Saying Goodbye

Saying Goodbye is not always the easiest thing that we can do. However, we say goodye to things and people every single day, and never think twice about it, right? WRONG. I never thought that on November 30th, 2013 when I ugged my father goodbye at Cracker Barrel that it would be the last time I ever hugged him. I never realized it would be the last time to see him. I never realized it would be the last time I would see my daugher hug and kiss him. NEVER. But it was. I was supposed to see my dad the weekend after Christmas, and my family got sick. We decided to push it back a week, and everyone was okay with that. But, God had other plans. On January 2, 2014 my husband texted me several times around 1:00 to tell me he wanted me to come home. I thought he was crazy because he knew I was working. But he was insistent that he wanted me to come home, so I did. I was worried. I thought to myself, "What has he done?", "Is Chloe okay?", and "What is going on?" When I got home I sat on the couch and asked him these questions. He came and sat next to me, and he was just telling me that everything is going to be okay. I was still so confused. And then it hit me.....I looked ad him with tears is my eyes and said, "My dad, did he die?" K looked at the ceiling and I just started crying and hugging him. I did not know whether to feel sick, mad, sick again, and just devastated. I had a mixture of all those emotions. I still feel sick when I think about it. My dad, who I was supposed to be celebrating Christmas with in 2 days, was not going to be there. My dad, the first man I ever loved, was not going to be there. And I did not get to tell him goodye. I did not get to see him one last time. I still cannot even understand it. I mean, he was sick. And we knew that it was going to happen. But I never expected it to happen so soon. Not on January 2, 2014. The next day I traveled to Memphis. My brother and sister were snow skiing in Utah, and they could not get on an earlier flight home. So.....I began driving around Memphis making plans. I talked to my brother about 100 times, and drove all over the city trying to figure things out. It is not easy to do as a 32 year old. This was my dad. There was no body. I never saw him. He donated his body to science, and he had already been taken to UT Med Center. How awesome is that? Future doctors of America are going to learn from my dad. A few days later we all came together with hundreds of friends, and remembered my dad in a wonderful memorial service. The final farewell is never easy. My brother gave the Eulogy, and spoke of my dads incredible career as an Athletic Director and Football Coach. He said that if there was one last thing he would say to my dad it is, "You Won! You did it." And he really did. He fought so hard, and he was so brave throughout his disease. But he was truly a happy man when he died. He loved his kids, and his granddaughter. He knew that we were happy. He won. I spoke about what it was like growing up as a coaches daughter. I could not have imagined any other way to grow up. I was so proud that I was Coach Blankinship's daughter. I am still so proud that I am in daughter. Being a coaches daughter meant many things: 1) I spent a lot of time at games....pretty much every day 2) I never needed a ticket to the game....you know, because I was the coaches daughter (and so proud of that) 3) I spent a lot of time in the locker rooms, which always stunk 4) I went to Sam's a lot to get candy to stock the concession stands 5) when the games were over I went straight on to the field, and it did not matter how mad or happy dad was, he always looked at me and smiled and said "Hey Baby" 6)I had access to unlimited athletic tape, which I always thought was so cool looking on my wrists! My list could go on and on. And these memories will never leave me. My love for my dad will never leave. I have always been a daddy's girl, which is why I am still in shock. I laugh thinking about the last conversation I had with my dad on New Year's Day. He was so happy. He called me and said he as feeling great. He could not wait to see Chloe, K, and I in a couple days. And we couldnt wait to see him. He said he had been eating these little frozen hamburgers and that he "was in love with those hamburgers!" I laughed and him and said, "Did you just say that you were in love with those hamburgers?" He laughed and laughed. We talked about him watching football all day, and he said he loved me, to kiss Chloe for him,and to tell Kenny "War Eagle." I will never hear his voice again. He will be missed everyday.

Good Morning Kindergarten!

Well....today is the day. I am going to just keep telling myself, "This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." But honestly, I am thinking, HOW IS IT POSSIBLE SHE IS STARTING KINDERGARTEN! I JUST HAD HER!!! But, today is the day. K got up and made Chloe heart pancakes. She was still sleeping.

And when my Kindergartner woke up...she was excited to get her American Girl dressed and have her special breakfast!

