I must say, in all of the 4 1/2 years since i have had kids, we have never been inside the McD's near our house to play in the playland....until now. I am sure i will regret it the next time go to mcd's and they insist on going in to play.

I was able to sit down and actually eat my breakfast while the boys played.

After McD's, we went to Target, then back home to play. Owen loves to grab my keys and sunglasses and pretend to leave the house and drive away in our car. It's too cute!

Ry, on the other hand, had all of his army men all lined up, ready for war. I love him being 4. His imagination/play takes him everywhere. It's so neat to sit back and just watch him play with his army men, legos, cars, etc.

Scott went to a royals game later in the evening so i let owen go ahead and open up one gift. think ryan was more excited than owen.

Aunt Emily came by to give Owen his gift. He is obsessed with Toy story 2. Now we have it on dvd and not just dvr! Our car rides will be much better now.

On to Peachwave to get frozen yogurt.

Oh, it was a good day. Birthday party with grandparents will take place over the weekend.

Walk down memory lane....2 years ago. Yes, ry and i watched video from the day of Owen's birth....when ry met owen the first time. Makes me kinda sad that owen is so big but don't know that i want to go back to the whole baby stage again.

Saturday august 14....off to the mo state fair. think the boys enjoyed looking at the fish the most.

Got to talk to Otto, the old Patrol Car. Always remember to wear your seatbelt!

Saturday evening....It's a birthday party!

Enjoyed Kehde's bbq for dinner then on to opening gifts. Ryan was Owen's #1 helper when it came to opening gifts. Unfortunately, Owen just wanted to open the first gift and then play with the toy...so much for the other gifts.

How in the world did both boys cooperate and smile for the camera. LOVE this picture!

Owen was a pro at blowing out candles. in fact, he blew them out before we started singing so we had to relight them. hope his wish comes true.

Note to self....all Owen needs for his birthday are cars and trains. He will play for hours, lining them up, playing in his owen world. Who needs cupcakes when you have cars and trains.

Scott and Ryan were more interested in the other gifts.

Saturday night, Owen stayed with Grandma Margaret and Papa Les while we took Ryan to the fair to ride the rides. Didn't go as planned. He rode 4 of them and then wanted a snow cone. Go figure.

Finally, Sunday night. A very sad night for Owen. I told him that his "baba's" were all gone. When you are 2, you no longer need bottles. Owen has never had a pacifier or favorite blanket. His comfort has always been mommy...and my hair! Guess that is why he won't let scott or ryan hug me, sit beside me, etc. Owen will run up to me and say "My mommy." He gives the best hugs and it feels so good. His one other comfort has been drinking milk from a bottle right before bed. Well, tonight, made him drink from a sippy cup. Good bye bottles! Owen is a big boy and we don't need you anymore.

*one side note.....Ryan said we needed to pack up the bottles and give them to Aunt Emme b/c she is having a baby and the baby will need them. Well, i tossed them...but great idea ryan. He also saw the breast pumps in Target and here was our conversation.....

Ry: "Mommy, you have one of those."

Me: "You're right Ryan, i do. But mommy doesn't need it anymore."

Ry: "only if you have three babies. then you will need it. I have an idea. you could give it to

emily."

Me: "that is a great idea, ryan."

so maybe he does get it.....no more babies for mommy. we will love and spoil aunt emily's little baby that will arrive around thanksgiving :)

Katie's Graduation.....and a few other things

Katie graduates from college...and dad couldn't be happier! Think the "Bank of Les" is broke....after supporting three girls thru college....and paying for two weddings, thus far :)



Yes, i can officially say i made it to springfield to see katie at college...even though it was for her graduation. And i didn't even have to help her pack up her apartment and help her move home.


Had to attempt a family picture

And all of us! Notice Em's baby bump that is starting to emerge?

Scott and the boys walking back to the car after katie's graduation dinner at Springfield Brewery

Ryan loved the pool at the hotel. Owen just loved running up and down the halls.

And here are some other random pics from the past few weeks....

Hard to stay awake at dinner when you refuse to take a nap during the day!

Silly faces...my typical 4 year old :)

These days, Owen is all about Buzz and Woody! He cannot get enough of Toy Story 2. It was on disney right before Toy story 3 came out so we dvr'd it. from morning til night, the boy could sit in front of the tv just watch it all day! do have to say, it gives me a few extra moments to sleep in the morning and i am able to fix dinner :) Ryan loved Monsters Inc when he was about 2.....Owen's movie will be Toy story 2. wonder what owen is getting for his birthday next week???? buzz or woody????

Finally, the oldest neighbor boy decided to have a "lego auction" in our backyard. they will be moving and he was wanting to make some money and get rid of some toys. i was all for it! i know how much lego sets cost....and ryan will play with legos for hours on end....off in his own little imaginary world. Think i spend a total of $3 for all the legos. Yes, it was a great auction. Baggies of legos were going for 50 cents. i know a bargain when i see one! all the legos on the table and in the container were compliments of Harry's great auction!

New kitchen

So....i did it! And i didn't tell anyone other than scott that i was doing it. i ordered granite and a new backsplash. I wanted the granite and Scott and i have not had to do too much over the past 7 years to add value to the house so we thought "why not!" We will be moving to a bigger house next spring or summer so i thought i better enjoy the countertops for a little while. Most people who know me, know that i have a hard time spending money. I don't like to let go of it! Last tuesday, i picked out the granite and told the lady at the store to just pick a tile that would go well with the granite. Can you believe i turned over control. i figured that if i thought too much about the tile/backsplash, etc, that i would never go thru with it. so this past tuesday, they installed. i was so excited! i love the granite! i love the backsplash...tumbled travertine. i love my under mount sink! just don't know that i like the two together. the colors just don't seem to match. in natural light, it seems to look better. everyone says i am being too picky. Maybe it's God's way of not wanting me to fall in love with it b/c then i won't want to move. and let's face it, it's my own fault...i told the lady to just pick a tile for me. but it was a good experience. kitchen was only out of commission for one day...so i know it's easy to do for our next house :) i have my ideas of how to make the kitchen look better. thinking of going for a darker brown on teh walls, new window treatment, and we still have to seal the the tile and grout in 7 days. i know it will all work out. and it will help our house stand out when it is placed on the market! here are the before and after pics :)

tubes in ears = more sleep for mom and owen

Today was the day! Hopefully will be able to sleep well from here on out. after 12 ear infections in 16 months, we got our tubes :) Scott, Owen and i were at children's mercy south bright and early....6:30am. Surgery at 7:30. it was literally 10 minutes from the time we went to the waiting room to the time the doc came out and talked to us. when we walked back to recovery, owen was the first patient back there. all i could hear is "i want mommy." poor guy. he looked pathetic. the fentynl had him in a daze! we were home by 8:20 and by 9am, he was eating sausage and pancakes from mcdonald's. so much for him being sleepy all morning. he is back to his normal self....chasing after ryan and fighting over toys!