Then it was time to get her in her uniform, and take some pictures. I asked Chloe what she wanted to be when she grew up.....

I hope Princess Mermaids make a lot of money, they are definitely rare. I have never actually met one. I am going to do a sign like that every year and see how she changed her mind through the years. I am assuming that she will not want to be a Princess Mermaid when she is a senior. Here are a couple other shots of her before we left the house!

And of course, Chloe and her look-a-like!

I said, "Who is going to Kindergarten?"

Finally, we arrived to school and she walked straight in to her classroom!

Mrs. Powell let Chloe pick out her cubby...

And then it happened...she left me and went to sit at her assigned seat and started looking at her work.

I was the BAD parent who made Chloe quit focusing on her school work because I needed a picture of her and Mrs. Powell on her first day of school!

And then one thing led to another, and "The Crew" met up in the hall to socialize!

I guess they thought that they did not have to stay in their classrooms. So, my once, focused on work, child....quickly became the socializer, ONCE AGAIN!

 Happy 1st Day of Kindergarten!

The Night Before Kindergarten!

Sleeping Beauty is fast asleep.....

Any I have everything she needs ready for the morning! Even her American Girl Doll will be wearing a DA uniform!

Does it get much sweeter than this?

Promotion Sunday

Chloe is finally moving into the Kindergarten wing at church.  What does this mean?  It means that it is PROMOTION SUNDAY, and Chloe will go to Sunday School. and then children's church, or Praise Club!

She was not overly thrilled this morning to be getting "promoted."  Once she calmed down, I got her to let me take her picture.  

When we got to church she started crying. She said "I don't want to go to Kindergarten!" Poor Baby (yes, I think she is still a baby). When we went to pick her up at Praise Club, she was happy :) I think this Kindergarten thing is gonna work out just fine!

Kindergarten Rocks!

Chloe went reluctantly to her Back To School Bash. You see, she was separated from her friends. Not just a couple of her friends....ALL OF HER FRIENDS! Every single one of them. In fact, she cried for 2 days when I told her who her teacher was, and who her friends' teachers were. It was happy at my household. Here she is posing for a few pictures before we walk in to meet her teacher.

Look how big she is!!! This summer at Bear Camp she met a girl named Abby, and it just so happens that Abby is in her class, so at least she will know someone. Here is Chloe and Abby at Back to School Bash!

We finally arrived at Mrs. Powell's room. Mrs. Powell is a new teacher this year. So even I did not know her teacher. Here is Chloe meeting her teacher for the first time.

After Chloe and Mrs. Powell had some small talk, Chloe went to do some art on the dry erase boat. She was making herself right at home!

Before we left we had to get one good picture of Chloe and her Kindergarten teacher!

On our way out, we ran into one of Chloe's best friends, Annalee. There are 4 girls, also known as "The Crew!" They gave themselves that name. Crazy girls. I thought that we may have a melt down, because it just reminded her that they were not in the same class, but I was pleasantly surprised. Here she is with another member of "The Crew", Annalee.

Such sweet memories! I cannot believe my baby girl is already in Kindergarten. Where has time gone?

Happy Father's Day 2011!

Happy Father's Day K! We Love You! Chloe is so lucky to have a Daddy like you.

Chloe was so excited about going to Church on Father's Day because she had made a special tie for K! I was not sure if K was going to wear it or not but, he did! He is such an incredible father!


In case you cannot see what the tie says, it is a blue felt tie, with yarn to tie around his neck. In glitter on the tie, it says "#1DAD!"
K sang in the mens choir at church this morning, and he proudly wore his tie that Chloe made him!

This little girl....



She's got her daddy wrapped around her finger!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Dance Recital

Well...another year, another dance recital! And can I just say...I WAS A NERVOUS WRECK! Here is Chloe with her hair in rollers before her nap! She had to get some good rest before her recital!


Isn't her costume adorable?



We hung out in the lobby while K was parking the car! She practiced some of her moves.



When we got to TPAC, her Daddy had ordered her some flowers that she got to pick up!



Chloe did an AWESOME job at her recital! I was so proud of her. We have it on video, and if I can learn how to upload video, I will post it soon! I was so proud of her. In my eyes, she lit up the stage!